It was a rainy morning, the early dawn bathed the town in a soft, bluish hue. The narrow streets were devoid of activity except for the occasional voices of vendors setting up shop despite the damp setting. Standing under an eave right outside the inn, Ethan and Ashley stood quietly. Neither one saying a word until Ashley (as usual) was able to muster her courage to speak.
"This was your idea. Don't tell me you're chickening out now?"
Ethan replied, "T-this stage must be taken, if we are characters in a story, this plot point is fundamental. This is our surest shot to grow," his shaky voice laid bare his shaken resolve. "Three days, consider this a practical exam. I haven't taken a serious exam for a long time" Ethan said with a tone that is unsure of its identity as a question or as a confirmation.
"That's what you're worried about? Geez you don't care about what happens to me at all, huh?" Ashley jests.
"Don't die" Ethan's casual response bear a semblance of a concern. As they exchanged a firm handshake, the two momentarily locked eyes until Ethan instinctively looks away; both aware that if they are to survive in this world, they would need to tap into their own, distinct potential. Both made a beeline to the adventurers' guild despite the rain.
The path they embarked in the few days that they entered this world had elucidated the reality of this world being littered with mysteries and obstacles that neither of them had anticipated. They may have prepared for this day as a team, but now it's finally time to take the road less travelled by, to get out of their comfort zones and rediscover themselves (for 3 days at least).
Ethan headed off toward the outskirts of the town; he took the guild task to be a substitute watch for the late night brigade, while Ashley turned towards the snowy mountains, where the she is tasked to deliver outpost supplies.
Ashley begins her arduous trek over the winding foothills reciting bits of her favourite poetry under breath. Tall trees surrounded the road imposingly, it might've been her imagination- because she she felt a pair of eyes staring at her.
In times of turmoil or when facing despair on her own, she would recite poems to calm herself, "This situation is no different" Ashley reminds herself. Gentle verses from Robert Frost's famous literary works like The Road Not Taken and the Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening. The gentle lines brighten up her mood making the long road bearable. These stanzas used to give her solace back on Earth, now it helps keep her awake, because the cold snowy mountains seemed to have an eerie melody that drives one to doze off, and yet she was able to carry on.
"Know Thyself"
A translucent screen that only Ashley could see propped up in front of her. It showcased her stats:
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[Adventurer Profile]
Name: Ashley Briar
Lexical Reservoir: 230
Affiliation: Adventurer's Guild
Rank: Apprentice
Class: Quillmancer
Level: 1
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[Core Attributes]
Health: 91 / 100 (cold status: movement speed slightly reduced)
STR: 8
CON: 18
INT: 48
DEX: 23
WIS: 16
CHA: 41
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[Four Macro Skills]
Reading: Master
Speaking: Eloquent
Writing: Advanced
Listening: Counsellor
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[Abilities]
{Please Upgrade Your Adventurer Ring to reveal more information}
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"Seems decent enough, this cold status should be solved, I'll bear with it for a while, I don't want to be in the same situation where I ran out of Lexical Reservoir" Ashley tells herself.
As if time slowed down, Ashley's perception heightened to maximum sensitivity. She immediately read the signs: a the tall shadow looming over her, its form akin to a giant who's about to swing a club, subtle changes in the air flow indicated the general direction of the swing, she looked behind her, lo' and behold, the stuff that used to only be a rumor to scare off children from wandering in the woods is standing menacingly in front of her- a yeti. Ashley felt prickling of dread as towering figure continued its swing…
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However,
To Ashley's surprise the attack looked like its moving in slow motion giving her plenty of room to dodge and land a counter attack.
Even in her panicked state she was able to evade most attacks with ease but mispronounces a word while casting fireball. "Burning bright in the forest of- what was that line again?" a mini flame exploded right in front of her. The impact strong enough to send her flying a few yards back.
Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation, as if the earth itself was pulling her downward.
She looked around, disoriented, realizing her perspective had shifted drastically. From a distance away the yeti is thrashing to no avail. Unable to detect its prey, the yeti eventually tires out, pauses in disappointment and finally decides to walk away.
Ashley had shrunk to a fraction of her height, standing eye-to-eye with a baby penguin. "Great. I'm doll-sized now," she whispered, trying to steady herself.
"Pi-che pi-che?" the baby penguin tilted its head as if to question her statement just now, noticing that she isn't food, it turned and begins to waddle away, its tiny feet barely making a sound on the snow covered ground.
Despite her predicament, she felt an almost instinctual bond waiting to be formed. "Ehem", she drew back the penguin's attention. "You're my mount now and you can't do anything about it." The penguin's head tilted ever so slightly, "Pi-che?"
Ashley and the penguin stared at each other in silence for some time until she finally decides to make the first move, pulling out a fish from one of her rations, she casts, "μεγεθύνω (megethýno)" and the fish grew into a size the baby penguin could appreciate. It quickly gobbles the fish and seemed docile now. Ashley goes closer to pet it and she immediately got lost in its fluffiness.
"Looks like you're mine now, Peachy"
"Pi-che!" the baby penguins' eyes slanted in mirth. It lowers its head as if in agreement, gesturing Ashley to hop on. The penguin slid on its belly as they made their way through the thick snow.
She arrives safely in the outpost. Before entering however, she tried to channel a poem once more. Envisioning the image of renewal brought forth by hope. Closing her eyes, took a deep breath and visualized herself going back to her original form. She murmured the opening line of Emily .
Dickinson's poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers…"
The effect was immediate—she felt herself grow, her vision rising until she towered over the baby penguin once more. "Pi-chi?!" the penguin exclaimed in disbelief, but her heart still beat fast with the thrill and fear of discovery. The erratic power she has may be unpredictable, but such thing is not a curse but a blessing purposefully bestowed upon the creative mind of Ashley.
It was getting late and the rag-tag party of Ashley and Peachy were both welcomed in the outpost to stay the night. They were given a tent and a warm meal while the outpost personal shared a round of stories in front of a bonfire.
"So, what made you take the adventuring life? I don't see a lot of kids your age take a risky career," one of the guards inquired Ashley.
"Kids like me? I'm 23!" Ashley replies as her face pouted.
"Not a kid, we get it. Though you look way younger than you claim to be. But most people your age would settle down. You don't have a lover by any chance?" a female guard continued, curious about Ashley's circumstances.
"Well... Uh- I wouldn't know about t-that"
"Oh to be young again! Gather round folks, we have another case of unrequited love!"
The campfire bustled with songs of both merriment and melancholy as the guards, and Ashley, took turns singing over the campfire. She even joined in some of their games.
It was an endearing night, Ashley enjoyed the guards' company– an experience that wasn't normally possible back when she needed to be Ethan's support (not that she didn't want to do it). This was a fulfilling experience, a much needed self discovery delayed by a lot of circumstantial constraints.
As Ashley and Peachy drifted to sleep, she wonders what Ethan's been up to. What amazing discoveries did the old soul professor unraveled? And what is this feeling of strong concern? "Wait what? I'm not his mom. Ha! This was his idea. I bet he messed up again."
"Pi.. che?" the penguin inquired half-asleep.
"I'm only a bit worried, Peachy. But knowing him, he'll probably figure something out," Ashley gently replied.
In the far corners of the outskirts of the town, Ethan is running hysterically, beads of sweat trickled down his face as a dark silhouette is thrashing around, sending trees and monsters alike flying in its wake. Ethan wasn't running away from the danger though, on the contrary he's running towards it.
"I-I've messed up" he says.