by Han Yang
“So, you know I’m not Toneba and you're okay with that?” I asked, stepping back.
Desra’s hand engulfed into flame, and I gulped. Being a healer sucked.
She nodded. “Now the village will too. You don’t look a smidge like him anymore.”
“Well, that answers that question,” I muttered.
“My knife, please. I’d rather not get into another confrontation with you,” she said.
“What was being dead like?” I asked, not giving her the fine blade.
Internally, I mulled over the decision, but the reality was I had no minion to fight her with and only had my healing left to cast. My healing might even be on cooldown.
I flipped the blade over to her when she held out a palm. I walked around her to free my blade from the tree.
“Until you experience it, you’ll never understand.” She glanced around the battlefield. “Didn’t even see this one. Was there more?”
I shook my head.
“Did you at least leave one of the dead for me to consume?” she asked.
“Uh, no, I got all three,” I said.
“Those two were worth a lot of Z,” she said with a sigh. “I owe you a life debt, though. Especially after I left you for dead. How much time did you have when I left you?”
“Little over four days,” I said.
She nodded. “Would have just made it. Hey, look, like I said, sorry. Rexa said you had our coins. They were promised to us. Now, well, now they aren’t. I could use my purse back though, this cart’s loss will hurt a lot, and it's not me you’re helping, it's the people of Yew Wood.”
“How did you lose the fight?” I asked, again undecided on her request. “Level sixteen fire mage.”
“I was feeling sorry for tying you up and ditching you. Temara, the mare, bolted when the tree fell. She rushed under the trunk and got the cart stuck to the point it was going to have to be left anyway.
“The two who got me did something I’ve never seen before. They climbed in the tree and rode it down. The third one must have pushed it over.
“When I went to undo Temara’s harness, I felt a sting across my belly. Yeah, they got me good, and for some dumb reason I ran for the forest while holding my guts. Well, then we fought when I realized I had a mortal wound.
“My dying wish was for you to find me and show mercy. Honestly, I only left you about five hours ago. An hour into our walk away, the old girl wanted a three-hour nap, and I let her, figuring if I saw you we’d run,” she said sadly.
“Yeah, about that. At least you left the dagger and didn’t slit my throat,” I said, trying to be positive. “The wood. Was it collected by the villagers?”
“Yup,” she said. “That’s their money that went up in flames and the purse is their money for special orders. I have my own funds in the city.”
“And they helped Toneba?” I asked.
“Yeah, the only man to avoid Z and grow old naturally in the village. He never spoke the last few years. Oh, and my scars are healed, finally,” she said, patting my shoulder and then holding her palm out.
I removed the coins for the villagers to more or less avoid a fight. If nothing else, I could take the moral high ground.
They were never mine, and now that the owner was alive, it was technically stealing, and two rights don’t make a wrong - or some shit like that.
Deep down, I was unhappy to let the wealth go.
She strode away, going for the mare.
“Ya coming?” she asked in a jovial way.
“To where?” I replied with a confused tone.
“To Tarb. You can jog now and increase your stamina, endurance, and strength since you took all the Z,” Desra said with a snort.
“You wanna partner up, after we robbed each other?” I asked.
“Yeah, yeah I do. We’re kinda back to square one, and now I owe you a life debt. Plus, you don’t buy carts in Yew Wood, you buy them in Tarb,” she said, unlatching Temara. “Also, I can teach you how to tie a knot. Damn, did you just loop it a bunch?”
“What does this life debt include?” I asked.
“Depends on the person. I owed Rexa a life debt. He asked for a son,” she said, letting the sentence hang. “Do you want a son, handsome mysterious man named Damien?”
“Uh… Hmm… What!?” I asked, my voice cracking a bit from shock.
She let out a throaty laugh. “It’s a life debt, and I jest. You’ll get the standard rate for a resurrection at Litroo from my personal account at the King’s Bank. Thirty Z is a lot, but not too large,” she said.
