Chapter 32

I checked out of the inn. When I think of the fact that I might possibly be looking at days of travel again without being able to enjoy a comfy bed, not to mention the bath, I was greatly tempted to go back inside, rent another room and stay here even longer. I can’t do that though, I have important goals after all. Yes, that’s right, important goals! So come on Seri, drag yourself away from the inn. You can’t just stand here all day looking at it.

Finally turning my back, I decided to head to Huvreck’s shop first, since it was closer than the guild or Fio’s shop. I hoped my staff would be done. I caught a presence observing me, but the presence didn’t seem to stand out all that much compared to others in the last few days, so I didn’t recognize it. The presence went out of range as I made my way to Huvreck’s, so at least it meant I’m not being followed.

Upon arriving, I went into the usual empty store and then to the back. Huvreck was sleeping on a small cot in the corner of the workshop. I wanted to wander around and examine some of the goods he has stored away, but I don’t really have the time to do that if I want to get on the road while it’s still morning. I had already wasted a lot of time taking a bath after waking up. “Huvreck, I’m here to pick up my staff!” I shouted.

Huvreck bolted up right after hearing me, rolled and fell off his cot hitting the ground head first. “For Spirits’ sake lass! Will ya stop doing things like that?” He stood up rubbing his head.

“Well, I didn’t want to wait for you to wake up.” I replied.

“I could guess.” He picked up a thin black shape off the table next to him and tossed it at me. I caught it, a little annoyed that he threw it at me so easily.“There ya go. I made it the best I could. It’s a damn good staff!”

I decided to take the time to examine it. It’s not really staff length anymore. More like a cane or walking stick. It was still the same ebony color. There’s some intricate carvings along the bottom, and then the top of the staff was carved to look like a tiger’s head with an orb in its mouth between the two large fangs. I noticed that there were two smaller orbs in the eyes as well. I was pretty impressed with it. “It looks good. Thanks Huvreck.”

“Not a problem, lass. There’s a standard durability enchant on it. It should be able to block a steel sword, unless the person swinging it is powerful. Just don’t let the orbs get hit. It will lose it’s use as a magic focus if those get damaged.” Huvreck explained.

“No problem. I have no plans to use it like a melee weapon. That would be a waste. Anyway, I have other errands to run so I’ll be going.” I turned to leave before remembering Myura. “Actually, Huvreck, I have a friend who I recommended to come here to get a shield. Make sure to treat her well okay?”

“A shield eh? I’m not really one for making defensive equipment like shields or armor, lass. I do have some fine shields here, somewhere.” He glanced around the cluttered workshop.

“No problem. Just make sure to help her out as best you can. She’s a Demon girl that looks about my age but a bit older.” I said.

“I swear on my hopes to die drunk, with a wench in one hand and a full tankard in the other to help your friend when she comes by.” Huvreck stated.

“That oath is a bit…” I complained.

“What? Ya never heard the most sacred Dwarf oath before?” Huvreck asked, surprise evident on his face.

“No, I most definitely have never heard that oath before. Oh well, I’ll trust you on that. Now I really need to hurry up and go.” I said.

Afterwards, I left his shop and went to the guild. Neither Fara or the guild master was there this morning, so it didn’t take me long to leave a message for Myura. The guy at the counter wrote down the message and promised to pass it on her whenever she came in. I thanked him and left. Just one more errand left.

Fio’s shop was busy with a few customers, which as always was a large difference when compared to Huvreck’s wreck of a shop. She saw me come in and waved me over. I was surprised to see Nirvi laying sprawled out on the counter. Seeing my glance, Fio laughed. “She didn’t want to lay in her basket today and wanted to stay with me, so here she is! Not that I mind. Having her here to cuddle will make the day easier. I assume you’re here to pick up your potions. I’ve got them right here for you.” She pulled out small wooden box and then opened it showing me the inside. Inside, there were 12 vials carefully stored and sealed. “Drink one a day starting with the lighter ones before moving progressively to the darker ones. The best time to take them would be right before you go to sleep.” She sealed the box back and handed it to me.

“I understand. By the way, I had a question. Do you know the route to get to the capital if I’m not going by ship?” I asked.

“Oh! You’re heading to the capital? I guess it’s the best time to visit, what with the festivities starting soon. Why not by boat? It’s much faster.”

“Water travel and I don’t really get along. More importantly, what festivities?” I inquired.

“You didn’t know?” I shook my head. “The anniversary for the empire’s founding is coming up in about a week. Not to mention Spirits’ Day which occurs right after it, so the festivities will last about a month. The capital is going to be flooded with people from all over the empire! There will tournaments in the colosseum, plays in the theaters, and the imperial library will be open to everyone! it will be the perfect time to visit.”

