Into the streets.

The warm air of the Dueling Doves' tavern washes over you. You try to take it all in, still somewhat surprised that you can actually leave your zone. But the door Robin has lead you through is shut now. You're half tempted to see if it's locked behind you, but stop short. You're free. If you can never go back, you couldn't care less. You turn back to Robin, smiling wide, and the two of you slip through the crowd and out into the city.

The sun is low enough to be hidden behind the winding streets of Saint-Valognes. The day is dying, and the night is young. As you move throughout the streets, you stare wide eyed at the activity in the town. Artisans and street merchants pack up their wares, bidding farewell to the few straggling customers. Children rush through crowds and alleys, playing games with imaginary swords and magic. The town crier's news of wandering goblin hordes takes flight over the general mumble of conversation. Soon enough, you begin to see the more elite, the aristocrats and their ilk, ambling to parties and gatherings with their educated wealthy friends.

You stop on a bridge, staring out over the winding river, surrounded on both sides by the beautiful city. It's... It's... Fake. You see it in the eyes of the artisan, hear it in the tones of the crier, recognize the boredom of the boatmen ferrying heroes around. Everyone is... Just like you. Like the you that sat in that damned basement believing your life was set in stone. Everyone here had a path, a clock, a rigid rule set determining their every move in life.

Robin lays a hand over your own, joining you overlooking the water. "So you see it too, huh? You're special y'know? Not many have the guts to even take the risk. To take that step you can't take back."

Who is this girl? You've never known anyone who could even see past your bare bones quest. Hell, most people probably wouldn't remember your name, if the quest didn't remind them. But Robin... She sees it all. You don't get a chance to respond, as she suddenly jumps off the bridge.

"ROBIN?!"

"WOOHOOO!!"

thump

You look down, shocked and prepared for the worst. You find her having landed safely on the front of a small boat, joining two heroes and the boatman. She waves you down hurriedly... Well, nothing ventured.

thump

Wow. Okay. Wow. You land a bit less gracefully, but solidly on the boat. The boatman eyes you both in shock, but simply grumbles under his breath and continues rowing. The two heroes watch you less in shock or surprise, but seem to be almost approving of your sudden arrival. "Quite the dive there, you two. Gods, wish we'd thought of that, huh? Still, the tour is nice. Worth the coin."

Robin bows in a dramatic flourish. "Thank you, thank you. We do try and entertain, in't that right?" She elbows you jokingly. You nod silently, not believing this. The four of you continue the boat trip, chatting with the heroes about quests and boss battles outside of town. They don't even seem to realize that you aren't like them. You could pick them out from a crowd of your fellows no problem. You suppose somehow that glaring difference isn't as obvious for them.

They bid you farewell when you all step off the boat at a dock. You and Robin continue through some of the alleyways. "I can't believe it. They couldn't even tell that I was a quest giver. Shouldn't they... How come...?"

"They don't really think too hard about certain things. They see two people jumping from a bridge to a boat, they assume they're heroes. Usually that's not a bad assumption. But then they don't see people like us a lot."

"Like... Us..." You look at her, finally understanding. You see this Robin in a whole new light. She hadn't just fooled the heroes with her bravado and charm. You'd never have guessed that she was -

"I'm a kitchen servant. Or, I guess I was. That was about a year ago now. Probably. One day I just got fed up with it all. With the heroes stealing from us and perving on me. With the nobles talking down to me. I decided the lives some heroes had told me about in their flirting did sound pretty appealing. So I stole some equipment from a friend of mine and left. Never went back. Never will."

You both feel bad for her and perfectly understand. On one hand, there are people at the guild you'll miss. But the second you were through that door, something in you sparked. You were free of your chains, and weren't about to risk slipping back into them.

"I see. Robin... Thank you."

You were leaning against a wall to listen to her story. You're surprised when all of a sudden she's right before you. You're pressed between the cold stone and her small, warm body. "I'm just glad not to be... Well, alone, yeah?" She has to stand on her toes to reach you, even as you look down into her eyes. The two of you stand alone in the cool night air, and you eagerly kiss her back.