Orario

Looking around the forest, I spread my soul like a net, catching everything in my sight, and I saw mountains and plains, cross-referencing my surroundings with the map. I determined my location.

After determining my destination 'Labyrinth City Orario,' I turned in that direction and infused my soul into my legs, strengthening and running in a straight line, dodging the trees if necessary.

Like a streak of light, if anyone would see it, they would only see a blur pass them.

-

Looking ahead, I saw a giant wall surrounding a city. Slowing down to a walking speed, I slowly approached the gate.

There, I saw lines of carts waiting one by one. Approaching it, I waited patiently at the back.

Some people saw me, and the look of shock was prominent on their faces. Even with the cloth covering part of my face, my beauty seemed exceptional.

"She's quite the looker, is she alone?" one adventurer whispered.

"Well, she came into the line without anyone accompanying her, so she must be alone," his partner replied.

"You know I can hear you, right?" I turned to them.

"Ah, haha, sorry, lady. We are just surprised at how beautiful you are," the adventurers nervously replied.

"I usually don't like people staring at me with such eyes, but I will let you off this time. But do keep in mind, do not look at me with such eyes ever again," I dismissively said.

Rather than being scared, the adventurer seems enraged by my comment.

"Who do you think you are, bitch? You must come from a high family to think you're high and mighty, always watching from the high ground, but you're just a weak blind woman without any guards protecting you," the adventurer was about to reach for the sword, but the guard at the gate heard the commotion.

"OI, no violence in the vicinity of Orario!" the guard shouted.

That quickly calmed down the adventurer and returned him to his group. He glared at me. "You better hope you don't see me on the streets." With that comment, he left through the gate.

And with my turn to be questioned.

"Hello, beautiful lady, if you do not mind, we will need you to answer some questions for you to enter the city," a friendly-looking guard.

"You may go ahead," I attentively listen.

"Why do you want to enter Orario?"

"I'm trying to settle down inside the city."

"Alright, and why do you wear a blindfold?"

"Because I'm blind, can't you tell?" I scoff at the stupid question.

"I'm sorry, lady, but this is protocol."

"Next question, will you be an adventurer or a citizen?" the guard added.

"I think I will live here as a citizen, though I can wield a sword, I do not wish to anymore."

"Alright, last question, what's your name, lady?"

"I go by the name Xián yǎ."

"OK, Xian ya, you may pass." With a gentle smile and a hand wave, he motioned a welcome.

Walking inside, I saw many people pass and go, trying to do their agenda, and I, of course, joined the crowd to find somewhere to stay.

-

-Guard POV-

"Hey Belk, why didn't you assign a guide for that blind woman that passed?" a voice came from my side.

"You don't understand, Lyne. That woman is not blind, not visually at least. The way she carries herself is like a seasoned warrior, steady steps, always ready to counter any attacks."

"Then if you were to have a duel with her, who would win?"

"Well, I can't accurately tell because she doesn't seem to have a weapon on her, but she mentioned she used to wield a sword. But most likely, I would lose."

"Huh, why?" Lyne made a perplexed face.

"The same reason she doesn't carry a sword, she is confident she could take anyone without any weapon, or she is arrogant enough to think so."

"I would bet on the former because no one can travel alone to Orario without a weapon. Monsters still roam outside these lands, don't forget that," Belk added.

-

-MC POV-

Asking the locals about inns and workplaces, most of them recommended Hostess of Fertility as they provide a room and a place to work as a waitress.

The thought of serving someone else detests me, but I need to throw this pride away as I am but a shell of my prime.

A pub is the best way to attain information, with gossip and drunken blabber to go around.

Asking around the locals about the location of Hostess of Fertility, they gave me directions with pitiful gazes. "Poor girl, forced to work even when she is blind," they must think. It is sickening to be pitied upon.

Walking in the direction of the Hostess of Fertility, I asked around again about Hostess of Fertility.

"Excuse me, do you know where Hostess of Fertility is?" I asked a black short-haired cat person.

"Oh, I work at Hostess of Fertility. I'm going there as well. Follow me, nya." She walked in a direction, and I quietly followed.

After some silence, the cat person initiated a conversation.

"So, why are you going to Hostess of Fertility, nya?"

"I'm currently looking for a place to stay and work, and from the locals, Hostess of Fertility is the best place for it."

"Oh? Are you not from the city, nya?" a question mark floated above her head.

"No, I just arrived just recently."

"Then are you a retired adventurer, nya?"

"Why do you think so?"

"I've seen a lot of adventurers while working in here, and a lot of them walk just like you, nya."

"Is that so? Well, to answer your question, I used to fight people for fun but not anymore. Now I just want to live a peaceful life away from the battlefield," I reminisce about my past life.

"Wow, is the reason you won't fight anymore because of that blindfold?"

"That is part of the reason why I'm not fighting anymore," I dismissively said.

"Well, anyway, we made it! Welcome to Hostess of Fertility, nya," she added.

"Ah, by the way, my name is Chloe. Nice to meet you, nya," she cheerfully said.

"It is nice to meet you. My name is Xián yǎ. I hope we get along well," I emotionlessly said.

"Xian ya? What a weird name, nya."

We both entered Hostess of Fertility and heard a booming voice.

"Chloe is here, Mama Mia," she announced her arrival.

"CHLOE, WHERE WERE YOU IN THE MORNING?" a commanding voice resonated inside the building.

"NYA!!" Chloe quickly hid behind me while a stomping quickly approached us.

"Chloe, I said you need to come in here at seven, and you came at EIGHT," the owner of the voice came into view as a giant woman angrily looked at us.

"Huh, who is this?" Mama Mia looked at me.

"Mama Mia, she wants to work in here," Chloe peeked over my shoulder.

"A blind lady to work at my establishment? Sorry, lady,

 but I can't hire you," Mama Mia made a shooing motion.

I try my hardest to suppress my pride to lash out.

"Even if my vision is impaired, I can clearly see the surroundings just fine, just like that table, with a towel on it." I pointed at a certain table.

Mama Mia raised her eyebrow and looked at the table I pointed at.

"Well, you prove me wrong, little lady, but can I ask why you want to work here?"

"Because of my impaired vision, I'm no longer fit for the battlefield, so I'm here to work and retire as a warrior."

"Oh, you used to fight? Then I welcome you to my establishment," Mama Mia grinned and welcomed me with open arms.