Chapter Twenty-Eight: I Found My Place in Nowhere

The winter progressed slowly for Marc. There was nothing to do. He had come from a world of constant distraction. Even though, due to his poor socio-economic status, he had only marginally participated in all the trappings of modern society such as the internet, shopping malls, cineplexes, and the like, compared to that old life, his new one was as unadorned as a monk. Each day he would wake up, do some cleaning, some cooking, some gardening, some training. There was very little to life here.

Rynan seemed perfectly happy with this lifestyle. She didn’t seem to have any hobbies. She didn’t read or listen to music. If something needed mending she would mend it. If the garden required attention she would tend to it. She was always there to talk to Marc and answer any questions he had, but also perfectly content to sit outside the cabin and watch it snow. He had come to realize that The Path was indeed not a religion, but was a philosophy. Not that he was any kind of an expert.

Rynan didn’t follow any specific dogma or rituals. Instead, she just made decisions based on her feelings about the cause and effect of any action. She would do what needed to be done, but anything beyond that needed more reason than simply “I want it.” Or even “It’s better this way.” If a tool or a practice was adequate, then that was perfectly acceptable. She didn’t look for improvements or change unless the status quo was lacking in a significant way.

Marc was used to people always wanting more. More money, better jobs, faster cars, more power and influence. Well, maybe it reminded him of Señora Diaz, the old lady who sold street tacos on the side of the road. She was one of the only truly kind person Marc had ever known. She worked hard every day and made practically no money, and yet she always seemed so happy. She was always smiling, always cheerfully cooking and selling her food out of her trailer.

He began to think that maybe Magic was the difference. He knew from personal experience that a lot of that drive for more, more, more in his old world came from the reality that most people did not have enough. He had to do everything he could to scrape together enough for food and rent. If he ever got sick, there’s no way he could afford to go to a hospital. His old job had health insurance, something he was immensely grateful for when he got it, but the reality is that it barely covered anything and his co-payments alone were nearly beyond his means. He had to sneak medications from across the border if he wanted pricier items like antibiotics or acne cream.

But in a world where everyone was healthy, things might be different. Here the concerns were more about safety, which is why most chose to live in a walled and protected city. Food was plentiful, due in part to the fact that the environment had not been over-farmed and over-developed. Overpopulation would have been a problem in crowded cities, so most families were intentionally small, and children were spaced out by years to reduce the resources needed at one time.

He had asked Grenn about life in the city during one of his many visits. Grenn had four children now, the oldest was twenty-five, and the youngest was just two. He had worked as a hunter for nearly his whole life, since he was a teenager, and had earned enough, along with his wife to easily provide all the necessities. Shelter, Health, and Food, all were easily obtainable for anyone who was able to work. And for those who were handicapped or otherwise unable to work, the locals provided basic support that was more than adequate. No one lived on the streets. No one died because they couldn’t afford medicine.

This came at the cost of progress, however. There was no room for those with ambition to raise their social status. Any who did were viewed with concern and suspicion. He thought of the rich and powerful from before in his old world. If anything they seemed to push even harder to grow and expand their wealth, even though they had more than enough. Many times more than enough. In order to afford a nicer car with softer seats. To send their kids to better schools where they would get more advantages and where they could make more money. Rynan was of the opinion that this type of behavior never ends. In the pursuit of more, there is never enough. The disaster she mentioned before was supposedly caused not by the desperation of the poor, but by the greed of the rich. This explained the lack of complicated technology, despite the Republic being at peace for thousands of years.

It had been nearly a year since he had come here and Marc realized he had begun to adjust to the slower pace just fine. He got bored of course. No TV, No movies, Only a few books that Rynan had that he could look at. Instead, he spent most of the winter months talking with Rynan and Grenn, and occasionally Meservi. He would also cook, although since they were in winter stores he had to minimize his experimentation. Everything he took must be eaten, no matter how badly it came out. He would also practice Magic.

Due to his constant use of the Inner Flame skill to keep himself warm, he had managed to raise his Fire Magic to the Journeyman level, much to the chagrin of Grenn who had never been able to advance beyond Novice. He could now extend his influence beyond his own body. His control however was still quite weak. The most he could accomplish was to light a small fire or heat the kettle to tepid without a flame. His new skills were.

