Percy's strides gradually slowed as his breathing became uneven.
"My legs are getting sore from all this walking."
"Damn you, Silia. I'll remember this."
Eventually he dropped onto a public bench. With a groan he lifted one leg and began squeezing his aching thigh before moving to his calf.
Looking around, he estimated he was already near his neighborhood.
"Just a few more minutes of walking."
Several carriages rolled past from time to time, each one tempting him to flag one down.
Unfortunately the light weight of his pouch
quickly reminded him of his place.
After resting for a while and catching his breath, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"If I become this poor every time I buy something, I'll never live comfortably."
"Should I start a business or something?"
The idea wasn't entirely ridiculous. After all, he came from Earth. Surely there was something useful he could introduce.
Then his enthusiasm immediately deflated.
Right… and what exactly do I know how to make?
"A smartphone? I use one every day but have no idea how to make one. I don't even know how to make the charger for it."
Even his previous work required a computer that simply didn't exist here.
"As for my hobbies… they aren't even worth mentioning. Just doom-scrolling, watching animations, and reading novels."
"Eureka! I can write stories!"
"Fairy tales and adventure stories. Surely those would sell."
The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the idea sounded.
"Hahaha… I'm a genius."
His triumphant thoughts were suddenly interrupted.
A familiar sensation appeared instantly. Along with it Percy's smile vanished. He knew this feeling exactly. He had felt it before, three times. Slowly he rose from the bench. Without thinking he took a step, his feet naturally following the strange pull, and made his way toward a turn in the road.
But he managed to stop himself after exactly twenty seconds. Cold sweat formed on his back.
"Fuck. That was close."
Goosebumps erupted across his skin. The sensation was exactly the same — that inexplicable attraction, that urge to follow.
Percy stepped backward with sheer will. One step at a time, until he stopped once again.
"You have got to be kidding me."
The sensation was now behind him too.
Percy now stood in the middle of the street, unable to move backward or forward, while people walked around him without paying any attention.
"Fuck."
Now the sensation suddenly changed again. It wasn't merely pulling him anymore — it was getting closer at a rapid pace from both sides.
Percy had no intention of finding out who or what it was. So with every ounce of strength left in his sore legs, he sprinted to his left.
A newspaper shop happened to be nearby. The old shopkeeper looked up just in time to see a disheveled young man charging straight through the entrance.
"What in the—?" The newspaper slipped from his hands.
Percy didn't stop. Hiding wasn't an option. If whatever was causing the attraction was truly approaching him, staying still sounded like the worst possible idea.
He weaved between shelves and stacks of newspapers before spotting a doorway leading toward the back. Without hesitation he kicked it open. The door slammed against the wall with a loud thud as he rushed through.
A second later Percy burst into a narrow alley. His eyes immediately searched for another exit.
In the corner of his eye a rear entrance stood open across the alley. A man carrying a basket of trash had just stepped outside.
Percy accelerated without hesitation. Unfortunately the man barely had time to react before Percy came charging toward him.
"Huh?!"
The man toppled backward with a startled yell.
"Sorry!"
Percy shouted over his shoulder and entered the building, closing the door behind him.
He now found himself inside a kitchen with several people staring at him.
The sudden appearance of a sweating young man bursting through the back entrance caused several cooks to freeze mid-motion.
He awkwardly bowed his head while weaving through them.
"Excuse me."
"Sorry."
"Coming through."
The cooks instinctively stepped aside, too confused to stop him. Percy emerged into the dining area. The customers looked even more bewildered as he hurried between the tables, accidentally rattling several plates in the process.
He struck his knee on one of the tables and shouted.
"Bloody hell!"
Percy endured the burning pain in his legs and pushed through the restaurant's entrance.
The moment he reached the main road he glanced around frantically. The sensation he felt was weaker than before, but he wasn't interested in gambling with it.
A carriage happened to be passing nearby.
"Hey!"
He raised his arm, waving frantically. The driver seemed to notice and began slowing down, but before the carriage had even fully stopped Percy grabbed the handle and climbed aboard.
"Don't stop. Go. Now."
The driver was confused but obliged. Seeing the urgency on Percy's face he flicked the reins and quickened the pace.
"W-where to, sir?"
Percy looked out the window, checking behind them.
"Just go for now."
"…Alright."
The carriage continued through the streets with Percy remaining tense the entire time. Every few minutes he checked the surroundings.
About thirty minutes later he was certain that whatever had been drawing him before was gone.
The carriage rolled to a stop at a crossroads. Percy climbed out and handed the driver a copper crown. Before the man could object or ask for anything else Percy had already begun jogging away.
"Sir! Wait, where are you—?"
Percy didn't bother hearing the rest and disappeared down the street, leaving behind a bewildered carriage driver who had spent half an hour transporting a passenger whose only destination had apparently been away, and who had given only one copper crown for the trouble.
Percy quickened his pace. For once he didn't care much about his financial situation. After everything that had happened his nerves were exhausted and his legs felt like they were about to give out at any moment.
Right now being fed and getting some rest was far more important than saving a few copper crowns.
As such he began looking for an inn with a tavern attached to it.