by Pirateaba
That was the first time Ryoka had heard that opinion. She glanced at Val’s profile and his bent nose.
“You think so? No one else I’ve met shares your opinion.”
“Well, it’s a preference thing. And besides, you probably don’t know this, but Skills aren’t the same even for people with the same class.”
Ryoka had inferred something like that from comments from other Runners, but she hadn’t even heard it from the horse’s mouth so to speak. She let Val go on as they ran a slow circuit of the Floodplains of Liscor.
“Skills are—how should I describe them? They’re like a gamble, but a safe one. As you level up, you’ll definitely gain some good skills and some not so useful ones. But you can generally predict which ones you’ll get based on your class.”
“Ah. A pool of options?”
Val lifted a thumb up and inclined his head at her.
“Precisely. There are rare skills you can get like [Double Step], and not-so-rare ones. For instance, almost every [Warrior] is going to get [Thick Skin] if they go for close-range combat sooner or later. But they might get it at Level 5, or Level 50. Well—not Level 50.”
“Why not—wait, there are rare skills every 10 levels?”
“Good guess! Yeah, I got my [Double Step] skill at Level 30. And of course sometimes you can learn a rare skill, but that takes training and some luck. I suppose if you had a class you could learn something that allowed you to move faster but…”
“Not worth it. Right. But how can I run faster without classes?”
“With magic, of course. I’ve met people like you before. People without levels, I mean. That’s how they overcome the problem.”
Ryoka slowed and her foot skidded over a patch of ice. She caught herself and ran after Val as he paused for her to catch up.
“You have?”
“Yeah. I meet them now and then. People of all kinds choose not to level. Well, they’re not too common as you can imagine, but I do run across them now and then.”
“Are there any difference between them and others?”
“Attitude? They way they get treated? Nothing else.”
That was disappointing, but maybe…Ryoka tried to keep the conversation going while she thought.
“And you think I can become a Courier even without Skills? With magic?”
“It’s possible. You just need the right equipment—the right magic if you’ve got the talent. Not all Couriers are fast. Some run a bit slower than you, but can’t be stopped. There’s a [Marksman] among us who rides a horse. She snipes anyone getting in her way down from a two hundred feet away.”
“Hm. So build up my résumé until I’m famous enough, huh?”
“Your what? Oh, you mean take a lot of prestigious requests? Yeah. Get a name for yourself as a trusted Runner and it’ll happen. You just need to take requests no other Runner will do.”
“Well, I’m on a good start.”
“Oh? How so?”
Ryoka hesitated. But she’d talked honestly with Val so far, and she wanted to be on a level. Besides…she told him briefly about Teriarch’s request, leaving out all of the really interesting details.
Val whistled.
“Eight hundred gold pieces? You’re kidding. That’s…no wonder your guy was expecting a Courier.”
“Well, it was forty gold pieces and a potion until I started bargaining with him.”
“Hah!”
Val had to think as they ran on. Ryoka had asked him whether he knew of the lands past the Blood Fields, omitting any mention of undead or the person she had to find, Az’kerash.
“The Blood Fields? And the southern lands, huh? You’ve got a problem there, but I’m not sure I can help you. I’ve only been down that way once or twice.”
“Pity. I’ll manage.”
“You shouldn’t have to go in there uninformed, though. And while I might know—hold on, let me see if I can find the other Courier nearby.”
“What?”
Val reached into a pouch at his belt. He pulled out…a stone, of all things. It was vaguely like the one Teriarch had given Ryoka—a normal smooth stone, although this one was inscribed with glowing symbols rather than an arrow.
They lit up as Val touched a finger to the rock. Ryoka heard nothing, but Val must have heard a voice, because he began talking to the air as they ran.
“Ah, hello? Am I speaking to Hawk? This is Valceif of Free Landing. I’m in the area, and I was wondering if you had time to consult with me and another Runner. We’re just outside the city, running. Would you like to—? Thanks.”
