Chapter Thirty-Nine

**Aftermath**

**Skill Increase: Sneaking (Beginner IV) +125 Exp.**

**Skill Increase: Magic Channeling (Beginner I) +50 Exp.**

**Skill Increase: Magic Channeling (Beginner II) +75 Exp.**

**Skill Increase: Magic Manipulation (Beginner I) +50 Exp.**

**Note This: You have unlocked the magic within a power stone. There are two metrics for power stones: potency and capacity. The latter metrics combined with magic skills determine the effect of a stone and the number of times it can be used. A stone’s effect is modified by its potency. The six levels of potency and their modifiers are lesser (.5), standard (1), greater (1.5), potent (2), vigorous (2.5), and supreme (3). Capacity affects the number of charges a stone holds and are as follows: petty (10 charges), small (25 Charges), medium (50 charges), large (100 charges), omega (1,000 charges), and prime (10,000 charges).**

**Note This: While anyone can use a power gem, the strongest magic wielders train the three rudimentary magic skills: Channeling, Manipulation, and Efficiency. Magic Channeling controls the flow of magical essence and increasing this skill will improve the player's natural magical affinities. Magic Manipulation improves the effect of the player's magical spells. For damage based spells the manipulation modifier on damage is equal to (1 + Manipulation bonus)*(Affinity/100). For example, if the player is at Magic Manipulation level beginner I and has an affinity of 50 in an element then their effect modifier for spells of that element would be 50.5%. The player’s manipulation and the stone’s potency modifiers are multiplied to determine the stone's effect. The Manipulation Modifier will now be listed next to the player’s affinities in the character window. Magic Efficiency affects how effectively the player uses a stone’s charges. The efficiency modifier is the same as the manipulation modifier except for swapping the player's efficiency bonus for their manipulation bonus: (1 + Manipulation bonus)*(Affinity/100). The inverse of the modifier indicates how many charges a player requires peruse of a stone.**

Jason closed the notifications and didn’t even bother to look over the detailed combat report. He did see though that he gained 512 experience from the battle but not even that could improve his mood.

While no one felt defeated, the march back to Finchead was silent and sullen. In their hastily made escape from Fallows, one of the militiamen managed to find a trio of mules tied in a pen. Trent announced he was requisitioning them to fulfill his duties as a sheriff and no one protested. The sheriff added that they would have to return them one day. A few grumbled but they didn’t protest for long. Jason guessed they remembered that they weren’t raiders and straight out stealing the animals would make them just as bad as the villagers from Fallows. Malcolm and Byron, both still unconscious, were each put on their own mule and a man who suffered a bad wound to his leg was put on the third.

In their haste to get out of town, Jason could barely observe the resurrected Byron but once they were finally out of Fallows he was able to focus on the man. While still sickly white, Byron in fact looked younger than he had before. The wrinkles around his eyes had vanished and even his hair had lost some of its silver. His shirt had been stripped off and a blanket wrapped around him and Jason could see that where the sword had gutted the reeve there was a rough scar as if the wound were years old not minutes fresh.

Trent guided the mule carrying Byron and guarded the wounded man like a sentinel. To deter anyone from approaching Byron, Trent would say terse words to anyone who came too close save for Jason. The sheriff allowed Jason to walk silently on the opposite side of the mule.

Despite the mood, Jason was still interested to learn what happened with the rest of the party but decide then was not the right time to bring it up. Eventually, Finchead poked into view and surprisingly a few of the militiamen let out a happy cheer, Jason couldn’t help join in, but their celebration was short-lived as the broken details became more refined the closer they got to their home. From the direction of the town, a horn sounded out and Jason could see a crowd beginning to gather to welcome them home.

Trent stopped in his tracks causing the entire line to come to a halt. “I don’t care what you think you saw,” the sheriff said, “but the reeve’s wound wasn’t fatal and we were able to patch it up before it got worse.” He raised his voice and continued, “I don’t want to hear any other stories going around. Am I clear?”

