<div style="text-align: center"><div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/7aYdyju.jpg" title="7aYdyju.jpg">
<img alt="7aYdyju.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/7aYdyju.jpg" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/7aYdyju.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="" title="" width=""/>
<span style="display: inline !important;"><img alt="7aYdyju.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="https://i.imgur.com/7aYdyju.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" jw4gqm98z="" src="https://i.imgur.com/7aYdyju.jpg" style="" title="" width=""/></span>
</div>
<br/>​</div>Marek took a bath and his clothing was washed by the inn's staff. By the time he was ready to go and explore the small town he felt much better. He also looked a bit different; he did not carry his entire bit of traveling gear and was dressed in simple monk's clothing. His<i>keikogi</i>was made up of two colors. Orange for the<i>uwagi</i>, or shirt - which was lightly padded, and<i>zubon</i>, for the trousers. His feet were shod in what most might think of as slippers, though the soles were a nicely worn leather and quite soft and comfortable as well as quiet. Other than this he had a small pouch with some money tucked and secured behind a specially sewn patch on his trousers to prevent easy thievery.<br/><br/>He garnered a few odd looks as he made his way along the streets, hands clasped behind his back as he walked easily. He'd been invited to dinner by Sybille, over at 'The Sleeping Giant'. Since she had made the invitation he secretly hoped that she would help pay for his meal. Monks did not make much coin, and he'd spent quite a lot for the various bits of equipment, as well as the horse and carriage.<br/><br/>As he got closer to the fine inn he felt himself grow a bit nervous. He had little experience with women, much less beautiful elven women, and it was an odd feeling. He'd faced the assassins of The First with no fear, but when faced with simple beauty his stomach felt odd.<br/><br/>Pushing open the doors he looked around the<a class="link link--external" href="https://i.imgur.com/mVYLq4f.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">common room.</a>The place seemed quite busy and raucous, with obvious gambling taking place, music filling the air, and a woman dressed in silks dancing and twirling on a table near the back. It was quite a lot to take in, but then a familiar voice cut through the din. It was Sybille! She waved him over and as he moved he spotted the feline woman that had been back in Starfall! He did not know her name, but it seemed that Sybille was making friends. That was good! They could use all the help they could get.<br/><br/>Sybille introduced him and Marek bowed.<b><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">"It is a pleasure to meet you."</span></b><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)"> </span>he said as he straightened, and gave the feline a slight smile. She was... interesting. Like with Sybille he had little experience with women. He had met and even sparred with several anthro martial artists, but none of them had been female. In fact, to the men of his order, they were known as "pneumafera", literally meaning 'spirit animal' or 'soul animal'. Many viewed them as little more than beasts, but Marek found them fascinating. They were typically well equipped for a life of adventure, and brought various traits that humans simply did not have.<br/><br/>He could see the various scrolls that the lovely pneumafera had, and he gestured to a seat at the table.<b><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">"May I?"</span></b>he asked, looking between the women, and assuming that they were all eating together unless told otherwise.