by S Bailey
Sam complained to Jen as the others were making camp, “You won’t believe it!”
“Believe what?”
“Tamako has promised the kids a piece of candy every time they hit me with a rock!” Sam replied.
Jen laughed, “she told you she would quit training you how to dodge if that’s what you wanted.”
“I think training up my dodge ability is a great idea, but I’m casting minor healing spells on all the bruises constantly!”
Jen just shrugged at Sam’s complaint and messaged for Slim and Tamako to join them.
“Why did you have the caravan stop so early to make camp?” asked Tamako.
“While flying my bird I spotted a bandit camp several miles ahead of us. They haven’t spotted our caravan yet.”
Sam asked, “How do you know they are bandits?”
Jen’s face saddened a little as she said, “They have several slaves locked in cages, and other slaves serving them. There’s about 6 slaves in total, and around 20 bandits.”
Sam knew what Jen would want to do, and said, “What’s the plan? We sneak into their camp tonight and kill the bandits while they are sleeping?”
Jen shook her head, “Not ‘we’, just Slim and me. No offense, but you and Tamako will make too much noise.”
Tamako replied before Sam could say anything, “I don’t think so! You are not going into a camp with 20 bandits with no backup.”
Sam also chimed in, “I don’t like our group getting separated out here.”
Slim said, “Jen and I can easily handle such unworthy opponents without assistance.”
As Tamako and Sam continued to argue with Jen, she interrupted and said, “I have heard your comments. Any additional tactical considerations I’ve missed? If not, Slim and I are going, and the two of you are going to stay here and protect the merchants, and that’s final!”
Sam unhappily capitulated to her decision, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “O.K. you’re the boss.”
Tamako turned her head towards Sam with fury in her eyes when she heard his response. Before Tamako returned her glare to Jen, Sam shook his head slightly and privately messaged her, “she IS the boss! Please THINK before you say something you regret later.”
Sam watched the balancing act going on in Tamako’s head. He knew if Tamako said the wrong thing, Jen’s relationship with her would possibly be over.
Tamako finally said, “Fine, but I don’t like it!” and walked off obviously needing to calm down. Sam let out a sigh of relief and said to Jen, “Love you millennial, be careful.”
Jen gave a half laugh, and said, “I will, but you’re the one staying here with Tamako and her rocks. You be careful!”
Chapter 71:
Help is Coming
When Mistress Jen and her cat did not return, James waited over an hour before cautiously approaching Sam. James figured if Master Sam let the kids throw rocks at him, he might not be offended if asked a question. “Master Sam, we are happy and appreciate your groups’ guidance in escorting us to Rolling Dice, but is there anything we should know about why we made camp so early? We would like to be properly prepared so as not to burden any of you when you are ready to leave.”
Sam could taste James’ fear as he watched the man approach him. Of course, Sam understood the man didn’t want to do anything to cause harm to his family, but it made him feel like a bully, and before answering the man’s question, he replied with a laugh, “Your daughter Lisa has one hell of a throwing arm, she’s scored several hits on me yesterday.”
“Thank you?...” replied James uncertainly.
“Anyways, Jen went out to kill a gang of bandits several miles ahead of us.”
Fear came over James’ face as he wanted to ask why she went by herself, but he knew better than to question warriors like these, but he still asked, “Is there anything you need us to do?”
Sam looked over the wagons and said, “Yes, as a matter of fact there is, and it’s going to take a soft touch. She will be returning with 5 or 6 freed slaves that may need your family’s assistance in adjusting after what they’ve been through.”
Sam was glad to see the sadness and concern reflected in James’ face at the mention of slaves.
James said, “My wife and Jack’s wife have both volunteered at one of the shelters back home. We will all do our best to help. I will go and tell them to prepare.”
“Thanks James.”
“Of course, Master Sam,” he replied. James didn’t understand why these warriors were willing to risk their lives freeing slaves. Most of the adventurers he had ever met were only concerned about the loot and experience they could get.
After a very uneventful, but worried filled night, Tamako spotted Jen and Slim leading six new people back to the caravan camp as dawn was rising. As Tamako ran to Jen, Sam waved to James and his people to go help comfort the freed slaves.
Sam could see Jen’s relief when the merchants were quick to properly cloth and feed the traumatized people, and generally try to make them feel comfortable and safe.
Sam let Jen and Tamako have some private time as he went and provided any healing that was needed by their new guests. To his surprise several of the merchants were combating health issues as well. The merchants were shocked when Sam started casting healing spells, but Sam didn’t correct them or tell them he was really using enchantments.
Sam wasn’t comfortable being around traumatized people, so he didn’t really inspect or talk to them in an effort to figure out the best way to heal them and conserve his mana. He just burned through the mana in his enchantment by throwing total body heals at each one of them, and then did the same for the merchants.
“He’s a healer!” Amy said to her sister.
“Did you see how fast he cast those spells? He hardly said a word or even moved his hands!” said great-aunt Martha.
“He didn’t even look tired after all the healing! He’s so powerful!” said one of the children.
Jacks wife said, “Why are they escorting us? He could make a fortune in gold staying safe in the city as a healer?”
