It appeared that Victoria was of the same mind as she finally handed the book back to me. She advised me to go over all that I had learned before, as well as seeing how much more I could memorize by noon today. I took on the challenge with excitement to further test my new capabilities!
As I poured over the book, imprinting every detail and searching up every reference available for the many herbs it covered, I had gone through and refined all that I had learned before since the beginning. This was done in just two hours! The remaining one hour that I had allotted, I found myself advancing comfortably past the 12th page of new memorization in the time in the past I would have been struggling with memorizing a single complete page. I even felt as if I could push for more if I had to.
I didn’t want to rush things too much this time, as within my mind I was feeling as if there were new pathways being built and I didn’t wish to overly strain them at the start. A complete copy of the book felt like it was forming itself in my thoughts in a far more comprehensive way than the hard copy in my hands. My hands itched as if wanting to now touch the individual plants in order to gain even more information, particularly in the tactile, olfactory, and in-person visual sense.
After completing my time memorizing and as we sat down for lunch, I shared my burning desire for such access to those plants to Victoria. With a surprised arch of an eyebrow, she quietly mulled over my request.
Finally, after a short period of silence she responded. “I believe that I can accommodate that.” Then nodding as if to herself a few times she added. “You’re able to be here again tomorrow and you work at your personal job again after that correct?”
“Yes.” I replied. “For me, it will be about 9 hours that passes, while for you it will be a little over a full day while I’m at work.”
“Good.” She replied. “I can work with that. The day you come back after your job, I’ll have you work away on Monroe’s project at the falls for the morning, and once you come back in the early afternoon for a late lunch, I should have everything set up for you.” Her eyes lit up along with a smile as various thoughts looked to be running through her head.
Nodding once again to herself, she finished with. “Well, I really have nothing for you to do here, so I’d suggest either going out to explore, work on the wall, or do whatever else you want. . . Now shoo!” A smirk formed on her lips as I was effectively ordered out of her home and shop.
Snagging my staff and money pouch to increase my options, I additionally set aside the pickax for easy pickup before I headed towards the center of the marketplace.
While there, I took in the many changes that had occurred since the beginning. Numerous Travelers were now meandering about with various requests and quests on their mind as well as simply enjoying the atmosphere of life here. The original welcoming shack which had been constructed to handle the influx of arrivals, looked to be bursting to overflow with the numbers lined up at the reception desk. Nearby, a series of patrol and military personnel had their own table to aid in the processing of new applicants. Amidst it all, a massive building was in the works being made. Apparently, it was to be specifically for the new and old Travelers as well as the resurrected returnees from the warfront. It was long overdue in my opinion.
Separately from that, there were many changes to the marketplace. Changes and additions had been made to almost every shop as they had gotten an influx in a whole new demographic. This demographic was unique in its willingness to perform mundane tasks and deliveries, low-cost building, and accepted food or other products frequently as payment. This had honestly done much to upset the established trade within the city. Simple labor had become ridiculously cheap. The need for simple housing as well as the frequency of sharing quarters had risen sharply. Due to the large influx of Travelers needing a safe place to log out, the cost of upscale hotels or taverns increased exorbitantly. Few of the city folk enjoyed the idea of slumming it together, whereas Travelers would reserve 10 or more to a single low-quality room and log out after laying down.
With all these additions, there was also a great increase in the darker side of the law. Pickpockets had become rampant, and as such, the patrol had to hire on many newcomers. The greatest percentage was specifically employed to patrol the market. Other places as well got a large boost in increased rounds such as the farms, poor district, and the city outskirts.
I couldn’t speak for every area in the city, as I had not yet traveled to all corners since this latest influx, but I could imagine them being similarly affected.
This virtual reality was apparently quite the hot new commodity.
Seeing all the congestion, my introverted side started acting up and I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. Making a quick purchase for a carriage token, I returned to the apothecary, snagged the pickax and my pack and hitched a ride to the falls. The ride there was also congested with a notable increase in carriages.
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Farmers with bright smiles and sweat streaked dirt on their faces, carried their abundant harvests as bright-eyed Travelers sojourned with them. It was quite the symbiotic relationship that they had. I believe that most of those who refused to contract with the military, were finding whatever they could to finance their journey into the wilds, after shoring up their personal elemental assimilations.
I had heard that the city had become so troubled with unwary Travelers venturing into the wilderness and getting mauled or killed by various animals and hazards, that they had to start implementing a minimum assimilation standard for at least one party member before allowing a group to venture past the walls. I, along with a few other proteges precepting under elite citizens, were given an exemption. I was grateful to such as it cost a fair amount for each evaluation. I especially wanted to follow my master’s advice and not allow others to evaluate my current affinity levels.
Finally, I had made it to the falls and lighted off of the carriage. Offering a small tip along with the cost of the ride to the driver, I made way to the secluded side entrance deeper into the falls. As expected, there were several Travelers enjoying the sights of the falls. Additionally, there were also patrolmen now stationed at various points of the viewing platform. A smile tugged at my lips as I wondered what led to needing that. Probably more than one intrepid Traveler either tried or succeeded in jumping off the platform into the deep turbulent waters waiting below.
