Jackie was chilly. Despite the heavy coat he wore there was a strong breeze and the air was cold enough to wake him up. His body didn’t creak or protest as he pushed a hand out and pushed himself up into a sitting pose as he opened his eyes. The night sky with a few odd stars twinkling high above gave him an indication of time. A bright moon was shining down giving enough illumination for him to see around him despite the encroaching darkness of the evening. The colours of the moon shifted even as he looked at it but Jackie ignored the relative strangeness. He’d already met gods and experienced magic and even confirmed that rumours of a Tourism Board were true. As long as his family and friends were safe then that was all that truly mattered.
His body wasn’t hungry or thirsty as the leftover reserves of magical energy remained inside him. There was an aftertaste in his mouth of pure and fresh water which had washed away the taste of the coffee. Around him was a forest, nothing special or out of the ordinary aside from a figure who was standing there but hovering or floating just above the surface of the ground.
Granted that his vision remained a little blurry but his body remained fresh, young and full of energy so he could have been mistaken. The cold breeze returned once more wafting over him bringing with it the smell of nature, mostly wood with an edge of smoke from a burning fire somewhere much further way from his immediate location.
‘Linas. Good to see you again. I believe that I asked for a better setting to sign a contract between us as business partners but dumping me into the woods is a little much don’t you think? I mean, I’m here to help you with a coffee issue, not to go on an adventure in the wilderness like some of outdoors survival camp. Did you bring a tent, rations and equipment at least? If I’m to be an avatar of a god like yourself then you should be bringing something to the table. Or better yet, take us back that half-decent attempt at a Coffee House of yours so I can at least make us a warm drink or teach you a little. No? No response?’ said Jackie as he shook dirt off his hand before he ran a hand through his hair.
Definitely thicker than before. More energy, no creaks and joint pains. I’ll need a mirror to determine my actual physical age though. I’d grown to like having grey hair. So great I never went bald. So great. Look at this kid, all confused as to what to say.
Jackie pushed himself up and sat down on the floor, the baggy skinny jeans along with the rest of his clothing had been extremely high-end, expensive quality built to last. He had left a note to have the rest of his clothing in his walk-in wardrobe to be given to charity but it didn’t mean that he scrimped and saved on clothing. The military style lace-up ankle boots alone cost him more than a Directors annual salary at Imperial Strikker Coffee.
Ah. I don’t work there anymore. Not even on the same plane of reality. This kid, not even trying to give me a hand to stand up. How much did his Mum take it out on him?
‘Linas. The step to a Coffee Empire starts with a single cup at a time. No, scratch that, a single good quality bean at a time. Are you going to give an ol-, young man a hand up or stand there watching? I am so glad that you asked me to wear a coat. This place is cold, seriously cold.’ said Jackie.
He looked around the rest of his immediate surroundings. In the distance above the treeline there was a distinct pattern of smoke clouds which had likely been the cause of the burning he had smelt. If that was a forest fire then he’d need to get a move on but the smoke was rising directly upward into the skies.
Jackie was pleased to see that Linas wore a style familiar to his own but with a few minor details fashion wise that were different. He was wearing silver jewellery rather than gold, and he lacked the same fur collar on his t-shirt. The heavy jacket was a lighter brown colour with larger pockets and the hood was drawn up.
The face of Linas could still be seen underneath the baggy jacket hood, he was tense, uncertain and excited from what Jackie could make out. In another situation and another time seeing a young man wearing a hood alone in the forest would have been a cause for alarm but there was no visible pressure or threat emanating from him.
Jackie cut off him off with a swipe of his hand as he pushed himself to his feet. Getting used to being a young man again was going to take him some time. In his mid-seventies, he’d seen people the same age or even a few years younger than him take a fall and end up bed-ridden due to injuries.
At least this time around he wasn’t going to imagine that he was young and immortal, unless that was going to be included as a blessing though. Eternal youth sounded fun but not if he was stuck at the same age, he wanted a little more maturity and wear and tear on this fresh body of his first.
‘Linas…no. This isn’t working. God Linas. Wait, what are you meant to be the god of exactly? I was told that this is a continent of Food and Drink gods, sounds simple enough. God of Cheese, God of Hazelnuts, Goddess of Wine but how about you? I’ve got an idea of what your Mum is meant to be but right now she doesn’t matter. Only you and me matter as business partners in this venture. You can start by telling me what you represent as a god.’ said Jackie as he brushed off the last of the dirt off his hands and stuck them into his own baggy long-length jacket pockets to take the chill off.
There were sounds in the distant forest as his senses grew used to the new environment. Smells which were both familiar and odd to his nostrils. This much was certain, Jackie was aware that he wasn’t living on Terrus. He’d never heard of a planet with a single moon in the sky for starters and the sky was a variant colour even with those few stars in the sky.
A new place and a fresh start. Come on kid, don’t make me consider I was wasting my time. Time for you to grow up a little and make some effort. We all make mistakes, just learn from them.
After he didn’t receive an immediate response, Jackie decided to begin walking in the direction of the smoke which rose into the air above the tree line. If he was lucky then he’d be relatively near the edge of the forest. The trees around him were high enough but not old enough to be reaching high into the sky blocking off his immediate view and blocking out all the remaining light.
