Deldes and Delirin sat on the hemp mats that covered the ground in their large tent. The pair always seemed relaxed, but never truly at ease. They sat around a low stone table across from Galan and Lierin. On the table was a wooden tea service that contained a fragrant herbal brew. Whatever was in the teapot must have been something special, because Galan and Lierin also seemed extremely relaxed.
They chatted for several hours, before getting down to the matter at hand. Delirin said, “Grandmaster Galan, let us discuss Harris. I expect that is why you have graced us with your presence.”
Galan’s serene smile spread across his face as he responded, “Delirin, what cause do old friends need to visit. However, as you brought it up, I would hear what you and Deldes think of our young Harris.”
“I’ll give you my opinion first, Galan,” said Deldes. “If I let Delirin get started on her precious Harris, I may never get a word in edgewise.”
“Oh my, Deldes. Jealousy? How cute. Feel free to speak for us, I , of course, already know what you will say.” Delirin laughed and gave Deldes a playful pat on the arm as she scolded in jest.
“Very well. Galan, Delirin is right. Even Harris has done well so far. He asks, he learns and he does for himself. He takes more lumps than an elf would, but he is stubborn in his desire to learn and he keeps pushing despite the challenges that we have given him. And we have given him many challenges.
“Harris isn’t nearly as lazy as I originally assumed and he hasn’t needed as much rescuing as I expected either. Part of his ability to endure comes from the energy armor and other devices that he uses. I don’t need to tell you that the devices that he uses are relatively basic, but he keeps them all running essentially non-stop on our hunts. He is progressing rapidly, but I am surprised at how well he is keeping up with Delirin and I at this point.”
“Yes,” Delirin agreed. “I do wonder where all of that energy and vigor comes from. He constantly uses a feedback device and quite often must be in absolute agony. The only help he has asked for recently was in resetting a shoulder after dislocating it when a stone bear hit overwhelmed his energy armor. I expected him to be begging for help to survive some of the waves that we have dragged him through. I think that in general a tutorial out here for humans is barbaric, but he hasn’t been that bothered by it. Most peculiarly of all, he has hardly even looked askance at my dear Deldes or me all the nights we have been camping under the stars.”
“Well Delirin. I think that, perhaps, he is preoccupied with surviving, both the wild and the pair of you. Perhaps it is all the joking and standing around that you two do while the beasts savage him in the dark forest?” offered a completely deadpan Lierin.
“I really don’t think that could be it, Lierin, but I will increase my cackling on our next trip and we’ll see if that breaks him. We will speak again after we see how he responds.” Delirin replied either completely missing or completely ignoring both Lierin’s sarcasm and her point.
Galan had listened silently to this point with his eyes nearly closed and his trademark smile, but at this he held up his hand and said, “I am glad you ladies are enjoying yourselves, but I have a serious request. I’d like you to take Harris to the falls for the new moon and I’d like you to help him learn a stealth technique if he asks.” There was silence in the room as the elves weighed their response.
Deldes looked at Delirin and their eyes connected for a moment before turning to Galan. “Well this is a pleasant surprise Grandmaster Galan. I trust that you will take responsibility with the Court when the need arises.” Deldes replied with none of the mirth of their prior conversation in her voice.
Galan simply said, “Of course,” and the moment passed.
Delirin gleefully responded in her lilting, melodious voice, “I think that I probably would have ended up teaching him even if he never asked. Those tutorial elves are such bores and I just wonder what trouble my little Harris could get into with them with just a little help. ”
It wasn’t possible to tell if she was serious, but Galan just met her gaze with his serene smile fully reaching his eyes. He simply responded, “He will ask Delirin. Things are moving in the Emerald Sea and even Harris will see that he is a part of something greater.”
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***
Sarah was quite curious about the art of summoning. Unlike some games or demon focused examples, summoning relies on making an appeal to an entity or entities within the effective area of the spell. Summoning occurred in two distinct phases, the initial phase involved a spell, which could be amplified by a device, broadcasting an intelligence and charisma powered request for assistance. The second phase of a successful summon involved making contact and a connection with the summoned entity using a second bonding spell.