Even as I made my way to the secluded path with my staff, pack, and pickax, I watched as several other Travelers watched me openly or out of the corner of their eyes. I noted that my place of entry specifically had a patrolman blocking the way. His eyes lit up in recognition when he saw me and after greeting each other, he stepped aside and allowed me through.
Like hyenas to a fresh roadkill, many of the Travelers descended upon the unfortunate patrolman as they too sought passage. I tipped my imaginary hat to him as a sign of my condolences while he fought off and barred the way to all others. A light smile covered my face as I jaunted over to my nearby destination.
* * * * *
Once I arrived at my little strip of land by the rushing falls, I stripped off my extra gear and stepped closer to the crashing water to marvel once again at the majesty of Niagara falls. With my new and improved sensitivity as well as boosted elemental affinities, I had a much greater appreciation to one of nature’s many beauties.
I could feel the billowing spray lightly tickling my skin and the occasional impact by the stray water droplets, which were cast further than usual. The air smelled sweeter and the sights around me were clearer. Double checking that I could not be seen from my current vantage point by those on the observation deck, I stripped off my shirt and ventured across the field of scattered and water slick boulders.
Coming to the same place as before, when I had been seeking to cleanse myself of the residual stone clumps and dust from the earthen elemental trial, I stood before the closest edge of the falls. Recalling how it had near instantly slammed me into the rocks before, I hesitated a moment before reaching out my hand.
Barefoot and shirtless, I touched the heavy waters crashing down from above. Recollecting from my initial hazardous adventure and mishap beneath the falls, I expected to feel a jolt from the chill. Instead, I was surprised! Although I was aware of the shift in temperature, my body appeared more resistant to and comfortable with the chill. I believe this was likely due to the energies of the ice and fire stones working in tandem.
Continuing to slide my body further and further beneath the falls, I felt a stability and strength that had been lacking from before my elemental trials. Eventually I had fully immersed myself below the sheer curtain of water. My pants began to tug dangerously at the waistline threatening to fall off at any moment. Wasting little time, I sat down cross-legged under the downpour, closed my eyes, and embraced the experience.
A whole new world of tactile stimulation awaited me as my mind and body translated the myriads of sensations crashing down on it. In addition to the water flows, particles of sand, moss, and fresh-water life brushed against my skin on its journey down to the deeper waters below. I felt the heaviness of the water and these particulates as it tested this new durability of my skin and body.
I expected somewhat to be struggling to gather air within my lungs due to the deluge of water fully encompassing me. However, it felt as if my own skin was breathing and that the water was no longer an inhibiting force to prevent survival. I looked longingly at the deeper water below the falls, picturing myself swimming through the chill lake. And yet, the knowledge that a monster really did live in the deep end of the water was a fine deterrent.
Chuckling to myself as I compared my defeated fears of deeper water against this very real monster, I decided not to test the waters further than I already did.
After experiencing my fill and thrill of sitting beneath the falls, I returned to the strip of land where I had been working away at the wall. My pants were near to falling off my waistline and had to be cinched tighter to prevent an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. Not that anyone would likely see, but considering the boost I gained from my assimilation in enhanced perception, strength, and thought, who was I to say what was or was not possible in this world. Perhaps an entire species of mermaids cohabiting peacefully with the kraken below, and were gazing at me voyeuristically from beneath the troubled waters.
Laughing away at the stray thought and likely impossibility, I donned my shirt and shoes in preparation of working away at the wall again. This place, cordoned off from the rest of the city felt like a little piece of paradise and peace. My introverted nature loved the idea of having a place just for myself away from others that was unlikely to be encroached upon anytime soon.
Gathering up the once weighty pick, I felt my muscles lightly flex in order to hold this now far lighter load. It still felt sturdy and sold, but I no longer felt inconvenienced by the awkwardness of it. Bringing it to bear, I began striking and chipping away at my cave project.
At odd intervals, I would pause in my strikes to press my hands against the stone and *feel* around for the hidden fissures within the stonework. Then, taking the time to aim more carefully, I would rip into those hidden weaknesses in order to expedite my work.
As sweat intermixing with misty water formed across my body, I felt a deep satisfaction at the work I was doing. The pull of the muscles, stimulation of the senses, and sight of the ever and rapidly increasing depth of the cave brought me great solace. I deeply appreciated the opportunity to return a greater level of reciprocation for the experience and training Monroe bestowed upon me.
There is something deeply gratifying about working by the sweat of your brow for a worthwhile goal. An image flashed in my mind as I recalled the few homeless individuals which could be seen holding up signs along the streets on the way to my nursing home job. I felt both sympathetic for and lightly despised those who sought for free handouts for things that others had to work hard for.
Thinking back to my many trips through the heart of the marketplace and on the many deliveries requested by Victoria, I honestly don’t recall any homeless wandering the streets of asking for handouts. Admittedly I wasn’t so certain of that applying to the poor district, but after spending a fair amount of time here, this city appeared to be a place where most everyone who seeks to enjoy the perks of living here must earn their stay. Whether by the strength of their back, might of their pen, clarity and creativity of their mind, or by the deeds they had accomplished across their life, all must put in an effort to live.