“How long would your orb have stayed there?” I asked, nearing the trunk of the fallen tree.
“A day. After a day, if I remained unclaimed, the powerful magic would have vanished and I’d be food for the forest. Some say the variance in the rewards sways to adjust for unclaimed Z while others say it's random and to not put too much thought into it,” she said, her voice fading as she walked for Tarb.
The sun finally conquered the night sky as it peeked over the horizon.
“Ya coming?” she asked.
I mulled it over. Not trusting her, but deciding that if she wanted me dead, I’d be dead.
Running to catch up, I welcomed the new day and the fact I was no longer old.
CHAPTER 6
Nordan - Err Forest
“You need to be careful,” Dersa said.
Birds darted between the canopy, oddly alien yet still captivating. This was certainly not Earth with the pink wild flowers, turquoise berries, and six legged squirrels. It did seem to mesh for this world, though.
I grunted. After so much walking, I wished I had shoes. “Yeah, I get it, don’t trust anyone.”
“Actually, you can trust people here besides with your coin. Just… not if you're a champion,” she said.
We walked along the rough barren dirt road, seeing farm fields in the distance. With Desra and the horse walking with me, the looming trees and peering eyes didn’t bother me as much.
Most of the walk had been in silence, a fact I enjoyed because I was still bitter. After a full day of decent progress the day before, we had set up a small campfire, and I went to sleep almost instantly.
I figured I might be worried, but I slept well from sheer exhaustion and woke up pleasantly free of confinement. This morning, we had rose before the sun and headed out for an early start to the day.
We likely were getting close to Tarb based on her sudden willingness to talk.
The early sunrise revealed scattered clouds, dew covered fields ahead, and early birds getting the worms. The beautiful morning spurred my curiosity of what other wonders this majestic realm held.
I watched the light breeze pushing around the vegetation. My acclimation to Nordan was pretty much exactly as Caitlyn had predicted, a series of learning as I went instead of sitting in a class being taught by the goddess herself.
“Maybe I’m a sorcerer from Ostriva who teleported into Toneba’s body,” I said.
She scoffed, laughing until she snorted while holding her belly.
“As if. No, he would have killed my daughter, preyed on the village, and then departed with us all dead or until Rexa and I killed him. Yer soft. Too soft. This dreamlife, what was the world like there?” she asked.
I pondered on how to phrase it and what to tell her. If Caitlyn wanted Earth a secret, she didn’t exactly press the issue before or after my transition.
Warping Earth to fit Nordan standards was probably going to be the easiest.
“The place I came from has magic of its own kind. We could quickly move around, talk to others anywhere, had flushing toilets, and there was minimal war. Of course, humans complaining about fellow humans was still prevalent. We didn’t have an Ostriva invasion to unite behind,” I said.
“One of the six worlds?” she asked.
Hmm…
“Let’s say I talked to someone who may have been powerful. They said there was a planet that matched my planet's spin around the s
un. Then said a second planet matched this planet to allow a transfer spell. There’s six?” I asked
“That’s the story, but I wanted to hear it from a champion,” Desra said with a tease. “Having those scars washed away in a golden light is its own kind of heaven. The damn healers here wanted more than it was worth, and ever since we retired from adventuring, Z is just a bitch to get. I should have died and had you revive me a while ago.”
I scrunched my face in disgust.
“I saw your guts sprawled in your lap. It appeared horrific,” I said, even adding a tongue extended blah and fake dry heave.
“Certainly not a healer before. My body is back to being pristine. I guess I’ll have another baby. Will you deliver this one for me?” she asked with a tease.
“I… I don’t know what I’m going to do. I was hoping to stick my butt in a library and learn a few things. I may have a lofty goal of Z to achieve,” I said nonchalantly.
We exited the treeline. The farm fields stretched for miles, rolling up and down the landscape ever so gently. The early summer crops sprouted happily on both sides of the road, displaying oats atop long, golden stems.
