The smell and sizzle of bacon struck my senses as I entered our small abode. My mother was standing before the woodstove, and my father in his chair. He wouldn't need to get ready for work for a few more hours yet, at least an hour after I departed.
“Good morning!” I called out as they both turned to face me. I tried to smile but I knew in just a while I would be saying goodbye to them.
“Good morning, my boy!” My father pulled me into a hug as the foxes yipped and protested, jealous that someone else was getting cuddles.
“Dad let go, I still gotta get my armor on.” I squirmed under his tight grasp, but hugged him back despite my protests.
“No way, not gonna happen.” His arms constricted tighter, my back cracked with a satisfying pop.
“Mom, save me!”
She only laughed and started to put the cooked breakfast on some plates. Bacon, sausage, eggs, bread, milk, and some slices of a fruit that tasted a lot like grapefruit but was called ‘suncitra’ fruit here. They were nearly identical fruits save for the fact that the suncitra was the size of a cantaloupe.
“Ezekial let him go.” She chided, but the second I was able to stand up and step towards my seat she pulled me into a more inescapable hug, my back cracking under the weight of their love and leveled bodies. Again I hugged back, as she just held me there for a few moments.
“What, she can hug you but I can’t?” My father wasted no time taking a bite of sausage.
Sticking my tongue out at him I finally pulled away from my mother and sat. I didn't know what to say to them as we fell into a comfortable silence for the next few minutes, just eating. After my plate was empty, now placed on the floor for the foxes to lick clean, I retrieved my segmented armor. It wasn’t an exact replica of the roman equivalent, but it was fairly close.
The armor was a gray blue with some carved designs embossing it. The carvings were reminiscent of nordic knot designs from Earth. The fur of the wolf that had killed Brioche lined the shoulders, collar, and bracers to provide some warmth and prevent chafing. The white and black fur was warm, maybe overly so, but I didn’t mind. I liked the reminder of why I wanted to grow stronger, and the extra reminder that if I had been strong then maybe she wouldn’t have died before being able to raise her children.
“Let me help you with that.” My father started to help me buckle each of the straps as my mother went to her room to grab something. I rolled my eyes playfully when she emerged with a cloth wrapped item and another item in a box.
“Really? You didn't need to get me anything.” I glared at the items but I knew they could tell I wanted nothing more than to rip them open immediately. My father chuckled as he tightened the last strap.
“Alright go open em. The cloth wrapped item first.”
“Seriously, you shoulda just saved the money for the baby...” I sat back down and hesitantly opened the package to reveal a small metal device that resembled a loom. It was a loom. The small, unassuming device, was riddled with runes and quality craftsmanship. “A portable loom?”
“A portable loom.” My mother smiled as I picked it up. “It’ll grow or shrink when you add mana to the runes. For your [Runeweaving].”
“Wow, this is incredible. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to keep practicing on the road...” I looked up at her and smiled wide. “Thank you!”
“Now for the other one!” The ring of my fathers hands clapping together crashed in my ears. I winced slightly and glanced back at him as he gestured to the package still on the table.
Rolling my eyes at his impatience, but knowing it’s only due to the fact that soon I would have to depart, I pulled the box towards me. I pulled open the top, smiling as I saw what was within. The smell of old paper wafted into my nose, smelling of a combination of fading vanilla, aging wood, and dust mites. It was a smell almost as welcome as that of a new book, though they no doubt smelled more potent here than in my last life.
“Advanced Frith Runes for the Budding Enchanter,” I read aloud and pressed my fingers over the textured cover. Ripples of leather glided under my wandering fingers before my father coughed and waved to the box once more.
“There’s more.”
Tearing my eyes away from the book of runes, the first Frith book they had gotten me had contained a total of five hundred individual runes, and this book was thicker by a wide margin, I set aside my excitement and looked into the box. At the bottom of the box were a journal and a quill made from a beautiful black feather, when the light hit it as I pulled it out the black shimmered incandescently, a rainbow flickering into existence.
“It requires no ink, it’s been enchanted. And the journal too, so it appears to contain thrice the number of pages.” My mother intoned, her voice soft and wistful. Her smile didn't reach her eyes, but was sincere all the same.
“This must have cost a fortune...” I protested looking between the two of them. “I can’t accept this.”
“Lios, take them. It wasn't too much, else we may not have gotten them for ya. Put em in your pack and lets get going, you may find a few more people waiting to say goodbye to you at the gate.” My fathers gruff voice rumbled as his calloused hand squeezed my shoulder.
My mouth opened and closed as I considered what to say. Instead I nodded and pushed the books and the loom into my knapsack. I had added my own supports to turn the leather bag into more of a hiking backpack, and was hopeful that with them I wouldn’t feel the added weight of the books. Once it was tied closed again I donned it, surprised at how light it felt. I knew for a while it would be comfortable, after all I’d made it specifically for my body. While I wasn’t a leather craftsman, nor had I any skills related to it, it wasn't a skill that required system aid. My knapsack wasn’t perfect, but it would certainly suit my needs.
