Verdandi

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"I am glad things are going well there. Yeah. Yeah. Why does Cole care? Whatever. He will be back tomorrow morning before we open. We both will. We just need to stay out of the way till we get everyone out of there." Roy said into the phone. He had called our comrades right after he checked all the doors and windows of the home to see if I could still be spotted.

The home was very interesting. Not kingly, of course, he still refuses the mantle he wears. But it was quite nice. Leather, tapestries, art, light. It could be mistaken for a lower merchant on my world. And he describes his previous position as one of the peasantry, or at least that's how I believe he describes it. The wealth of this world... It is something else. And all with out magic or assistance from the dungeons.

I picked up a crystal clear glass cup from the counter, rolling it in my hands and finding no roughness or imperfections in the glass. The sort of thing someone in my station would lock in a chest when not in use. Here, it wasn't even worth hiding.

I knew there was a level of disparity between the worlds. Visiting travelers had shown that. But this world was far from familiar.

Strange fate that brought me here could change the universe, even without the Nola dungeon shifting the balance of power into the incorporated worlds hands.

But I wonder, having seen him and his action, whether he would consider the conclave allies at all.

I doubt he would choose the side of darkness, it doesn't seem to be his way. But wiser men than me have been wrong before. Something they have on offer must have tempted the fallen kingdoms.

Roy was distracted with his conversation so I kept exploring.

The kitchen was unique. mage style cold box and cooking units were present, operating without magic. The table was set for 4, though Roy stated he lived alone. Entertainment maybe?

The glass door to the courtyard showed an ill kept garden and many many projects in various states of completion. Roy must have been quite busy to let so much pile up. I suppose his Nola can fix all of those if requested.

The second level had 2 bedrooms and a room I believe was for trophies... of some kind. I assume. They certainly aren't hunting trophies. I know that not just from my assessment of Roy's temperament, but the dead eyed artificial 'skin' of the creatures and people present. And a bookshelf! There must be one hundred on it. There would be much to read in this world if I could only figure out the workings of the language for real.

Another task lounging among its friends. I suppose with Dave being a calming influence we may see peace enough to focus on my continuing education.

So much had happened in a short time.

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Roy

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Verdandi wandered off while I was on the phone. I think he isn't stupid enough to wander off completely, so I focused on the conversation. Cole continued to be an excitable puppy on the worksite, but he took direction from Kathy. In between loads he would get quick interviews from the tourists and garbage men coming to the site and had amassed an impressive collection of b roll. With some direction we could turn that and a few shots of the equipment into the press packet for our fake business.

People hadn't been happy about being charged for something that used to be free, at the beginning. They all paid anyway. We were still the cheapest dump in town for those who were just dumping and we had a good ROI for those looking to get their material processed. Dave was more excited about us having a provable stream of income to hide our 'drunken sailor' spending.

He was going to be absent from the site tomorrow so he could get the innocent men arrested for my crime out of jail. That should be more than enough time for the state cops to figure out where the vehicles came from and get word back to the locals. I hope. Dave thinks the process will be longer than that.

Good think I don't pay him by the hour. Actually, I don't pay him at all. And he hasn't asked about money for himself beyond making himself an employee during our paperwork meeting. I know he gave up other clients who were probably making him good money after I ... broke his world... but I will assume that the two of them don't want to join me in the lower middle class.

He's a smart guy. I'm sure he'll figure out how to pay himself.

I got off the phone and took a look around my place. After Nola was given carte blanche to alter the place by my careless words I expected to come home to something, well, more extreme than this.

It was the same house as before, just a little cleaner and in better condition. Chipped and streaky paint had been flattened out and applied professionally. frayed edges, scratches and wood chips on the furniture and appliances were gone. Everything still looked lived in, but nicer. Also things were all stacked neatly rather than scattered as I tended to do after a long day.

I am capable of learning.

Yes you are. I appreciate the work you did here.

The only room I really changed was Verdandi's room. I fixed it up for you and gave him some nice furniture. It still fits with the theme of the rest of the place.

I looked around me. Nothing matched because I bought almost none of it. All of it had been rescued from my old job except the silverware. What does that say for theme?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Eclectic chique, lots of 70s and 80s wood pieces, comfy as the overall feel over aesthetics

I forget you are completely in my head sometimes. Other times, I can't get away from that feeling.

Sorry

That wasn't a mark against you. I am still just getting used to sharing my head.

It's new for me too

Ha ha. Very funny.