Wynather had demonstrated the relatively straightforward process by summoning a hawk from the surrounding forest and having it land on his arm (no glove) and then releasing the hawk back into the forest. With her experience, Wynather’s skill at the initial broadcast spell gave it great range and her control over the connection spell let her select the summon that best met her needs from those that answered her call. This seemed like very powerful magic to Sarah and a great place to invest her surreptitious effort now that Lyle’s magical gifts had taken the instructors’ full attention as he continued to develop his black magic skills at a rapid pace.
Not that there was anything wrong with the power of direct magic, Sarah quite liked it and had every intention of honing her skills for maximum effect. However, making friends with and influencing creatures seemed like a better path for her, especially as her stats really leant themselves extremely well to summoning. She decided to devote some of her off hours to exploring the possibilities and making some new friends. Afterall, what could go wrong?
***
So for those of you keeping score, the first property that I officially claimed during the tutorial was a bookstore. I had sold zero books. In fact, I had just about zero inventory. I just hadn’t put any effort into the bookstore and I wasn’t really willing to part with most of the books that I had found in the Treefort. It just seemed like a waste and a good way to raise suspicions about my hidden stash of books and devices. I had previously made a deal with Galan for some of his clan to help out at the bookstore and to also take up residence as they chose in the private spaces in the bookstore that weren’t my apartment.
On the other hand, the board game cafes were a cash cow. I mean I assumed that they were cash cows from the couple of times that I had visited one. I had not checked into my finances in quite some time, but everything was probably fine there. In truth I didn’t really have the time or focus to spare there. In any event, I wasn’t all that concerned with the financial performance of the bookstore. I had a vague plan that I was going to learn how to craft some skill tomes and sell them through the bookstore at what I assumed would be a huge profit. However, this was anything but a firm and well developed business plan. As such, I was delighted when some of the more enterprising brownies had hit upon the idea of a consignment based bookseller that also sold puzzles, board games, figurines and all manner of stationary and supplies.
The brownies were cross marketing with the board game cafes now. They didn’t really need me, ever, beyond a few land claims that I made to hide the Treefort I was providing nothing useful. Still they didn’t try to kick me out. I assumed it was just good management and carried on with what I could handle right now. There may have been some missed “opportunities” to optimize these businesses or protect my interests, but what is an opportunity that you can’t take advantage of really worth? Nothing.
My plan definitely required money to work and preferably a lot of it, but I had to prioritize safety and hope that on balance the business side could get to where I needed it to be without much active participation from me for a while longer. The brownies seemed about as trustworthy as anyone that you just met in a new world full of danger could seem, but that is a low bar. At a minimum, I was sure that Lierin was way smarter than me. I had to focus on making the gains that I needed in the short term while building a foundation for the future the best I could.
Deldes and Delirin had given me plenty of warning ahead of our next expedition. We were going on a duck hunt and would be walking to Ghostlight Falls. Apparently, this was a bit of a rite of passage in the area and it would take several weeks to accomplish. Tanyl was willing to rearrange our calendar for the apprenticeship to allow me to be gone for a long block and then makeup the time on my return. Apparently completing this mission would also allow me the opportunity to acquire a mount. No. You don’t need a drivers license for a giant armored sloth, though I can tell you from experience that a few lessons wouldn’t be a bad idea. It was some kind of fae status thing and it was more like fae mount vendors wouldn’t deal with me if I didn’t meet their standards.
I was excited as I headed out with Deldes and Delirin. I had my satchel and a big backpack loaded with my supplies, weapons, ammunition, defensive equipment and some new gear for outdoor comfort. I felt prepared for this trip. We headed east, quickly plunging into some of the densest forest that we had seen yet. It was dark under the tall canopy and needle covered boughs, dark and still. We quietly picked our way across the needles that covered the forest floor and the only noise was an occasional burst of maniacal cackling from Delirin. Was she doing her crazy laugh more often than in the past? That didn’t seem like a good sign.