Small homes in decent repair were strategically placed in the fields with smoke venting from rooftops. A few dogs sniffed around porches, watching us from a distance.
The majestic sight led to a large city wall that stood twenty plus feet high. Banners snapped in the wind, a whole lot of chimney stacks kicked out what was likely breakfast fires, and a massive castle in the center dominated the skyline.
Birds circled above the human populace and raced between the fields and the forest.
Units of soldiers exited the castle in neat formations, a trumpet heralding their march. Archers atop mounts led the group and the infantry held long pikes. They turned west down a wide road, and as we neared, I noticed a dozen roads converged into two entries with open gates.
“Why no moat?” I asked.
“So, the raszker, the monsters we fought. They’re exceedingly rare to find on this road. Six hells, this whole area is completely docile, and I’m shocked those three made it past the hunting parties. You’ll need to study this, but here is a quick summary.
“To the west is the ocean and a steep cliff face that leads to crashing waves. To the north, this elevation runs for leagues until it hits the Tangee Range. To the east, the high ground also stretches for a good while before dipping. The south is where most of the fighting is because the Great Plains are now infested with strivains.
“Litroo is not the capital, but it should be. It's the southernmost city that borders where the spell lifted. That’s where you’ll be going if you need to fight. This… Tarb is a sanctuary. I… yeah, it’s never been breached and only attacked with raids a few times. These homes outside the walls are nice because they’re rebuilt,” Desra said, pointing to some farms that appeared newer.
“So, I arrived in a peaceful place and you succumbed to random treachery?” I asked.
“Yeah… When I retell the story, there will be a dozen raszkers who cut me down. You ran, hid for a bit, and then revived me as they fought over who got to claim my Z. Then we ran like hell and lost the cart. No way am I saying I was messing with the horse’s straps and got gutted,” she said with a shudder.
“Is it worth studying here?” I asked, and she shrugged.
We joined the flow of traffic at a big intersection. Not many folks came from the north. Trade wagons creaked in front of us as the horses pulling them trotted to join the two main roads.
A young man and his wife nodded from a merging road, and we let them join ahead of us. I found myself surprised by how civilized and patient the others reacted.
Once we sorted ourselves into the line, she answered, “Yeah, laying low and hitting some books is probably what you should do. Once I pay my debt to you, I’m gone, so don’t expect me to hold your hand.”
“Find it odd you asked for the coins back and then pay me separately,” I said.
Desra shrugged. “Wasn’t my money,” she scoffed, shaking her head. “Of all the things to complain about. You’re going to stick out a lot, so maybe buy books and head to the woods.”
“I don’t know how to camp,” I grumbled.
She chuckled in dismay. “Light a fire, don’t let something kill you in your sleep, and try to get to where you’re going early. Look, Damien, just… be careful while trying to blend in. Youth, as in my kids growing up, they get a prompt for a while that what they’re doing will cause them to gain points for Ostriva. You may not get that, and you could end up banned from these nice cities once you adapt.”
“I fear that too,” I said. “I’m not a warrior. Was hoping to get a job or something to raise the Zorta I need.”
“Z, Damien, it's Z. Is that your goal though? Gain a lot of Z?” she asked harshly.
I nodded, avoiding a pile of horse dung swarming with flies.
“Slight problem too. Is there a neutral city?” I asked.
“That’s not a slight problem. That’s a huge problem. These guards will arrest you if you have over a thousand Ostriva points,” she warned.
I shook my head and said, “At zero, but that may not always be the case.”
“Fine, be mysterious, not my problem. Litroo is the best place to go for anyone seeking anything. Trust me. The only reason King Karn didn’t make it the capital is because that city has to fight off hordes of strivains sometimes,” Desra said.
“Noted,” I said, seeing we were approaching the wall.
I didn’t smell an overpowering stench of decay or nastiness. I figured the city would permeate a foul odor. Instead, I saw clean walls as if they had been scrubbed recently and the roads too.
