Carefully putting a cover on the tip of my new spear, Ender placed it on his personal weapon rack. I glanced around the sheriff's office and gladly took a couple of sips of freshly brewed beer. After a whole day of training, even such a, to put it mildly, controversial-tasting beverage as the local beer seemed pleasant and refreshing.
"Interesting weapon," Ender nodded toward my spear. "You were right to order a cover for the tip. The sharpness of your spear evokes dark associations. It's dangerous even at first glance. I doubt that even wootz can be honed to such an extent. And the way it glimmers in Seguna's sheen..." The sheriff looked out the window, where the Night Sister was slowly floating across the sky in the distance. "It gives even me goosebumps. And it's not an artifact - there's no Magic or Spirit in it, but it looks amazing! Beautiful. The only downside is that it turned out to be too fragile."
"Under the aura, everything's fine with its strength, Laoy confirmed," I reassured my mentor.
"In such an assessment, our stone master can be trusted," He shifted his attention to me. "Are you sure you won't wait for the 'Defector'?"
"If the 'Free Wind' approaches Un first, I'll sail on it."
"That's a shame," Ender said with sadness in his voice. "I like you, and I wanted to train you for at least another month…"
"Alas," I shrug my shoulders, "time is a treasure that I don't have access to at the moment. As for 'training me for another month'..." Before continuing, I wondered whether it was worth it or not, and I still decided to make an offer. "You said you're sick of this job. Come with me, Ender! Take a vacation for a month. I'm sure you haven't had a break from your sheriff duties in years."
Silence hung in the marshal after my words. My mentor poured us more beer and remained silent until he finished his mug. Only after refilling it did he look up at me.
"That's tempting," he barely uttered, and I already knew what the answer would be, unfortunately. "Very tempting. But no, I have to decline. And not because..." He fell silent, pondered, and only continued after a minute. "I am a homebody, Raven. I have traveled so much around Ain in my life that any long journey now makes me nauseous. Besides, I have a wedding in two months."
"Oh!" I was surprised. "You didn't mention that. Who's the lucky lady?"
"Vieki, Elder Vu's granddaughter."
Vieki, I knew her; she sometimes came into the kitchen at the tavern. The girl was about to turn sixteen, just in two months, the age of maturity in Ain. Ender is forty-six, and his bride-to-be is thirty years younger. But that's absolutely normal here, so I didn't make a fuss about the age difference.
"You're right; leaving for somewhere a month before your wedding is not the best idea."
"That's what I thought." The sheriff agreed, taking a big sip, and then changed the subject. "Let's talk about your gear."
Saying this, he walked over to a large cabinet and pulled out the double gambeson that I had ordered through him from the craftsmen in Unudo.
"Are you sure?" Ender asked, stretching the under-armor gear in his hands. "Isn't it too heavy? There must be at least a dozen kilograms here. The dense six-layered padding with sleeves reaching mid-forearm already weighs a lot! But you also asked to sew a lesser gambeson on top. And these inserts..." He turned the under-armor around. "This one, as wide as two of my palms, made of bull leather as thick as my finger, running from the neck down to the rear, why? I mean, I understand it's additional back protection, but isn't it overkill? Where did you even see something like this? They don't make them like this, neither here nor back where I'm from."
"Fifteen kilograms in total," I clarified.
"My triple mail weighs just as much!" The sheriff was surprised.
"Your mail also costs fifty gold," I smiled in response. "This armor cost me ten silver."
"If it's just about money…" Ender hinted.
"I don't want to be in debt."
"I can sell you mail from the city arsenal, one that is supposedly written off," the sheriff offered and immediately pulled out what he was talking about.
"Steel?" I was genuinely surprised. "Double weaving, sleeves covering the shoulders. Written off? It looks brand new!"
"It was given to me by the city along with the sheriff's position; it's the sheriff's armor," my mentor explained. "But my personal one is better, and this one has been gathering dust in the closet for seven years."
