The words still echo around Norbert's mind. He only had two more days left until he needed to be ready for action. As he lay on his back, just staring up at the ceiling, Norbert thought about the practice he could have been having. If he hadn't pushed himself so hard, he could have been practising with his weapon, trying out the same skill.
Staring up at the ceiling, bored out of his mind, Norbert sat up with slight difficulty. Weird moving his body after so long staying still, seeing if there was anything to do in his room. Looking to the side, Norbert saw a book sitting on a chair; looking at the cover, Norbert gave a grin as he read the title. Reaching for it, not having anything better to do and needing to read it to appease Granny, Norbert picked the book up.
Watching it slide from his fingers, Norbert looked down at his right hand, attempting to pick it up again but failing as before. Leaning around using his left hand, Norbert could pick it up quickly and place it on his lap.
Shaking his head with worry as he looked at his arm, he opened the book, turned to the first page, and began reading.
***
Closing it, Norbert sighed, happy that he could at least keep track of the time now. It was more accessible now that he could see the rising sun of the second day. While reading, Norbert had constantly flexed his arm; looking down at it now, at least it seemed normal.
Feeling his reserves, the pathways within him felt sluggish and used up. I'm not surprised at the amount he pushed them through. Feeling the energy in them higher than he thought it would be. It's more likely assuming that it would be at rock bottom instead of halfway up. Sadly, it was incomplete, and he didn't know if it could take the total pressure off it.
He picked up the book with his right hand and placed it back on the chair next to him, happy that the book didn't slip from his fingers, but the movement was not effortless like he would have desired.
Looking at the book, Norbert thought over what had happened, but nothing stuck out. It was just a book about an astronaut doing what he did best, flying through the stars, but only when he came back, nothing was as it seemed.
From there, the story changes from sci-fi to survivalist when he re-entries. Now that Norbert was thinking of it reminded him of a bunch of ape movies that took over the planet and the box office.
He did not pick up any extra details as he looked at the book. It wouldn't at least be weird on Earth. Over here in Masanu, he didn't even know if someone could travel to outer space.
Whether that was because they didn't have the technology or magic to do it or because there was some Cthulhu-like creature waiting to suck his brains out and flick him away from just someone looking at its existence.
Opening it back up, I saw the first pages with the date of the book just printed there, the ISBN written there, just an X next to it.
Norbert stared at the number, not remembering what it was but knowing it should be longer than that and have numbers and not the letter X printed in bold.
Staring at it, hoping the memory could stick so he could research the strange book back on Earth, Norbert closed it again, with no point in trying to remember any more details, only to forget them all later when he could research it.
Falling back into the bed, Norbert wiggled his toes as he stared at the ceiling again. A minute passed with nothing happening; reaching up with his right hand, Norbert gazed at it, the veins having subsided again to regular. Norbert was happy with that and did not see a point in staying in bed any longer; it was not like his walking was ever impeded.
His headache was no longer there; Norbert spun around, standing out of his bed and looking down on himself. He was happy to find himself clothed as before, not wanting even to imagine being changed by Count von Count. Never being able to live it down and always being brought up.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Norbert shivered at the thought.
He tidied his bed and saw the stains on his feet from walking barefoot outside. Hearing someone clopping up the stairs, Norbert continued to make his bed.
"Oh, good, you're up." Said Count von Count, standing on the last step.
Norbert, having finished making the bed, smiled at Count von Count. "Yep, all up and ready to go."
Walking downstairs, the vampire in the lead looked at the table; Obsius and the fox were on it. As he looked at the seats, he saw everyone he thought would be there.
Sally and Lily are already sitting there next to each other, having a hand in the fox's fur and turning around as they hear him going down the stairs. Both of them smiled as they saw Norbert come down.
Heading to his seat, looking at the table and the items sprawled on it. Standing there, Norbert looked over at the items; the first thing taking his eye were the clothes. Actual clothes.
Picking up the new set with socks and boots, Norbert ran back upstairs, not stopping to thank the people at the table.
Returning, holding the old clothes under his arm, the squeaking leather boots hitting the stone as he was once more in the usual garb of a scout. The leather is stretched under him, with the sword secured adequately around his waist, and he is wearing pants.
Sitting down, wiggling his toes in his boots and feeling their warmth made him smile as he looked at the other goodies he had received.
The black metal first took his eyes as he looked at them. All are sitting in a pile, one on top of the other; Norbert saw the two pieces making up his helmet. Each pile was three tall, as Norbert picked up the mask, looking into its eyes as it stared back at him. Neither of the masks glowed red along the jawlines.
Spinning it around, Norbert placed it over his head, feeling comfort as he felt his chin adequately protected. Taking it off again, Norbert sees the rest of the items.
Another set of clothes, the coin pouches with the dagger he had damaged, and some more spares sitting there. Seeing another backpack, Norbert opened it and saw the essentials he needed.
A flint sitting there with torches and a cord of rope. Smiling at it, knowing how much a torch would have been handy and being able to make a spark at least and cook some of the meat he had eaten. His mouth salivating at having food as a bowl was slid underneath him.
Looking at the gruel with a spoon sticking out, Norbert nodded as he took a bite. His stomach rumbled at the lack of food it had taken in itself. Swallowing it down, Norbert took a second and a third bite before swallowing it.
"Did I make it?" Norbert asked the table.
Count von Count sputtered into laughter as he thumped the table. The fox stared at him in annoyance at the sudden sound as Lily and Sally both shot the vampire a death glare for disrupting the foxes' sleeping.
"By his reaction, yes, you did make it in," Sally responded curtly before clearing her mouth, standing up and extending her hand to Norbert. Holding the spoon in his mouth, Norbert shook his hand, feeling the gloves flex under his fingers, only the tips remaining, allowing him to purchase onto rocks if needed.
"Congratulations on making it in and becoming the newest member of Sigma Eight" " she said. Lily clapped in response half-heartedly against her arm, not wanting to stop patting the fox.
Norbert shook his head as he continued to eat. "Still going to the tournament?" He asked, letting the question fall into the air.
"But, of course, I must represent myself after staying here for so long." She said, indicating the room and mountains they currently resided in.
Norbert nodding as he con nodded as he continued eating a spoonful of ul of his meal. Finishing it off, Norbert stretched his arms, his belly now warm and full as he looked around the room.
"How long until I need to depart?" He asked.
Lily scrunched her face as she thought of the time; after several moments, Sally gave the information twenty rotations. Norbert, nodding in response, stuffed the items given into his bag and headed towards the balcony.
Everyone at the table looked at him as he stood on the balcony ledge, the snow once more blowing through as the sun beat down on his face.
"You coming, buddy?" He asked the vampire.
"Where to?" The vampire responded.
"Well, I need to get your blood crystal, of course," Norbert said; he jumped to the side. Everyone rushed from the rushed. The vampire covered himself in robes that appeared out of nowhere, wrapping himself up as he leapt after Norbert.
Sally and Lily are standing there, watching the two figures scaling the mountainside to the ledge far below.
"Is he like that over there?" Lily asked Sally.
Shaking her head in response, before thinking about his trip to Italy, she said, "Not so bad. Guess, the other people keep him grounded." As they turned back around, heading to the portal, she said they both needed to get ready to leave. She was giving the fox one last pat before leaving, or several.