Glancing down, I noticed the cobbled stones were fused together somehow, as if by magic. I enjoyed seeing their unique coloration melted together at edges. A crew of young teenagers scooped up the horse dung we passed and trotted it to a burn pit away from the road.
A mage blasted the barrel with fire, increasing the pluming smoke. The more I scanned Tarb from the outside, the more I realized how efficient such a place was. Taxes hard at work and even the garb of the soldiers was extravagant.
The guards atop the parapet with crossbows or manning the siege ballista all shone, staring out with indifference to those wanting in. I doubted they feared the morning crew of city entries.
I twisted my jaw in confusion, glancing up and down the line to enter Tarb.
“What's the matter?” Desra asked.
“Everything’s so clean, not at all like Yew Wood. I expected to smell shit and for there to be flies in abundance or whatever. I don’t know. I didn’t expect a clean city,” I said.
She smirked. “Yeah, I’d hire a guide and stop saying stuff that gives you the six hells away. Magic, you goof. There’s magic. Fire mages burn shit, water mages fill aqueducts, soil mages bury the dirt, air mages scatter the lingering smells, and so it continues. Spoiler, Yew Wood is missing a water mage.
“Anyways, I’m the opposite of Toneba. I became greater than ever before when the mists lifted. Now, I’m a revered fire mage and can hire a water mage to come out once a moon cycle. The conflict has taken my children and yet brought prosperity. Nothing is perfect, but I like this way more,” she said, raising her tunic.
I saw a guard approach us as a wagon needed an inspection.
“Purpose?” he asked with a stern tone and intense glare.
“Shoppin,” Desra said quickly.
“Expose your orbs,” he said.
I opened my robes, not sure what to say. When his finger touched my belly button, I received a prompt.
A guard of Tarb wishes to inspect your status. Only your Nordan and Ostriva points will display. Do you wish to grant access (YES) - (NO)?
I accepted yes.
“A hundred Nordan points, cockless,” the guard said with a sneer.
I went to defend myself when Desra patted my shoulder, applying a light shove.
“Ah, no n
eed fer that, we good to go shopping?” Desra asked.
The guard nodded, waving us through.
We passed the threshold, joining a quiet road heading into Tarb. The first buildings consisted of large, boxy stables and wagon shops.
When I thought about it, having the big items get tucked away at the start of a city made sense. I also expected the market to be close to the gates, and it was not.
We didn’t stop at the stable to put Temara away. I guess she wouldn’t be getting her promised special treatment because we walked by the larger barn style buildings. I did get a few nasty wafts of fresh animal dung mixed with hay, but this made sense being in this section.
The trip down the road led to its first intersection. Vendors had set up shop in the very center, selling trinkets, or food and drink. A few cried out, trying to sell their wares. Desra ignored them, leading us deeper into the city.
I did glance down the side roads, seeing two and three story homes built of stone. Porches adorned flowerbeds, clothing hung from strings, and the pristine upkeep surprised me.
The entire city surprised me. I had to wonder if there were slums, because so far, I only saw a well laid out city with clean streets, cared for structures, and even guards strategically placed.
A youthful population went about their day. Everywhere I gazed, I saw nice clothes, clean hair, and mostly smiling people in their young twenties. I knew this wasn’t how a medieval city of Earth would look.
I guess the magic really makes a difference. Or is it because this is an isolated city away from the war?
Even Yew Wood village seemed to lack poor people.
I finally saw a middle aged man pleading for coins up ahead. Guards quickly plucked him off the street and into an alley.
“The poor, where are they?” I asked.
“Astute of you to notice. This far north, there’s safety, stability, and prosperity. You want to beg, go south. That’s repeated into the populace. There’s work in the south. That man will get stuck inside a building, fed a meal, and then placed in a wagon to go to Litroo,” Desra said with indifference.
“Oh, New York sent homeless to California after Florida stopped allowing flights from the state with government purchased tickets,” I said, and she frowned at me. “Right, we do something similar. Where’s the poor, though?”