[Day 61 in Mander

D1- Zone 66]

Jamie’s feet felt uneven cobblestone, as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms in an attempt to stop shivering.

She looked up at the night sky.

“Tonight, the moon played hide-and-seek among the misty air,

teasing the clouds as it revealed itself briefly to say hello,

before whispering bye once more.”

Jamie mused to herself. Hmm, I’m so poetic nowadays. Perhaps the constant threat of death brings out the artist in me. Ha! She smirked.

“Watch your feet,” Master Edwards said as a blue transport portal rapidly closed behind the two.

Jamie pushed back a rogue lock of hair as she observed her surroundings. They had been transported to what seemed like a quaint little town, alive with the usual evening bustle one can expect from a well-populated community.

If Vikings appeared, I wouldn’t be surprised, Jamie thought as she watched rugged men dressed in only stained cream tunics and brown trousers, chugging beer at an outdoor bar. They laughed heartily, with beer foam still clinging to the tips of their beards.

“Where are we?”

“This is a ‘Back-in-the-Past’ zone, BIP for short. They’re zones created by magic, engineered to look like certain places in history that people enjoy living in. People love these places.”

“Are we still in D1?”

His brows raised. “Yes, you can tell?”

“Nope, just randomly guessed it.”

Master Edwards grinned. “Let’s grab a quick bite before we get the scroll.”

Jamie followed Master Edwards over to one of the many food stalls lining the walls of the stone buildings. She was careful not to trip on the uneven cobblestone ground.

“Sorry!” Jamie exclaimed as she and another woman bumped into each other. The woman’s parchment fliers fell to the ground.

“One moment,” Master Edwards said and raised his palm in the direction of the fallen fliers. The fallen fliers flew on their own, neatly stacked back into the arms of the woman.

“Thank you, my Lord,” the woman said. Jamie looked at Master Edwards. Why is everyone calling him Lord when we’re out? She looked at him. He’s just wearing a velvet red cloak, with a normal cream v-neck tunic and blue trousers. What’s so important about it? She thought to herself before the woman shoved a flier into her hands.

Jamie held the flier and attempted to read.

“Can you really see? I figured it’s too dark,” Master Edwards said.

Jamie pursed her lips. He’s right! She thought, I keep looking stupid.

“Use your fire gift.”

“Right,” Jamie said and held out her hand, a spark then a flame grew from her palm and proceeded to burn the flier.

Master Edwards looked away, desperately trying to hold in laughter.

The woman oddly enough seemed unfazed. “My lord, I live up top on that hill there,” the woman pointed to a small cottage alone among the trees, “my child Amabel is only eight years old, she was one of the taken children. They say the witches - ” the woman stopped and held a handkerchief to her nose to wipe off snot and her stream of tears.

“Excuse me,” she bowed and continued, “they say, sometimes the witches let a child go if they do not contain the necessary mana. So in your travels, if you should see her, please, please let me know. I provided my contact information, there,” the woman pointed at some mana frequency numbers for telepathy communication.

Jamie grabbed the woman’s hands, “I will contact you, may Gladmora be with you. And I’ll keep your daughter in my prayers.” I hope that gave her some comfort, Jamie thought

“Thank you, Miss, but can I have your word, my Lord?”

Jamie pouted her lips. Clearly! Clearly, this woman can see I care more than this flamboyant man!

“Wait, where did he go?” the woman asked Jamie. Jamie too looked around.

“I’ll tell him, don’t worry,” Jamie told her and watched as the woman walked away, handing out more fliers to anyone who would stop.

“Gladmora prayers huh? You sure are the adaptive type.”

“Whaat? Where did you go?”

“I was asking around for a good place to eat. Anyways, you connected with that woman.”

“When the heart has no hope left, finding solace in the divine provides a strength that cannot be found within.”

Master Edwards tilted his head. A look of surprise crossed his face. “You speak from experience.”

Jamie followed Master Edwards to a stall. “I lost my brother, but at least I knew. Not knowing is probably what’s killing that woman.”

“Her child is still alive.”

Jamie’s jaws dropped, “What?! WHY DIDN'T you tell her?!” Jamie's eyes started to dart around to look for the woman.

“Calm down. Sit here.”

They sat on a wooden bench and Master Edwards signaled to the waitress for one beer and one berrywort juice.

“Not yet, the beast needs to be conquered first.”

