“Three days.” Senadin said to Zulli as they stepped out from the massive iron-rod gates of Carbon Manor.
Before leaving, the two had finished up some details with Garrus Carbon and August Niles about the upcoming quest on behalf of Garrus. They decided, together, that they would set out in three days. They would head out of Vitesse by carriage, make their way to a port town where they would start a series of portal jumps to Silverwind, far to the northwest and over a huge body of water.
“Yeah.” Zulli said. “We should stock up on some Shawarma for the trip. It should stay fresh and warm in your voidspace.”
“Oh, really? I’m not so sure. Fresh and warm is not how I would describe that place. But we can try it out, grab some early, throw it in there, then have some for dinner.”
“I mean, I’m gonna have some for breakfast too.” Zulli mumbled under her breath, stepping off with Sen.
Sen heard Zulli mumble but only smirked in reply.
Garrus had supplied them with a reasonable stipend of iron rank and lesser spirit coins to use in preparation for their journey. They chose three days so they had time to prepare, but mostly so they could secure the chance to say their goodbyes and thanks to Vance for his help in becoming acclimated in Vitesse and the new world they resided in.
They had stopped by an adventurer’s general store, one of many in Vitesse, and were able to get their hands on some tools that Sen claimed as necessary, while Zulli scolded him for being so cavalier with their money.
“Do you even know how to use a block and tackle?”
Sen scoffed. “Of course! Well no, not exactly, but I bet you do, don’t you?”
Zulli folded her arms. Sen could feel the scowl through the shadow of her face.
----------------------------------------
Racial Ability: Universal Knowledge
You have an understanding of basic concepts of the universe you reside in. These concepts will be accounted based on the traditions, sciences, folklore, practices, techniques, and disciplines of that universe, but do not apply to social nuances, behaviors, and sophisticated arts. This ability will grow as your knowledge base does.
----------------------------------------
“Look, I’m not expecting you to handle all the tools-”
“I’m about to handle a tool right now.”
“Oh, Zulli! Was that a quip? Did you just quip at me? Who taught you to talk like that young lady?”
“It’s a pretty common term. I’ve heard it a few times already.”
“Okay, seriously Zulli, I really want to be prepared, so I’m filling up the voidspace. Yes, I may not exactly know what a set of pulleys with rope can help us with, except for maybe a very large treasure chest at the bottom of a well, but you never know. Plus, with your Universal Knowledge you can teach me some things I might not know. It’ll give us something to do in our off time, and it’ll help us work better together, we can learn how each other learns, stuff like that.”
“Oh…” Zulli said. “That’s… A good idea, yeah.”
“Mhm. Not so much of a tool now, huh?”
“I’ll be honest, I don’t even know if I used that word right, what does it actually mean?”
“It’s one of those words that you’ll understand better through context. Like…” Sen thought a moment, before snapping a finger in epiphany. “Like when August suppressed our auras in the cafeteria and never said a word. Real toolbag move. Especially since he was being used by someone else, like an actual tool.”
“Toolbag?”
“You can add bag to the end of a word to kind of emphasize it a little bit more.”
Zulli was looking at him, but looked around the shop to gain some inspiration. She couldn’t find much in the utilitarian shop to draw from, and was distracted when her eyes met a wall of small pouches.
“Bag. I need a bag.” Zulli said.
***
Gone from the shop, with many new tools and toys acquired, the two outworlders walked along the roads of Vitesse. They took in the bustling sights under the assumption they wouldn’t be back for some time.
They stopped in some other niche shops and found a museum outside the Temple District that was devoted to some heroes that were no longer around, but mostly held some inert artifacts from bygone eras. Sen was shocked at the amount of time that coalesced between all the items, and if they could tell their stories, he didn’t think he would be able to hear them all before he died of old age. It was a strange feeling for him that deepened the world around him. Growing up in middle America, most of the old artifacts he had seen were certainly not magical, and maybe only a few centuries old. There were other parts of his old world that held artifacts much older than a few centuries that provided insight into the history of his world, but he simply wasn’t cultured in them. Amongst the plethora of old relics, he felt like a toddler in an incredibly old universe, both excited for what lay ahead of him, and humbled by his lack of knowledge.
Looking around, Sen saw no security and no glass walls barring someone from simply walking up to the artifacts and taking them. It wasn’t that he wanted to, but the thought of these amazing artifacts being open for anyone to just nab bit at his conscience.
“Wonder if they have any problems with thieves trying to steal these.” He posited to Zulli.
“Why would anyone steal them?” Zulli asked.
“Well they’re certainly valuable, right? I mean what if one of these was a family heirloom and a begrudged bastard son wants his grandpa’s stuff. He hires a thief to get his stuff back. There’s an intense scene where you don’t know if he’s going to get it, but he does, setting off the alarm and suddenly he has to run away from some powerful magic people, resulting in the penultimate chase with big explosions happening in the background.” Sen said, waving his hands for dramatic effect. Zulli envisioned the story in her mind.