He tucked the stone back into his pocket and looked at Ryoka.
“I’ve called Hawk, a Courier who does runs around here. He’ll be with us in a few seconds.”
That was no exaggeration. Barely ten seconds after Val had spoken, Ryoka spotted something hurtling towards them out of the city gate. She barely caught sight of the Runner himself; the snow geysering up behind him was what caught Ryoka’s eye. He intercepted the two Runners within seconds, and the snow cascaded down around them as Hawk, Beastkin, giant talking rabbit, and Courier of Liscor appeared.
“Valceif! I’m surprised they sent you down here!”
“Hello, Hawk. Well, you know how it is. You were busy, and I was nearby and they needed a rush job so here I am.”
The two Runners clasped…hands. Ryoka stared at Hawk’s large paw, and at his furry face and at…him.
She couldn’t deal. No. No—she was lost. He was a giant rabbit. This wasn’t just seeing a Drake or a Gnoll, this was a talking rabbit with pants and a six-pack. Ryoka’s mind was dissolving at the edges.
“And this is Ryoka Griffin, a City Runner. I was hoping you could help her. Ryoka, meet one of the fastest Couriers on the continent.”
“Hawk. I’m the Courier around here. Please to meet you, Miss Ryoka.”
Ryoka took the paw gingerly, and shook it. He had…five fingers, but four toes on his feet. The fur felt smooth and warm in her hands and she met his brown eyes and tried to smile.
Val took over the conversation. He briefly explained Ryoka’s delivery, adding a few details she thought were unnecessary.
“She’s a City Runner, but a step above the other ones. I was hoping you could give her some advice.”
Hawk smiled at Ryoka and shrugged.
“Well, I can keep you from running into too much trouble, but there’s always some war or skirmish going on down there. It’s risky for a City Runner or even an inexperienced Courier. You might want to reconsider going down there, Miss. How much are you getting paid? Is this request really worth it?”
He wasn’t precisely arrogant, but he seemed too relaxed to be taking the conversation seriously. After seeing how fast he ran, Ryoka couldn’t blame him for thinking she was small-fry.
She steeled herself. Rabbit or not, he was still a person. Remember that. Erin made talking to other species look so easy. She grinned at Hawk, and decided to take him down a peg. Just a peg.
“You could say that. My delivery’s worth eight hundred gold pieces. Think it’s worth doing?”
Hawk tripped, but caught himself before he face-planted in the snow.
“Eight h—”
He eyed Val. The other human was grinning at him. Hawk smiled ruefully, and nodded at Ryoka in apology.
“Well, I’ve underestimated you, I can see. But my point stands about the danger, especially if you’ve got something that might attract attention. Want to give the request to me? I’ll do the delivery and cut you in on a hundred gold pieces.”
Ryoka shook her head. She wasn’t about to trade the request, even if it would mean no risk to her. After what she’d learned about Teriarch, she just had to fulfill his request, for more reasons than one. Val looked at the other Courier reprovingly.
“Hawk.”
The rabbit man raised his hands defensively.
“I’m just asking. Okay. I thought you weren’t being serious, but I’m sorry Miss Ryoka. Right then. This
is a serious delivery.”
“And she’s doing it.”
“I just offered.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
Ryoka gestured to her belt pouch, where the letter and ring were hidden.
“Besides, what I’m delivering is spelled to only be carried by me. You’d probably die if you tried to take it.”
“That’s…an important detail. Right. Well, advice I’m happy to give. What do you need to know? Travel routes? Current battlefields?”
“All of the above and local monsters and so on. Ryoka’s never been down that way.”
Hawk nodded. His ears twitched and he looked out at the pristine snow around them.
“Mind if we run and talk?”
“It’s fine with me. I know a good route around here with some nice flat spots. Want me to lead?”
“Sounds good,”
“Go ahead.”
They set off. Like Val, Hawk adjusted his pace so Ryoka could comfortably keep up. It felt odd, being the slowest person in the group. Hawk began to talk as they ran together.