The imperial library! That sounds great. Not sure about the rest of the festivities though. It sounds like the capital was going to be an annoying place to be. “Is the library not usually open to everyone?”

“Oh no, it is, but you have to submit a request for access and that can sometimes take a while to work its way through. The founding emperor was very insistent that knowledge be accessible to everyone as much as possible! He even established academies around the empire that anyone could attend.” Fio boasted.

The founding emperor sounds like a decent sort. “That sounds nice. The founder sounds like he was a great man.”

“Yep, he was definitely a great individual! He even set in place that all races would be welcome here. He stated that all beings were created equal and that all of us had the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness-” Wait, what did she just say? “-and that it was wrong to hate or fear each other just because we look different to each other. As expected of a Spirit! Truly a wise and noble being!”

I definitely don’t think it was a coincidence that those words were used. “Fio, out of curiosity how long ago was the founding of the empire?” I asked.

“It was 510 years ago! The descendants of the founder still rule and honor him by keeping to the laws that he set down.” Fio answered.

“I see.” 510 years ago. It was 2092 for me back on Earth which means 510 years would be way before the Declaration of Independence was even thought up. I think that would be even before the first colony in the United States was even established? Or was it? I was never really interested in history, but at least I’m sure it would definitely be way before the declaration was put together! Was it really a coincidence after all? Or does this mean there’s some weird time travel stuff going on? Actually, was time travel even that crazy when I think of everything I’ve gone through? I believe it’s become much more vital that I research the Spirits in that library. “I still need those directions, too.”

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“Oh yeah, we got off track there didn’t we? Just follow the east road from this town and you’ll reach the city of Knightvalley. From there you go south and you’ll arrive at the capital. The pride and jewel of the Tevalon Empire, the grand metropolis Tevalon’s Rest.” Fio sighed. “I’m so jealous! You’ll get to be in the capital for all the fun and I’ll be stuck here running my shop as usual! Oh well, it was my choice to open a shop here rather than stay living with my family in the capital, so i have no right to complain. That’s why Seri, you have to play enough for both of us okay!?”

I laughed. “Alright. That’s an easy promise for me to keep.” Maybe. Probably not.

“Good! Also make sure to care for that little cutie there. I don’t want to learn you neglected her, you hear me!?” Fio declared.

I affected shock. “There’s no way I would neglect Coa! I’m hurt that you would suggest such a thing to me, Fio!”

She smiled and said. “Bye, Seri. Make sure you come by my shop again next time you’re in town. We’ll have another cuddly pet play date!”

“Sounds like a plan. Bye, Fio.” Coa chirped at me. “Oh, I think Coa wants to say something too.” Coa stretched out from my neck and then chirped, trilled and then finished with a warble while looking at Fio.

Fio understandably couldn’t control herself after watching such a display. “That was so cute! You adorable little thing!” She started petting Coa.

After a few minutes of that I had to interrupt her. “Sorry Fio, but I can’t stay and play, and I think you have some customers that we’re keeping waiting.” I pointed behind me. At least the customers were looking on with a smile so they must be used to Fio’s behavior.

“Oh! I’m so sorry! Seri, absolutely come back and visit sometime!” Fio said.

“I will. Don’t worry. And when I do I’ll show you my amazingly, and likely weak, magic powers!” I laughed.

Before we could drag out the goodbyes any longer, I turned and left the store. It’s kind of depressing that I won’t get to see Fio or Myura for possibly quite a long time, but I guess that’s just how it goes. At least, I know where Fio is so I can always see her again when I want to and Myura will join me later on. I really owe Fio for her help though, I wonder if I can find her something good in the capital as a gift?

Everything was settled and done now, so I guess it really was time to go. I pulled up my hood to cover my head and started heading to the east gate, the one that Myura and I had used the day before. I caught that one presence that I had noticed earlier again but it ran off almost immediately. I wonder what that was about? I really hope it’s not some watcher from the town’s lord. It didn’t run toward the lord’s manor though, so maybe it’s not. It seemed to run off in the same direction as the gate I was headed towards.

I checked through the gate and started walking along the road. I wouldn’t be able to speed up until I was away from people so it was kind of a bother that there were other people traveling today. They were probably heading toward the capital too. Some wagons that looked like they belonged to poor merchants or possibly families judging by their small size were ahead of me. I might have to wait until they stopped for the night to get ahead of them. Such a pain. I also caught trace of that annoying presence again. I think they were traveling with one of the wagons ahead of me.

