*Awoooo Awoooo*

Elijah heard the faint call of hunting horns long in the distance. He imagined the Glass City's response to Jon's Royal Aura Power, elite riders slinging their legs over warhorses, each platoon led by a tracking specialist, either magical or mundane. Orders to find the source of the Aura User, to capture them - bring them before the Throne to be interrogated, then ransomed or imprisoned, or just put to death.

And that would just be the start, because certainly Glass City, and whoever the Royal Family was, had also mustered their entire military. Elijah knew this, because it was exactly what he would do in their place. There weren't enough Royal's running around not to treat the Aura as a credible threat or even a way to make the King look weak. They would be on high alert until they found the culprit.

So they'd fled, ran as fast as they could for over an hour, Elijah leading them to their only hope of deliverance: a source of water, and to their luck a willing vessel to them aboard.

"You know how to swim, Eli?" Jon asked, sounding surprised.

Elijah looked up from where he was searching the water for lurking dangers, shoving his cane down the back of his suit collar so he wouldn't have to hold it, "Yes, Jon. I know how to swim. And it's the only way we have to confuse anybody scrying or tracking your aura signature." And then he dove.

The water was cool, and Elijah's clothes were heavy, resisting the pull of his strokes as he made his way to the ship and unknown crew that would take them aboard. A bigger splash said Jon and Fuss were just behind.

But they weren't halfway to safety when Elijah began to hear raucous laughter, rough voices cheering and catcalling, and Elijah immediately knew something was wrong. Were they leaving them to drown? Looking up at the boat he saw it was still waiting, the crew gathered and staring, but it was the act of focusing that allowed Elijah to recognize the problem.

His entire body was going numb...

The Real(m) didn't have bars for health, for mana or stamina. His vision was no different than when he was on Earth, and wouldn't change unless he got Abilities or Enhancements to do so. But those things weren't needed, when you could rely on physical sensation, when you could sense your mana like a sugar rush - or open your status.

Active Effects:

The Nose Knows: You have lied resulting in a curse. Your nose shows your dishonesty (x2). Time Remaining: 27:16:12.

Gift of the Glass City: You feel refreshed. All regeneration increased by 10%. Time Remaining: 06:03:49.

Sensation Deprevation: You are numb (x13) Time Remaining: ??????

"Jon, we have to hurry!" Elijah shouted, realizing something was debuting them, "Get to the boat, as fast as you can!"

"Something's on me, Eli!" Jon shouted back as his splashing sped up. Elijah didn't even risk looking back, not willing to waste a second as he tore through the water. What was attacking them? With Elijah's heavy clothes slowing him down, Jon soon passed him, Fuss riding on his neck. Then Elijah heard a mix of cheering and disappointment as Jon's hands thunked against the wooden sides of the vessel.

"Oy, it's why I always bet on the ugly ones, they're scrappier." A voice hooted.

At least Jon and Fuss were safe. The complete numbness made it difficult for Elijah to coordinate his arms and his legs. Without any feedback, without sensation - he had to just kick and paddle, hoping for the best.

And the laughter only got louder - because once Elijah reached the ship, he couldn't climb aboard. He couldn't feel when his hands had a grip on the side rail, or even if he was touching the wood.

"He looks like a puppy trying to climb out of the crate!" A voice hooted as he struggled, then Elijah heard a splash and saw Jon who was trying to push him up into the ship. But Elijah was like dead weight, he was useless.

"Aye, that's enough fun, lads, let's get 'em up before they start to pout." A burly voice called before rough hands grabbed each of them, hauling them onto deck where Elijah flopped like a landed fish.

"Ruff! Ruff ruff!"

"Leeches!" Jon shouted, and Elijah rolled to see Jon was in his briefs, small punctures across his blue skin oozed blood, and across his body, slimy, slug like creatures squirmed in their attempt to suck Jon dry. Jon ripped them free, tossing them back into the water.

But Jon's back was what truly had Elijah's attention, because it was smooth golden skin holding a nice tan, exactly as it had been before entering the Real(m), which meant Jon hadn't changed his race. The blue of his body, his hideous visage? They had been applied like rushed sunblock, spread only where he could reach and then preserved with magic and the help of the system.

And Jon also wasn't numb. Why?

Elijah's mind worked even as he tried fumbling his jacket off, shrugging as he was foisted by buttons, Jon moved to help him undress, stripping his clothes off and removing the leeches.

"Don't forget that little one, right there between his legs!" A voice shouted, and Elijah hoped his face wasn't as red as it felt. But within ten seconds of the last leech being removed, sensation began to return. First his heart beating in his chest, then his fingers and toes tingling. Elijah didn't look down nor had he tried to cover his shame to avoid giving his mockers more to laugh at. So when he felt his boxers, dripping wet and still around his waist he sighed in relief.

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"Thank you for the lift." Elijah said upon taking his feet, directing his voice to a man with an imposing build, a full beard - and an air of authority he assumed was the Captain, "How much do we owe you for your assistance?"

"For your lives, you mean?" The man sallied forth, his face rough and wind-burnt. He held up Elijah's small coin purse with its handful of coppers, alongside what must be Jon's royal blue, bulging equivalent. The man leered forward, shaking the purses, "I reckon this about covers it."

Elijah forced his hands to remain loose and responded evenly, "Half. For you to take us to the furthest port of call without delay. And I'll provide something more valuable than double the weight of that purse in return."

"Can ye now?" The Captain laughed, even as he leaned back at seeing Elijah wasn't going to be aggressive, "We're headed to Via'arto, Port of the Merchant Kings, a trip costing silver on even a scuppered bit of drift, and this kind lady you find yourself on is spry."