"Yours is better," I agree. "But even this one is worth ten full-weight gold coins."
"On paper, it goes for one," Ender winked.
"Still expensive," I replied. "Even after selling all the mountain crystals and winning my bets with Lao Fan, one gold coin is all the money I have right now. I still need to pay for the ship and have something to live on when I reach the mainland."
"I'll give it to you for twenty silver," the sheriff grumbled, slamming his hand on the table.
"Twenty silver, plus another ten to pay the blacksmith for fitting," I shake my head. "Ender, I still can't afford it."
"Alright." Throwing the chainmail on the back of a chair, he sat at the table and poured himself some beer. "You're proud, I see. But! When a mentor sees off his apprentice after the completion of training, it is a tradition to give a gift. This chainmail will be the mentor's gift!"
"Have I completed my training?" I innocently asked.
"Don't push your luck! Or do you want to offend me?"
"Alright, I accept your gift." I stood up and bowed deeply. "Thank you, mentor."
"That's more like it!" The sheriff grinned with satisfaction. "It would be a shame if you died before reaching Bronze and didn't put me down as your teacher on your Page in the Guild Book!" Saying this, Ender laughed heartily.
"I'll do my best. It's in my interest not to die so soon," I winked at him over my beer mug.
"Also, you can lighten your gambeson now."
"No need," I objected. "I'll be fine as it is."
"Are you sure?" the sheriff asked again.
"I am. My main weapon is a spear, not a sword, so footwork is more important to me than body flexibility."
"A spear," he mused. "But still, extra weight means quicker fatigue, and fatigue is…"
"Fatigue?" I cut him off. "Are you sure you're talking about me?"
"Ah! That's right!" He smacked his forehead. "Your endurance would make a bull envious!"
As surprising as it was for me to learn at the time, according to Ronin, who had been fascinated with the history of weapons and armor for over two decades, the weight of a warrior's protective gear has remained almost unchanged throughout history. Athenian hoplites carried about thirty kilograms on their shoulders, as did Roman legionnaires, followed by medieval Landsknechts, and later by the infantry of the Napoleon era. Even the modern-day soldier of the twenty-first century carries about the same thirty kilograms. The only exception to this rule is full tournament knight armor, but it was only intended for use in mounted combat and therefore did not fall under the "thirty-kilogram" rule. So my set of double gambeson plus chainmail fit into this range, even without considering the "Enhanced Body."
"And, by the way, regarding your 'live until Bronze'." I thought for a long time but still risked bringing up this topic. "As a sheriff, you know Un like the back of your hand and are probably just as familiar with the neighboring islands."
"True," Ender leaned back in his chair and confirmed with a hint of smugness.
"Do you know where the abandoned altars are?"
"Abandoned altars?" The sheriff asked me back, suddenly sobering up.
"Well..." I glanced out the window and nodded toward the Night Sister floating in the sky.
"Raven..." The sheriff said sternly.
"Oh, come on!" I waved him off. "I didn't ask you about Obeorn's altar."
Obeorn is one of the five High Gods of Ain, standing just one tier below Eyrat. Master of Night and Darkness. Lord of horror, monsters, and vile beasts. The darkest, even blackest of the gods in the local pantheon. Husband of Seguna and patron of the Sidhe. It is believed that his betrayal led to the First Invasion. The priests destroyed Obeorn's altars, regardless of any consequences, even sacrificing themselves in the process. Places of worship for Darkness remain only in the hidden forests of the Sidhe or in areas practically inaccessible to humans.
"In any town, even in your peaceful Unudo, I think there are those who worship the Night Sister," I continued in as calm a tone as possible.
"There is no Thieves' Guild in Unudo, let alone an Assassins' Guild!" The sheriff retorted sharply.
"You know what I mean," I insisted. "Praying to Seguna is a minor sin; any priest of the pantheon will tell you that!"
"I know what the priests will tell me!" Ender snapped at me. "The question is, why do you need an altar of Shadow?" He barely said it before turning to my new spear. "So that's how it is... Dark obsidian." He spun around to face me and slammed his fist on the table. "You! You dared to withhold this from your mentor!"
