Novels2Search
A Lost Man
Chapter 7: Back to the Wood

Chapter 7: Back to the Wood

Harvest Moon    By: Blue Oyster Cult

In the Presence of Another World   By: Blue Oyster Cult

Chapter 7:Back to the Wood

A scout rushed into the throne hall of the Everbridge Castle. Taking a deep bow before the lord he rushed up the stair to the throne handing him a report on the crater.

“Hmm...He is in the Elven city now…” he said to himself then he looked to the scout. “Rest for the rest of the day, but early tomorrow head back and tell them to leave patrols and come home.” The scout did a salute and hurried out.

-----------------------------------

Alex had finished his devouring of the library. It took him a year of constant reading. He once went a full month without eating but do to his immortal status it did not harm him. But for the most part he wanted to have something connect him to humanity, even if it was something as insignificant as that.

He began to worry about his daughter a week after he whisper. It just  took that long before he remembered the conversation. *Chapter 5.5*   In fact the whole day was fuzzy as if looking back through drunk goggles.

He lay down the final book that was left in the library. The Title was simply “In Darkness we Found…” It was a series of dwarven legends which had nearly ten volumes. I say nearly do to the fact the author was eaten by a dragon on one of his excursion into the northern mountain region of Mordeth. You can deduce a reason for the name.

As he closed the book he looked off into the distance for a moment thinking of all the places the author described.

“So many wonders...yet so little time.” He thought shaking his head. “No I am an immortal now...chosen to be...privileged. “

The last thought was in disgust. In his devouring of the literary material of this world, he had learned of three other mortals who had gained immortality by the gods.

Each person was of great beauty, great skill, or of happenstance. Well only he was “lucky” enough to gain it just because. But each died. The gods killed them off after...having their fun.

“Happy thoughts...I leave today.” He said to himself.

He called the assistant who was assigned to him by the council. She was a young blonde elven girl, maybe fifteen in age. She was hiding behind a nearby bookcase. She jumped when he called. She seemed to believe she was well hidden.

“Merissa come help me return this stack of books.” he missed his deeper, more friendly voice. It was replaced with one that carried a tone of nobility. He hated that.

Alex carried most of the books which numbered in the hundreds and were as thick as a child’s forearm in length.

As he neared the entrance with the little elf maiden prancing behind him with the two smaller books he handed her to carry a deep voice called out.

“Ser Alex! What are you doing carrying those books to the counter?” A wiry old elf appeared before him.

“Ah, Librarian Grendethaer. The exact elf I was looking for.” Alex said setting the books down gently near the check in counter. Once the books were stacked into manageable stack Alex looked to Merissa and asked her for the books. She handed him the books then her face reddened as their hands touched. Alex did not notice and turned to Grendethaer and asked a question.

“Do you have any copies of these books that I might take on my travels?”   he handed over the copies of the following.

“The Hobbit” and “A Journeyman’s Guide to New Avalon: The Complete Edition”

The Librarian looked over the books and had a puzzled look on his face and asked. “I know why you want the Journeyman’s Guide but why the other one?”

Alex smiled and replied. “Because I might want to sing on my journey.”  

He nodded and left returning seconds later with three leather bound tomes. On the spines had the titles. He knew two of them which were the ones he asked for but the third was named  “A Immortal’s Tale” and the inside was blank. Alex shot a questioning glance toward Grendethaer.

“Figured you might want to record your tale, don't worry about quill and ink it writes through a enchantment all thats needed is thought.” He said beaming with pride.

Alex looked at the thick black leather tome with an impression of a leaf stamped in the front.

The cute blonde elf stood next to the two feeling left out and started to fidget with the seaming of her pale blue summer dress. She had a light skin tone that seemed to not tan nor burn. Her lithe figure stood out with the dress to complement it. She watched as Alex was about to leave her for good. She had been infatuated with him since his show of power in the Council hall. She wanted to be with him, but he did not see her that way. She found courage and asked the question that had been on her mind the whole day.

“Alex...can I come with you…?” she asked looking at him with large doe brown eyes.

Alex looked toward her seeing her like that reminded her of his daughter when she wanted something.

“It will be dangerous…” He paused. She seemed to get excited when he said dangerous. “Ask your parents.”  She bolted out of the library heading to her father.

“You know she is the youngest daughter of the Council elder,right?” the librarian said eying Alex.

“Yep… I am hoping that he will say no.” Alex said watching the girl run off. He turned too Grendethaer. “I wish you a relaxed life friend.” Alex said. He placed his hand over his heart and a with a deep bow retreated. Grendethaer took him in a embrace and whispered into his ear.

