Heeding the old man's words, Sirius slips out from the square before he's apprehended.
Wandering the city, it becomes all the more clear how many people there really are. Humanoids and beast people bustle about everywhere he looks. Each one with their own lives and desires... All of them appear so unique and colorful...
And then there's him.
Apart from his clothing, he doesn't look too out of place. If anything, he looks so uninteresting it makes him stand out...
-I don't think I belong here...
Luckily, the further from his hole in the ground, the fewer glares he receives. Instead of the frequent "Witch Spawn," it turned into "Is that a Witch Spawn?" and eventually "Why is he covered in dirt?"
Stumbling along without a clear objective, he arrives at a road dotted with stores.
-I can understand what people are saying. But... I can't read any of this.
He stands in front of a sign attached to a square building. It is painted with white foreign symbols. Under the characters is an image in the relative shape of a bed.
Pressing his forehead against the glass, he peers into the building via a window. It seems it may be an inn.
"Hey, pal."
Someone taps his shoulder. Sirius whips his head around to find a young man with yellow, bird-like feathers.
"Hm? Sorry, am I in your way?"
"No, not at all," the guy glances over at the building's entrance. "You looking for a place to spend the night?"
"Uh..." Thinking logically, he does need a place to stay. Being alone in a foreign world, it'd probably be smart to find a place to crash. "Yeah, sure..."
"Well, this is the best place for that, trust me. Their service is top-tier," he winks.
"Right... I'll go check it out then..." Sirius creeps away from the guy, his back pinned against the wall. He shifts toward the entrance, the bird-man maintaining eye contact the entire time.
Sirius steps under the small arch acting as a doorway, entering the building. Strangely, there isn't a door. Come to think of it, there aren't many doors to any of the buildings. Only a select few have wooden ones, contrasting with their gray, stone buildings. The inhabitants here are either very trusting or very stupid. Or, of course, it could just be their culture.
A hairy man with a stubby snout sits behind a counter. Sirius slowly approaches, getting in line behind a stranger. The interior is comfortable. Off to the right is a long hallway, with about half a dozen doors lining the wall. A staircase to the left crosses over the counter and leads up into another hallway on top of the other.
Candles are dotted throughout the room, creating a dimly lit environment. One on the counter, one next to the sofa by the entrance, and a few spread across the walls... It almost feels... romantic.
-I look so suspicious right now.
The person in front of him finishes their business and steps aside, their tail wagging happily.
"Next," the hairy fellow behind the counter pronounces. Sirius steps up awkwardly.
"H-hi... is this an inn?"
"A what?"
"An inn. Like... a place to stay overnight?"
"That's one way to put it," he says, about to laugh. Does the term "inn" not hold any meaning in this world? He rests his hand on his cheek, clearly very amused. "Uh, look, you got money?"
-Shit.
"Oh, no, I'm broke-"
"Then you should probably get out of here, kid. You seem a little young anyway."
The person previously in front of Sirius is seductively grabbed by a slender woman with a tail. She wears a very revealing outfit, leading the man down the hallway into a dark room. They both enter and close the door behind them.
...
"Ah, you're probably right..."
Sirius shamefully walks himself out of the structure and discovers the bird-man laughing hysterically.
*****
The sky is blue with scattered clouds. Even in a presumably different world, weather seems to work the same. It's hot. The sun's rays beat down on Sirius and his matted hair.
Dawdling down the streets, they all begin to look the same.
Gray walls, crowds of people, unsaturated colors...
This city is loud. To the point of almost being obnoxious.
Sirius's life on Earth had been a quiet one. This contrast of sound and activity is jarring.
He feels maddeningly out of place.
-Why... am I here? Is this really... a second chance?
...
Continuing along an unset path, the heat retreats him into an alleyway.
-I'm hot. I'm broke. Does money even work the same here? I can't read. I'll probably need to learn a new language. Though I guess I can already speak it... What should-
thud
A sturdy man bumps into Sirius's side and continues stomping along.
-What is wrong with people...
The boy presses on through the shaded maze and is bumped into by another.
"Filthy Witch Spawn... Watch where you're going."
The person spits on Sirius's shoes, disgust coursing through their every movement.
"..."
-Witch Spawn, huh... What does that mean? Is that what humans are referred to as? That would mean other humans are here, right? Are humans... am I... that unwelcome here?
...
Splash
Suddenly, a huge pail of water pours onto Sirius's head.
A silent frustration boils within the boy. What is it now...?
His hair drapes over his lightless eyes. It's cold. Despite now being soaked, at least it isn't hot anymore. Now he's freezing. He purses his lips and turns around.
"Sorry, friend, you looked a little tousled."
It's a younger lad, with loose-fitting clothing and sharp eyes. Two others stand behind him, one holds in a laugh, and the other scratches their head. They don't exactly carry themselves as mean-spirited people. But not trustworthy either.
"I don't even know what that means, but... thanks... I guess?" Sirius gives them a shallow thumbs-up.
They are confused by his gratitude but continue grinning anyway.
Sirius turns around, ready to walk away, but stops and pivots back towards the group. It's a good chance to get some more information. "Random question, where are we?"
The three of them stop smiling and glance at each other. One of them whispers, "What did you put in that water??"
"I didn't do anything to the water!" The guy inspects his bucket. "Uh, hey, you didn't like... hit your head or something earlier? Your brain seems a little tousled, too."
-What does tousled even mean?!
Sirius bears a blank expression.
"Never mind, I'll just... go."
Sirius sluggishly rotates and power walks away. Now very wet.
*****
Dragging his feet, he hangs his head toward the floor. He stalks his shadow as he walks, leaving a trail of water behind him. This, of course, further increases the gaze of others.
Finding a quiet spot to relax, Sirius sits against the hard wall of an empty alley. He rests on a corner, just against the border of sunlight and shade, with a perfect view of the city's life.
...
A gentle breeze brushes by. It feels pleasant against his skin. But also a bit chilly, he still isn't quite dry.
Taking in the moment, he thinks back to when he was little.
He used to always say he wanted to travel. To go out and explore the world... Go on adventures... Experience new things...
He stares at his palms.
-Now look at me...
"What am I even doing...?"
...
...