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There were insect sounds, birds and other creatures but he’d been threatened back home in one of the ancient forests where species of fire-breathing bears still lived. Granted, he’d done so from the safety of a secure vehicle as part of an expensive tour group but nothing here had threatened him yet aside from the apparent insecurity and uncertainly of a young god.
Jackie was far too old to be hanging around waiting to be told what to do, he’d choose a relative direction, find some locals and get a much better idea about what the continent of food and drink offered him. And if it proved dangerous then he’d need to find someone to keep him safe while he conducted his own business of introducing coffee.
A voice called from behind him as his military style ankle boots crunched on twigs and broken forest underbrush beneath his feet. Rather than stop, Jackie simply waved a hand to acknowledge that he heard.
Perhaps he wasn’t being reasonable in his own mind but he’d given more than enough. Being taken to this place, his personal space and relative freedom being given up for youth he’d never asked for. The only reason that he was willing to go on with was the promise of a challenge. The older female goddess had threatened with a little magic power and had wanted him to sign a contract but she’d appreciated his response.
Besides, he’d seen how she dealt with her son. From his own adopted kids, some were easier or more difficult than others. He knew a spoilt brat when he saw one. Taking personal responsibility was the first step to greatness, even if it was over small affairs.
‘Coffee. You’re the god of coffee? Correct me if I’m wrong but this continent doesn’t even know what it is. If that’s a direct reflection your power and status then we’re on the same starting level. As a god though you must have some degree of power. Say, I formally agree to be your avatar and you provide me with a blessing does that also give me a magical ability then? As for a tutorial just point me in the direction and we’ll see how the challenge does. I’m not here to fight monsters and become an avatar of destruction. You could have chosen a military or mercenary for that, I was selected for more than half a century of experience in the coffee industry. Oh, the smell of burning is closer. Just up ahead through those trees then, unless you’re willing to give me a better explanation I’ve given enough. Your turn God of Coffee.’ said Jackie.
The sound of rushing footsteps on soil, rock and wood came from behind him as an arm wearing a similar jacket to his own grabbed his with surprising strength. Out of all of it, Jackie had one issue, he didn’t like to be touched by those he wasn’t familiar with. He shook off the arm of the young god and pointed towards a deep glow of red now clearly visible between a treeline ahead.
‘Over there is civilisation. Here, we’re stuck in the woods. Do you think that forest animals have any interest in coffee besides eating the berries and defecating them out? I mean, there is a particular type called Kopi luwak which is partially digested by a small mammal, fermented as it passes through the digestive tract and then defecated out. But unless there happens to be an existing coffee plantation which is around this forest then I’m not sure why I’ve been needed so badly. I’m held back from asking questions and tried to focus on the actual task but you don’t seem capable enough to even answer some. So Linas, God of Coffee. What do you want to do? Explain a few things to me while we walk to that direction of a fire with actual living things judging from the smells being carried by the breeze or you drop me right back in my home office on Terrus and I go back to being an old retired man? Enough is enough by this point. Use or lose it.’ said Jackie as he shook off the grip of the young god who was trying to hold onto his arm.
At this point, he was being unfair to the young god, but given that his physical appearance was that of a young man it wasn’t as though he was shouting at a boy and venting his frustrations. He could accept a business partner with weaknesses and a complete lack of knowledge and ability, but someone who kept on hesitating without taking action was going to hold both him and the business back.
Running a hand through his now thickened and restored hair which had grown longer and thicker to match that of his younger self Jackie pulled his other hand out of his pocket and planted both hands on the shoulders of the young man looking him directly in the eyes.
‘Sit. Come on, sit with me and work this out. You give me an better idea of the tutorial, how we go around spreading the value of coffee in this magical continent of yours with gods and who knows what and we get to know each other a little. By this point, I’m basically the same physical age as you. Look at our clothes, we could even pass for a pair of brothers. I’m willing to give you trust, how about it Linas?’ said Jackie as he roughly sat down on the ground and extended an open palm in greeting.
Seeing the young man hesitate he spoke again.
‘I, name of Jackie Imperial, no middle name agree to be the chosen avatar for the God of Coffee called Linas. Allow this formal contract to be set as long as I’m physically alive. Business partners in name and nature until the end.’ said Jackie as his own hand began to glow within the edge of the forest. A few creatures scattered away from the appearance of a light source and he saw the face of Linas shift a little as the young god pulled down his jacket hood and dropped himself adopting a cross-leg pose opposite Jackie holding out his own glowing hand.
The pair shook hands and looked each other in the eyes, then Jackie threw his own head back and began to laugh. He let go of all the stress and pressure that he’d been able to stuff deep down inside him and the fear of his own family and world as he embraced his new life.
Opposite him Linas tried to keep a straight face but also began to shake and laugh as the two young men put a hand over the initial handshake and clasped tighter before they both released it and fell backwards from their own sitting positions onto the dirt of the forest.
Jackie was the first to stand up and stretched out his hand to Linas pulling him off the floor.
‘Good. Good. So, with this tutorial, do I need to kill, survive or trade and can it be skipped? My next question is that for a blessing I’m going to need some coffee beans. I’m guessing they’re going to be lower quality with your lack of power but we’re in this together. Business partners to the end?’ said Jackie as he pointed with his free hand towards the large glowing flame beyond the treeline.
Linas did the same and copied his gesture before he waved his hand, stopping the glow around their hands much as his mother had done.