When I returned to the inn late at night, I was surprised to find that one table in the common room was occupied despite the late hour. Ilona and Flavius were sitting at it in the light of three dim candles. A large, almost empty bottle of sake was standing between the two earthlings, and there were no snacks on the table. When I joined them and was about to ask what kept them up, the healer smiled and demandingly stretched out her hand to Flavius. The guy hesitated for a moment, glanced at me, sighed, and placed a silver coin in the girl's hand.
"And what was that?" I couldn't help asking.
Pouring sake for himself and Ilona, Flavius took a drink, cleared his throat, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and looked at me intently. He stared for about twenty seconds before speaking:
"So Ximi got what she wanted, huh?"
"What?" I pretended not to understand.
"Ha! I told you so!" Raising her finger, Ilona said in a slightly slurred voice.
"Told what?" I asked, pouring myself a full glass.
"Raven, you're blind. Completely!" The healer smirked.
"Really? My eyesight seems to be quite good." I objected, grimacing at the taste of the now-warm sake.
"Absolutely blind!" Ilona pointed at me and repeated her claim. "A girl is making eyes at him, sending hints... Leaning in enticing positions within his view, always trying to show herself in the best light. And he doesn't notice at all!"
"Are you talking about Ximi right now?" I clarified.
"At the moment, yes." The healer nodded.
"There was nothing like that!" I protested.
"See!" Ilona's index finger jabbed at Flavius's chest. "I told you, he's totally blind! Half the town is eyeing him, a third of the market's female vendors give him discounts just for his handsome eyes, and he doesn't notice it!"
"Maybe he's using some charm technique?" Flavius speculated.
"Huh?" Ilona didn't understand him at first. "No! He's just one of those men who have that certain aura of confidence that most women can sense, and it draws us to them instinctually. Plus, he's quite good-looking… outwardly. Yeah, without that detail, the aura I mentioned doesn't work so well."
"And you're drawn to him too?" Flavius asked her with a smirk.
"A little!" The girl drunkenly nodded. "But Raven is like a brother to me! So, no-no!" She wagged her finger in front of her face.
"Do I have such an aura?" Flavius inquired with hope in his voice.
"You?" Ilona sobered up for a moment, took a good look at the guy sitting opposite, and then waved her hand, saying dismissively, "Forget it."
"That hurt!" Flavius theatrically clutched his heart.
"Get used to it," Ilona curtly retorted and pushed her empty cup demandingly towards him, which he promptly filled with liquor.
"How long are you planning to sit here?" I asked curiously.
"Until we put you on the ship," Flavius confidently replied, then peeked out the window and gazed at the Seguna. "So, about three more hours."
"Stay with us, boy!" Ilona sang, and I realized that she and I were countrymen[1]. "Why would you go to bed?" She leaned down and said from under the table, "We still have more!" When she finished speaking, she straightened up and placed another bottle on the table.
Well, why not? I won't be able to get enough sleep in the time left, my stuff is packed, so I might as well hang out with those who have become almost like friends to me in such a short time.
"Pour it!" Extending my cup to the center of the table, I nod.
"Listen, Ilona, I have a question for you," Flavius said slyly as he poured sake.
"Ask away," she nodded.
"Did Miranda also fall for Raven?" the blond guy asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"That bitchy one?" Ilona snorted.
But before she could finish, a voice rang out behind us:
"Actually, this bitch is standing right here!"
And, dragging another stool to the table, the future sorceress joined us and demandingly slammed her empty cup on the table.
"I said bitchy one, not bitch," Ilona responded calmly without missing a beat. "As they say in my homeland, 'that's two big differences'![2]"
Taking a sip, Ilona leaned over the table and hugged Miranda.
"You're certainly a bastard and a scoundrel, but you're our bastard!" the girl declared. "And I'd rip anyone's throat out for you."
"Ah..." Not expecting such fervor, Miranda was taken aback and forgot what she wanted to say.
"Do you think if we step aside, we'll see something interesting?" Flavius whispered loudly to me, watching the girls hugging.
