Morslon took to our task with newfound fervor. Despite it being rather arduous, he relished in using the tablet and tripod I grabbed for him. Really all he knew was how to wake it up and take pictures. To him even that rather mundane feat was beyond comprehension.

For me, his spells were the most impressive thing yet. Apparently he knew only a handful, but two proved extremely useful for this task. I had asked him for bright candles and mirrors to better light the books. His response was to ‘simply’ cast a spell to create orbs of light that hovered in the air for a time.

Possibly better than that was his ability to hasten our mundane efforts. The spell didn’t feel at all like what I would have expected from a ‘haste’ spell, but he assured me that it worked. It did appear that we were getting things done quite a bit faster. I would have to record the effects on camera later.

We focused on various books on mercantilism and economics, with some math texts sprinkled in. As suspected, their grasp of math was woefully emaciated. With two of us working to take pictures we were able to capture entire books, page by page, well into the night.

We ate and headed to bed as I did not want to skip another full night of sleep. We got into gear early the next day, focusing on the sciences. Again, these were limited, though not as much as arithmetic.

A slew of texts covered the little medical understanding available with more than a bit of it supported by magic, alchemy, and herbalism. Surprisingly, simple healing spells and alchemy weren’t confined to the separate section with the rest of the manuscripts on magic. However, many of them did have religious overtones.

To its credit, magic and alchemy synergized remarkably well and covered a wide array of areas I had not expected. For example, penicillin and vaccines did not exist, but dozens of curative potions took their place.

There were tinctures and solutions for all manner of purposes, including many which were well outside my own ability to understand them. It just didn’t make sense, so I would believe in invisibility potions when I saw them for myself.

One of my favorite topics was next on the list; linguistics. Numerous texts translating languages from one to another screamed for me to pour through them on the spot. It took every bit of willpower that I could muster to avoid digging deeper, but it wouldn’t be worth it to lose focus.

Like the books on geography, many of these dabbled in cultural explanations of their native speakers for added context. Others were straightforward guides on translating one language to another, most often using Norvosian. Frustratingly, some had two or more languages I could not read at all with no Norvosian for reference. Still, I refused to get hung up on any of them.

Our midday break was short, leaving me satiated but not full. I was eager to get into the next area we were covering though - magic. Morslon led me to a different library. The room itself wasn’t small, but each book was given ample presentation on its own. In total appeared to be fewer than two hundred, which was underwhelming compared to the extensive collection in the other area.

“Is this all?”

“All of what?”

“The books on magic?”

“This collection represents the entirety of our family’s arcane tomes. It is considered rather immense by the standards of most nobles.”

A couple hundred books? It didn’t seem like much after leaving the grand library, but I wouldn’t complain. They are the first I have seen in this world and I was still excited to get started. Twenty minutes in and I realized that I had only taken a couple pictures, reading instead of just flipping pages and taking shots.

Morslon dutifully prioritized them and we worked diligently. After spending so much time doing this already, we were beginning to create a decently efficient system. What I didn’t want to give up for speed was quality, but we worked those kinks out during the stretch of economics books.

I had to continually remind myself as the day wore on that there would be plenty of time to read them all later. The majority of them weren’t written in Norvosian, so that helped me stay focused somewhat. Unless I became distracted trying to figure out entirely new languages.

Right now I just wanted to get as many done as possible. Sorting them out later would be a bit of a hurdle, but agan, that was a worry for another time.

Most of the spells and rituals were centered around higher priorities in Orya - sailing, fishing, ship building, and stuff like that. After sundown we ate again. We would power through the night to complete as much as possible before preparing to leave.

The last books I had asked to get specifically were any that were mysteries. Undeciphered ancient languages, books no one had been able to actually use, and any that were extraordinarily unique but had not been prioritized earlier. These we finished less than an hour before sunrise.

It was hard not to push to finish them all as there were only twenty-one books magic tomes left. Not bad, really. And we would not be the cause of delaying our departure. That would suck.

Of course I took a bunch of random pictures of the libraries, halls, and everything else that I could on the way back to my room though. I felt obligated to, for posterity’s sake. Almost everything I owned was already in chests and trunks, so packing was a breeze.

I requested a crew of skane to carry everything, including the model ship in a case that had been dropped off for it, to the courtyard in front of the castle. Apparently I had my own storage wagon and my own carriage, which was somewhat boujee... and awesome.