Jamie leaned in closer to him. “You mean the witch?”

“Yes. This zone has fewer mages than other zones, people prefer to do things with their hands here.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Zones that prefer this come with a cost. The young ones want to leave for the cities to hone their magic. so they leave them behind…” Master Edwards beckoned his hands at Jamie.

Jamie furrowed her brows. “People without magic abilities?” She paused, looking down at the ground to think.

She looked back up at Master Edwards, “They're defenseless.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The waitress that approached them was in her late twenties or so, very attractive, with bright blue eyes and once more large blossoms that made Jamie double-check hers. Could they have grown? Nope.

The waitress wore a pink hangerok over a green tunic dress. As she removed the drinks one by one from her tray to the wooden table, she asked, “Anything else I can get you? We have deer skewers.”

Jamie gulped her juice down. “I need a drink.”

“No.”

“Fine.”

Master Edwards smiled with his eyes at the waitress. “We’ll take three orders. Hmm, do you think that’s enough?”

“Yes, the missy looks like she can eat.”

Jamie frowned. Is she saying I’m fat? Jamie pinched her stomach. I can only feel skin. I’m actually pretty muscular from all the weight training.

“Hahah.” He looked at the waitress. “And may I add, you look beautiful, the moon really brings out your eyes.”

Jamie’s frown intensified.

The waitress laughed and playfully slapped Master Edwards' shoulder.

“I’ll be back.” She walked away towards the kitchen and mid-way swooped up a few empty beer mugs from a few wooden benches down the row.

“I wouldn’t say defenseless. The town’s leaders probably have a bounty out already. Unfortunately, I suspect a few of the children are dead already.”

“How did you know that woman’s child is alive?”

The smell of honey, smoked onion, and grilled meat wafted in the air. Jamie’s stomach growled and her mouth salivated. I forgot we didn’t have dinner yet.

The waitress returned with three massive-sized kabobs, each piece of grilled deer meat steaming hot and the size of Jamie’s two fists combined. Threaded in between were mushrooms, onions, and red peppers. Jamie's mouth watered at the sight and aroma.

Jamie looked at Master Edwards as he took a chug of his beer. Her hands pounced on a kabob and she took a big bite, the gamey meat oozing fattiness and sweetness. I can die. I can die happy. How did they make this so tender? Deer meat can be so tough. Where did all the fat come from? SOOO GOOD!

“Mana wavelengths, the mana threads that connected her to her child were still intact.”

“Wh-don-uou-tell-her,” Jamie tried to talk while eating.

Master Edwards raised his eyebrows. “Please finish eating before you talk.” He looked at his gold watch. “Quickly now, before his place closes.”

A few minutes later, the waitress returned with more drinks but before placing them down, she rubbed Master Edward’s back and whispered into his ears, “I get off in two hours.” Then she served the beer and another berrywort juice.

He smiled mischievously at Jamie, who started to choke on her kabob from clearly hearing everything.

He looked into the waitress’ eyes. “We’re actually in the middle of work. She’ll kill me if I disappear.” He glanced at Jamie.

The waitress turned and looked at Jamie up and down. She turned back to Master Edwards, leaned in, and gave him a quick sultry kiss with her plump lips. Jamie coughed up her juice as she watched, her hands rapidly pounding her chest to ease the cough.

“Your tongue is rather strong for someone so dainty,” he whispered and smoothly smacked the waitress’ butt, who grinned.

She glanced at him and lowered her gaze. “It’s a rather useful trait.” Then she smiled and looked into his eyes.

Master Edwards grinned and stroked his hand gently down her cheeks.

Jamie was never more flustered. “Ahem, ahem.” The two looked at her while Jamie's pink face stared back at them. “I, I finished my food.”

“Very good Jamie,” Master Edwards said. “Would you like more juice?”

Jamie bit her bottom lip. “I thought we were here to do something.”

“Ahhh, right, we must be on our way.”

Jamie watched as Master Edwards paid for their meal with a gold coin. I seriously thought they were going to go for it there, Jamie thought. Are all Mander people this expressive with their sexuality?

“No need for change. Thank you.” He turned to Jamie. “Let’s go.”

“Here’s my contact info,” she said and handed Master Edwards a piece of paper. He tucked it into his pocket. “I’ll keep this close.”

A few minutes later…

“Quickly now.”

Jamie stopped looking at the bookstore shelves and slightly sprinted to catch up to Master Edwards. How is he so fast?