‘Old’ Greg, Martha’s husband said, “The cost of the healing spells he just used on us is greater than all the goods in our wagons!”
One of the former slaves added, “They may not be allowed in the City. The young women that rescued us, she moves like one of those legendary dark-elf assassins.”
“But she saved you!” replied Martha.
The former slave shuddered, and said, “If you saw what she did to all those bandits, you would not be able to sleep a restful minute at night.”
Jack said, “Without their help, we would all be taking a permanent dirt nap. Anyways, enough of this gossip, they might hear us.”
Sam did over hear them and thought, “Damnit Kelly, I forgot to pretend to cast the healing spells and look mana exhausted. You would be proud of Jen, but I worry about her getting hurt going off alone.”
Slim strolled over to Sam, and said, “I have gentle-heart’s share of the loot, she keeps refusing to pick it up.” as he ‘spit’ out a pile of money, weapons, food, tools, and other items from the bandit camp.
Sam put the loot into one of his rings and bent down to scratch Slim’s neck, and said, “Thanks for watching over her.”
Slim purred from the attention, and said, “She didn’t need any watching over. Her ninja techniques combined with her psych skills makes her a truly scary assassin, but you’re welcome Log.”
Over the next several weeks travelling to Rolling Dice, Jen and Slim wiped out two more bandit camps and freed 8 more slaves. The kids loved Slim and were constantly making special food for him and giving him constant attention. Sam just laughed to himself as Slim tried to pretend he didn’t like the kids by feigning indifference.
Chapter 72:
Odd Mana
They were a week away from Rolling Dice when Jen kept looking West towards the mountains several miles off. “What is it?” Sam asked her.
Jen turne
d towards Sam and Tamako, held up her hands as though feeling something in the air, and said, “I’m feeling a strange mana current, both similar and different than the Hot Streak Dungeon near Casino City.”
Tamako shrugged, “there’s no reason to go to the dungeon for loot, we’re going to lose all our stuff as soon as we Deck jump anyways.”
Jen looked at Tamako and said, “Well… not necessarily.”
Tamako gave Jen a look knowing there was yet something else unbelievable about her and Sam, and said, “Just out with it.”
Jen laughed, “well there are two reasons actually. One, somewhere on the first Deck every month, the Arc Guild has a Deck dropper jump back up to the second Deck with all their messages. We have a multi-deck account with the Arc Guild to access our money on any deck.”
Tamako interrupted, “What? I’ve never heard of a major guild agreeing to transfer funds in a higher deck to a non-guild member. It’s one of the ways they try to control competition.”
Jen gave a sly grin and said, “that’s a longer story for over dinner tonight, but the second reason is, Sam figured out a way to take our stuff with us when we are teleported by the Decks.”
Tamako froze in her steps, and, if it were possible, her eyes would’ve popped out of her head. “What?! That’s impossible! You do understand there is a difference between a Deck-City teleportation from a System Shop, and a jump or drop to an entirely different Deck, right?
Jen laughed at Tamako’s expression and assured her, “oh yeah, we are intimately familiar with dropping naked onto a transfer pad after having all our mana drained out of us.”
Tamako couldn’t imagine Jen was teasing her this way, but the absurdity of what she was talking about, was getting her somewhat angry, and she argued, “then what makes you think Sam’s theory on how to keep your stuff will work?”
Jen could see Tamako was getting flustered, and reached out for Tamako’s hand before saying with a sincere smile, “Mako, I’m not teasing with you, and It’s not just a theory, Sam and I have already done it.”
Jen explained to Tamako how they were able to transport gear inside the bodies of dead animals that were designated as part of the party or adventuring group from Earth.
It took much longer for Tamako to assimilate this information compared to the news of them surviving their journey from Earth.
Jen explained, “Our knowledge and abilities would make it easy to become wealthy in the First Deck. However, when you consider that our main plan is to eventually jump to the Seventh Deck and get back Kelly, while it gives us a chance to survive our initial teleportation, it certainly isn’t a game changer compared to all of the powerful gear and items available on the higher Decks.”
Tamako nodded at Jen, but she disagreed, this information was a game-changer for them.
Jen said, “O.K., let’s keep an eye on the mountains in case there is a dungeon with beasts escaping while we are camping here tonight. After we get the merchants and everyone safely to Rolling Dice, we’ll come back and investigate the dungeon, unless either of you have a better idea.”
Both Sam and Tamako nodded their agreement, and began setting up camp.
Chapter 73:
Safe and Sound
Once they were in sight of the city and entered Rolling Dice’s farming territory Jen said to James, “You’ll be safe on your own from here. We have somewhere we need to go.”
Jen nodded at Sam, and he said, “James take this space ring. Inside you will find your 50 silver and trade goods you gave us. We don’t want it. Additionally, the rest of the contents belong to your guests. I want you to use it to help your guests to get home or find a safe place to stay here, and anything left over should be split equally among you and them.”
James looked a little confused, but his fear of Sam had alleviated just a little over the past few weeks, and he asked, “Master Sam, what is a space ring?”