“That’s not likely.” She said coyly.
“Seems like something that would happen here.”
“Maybe. Are you the thief in the story?”
“No, not my style. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t disregard dex, but I’m more of a strength and wisdom kind of guy.”
“Dex, like Dexterity?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’m definitely not the thief either. Those attributes don’t match our Essence Attributes though. Are those from your world?”
“That’s very -perceptive- of you.” Sen said, inflecting his insinuation. “But kind of, just in games. Strength, Dex, Fortitude, Intellect, Wisdom, and Perception are the usual six, or an off-shoot of those.”
Zulli pondered the attributes for a moment. "I don't know which one of those I would be. Do you pick two? Like Strength and Wisdom? Can I have them all?"
"Oh this is great!” He said. “I can go over some team composition stuff with you about this, if you want.”
“Ok…” Zulli said, not sure if the advice would help since the attributes native to Essence Users didn’t match the ones he would be speaking on, but she was curious enough to oblige.
“So, in a classic team, around five or six chara- err, team members, each person has their own strength, say a frontliner having high fortitude for example. He can take the hits for the team, effectively called tanking.”
“Tanking.” Zulli nodded.
“Yeah, taking hits for the team. Someone else is strong in another attribute, say Dexterity, where they’re able to maneuver around the fight, staying out of the tanks way, not getting hit, and getting in some damage and utility or crowd control.”
“Crowd control?”
“Like, controlling the enemy through the use of debilitating effects.”
“Like my Blind effect?”
----------------------------------------
* Essence Ability (Essence of the Stars)
* Quasi-Stellar Beam [Special Attack – Light – Beam]
Effect (Iron):Attack with a beam of starlight, dealing [Disruptive] damage and causing the [Blinded] effect to targets affected by the beam, leaving them [Blinded] afterward for an amount of time corollary to the target’s resilience and recovery.
* [Blinded] – Effect
* The effected target cannot see with their eyes. Magical perception abilities are unaffected.
----------------------------------------
“Exactly.” Sen said, snapping his finger and pointing at her. “That’s crowd control. It provides a little breathing room.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“I don’t have to breathe anyway.”
“Right.” Sen said, easily playing through the awkwardness of the comment. “What I’m getting at is that each person covers the other one’s weakness.”
“How is the damage covered that the tank is taking?”
“Usually by a healer, or the use of items, maybe a leech build.”
“Leeches?”
“Don’t worry about that one. It’s kind of a novelty that never gets enough love.”
“I feel like there’s a but at the end of this.”
“But!” Sen said, playing into her comment again. “That’s just a classic way of doing things. There’s a little bit a more fun, possibly more rewarding way of going about it.”
“Ok, I’m guessing you’re going to tell me all about it.” Zulli said. She was excited to hear what he had to say, but didn’t want him to know that.
“We go off-meta.”
“Off-Meta? I don’t think that term makes sense in this situation.”
“Stay with me Zulli!” He said, pointing a finger in the air. His own excitement was building, and some people inside their wing of the museum were passing glances at him as his volume increased.
Zulli shook her head. “Why do you get like this sometimes?”
“We don’t follow the traditional rules. We just play how we want!”
“Sen, I think people play… er, make their teams like that for a reason. It’s a sound tactic, I don’t see why it would be a bad idea.”
“To what end?”
“Well, it makes your team harder to kill and makes your team kill the monsters better.”
“A fair point, Zulli. Is that what you want? What about when you’re not fighting the monsters? How much time have you and I spent fighting monsters since we’ve known each other?”
“Well, I kind of wish we’ve fought more." Zulli replied. "So, you’re saying it’s not just about fighting monsters?”
Sen raised a provocative eyebrow at Zulli.
***
“Vance, I thought I’d find you here. Getting along well in the Magic Society?” Arcturus said as his lanky, tall frame strode into Vance’s office. He was wearing what he had before in the training area with Jalex, but had a black leather duster hanging over him, as well as a wide-brimmed black leather hat. His shaggy hair bushed out of the hat, covering most of his face.
Vance paused, sitting at his desk. “Arcturus.” He said nonchalantly.
Arcturus sighed. He looked down at the floor and nodded.
“I’ll keep this short. Jalex told me about a couple outworlders in town, I’m going to check the records now, and I thought I’d stop by, see how you’re doing, and maybe see if you know anything about them.”
“I am fine, Arcturus.” Vance said and proceeded with an exhausted sigh of his own. “Thank you for stopping by.”
Arcturus put on a sad smile. He wanted to say he was sorry but knew that it wouldn’t help at all. He had said it before to no effect, multiple times. No one even blamed anyone, but they all apologized.