The villagers shifted around anxiously but Jax cried out, “aye.” Soon the rest followed and the group continued walking. Jason looked to Trent surprised but all the sheriff did in response was offer a knowing nod.

“Byron!” A voice yelled when they were close enough to make out faces from the crowd. It appeared the entire village had come out to greet them except for those so badly injured they couldn’t walk. Jason even saw a few people with crutches and casts. A fountain of tears erupted from the gathered villagers and Jason couldn’t tell if they were of sadness, relief, or both. The owner of the first voice broke from the crowd and Jason saw it was Jule followed by Eliza. Jason's heart leaped when he saw Eliza running towards him.

Jule crashed into the mule carrying Byron and hugged onto her husband’s body. “Byron… Byron,” she repeated. “What is the scar on his chest?” She cried hysterically looking at Trent.

“He’s alright,” Trent said with his arms raised, “he just needs to rest, probably for a long time, but he will be perfectly fine.” The sheriff let go of the mule’s reigns and wrapped his arms around Jule. The woman continued to weep but her hysteria vanished.

“Vanna,” Eliza cried then crashed into the warrior wrapping her into a hug. Jason smiled but felt slightly awkward as he watched the two embrace. Eliza detangled herself from Vanna and looked to Jason and nodded. “I’m happy to see you’re alright,” she said. Jason thanked her and allowed a smile to cross his face. Everyone survived, he thought, but what about going forward.

*****

Once the villagers saw that the party had taken Malcolm hostage a slight riot broke out. A few of the villagers wanted to kill him right then and a few were even calling for torture. Thankfully Trent had the village militia on his side and they were able to peacefully resist anyone trying to steal Malcolm and get the prisoner to the townhall’s jail. Malcolm had woken up at one point, when he saw that Byron was still alive he went white and remained stone silent. Jason and Vanna helped Trent get Malcolm to the jailhouse. Trent set up four armed men around the building to guard it at all times.

“Thank you,” Trent said, his voice rattled sincerely. The sheriff rested an arm on Jason’s shoulder. He leaned in and whispered metallically into Jason’s ear, “I’m sure you already know we have thing’s to talk about later.” Jason nodded slightly and Trent pulled away. “Go and rest,” he said, “we can figure the future out later.”

All three of them, Jason, Vanna, and Eliza, wanted to check on Byron but so did half the town. However, Jule locked herself and her husband in their cottage and wouldn't allow anyone om to check on the reeve. The trio decided there wasn’t much left to do but take Trent’s advice and they returned to their own home.

Jason laid down on his cot and stared at the ceiling as Eliza made them a warm meal. The smell of roasting meat slowly filled the house and Jason’s stomach started to rumble. He realized he hadn’t eaten anything yet and his stomach roared loader. Next to him, mixed with the crackling of the fire was the sound of metal on stone as Vanna worked to clean her sword.

When their food was done Jason greedily gnawed on a roasted sausage ignoring the fact the meat was burning the roof of his mouth. Jason washed down the food with a mug of ale then spoke up. “So what happened with you guys Vanna?”

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The woman looked up from rubbing her leather jerkin. Eliza, who had been sitting crossed legged next to Vanna perked up also interested. Vanna ran a hand through her hair. “You saw,” she insisted and focused back on the work in front of her. Jason picked another sausage from the fireplace and continued staring at Vanna. The warrior sighed and put her armor to the side. “Jason it’s not that interesting but I’ll tell you.”

“I would like to know what happened too,” Eliza announced.

“Okay, okay,” Vanna said. “After we split up from you Jason, Trent looked around the farmhouse until he found a fire starter. When I saw him with it I already knew what he was going to do. I wanted to get back at Fallows but I don’t know how I felt about burning the place to the ground. Most of the villagers were probably innocent regardless of what Malcolm and his gang have been doing.”

“Vanna you saw all of them in the street. How could an innocent person stand by and watch that,” Jason cried surprised by Vanna’s feelings.

“They didn’t know better,” Vanna replied her voice strained. “Most of them only knew what Malcolm told them.”

“But you didn’t stop them,” Eliza said, “from starting this fire.”