Most days I wouldn’t want to be that posh, but I knew we had a long trip ahead of us and would not turn away the added comfort.

There were dozens of wagons, carriages, and carts being loaded up outside the castle. Scores of people hustled about to finish preparations for our departure. Most shocking were the number of skane; hundreds of them.

I hadn’t seen more than a half dozen working in the same area at the same time before now. The orcish reptiles hauled goods and gear tirelessly without complaint.

“This is Sir Sully your eminence,” I heard from a familiar voice behind me. I turned to see the same minister who helped me with Kuriy’s gifts and a man I hadn’t seen before standing beside her.

“Ah, Sir Sully. My name is Kuldar, High Minister of Orya,” he said with a deep bow. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

I bowed in return. “Kuldar, the pleasure is mine. You were looking for me?”

“Actually, I requested your presence two days ago but heard back that you were otherwise indisposed.”

“Unfortunately I was, and must apologize for not coming to see you. Though I also admit that I received no such message.”

He scratched his chin and mumbled something I couldn’t understand. “That is behind us now.” The High Minister smiled. “I knew you were leaving Orya and wanted to speak with you before the opportunity passed.”

I nodded and gestured back to the draft animals with their burdens, “Nearly ready it would seem, so you have arrived just in time. What is it you wanted to discuss.”

“I felt it important to meet you in person given the nature of your offerings and your… arrival.”

Like a bobblehead, I nodded again. That was not surprising as we had left a slain minotaur in his temple for days. At least he was not upset about the mess.

“Though I cannot speak for the gods, I wanted to convey the gratitude of our order for your acts. Nor am I a seer who divines the future, but I know you will be written of in many accounts.” Keldar pulled a scroll from within his robes and handed it to me. “Are these instructions you have given accurate according to your wills Sir Sully?”

The scroll was fairly short and simple, representing both the spirit of my intentions and the words, verbatim. I reread it again to ensure there was nothing missing and that all would be carried out as I wanted. I rolled up the scroll and returned it. “They are.”

“If I may have some more of your time… Have you conferred your instructions to anyone else?”

I thought back on it, “No. She and Dorstark were the only people present, and I have not told anyone else of it.” I could have mentioned the specifics to Nespolan, Morstaal, or my other mentors… but it didn’t feel right, so I hadn’t. Even when speaking to Morslan about it I only vaguely mentioned that I had paid tribute to Kuriy without going into any details.

“Joyus day and merciful gods!” Keldar exclaimed with an excited hop. It almost looked like the old guy was about to dance a jig.

“Why do you ask?”

“It is either a curious coincidence or divine guidance.”

“My instructions?”

“Surely! The offerings and your instructions must have been touched by Kuriy as I cannot believe that there would multiple such coincidences in such a short time.”

“I am not certain that I follow High Minister Keldar. My apologies, but what do you mean?”

“We have already had three faithful souls come to us who have received items, as per your precise instructions.”

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“That does seem rather odd… May I ask which items? And what can you tell me about these people?”

“The two rations and two gold coins went to two individuals who are caravanners leaving with your group today. Unfortunately I can only provide vague descriptions of them.”

That didn’t really seem all too remarkable by itself, given that I knew we were leaving soon. That may have influenced me on a subconscious level when I came up with the guidelines for them. But that meant one of the other items was handed out as well.

“What was the third item?”

“A half starved foreigner stumbled into the public temple. I was told that he walked, barefoot, by sheer force of will alone and should have been crawling given his condition. Without assistance, he walked right up to Kuriy before collapsing to his knees and sobbed, inconsolably.”

“The compass,” I thought.

“We tended to him and he was about to leave when one of the ministers recalled the instructions which had been passed around to be memorized,” he preached. “He was stopped just before leaving and was provided the compass, maps, and three gold. It was said that the look of elation on his face represented a remarkable change in demeanor as he had not two bits to his name when he arrived.”

I stood in stunned silence as he shared the story.

“Without a word, he walked up to a man who approached Kuriy to pray and handed him one gold. The foreigner knelt in the middle of the temple for a time and we decided it best not to disturb him. Eventually he walked to Navi across the temple and gave a second coin to a woman paying tribute to the goddess.”

Alright, that was definitely too much to be a coincidence. “What… I mean, who was he?”