Elijah gestured for Jon to relax, "I'm familiar with basic engravings. Hold onto our coin, if I haven't earned it back by the time we dock, keep it with our thanks."

"Captain Bry." Their greeter said, a smile suddenly bloomed across his bearded face, "And you'll be sleeping on deck with the rest of my men, we're overloaded as it is so it's gonna be tight. Now if you'd said you were artsy and willing a bit ago, I'd of dove in there and carried you out myself!"

The crew burst into laughter.

"Yet it's been a week on the water, and we skipped Glass City for better prices down south; so forgive the men their entertainments, a diversion was sorely needed."

Elijah did notice the man's growing nose at this, but carefully ignored it. Seeing the widening eyes of a vigilant crew-member, who also stayed silent, reinforced this as a wise decision.

"I'll need a sharp blade, copper dust or coin and a file or whetstone. Some pitch and a bit of heat as well." Elijah said, quickly changing the subject and allowing the Captain to guide them to a spot on the deck where they could rest and dry their clothes, "The enhancements I know can add variable light. I can do cooling runes for your hold to preserve cargo, or heat for your cabin or bed."

As an Acrobat. Without even a Skill or a Class - Because you're dealing with Elijah the Wise.

And Skills and Classes only helped, made it faster and easier - a shortcut. They didn't stop you from accomplishing a task without them, not if you had the knowledge, how else were you to breath, to walk and talk? The Real(m) didn't steal that away when you died or re-rolled like it did levels, so if you took the time to truly comprehend, to understand?

"You'll have tools and materials." Captain Bry said, patting Elijah on the back. And rather he sensed their was more to Elijah, or some other reason, he held out their purses, "Do Dawnlight right in this, and you'll have yourself a friend, as well."

Do her wrong, and you'll make an enemy. Something you won't survive, the Captains words also implied. Elijah took their purses back with a serious nod, and turned to Jon as the Captain left.

"Are you serious, Jon." Elijah rounded on him, a sharp whisper, "Did you make yourself look like this just to make a Lion King reference? Or was it to make me feel guilty so I'd agree to help with your broken Class - I know it's just cosmetic, you're still human. And Fuss is still a..."

Jon's eye's went serious, his face -

"Fuss loves being a lion." Elijah sighed, and Jon relaxed, "But you need to explain what is going on, because in case you haven't noticed, we're standing on the ship of unknown traders in our underwear! What is your Class, Jon? And why weren't you numbed by those leeches?"

"I'm a Prince, Eli." Jon said, but Eli stared harder, "Well, a Lost Prince. And I didn't know it was broken, I thought I'd found a secret class, and that's why it was red. Fuss got so excited because he really wanted to be a King and this was right after he almost died? It's his dream, Eli, and look how happy he is."

"Ruff!"

Elijah turned to Fuss, mane dripping wet, he was a poster boy for the ugliest dog competition and looking anything but happy.

"And I got an Ability when my Destiny leveled, after I used my Aura. That's why I didn't go limp like you."

Elijah wasn't done being upset at Jon, but the mention of his Destiny brought him a short reprieve.

"What's your Destiny, Jon?"

"Ecnarongi."

"That's a strange one." Elijah murmured, "I thought for sure it'd be Valor, or Kindness, I've never heard of that...What Ability did you get?"

"I don't know." Jon said.

Elijah frowned, "Jon, I want you to go into your menu."

"Alright."

"Now look right beneath where it says Destiny: Ecnarongi."

"Okay."

"Now read it to me."

"I don't know -

"Damn it, Jon!"

"Passive. What I don't know can't hurt me. I am immune to detrimental status effects if I don't know what they are."

Elijah felt his mouth drop open.

"You don't know. Passive. I can't be magically tracked, traced, scried or divined."

"Are you serious?!" Elijah burst to his feet, grabbing his cane, and it took everything he had not to bop Jon with it, "Jon, you can't be serious!"

"Eli, your nose!"

"Why didn't you say something earlier. Before we jumped into a pit of leeches, Jon! You can't be tracked!"

"I didn't know! And you didn't tell me why we were going swimming until just before you dove in. I was just doing what you told me to do!"

"Well you should have told me your Abilities when you got them, you can't keep claiming ignorance each time something goes wrong, Jon. At some point..." Elijah cut himself off. Ignorance.

He felt his eyes widen, as he looked at Jon's innocent, hideous features, his confusion and his hope. His ignorant decisions that had destroyed any chance he had of an easy transition into the Real(m), all because a Pug wanted to be a king?

Ignorance = ecnarongI. Jon's Destiny was Ignorance.

"You didn't know..." Elijah whispered, "You really didn't know what it means to have a broken Class. Using the Customizer to turn yourself ugly and blue, or make Fuss a lion. You really didn't know."

"How could I, Eli?" Jon asked, "I know you say it's not a game, but what does that even mean? We live here, it doesn't get more real, so why would we choose to be a Farmer or a Soldier over a Prince? And who wouldn't want to be a lion? We want to have fun, Eli. Not harvest turnips that grow 3% faster if I wave to them."

And Elijah didn't know what to say, so he began to laugh. It started small - just a chuckle - at how niave, about how technically correct, but absolutely wrong Jon was. And the laughter spread, up his chest, and burst from his lips loud and clear. And Jon had started laughing, too.

"You're Destiny is Ignorance. Mine is Comedy."

They laughed even louder.

"I have to learn to be funny to use my Abilities."

"I'm sorry, Eli." Jon said, wiping tears from his eyes, "That's not going to be easy for you."

Elijah nodded, "And yours works best if you just stay stupid, it's actually dangerous for you to learn the wrong thing." Elijah wheezed, because it wasn't a happy laugh. It was painful, it was a laugh of last resort.

Because none of this was funny.