A.N.: O hey~ I am back. The first chapter is going to be really short but I just need this chapter mainly for a little bit more of the place settings.

The young man stepped into the large busy streets of the city. A black cloak covered him from shoulder to the ankle of his boots and a cowl covered his face. A sword was strapped to his hip on a belt and a small contracted bow was hooked beside it. Of course, not that anyone besides the young man knew of the weapons he carried.

"Welcome to the city, young man." The elderly guard at the front of the city gate said gruffly, "Enjoy your time here."

"Thank you." The response was short and curt but did not carry any hostility.

Most of the people that the young man had met and introduced know him as Rider. Nothing more, nothing less. Just Rider. In the short time they might have gotten to know him, they could probably discover the fact that he wasn't talkative and preferred action over talks. He was fast on his feet and was alert all the time. No one had ever seen him relax, he was always tensed.

He observed his surroundings. The busy city was a good place for him to rest a few weeks before moving on. He had been traveling for the past month, getting from cities to cities. He was a traveler that was all. He never stayed in a place more than two months. After his father's death, followed by his uncle and the most recent, his companion Jack, he was alone. He didn't know where he was heading, nor did he had a destination in mind.

The young man looked around for an inn to stay for the time. This city was a decent place and he hoped to stay peacefully here for a few weeks before he had to go on. He had a nasty encounter with a beast while he was in the mountains and the claw wound across his chest still hadn't healed fully. He might get a doctor to look at it while he was here. That is after he got a job and had enough money to pay for one.

A loud commotion near one of the inns drew his attention. He observed the inn for a moment. It wasn't fancy but it wasn't poorly run down either. With a number of customers, it probably was a decently popular inn. He made his way into the inn, ignoring the large crowd in front.

"What can I get for you?" The bartender asked gruffly as the young man sat down in front of him.

"Are you hiring?" The young man asked as he tapped the wooden bar with his finger.

The bartender noticed the long slender and delicate looking finger and sighed, "I am betting that you have never done any rough works before."

"I can do any works." He offered.

"You sound young." The bartender said cautiously.

The young man flipped off his cowl, revealing a head of light brown-blond hair. He had bright brown eyes that did not really match the serious features of his face, "I am old enough."

"How old are you?" The bartender asked then added, "An honest number."

The young man looked surprised then he smiled slightly. It was that instant that the bartender knew that he wasn't dangerous, "Seventeen."

Twenty was the working number but the bartender shrugged, "What can you do?"

The young man faltered for a moment then he lifted his right hand and counted it off, "I can cook. I can wash things. I think I am patient enough." He frowned, "I think I can fight."

"You can fight?" The bartender asked.

"Yes."

"Well?"

"Decently, I will say."

The bartender jerked his head toward the commotion outside, "Reckon that you can beat the champion?"

"Champion?" The young man turned toward the commotion, "What is going on?"

The bartender scrutinized him, "Are you new to this part?"

He nodded, "Just arrived."

"And you are looking for a job right after?" He sounded incredulous.

"Don't have a place to stay if I don't have a job." The young man shook his head slightly.

"I see." The bartender said as he sat down the glass that he was wiping for a while, "We have a weekly fight, just a small one, outside of here. Bets are made on the winner and the winner gets twenty-five cops. They compete in a lot of things, I will tell you, and all of them are fights. Swordsmanship, hand to hand, knives, bows, and such."

"Is twenty-five cops a lot?" The young man asked.

The bartender looked around and pointed at a table near them, "That gentlemen's meal is about ten cops."

The young man nodded thoughtfully. It should sustain his food problem for about a day, but long enough to look for a work.

"How do I compete?"

The bartender grinned, "I still haven't gotten to that part, young man. If you win, I will give you a job here. If you don't, well, tough luck. Deal?"

"Alright." They shook on it.

"Name is Devon." The bartender said as he stood up, heading toward the crowd outside, "What's your name, young man?"

The young man paused for a moment then replied, "Rider. Just call me Rider."

"Rider." Devon smiled slightly, "It suits you."

Alex pulled his cowl back up, covering his face but the bartender still saw the small smile before he disappeared into the crowd.

O.O I honestly don't know why I kept writing short chapters lately... But next one will be longer, promise~