“All roads end but make sure yours is full of knowledge and women.” he smiled a kind gaze at his young compatriot of knowledge.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Alex hugged him back and smiled.

------------------

As Alex left the library he whistled calling a friend to his location. Large thuds could be heard as something large approached. The library was on the second layer of the city, above the ground layer. A large shadow covered Alex. and before him appeared a large beast the size of a hose.

“My oh my! Look who decided to leave his dusty old library!” a voice rumbled in the mind of Alex.  Alex hazard a guess it was the beast.

They began to circle each other as if gauging each others power. Alex smirked.

“You are still a thousand years to young, kiddo.” Alex leaped forward slamming against the beast laying him against the wooden floor. By drawing onto his mana pool he coerced the wood to grow over the best paws holding it down.

Sitting on the side of the large animal Alex looked him in the face and said. “Weylyn you have grown again...and when did you learn to speak to me telepathically?”

The wolf seemed to grin. “A natural trait of my people. You can do it too. Also I have been this size for two months ass whole.” He knocked Alex off and broke free of his restraints.

Alex fell on his butt looking at him in mild annoyance.

“Hop on you need to meet Amelia and Victors kid before you go.”   He telepathically talked to Alex. So Alex jumped on and they were off.

Alex the flew through tree homes toward the home of their friend Alex felt a urge to scream a phrase he thought he would never get to say but he held it in and thought.

“I will use it when i go into battle with him.” a large smile creept onto his now bearded face.

He then heard Weylyn ask “ What does "Lok-Tar Ogar!" mean?”

“Victory or Death” Alex replied.

“Thats a poor joke on your enemies.” Weylyn said.

-------------------

Alex stood in near the exit of the city holding a small child in his arms. The age could be guessed around a year but was in fact six months old. He learned from the child's parents that they age nearly double the rate of humans until they are an adult which is eighteen or nine years old.

He handed the sleeping child back to its mother Amelia.

“Hope you all the best of luck.” He said giving a hug to the new parents.

As he turned to leave; Merissa called out.

“Wait up!!” she was waving a hand frantically while toting a large blue sack. She wore the same dress without any shoes. She drug the sack next to Weylyn who was laying down a couple paces away from the family and the child.

Alex raising  an eyebrow at the sack asked her. “What's all that for?”

She smiled a pretty little smile and replied with childlike innocence. “ For a carriage ride silly!”

Alex walked over to her sack and opened it. It was full of clothes...mostly different types of undergarments. Merissa pushed him away turning beet red and stuttered out.

“H..hh...hey why did you do that?!” she started to look a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

“You didn’t even pack any rope…” Alex shook his head. She turned even redder and muttered. “He’s into that...hmm.”

But he did not pay attention to her lewd thoughts...she was  a kid after all and continued by saying. “You don't need even a third of those clothes. At most you need three three outfits, one pair of shoes and that's it.” he shook his finger at her.

“Damn...rope...shit” Were his thoughts as he noticed what he was doing with his finger. He dropped his finger and shook his head and opened his inventory and pulled out a leather backpack and tossed it to her.

“You can keep what you can fit into that.”  She looked as if about to cry but Alex had a time schedule to stick to and he didn't want it ruined by some child thinking this was a romantic stroll. “And I recommend something functional that beautiful.You have until I get back.” With that Alex headed to the market section of the city thinking. “Shit nearly forgot rope…”

-----------------

A cloaked figure stood. Wisps of darkness floated of its body as it moved forward. It moved unseen in  the crowded streets of the market sector. It saw what it was after and moved at a quickened pace, almost running. It ran past its target leaving a present in its pocket. A smile crossed it face as it disappeared.

--------------

*You have acquired a Unique-Legendary Item!*

*Ring*

*Unknown Effect*

*Sentient Item.*

“The ring is sentient but asleep. Awake it for more information.”

a/n: He does not see this since it should be blue box text.

Alex felt something in his trouser pocket. Putting his hand into his pocket he felt a circular metal object. He pulled it out and started to examine it.

It was a smooth, golden band that was lighter that it should be. Alex held it up into the air letting the sun pass through the ring.

“Yep, not putting this on until the fire test.” He said with a smile putting it back into his pocket. And turned to walk into a general store that was said to sell rope. Using the meager wages he was able to obtain by selling the bones and skins of the beasts of the woods he was able to buy thirty feet of hemp rope. It cost eight silver pieces.

The trio were now outside the city moving at a fast pace south west. Alex knew which way to go to get to Everbridge, the nearest human settlement.

The End of Chapter 7: Back to the Wood

Next chapter should be out by the 18th. *crosses fingers* Maybe before...