Chapter 626 - Odd Ranger (Part 2) (1/2)

Letras was a trading city and due to the winter lockdown, dimensional magic was still banned inside its walls to prevent illegal food trades to alter the price markets. Like most of the cities of the Griffon Kingdom, it was divided into three areas.

The outer rim was the biggest and the most populated one.

It was where the commoners lived, the granaries were located, and the resting place for tired travelers like stingy Rangers who wanted to save a few coins but still enjoy a decent meal and bed.

During winter, moving huge loads of merchandise required wagons and draft animals, so the roads were large enough to accommodate three of them at once. One lane was usually reserved for civil servants tasked with removing the brown and yellow snow that would otherwise turn entire city blocks into open outhouses.

The houses were one or two-storey high, made of stone or wood based on the owner's income. They were usually tightly packed with little to no space between them. Entire blocks consisted solely of warehouses, most of which were located near the city gates or bordered on the middle rim to facilitate the transportation of goods.

The middle rim was occupied by merchants' shops, craftsmen's and artists' workshops. Only the middle class could afford a house there. They were all made of stone and at least two storey high. There was enough space between them to have a garden or a small stable.

According to the Desk Sergeant who welcomed Lith when he stepped out of the Warp Gate, the Wild Boar tavern was located in the middle rim.

The ground level consisted of a wooden floor and walls, with several hardwood tables where groups of clients could sit to order their meal.

Those who came in alone would rather sit in front of the counter to enjoy the company of the barkeep, of the other customers, and be served more quickly. The room had a cozy feeling and was lighted by several chandeliers and a big popping fireplace that occupied a good quarter of the east wall.

A whole pig was being roasted over the fire, spreading in the air a delicious smell that made people open up their stomach and loosen their wallet. Lith was no exception, so he ordered a plate of roasted pork and a beer to go with it even before sitting down at Morok's table.

The Ranger was eating one of the tavern's famous pork shank with the appetite of a man who had been stranded for a long time and had forgotten his manners.

'Bright cyan core, excellent physical conditions. According to my mana sense he shouldn't be an Awakened and based on my life sense he is human.' Solus said.

The man had a lean but muscular physique. From the last time Lith had seen him, Morok had cut his hair, but the beard was still there. Except it was now dirty with gravy and the fat dripping from the meat.

”Please, have a seat.” Morok said with a full mouth and spitting over most of the table. A powerful burp later, he cleaned his right hand over his shirt before offering it to Lith, who reluctantly shook it.

'If all Rangers are like this guy, I now understand why we have a bad name.' Lith thought.

”It's great to eat warm food without worrying about it getting cold or luring hungry beasts, right?”

Lith nodded, his appetite waning by the second. Morok noticed Lith's eyes staring at the grease stain above his heart which had yet to completely fade.

”Gods, sorry. I almost forgot how a civilized human behaves. I've become too reliant on the self-cleaning properties of our uniform to fix my mess. I'll never be grateful enough for it.

”Without such a marvel, after a few weeks in the open, we'd stink so bad that the stench would kill us faster than any enemy.” He laughed, making Lith glad for Solus's company and the safe haven she represented.

”Any question about the mission?”