Rhea was still holding Kael’s sleeve when he looked away from the enormous walls of Veyrun and toward the roadside stall instead.
They had spent days crossing wilderness, survived a bandit ambush, traveled straight through the Broken Spine, discovered an isolated village, and finally reached one of the largest cities in the region.
Hundreds of travelers moved toward the enormous gates ahead, merchant wagons formed orderly lines along the road, and towers rose beyond the walls high enough to dominate the surrounding landscape.
Kael ignored all of it.
The smell of grilled meat was coming from the left.
“Master.” “Food.” “Veyrun has food.” “This one’s here.” Rhea tightened her grip before he could walk away.
“Veyrun probably has hundreds of restaurants better than that stall.” Kael looked at her.
“Then I’ll eat there too.” Rhea became silent.
She slowly released his sleeve.
She had accidentally strengthened his argument.
“Fine.” The roadside stall belonged to an elderly woman who seemed completely unimpressed when two hunters approached.
Several skewers of meat rested over glowing charcoal while bowls containing sauces and powdered spices occupied one side of the counter.
“Three coppers each,” she said.
Kael bought ten.
Rhea bought one.
Kael tried the first skewer without sauce.
Then he noticed the bowls.
“What are those?” Rhea stared at him.
The events at Stonebell Village returned to her.
“Seasoning.” Kael looked interested.
The old woman laughed.
“First time eating properly, boy?” “Apparently.” She spread a dark-red mixture over another skewer.
Kael took a bite.
He stopped chewing for a moment.
Rhea watched his expression.
Kael tried another sauce.
Then another.
Then he began staring at the bowls.
His Absolute Spatial Sense examined the contents.
Salt crystals, dried herbs, ground seeds, powdered roots, oil, honey— Rhea slapped a hand over his eyes.
Kael looked toward her hand despite not actually needing his eyes.
“What?” “Stop.” “Why?” “You’re analyzing the sauce.” “Yes.” “You’re supposed to taste food, not investigate it down to its smallest ingredients.” “I wanted to know what’s in it.” “Ask.” Kael looked toward the elderly woman.
“What’s in it?” She happily explained.
Kael listened with surprising seriousness.
Rhea slowly realized something.
Her master could teach her how to fight, survive monster territories, control her movements, observe a battlefield, and probably perform several things that would cause professional hunters to reconsider their careers.
But Kael had spent a century alone.
There were areas where his education was catastrophically lacking.
Rhea folded her arms.
“I’ve decided something.” “Hmm?” “You teach me combat.
I’ll teach you civilization.” Kael looked at her.
“What are you qualified to teach?” Rhea pointed at the sauce.
“Seasoning, apparently.” Kael considered that.
“Fair.” Rhea smiled triumphantly.
They were still eating when Darren approached.
The caravan had begun separating.
Merchant wagons were being redirected toward Veyrun’s commercial entrance while independent hunters and travelers moved toward other gates.
“This is where we part ways.” Darren held out his hand.
Kael shook it.
“You’ve saved us several days.
That’s worth considerably more than the contract payment.” “Okay.” Darren waited.
Kael didn’t add anything.
The merchant laughed.
“If you ever need something in Veyrun, find the Voss Trading House.” “Do you sell those ribs?” Darren paused.
“The Stonebell ribs?” “Yes.” “Not currently.” Kael looked disappointed.
Darren immediately reconsidered his business model.
“I’ll speak to the village.” “Good.” Rhea stared at them.
Apparently this was how major trade agreements began around Kael.
Bram, Mira, and Toren approached shortly afterward.
Bram slapped Rhea on the shoulder.
“Next time I see you, I expect you to be terrifying.” “I’m already terrifying.” “No.
Your master is terrifying.
You’re becoming concerning.” Rhea kicked him lightly.
Mira hugged her.
“Keep working on the awareness exercise.
You’ve improved more than you realize.” “Thanks.” Toren nodded toward her.
“Your movement during the bandit fight was good.
Don’t let increased confidence make you careless.” Rhea accepted the advice seriously.
Kael looked toward Toren.
“Your spear isn’t bad.” Toren froze.
Kael continued eating.