"I should go check on Verdandi." I said to Nola out loud, partially to warn him that I was coming.

Upstairs in your office space. He's looking at the comic books.

Huh, that's neat. I guess if you don't speak the language picture books are probably better than a normal. A lot of those are dark. Which one is he reading?

The walking dead

Eh. I am gonna go stop him before he gets the wrong idea about earth.

I jogged a little up the stairs and headed for the office

"What is the story with this book?" Verdandi asked as I came in.

"Fiction. It is about a fake world ending disaster caused by zombies. They are a type of undead. That means they died, were affected by something and came back as monsters. Do you have a word for that in your fiction?" I asked

"We have zombies." He said somberly.

"As a story right?" I doubted it, but I had to check

He shook his head.

"Your world is really different from mine" I said to that

"And yet not different at all. I only see parts of the story, but from what I see it is one of the same ones told on every world." He said as he put the book back and rose to his feet.

"Nola made you a room. Can I show you? It aught to be nice to sleep in a real bed for your first time since getting here." I said

"The cot was fine. I didn't mind." Verdandi said

"Yeah, but that's not the same as liking it."

"Alright then. Show me to my quarters." he said with a grin

Three steps to the next door is not much of a tour, but I think I did it well. I gestured with both arms and said 'ta-da' as I opened the door. I got a chuckle out of him.

"It is a lovely room. Although I am not quite ready to turn in." Verdandi said

"Yeah neither am I. I am just not sure how to deal with you yet so I am faking it." I said

"You seem to do that a lot" He said back

"Yeah, I am working on it."

"That wasn't an insult, merely an observation. Have a little confidence in yourself."

"Easy for you to say. You have warrior training and you grew up with magic. I am just trying to not be the biggest weakling and fool in the room." I said back

"Have you ever been trained to fight?" Verdandi asked, seemingly out of nowhere. At least to me

"No. As a general rule, fighting is discouraged." I said back a little off base with the sudden question.

"Well. The first step to being strong is to find out where you need to improve. I can't do much for fools, but I have my experience training and being trained. That can be one way I contribute to this endeavor. We just need a space to safely spar."

Oh oh! I can clear out the first floor. Walls and all. Put down a mat. I can even make it look like a dojo

"Nola's got it set up downstairs" I said. I'm sure it would be ready in the 10 seconds it took to get down there. She'd done more with less time

"Let's be off then. It will be nice to do something familiar after today." Verdandi said as he lead down the stairs

My living room and kitchen were gone. In their place were living bamboo walls and padded tatami mats across the entire floor. As I exited the stairs they curled up behind me and were replaced with more of the same.

Home renovation shows have nothing on you Nola.

I'm the best. Now kick his ass!

Look at you being bloodthirsty

Gotta root for the home team. You have home court advantage after all

Let's try not to cheat the whole time. We are gonna start with an assessment, like he said. It will be fine.

"Are you ready? Or will you need time?" Verdandi asked as he moved to the center of the room while observing the feel of the ground below him. He seemed pleased that the floor had some bounce to it

I should change. I'm wearing jeans, a long sleeve t and a sweatshirt, not exactly fighting clothes. But I wanted to get this started. Besides, Verdandi was in the altered coveralls Nola had made for him earlier. He was much more constricted than me.

"Nah. I'm good to start once I get my sweater off." I leaned over and pulled it off before throwing it towards the corner. I guess I could have dropped it anywhere in here and Nola could have taken care of it, but I might as well pretend I am not in a dungeon. Don't want to get dependent like the old guys V was talking about.

"Alright then. Let's see what we are working with. I am going to remain stationary. I want you to come in and try to attack me. We will start unarmed." Verdandi said as he took a stance

This is going to end poorly. But that has never stopped me before. I cracked my knuckles, made sure my thumb was on the outside of my fingers when I balled my fists and shook out one of my legs.

He's taller and he has much longer arms. Going straight at him would be bad for me. He could hit back before I could reach him. I'd shoot forward, feint right, then come back in with a punch to the kidneys. Followed by a quick retreat left and back. Rinse, repeat, victory

Yeah. I got this.

"Begin" Verdandi said forcefully. I moved forward.

...

And I am on my back. I don't remember landing on my back

Breathing is hard.

Verdandi is standing over me, looking down worriedly.

"I may have over estimated your skills" He said while offering me a hand up

"Teensey bit" I wheezed

"We have a long way to go" Verdandi said as he brought me back to sitting position.