This is Part 3! Read the previous part here:
https://onlyfans.com/1603415410/thebearwannabe
The transport from Porthcawl to Alder city was worse than Urgran remembered. Even when using some of the gold they... found, the ride still took up most of the evening and the following afternoon, cramming the Orc and Human wizard into a tiny, uncomfortable private cart. Crossing the great expanse of desert felt made the drive even feel longer, making him wonder if leaving Porthcawl was even worth the trouble. Surely they could have just laid low for a while? The idea of hiding in the capital city of humans put a pit in his stomach, even if Gideon was seemingly excited to go back.
Soon enough, the desolation of the desert faded, being replaced with a thicker and thicker canopy of trees. Alder city loomed into view ahead of them, the city surrounded by its circular, impenetrable wall, originally built to keep out the Orcs when they were at war generations ago. Inside the stone ring, they could make out each district, a mismatch of lopsided buildings bustling with the smoke of chimneys and blacksmiths. The Orc found that somewhat reassuring, at least.
“…Do you have any family, Urgran?”
Gideon’s voice pierced the silence, the question so outlandish the Orc could only stare for a moment, his body tensing as he tried to find the right words to answer. A slight frown creased his face; the words clearly hurt.
“…No.”
For a moment, the wizard examined his robes, his brow furrowed. “My apologies. I was just wondering. It’s not something you’ve... ever really talked about. We’ve been traveling together for almost a year now.”
“It’s not important. They are all dead.” The Orc spat, the break in his voice betraying something else.
Silence returned to the cabin for what felt like hours, the capital city of humans slowly getting closer and closer. Gideon cleared his throat, attempting to move on.
“…It looks like we are about to arrive.”
As the cart passed the gates and stopped at last, Gideon sprung out, grabbing the Orc by the wrist and pulling him along. The amount of people here, even compared to Porthcawl, was shocking. Every corner of Alder City was full of humans - talking, trading, selling, arguing, with machinery he’d never seen before venting out blasts of steam to unphased bystanders. Even the clothes were different - the dingy and faded fabrics of Porthcawl long gone, with the residents here wearing dazzling, saturated dyed fabrics and silks, all layered on top of one another.
The Orc felt the back of his neck tingle from being stared at, trying his best to keep his composure. “... Have you found the Inn yet?”
The wizard smiled, pausing a moment to take in the familiar air. “Not really, at least not yet.” The pair made their way inward, finding themselves at the center of a square surrounded by towering, dangerously slanted buildings. Gideon took in his surroundings, relishing each step as the surrounding people scurried, taking in the energy of it all. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I haven’t been home in... years now! It feels like nothing has really changed at all.”
“You never said this was your home. It’s... big.” The orc said simply, shifting weight from one foot to another as a woman from an upper window leered at him.
Gideon beamed, “It has to be. They brew all the best human ale here, publish every book and publication, and produce just about everything else.” The wizard trailed off, walking ahead in a stride and leaving the Orc behind. “I don’t think I’ve ever really told you, but I was born here, actually. I mean - I left for the academy, but... this was home.”
The Orc nodded his head, the amount of people, noises, and color overwhelming him already, Gideon already breaking off into another story of his childhood, as the Orc desperately wished just to find a quiet room to sit in.
The room at the Inn was larger than he expected, Urgran quietly wondering to himself if Gideon had spent more gold to have a private bathroom and two beds to celebrate. Having bounded into the room, the Human positioned himself on a far bed, eyes fixed on the busy streets below. As the sun began its descent below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and purple, the weariness from their long journey became almost unbearable. As much as it lacked privacy, the shower looked more and more inviting. Urgran couldn’t even remember the last time he had real, and consistent, hot water.
“…I thought you might like that.” Gideon chuckled, his attention still at the window but slowly facing him. “You can go first, I don’t mind-” The Orc stared at Gideon, already almost totally naked, the human turning a beet red, snapping himself to the opposite wall. “Sorry!”
As the water hit, a sense of relief clashed against the Orcs’s green skin. Muscles tense from the journey and everything that had already happened, finding themselves letting go, or at least enough for the Orc to relax. He’d been too rough, uncaring. Again.
“…Gideon.”
The Wizard’s voice perked up. Even from the other side of the wall, the Orc could perfectly imagine him standing straight up at attention.
“You said… you were born here? I’d like to know more.”
Gideon cleared his throat. “Y-yes I was. My mother and father were from a noble class, and pushed me into the Academy as soon as they could. I used to spend my days all over Alder, exploring every nook and cranny by myself and just imagining what it would be like to be an adventurer. No expectations, just… me. When I was older, and thought I knew enough to survive, I dropped out, and… I suppose, became a mercenary.”
The Orc grumbled, pressing a sore spot on his arm. “Why would you choose a life like this over… that?”
Gideon stayed quiet for a moment. “I guess… I wanted to make the choice. I wanted to learn magic on my own terms, find adventure… and to make a name for myself. Do something other than what everyone expected, or demanded of me.” Gideon chuckled, the sound of fabric falling over as he must have flattened on the bed. “Mother and father vowed to never speak to me again. I was very rebellious. I’m sure they’ll be furious that I’m back.”
The Orc felt himself smiling, grateful that Gideon couldn’t see it. The thought of Gideon having this wild streak never occurred to him.
“Carve your own path with the Goddess… My mother used to tell me that.” He said simply, the water continuing to fall. He’d tell him about her someday.