“Do you have everything? Waterskin?” I gestured to the skin hanging off of my belt that I had filled with well water. “Bedroll? Check,” The roll was strapped at the bottom of my pack. “Extra undies?”
“Mom, I have clothes, I promise. Even three extra pairs of socks and two pants and shirts. One halfway decent tunic for my time in town.” I tried to assuage my mother, unsuccessfully.
“What about a sharpening stone and oil for your sword and armor? And a handkerchief? Did you pack a handkerchief? Cooking supplies?” She prattled off a number of other items and even shoved a few in my arms from the things we had on hand. Before long my light pack started to grow heavier as she gave me a handful of vials, two knives for cooking, a small cutting board, and even a frying pan that she hung on the side of my pack.
“Mom, mom, I have enough I promise! Besides it's almost dawn I’ve got to go.” My father, from the sidelines, chuckled at my exasperation.
“You can never be too prepared, Alexilios.” My mother glowered as I interrupted her overbearing concerns.
I waved it off playfully, ignoring her pursing lips and clear frustration. “Come on, I don’t want to leave them waiting.”
She relented and followed myself and my father out of the house, but not before grabbing a package that had been on the counter of butcher paper wrapped around cooked sausages. “For your companions and pets.”
She winced as Luka pawed at her leg, eyes directed at the package.
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We walked relatively leisurely through the empty streets of Arborton. The muffled ringing of steel was absent this morning, but the smell of bread wafted through the air. The sound of birds chirping and rustling of the leaves wherever trees were present was a welcome din, much more welcome than the din of the city that I had gotten used to in my past. I basked in the freshness of the air, despite the linger of the occasional road apple delivered by horses or other mounts such as the common delogia, a large boar-like critter that was often used to pull carts. I had been shocked when I first discovered them, the tusked beasts were loud and scary while I was fresh to the world but the terror ended there. Once I got used to them I almost forgot they existed.
It wasn’t long before we approached the gate and saw a small ensemble waiting for us there. It was a touch before dawn so I was unsurprised to see that the adventurers had yet to arrive. Maya bounced up and waved as we approached, the others also started to move towards us. My chest tightened and I felt a lump rise to my throat as I saw who all had come. Even Ralphy who was oft busy training as a knights squire was present.
“Lios, why didn't ya tell me you were leavin?” the boy, once scrawny and smaller than me despite being older, grinned wide. He knew this had been the end goal for me for a while.
I approached and wrapped the older lad in a hug, feeling his strength beneath his tunic. ”It's good to see you before my departure, my friend.” I smiled wide and regarded them all. Ralphy was wearing a green tunic and brown trousers, a rapier at his hip and satchel at his side.
Ento, impatient, pulled up next to us and pulled me into a hug of his own. He was wearing his guards uniform, a simple half plate of armor with a chain shirt underneath. The spurs of metal in the breastplate pressed against my arm as he half hugged me before I could hug him back. Maya coughed behind him and he pulled away.
“I’m coming with,” She glared at me as if challenging me. I laughed at her serious expression.
“Oh? But then who would look after your brother?” I tilted my head, playfully. Sky leapt from my shoulder to her, tackling her as she licked the girl's face. Luka hadn’t left my mothers side, his eyes never leaving the package of sausages in her hands.
“My grandparents will. It's not up for debate, Lios.” Ento and Ralphy looked between the two of us and a mischievous glint lit in Ralphy’s eyes.
“Oh? Lios you never told us you were courting young Maya here.” He spoke loudly, far too loudly. I winced and blushed, and Maya grew quiet, squirming under his and Ento's gaze.
“He isn’t courting me, dummy.” Her voice was soft, and her face bright red.
“Not yet, right?” Ento chuckled glancing between us.
I ignored their teasing as I stepped forward and wrapped my friend in a hug. “You can’t come with me, you have your own goals and I wouldn’t have you abandon them to go on an aimless journey with me.”
“But I want... I want to make sure you’re safe...” Water fell from her eyes as she looked up at me. I smiled sadly.
“I know, but you want to keep your brother safe too and teach him to take care of himself. And weren’t you going to help my mom with her tailoring? I’ll be safe, and I promise I’ll write to you.” I wasn’t so oblivious as I often seemed. I knew she had a crush on me, had had one for most of the time I had known her, but I could only see her as a sister. It was difficult, I couldn’t see anyone below a certain age in a remotely romantic way and she was no exception. “I’ll be back, all the time. When I come back, if you still wanna come with, we can talk about it then. After your brother is all settled.”
I pulled away as she nodded and I smiled wide again. “Thank you all for coming to see me off. Truly, and what I said to Maya applies to you all as well. I’ll write, so don’t you forget to do the same. My parents will have the details of my location but I’m sure I won't stay in place very long.”
My parents were standing a few feet behind me, just observing my conversations with my friends as Derren approached. The man looked tired, covered in soot and ember. That wasn't too different from his usual appearance but the wide toothless grin on his face was. He didn’t smile like that often. Lines around his eyes crinkled, and in his hands was a long, wrapped package. My sword.