Jen slapped Sam’s arm, and Sam clarified, “It’s a storage ring. Draw on your mana and think the password, ‘1,2,3,4’ to access its content.”
“Great password Boomer!” Jen commented.
James ignored the confusing manner the two always talked to each other. He didn’t have much mana, but he found he was able to access the storage ring as directed by Master Sam. James blinked in surprise, because it was a HUGE storage ring. Bigger than any he had ever heard of. The ring alone was probably worth two gold!
James ‘looked’ inside and realized that it must contain all the money, weapons, equipment, and loot from the bandits that Mistress Jen killed. There was enough to make them and all their guests extremely wealthy, and he planned to do his best to follow the wishes of their saviors and share everything equally. He knew they would all be dead if the three powerful adventures and their ‘cat’ had not intervened. They all knew Slim was no ordinary cat.
“Mistress Jen, we will never be able to repay you for everything.”
Jen replied, “True, so I want you to try and help others when you can.”
James replied, “We will do our best. I promise.”
Jen then raised her voice so that everyone could hear her, “One last thing before we go. We need all of you to enter into a gambling quest to promise to never disclose our identity or that we helped you.”
It was a few minutes before everyone completed the system enforced gambling quest, and James watched as the strange group waived good-bye and turned back towards the forest.
James and Jack looked at each other with disbelief as they started leading everyone the remaining way into Rolling Dice.
Chapter 74:
Hydra Dungeon
Sam was not looking forward to resuming the nightly combat training now that they were finally away from the merchants. The possibilities were endless, and he just wanted to work on his enchantments, but he knew it was important for them to train together.
Jen explained it in gaming terms, “Tamako was the tank, Jen was the rogue, and Sam was the fragile and weak support healer/mage.”
Sam had learned weeks ago, not to rise to her bait calling him weak. You couldn’t show any emotional weakness around those two, or they would be relentless with the ridicule – “why don’t they just grow up!” he thought with a wicked smile on his face.
Without the Merchants and former slaves, the mood lightened up tremendously and they were able to move much faster, and it only took them a few days to return to where Jen noticed the strange mana at the edge of the mountains.
Team Kelly, as Jen decided to call them, spent the next day gathering lots of logs into the enchanted space discs. Sam pulled out a “surprise” that he had partially finished before stopping everything to work on the mana enchantment tattoos. Over the last few weeks of travel, he finished carving the last piece that he needed. Sam grinned as he pulled out what looked like a carved wooden rifle with a mana-infused steel revolver and trigger mechanism built into it, and said, “feast your eyes on this!”
Jen deadpanned, “wow, you have a toy wooden rifle, how amazing.”
Sam grumbled, “Alright smartass, we’ll see who will be begging me for one of these in just a few minutes,” as he demonstrated with every pull of the trigger a crossbow bolt shot out, and holding the trigger caused the bolts to shoot out full auto like a machine gun. Then Sam showed that by turning the revolver mechanism, he could choose between bolts with fire, ice, or poison enchantments, or enchanted fire and ice grenades.
Sam laughed as he pin-cushioned a tree, and said, “accuracy of fire and projectile selection is so much better and faster than using rings on your fingers.”
Tamako was quite impressed and said, “with such enchantments, have you already reached the master enchantment rank?”
Sam shook his head sadly, “Unfortunately, I’m not even close. When it comes to making enchantments, I’m really just a one-trick pony. Almost everything I do of any complex nature involves interdimensional storage spaces. The only other powerful enchantments I’ve created are the lightning and h
ealing enchantment tattoos, and there is still quite a bit about the enchantments that I don’t understand. I can control them for the most part, but I don’t yet fully understand how they work.”
Jen groaned in response to Sam’s explanation, “in summary, bla, bla, bla, he has not reached master enchantment rank. Moving on, how many bolts and grenades do you have for that thing?”
Sam replied, “not enough. I only have 30 of each type of bolt, and 5 of each of the grenades. That includes the ones I just shot, so I need to go and collect and reload them tonight.”
The next day, the dungeon was about a 4-hour detour into the mountains. They were forced to go single file through a slot canyon that they never would have found if Jen wasn’t following the mana trail. Once through the small crevice, the area opened up slightly, and they spent about an hour inspecting the area surrounding the dungeon, and it appeared to be relatively safe considering their levels.
As Tamako approached the dungeon, Jen and Sam provided overwatch, and Slim stayed back at their rally point not wanting to go anywhere near dungeons again. When Tamako was only about 15 yards from the entrance to the dungeon, she noticed some strange looking vines growing out of the rock-covered ground. She messaged Sam and Jen, “Somethings strange. I’m going to back up and take cover. Sam, can you shoot a bolt into one of those vines?”
Sam replied, “No problem, let me know when you’re ready?”
A few minutes later, Tamako had backed up behind a boulder near the base of the gorge they were in and said, “Go for it.”
Sam took careful aim and sent a bolt into one of the strange vines near the dungeon entrance.
Tamako was just about to comment that it must have been nothing, when a three-headed hydra came roaring to the entrance breathing a stream of fire jetting almost 20 yards out of the dungeon entrance.
Jen messaged, “Tamako, pull back!”