Despite the town’s rustic appearance, the shops were surprisingly modern with glass windows and lit with magic lamps instead of fire.

As they strolled through what felt like an endless array of stores, Jamie found herself drawn to the captivating displays in each shop window. The diversity of stores was astonishing, they offered everything a city girl to a hunter could want: perfume, books, clothes, hunting supplies, and food.

“We can do some shopping later this week. You can even bring along the boys.”

“I don’t have any money though.”

Master Edwards looked at his gold watch. “You’ll make some on this trip.”

“Also, why are we hunting a witch?”

“My gift granted me visions of witches, so I fear you'll come into contact with some. I must prepare you for that.”

As they finally passed the strip of malls, they entered a darker area of the town. Jamie felt eyes on her from the shadows.

“Don’t talk here. Use your eyes, grab my hand even, just don’t get lost.”

Jamie quickened her pace and followed behind Master Edwards as he strolled into an alleyway. They weaved their way through the many tight pathways, ones that could barely hold one person.

She started to breathe heavily, as they contorted their bodies to maneuver around other pedestrians, mostly drunk men with their special fragrant friends accompanying them. He is so fast for someone who sits around and sips tea all the time, she thought.

When he stopped, Jamie used her forearm and pressed against his back to prevent herself from ramming into him.

“I’m afraid I’m not ready yet Jamie. We barely know each other,” he teased.

Jamie rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder.

“Yes, harder next time.”

“You are unbelievable.” Despite her not wanting to, an amused grin grew on her face.

He laughed and Jamie felt more eyes on them from the shadows. Master Edwards looked ahead. “This way,” he said and grabbed her hand to lead her into a small stone cottage.

A bell rang as they entered a small space. On each wall were wooden shelves from top to the ceiling, all filled to the brim with scrolls.

“Lord Edwards, what brings you here?” a man’s voice boomed and Jamie turned to see a man towering over them. He must be at least 8ft, Jamie thought. And, how did he get so close to us?

“Hans, my friend. I sought a witch and figured we go after one with a bounty for my disciple here. She could use the coins.”

Hans looked as bad-ass as they come—a brown leather eye patch covering his left eye, a bald head adorned with a black dragon head-blowing fire tattoo, and a muscular stature as an 8ft man, he was someone no sane person would want to disagree with.

Hans walked over to his counter table. He motioned with his pointer fingers at a stack of scrolls, tightly stacked on a shelf. The scrolls floated over to the counter table and he started to flip through them manually using his hand, which was marked by numerous scar wounds. “Ahh, a witch.” He looked at Jamie. “Ya know how to kill one?”

Jamie looked at Master Edwards, who gave her a nod.

“No sir.”

“HAHAHAHA!” A little tear rolled from his left eye as he flicked it off. “Sir, haven’t heard that one in a while.”

He grinned at her. “Jamie dear, I’ll tell ya.”

She gazed at him, wide-eyed with astonishment. He knows my name, she thought. How?

He shook his head from side to side. “That’s my gift, I know everybooties’ name - strangers, demons, monsters, anything with a soul. Even a corrupted one.” He glanced over at Master Edwards. “The billboard type, ain’t she?”

Master Edwards warmly smiled at him. “Her expressions are honest.” He, too, started to flip through some scrolls on the table. “Well, why don’t you tell her?”

Hans grinned at Jamie. “Witches ain’t easy to kill, but there’s one fool-proof way. They come in eight and they must leave in eight.” Then Hans continued to flip through more scrolls and started to frown.

“Eight?”

“Jamie dear, just wait and ya’ll see.” Then his eyes perked up from a certain scroll, and as he handed Master Edwards that exact scroll, he looked at Jamie, “A little tip for ya, the head don’t count.”

Jamie furrowed her brows. I hate riddles. I guess I’ll just wait until he makes me suffer enough and then spell it out for me, she thought, as she looked at Master Edwards reviewing the scroll.

He grinned cheekily. “This one’s a real looker.”

Hans laughed. “Aren’t they all? General Ames could tell you a thing or two about that.”

Master Edwards looked at Hans with an amused expression. “Don't bring up that fool when it comes to witches. Just the thought of it makes me want to track him down and choke him.”

“Are all witches in this world evil?” Jamie asked as she twirled a purple quill in her hand.

Hans looked at her with a glint in his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned up.