“Sorry, how are you doing?” Vance asked him, looking up from his desk.
“Getting by, putting my effort into my work, like you.”
Vance solemnly nodded, he stroked his mustache just enough to push the bristles away from his top lip. “What do you want to know about these outworlders?”
“Jalex said they’re pretty low ranking on the power scale, but were very interesting nonetheless, was kind of thinking about grabbing them up for my… next team.”
Vance looked away from Arcturus.
“Pao said you wanted to get away with a new team. I can’t blame you.” Vance said.
“I haven’t seen her at all lately.”
“She’s seen you. I think I’m the only one she talks to anymore.”
Arcturus’ lips stiffened, but he said nothing.
“Honestly, Arc, I know both of the outworlders personally, I would call them friends, and I don’t want them to be on your team. They’re both fairly reckless, daring, if I may. They need a formal, disciplined mentor.”
“Ah.” Arc said. “Yeah. Alright Vance. Good seeing you.” He stepped toward the door of Vance’s office.
“Wait, Arc, have you seen them? They have quarters in the transient housing, but didn’t come back last night.”
“Jalex ran into them yesterday, outside the walls.”
“By themselves?”
“Jalex didn’t say, I didn’t think about that. I assume Reyna Remore was there with him, surely she would not have them out there alone.”
Vance nodded, but the concerned look did not leave his face.
“Vance.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry about-”
“-I am too, Arc.”
***
After finishing their quick conversation about team composition, Zulli and Sen decided to go out and find some lunch, then maybe check out the Temples devoted to the Gods in the Temple District, which could take an entire day on its own. Sen made it clear he didn’t want to go inside any, just marvel at them from the outside while they enjoyed a peaceful lunch.
They made it to the large open doors at the entrance of the museum, when they saw a figure standing on the steps, looking inside. The figure wore a set of robes of gray coloration with blue accents. It reminded Sen of the robes of the Magic Society, but just a little more off, a little more holy. They had their hood over their head, covering their eyes, but to Sen and Zulli, the figure seemed to be staring right at them.
“Senadin. Zulli. Hello.” The figure said in a woman’s voice as the two neared, their strides slowing in building anticipation.
Sen stopped, as did Zulli.
“Hello.” Zulli said cautiously.
Sen stayed silent. After dealing with Garrus, absorbing magical crystals, and almost socially exhausting himself explaining team compositions with Zulli, Sen was in the mindset of eating a peaceful lunch. He wasn’t inclined to stray from that course.
“I am Marydeth Palona, a priestess of the goddess Knowledge.”
Zulli looked at Sen for some kind of answer. He shrugged.
“Nice to meet you Marydeth.” Zulli said. “Is there something that you need from us? We were just going to grab some lunch.”
“I have brought you these, my Lady told me that you would want them by now.” Marydeth said, holding out two items wrapped in paper.
Zulli instinctively grabbed both of them, feeling their warmth in her hands.
“I did want them by now.” Zulli said, looking at the delicacies she held in her hands. “But…”
Sen kept his face directed at Marydeth while he looked at Zulli with a sideways gaze.
“It doesn’t feel right being given them like this.” Zulli said, looking up from the shawarma, to Marydeth, then over to Sen to see his stern sideways look.
He nodded.
She handed him the shawarma.
He put them in his voidspace.
“Because it’s a test. Gods only want things from people to use to their own gain. They are inherently self-righteous, radiating themselves without abandon. The are all inherently a plague.” Sen said.
“Indeed it was a test.” Marydeth openly admitted. “My Lady is interested in knowing what she doesn’t know. She did know the blasphemy that you would spew, Senadin, but it still takes me by surprise, the audacity of it.” Marydeth said matter-of-factly without any change in her soft, womanly tone.
Sen's eyes narrowed.
“My Lady doesn’t know much more, admittedly. Only that Zulli has the most unpredictable mortal mind she has ever witnessed.”
Sen gave another passing glance to Zulli. He sighed.
“But one thing, the last thing that she told me, was that you would try to be a good person for her.” Marydeth said, the hood of her robes pointing at Sen, while pointing a heavily robed finger at Zulli. “Why is that, Senadin?”
Sen’s face stiffened, and his eyebrows lowered. Was she provoking him, right after giving him a gift? Was Knowledge committing blatant manipulation tactics on purpose just to see how they will react? Was she playing the long game? Despite his rebelliousness, he couldn’t pretend he knew the intentions of the goddess of Knowledge, but he could imagine that they were very well researched.
Sen also knew that knowledge was not wisdom, and he felt wisdom could outmatch her. Was there a god of Wisdom? There had to be. He wondered if the two gods were acquainted, maybe friends, maybe relatives.