“I tried,” Vanna said lowering her head. “I really tried but I couldn’t convince Trent otherwise. You should have seen the anger in his eyes and when they lit the first house on fire it was like he was happy. I didn’t want to jeopardize Jason escaping with Byron so I just stood back and watched as they did it.”

“What about all the fighting we heard?” Jason asked trying to move on from the touchy subject.

“Trent wanted to make them think we were attacking straight on and pull all of them towards the fire. Most of the villagers ran away when they saw us but a few attacked but they didn’t put up much of the fight. We guessed wrong and most of Malcolm’s fighters stayed near Byron. You know the rest from there,” Vanna said looking at Jason.

Jason sighed and he could see Eliza was looking at him. He could tell she was confused with the piecemeal retelling of the event and filled her in on the rest of the story. He held back on telling her about the phoenix stone.

“How did you save him, Jason?” Vanna asked. He’d hoped she wouldn’t ask that question and instead pretend that Trent’s story was the truth but he already decided to tell her what really happened if she asked. “I know it was a power stone, there was a mage in the army I was in, but I’ve never seen one like that before.”

“Magic?” Eliza gasped. “You… you had a power stone? Do you know how much those are worth?”

“I know,” Jason winced. Even though he struggled at the moment to sacrifice the stone, seeing Jule’s reaction to finding a living Byron removed any doubts he made the wrong decision. “Vanna do you remember the night we met?”

“Of course,” she said.

Jason sighed. He filled Eliza in on the story then added for both of them the part about finding the phoenix stone.

“Those are suppose to be a myth,” Eliza gasped.

“It was real,” Jason said. “Byron was dead.”

Vanna nodded in agreement, “Malcolm’s sword went straight through Byron’s heart.”

“Jason if you could have found a buyer you would have gotten enough money to live like a king for the rest of your life,” Eliza said.

“I guessing it might be hard to sell something like that and someone is more likely to steal it from you if they knew about it,” Vanna.

Except I probably knew someone that would have been able to buy it, Jason thought realizing he knew one of the richest men in the country, Wilhelm. He probably could have at least set me up with a buyer. Even if he wanted a high commission I would have been richer than I was on Earth. Jason pushed the thought from his head and remembered Byron’s life was worth more than any money he could have been paid. “Yeah,” was all he could manage to say. “But I agree with Trent, I don’t want anyone knowing I had one. The wrong people may get the wrong idea about me.” Vanna and Eliza both nodded eagerly and Jason gave a silent sigh of relief.

Eliza stood up and began to clean. Vanna picked her armor back up and went back to scrubbing it. Jason stretched then rose to help Eliza.

A while later there was a knock on the door. After cleaning, Jason had laid back down on his cot and fell asleep but the sound woke him up. Eliza had been working on fixing some rips in a shirt but rose to answer the door. When she saw the guest Eliza bulked in surprise but greeted them and allow them in. As Jason sat up in his cot he saw Trent walk into the cottage, the sheriff nodded to Jason.

Jason quickly pulled his blanket away and rose to greet the sheriff with a firm handshake. “Trent, is something wrong?” he asked.

“All is well.”

“Any news of Byron?” Vanna asked. She had been in her room but came into the main room when she heard the door open.

“That’s actually what I came for,” Trent said. “He woke up and wants to see Jason. Alone.”

“I’ll…” Vanna started but Trent cut her off.

“He wants to see Jason alone,” the Sheriff repeated. “He made that clear, even Jule and I won’t be there.” Vanna nodded hesitantly but didn’t say anything else. Trent turned to Jason.

“Just a moment,” Jason said. “Let me put on my cloak and I’ll be ready.”

When they left his cottage Jason was surprised to see the setting sun in the sky. Despite all that had happened, the day had gone by fast. He knew he would need to continue to Laxtar the next day otherwise he would run out of money but he didn’t want to leave Finchead. At first, Trent was quiet but when they were on the empty street he spoke up. “I don’t know how you got it, but thank you Jason. I don’t know where this town would be now without you.” The walk to Byron’s cottage was short and they were stopped outside. In a hushed voice Trent said, “this town is in your debt.” He reached out his hand and they shook again. This time Trent’s grip was warm and eager. Trent released Jason's hand and knocked on the door to Byron’s cottage.