"Forget it!" our female companions chorused in response…
Three hours flew by like a moment. We chatted, joked, and laughed. In this light-hearted mood, I didn't forget to share a ton of information about Ain that earthlings couldn't have possibly learned in such a short time. Despite being tipsy, they will remember some of it, and these details could significantly ease their lives in the very near future.
Sitting with them felt so natural and comfortable that when it was time to leave, I had to force myself to get up from the table. And not because I was drunk, as we had all taken a sobering potion by that time.
When I went to my room and came back down with my things, not only were the earthlings waiting for me in the common room of the inn, but also Ender with his aides. I glanced at Ximi, but she behaved as if what happened between us was just a dream. This self-assured woman, with her unique Eastern beauty, was now pretending to be sleepy, yawning widely. Or maybe she wasn't pretending since she definitely hadn't gotten enough sleep last night.
In Ain, due to the fact that both men and women can equally progress through the Spiral ranks, over many centuries, a rather unusual paradigm of gender relations has developed for such a level of civilization. At its core, like on Earth, was patriarchy, but with significant caveats. First, this patriarchy was much softer than in Earth's history. Second, women who followed the Path enjoyed true equality. Not nominal, but full-fledged one. And this made sense because a female warrior at the Bronze is in no way inferior to a man of the same rank: neither in strength, nor speed, nor endurance, nor reaction. This, in turn, influenced the fact that free girls, starting from the third step of the Spiral, felt more liberated and unrestrained, including in a sexual sense.
Perhaps I did genuinely appeal to Ximi, but due to being busy with training and pondering my future plans, I did not notice it. However, it would be a mistake for me to assume that she suddenly fell in love with me. Most likely, I interested her as a man for one or a few nights. At least the way she assertively behaved during our intimacy made it clear to me that she knew what she wanted to get from sex exactly and wasn't shy about taking it. Those in love don't act like this; they pay more attention to their partner rather than themselves, but this was clearly a different case. I'm not a huge fan of this approach, as I prefer to take the lead in bed rather than be led, but I didn't object that night. And now, the sheriff's assistant is successfully pretending as if nothing had happened between us. As if she wasn't the one who just a few hours ago asked me to take her to the sheriff's table and... well, it doesn't matter.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
This ostensible indifference slightly stung me. I felt the urge to walk over, take her by the chin, and kiss her on the lips in front of everyone. But that would have been childish, and I chose not to act that way. If a woman doesn't want to make public what transpired between you, it's best not to go against her wishes. After all, did I have my share of pleasure with her that night? Yes, I did, more than once. So let my silence be at least a minimal gesture of gratitude. Instead of stepping forward and giving her a kiss, I raised my hands and said, addressing everyone gathered:
"I don't like long goodbyes. I'd be grateful if no one comes to see me off," I said, addressing the gathered crowd. Noticing Ender's puzzled look, I corrected myself, "Except for the mentor, of course!"
"Eek!" Exclaimed Ilona as she clung to me, and I felt her warm tears on my neck.
Flavius hugged me by the shoulders next. Miranda, on the other hand, was content with a firm handshake. Tuan and Ximi said goodbye with a wave of their hands.
"See you!" I said before stepping over the threshold. "All roads lead to Pentapolis!"
"If we're alive, definitely!" Flavius confirmed and immediately received a clip on the ear from Ilona.
"Are you sure they're not your kin?" Ender clarified as we moved away from the inn.
"Definitely."
"But you're alike." The sheriff snorted. "Not in appearance, but in behavior. Especially your healer."
"Countrymen." I shrug - I can't say more due to the Sacred Veil.
In slightly awkward silence, we walked all the way through the town. Only when we were already in the port did I turn to Ender:
"Are you sure you won't change your mind?" I asked as my foot stepped onto the pier. "Come with me for a month."
"Did you see Vieki?" The sheriff responded with a question.
"I did," I sighed heavily. "Beautiful."
"Exactly!" The mentor smiled. "And those adventures, what's in them for me?"
It was hard to argue with that.