A few hours of walking later and I was getting really tired of being behind these slow wagons. I didn’t think horse drawn wagons would be this slow! They were only traveling at eight to ten kilometers per hour. There wasn’t even the benefit of interesting sights. Just grassy plains and that forest that Myura and I visited yesterday a bit in the distance. I think I’ll just run around and get ahead of them now. I can do that without looking ridiculously superhuman. Plus it will be amusing to see what that presence does if I do so. I’m sure they will react in some way if they think I’m going to get away.

I started jogging and going around the closest wagon. The presence was in the second wagon so they’ll probably react soon.

Sure enough as I was about to pass the second wagon, I heard a somewhat familiar voice. “You stupid bitch, don’t try to run away!” I stopped and turned to look. Oh, it was the scum from a few days ago. I had completely forgotten about him! He jumped out of the back of the wagon he was riding on. “I told you I’d get my revenge on you!”

Some of the people on the wagons were watching this drama unfold. Damn, I can’t just kill him outright can I? I don’t think I’ll have long to wait until he gets violent which should serve as enough justification and paint him as the aggressor. “You’re alone now? What happened to your friends?” I asked.

“That bunch of cowards is useless. Too afraid of a little girl. I don’t know what kind of magic you were using last time, you bitch, but I have a protection charm this time so you’re out of luck!”

He drew his sword and started rushing at me. A few gasps were heard from the wagons. He swung the sword and I dodged to the side. He attempted to follow it up with another attack but he was too late. My dagger had already been thrust into his right side a number of times. For good measure, I reached out with my psi and twisted some of the bones in his legs and arms until they broke. I made especially sure that his arms were unusable.  I didn’t want him to be able to drink a healing potion or something of that nature.

Unable to stand any longer, he let go of his sword and collapsed to the ground. He struggled to reach for his sword, which was pretty impressive with his broken arms, but I kicked it off the road and away from him. He groaned in pain and frustration as he attempted to find some way to fight back. That was an impossibility, since he could barely move anymore. To make sure he would die quickly I reached inside his body again with my psi and squeezed his heart until it ruptured. I think it’s ridiculous the things I can do when the target has no defenses against psi. Back in game, this would never have worked.

Now that the fight was over, I directed my gaze toward the wagons and said. “I’m sorry for this disturbing sight. This man tried to rob and kill me a few days ago. Apparently, he didn’t learn his lesson.”

A man from the wagon the scum was riding on spoke up. “No, I think I should be apologizing to you. When that man came to us and said he urgently needed a ride to the next city and was willing to pay, I didn’t think this kind of reason was why.”

“Don’t worry, there was no harm done. Excuse me a moment.” I picked up the man and tossed him off the road too. “No reason for him to bother future travelers.” He wouldn’t be living much longer anyway with the damage I had done to him.

“Would you like to ride with us? I think it’s least we can do.” The man asked. Picking up his thoughts he was thinking if I rode with them, their little caravan would surely be safe.

“I’ll have to decline, but thank you for the offer.” I bowed my head slightly toward the man before continuing on my way. I needed to get far enough ahead so I would be out of sight and could then speed up. I really hoped I wouldn’t run into too many more travelers along the way.

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That’s how the next few days went. Occasionally having to stop and slow down when coming across other people on the road but otherwise peaceful. I didn’t see any bandits and no monsters tried to attack me. It was peaceful, but also boring! At least I had Lynn to keep me company, but we didn't have much of anything new to talk about so our conversations were casual and about nothing in particular.

I also had to make sure that every night I would go off the road far enough that my tent wouldn’t be seen. Which meant that I also had to wake up early to be sure that no early risers would see it either.

Taking the potions as directed by Fio, I did notice a slight change in what I had identified as my mana pool, but it was barely noticeable. Well, she did say that these would only speed the process up, not instantly give me mana. I really do hope that I won’t have to wait years on this planet just to get magic. I really, really didn’t want to be here that long.

As for Coa, I had decided that for now I would leave her on the Natural growth plan. I didn’t really want to mess with it until I found someone that actually knew more about raising her species.

It was around afternoon on the third day after leaving that town that I finally caught sight of the city of Knightvalley that Fio had mentioned. It was a much larger city than I had been expecting. The other thing that surprised me was that the city was relatively clean and that the roads were paved with stone. All in all, it seemed like a much more orderly city than the sort of haphazard towns I had been in so far. There were even what appeared to be streetlights along the main roads! I wonder if they are powered by magic? Probably.

Let’s ask around about a good inn and rest until tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll leave and start on my way to the capital.