Chapter 3: Inner city

Just the street outside had more people in it than Alduin had seen in a month. The people seemed larger than life to her, she stumbled behind silver who dodged and weaved through the crowded street with grace. They ducked under a man who had wooden skin and leaves as hair and stepped over a small woman with sharp pointed ears and blue skin and many more Alduin didn't have the time to take in as the two of them continued forward. She felt a warmth in her chest. She wanted to meet them, ask questions and learn just what they were, but that part of her was quickly muted again by another thing catching her attention.

Compared to the city outside these walls it was a welcome but overwhelming change, outside it was barren, cold the steel and ashcrete buildings blocking out the sun, leaving the streets barren to all but delivery drones that brought products into peoples homes rather than them needing to shop in person. The city here, from where she was, was teeming with life. The sun seemed to shine down on the shorter homes. Glancing a touch against one of the walls, it was made of mycelium, carved to look like stone bricks.

Silver finally slowed down and stopped dragging Alduin, teetering out into a strolling pace, it was only now that She realised Silver was talking. “Then we'll head to the apothecary, get you some meds and a checkup!" She looked at Alduin expectantly, Alduin felt her face flush in embarrassment and looked down, rubbing her shoulder idly. “I-I .. didn't catch much of what you said.. a-and whats an app- apothecary?"

“Ahh, right.. You probably don't know much about.. anything here really. So. Uhh, You know how we are all different creatures now, yeah?" Alduin nodded in response while silver gestured to the people brushing past them “Well, when this city was built, it was decided to lean into the fact that we look like fantasy things! It's kinda the culture here. When I say Apothecary or seamstress I just mean the doctor or .. well yeah seamstress still fits actually."

“Oh o-okay.. why a seamstress and not just.. a store?" Alduin asked quietly, the two turning a corner. The sound of people talking and chatting about getting louder as they walked, somewhere. “Like the bigger ones in Europa? We had those for a bit but we found that when we all look so different, its better to get stuff custom made. There's no standard size or anything. We also don't really have the facilities for it either.. Most tech from outside just.. stops working inside the walls!" She said with a quick laugh after seeing Alduin's curious look

The crowds got thicker. Alduin, looking up from the ground, saw that their surroundings had changed, from cramped streets to a wide open square. Stalls set up in rows with people selling all sorts to wanting customers. Handmade clothes ranging from fantastical cloaks and leathers, to modern jackets and dresses. Glass flasks, bottles filled with all sorts of colourful liquids. Freshly baked goods, candies, ingredients. She heard people haggling and the yelling of people advertising their crafts. The air was heavy with the scent of fresh food and spices, nearly making her eyes water with the intensity of it.

Silver spoke up yet again. “So! What should we do first? And don't worry about paying, I've got enough to spend for the both of us. We can try to get you a job once you're all healed up." Alduin nodded solemnly and glanced around the stalls, trying to decide. Before a twinge radiated from her shoulder, which she lightly rubbed while settling on her choice. “Is there anywhere we can get my arm looked at?.." Silver nodded with a smile and started to lead Alduin to a building on the outskirts of the square. A sign out front in bombastic hand painted text read, “Lady Reva's Remedies. All are welcome!" The pair walked in, a bell above the door chiming as they entered. The inside of the building was just as charming as the outside. Racks of glass bottles with slight glowing liquids, Self help and basic medicine books lined a shelf, body creams and moisturisers on another. The two walked past all these, Silver, instead of using the bell on the desk or knocking on the door behind it. Opted to yell, projecting her voice surprisingly loud.

“OY! STEVEN! Get your horse ass out here, I've got a friend that needs lookin at!" She would hear a muffled grunt and the sound of clopping from the back room. The door swung open as a man with the lower body of a horse with a human torso and body from the horse's neck and up. He towered above the two of them circular glasses, too large for his face, made his striking blue eyes larger, he would glance between the two of them, remaining full height and imposing “I have a bell for a reason silver. I would rather you don't yell in my premises. I don't want you scaring Reva." He said as he glared at Silver, who grinned back at him rather sheepishly, before his gaze moved to Alduin, who shrank in on herself instinctually. “Now who might you be? and what may I do to help you today?" He asked, his steely gaze softening as a soft smile grew. Alduin unzipped the top of her jacket and pushed it off her shoulder, revealing the bandages over her arm, now ruffled and stained slightly black over the wound.. “I-I just got here recently and got.. shot.. before I g-got in.. I-it still hurts and I want it checked properly." She mumbled out, pulling back up her jacket.

