(Samuel's POV)
The cold never bothered me.
At least it didn't bother me until recently.
I would just wear the typical two layers in winter, which weren't even that thick to begin with. I would endure the cold winds, feeling just a bit of shivering, and eventually bear with it. It has been like that since I was a child. My Mother would constantly scold me for not wearing thick layers in the winter, always worried that I would freeze to death.
But the fire in my heart would warm my body up.
That's what I would tell her.
The cold never bothered me.
But now, it's starting to annoy me.
"Ugh..." I said in frustration as my horse snorted, "This is getting on my nerves."
I slowly rode through the streets of Nourenth, a City in the center of the Western Region of the Abaddon Kingdom. It was a sizeable city and considered the "Capital" of the Western Region. There were other cities and towns in the Region, but Nourenth was the wealthiest, with more influence from the Noble Families.
It had major trades, like exporting wine and other items that I barely paid attention. Two Great Families resided here and controlled the major businesses. Nourenth was indeed a major city that would garner attention, with massive stone buildings that reached nearly 100 feet tall. The entire city layout resembled a massive circle, with some expanding wings on the north and eastern side of the city; that is where the wine and booze factories were.
Because of the wine and booze businesses booming in this city, the number of taverns and bars was far more than one can remember. And even despite the number, it wouldn't be impossible to consider them all successful businesses. That just means that the people of this city had a serious alcoholic problem if those bars can thrive.
Well, not like it mattered to me. I'm just a Hunter.
As I rode through, I saw some workers shoveling the snow out of the streets, considering that the snowfall had ceased slightly. They had their shovels and wheelbarrows ready, making sure that the street was clear of the snow.
I would simply look at them as they continued this, making my way past them. I then focused my attention ahead, seeing how some of the guards were escorting what I assumed were people they've just recently arrested.
"I didn't do nothing wrong!" I heard a short man with long hair say, "I swear it!"
"Yea, yea." The man in silver armor with a yellow crest of an owl said, "Carry on, dammit."
"It was the Orcs, those fucking green-skins!" the man said
The Guard smacked him in the back of the head, "Shut the hell up."
I merely kept riding past them, noticing that they caught a glimpse of me. I stayed quiet, still glancing at them as I kept going.
It was a typical day for a city like Nourenth, with some fools making trouble for everyone.
"Hm...." I said as I kept riding
Eventually, I reached a large building that had a small stable to the side. The building had a large sign up in front that read "The Wretched Bear".
It was an inn that belonged to a woman that I saved a few years back. She was attacked by a Frenzied Bear, which is ironic since she's owned this Inn for years, inheriting it from her father. The reason for the name was some dumb story about a bear that saved his family.
Irony, I'm telling you.
I reached the small stable and noticed a young man walking over to me as I dismounted. He was wearing a thick coat and a fur cap, his body was shivering.
"Master Samuel, you're passing through?" he said as I handed him the reins of the horse
"Yea, something like that. I had a job in a farmstead nearby." I said, pulling out a gold coin and giving it to him, "Hey, take care of Liz for me, okay?"
"Of course!" He said, "Some sugar cubes for the beauty!"
I patted his shoulder, "I leave her in your care."
Liz nudged me from behind, letting out a neighing.
I looked at her and chuckled, "Hey, calm down, girl." He said, "Just rest as much as you need to."
"Staying the night?" the stableboy asked
"Yea, might as well." I said, making my way to the front door, "I think a snowstorm might hit the area, I don't know. I feel like I should warm up."
"Haha! Yea, you should." He said
I opened the front door and walked through, being hit with the aroma of freshly cooked lamb stew and potatoes. I walked down the initial hallway, making a right to a large room with some wooden tables lined up. To the end, there was a fireplace with a fire burning.
On one of the tables, there was a man eating, wearing a thick black coat. He didn't seem to notice, solely focused on his food; a bowl of stew and a piece of hot bread.
I walked over to the table furthest to the back of the room, sitting down and taking off my hat, placing it on the table.
"Hm....." I said as I patted my shoulder; some snow was on it
"Well, if it isn't Samuel Greyclaw." I heard a voice say
I looked up to see a mature blonde woman walking towards me. She was wearing a casual dress with a fur coat over it, but despite that, I was able to tell that this woman was curvaceous and plump, her beautiful fair skin glowing even more due to the light of the candles.
Her beautiful brown eyes were staring right at me as she walked over to me, her hair bouncing slightly as it was tied in a ponytail.
She was the owner of the Inn and the woman I saved a year back. It happened just outside Nourenth too; she was traveling back from visiting her aunt on another town when she was attacked by a Frenzied Bear. I happened to be right on the path when I casually pulled out my gun and downed the beast in a single shot.
She was so thankful for saving her life that she said that she would owe me forever.
I didn't really want to take that seriously.
"Oh, Miss Janie." I said with a slight smile, "How's it going?"
"Look at you." She said with a smile, "You're growing faster by the day, aren't you? You look taller. You're what, 6'4?"
"Something like that." I said, "How have you been?"
"I've been doing good." She said, "Want something to eat?"
"That'd be great." I said
"I'll bring you a bowl of stew with potatoes." She said with a warm smile, "What brings you to Nourenth? Business or pleasure?"
"Both." I said with a chuckle, "Both Business and Pleasure. I got a job waiting for me...."
"And I am here to meet with someone."