The World Which Is

Chapter 42

Brandon explained that The Split is where the three trade roads meet, as we approach it. Before the system, there was a city there, but for a reason no one knows, it died in the early days, and now it's a ruin.

"It isn't worth bothering with," he adds as buildings become visible in the distance. "They're sending people in every day, so the loot and monsters don't have time to grow beyond level five."

"I thought they got tougher the deeper you went in."

"You're thinking about dungeons. Ruins replenish overtime, and the longer something is there, the higher level its becomes. They have caps, based on how large they are, but that also affects the regeneration, somehow."

"So, this is only good for low-level explorers?"

"And anyone with a combat based class at low level. We just get bonuses to operating in them. Everyone gets something out of killing monsters."

Not long after that, with the sun still a good hand's width from the horizon, the fields around the three large buildings become visible, and they are filled with wagons.

"That doesn't look good," Helen says. "Should we push on?"

"Let's check," Brandon replies. "We might get lucky."

I glance at Helen, and she closes her mouth on her opinion. Not why I did it, but I'm glad not to listen to them bickering again.

The ground's packed so hard that in places where liquids were emptied on it, it pools instead of soaking in. I don't want to think what this place turns into when it rains.

The closest one to the road is basically a box, patched together with field stones over what might have been a structure from before the system. The dining room seems small, but that might be because of how packed it is. We wait by the door while Brandon goes to the counter and Silver keeps her violin case behind her, out of sight.

He returns, shaking his head.

The other one is less boring. It has a large ground floor, with a section on one side having a second floor, extending over part of the rest, and in what I'm guessing is the center of the building are two more floors with the roof extending to a point. The surface that isn't field stone is brick work, old and new.

The dining area is larger, maybe, but just as packed. We stay by the door again until Brandon waves us over.

"They have one room left," he tells us. "But he won't hold it for us while we check the other inn."

"What's the room like?" I ask before Helen comments. I could see the snark in her expression already.

"Small," the man replies. He looks like he's had a long day and humoring us is about the last thing he wants to do. "But it's got a bunk, so two if you don't have to sleep on the floor."

"Can the bunk fit me?" Helen asks.

The man snorts. "But the window is on the back, so you aren't going to smell the animal's shit all night."

"Can you deal with the floor?" I ask Helen. "Or do we risk the other inn and keep going if they have nothing?"

"Which means it's the ground when we sleep," Brandon replies in a forcefully neutral tone.

"You just want people around so you can charm your way into one of their beds," Helen replies.

"Tell you what, Hel," Brandon says dryly. "Just for you, I'm going to sleep in the same room as you. Will that make you happy?"

"You can take the bunk," I say. "I'll take the floor."

"No, I should—"

"I'm shorter than you." I barely keep myself from snapping. "So I'll leave more space for Helen. And," I add, as she's about to comment. "We're taking up our host's time arguing. How much is the room?"