"I'm sorry," I slid off the chair and knelt down, bowing so low that my forehead touched the cold stone.
"Sorry?! You hid your talents from your mentor!" He guessed it, and I understand his anger, so I continue to maintain a posture of full repentance. "How many?" He barked.
"Three stars in Shadow and the same in Darkness," I blurted out. I brought this conversation upon myself; there's no point in lying now.
"Raven," the sheriff suddenly spoke in a calm voice. "Do I look like a prude to you? Or do you see the Sign of Antares on my chest?"
Antares, brother of Obeorn, is the deity of Day and Light, husband of Dairin, and is also among the five Higher Gods of Ain.
"No," I reply without lifting my gaze.
"Get off the floor. Sit down and pour me some beer. It's not your question that enraged me, but the fact that you lied to me!"
"I didn't lie; I withheld," I correct him.
"That's what saved you! Had it been a direct lie, I would have thrown you out right now."
"I didn't know you well at that time and didn't dare to confess these Talents," I say, deciding that honesty is the best policy right now.
"There is an altar of Seguna on Un," the sheriff replied after I filled his mug. "But it's a recent creation. A sham."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
All altars built after the Fall serve only as places for formal worship; they do not carry any Power. It doesn't matter whose altar it is, whether it belongs to the almighty Eyrat or the almost-forgotten Seguna. Only those altars and sacred places that existed before the Fall carry echoes of their divinity.
"The nearest true altar of the Night Sister is located on the island of Quad," Ender finally answered me. "It's situated just outside the Gates of the Sulfur Dungeon. It's hidden from sight and is only visible under the direct light of Seguna. But you're headed to the continent, so you won't get there." He shrugged. "I can't tell you anything about the mainland. I can't because I don't know."
"I regret my mistrust." I apologize once again.
"Enough; I'm not a sixteen-year-old girl to hold a grudge for long!" Ender smiled. "You explained yourself. I understand. If I hadn't, you would have been out on the street by now, not sitting here drinking beer with me. Regarding your departure..." Ender suddenly changed the subject.
"Yes?"
"Today, one of the fishermen mentioned that they saw the sails of the 'Free Wind' near the island of Dou. That means that tomorrow, most likely with the evening tide, that ship will enter Unudo's bay and leave our island the next morning, heading straight for the continent."
Although I was expecting this news soon, a slight shiver still ran down my spine. Despite all my memory of the future, I nevertheless remained myself, and such a sudden change scared me a little.
"Will the blacksmith be able to adjust the chainmail in a day?" I asked, trying to avoid dwelling on the matter.
"Let's try it on." The sheriff didn't bother to beat around the bush.
Getting up from the chair, he lifted my gambeson and gestured for me to come closer. When I stood next to him, he helped me put on the under-armor.
"Wait! What's this belt for?" Ender was surprised, frozen with the leather strap in his hand.
"It goes here," I point. "Then, this strap goes through this loop." I show him with my fingers how to do it.
"I've been wearing armor for thirty years!" The sheriff said, somewhat lost. "I never thought that I wouldn't be able to figure out how to put on a simple gambeson."
"It's not simple," I object, "the usual ones don't have these fastenings and this back and lumbar support."
"Hey…" Taking a step back from me after the chainmail settled on my shoulders and we fastened everything, the mentor spoke. "But this is comfortable! Jump! Bend over. Crane stance. Snake. Dragon! Now I understand what this wide belt is for!" The sheriff said, walking around me. "Amazing. At first glance, your gambeson seemed overloaded and uncomfortable, but now I see..."
"I was present when something similar was created by one of the greatest masters, and I remembered," I said, referring to Katashi Atsushi, of course, and these words were not muted by the Sacral Veil.
"I believe it," The sheriff clicked his tongue. "I'll take measurements and order the same for myself; you don't mind?"
"I don't."