“We were not able to get any information about him sir. Our apologies.”

“Why not? Did he just vanish into thin air after that?”

Keldar looked mildly offended for a moment. “No, Sir Sully. The stranger could not speak, or chose not to. The minister did recount the restrictions accompanying your gifts to him, and wrote them down as well, which he seemed to understand and agree with.”

“What happened after that?”

“He left, in far better spirits than he arrived. The man appeared to have a renewed vigor and sense of confidence about him. I had him followed to see where he would go.”

“And?”

“The foreigner purchased travelling clothes, gear, rations, and a steed. Then he left Orya through the southern tunnel,” the High Minister shrugged. “The only other thing I can tell you is that the man was ‘tiru’.”

“Tiru?” I asked in disbelief. “In Orya?”

The tiru were a different species of humanoids; generally taller and more lithe than the humans of this world. It was surprising because, from what I’ve read, they were reclusive and didn’t travel outside their lands. A tribe of them would settle somewhere and adapt to thrive in that area.

“What of the other two, whom he gave the coins? When did all this happen?”

“He came the day following your visit, which is why I sent for you. The other two are also very... accurate.”

“The woman is the widower of a soldier among Nespolan’s forces who perished in a recent battle. She was debating sailing east before travelling south to return home faster than Nespolan’s army can travel, leaving with the slower but safer route with the caravan, or remaining in Orya.”

Keldar shifted his weight and looked directly into my eyes, “She is with child and prayed to Navi for protection and direction. According to her, she felt unease with the thoughts of sailing and restlessness at the idea of returning to Videm.”

“So she sought to make her home in Orya…” I mumbled incredulously. Errantly wondering if it was common for spouses to travel with troops.

“That she does,” he confirmed. “The man is a merchant who wished to settle here if his next venture out of Orya was successful and prayed to Kuriy for safe travels and success. He left immediately hoping to make it to his destination and back before winter sets in.”

There were five of them in total who received the gifts in a matter of days, and two of them had been recipients of re-gifting. I would probably not figure out who the two with the caravan were given the hundreds of people travelling with us. “The woman is still here in Orya though.”

“What can you tell me of the woman?”

“It is against our basic tenants to discuss patrons in detail to those outside our orders. I have told you as much as I am comfortable sharing, even with someone such as yourself Sir Sully. However, we will be maintaining contact with her to see if the gods grant her further favor.”

“Would you be willing and able to send me periodic updates then, without disclosing her identity?”

“We will be able to do that much at least.”

“You have my thanks. Please take this to cover any expenses incurred.” I pulled out a single gold coin and handed it to him. It was probably more than it would cost to send me messages, but I hadn’t started carrying other denominations of coins yet.

“Most generous, sir. It will be my pleasure to keep you apprised of how your kazan unfold.”

“Huh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, “My what?”

Keldar looked at me quizzically, unsure of what I was asking.

“Kazan. A future telling or prediction, Sir Sully. Divinations granted to a mortal by the gods,” Dorstark said as he walked up to stand beside me.

I looked at Dorstark in disbelief. “A prophecy?” Nope, they definitely weren’t prophecies. I just spouted off some random instructions that flowed out. Off the cuff. Besides, if it was a prophecy, did that mean I didn’t say or do those things of my own free will? Wouldn’t that be robbing me of my own agency?

“I, uh, do not believe what I said were, um, kazan.”

Keldar’s grin grew almost predatory, which was an odd look for a peaceful priestly type. “Were you not delivered to our world by Kuriy himself?” He asked, shaking his head. “No need to answer Sir Sully. You are new to our world and your faith will grow in time. Already you have accomplished much.”

I looked between Keldar and Dorstark, choosing not to talk about it more. There was too much internal conflict going on right now for me to actually put my thoughts into words. “Did you need me for something Dorstark?”

“I came over to make you aware of our imminent departure.”

“Thanks,” I acknowledged before turning back to Keldar. “I look forward to hearing from you. It should be easy enough to reach me for a time as I have no plans to travel again after reaching Videm. Please include any information about future recipients as well.” I bowed deeply, turned, and walked toward the castle entrance where Nespolan and Morstaal were saying their farewells.

It was equal parts awesome and unnerving to think that some being could be using me as a pawn or plaything. This whole thing just wasn’t something I was just going to be able to digest easily, even in small pieces. Like corn. Existential crisis corn.

