Zack looked up from his espresso a bit disoriented. He saw people coming in and out of Starbucks. However, the familiar smell of espresso brewing the din of conversation was oddly comforting. Zack took another sip of his espresso savoring the flavor. He heard a conversation from the table next to him and recognized the voice. He looked up and saw his dad and himself engaged in a serious conversation.
He and his dad were in an animate conversation. He heard himself say, “Dad, do you remember Dr. Wilson from the University of Michigan?”
Suddenly Zack realized where and when he was. This was the day that changed his whole life direction. He tried not to be obvious about listening in. They did not seem to notice him at all. Is this a dream? Could they see him? He thought, that would be very weird if they saw him.
The conversation continued with his dad saying, “Wow that sounds like a great opportunity, what do you think about it?”
Zack smiled with tears in his eyes as he remembered this conversation with his dad. It was such a pivotal moment. It was also the last conversation he ever had with him. Zack remembered being so unsure about going to grad school. He almost didn’t bring it up with his dad. He was so glad he told his dad.
It was really bizarre to hear yourself talk, he heard himself say, “The program at university is a top five program in the country. I am not sure I can even get in. They are going to get the best and the brightest applying for the 7 spots open next year.”
His dad responded, “Well, are you happy with what you are doing now? Is this a career track you like and see yourself doing for the next decade?”
Zack new at this moment in the conversation his dad had zeroed in on the main point. Zack was not happy but felt trapped by the responsibilities of adulting and making money. Grad school had not even been on the radar at this point.
Zack was lost in thought about how his dad had affirmed him and encouraged him to take the risk when he heard his dad say, ““Out there is our future. We make it one decision and action at a time. If you work hard and make the world a better place. Out there you will find meaning and happiness. Go out there and take on the challenges of life, show it what you are made of. Your story and your happiness are out there, go find it and make it what you want it to be!”
Zack smiled remembering the moment. He knew at that moment he was going to work his ass off to get into the PhD program and make his mark on the world.
As the conversation between his dad and himself came to an end he watched himself get up to use the bathroom. Zack thought, man did I look goofy just seven years ago.
In the background he heard someone say, “did you hear what I said?”
Zack turned around and saw his dad staring directly at him.
Doug repeated, “Did you hear what I said?”
Zack looked behind him to see if, (and this is weird to say) to see if he was behind himself.
He wasn’t.
Zack’s dad continued, “I am talking to you. What I didn’t say that day so many years ago but should have, we don’t always get to choose the challenges in front of us. We do get to choose how we meet them.”
Zack sat mouth agape and stared at his dad.
Zack’s dad stared intently at him then he said, “You will decide how your story gets told. Your story and your happiness are out there.”
Then there was a long pause and time seemed to stand still. Zack’s dad got up to leave. At the door he turned back, looked directly into his eyes and said, “So am I.”
Zack shot out of bed. He was wide eyed and looking around trying to make sense of where he was. He saw all the familiar trappings of the cabin. The sun had just rose and light was peeking through the window. He took a deep breath to settle his nerves down. He sat at the edge of the bed and thought about the dream he just had.
He thought, it was so real, my dad was just standing in front of me. So many emotions flooded Zack. At first it was joy getting to see him one more time. Next came sadness as he missed him so much. He wanted to show his dad he took his advice and embraced the challenge of grad school. He wanted to tell him he had his PhD. Then the reality of what his dad said to him hit him a second time. What the heck did he mean, ‘so am I’? I mean it was a dream, right?
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Finally, he felt the horror and the loss of his death. He felt his nerves fraying as the emptiness of death threatened to take over. He willed himself to lock that shit down. He was not going to waste another minute obsessing on his dad’s death. He knew it was time to live.
His first thought was to tell Paxton about the dream. However, what would he say? I saw my dead dad in a dream, and he hinted he is “out there”. It occurred to Zack that his dreams here are quite a bit different than normal dreams.
Finally, it hit him. In many ways he is in the exact same spot he was at in 2016. In the dream his dad said “we don’t always get to choose the challenges in front of us. We do get to choose how we meet them.” In many ways he was facing an insurmountable unknown. Of course, this time it included wizards and dragons instead of crazy smart academia.
