The night passed without much trouble.

Degin and Joseph exchange war stories most of the night. I was particularly surprised when Joseph mentioned battling a 'demon lord' after the third cask of wine was taken out. I wanted to hear more of the battle with that I assumed to be something that only existed in myth. However as his words had become slurred I realize the story was probably more fiction than fact.

Nonetheless the story was interesting. In it he had nearly been killed by the beast before being rescued by a hero. And with the hero's help, the two killed the demon and split the earnings.

As Joseph and Degin clamor about their tales of victory and near defeat. I turn to Claire seated to my left. We both had only had a single glass of wine. I thought it strange for the two of us teenagers to be drinking but I supposed that to be earth-me's thinking.

Right, it had become 'earth-me' and me.

I was aware this person wasn't actually me. A fact I easily confirmed when I saw a mirror in one of my(his) memories. But that was just it. They were my memories.

Other than memories what really makes up a person?

Because I posses all these memories it's impossible for me to see this person as anyone but another me. A version of me who had lived another life with another face.

"What about 'shou(you)," I say nibbling my tongue during the final word. "You're not worried."

"Hmm, nah. Not really." She explains flopping her arms and chest onto the table practically knocking over our two emptied cups. "I've been in a few battles, and like I said 'battle mage'. I can protect myself if I really have to. Anyways my blade skills have only gotten better. I bet you're dad could barely even stand against me at this point… Ah, I'm sorry, that was…" She murmurs realizing she's brought up a fresh wound.

"No worries. You meant no wrong. On the flip side you used the only metric you assumed I could understand to describe your skill, so it was necessary. But I'm impressed, you will have to teach me some during our journey."

"Right, of course… Man, Drew, you really are different now."

"Oh, am I really?" I ask honestly. I suppose my earlier answer was probably different than how it would have been a week prior. My earth self was somewhat of a non-confrontational person. Defusing situations was his priority in most cases.

I suppose that part naturally came out in me.

I will have to be careful to maintain my former personality to an extent as to not draw too much attention.

Thinking about it, Claire has mentioned before that she was a battle mage. I couldn't remember what her magic specialization was though. But I suppose telling her that would make me seem like a bad friend, I'll keep quiet for now.

"Yeah normally you'd be bragging that you're still stronger than me. Despite the obvious truth." She says removing her forehead from the table and grinning at me coyly. I bet she thought she was pretty funny, but the imprint of the wood-grain from the table printed on her forehead took a lot of the umph out of the insult.

I Suppress a drunk giggle, and turn my attention back to the two now passed out men slumped at the table beside us. Me and Claire exchange glances and then drag our lousy superior and right-hand-man off to the rooms my mother had readied.

I had no grasp of the time. It had gotten dark a few hours ago. But as I was unsure of the exact season it could be 9 o'clock or even midnight. This world had no clocks.

Best case scenario you hear the bells at the church or have a sundial of your own. But they weren't helpful at night. Giving up the thoughts I bid Claire goodnight and turn towards my room.

I didn't notice the longing gaze from the flush cheeked Claire as I returned to my room.

Pity.

----------------------------------------

It was likely early into the night when I went to bed last night, the sun had just begun to rise when I opened my eyes the following day.

I suppose my body has finally returned to normal. I attempt to recall some of the memories as a test and they came without any major pain.

They still felt foreign in my head, but it was no longer a shock to my system.

With the memories came an understanding of Earth. I made mental note of the technologies that could be easily recreated in this world. These could form useful in the future.

Bracing myself for the unlikely pain I stood up and brush the sleep off my face walking towards the familiar scent of breakfast buns.

I had to find cinnamon in this world. Teach my mother the method of turning her buns into frosted rolls. She likely won't find issue with it. The honey breakfast bun idea was actually something she had made with help from a traveling baker.

She wasn't someone unwilling to accept advice.

That was one fear I held, for farming reforms the most. Farmers are proud people who pass down methods for generations. If I try to force them to adopt a four field crop-rotation system I'm not positive it will be easily accepted.

As it stands, I don't even know if clovers will add beneficial nitrogen the same way they do on Earth.

Many issues resounded in my now quite heavy head.

But they quickly vanished with a single bite from the bread. The warm roll was something that seemed to create a craving for milk.

We hadn't always cared for the goats, but once my mother started baking the buns the demand for goat's milk went up incredibly. We had no choice but to get four of them. Originally my mother cared for them but the tribe had taken up the job and seemed to care for them as if they were their own kids.

After a few buns time, Claire finally joined the table. Followed shortly after by Degin and then Joseph around ten minutes later. Before they arrived me and Claire mostly made small talk. She bragged about how easy Knight's training had been for her, it wasn't much of a surprise.

The training seemed to consist of drills for all sorts of situations, including medical emergencies and disaster relief. There was limited training for war but as the world had been at somewhat peace these last 100 years, war was no longer one of the main training regimes.

Joseph noticing our conversation interjected with some strong praise for Claire's training.

She had been particularly adept at the war training. A somewhat useless skill now, but a still impressive level of skill nonetheless.

Hearing all this I felt somewhat downtrodden.

I should have run away and joined Claire for the Knight's training. If I had done that what might I be doing now? And with the knowledge I now posses, I could likely rise in ranks at the same rate as Joseph, if not even faster.

Shrugging off the traitorous thinking. I listen to the conversations between the three that had been happening while my mind was elsewhere. It was important.

Why was I always not paying attention when important talks were being had?

"So the general plan is, you all the head into Godrick, learn what you can. If there is nothing more to learn then it will be up to you from there." Joseph said turning his attention to me who had just begun to pay it. "Any questions?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Uhm, well why us two?" I asked assuming Claire shared my curiosity.