"What if I don't do it for myself but instead open a production in partnership with local craftsmen?"
"I don't mind that either."
"Ha! Any tunneller would want something like this for themselves, and not just on the archipelago!" Ender rubbed his hands. But I don't believe that he will be able to set up large-scale production in Unudo, a small workshop at most. "So, shall I take the measurements?"
"Please."
"Ha! Youth! Here's a lesson for you." He straightened up to his full not-so-inconsiderable height. "Secrets like these in craftsmanship are valued far more than even the ten gold coins that the chainmail I gifted you is worth. The secrets of guild masters are worth a fortune!"
I knew this, but I didn't care. Very soon, in just three or four months, the new gambeson design will begin to conquer Ain even without my intervention. And if it starts on Un and benefits Ender, I don't mind at all. As for the later version of the under-armor equipment, based on a blend of medieval, hockey, and motorcycle "turtle shell" armor designs, we earthlings will only reveal it to the locals after the start of the Invasion. Alas, although I was involved in its development as a professional athlete, I can't recreate that equipment without Katashi; it's too complex. But the improved and reinforced gambeson will suffice for now, especially with the steel chainmail.
As for selling the new design to the guilds, until I gain more strength, they'll either scam me or pay me peanuts. It's not worth it, but if necessary or a real opportunity presents itself, I'll sell it, as I didn't grant Ender exclusive rights.
"So, what about the size?" I asked.
"Just a moment." The sheriff tugged at the armor in different places. "Because of the double gambeson, it's fine on the shoulders. The chest area too. The length is a bit much, yes. Need to remove rings at the bottom, about two hand spans around..."
"One palm. I feel safer when my thighs are fully covered."
"Extra weight..." Ender began but immediately laughed and did not finish the sentence. "It's an hour's work, not more; loosening one line of rings is not a big deal."
"That's good."
"Yes, if it weren't for your under-armor, adjusting the shoulders and chest alone could take three days," agreed the sheriff.
"Then I'll leave both the chainmail and the gambeson with you." Placing the empty mug on the table, I lowered my palms onto the tabletop.
"Leaving already?" Ender nodded. "Well, it is getting late, and it would be good for you to get some sleep if you're setting sail tomorrow."
"No." I shook my head and took out a bottle of local sake from the bag hanging on my chair. "I suggest we have a drink as a farewell."
“Ah-ha-ha!” The sheriff slapped his sides. "I liked you right away, from the first glance!" Having laughed, my mentor put two drinking cups in front of us and took out a piece of pork and a few flatbreads from a basket on the window.
Of course, the sheriff was right; I should have gone to bed, but I wanted to sit with Ender one last time. We've known each other for only a week, but he's already become a close friend. The sheriff did not quite live up to the status of a true mentor, but I could certainly call him a comrade without any exaggeration.
We drank until dawn and only stopped when the marshal's entire reserve of alcohol was depleted. On Earth, after such a binge, it would take me a couple of days to recover, but here, all the consequences were removed with just one potion. Another one rid me of sleepiness. Therefore, when a citizen came into the marshal with a complaint at about seven in the morning, his gaze didn't notice any trace of the night's drinking.
"Don't forget about the chainmail," I reminded Ender as I was leaving the marshal and standing on the steps.
"I won't forget," he assured me, "I'll deal with the complaint and then immediately head to the blacksmith. By the way, your companions have most likely been taken by Ximi and Tuan for training."
"Alright, if you need me - I'll be at the tavern for another hour," I nodded to Ender and headed towards the inn.
Spending an entire night on entertainment was wasteful on the one hand, but on the other - one also needs to rest. Katashi Atsushi might disagree with this, believing that the best rest was a change of labor activity and not a drinking session. But in this belief, in my opinion, he was fundamentally wrong. Moreover, I will still have time to get enough sleep since the journey by ship to the continent will take about three days.