A moment later Jule’s head poked out. “Its you,” she said looking at Trent. “Jason,” she greeted with a nod but lacking her normal cheer. “We can wait in the hall,” Jule said to Trent then opened the door fully to walk out. She turned to look once back into the house then quickly walked over to the townhall door not waiting for Trent. The Sheriff gave Jason one last nod then followed after Jule. Jason watched as Trent made the dozen steps to the door and disappear inside.

Jason turned to look in the open door next to him and the first thing he saw was the raging hearth in the center of the room. “Come in,” a soft voice whistled. Jason turned his head and saw laying on a pile of blankets a few feet from the fire was Byron. He laid flat but his head craned up weakly. Byron waved a hand and Jason walked into the cottage and closed the door behind him. “Jason,” Byron said happily with a toothy smile, “grab a stool and sit with me for a moment.” Jason followed the man’s instructions without saying anything. When he returned to Byron the reeve had surprisingly been able to sit himself up on his on and his back was now resting against the wall.

“You look well Byron,” Jason said.

“Thanks to you,” he winked. Byron smiled when he saw Jason face redden. “Trent told me what you did. You must realize that all I can offer you is a thousand thank you from the depths of my heart. You should have chosen a richer man to have indebted to you,” he laughed.

“I don’t regret using the stone on you,” Jason said.

Byron smiled, “and that’s what makes you different Jason. Most people don’t understand your kind, “players”, is the common term. Most people don’t know you come from another world. Players act like us, look like us, talk like us, but they don’t feel like us, except for you. Most players don't see us as real people but you do. I can tell your friend Vanna is coming to feel the same way as you too.” Byron went quiet and took Jason’s hand into his own. “Enough of that, greater and wiser men than I have pondered your kind and have failed. It hard asking something of you so soon after what you have done but it is paramount to the safety of the town. Trent wishes to take Malcolm before the King tomorrow fearing that the longer we hold him here the more likely someone will either try to rescue or kill Malcolm before he can be brought to justice. So I am asking you if you and Vanna will help escort Trent to Laxtar tomorrow.”

“Of course Byron,” Jason said. Byron nodded his head in thanks but he wasn’t yet done talking.

“Trent wants to leave early, much earlier than you typically leave. He will wake you at the right time so prepare tonight to leave whenever you are woken. Trent does not want anyone knowing about this. I have organized it with Jon to have wool loaded onto your donkey tonight and you can worry about paying Jon when you return.”

New Quest: Escorting the Despot

Assist Trent escort Malcolm to an audience before the king.

Failure: Allow Malcolm to escape or die before being delivered.

Reward: 500 Exp.

Jason closed the quest menu. “Byron, you already know we wouldn’t think of not helping you. I’ll be happy to be the one there when Malcolm receives his punishment.”

“I am glad to hear it. One last thing before you leave. There is one way I can reward you for helping rescue me,” Byron said. “As reeve, I have the power to make honorary citizens for extreme acts on behalf of the town. I believe you and Vanna merit such a reward if you will take it.”

Jason’s mouth dropped open. He tried to say something but his mouth was dry and he gagged and coughed instead. “Yes Byron without a doubt, thank you.”

“As an honorary citizen you would have the rights of any other citizens without paying taxes, but you must still swear fealty to us,” Byron released Jason’s hand and propped himself up straighter.

Jason stared at the ground for a moment but his decision had already been made, “I know, am I am prepared to make that promise.”

“Then kneel before me and repeat after me as your proxy to the lord.”

Jason got up from his chair and went to his knees.

“I Jason…”

“I Jason…”

“Swear loyalty to House Cullen and all its lands…”

“To bear the sword and scythe in their name…”

“Until the day I pass from this life…”

“And I promise…”

“To nurture and grow my home, Finchead…”

“In times of plenty and times of strife.” Byron went quiet and the ritual ended.