"So, no questions. Good." Joseph says nodding heavily. "Well then we will be returning to Havas posthaste." He says grabbing another bun from the plate and feasting on it greedily before washing it down with a refreshed gasp.

Claire will change from her Knight armor into something a little less conspicuous. They will also borrow a second horse from the Count. He suggested I collect anything I need quickly. Preparations on their side would take only til noon.  

Glancing at the sun outside, it had only just risen.

I suppose I have some time.

Maybe today would be a chance for me to practice with my blade a bit. It's likely a skill I'll need in top shape if I’m to exchange practice blows with Claire on the journey.

After the two gobbled down the last of the buns they headed off on the road towards Havas. Joseph on his large gray beast and Claire on her Proud white maned steed.

I hadn't caught the name of the horse, but I assume it was something I'll learn on our trip.

Seeing the two horses walk across the wood plank bridge that now ours I had an odd sense of pride.

But that pride quickly vanished as I saw the wood on the bridge bow and creak from each step of the heavy animals. If this much was happening from two horses weight. Then what would happen to a large caravan carrying food or raw resources to Godrick? The caravans weren't common but they did happen, and seeing the bridges state was very alarming. Bridge maintenance must happen before I leave for my 'first flight'.

Luckily nothing dangerous happened as the two of them passed the bridge and disappeared into the distance towards Havas.

I talked to Degin about it he told me I would likely have time to go to Havas myself and talk to the craftsmen guild. They are the ones who had maintained it up till now. Thinking about it I do remember seeing workmen some mornings in the past. It was likely them replacing the rickety planks every couple years.

After hearing its location I headed towards Havas on one of the horses that the tribe used from time to time. I again wasn't sure it's name, but it didn't seem to mind when I called it Horsey. So that will have to do for now, although it feels a tad childish.

Crossing the bridge myself I didn't notice the bowing of the planks, I guess being on the bouncing horse things like this weren't as obvious. That almost made it feel more dangerous. I glance at the river thirty feet below, it was rushing heavily. It was a good amount of water, likely around twenty feet wide and rushing at a heavy pace. The river was overall fairly shallow, but I would still surely die if I fell.

I doubt it was something people boated down. Mainly due to the presences of white rapids that covered around forty percent of the surface.

This was a perfect candidate for a canal now that I think about it, the main road follows this river. And most of the towns in both, the 'bay of mountains' and the Counts territory are seated on this source of fresh water. Not to mention access to ocean ports would be hugely beneficial.

It was likely something they'd never thought of. But as I glance at the farmlands that were being tilled by earth spec'd mages I realize how simple it really could be done.

The mages in the field were doing something I had seen a number of times before but it had never struck me with such impact.

They were, without touching the dirt, digging narrow trenches around one foot wide by two or three feet long. Then they, with a rotation of their wrist, flip the dirt over and drop it into the trench.

Put simply these mages acted as a plows for the field. Behind them were water mages dropping small water balls with a seed in their center.

The farming in this world had always been done entirely with magic. Some even thought it required it. It seems like a waste of energy, but since 'earth' and 'water' were the two most common magical spec's they could achieve it with sheer numbers.

While it seemed easy. It was surely not efficient, each row of crops required two people. One spec'd with earth and one water, a field sowed by forty would take an entire day.

If what the earth mages were doing in the fields could be done safely in the river bed then digging a canal would honestly be a cake walk.

Oh! Thinking about it I could likely get vast quantities of gold from the river bed too. Well I wasn't positive this planet had formed in the same way Earth had. But it was still highly likely that there is flake gold in rivers same as there was on earth. I would have to investigate this.

As I neared closer and closer to Havas northern gate I grew giddy at the conversation I might have with the craftsmen guild.

When I got to the gate I stabled my horse and took a few of the copper coins Degin had given me and handed them to the stable manager. He nodded and lead the horse off to an open stall. I must have paid too much as he showed me a fine bag of oats before pouring them into a bin for Horsey.

I nod my thanks and pat Horsey as he ate the oats happily. Here Godrick is starving to death and unable to even pay grain as taxes but in Havas even the horses ate well.

It felt somewhat sad to see Horsey eat what could likely have fed a family in Godrick for a week.

Walking into the town I was awestruck again. I have been here numerous times but this time was different of course. My other mind was in a city like this for the first time. I'm sure he was amazed and disturbed simultaneously. I know I was. My first sight was of a maid tossing a chamber pots contents out onto the street.

I hold in my breakfast and walk quickly. watching my steps with great care.

It was no wonder so many of the beggars looked incredibly sick. This was another thing I would have to fix. Though I suppose this is better than running it into the river and polluting the city downstreams water source. But not much better. Perhaps I can introduce the craftsmen guild to the concept of a septic system. It's fairly simple after all.

The smells of meat coming from nearby was quite enticing. But upon seeing the steaming meat seated beside fly crusted raw meat, I decided against it.

I have no small amount of work I suppose.

After asking a few respectful looking people where the guild was I found the hammer and nail sign I was looking for. I entered to the refreshing smell of sawdust. It reminded me of my other self's time working at the lumber mill, and the furniture refinisher before that.

Reminiscing about someone else's memories seems a tad bit rude. But I can't exactly ask permission. I'll assume I have it for now.

Noticing me gazing around the shop a woman who looked to be around my mother's age stepped towards me.

She gazed at my outfit strangely for a moment. This was the first time I realize I was still wearing the bandit garb I typically had on.

No wonder the gatekeeper was so kind.

My 'shirt' was more of a piece of cloth strapped to my chest.

I was also slightly embarrassed by the fact that I was wearing what on earth, would be considered a skirt. But I shrug it off after a moment. The craftswoman seems to shrug off my appearance as well and greets me kindly.