Harry awoke early in the morning confused and disoriented. It took him around twelve seconds to recall, review and then sigh at the memories of the day before, gone by. He sat up before getting to work rolling up his bed and placing it back within his bigger on the inside satchel. As he predicted he felt a soft gnawing sensation in his legs. It was the long sprint he had done away from the dark keep, across the tundra and to the forest that caused this pain.
A thought of asking Oalk to preform some kind of pain nullification magic such as one Isaac would have done, flashed through his mind. -Yeah, no- The coin could go screw itself at this point. Nodding to himself as if to validate his own opinion he started to set off. His plan would be to follow the side of the High Nether Mountains that spread south-east until he came to one of the only functional roads in the high north. The road lead to The High Ice, a several hundred mile wide sheet of black-blue ice that didn't melt without aid of magical fire. The resource was sought by artists and nobility for its durable quality and beautiful patterns.
If Harry had been born seven hundred years prior, he could have gotten onto the road by travelling north-north-east as it had once forked away from the direction of the ice plain to the now High Ruins of Orenk. Sadly he wasn't born seven hundred years ago so he set off south-east. That is until he reached the boundary of the outcropping he had camped in. It was at this point that he slammed face first into a seemingly non-existent barrier, rebounding and falling heavily onto his backside Harry muffled a yell as his hands covered his bleeding nose. "Whff thf!"
A mental tug made clear Oalks presence. [Hah! That was a good'un. Right smack that was, I'll admit my mistake, my mistake. I seem to have forgotten to mention the wards I took the liberty of setting up while you had your rest. Mh... Should be fine to proceed once you've got your sorry ass up now.]
"Prick! You forgot because you wanted to!" Harry pulled one blood splattered hand away to reach into his satchel to bring out a rag. He pressed the rag on his nose as he stood up, scowling. "Seriously, can you not hinder me. I'll do my best to work with you." -Until I get rid of him, soul bond aside there must be some way to cut him apart from me. Perhaps forcing the shard of him out, that or shielding the backlash that I'll get if he's melted down...-
[Mhm, honest mistake lad. What's the plan at this point in time anyway?]
"If you must know I'm just wanting to get out of the blighted tundra. Perhaps to the city of High Glen. Though to get there I'm following the High Nether Mountains and going south down the high road once we get around the end of the mountain spine. My... Group, came up north via the High Forest. I don't wish to go through there without a group. If I could I would"
[...]
Harry frowned at the silence that stretched quite some time. "What?"
[That's a lot of highs... These names mean nothing to me! Who renamed everything?! A five year old?]
Harry paused, Oalk did have a point why was everything named so terribly. High this high that, though ultimately it was better than the naming scheme of old common. One was lucky to remember the name of the house they lived in never mind a mountain range . Harry had studied the old language and through perseverance and pure stubbornness managed to grasp most of the concepts to the language. It was this understanding that made him speak. "Just be glad they're easy to remember. So shut up and don't question it, we travel by the High Nether Mountains."
[Tch.]
As Harry took a step to finally set out he stumbled from the rough mental yank of Oalk detaching communication. Harry vowed to one day murder the coin and continued forth.
{/Break\}
It took Harry five hours of traversing rocky ground to finally reach the mountain ranges end, happily he took out some of his rations to eat. The dried meat was rather burnt due to the repair spell not working on food but he dealt with it. During his travelling he had doubled checked his equipment to establish what he needed and what he still had.
* Adventures Under Clothing
* Short Iron Sword
* Light Leather Armour
* 231 Gold Coins
* 14 Silver Coins
* THE Silver Coin (In his pocket)
* Trusty Lock Picking Tools
* Rations (4 Days Worth)
* Rope (30ft)
* Bedroll
* Vivi'Shanté Signet Ring
* Talia's Dagger
The one thing Harry truly treasured was his signet ring. Given to him as he had turned ten years old. The rings front spiked thrice at the top and once on the bottom, giving it the appearance of a shield. Within the centre a large H and V were intertwined. His name and his family name both initialled. To the side of the shield and around the ring potion of the ring lay a floral design. The workmanship required to make such a beautiful piece of jewellery always caused a smile to raise on Harry's lips. Though he couldn't wear it out in public due to it's value. Even if it wasn't recognised as a royal ring. It still looked noble and his less than majestic appearance didn't quite fit. So he kept it within his satchel.
Talia's dagger was another thing altogether. Harry did have a hobby, one that included sculpting small wooden figurines. Those of noble linage or of royalty were expected to take up at least one artistic skill. Sculpting was Harrys, that and playing a harp, though it had been more than a year since he'd even set his hands on a harp. Sculpting was another matter, all he had to do was pick up a good thick piece of wood and then work it with a suitable knife. Losing his old one during the travels north he had asked to borrow Talias. He hadn't even remembered he had it until he checked.