After having a hearty breakfast at the tavern, I went up to my room and conducted a sort of inventory check. After that, I made a shopping list and headed to the market. I needed to buy a couple of sets of underwear, spare trousers, an everyday shirt, and a bunch of other trifles that would definitely come in handy on a long journey. I haggled almost until noon, but at least I bought everything I needed, including a travel bag, at a quite reasonable cost. It helped a lot in lowering the prices that everyone already knew I was the apprentice of the respected sheriff. And I had no qualms about using this argument while bargaining. I think Flavius wouldn't have approved of such a cynical approach, but in the eastern markets, your status, acquaintances, and even your relatives are a substantial argument in trade.
When I returned to the tavern, it seemed to me that all the staff already knew that I was leaving the island today. This helped me haggle a bit more and purchase two large cheese wheels, three kilograms each, for the road at a very good price. Cheese is a product that doesn't spoil quickly, so it was a good deal.
Recalling the experience of the "future," I packed all my purchases in the travel bag properly. Yes, I spent a fair amount this morning, but now I was ready for the journey. I lacked spare footwear, but decent boots in Unudo were simply prohibitively expensive for me. And this was the norm throughout Ain; proper shoes in this world are costly and are almost always custom-made.
Leaving my things in the room, I returned to the marshal. Ender was already waiting for me, so, taking my new armor set with us, we headed towards the hill for training.
"How does it fit?" The sheriff asked me after I first dressed in the gambeson and then in the chainmail. "Is it not too tight anywhere? Lift both arms."
He didn't help me this time, as I needed to "remember" how to put everything on by myself and correctly.
"It's all good. The chainmail is a bit too large around the shoulders, though," I said, adjusting the rings. "But it's not a big deal, within acceptable limits."
"Still, if you stay somewhere for a couple of days, don't forget to visit a blacksmith to get it fixed," Ender didn't leave me without advice.
"Of course," I didn't argue with him.
"Take your spear, but don't remove the cover from the tip." The sheriff himself took a familiar pole in his hands. "During training, constantly maintain the 'Weapon Strengthening' aura and, if possible, the 'Perception' too."
When I nodded to indicate that I understood his instruction, Ender immediately attacked. Today's training was almost like usual, except I was fully dressed in armor, getting used to it.
Of course, I "remembered" what it was like to fight in armor. But it was my mind that did, whereas my body was unfamiliar with the specifics of wearing protective gear. That's what Ender tried to correct today, running me ragged while also testing the limits of my endurance.
"What are you gazing at the horizon for?" asked the sheriff while executing a series of strikes. "Hoping to spot the 'Defector'?"
"Yes." He guessed right.
I knew that the chances of that ship appearing near the island of Un so quickly were extremely slim, but I still hoped for it.
"So maybe you shouldn't be in such a hurry to set sail?" Ender slyly said, sweeping at my legs and causing me to jump high.
"I can't take that risk," I replied, dodging another thrust overhead, my back bending almost ninety degrees in the process.
"I understand." The sheriff nodded.
The tip of his boot scooped up sand, and with a sharp flick of his leg, Ender threw it in my face while simultaneously attacking my abdomen with his pole.
"Well, you were right about your endurance," Ender pronounced his verdict after nearly an hour and a half of training. "The weight of the double gambeson hardly affects you."
Having completed the first stage of testing, the mentor sent me to run on the sticky coastal sand. Meanwhile, he kept pace beside me and shared what he knew about life on the continental coast near the archipelago. His account was worth enduring and listening to without interruption. Perhaps some detail, seemingly insignificant at first glance, would save my life.
When the disk of Seguna had just peeked out over the horizon, Ender stopped and pointed toward the sea with his hand. I turned around, peered into the distance, and noticed a pair of sails colored yellow.
"The 'Free Wind'," Ender explained. "This is the only ship with such colored sails in our waters."
"What color are the sails of the 'Defector'?" I asked.
"Light gray, like the evening sky," my mentor replied.