Darn! Why did I get so attached to him? We've known each other for barely over a week and will never see each other again. Why do I feel so sad? We can't even be called friends. Both he and I simply used each other. I used him as a teacher and mentor, and he used me as a stepping stone to restore his reputation. But apparently, because each of us understood all the motives of the other, our relationship was transparent and honest. That is already quite a lot, especially in this far-from-benevolent world.
The "past me" wasn't fortunate enough to meet such a person at the very beginning of his journey. I was deceived, used, and even almost sold into slavery, and the latter was plotted by those I trusted. But the sheriff of Unudo and his team showed me a completely different side of Ain. And there are far more people like Ender than there are scumbags, and for the sake of people like him, I won't let the demons win! I don't know how I'll pull it off yet, but I will. Or I'll die.
Right.
"Here." The sheriff tossed a bundle wrapped tightly with straps over my shoulder. It consisted of my gambeson and chain mail wrapped in it.
"Thank you for everything." Placing my spear on the pier, I extended my open palm forward.
We shook hands.
"Don't forget to make a note on your Page when you join the Guild." Ender smiled, not at all embarrassed to give this reminder.
"I won't forget!" My lips involuntarily stretched into a smile. "I wish you a joyous wedding and kids soon."
"Keep climbing the Spiral, don't stop." The sheriff patted my shoulder and gave his wishes.
"May Sino's guidance be with you, mentor."
"May Eyrat's blessing won't bypass you, disciple."
A farewell bow - and I pivot on my heels, then walk along the pier without stopping or looking back. Just forty-five steps, but they are very hard for me.
"Your name and rank, sir." At the pier, I was stopped by what seemed to be the captain's assistant, judging by the fact he was dressed in a hanfu suit, not in the usual linen pants and shirt.
"Raven. Full Iron."
Having checked with a scroll, the captain's assistant clarified:
"The disciple of the highly respected Sheriff Ender?"
Sometimes I feel like the whole archipelago knows my mentor. And how did he achieve that in just seven years, from being an unknown outsider? However, recalling Ender's character and his approach to work, there's nothing surprising about it. And if you add his desire to have a drink with any new drinking buddy, then the sheriff of Unudo being well-known among all who at least occasionally visit this island is not unusual at all.
"Yes," I answer calmly but with dignity, as befits a disciple when mentioning the teacher's name.
"Are you heading to Tries?"
"That's right."
"For the tournament?" There is a hint of curiosity in the captain's assistant's voice.
As I didn't understand what he was asking about, I answered neutrally:
"I haven't decided yet."
"Understood, sir. Board the ship. The 'Free Wind' will take you where you need to go!"
As soon as he said this, two sturdy sailors cleared the gangplank and allowed me to get on the board. Another sailor met me there and escorted me to the common tent for passengers. Yes, the "Free Wind" did not have advanced superstructures, and a large tent stretched right on the deck served as the passengers' living quarters.
"Your sleeping place, sir," the sailor pointed to a coarse mattress rolled up on the boards. "You can put your weapon over here." The escort's hand indicates a weapon rack very close to my sleeping spot.
Bowing, the sailor left the tent.
I looked around. Besides me, there were seven other passengers here. Four were clearly a family, a husband, and wife with two boys about five or six years old. Additionally, there were two merchants, and one young mage of full Bronze, if the patch on his chest is to be believed, who was meditating with a crystal ball clutched in his hands. As is proper according to local etiquette, I introduced myself and listened to their reciprocal introductions. However, I almost immediately forgot all their names. In less than three days, I'll leave this ship and never see these people again.
After dropping off my things, I returned to the deck, where I formally reported to the captain. I barely managed to do that when the first rays of the sun illuminated the harbor, and the command was given to raise the gangplank. The "Free Wind" captain turned out to be a short, almost spherical man with a sparse goatee named Lil Rou. It took a lot of effort for me not to burst out laughing when he introduced himself. After overseeing the unmooring process, the captain turned to me.
"Ender's disciple," he nodded and sniffed. "Ha! And a worshiper of Sino just like your teacher, I see!"
