I was given a day. One single day to get my affairs in order. It felt more like I was preparing for a funeral than an exciting delve or adventure. There was an old question people on earth used to love asking.
‘If you knew that today was your last day, what would you do?’ A certain band even wrote a pretty good song based on that question, never giving an actual answer as much as more questions.
I felt so overwhelmed in that moment that everything felt like it was moving without me. Time was still moving, but I was standing still as my father walked out the door, and Air and Lu continued their spar, completely unaware.
Then I realized, I could control time. I froze it and everything stopped moving. I had the pause button. ‘Now if I could just walk away and clear my head then it really would be like I was playing a game… I just want to pull my hood up, turn off all the lights, draw the blackout curtains, and rest my eyes for a bit. Then when I woke up I’d have a nice cup of coffee. Well, half the mug would be filled with creamer, but I’d still call it coffee, no matter what my dad would say about it…’
‘It sounds nice but… Would I even like being in the dark right now? My eyes certainly don’t hurt from the brightness of my old monitor, and after everything that’s happened that might just be a death sentence.’
I focused the power of my soul and searched out all around me, tugging on the thread that was connecting me to the demon. Finding some relief that it was still far away. It was unsettling though, just how strong the connection between us had become. I could feel a certain strength emanating from it that… Yeah, it scared me.
‘Even if I get rid of this thing I don’t think the dark is all that comforting anymore… I can’t help but wonder what else has changed about me.’
Seconds passed, those turned to minutes, and eventually, I started feeling the strain on my manna. Well, I suppose technically no time had actually passed at all, but it was enough for me to gather my thoughts and feelings, enough for me to come up with a plan.
It all stretched out as an elaborate flow chart in my head. To survive I needed to be able to fight. Fighting came down to two things, dealing and avoiding damage. To deal damage I was skilled in several forms of fighting, but the bow was the most effective by far.
Not only was I accurate to a fault, but I was strong enough to shoot some pretty deadly arrows if I used magic. So the first thing I had to do was to go to the bower, and finally get him to help me make my bow.
The next thing would be armor, which I was honestly better off without unless it was light. If I had to use magic constantly just to move I would be drained before the first fight. Even if I didn’t have to use magic, the maps made it seem like we would be walking for miles on end down there, so it needed to be something that wouldn’t drain my stamina either.
‘Knowing Keigan, he’s going to try and make me keep pace with him… Or leave me to die…’
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I let out a sigh, brushing it from my mind. The armor I would use would be from an old plate set, custom-made for Lu when she was little and went on her first hunt.
My parents were… A bit protective, surprisingly enough. Regardless, it wasn’t the heavy plate that I needed, but the leather padding that was layered underneath the plate. It was a multilayered set. She had outgrown it anyway, so I doubted she would refuse to lend it to me.
I had pellets to help support my manna and immune system, but I wasn’t sure if there were any other consumables I could prepare. ‘If I find out health potions are a thing, and we don’t use them because of their magic… I might have to hit something.’
As for weapons, I wasn’t a fan of greatswords, especially not in combination with a bow, so I was thinking I might also steal one of Airsidh’s larger carving knives. Some of the wood he carved was as hard as iron. So, his knives were certainly capable, he also had some knives for gutting big game, which would be equally useful.
‘I wonder if I should say goodbye to everyone too… No, then it really will feel like I’m going to my death, it's probably bad luck.’
‘Well, either way, I should start moving. To the Bower first.’ Thankfully, in that same moment, Airsidh had won his duel, making Lu so mad that she hurled her sword straight into the wooden siding of the house.
“That’s a bit excessive don't you think?” He asked, as calm as ever as I walked up to them.
‘Maybe… I’ll ask about the armor later…’ “Hey Air, can you help me out for a minute, I need to get my bow made.”
He looked over to Lu as if asking whether or not it was ok. “Just do whatever you want!” She yelled, clearly still upset she lost, “I’m clearly way too worked up now! So I need to go cool off anyway…” She grumbled, storming off in the opposite direction.
He chuckled, his smile reaching up to his eyes as they narrowed. “I’m all yours.”
Having things working out lifted my spirits a bit, helping me to momentarily forget why exactly I was doing everything in the first place. It was contagious, making me start to feel a bit lighter until we arrived at the workman's house and he asked me the one question that could ruin the mood.
“So why now all the Sudan? Honestly, I thought you had forgotten about this.”
I didn’t even want to answer. It felt like the words were catching in my throat. “Next time we shoot together, don’t you think I should use my own bow?” It felt like I was lying, another weight being hung around my neck, rather than relief coming with me having avoided the topic.
“If that’s what you say.” His smile softened as he opened the door. “Hey, old man!” He yelled, cupping the side of his mouth as we walked in.
“Isn’t that rude?” I asked quietly, surprised at the way he was speaking.
A low grumble lagged behind a raspy voice as a man just a bit taller than Lu walked out from another door. “He knows it's rude…” The man said, his voice coarse as sandpaper. “That's why he says it.”
The man sat down on a stool around a small table, gesturing for us to do the same. “What do the brat and the young miss want?”
I felt a bit out of place, especially after being addressed as “The Young Miss” while my brother was being called a brat.
‘Well, we’re here for me so I guess I should be the one to talk.’ I took a seat and looked up at the man. His hands were so thick that I wouldn’t have doubted he could crush rocks with them. His hair was short and well kept, despite its white color, and his face was cleanly shaven.
Had I still been on earth, I would have thought I was talking to a hardened veteran who sailed in three wars. From appearance alone, It felt natural to address him as sir, certainly not “Old man.” He gave off an aura that almost demanded respect, but it was still soft somehow.
‘I should just start talking, then everything will take care of itself.’ Just as I opened my mouth, the noise was already coming from my brother. “She needs a bow.” He said bluntly, straight to the point.
I saw an annoyed smirk cross the man's face. “Does she now…”
They silently glared at each other. “A good one.” Airsidh continued. After more staring sharp enough to cut he Finally let out a sigh. “An efficient one…” He grumbled, lowering his head slightly as if he had lost something.