He smiled to himself. My dad came to me in a dream and told me the two things I needed to hear. One that life has challenges, some of which we choose and some of which are thrust upon us. Two, it is my job to meet the challenges and make the story of my life what I want it to be.
With a new sense of confidence and purpose he grabbed his gear and decided it was time to have an adventure. Time to take his use of magic out for a spin. It is time to learn more about this world and find his way through it.
His first stop was Vinstra. He arrived around 10:00 am and decided he should get breakfast. When he entered the Dragon's Eye Tavern he noticed a thick smell of meat cooking. Zacks stomach rumbled as he eyed the kitchen.
Once Zack sat down an older woman with a limp came over
She said, “ya here for breakfast?”
Zack responded, “Yeah I am starving, what do you have?”
The old lady replied, “eggs, meat, bread, and mead.”
Zack smiled and responded, “perfect, load me up.”
The lady took a second look at him and went back to the kitchen.
The tavern was old and there were a few people eating breakfast. He noticed a back room with one a sheet partially covering the entrance. Zack could see a handful of people sitting around a large table. They seemed to be having a meeting. Zack got up from his seat and walked over to a community board. On it were various announcements listing things for sale, missing pets, a few odd jobs, and a notice about new adventurer’s hall hours being expanded.
Zack heard the server cough and saw she was back with his food. It was piled high and smelled delicious. She dropped the food off and didn’t say a word. Zack meekly said thank you and dug into the food. He hadn’t realized how famished he was for real food, especially food made by someone else.
When Zack was about done eating the meeting broke and he heard voices laughing as they walked into the main tavern area. A tall man with bright blue eyes, broad shoulders, a shiny sword and well-tailored clothes noticed Zack and walked over to his table.
He said, “Hello sir, my name is Sheriff Wills Taynor, What’s your name?
Zack stood up and said “Cor Tighe, a pleasure to meet you.”
Sheriff Taynor responded with a smile and shook Zack’s hand.
He asked, “Mind if I join you for a moment?”
Zack gestured to the table and said, “Please.”
Sheriff Taynor sat down and asked, “Zack, never seen you around our humble village, what brings you to this remote section of the kingdom.”
Zack took a big swig of his mead as he remembered the story Paxton told him to say.
Zack responded, “Kind of you to ask Sheriff Taynor, I am on a walk about. Left my hometown of La’rose about two years ago. It’s located down south on the coast of the Jasper Sea many miles south. Decided I needed more adventure, so I have been traveling, working, and enjoying life on the road.”
The sheriff got a faraway look in his eyes and said, “I have always wanted to travel to the Jasper Sea. I hear there are fish big enough to eat a small boat.”
Zack, never one to turn away from a good fishing story responded, “those fish are big and scary until you land them. After that, they are a great meal for many days.”
Sheriff Taynor smiled and said, “How long you plan on staying in Vinstra?”
Zack said, “I was hoping to find some work and stick around for a week or two. Do you know anyone hiring or need help in the forest?”
The sheriff chuckled, “there is always work depending on how willing you are.”
Zack smirked and replied, “Honestly Sheriff, I was hoping to do a bit of adventuring.”
The Sheriff perked up, “Well you are in luck, we have a brand-new adventurer’s hall right in Vinstra. New contracts are posted every day. Frankly more contracts than adventurers these days. We can keep you busy for quite some time if you are so inclined.”
Zack gave a broad smile and said, “I am inclined Sheriff. Could you point me in the direction of the hall?”
The Sheriff gave Zack direction and bid him farewell. Zack flagged down the old lady and asked for the tab. She looked at him blankly and said, “The Sheriff bought your breakfast for you.”
Zack smiled and said, “Well that was kind but unnecessary. Just to settle my curiosity how much did breakfast run the Sheriff?”
The old lady said, “two silver pieces.”
Zack pulled out two more silver pieces and said, “here is a tip for your trouble and how good the food was.”
For the first time the old lady smiled and said, “Well thank you. Have a good day.”
Zack walked across town the adventurer’s hall. He had a small amount of PTSD flashback in the town square from his encounter with the Queen’s champion. He could still see that evil man’s sneer as he bullied the other citizens. Zack shook his head to clear his mind. He had more important things to do than ruminate on that asshole.
To call it an adventurer’s hall was severely stretching the definition of a “hall”. It was more of an adventurer’s shack or at best garage. Oh well, He thought, time to get on with it!