After several seconds, Toren looked toward Rhea.
She nodded solemnly.
“That’s basically a medal.” For perhaps the first time since meeting them, Toren smiled broadly.
They separated soon afterward.
Kael and Rhea finally approached Veyrun.
The closer they came, the larger the city appeared.
The outer walls alone dwarfed Greyhaven’s defenses.
Several roads converged before the gates, creating a constant stream of merchants, hunters, farmers, travelers, livestock, and carriages.
Rhea presented her identification.
The guard checked it and waved her through.
Then Kael handed over his card.
The guard read it.
Stopped.
Read it again.
He looked at Kael.
Then at the card.
UNMEASURED HUNTER.
The guard turned the card over.
Kael waited.
“Problem?” “I don’t know.” That appeared to concern the guard more than if he had known there was a problem.
A superior was called.
Then another official.
Eventually a Hunter Guild representative arrived.
The man approached quickly, looked around, and frowned.
“Where is Hunter Kael?” Kael raised a hand.
The official stared at him.
“Kael?” “Yes.” “The Unmeasured Hunter?” Kael looked at his identification.
“Apparently.” Rhea rubbed her forehead.
She had heard that exact conversation enough times.
The Guild official inspected the card and checked the Greyhaven authentication mark.
Everything was legitimate.
“No issue.
Unmeasured classifications are simply rare enough that we’re required to verify them when they enter a major city.” “Okay.” The official waited, perhaps expecting questions.
Kael had none.
The guards opened the way.
No argument.
No threats.
No offended authority.
Kael liked Veyrun already.
The city beyond the walls was considerably more impressive than Greyhaven.
Broad stone streets divided enormous districts.
Multi-story inns stood beside merchant houses, weapon shops, restaurants, workshops, apothecaries, Guild facilities, and monster-material stores.
Hunters wearing equipment Kael hadn’t seen in Greyhaven moved through the crowds.
Street performers occupied several corners.
Food vendors occupied considerably more.
Kael’s head turned.
Rhea noticed.
“No.” “Didn’t say anything.” “Inn first.” “Restaurant.” “Inn.” “Food.” Rhea thought quickly.
“The good inns have restaurants.” Kael stopped.
“Fine.” Rhea’s eyes narrowed.
That had been disturbingly easy.
They eventually selected the Golden Hearth, a large inn near Veyrun’s central market.
It wasn’t the most luxurious building in the district, but it was clean, warm, busy, and according to the sign outside, famous for its kitchen.
Rhea immediately approved.
The innkeeper smiled.
“How many rooms?” “Two,” Rhea said.
“One is enough,” Kael said simultaneously.
Rhea slowly turned.
“Two.” “I don’t sleep much.” “That isn’t the issue.” “What issue?” Rhea stared at him.
Kael genuinely didn’t know.
“Two rooms.” The innkeeper wisely wrote down two rooms.
After receiving their keys, Rhea went to inspect hers.
Kael entered his own room.
Bed.
Table.
Chair.
Window.
Simple.
He sat on the mattress.
Then pressed one hand against it.
Soft.
Kael lay down.
Several minutes later, Rhea knocked before opening his door.
“Master, I’m going to—” She stopped.
Kael was lying perfectly still.
“Master?” No response.
Rhea became concerned.
Then Kael spoke.
“This is good.” She stared.
“The bed?” “Yes.” “Don’t tell me you forgot what beds feel like.” Kael thought about his last century.
Caves.
Stone floors.
Trees.
Occasionally something resembling a shelter.
Once, the hollow interior of a dead creature because it had been raining.
“It’s been a while.” Rhea closed her eyes.
First seasoning.
Now beds.
Apparently she had more work ahead of her than expected.
After bathing and changing clothes, Rhea dragged Kael into the central market.
She needed replacement supplies, clothing, and several pieces of training equipment.
Kael needed nothing.
He still returned carrying food from four different stalls.
They entered a monster-material shop while Rhea searched for maintenance oil.
A massive claw sat inside a glass display.
The shopkeeper noticed Kael looking.
“Beautiful specimen, isn’t it?
Ironback Ravager.