His eyes twinkled. Oh no! Not this! Not again! I'm tired of drinking! Giving my face the most mournful expression, I spread my hands to the sides:
"I don't drink at sea."
"Commendable, commendable," Lil Rou said with disappointment and immediately lost interest in me.
Leaving the captain, I went up to the stern with his permission. The helmsman, who was steering the ship, didn't like my presence, but he heard that Lil Rou had allowed me, so he didn't say anything.
The "Free Wind" was not an example of a fast sailing vessel. It was a typical wide-sided merchant ship, where all the free space was given over to goods. Right now, the junk was loaded to the brim, and even next to the helmsman, there were clearly heavy baskets secured with ropes. The crew on the junk was small, no more than thirty people.
I waved at the earthlings standing on the pier. They noticed. Miranda didn't hesitate and released a column of fire into the sky from her palm. She's growing as a sorceress; not too long ago, her flames were only half a meter at most, but now a two-meter-high fire bursts from her hand.
Will we meet again? Will they ever make it to Pentapolis? Will they survive? And will I make it there? Will I myself survive?
I highly doubt it.
The task set by the questers is nearly unsolvable. Nobody will let me go solo through dungeons. Nobody will want to lose their money on this. And I simply don't have the funds to buy them out. Perhaps, on the continent, I might manage to "steal" a couple of dungeons or even five, but definitely no more. And that's not enough! That number won't be sufficient for the Elevation. Moreover, "stealing" dungeons on a regular basis without advanced Shadow magic is too risky. One mistake and very angry local tunnellers will greet me when I exit the Door. And a simple "sorry" won't get me out of it.
Essentially, I am left with only one path: duels. And not just Strength Challenges but full-fledged fights in the Arena under the roar of the raging crowd. And in the best-case scenario, the loser won't die but will end up in slavery. Such entertainment is very popular in the coastal city-states of the southeast, as Ender told me. And such fights are far more dangerous than any dungeons. A regular Iron-ranked tunneller and a professional duelist of the same Power level are two completely different opponents in terms of the level of danger they pose. The former clears the same dungeons all their life. The latter trains for years and deliberately does not increase their rank to remain the best in their class.
Will I be able to handle such fights?
I don't know.
On the one hand, I'm clearly not ready for such duels; on the other hand – I have significant advantages over the locals.
But do I have any other choice?
I will do the impossible and raise my rank from Iron to Bronze within the allotted time. And I'd rather perish from the blow of an enemy's sword or from the flames burning through my heart than give these creatures the pleasure of erasing me!
One more look at the receding pier.
Flavius, Ilona, Miranda, don't you falter either!
"We will meet again. We will definitely meet," I said aloud and laughed because the quote wasn't intentional, but it was very fitting.[3]
Raising my right hand, I silently utter:
"Discharge!"
My fist is enveloped in a chain of lightning.
They saw.
A jet of flame shoots into the sky from the pier.
Well then, continent, brace yourself.
For I am coming.
And soon, the shadow of the Black Raven of Ain will fall on Pentapolis.
My shadow!
----------------------------------------
The end of the first volume.
----------------------------------------
[1] If you are interested, here's the song https://youtu.be/WGc7ptKfA9c?t=135. The refrain sounds like, "If you want to be rich, if you want to be happy, stay with us, boy, we will make you our king!" I'm sure that older generations of the post-soviet space have been traumatized by this psychedelic experience. I remember some images from it even now, after more than twenty years. People say there's no way the animators weren't high when they made it.
[2] Yes, it's grammatically incorrect, even in the original, and this is intentional. The "motherland" Ilona refers to is Odesa, a city in the south of Ukraine. Even now, all the countries of the former Soviet Union have a large layer of shared culture, and all three notes here prove that. Hence, Raven is wrong, and they aren't countrymen. Although some people may argue about that, and some even justify the current war this way, as you can see. Hopefully, the readers here will stay out of the politics.
[3] A quote from the end of a popular movie, "The Three Musketeers" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7GwOU7q60I). I don't think it exists in the book.