SKILL: IGNITION [1]

ACTIVATION: CREATE A SPARK THAT CAN IGNITE A FIRE.

DURATION: INSTANCE

CD: 1 MINUTE

SKILL: HEAT [1]

ACTIVATION: RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF AN OBJECT BY 1 DEGREE/SECOND UP TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.

DURATION: 1 MINUTE

CD: 6 MINUTES

He had also happily raised his Inner Flame skill to Level 2, allowing him to use it for twice as long. The effect was also stronger, so he no longer suffered as much from the cold, although waking up freezing cold each morning was always an unpleasant experience.

For his water skills, he mostly used them when training with Grenn who stopped by every couple of weeks. Now that he could withstand the cold better, they had gone back to training out in the clearing. At first, he questioned the value of the training exercises after he had discovered that he could not increase his levels or stats. After numerous practice sessions, however, he had to admit that the repetition helped him build muscle memory and focus his mind, allowing him to respond faster and more precisely. He had even raised his polearm weapon skill one level as well.

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Any pride he had gained from these modest advances however was shot when Grenn rated his combat prowess around the average of a 10-year-old child. Marc had to admit, he was never going to be some kind of fighter or warrior in this world. Even his Magic skills, while far more diverse and easy to develop than for your average person of this world, were still laughably weak compared to even beginners. Years from now, maybe he would be able to stand out and above, and he did have plenty of years ahead of him, but for the near future, he had to admit he was nothing special.

That surprisingly did not bother him much, especially considering his lofty ambitions when he first arrived. He did of course get frustrated when training with Grenn about his slow progress, or trying to advance his Magic skills with Rynan. Surprisingly the balancing influence was Meservi.

Meservi would occasionally visit, always accompanying Grenn when he came to visit and help train Marc. He seemed to have no purpose for the visits, which seemed strange for a high-ranking official. He would lounge and watch Marc and Grenn training, get bored, and go to find Rynan so he could pester her. Most of the time he would come back wet and shivering in the cold asking Grenn to warm him back up and dry him off. He would join them inside for meals, always polishing off a bottle or two. Generally making a nuisance of himself. But Rynan and Grenn never banned him or sent him away. They merely tolerated his presence like that of an annoying cat that came and went as it pleased.

Marc would sometimes get dragged into conversations with him, and while he was wary at first, they soon became a highlight of his days. Meservi was everything Rynan had warned him about. Boisterous and braggadocio, always talking about the great adventures he had and the accomplishments he held. Still, he was prideful in a genuine way. He always built up Rynan and Grenn, as well as others in his stories. He seemed to almost worship Rynan, and even spoke about Grenn, a man far younger and less powerful, respectfully as though he truly admired him.

He was an infectious optimist. He spoke of any event, no matter how small as though it was an audience with a King. He took any offering, from a cup of tea to a skewer of grilled meat, as though it was a gourmet meal. Openly relishing each sip and bite. While Grenn was protective and practical, and Rynan was detached and accepting, Meservi matched them well as the positive and energetic part of this trio.

That said, it was not easy trusting him as he had been with Grenn and Rynan. Grenn had saved his life when they first met, and Rynan had opened herself up in order to gain his trust. Meservi… Meservi was, well, he was just shifty. It always felt like he was planning or potting something. He was too eager and too enthusiastic, and he was also very, very intelligent. It was not a match-up that inspired blind trust.

They had yet to share everything with the Elf. Marc was careful not to use any of his abilities or Magic when he was around. This was painful as he couldn’t use his Inner Flame when training outside with Grenn.

It was near the end of winter when he decided to include Meservi in his secret. He consulted Rynan and she agreed that he needed the Elf’s help if he wanted to move around the City freely. Meservi was the second most senior officer of the Guild in Clearwater and would be in a position to help should there be any complications. That, and as a powerful Air Mage, an attribute that was incredibly rare in this part of the world, he would be a perfect teacher to help him unlock and learn Air Magic.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Rynan and Grenn trusted him. And Marc trusted them. So one day, Marc asked Meservi if they could talk. Of course, the energetic Elf seemed overjoyed by the suggestion.

