Two days have passed since we started walking. I can not see John as a human anymore. He has carried the carriage structure for an entire three days while pouring sweat, but he continues unrelenting. At first we talked, but now only I have the energy to keep it up. My constitution has been a blessing in many ways.

I brace my eyes for the coming clouds, and I say, “A rain storm is coming. ”

“You freak. Just shutup. ” Alna says while huffing.

“Truly the prophet,” Julias says and then takes in a deep breath to finish with, “has the ability to converse better than we mere mortals. How can you be unfazed by the traveling?”

“The regeneration guys. My feet don’t hurt because they heal too fast. I don’t run out of breath because I don’t need as much air to move. I think anyways. More importantly is why are you all so tired? It’s just 30 or so miles in two days of rather warm humid weather. I mean, sounds simple enough.” I say while smiling cheerily. I turn around towards them and say, “I...am going to scout ahead, and how am I the freak Alna? Look at John over there. ”

John barely nods politely as he sweats profusely through his somewhat nice overcoat. I turn around and run backwards ahead of them. Eliabeth is reading a book she brought, and she is wearing a nice red shirt. It is thin, and she has a large belt over her stomach to keep it close to her skin. It looks similar to middle eastern garbs in my past life.

Julias has gained weight in seemingly no time. His incredibly thin frame is slowly filling out as he eats as much as 3 men each day. I cringe slightly at the thoughts of the villagers poverty. I shake my head to release my thoughts. I will no longer bind myself with burdens. He wears the same robe his villagers all wear, and treks while carrying only one or two changes of clothes.

Alna is sweating profusely through an altered robe. She has cut off the sleeves, and she has cut it into a skirt. I smile as I see her give me a disgusted scowl. I speed up and start to run ahead. My legs pass through air and across terrain easily.

The process has become as ingrained as my past life’s inability to move. I smile as I carry the large 150 pound pack on my back. I look down to hop over a ditch in the dirt like road. The large trees surrounding our village have continued to this point, but they are growing less frequent. Instead a drier climate is taking it’s place ever so slowly. Large hills covered in grass appear from time to time, and I can see the fauna change to a lighter colored green. Bushes and shrubs grow more plentifully as the large trees no longer blot out the sun.

I start to think about the prospects of the sandman. I think the physical effects are based on the amount of power you have as opposed to how much you lose your mind. I try to sort out a large set of evidence when I see the smoke of a fire rising past a patch of trees.

The scent of burning fills the air as I start sprinting. I smile at the prospect of seeing new faces. My pack jostles my body awkwardly, and I flip it around to my front so I can carry it with my arms. The path widens as it splits into two directions. The right dirt path leads to a place with the fire, and I decide to head in that direction.

I hear the dirt crunch underneath my weight as I test how fast I can make it. My legs move faster and faster as I kick up large chunks of dirt with each step. “This will never get old!” I yell while laughing. Euphoria fills my mind as the surroundings start to blur slightly.

The fire smell becomes more subdued as I run down the path. I see two travelers huddled around a fire. The group is inside of a large clearing next to a fallen tree. They each have a set of packs, and one of them has a cart stationed next to him. They wave at me from a distance and I slow down to a trot.

I trot for a little bit. The group comes into earshot and I say, “How is everybody here?”

“How...You got quite the set of legs on you son, but we’re doing well young man. On our way to Tauss. Wanna make it there by the end of the week. I hear they got things you won’t see anywhere else, and they have streets of gold.” A large young man with brown hair says.

“He knows that Jeb! He just came from the North. Is it true though? Can anybody have a good life in Tauss?” an older man says through a gruff smile.

I stop as I reach the base of their encampment and I say, “ More than true. The average citizen will live like a king given 10 more years. The roads are probably even more spectacular than gold though.” I say while giving them a light bow.

“Polite ay? You look like a man who knows his stuff. When do you think Tauss will join Baltora? Or will they join the nuts up North?” the older man says.

“Don’t be rude Paw! What if he’s from Centra! You know they take their religion very seriously. I am sorry if he has offended you.” the younger man says while bowing.

“Born and raised in Tauss. I played a…’small’ role in its building as well.” I say with a wink.

“Oh? Construction ey? I hear you can barely even find a native there anymore. All of them have been replaced with Balts and Cens. ”he says.

“He’s actually pretty close to right. We even get some from mainland countries, but they are very rare. Anything you guys can tell me about Baltora?”

“Why sure. It’s a large country, biggest in Lorscall, but it is connected to the mainland, so it has to repel off invaders from time to time. Fairly new compared to the mainland through. It’s borders are nothing like its southern region. Gots lots of old money south, but the new money are in the new capitol. It’s a decent enough country, and the king keeps the peace.” the old man says.

“Why move to Tauss then?” I ask.

“Easy! I heard things never go wrong in Tuass. You show up and you can find work instantly. You get a house and new shoes to. The founding couple reveal a new invention every week, and they make fantastical wonders you can only see there!” he says while his eyes light up.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Yeah!” the young man interjects. “You can be anything there! They’ll teach yah how. Aint stingy bout getting some new people either. Hell why wouldn’t anybody not wanna move there?”