For some reason, as soon as I heard about this feature of the 'Defector' sails, I thought that Maestro Larindel might not be averse to piracy. Otherwise, why would he paint the sails of his ship in such an inconspicuous color against the horizon? From an aesthetic point of view, light gray is not the most attractive shade. I bluntly asked the sheriff about this, and he said that such rumors were circulating, but there was no real evidence.
"Any captain in the archipelago has his enemies or, at the very least, ill-wishers," the sheriff explained. "So, if Maestro Larindel did sink a couple of ships, he did it quietly enough that nobody found out. But we don't have a problem with piracy in the archipelago, unlike the waters close to the continent; it's dangerous there. And the major coastal city-states are constantly at odds with each other and don't find it shameful to sink another's ship."
"So, traveling on the 'Free Wind' could be dangerous?" I asked.
"The captain of the 'Wind' is a lucky man," the sheriff smiled, "he has been sailing this route for many years and has always returned."
"Well, thank you, that sounds pretty reassuring!"
"You're welcome," Ender nodded seriously, not noticing my sarcasm.
In the evening, when the "Free Wind" docked at the pier of Unudo, it was already being greeted by local merchants, as well as the sheriff. Meanwhile, I was watching the process from the side along with the earthlings, listening to Flavius's commentary:
"Wow, they've made a sharp turn with the helm... Why are they taking the sails down so early?... What a turn, almost on the spot. Ah, they dropped the anchor... An experienced captain! Docked as smoothly as a feather, and the junk is not one of the small ones - it's about fifty meters for sure..."
When a wide plank gangway was thrown from the side of the junk, Ilona sobbed.
"What's wrong?" the blond guy turned to her.
"Well, I just realized now that Raven will sail away tomorrow morning, and we might never see each other again."
"We also have to set sail soon," Flavius tried to divert her attention. "The day after tomorrow, most likely."
"But we will return to Un more than once, and we will remain together, but he will be alone."
"Better tell me, did you get the recommendation letters from Lao Fan for the tunneller captains on the neighboring islands?" I don't like women's tears, so I change the subject.
"Yes," Miranda nodded. "And we didn't even have to pay him for it. Ximi put in a good word for us."
"Ximi!" I exclaimed aloud and slapped my forehead. "Does anyone know where she is?"
"She was in the marshal, filling out some scroll," Flavius shrugged.
"Okay, I will leave you. If Ender asks where I am, tell him I went to look for his aide." Shaking off my trousers, I turned toward the town.
"We'll tell him, but why do you need her, and so urgently at that?" Miranda didn't understand.
"I just need her," I waved her off, "I'll explain later."
What a sieve my memory is! Just a few days ago, having seen Ximi heal Ilona's broken nose, I thought about studying the basic magic of Healing. Our Ilona was not a suitable teacher for this because a skill gifted by Stela of Divine Inspiration cannot be taught to another person. However, Ximi could have passed on the Lesser Healing spell to me, which would definitely be useful. I had been meaning to approach her for several days but kept forgetting.
I was lucky: the sheriff's assistant was in her office and agreed to my request. She didn't even ask anything; she simply sat me down next to her and, while filling out papers, calmly instructed and explained what to do during meditation. When Ender entered the marshal, he just nodded approvingly and did not interfere, except that he said he had arranged a place for me on board the "Free Wind."
Until late at night, even when she finished her duties at the marshal, Ximi stayed with me. She guided and assisted me in mastering the basic currents of Magic and the winds of the Spirit necessary for Healing. When I started to get the hang of it, Ximi nodded contentedly, walked over to me, placed her hands on my shoulders, and with a single gesture and a Lesser Gust of Wind, blew out all the candles in the marshal.
"Did you learn?" she asked.
"Yes." I still have a long time to practice this new skill, but I can do it on my own now.
"Pay up." Saying this, Ximi swept my legs out from under me, and we both fell to the floor.
Her left palm demandingly unbuttoned my shirt collar, and her right hand slipped below my belt. This was unexpected. But I did not resist - payment for learning a skill is sacred!
Moreover, such a payment...