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The blade held a blackened design at the hilt, the steel somehow darkened with the pattern of a winged... hamster? Harry wasn't sure but the creature certainly looked like one, its two buckteeth seemed to glint with a sharpness that simply wasn't there. The blade edge however was sharp and well made for that matter. The balance almost perfect. Though he personally didn't know how to use a dagger as a weapon... Any more than pointy end first. He mused that only a true street kid like Talia would grow up being able to wield such a thing effectively. Still it worked for his purposes, no reason to hold it to sentimental value. If he could detach himself like that.
Shaking his head he brought himself back to his location, his head turned gazing to the left of the upcoming road. That way would be to ice and nothingness other than a small mining colony. So he promptly turned right and started on the road to the west. With luck and a good step he'd make it to Sundabar before nightfall.
{/Break\}
One hour of walking later Harry was interrupted by Oalk. [Kid, I wish to ask you some questions... About what's going to happen.]
"Mh?... Well ask away. I might answer depending on the question."
[Heh. What are you planning? Once you get into a city... What's your purpose at this point? You ran away from home right?]
"I didn't run away I left, couldn't stand it. I look around only to see a family who enjoys nothing more than being grovelled to, my younger brother thrilled himself by ordering around the maids only to make their lives harder. I left because it wasn't the place I wished to be. Simple as that Oalk."
[Don't you like the idea of being waited on hand and foot? From what I see lad you had it set. Got everythin' you could ever want there.]
"Do I wish for others to degrade themselves in front of me in order to gain favour? No. I find it unpleasant, I find the looks of admiration, jealousy and not to mention envy, disconcerting." Harry frowned at this before a low growl built in his throat. "Hell, it pisses me off! Why am I better than them? Because of my blood? Because of my parents? Why do they act like cattle in front of me, treading carefully as to not be sent to the slaughterhouse?"
[You actually care? forgive me for saying but you just don't seem the type lad.]
"I don't. I just wish I'd started on even ground. I wish to be better than others because of the things I personally accomplish. It doesn't matter what's under the family name, I've not won any wars. I've not governed any cities or pioneered a village in wild territory. Why do people look to me and give me that credit simply because I have the name Vivi'Shanté above my head?" Harry's voice raised with his arms as he continued, tone laden full with sarcasm.
"'He's the grandson of Percy the Great! I'm sure he'll be a grand ruler!' 'He has the blood of Elga'Tharnora the wise! He'll be smart and lead us to a new age' 'Ohh, there's Master Harry! Did you know he has the blood of ten great kings flowing through him? He'll be a fierce warrior one day!'"
"They can all fall down a bloody well for all I care, wool headed fools the lot of them! I never understood how father or brother could find enjoyment from it. Not to mention the lies that spew forth from those you think are close to you!" Harry breathed in clenching his teeth together in order to stop himself from ranting further.
[...] Silence.
"Get it?" He brought the silver coin from his pocket, opening his palm to stare at it. Harry did this so he could feel like he was talking to someone. Rather than the air.
[Damn kid' Thought you'd blow your brain out. I get it, though I'm amazed you didn't fall into the conformity trap.]
"The what?" His tone turned from annoyance into confusion.
[Well... Normal people strive to be accepted by others ya' know? If a bunch'a people of say one thing even if it's the wrong thing, new members to the group or existing members will be more likely to go along with the majority. Even if the thing is as stupid as a stubborn mule. Or in replacement of a mule. You.]
"You sure?... That... would explain why everyone panders to the royal family. Though I've never had those urges, sure having friends and allies is fulfilling but... I've never gone against what I strongly believe in to satisfy said friends own beliefs." Harry fell silent.
[Well you're not normal kid, I'll give you that. I see you better now, as a person that is. Nice to know you've got some depth to you. Even if you're a brat.]
"I'm NOT a bra-" Before Harry could finish he felt the snap of the mental connection. Oalk didn't break it as rough as he had previously done though it was still an unpleasant feeling. "I swear... Rude bastard of a coin! I'll use you to buy bread, then I'll feed the bread to the worms..." Harry paused, awaiting a response that never came.
A few moments later Harry shook his head and set off towards Sundabar at a quicker pace. His annoyance fuelling him forward. Oalk came and went as he pleased. This in turn made Harry pissed. -I'll ask the questions next time, coin.- Another vow was made while he followed the beaten path.
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Thanks for reading~ Chapter 3
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