Dangerous deep-region predator.
Took an entire Gold hunting party to bring it down.” Kael recognized it.
“Those taste terrible.” Silence.
The shopkeeper blinked.
“You’ve…eaten one?” “Several.” Rhea grabbed Kael’s arm.
“We’re leaving.” “I didn’t buy anything.” “Exactly.” Their next stop was a weapon shop.
Rhea spent considerably longer there.
Eventually she found a training blade with excellent balance and reinforced construction.
She tested it several times before checking the price.
Then she put it back.
Kael noticed.
“You like it?” “It’s good.” “Then get it.” “My current one still works.” Kael picked up the blade.
He paid.
Rhea stared.
“Master.” “Hmm?” “I can pay for it.” “I know.” “Then why did you?” Kael handed her the weapon.
“You’re my disciple.” Rhea became quiet.
The answer was so simple that she didn’t immediately know what to say.
She accepted the blade carefully.
“Thank you.” Kael nodded.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then Kael added, “Your old one was bad.” Rhea’s smile disappeared.
“You couldn’t let me have five seconds?” “Five seconds of what?” She walked away.
Kael followed, genuinely confused.
Dinner at the Golden Hearth began shortly after sunset.
Kael ordered enough food that the server initially assumed he was ordering for several people.
Rhea introduced him to different dishes.
Roasted river fish.
Herbed potatoes.
Pepper stew.
Cheese-filled bread.
Spiced monster steak.
Kael tasted each carefully.
“Steak is first.” Rhea looked at him.
“Fish second.” “Are you ranking them?” “Yes.” “Potatoes?” “Fourth.” Rhea pointed at him.
“You complained because I turned your praise into rankings.” “This is different.” “How?” Kael ate another piece of steak.
“Food matters.” Rhea looked personally offended.
“My training matters!” “Yes.” “Apparently less than steak!” Kael thought.
Rhea pointed threateningly.
“Choose your next words carefully.” Kael continued eating instead.
Later, when the noise of dinner had softened, Rhea leaned back.
“Master.” “Hmm?” “Do you regret leaving?” Kael looked at her.
“The Hollow Depth.” He became quiet.
A century there had taught him almost everything he knew about his abilities.
It had given him time.
Strength.
Control.
Patience.
He didn’t hate those hundred years.
But Kael looked around.
Warm food covered the table.
People laughed nearby.
A comfortable bed waited upstairs.
Beyond the windows was an enormous city he hadn’t explored.
Rhea sat across from him holding the new training blade he had bought her.
“No.” Just one word.
Rhea smiled.
She understood.
A Guild messenger interrupted them shortly afterward.
“Hunter Kael?” “Yes.” “The Veyrun Guildmaster would like to meet you tomorrow regarding the report received from Greyhaven.” “Tomorrow?” “Yes.” “Fine.” The messenger bowed politely and left.
Rhea stared after him.
“That was surprisingly normal.” Kael looked toward her.
“What time?” Rhea paused.
Neither of them had asked.
Kael shrugged.
“Then whenever I wake up.” Rhea suddenly felt sorry for the Guildmaster.
Before they left the dining room, the server returned carrying a small plate.
“Compliments of the kitchen.
Local honey-cream pastries.” Kael picked one up.
Took a bite.
Stopped.
Rhea saw his expression.
“Oh no.” Kael looked toward the server.
“More.” The woman laughed.
Rhea stared at the remains of their enormous dinner.
“Master, you’ve eaten enough for six people.” Kael considered that.
“I can occupy multiple positions.” “That doesn’t mean you have multiple stomachs.” Another Kael appeared in the empty chair beside him.
Rhea stared.
The second Kael picked up a pastry.
“THAT STILL COUNTS AS THE SAME PERSON!” Kael ate it anyway.
One hundred years in the Hollow Depth had allowed him to master Veyrion, Nihyrium, Absolute Spatial Sense, and the terrifying power of his Domains.
Yet on his first evening in Veyrun, Kael discovered something the Hollow Depth had never been able to provide.
Dessert.
And judging by the empty plate several minutes later, civilization had finally found something capable of defeating his self-control.
the link is in the synonyms.