“Now, do you know where you’re going or do you have a moving target? If it’s something like one of the Walled Cities, you’ll be able to get there pretty easily. If not…”
“I’ve got a spell that points me in the right direction. I have no idea where I’m going.”
Val groaned.
“I hate those.”
Hawk nodded. The rabbit took long, easy strides that made Ryoka envy him. He didn’t even seem bothered by the snow as he ran through it. Well, he had pads on his feet…paws.
“Tricky. If you’re going by spell, you could run right into a monster nest or one of the warzones down there. There are a few conflicts going on, and any Human running past is going to get shot at, Runner or not.”
“What? Soldiers don’t attack Runners! If they know you’re a Runner, they should leave you alone!”
Val looked indignant, but Hawk only smiled at him.
“If you can prove you’re a Runner before they fill you with arrows, be my guest. Besides, they use spells that blast an entire area, so there’s no guarantee you won’t be caught up in one. My advice is just stay away, but if you’ve got to head into one of those zones…”
He began listing locations off, and Ryoka tried to memorize them. Val pulled out a map of the area and began marking spots for her. Another gift. She tried to refuse, but he told her it was only worth a gold coin or two. In response she tossed two at him as they ran.
“Just be careful. You can talk to soldiers if they aren’t trying to kill you and usually get past, so that’s not the real problem.”
“What is?”
Hawk leapt straight over a five foot high drift of snow and landed lightly. He turned and ran backwards while Val and Ryoka went around it.
“Things to watch out for? I’d start with the Gnolls. Keep away from them unless you’re absolutely sure you know which tribe it is. Some are friendly towards Humans and other species, but others will try and eat you. Believe me, I know from experience.”
He scowled, rubbing at his neck. Ryoka could just imagine the conflict that would arise…she looked at Hawk and decided she would never be able to eat rabbit again. Not that she was particularly a fan in the first place.
“There are several nasty Goblin tribes down that way. Don’t underestimate them; they’re not like the normal ones around here. Um—there are lots of monsters, but they’re mostly hibernating or hiding in the winter. Watch out for Snow Golems, though. They’re practically invisible in the snow. Oh, and Wyverns. The white ones come down from the mountains sometimes and they love the cold.”
Ryoka knew what a Wyvern was, but she couldn’t believe the other thing Hawk had said.
“Snow Golems? Do you mean giant snowmen?”
“Snow things.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“Common mistake. I suppose you’ve seen what happens when some stupid brats make a snow Drake and forget to give it clothes? Imagine that, only ten times bigger and with icicles with claws and teeth. Plus, they can hurl snowballs filled with rocks.”
Hawk shuddered.
“I hate them so much. If you ever know you’re getting close to a group of them, bring some kind of fire spell with you.”
“And Wyverns—keep an eye on the sky If you see anything overhead, even if you think it’s an eagle, make sure you’ve got somewhere to hide where they can’t reach you. They can dive incredibly fast, so be careful if it’s cloudy.”
“And you’re not going to talk me out of this, despite the danger?”
Ryoka looked at both Couriers, amused. This sounded almost as bad as the High Passes, but then she’d just been told by everyone that it was suicidal to try to go there. Both Val and Hawk shook their heads. Val gestured at her as they began to circle back in the direction of the inn.
“If you’ve taken the contract, you’re bound to deliver it. And if you’re the type to give up just because you might die, you’ll never become a Courier.”
Ryoka grinned, and Hawk and Val returned it. It was odd, being in sync with other people.
“Anything else?”
“The undead. Be very wary of them.”
This time Hawk looked completely serious.
“You weren’t here for the undead that attacked were you?”
“I saw the aftermath.”
“Yeah, well…they weren’t nearly as bad as the ones you can find around the Blood Fields. I mean, there was that big one, but individually, the worst undead out there were Crypt Lords.”
“That’s nasty enough. They’re commander-types.”