“A’right den kiddos, if ye got gif’s for da boy bring em out now.” He shuffled impatiently, dancing with anticipation.
I glanced over the four of them. “There’s no need for gifts...” My pack was already close to overfull, and I didn’t want my departure to burden my friends.
“Sorry, I didn't bring anything.” Ento sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
“Me either, though I didn’t even know you were leaving till Ento told me yesterday.” Ralphy teasingly punched my armored shoulder.
“I... I have something.” Maya pulled a small box from her satchel. She handed it to me and I nodded as I took it gratefully.
I opened it slowly, and looked within. The chaIn sparkled as I withdrew it, and a shimmering gold pendant lay at its end. It was a necklace. The pendant was intricate, with a ruby in the center. No, not a ruby. I could feel a small amount of mana inside of it, it was a lumina stone. I eyed the sigaldry, the inscriptions, adorning the pendant and tilted my head. It was not a language I was familiar with. “It’s beautiful.”
“It, it can hold some mana and uhm. It wont let me communicate with you but... as long as you wear it I can see that you're still alive at least. No more than that.” Her face was scarlett as she stared down at her shuffling feet. I pulled her into another hug and kissed the top of her head, her soft blond hair tickling my nose.
“Thank you Maya, wanna help me put it on?” I bent down as I asked, holding out the pendant.
She nodded, a sniffle escaping her nose. Quickly she had the pendant settled around my neck, the thin chain tucked beneath the wolf fur of my armor. I glanced behind me as I heard some muted conversation, Elric, Adrien, Liana and Amelia were talking with my parents. I quickly glanced at them each in turn, my eyes lingering slightly on Amelia before I pulled it away and turned back to Derren.
The adventurers were dressed much like they had been when first I saw them. Adrien in a tattered sleeveless jerkin and some dirtied trousers. Liana in her blue and gold trimmed robes, covering her from head to ankle. Elric in his chain armor with his massive sword slung over his back. Amelia was the only one wearing something different, a low cut pink blouse with a tight white corset and black leather pants. I wasn’t immune to the influence of puberty as I glanced at her but I was able to quickly remove the thoughts from my mind.
“Here, boy. Common a’ready, unwrap it!” Derrens grin hadn’t faded. He shoved the sword into my hands and I couldn't help but grin, fully grin, at his excitement.
“Alright alright give me a second you impatient cobbler.” Derren consistently ranted about the local cobbler so I’d taken to calling him one in jest. I started from the handle's end and began unwrapping the sword. I hesitated as I noticed another lumina stone in the pommel. Closer to a sapphire than Maya’s ruby-like one. My brow furrowed and I glanced back up at him but he only waved at me to continue.
The ebonwood handle was polished and smooth. As I unveiled it I grew impatient and pulled the remainder of the sword out, revealing the hilt I had made from the alloy of manasteel, quicksilver, and orichalcum. It glimmered as the sun started to finally peak over the trees. I felt Elric and Adrien both close in on me as I removed the finely fitting leather sheath, it was simple but would do the trick. The blade was polished and colorful. An iridescent blue and green and silver amalgamation, the thin patterns from the damascus made it a bit trippy to look at. I gave it a couple of practice swings after taking a step away from everyone. The blade whistled and sang.
“She’s a beaut.” Elric whistled as he clapped a hand on my shoulder.
“Aye, she is. Wanna trade?” Adrien chuckled softly on my other side. “Alas, I believe tis time for us to get goin. You ready kid? You can always stay ‘ere.”
“I suppose I’m ready.” I sheathed the sword and affixed it to my belt. I turned to face my parents only to have both crush me with their hugs.
“Safe travels son, be sure to write. If you don't, I'll track you down, understand?” There was fire in my mothers eyes.
“I will, I will.” I pulled away from them slowly and turned to my friends. “And to you guys too. ‘Sides, you’ll all hear of my conquests before too long. I’m gonna be a legend.”
“Still as cocky as ever, aye son?” My father pulled away reluctantly. Both he and my mother had tears in their eyes.
“Of course, I am your son after all.” My father tussled my hair and softly punched my shoulder.
“When you come back we shall drink till our bellies are full and sing songs of your glory, then!”
“I look forward to it.” I quickly hugged the rest of them, one last hug for my friends before I went on my way. “Thanks for finishin the blade Derren, did you name it?”
“Did ye wan me to?” My teacher raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, if you could.” It was a tradition that not all smiths kept, but I felt it was necessary to take with me a part of my mentor, even if it was only a name.
“Hmmm.” He clutched at his chin, ponderously. I waited for a fair amount of time, hoping the delay wasn’t overlong for the adventurers. “Mayhap the ‘Saber of the Mercurial Promenade’?”
I smiled at him and glanced down at my blade. “I like it. The Saber of the Mercurial Promenade. Well, I must be on my way. Thank you for everything, everyone!”
The adventurers hadn’t stopped as they walked through the gates onto the road beyond. I turned and jogged to catch up, noting that the package of meat was now in Elric's hands and that Luka had begun to trail him.