“Your goddess knows what I know.”
“She knows everything everyone knows.”
So the goddess knew the answer to the question not when, but before Marydeth asked it.
“Tell her she can take what everyone knows and shove it up-”
“Sen!” Zulli interjected. “You don’t act like that.” She told him, more accusingly than commandingly.
He looked away to let his gaze rest on the sky, still stern faced. The open space in his eyes allowed some space to open in his mind, and his face relaxed.
“You are a person and you deserve respect like anyone else.” Sen said to Marydeth, reminding himself of his principles. “I am sorry for calling your god a plague.”
The two could see the priestess’ lips curl into a smile from under her hood.
“Enjoy the shawarma.” Marydeth said, before gracefully turning around, stepping across the road and disappearing in the crowd on the road facing the Temple District.
A few moments passed while the two watched her walk away.
“I don’t know what that was about, I just want to say I am still hungry.” Sen said.
“Me too.”
“Ok, I’ll keep the shawarma in my voidspace. We’ll check and see if it’s still warm at dinnertime. Let’s find something else to eat, something good.”
***
“People around here seem to like the gods, and you just don’t at all. Like you completely reject them. There weren’t any on your world, right?” Zulli said with one side of her mouth full of sandwich.
Sen had just taken a bite and held up his finger while he hurriedly chewed and swallowed. They were sitting at a small table in a quiet half-populated café.
“It’s not that big of a deal for you, because nobody can see your mouth, or what’s in it, but people don’t usually talk with their mouth full. It’s like a manners and decorum thing.” Sen said.
“But a lot of people also talk with their mouth full.”
“That’s very true. Like I said, not that big of a deal. Anyways, no there weren’t any gods on my world, or magic at all, as you know. Maybe that’s why I don’t like them, I don’t know. It just seems like the living manifestation of a concept is going to be the most zealous entity regarding that specific concept. That zeal just doesn’t sit right with me for some reason. About anything.”
“Even MoleSloths?”
“Like the zeal you have for MoleSloths?” Sen asked with a smirk.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, so you like MoleSloths right?”
“Just wanna hug ‘em.” Zulli said, this time after swallowing her bite of sandwich. Of course, Zulli didn't wish to be the goddess of MoleSloths, she was simply probing Sen's reactions to gain insight.
“Exactly. You hug the MoleSloth. Awesome. How about a million other MoleSloths? You want to hug them too?”
“Maybe.” Zulli said, her sarcastic grin undetectable on her black, shadowy face.
“Yeah right, you’d get tired of it.” Sen accused.
Zulli didn’t reply and they sat and ate in silence, Sen enjoying the peacefulness of the moment, and Zulli working up the courage to say something.
“Sen I don’t want to be another weight you have to bear.” Zulli blurted out.
Sen paused his chewing. Then continued and swallowed.
“You’re not a weight, what do you mean?” He asked, putting down his sandwich onto his plate.
She looked down at the sandwich on her plate, thinking of what the priestess of Knowledge said.
“You’d try to be a good person for me? What is that about?”
“You’re my friend, Zulli. Maybe the best friend I have now.”
“But why for me? Why not for yourself? Or anyone else?”
“Well, I don’t know, I want to do it for other people too, I suppose. And myself. You know I have my principles that I told you all about.”
“Why would the priestess of Knowledge say that though?” Zulli said, her shoulders and neck were obviously stiffening. Her foot began to tap lightly against the floor. Her hands pressed down against the table.
“You okay, Zulli?”
“It makes me tense and shaky to ask you these questions.”
“That’s anxiety.”
“Oh. I don’t like it. I know what I want to do but my body won’t do it.”
“I would tell you to breathe, but you don’t have to. Just take a second. Feel out your body and try to relax a little bit. Relieve your stiffness.”
Zulli let out a breath as if she was holding it in for dear life. Her chest deflated as her shoulders relaxed.
“It’s rough, I know. Sometimes you can’t stop it, but there are ways you can adapt to it. Have you not felt that yet?” Sen asked her.
“Not like that.” Zulli said, pausing to take another breath and then slowly let it out again. “It has only happened in social situations, and not to that degree. It’s like when I talk about something I care about, I get worried that I won’t be able to express myself clearly, and I won’t be understood like I should. I guess that deeply frightens me.”
Sen took a moment to appreciate the vulnerability and trust she gave him.
“I think you can express yourself quite well, Zulli. The priestess of Knowledge was playing a game, it’s one of those social games. The ones where people don’t let other people know how they feel and what they’re up to. This reaction, right here, is probably what that goddess wanted all along.”
“I think I’d like to get up and walk around. I just need some air.” Zulli said.
“You want me to come-?”
“-No. It’s fine. I’ll catch up with you in front of the gate to the Temple District, okay?”
“Okay.”