I smile and say, “I guess I did alright then...What are you guys going to do once you get there?”

“Gonna learn to make books.” The young man says.

His father smiles at him and slaps his back as he says, “I’m going to learn to build. Gonna be a famous house maker some day.”

“Ohhh?” I say.

“You betcha. Imma make them roads a gold, and he’s gonna teach them younguns how to spell.” he says while holding up a fist.

“You can do it there guys. You’ll just have to work real hard is all. I wish you two the best of luck! When you get there tell them ‘Nox gave us a seal of approval.’” I say with a smile.

“Oh we didn’t catch your name! I’m Josh, and my son’s name is Jeb. ” he says before I go.

“Nox. I promise if the right people hear you use that name, you can get a nice little jump start.” I say with a broad smile as I walk off.

I turn back down the road and start sprinting again once they are out of sight behind some of the thick bushes. I make a slight detour as I note a small creek near the path. It is fifteen feet or so lower than where I am so I jump.

Wind traces my outlines as I sail through the air. Pain shoots through my legs and ankles as I land and bend my legs to absorb the impact. The pain quickly dissipates as I shake my legs. I set down my bag and move through the mud colored sand of the creek. I walk over and take off my shoes. I set my bare feet into the flowing creek.

The heat of the journey radiates into the creek. A set of rocks ahead make a pleasant crashing noise as I lean back and close my eyes. My soul’s lake becomes placid, and my mind’s eye becomes tranquil. For a fleeting moment...I gorge my mind with this morsel of time.

I splash my face with some water. I see a set of small fish colored dark red swim lightly by. I reach for them and they swim away quickly. I look upwards and clear my mind once more. Suddenly, I feel the back of my mind tingle. Instead of the usual flexing sensation, I open my eyes and the light is gone.

Pure darkness surrounds me. The sound of the creek is gone, and instead the void replaces it. The creeks water still caresses my legs softly, and peace still pervades the void. The tingling sensation ends as I focus on it, and the surroundings become visible again. The water resumes crashing into the rocks.

I look around in a daze and shrug. For all the confusion, the experience was pleasant. I try to replicate the tingling sensation, but to no avail. A clapping noise sounds lightly as I clap my face. I get up and put back on my shoes. I grab my pack and ascend the cliff by grabbing a series of rocky extrusions.

I land on my feet, and I start to run back towards the group, in no time the white carriage comes into view. It is pulled off to the side, and the group is resting under a rare deciduous tree. Shade covers the group in pleasant relief from the sun's beams, and I see them all eating.

I continue running and skid to a halt in front of them. I smile largely and say, “How goes the journey? Anybody need me to carry anymore?”

“Freak. ” Alna stutters out as she fans her face. “Every time I think I don’t hate you, you change my mind.”

“People just hate what they don’t understand! Woe is me. The poor travels of the misunderstood genius. A riveting tale of love, and adventure. Brought to a stage near you soon.” I say with a wink.

Elizabeth giggles softly while Julias and Alna look confused. “What is a stage? What are you even saying?” Alna says.

“It’s a place where groups of actors play stories for people. Like a show to entertain people.” I say.

“People can do that? How do they get food?” Julias says.

“People pay to see the show.” I say.

Elizabeth giggles while saying, “That sounds like what you do all the time Nox.”

“I try to keep people on their toes, and at the edge of their seats. ” I say while helping Julias and Alna stand back up.

“Elizabeth, can you please just tell me what the animal looks like? The one people are using to carry people around?” I say after they rise.

“Ho ho. Sounds like I have you at the edge of the stage.” she says.

“Better stop dangling the bait before you get bitten love.” I say with a curled smile.

“Stop flirting you idiots. It’s embarrassing.” Alna says while her eyes roll.

“Oh? Sounds like the savage is jealous of my fair Romeo and his Juliet.”Elizabeth says.

Alna and Julias cringe as I walk up to her and place my hand on her shoulder and say, “Let’s not hold people to where they are from, but where they are going instead, okay?”

I smile and raise my eyebrows expectantly. She blushes deeply and shifts her vision left and right as she says, “I-I am sorry.”

Alna looks with wide open eyes at Julias as she says, “See? Makes me not wanna hate him so much.”

Julias stares at Elizabeth and says,“Apology accepted, but remember. Some of the people you call ‘savages’ are incredibly proud of their heritage.”

Elizabeth stares downwards and I grab her chin and lift it. I go to her ear and whisper, “Good job love. ”

Her blush becomes an inferno of red that envelops her face. She softly pushes me away and I laugh.“Let’s go! I gotta see if I can keep up with the mysterious cattle creature.”

“The prophet is ever eager I see.” Julias says as he hands me the rest of his bags.

“I have to be! I can’t wait to find out more about Lorscall, and the world. Aren’t you two excited? ” I say.

They both smile, and we begin walking again. A bird chirps loudly as my very being settles into the peace surrounding me.