We weren’t actually leaving in the next couple minutes, which meant that Dorstark may actually be an excellent wingman in addition to being a mage and mentor. Our conversation with the Duke was light hearted with talk of looking forward to our paths crossing again in the future.

Morstaal confirmed that Morslon had spoken to him about pledging himself to me, and that other little tidbit about photographing as much as I could of their collection. There was a mostly facetious threat made about adhering to the restrictions of our deal. And I tittered a mostly amused nervous chuckle.

When it was finally time to leave there were fond farewells, but no waving, as we pulled away one after another. I rode alone in my carriage for now so I could catch up on sleep and try to get some writing done between naps.

The entrance of the tunnel was inside a stronghold just one level below the castle’s courtyard to the south. Anyone entering the city this way could find themselves trapped in the walled area, easily being picked off by archers. It was about as large as a two-lane tunnel back home too. We passed through the vast, dimly lit tunnel beneath the castle for longer than I would have expected.

This would be the next leg of my journeys here in Norvos and I couldn’t help but be thrilled to see what would come next. Already I was… well, not blessed… but fortunate. I couldn’t use that word to describe myself now. Not after that. I watched the tunnel open up into the courtyard of a surprisingly large fortress obviously designed to protect this side of it. Our caravan rolled through without stopping.

Outside the gate we passed between rows upon rows of mounted knights lining the roadside; hundreds of them. The space outside the walls was cleared for at least a kilometer and filled with people. They were formed up and prepared to walk in the largest parade I could have ever fathomed.

From inside the carriage I couldn’t see an end to them. So, I opened my door and, like a perfectly normal refined person of high society accompanying a member of the royal family, climbed onto the roof… I carefully stood on top and peered out across the assembled masses from my new vantage point. There was no way I was going to try counting them all. Beyond them were vast farmlands. Winds sending waves of verdant and gold rippling into the distance.

A seemingly endless sea of soldiers, servants, and skane stood about, waiting. Countless wagons and carts led by various beasts of burden lined up in rows down the road beyond the mounted troops. At least half as many spare mounts and draft animals idled in groups to be led on foot.

In theory I knew what an army would have looked like during similar eras of my home world, but empirically I knew nothing - which was a recurring theme for me. The cart bumped to a stop, forcing me to drop to my hands and knees. There were a few snickers, but the roaring laugh I heard accompanied by hoofbeats was one I recognized.

Nespolan galloped up alongside my coach. “Careful Sully. We wouldn’t want the great demon slayer to hurt himself from a fall,” the High Commander playfully taunted. “Have you not seen the likes of an army on the march before?”

“Can not say that I have,” I said, “or could not before now anyway.” With a redeeming modicum of grace, I hopped down. When talking about his mission I had always pictured a few hundred troops, not an army of ten-thousand or more. They must have been camped here the entire time I was in Norvos.

“The finest Norvos has to offer, eh?” he called with a bellow and closed fist thrust into the air. The cheering reply from his troops was immediate and spread rapidly to an ear shattering crescendo. “To Videm!”

I sat atop my carriage for more than an hour as the troops took to the road in groups. Wagons were interspersed along the growing column of those on foot and mounts. Periodically outriders left in groups to scout well off the road.

It was doubtful that anyone aside Nespolan and Dorstark would have known that I was using my phone to record the procession. So, I chose to do exactly that. Not capturing this would have been criminal. My driver warned me that we would be moving again soon, so I moved back inside.

Finally, after hours of waiting, we were moving again. The first thing I needed to do, now that we were well and truly underway, was update my quest list and inventory. I marked Norvosian Knowledge and World Knowledge as both progressing to the second in those quest chains. I bumped Investigate Arrival up to the third.

Morskov’s Fables and Gift for a God were both completed. I did not write down a follow up quest for the latter of those two.

My quest to copy as many books as possible, Solid State Scriptorium, got an update and was bumped up to the next rank. The last quest to be updated was Resurrecting Romano’s Runes, which was part of my never ending mission to solve the mysteries my ancestors had stumbled upon.

With that minor task done, I returned the computer to my bag and laid down. Alluring alliteration aside, the quirky quest names made me laugh to myself as I drifted off to dream of wondrous words and wards.