“That’s tremendous! Of course my boy. Let’s talk. Would you like to hear more secrets about the two prison guards who watch over you like anxious parents? Or how about I explain The Guild and how you can get membership?” He excitedly spoke as they both warmed their hands by the fire.

Marc was tempted to put off his talk and hear more about the Guild but decided that could wait for now.

“Actually, I wanted to tell you about me… and where I am from.” He spoke quietly. Rynan and Grenn had gone outside, so it was just Meservi and himself. And Kira of course.

《Ask about the Guild. I need to get more information about it.》

“Later.” He shushed her.

《Hmph!》

“That’s tremendous! Please! I’m all ears!” He said, pulling his long Elven pinna while grinning mischievously.

Marc wondered to himself how a joke like that translated.

《Somethings are pretty much the same. Dad jokes seem to be universal.》

“I’m not from here… from this world. I’m from another world.” He said preparing himself for Meservi’s reaction.

“Uh-huh.” The Elf blinked at him, as though waiting for him to continue.

“I’m a Traveler. A Dimensional Traveler. Grenn found me wandering out in the hills after I was transported to this world.” He paused to let what he said sink in.

“OK.” Still smiling, and blinking.

“You are fine with that? That I’m a Traveler?” He asked cautiously.

“Boy, I knew that the first day! Of course, I’m, fine with it. It’s tremendous!” He tacked on his catch-word.

“How? I thought you couldn’t use your skill? Could you really read me?” Marc asked, brow furrowed.

“Of course not! I told I couldn’t didn’t I? That your information was all garbled.”

“Then…”

“Marc my boy. How many people do you think can block my Analyze skill?”

“I don’t know. Rynan has her amulet…” He said thoughtfully.

“Who do you think designed it for her?” He said with pride beaming on his face. “That’s my runework embedded into that artifact.”

“Oh…” Was all Marc could say.

“I’ll tell you how many. I have no idea!” He laughed.

Marc stared at the laughing Elf, unsure what kind of game they were playing.

“I don’t know because that has never happened to me before. I have never even heard of that happening. Yet suddenly there you were in front of me!” He said as though he had received a coveted present.

“Then I came back and now not only is it not garbled, but it’s completely blocked! Blocked with an ability as strong as mine! With a taste of Water Magic, I am certain.” He licked his lips in a ridiculous-looking mime.

“That’s not Rynan’s doing. So it must be you. But I can also smell the fire in you. No matter how I look at it, you are no normal young man.”

“You are not surprised? Bothered?” Marc was shocked. He had expected a reaction more like Grenn. Concern, suspicion, and maybe even fear.

“Not at all! It’s tremendous. A Traveler! I have so much I want to ask you. Can you really use all Magic elements? Can you use Air Magic? Do you want me to teach you? You really must come to the City soon. I can introduce you to the Guild Head. She is going to explode!” He kept going, more like a child with a new toy than a more than hundred-year-old government official.

“Ummm. No. Not yet. Just Fire and Water…” He was completely beaten. The Elf had known the whole time, yet he never pushed Marc to discuss it.

Marc let out a breath. Had he been holding it the entire time? He was sure now that it was the right decision to bring Meservi into his secret. In his first nineteen years of life, he had never once had a confidant, a person he could trust with his secrets. To be honest, he had never really had any secrets to begin with.

Now he had three.

《Four, don’t you mean?》

“How do you count? You are inside my head. I can’t keep secrets from you, even if I want to.”

《And don’t you forget it. Now, ask him about the Guild stuff.》

Rynan and Grenn came back in through the front door. A cold blast of air sneaked through the opening before Grenn slammed it shut.

Rynan looked at Marc’s expression. “I assume the conversation went well then?”

“He knew. You didn’t tell him?” He asked, knowing the answer.

“Of course not!” She said in mock outrage. “I told you he’s an annoying spy.”

“Oh, Rynan! You say the sweetest things! Come, Let’s toast to Marc! A Traveler! How tremendous isn’t it?” A bottle already escaping from the storage space in the Elf’s cloak.