Caster turned back toward the village one last time.

Why do I feel like I’m forgetting something? Oh!

“One second Abel, I’ll be right back.” Caster began sprinting back into the village.

Past the living complex, to the side of the temple was his Zz’Wrath.

It might be dangerous taking it with me, but I doubt we’ll find that much trouble on the way. Surely this will just be a quick journey there and back again. Caster thought cluelessly as he placed his hand on the Zz’Wrath’s leg.

The structure shrank just as it did before and caught it in his hand. The string was still connected to its base. Caster placed it around his neck and tucked it into his hoodie.

Item Re-Acquired! Zz'Wrath!

He turned back and joined Abel outside the gate. The two began their journey to the north. With the sun high above and the wind on their backs, it felt like a leisure walk through the park. Unlike the last time he had traveled through an open and sunny area, Caster was on the lookout for any cabins, mimics, or other kinds of Occult-looking figures.

To his surprise, the way was clear. Over the passing hours, they left Casterville far behind.

At every other pace, Abel kicked a rock several paces forward. He kept this increasingly annoying habit for at least half an hour before Caster made a desperate attempt to distract him.

“So, Abel. What’s your story?”

“Oh, me? Well, gee, let me think. Old man Sherman found me when I was about 3 or 4. I was just wandering around the Badlands aimlessly. He said I was so dehydrated that I would have died in a couple of hours if he didn’t find me right then.”

“Wow. How’d you end up like that?

“I dunno. Well, it’s a bit fuzzy since back then I was just a kid and the event gave me severe emotional trauma…”

Oh, now he’s suddenly so smart?!

“But I remember there being this huge, flying monster. It swooped over the Badlands where I think our tribe was. Anyway, I think my parents hijacked it, or distracted it somehow by getting its attention and then leading it away from the camp. But in all the commotion everybody ran, so I ended up getting lost, then Sherman found me.”

I… I don’t know what kind of backstory I was expecting but I don’t think this was it. Poor kid.

“Well, that’s good. Well, not your parents dying I mean you being found by Sherman before you died.”

God, what I would do to train my Speech skill.

“Nah, don’t mention it.” Abel bolstered himself, standing straighter while grabbing his shit’s labels. “The pain has made me stronger, without it, I wouldn’t be the man I am today!” His voice lowered an octave as he pushed his chest out heroically.

“I guess so. I bet your parents would be proud.” Caster wasn’t going to take the wind out of his sails this time.

“Would be?! Ha! They’re not dead!”

What.

“I know for a fact my parents weren’t just normal people. They were big-time Challengers! No overgrown pigeon could have taken them out. My tribe, or whatever the group my parents were in before the bird monster attacked, broke up. I don’t know anyone that was in it, and I don’t think they’d recognize me. One thing I’ve always been sure of is that they’re somewhere in Perdita. They probably think I died way back then, so they know I’m just fine.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Why do I get the feeling this kid’s parents are dead as hell? No, don’t tell him. I’m sure he’ll grow out of it one day.

“So… how do you plan on finding them?”

“Easy, become a Challenger that every single person in Perdita knows. That way, my parents will hear about me, and they’ll know that I’m their son.”

“That…” Caster stopped.

…Doesn’t make any sense.

“…Might just work. I doubt there are many redheaded Challengers in Perdita, besides you and Elenore of course.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Unless… you know they’re dead, since you’re a God and all,” Abel’s voice hushed, afraid of the answer Caster would give him.

“I… I know of a guy; actually, I’ve met him before. His name’s Death - the skeleton person you see in paintings and stuff, you know? Well, he loves taking a part in stories about epic battles and who died where, but he never mentioned anything to me about a brave redheaded couple that fought and died to a giant Terror-bird ten years ago. So if I was a gambling man, I’d say they’re still out there.”

Nothing I said was a lie. I have met Death – I died. Death is in every story where people die. He never mentioned anything to me because death doesn’t talk, it just happens. Also, I’m not a gambling man.

Note to self – add to Things to Learn list – study giant birds and an incident that happened 10 years ago with one that attacked the Badlands.

The amount of mental gymnastics Caster went through just to justify to his own mind that telling a single little lie to a child about their parents being not dead was staggering.

Okay, I lied. But it’s a good lie, and I’ll do it again!

“What about your parents? If you have them, you know since you’re a God and all.” Abel interrupted Caster’s thoughts.

“My parents? Well, that’s simple I…” Caster remembered that he couldn’t remember. “I was hatched from an egg created from the dust of stars, far outside of this universe. I and my siblings crawled out and realized we were the Elder Gods. We’ve done this cycle many times before, but sometimes not all of us are able to return to our eggs before time ends again, and all of Reality is reborn. That is why we fight each other – to reclaim our true Godhood and be reborn alongside Reality.”

Caster made up every line as he spoke, lying as easily as he breathed.

“So no,” Caster sighed. “I don’t have parents.”

“Woah…” Abel stared at Caster in awe for a moment, before looking into the distance.

The conversation had seemed to satisfy his need for entertainment enough to the point where he was no longer kicking the pebble alongside their journey to Hale’s Pass.

What was I thinking when I decided to bring him along? If he is one of Perdita’s best fighters, then he should really have stayed in the village too! Well… maybe not. It really was better to let the… what’d Phoebe call it? The Inner Circle? It was better to let them stay put and bring Abel along instead.

Ugh. At least now there’s peace and quiet. Caster sighed, missing his quiet time.

* Elenore: Hey hey, y’all! Is this thing working?

What? Is that-

* Elenore: It’s me, Elenore!

I’m going to scream.

* Caster: Yes, Elenore? What did you need?

Caster responded in thought.

* Elenore: Nothin’. I just never got to use one of these thingies before!

* Andre: I tried to stop her, but the lass insisted.

The Craftmaster apologized.

* Sherman: Master Caster!

Even from ten thousand paces away, Sherman’s enthusiasm came in loud and clear.

* Sherman: We’ve finished the primary food farms and built fences to ward off animals. Craftmaster Andre informed us that you have left for Hale’s Pass to acquire livestock and other materials. By the time you return, we WILL have the barns finished to house them, and we are fencing out a portion of Buckley’s Wood to fence them in – in order to keep them farther away from the blight of the Badlands!

* Caster: Nice work guys!

* Elenore: Thanks for the invite.

Elenore was clearly bummed out for being left behind.

* Elenore, you couldn’t come because you’re the Grand General! You have to train the other villagers so they can protect Casterville on their own. If you want to keep being an adventurer and go outside the village on missions, I’ll try to find someone else who can fill the position for you while you’re out.

* Elenore: Oh… alright.

I guess that just because someone can do a job, doesn't mean they like it - or should.

* Andre: I’ll have the aqueduct system ready by the time you return. There'll be fresh water and waste system ready in every building soon enough. Woody said. We’ve also made some important finds underground. I haven’t been able to confirm it yet, but if what the villagers who are digging say is true, we may have struck something better than gold.

* Caster: Oh really? I look forward to seeing what it is once I get back to Casterville! But if that’s everything, I’m going to go now. We’re coming up on the city, and I don’t want to keep our new farm animals and weapons waiting.

* All: Aye!

And with that, Caster left the mental meeting room, returning to the physical world. It was still a thousand paces away, but from across the grassy, golden plains Caster could make it out clearly. It was the town marked on the map – Hale’s Pass.