“Yeah, but they were commanding zombies, skeletons, and ghouls. Not scary. But a lot of the undead you can find down there are leftovers from the Necromancer.”
“Oh.”
Ryoka looked between human man and rabbit man.
“The Necromancer? You mean the one who raised the undead army? What kind of undead are we talking about here?”
Hawk shuddered.
“Horrible ones. Smart ones. He enslaved wraiths and ghosts and build new types of undead. Look—just before you go, buy some emergency gear. Something to get you away quick if you run into a group of them.”
Ryoka felt at the potion at her belt, and remembered the ones she’d gotten from Octavia.
“I’ve got some stuff. And four healing potions and three stamina potions. Enough?”
“Should be.”
“As long as you don’t stray too far from the roads. Healing potions are only useful if you’re alive to use them. Best trick is not to get hurt.”
“Agreed. Just don’t get hurt.”
“And don’t give up! Delivery or die!”
Ryoka had to laugh. Both Couriers were like her. It was amazing! She took a breath and quoted from memory.
“‘Neither rain nor snow, nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds, huh?”
Both Val and Hawk looked at Ryoka in astonishment.
“That’s quite good! Where did you hear that?”
“Oh, it’s a quote from my home about Couriers.”
“‘Neither rain nor snow’…yeah, I like it!”
Hawk nodded his head and Val did as well.
“We might just have to use that line! Thanks, Miss Ryoka.”
“Call me Ryoka.”
‘Miss’ seemed to be this world’s way of being polite, almost like Japanese honorifics. She bowed her head at the other two Couriers as they slowed on their approach to the inn.
“Thank you, both of you. I owe you a lot. I’ll repay the favor someday.”
“Bah. It was nothing.”
Hawk waved a paw dismissively. And then he grinned at Val and Ryoka.
“Talk is cheap, but meeting other good Runners? It’s great to meet other people who can run! You wouldn’t believe how slow the ones around here are. And hey, maybe we can go back to that inn for some more hamburgers afterwards, hey
?”
Val and Ryoka paused. Ryoka remembered how many she’d eaten yesterday, for both lunch and dinner. Val was clearly thinking the same thing.
“No.”
“Not for at least a month.”
Both Val and Ryoka said it at the same time. Hawk looked slightly hurt.
“Why not? You were both at the inn last night, weren’t you? The one with the music? It was great! I must have eaten eight of the things, and then I got some tail, if you know what I mean.”
He grinned at Val and made a wiggling motion with his paw.
“Drakes. So slippery, you know?”
Val and Ryoka exchanged a look. Val looked at Hawk.
“Tail? You don’t mean—”
Ryoka’s mind literally shut down at the idea of Hawk eating eight hamburgers and then finding a female Drake and…
Neither human spoke, but they both accelerated at the same time. Hawk had to increase his stride to keep up. He glared at them as he kept pace.
“Oh come on! Do you think I’d be into fleshy people like you? I’d rather kiss a Minotaur first. At least they have something covering them! Furballs, you humans are so touchy.”
—-
Olesm was not a Drake given to arrogance, but he still had his pride. It had been badly crushed, beaten, and stomped by a certain human and the undead, but it was still pride nevertheless.
He’d leveled up, risked his life, and tried to learn to play his favorite game as best he could. He’d learned from the greatest chess player in the world—Erin, and he thought he’d made something of himself.
But now he knew the truth. The cold waters of reality were lapping around his head, and Olesm was too downtrodden to even bother trying to swim.
He felt Erin come over, and wished, wished, he was the kind of person who could capture her heart. But he was a [Tactician] – not a good one, not nearly as good as one in Liscor’s army – but he had a special skill. He could read people, and she wasn’t interested in him.
At all. Oh, she liked him, but Olesm knew it wouldn’t be more than that. And of course, he’d found someone—
It was just that she was like a beacon to him, a font of knowledge and unexplained mystery that stirred his soul. And he had let her down. He could barely look at Erin. Shame made Olesm’s tail droop.