The centaur nodded and gestured toward the backroom door., stepping aside for the two to pass. “Of course, I have an examination room just back here." He opened the door and guided the two of them through. His cloven hooves click against the faux-wood floor. He guided through a store room, filled with pill bottles and liquid medicine. He brought the two into an examination room, a jarring difference to the rustic front, the exam room was white and pristine, a tiled floor and hospital bed against a wall. He gestured toward the bed and a chair “please, sit on the bed, silver, I have an extra chair for you in the corner. Now I'll just need some basic information about you. He pointed to Aldiuin. He lay down, his head now equal with silver, as he sets up a typewriter and begins to ask questions, the clicking of a typewriter filling the silence between.

“name?" Alduin swallowed, attempting to smother her stutter for the questioning “Alduin Parks." “age?" twenty-four ""date of birth?" “2101" “Current residence?" Alduin paused and looked at silver, who quickly interjected “12 Big-Home, South Kulvinar," Steven nodded as silver leaned back again, “and lastly. Reason for checkup?" “A b-bullet wound." He nodded and typed something out again, before pushing the top back with a loud ring and handed her the paper and a pen."Just sign, remove your jacket and lie down. I will be with you momentarily."

Alduin nodded and did as she was naked, signing the paper with her good arm and gently peeling off her jacket, now looking at it. She cringed as she realised it, was covered in grime and dirt, with tears and a large singed hole in its arm. Placing it down on the ground next to the table, she lay down as Steven walked up beside her.and began to gently unwrap the bandages. “Hmm.. no fresh bleeding but the wound is still inflamed. he gently pressed around the wound, his expression changed. “I can't feel any metal underneath the skin.. one moment"  he stands and takes a vial of a white, cloudy liquid off a shelf and pours it around the wound. Alduin's breath hitched as where the liquid touched began to shimmer before the skin began to completely disappear. Fear and a shiver shot up Alduin's spine. She felt a hand on her chest keeping her down, Steven had noticed her expression and was gently holding her down. “It is just a weakened invisibility potion, It will wear off in 30 minutes, I assure you no harm will come to you.. now.." he inspected the now transparent skin. he saw where the bullet had gone through, thankfully nothing major had been hit, however the bullet was nowhere to be found, there was no exit wound. 

“I have a question, Alduin. What type of dragon are you?" Alduin blinked, confusion written on her face “T-type? I-I don't know. How do I check?" “Preferably not in this room. Judging from your coloration and your blood, I have reason to believe you are an acid dragon. Tell me, do you feel a slight tingling in your chest?" Alduin tilted her head before focusing on how her body felt, besides the dull ache in her shoulder, when focusing on it, she felt a slight, bubbling tingle in her chest. She hadn't noticed it before and only now did when she focused on it. “Y-yes there is.. I-I had no idea, sir."

“Curious but not unheard of.. well.. I have reason to believe that your blood likely ate straight through the bullet.. fascinating" He leaned back, grabbing an unmarked tube of a creamy white liquid and beginning to spread some of it around and over the wound. “This salve will disinfect and help it to heal faster. Apply it once a day in the mornings and it should be back to normal in a week as long as it is kept clean and not strained." Alduin lightly rubbed her arm, taking in the fact she finally knew at least a little of what she was, rather than just a dragon. “acid.." she mumbled under her breath, as Steven began to apply fresh bandaging to it before handing silver the tube and some spare bandages.

Silver handed him what looked like small, blue crystals and thanked him, before giving Alduin back her coat and guiding her out the front. As they went to leave, Alduin saw Steven deposit those crystals in a register before he ushered them out the front. “I hope your wound heals well Alduin, as for you Silver. Thank you for being on your best behavior" A sly smile grew on his face as silver let out a loud barking laugh as they waved goodbye, the two of them merging back into the crowd.