This time I was brought out of meditation by mellow piano jazz. I was not familiar with that particular piece but I liked it. “Thanks once again, Interface.” He acknowledged, and I faded in to my spawn spot at the forest glade.
I heard Onre’s voice, “Hi Forrest. I am almost used to watching you fade in and out of nothingness. What does it feel like?”
“Hey, Onre,” I turned to face him. He was wearing a loincloth and sandals this morning. No one else was there. “I don’t really feel anything. Basically my awareness of where I was fades out, and the other place fades in. Heere is much, much more alive, though. In the void there is mostly nothing, except I have a calendar and a clock.”
“So what do you do? Two and a half hours, right?”
“Yes, that is what I experience during your six days. There is not a lot to do. I can make a diary entry on the calendar. I guess I’ll still be able to read old entries 50 years from now. Plus my Interface updates me. Like this time, I had reached Level 3 an hour into our hunt, but it waited to inform me until my sixdays. It did not want to distract me during the hunt.”
“Congratulations! I was expecting you to announce reaching 3 while we were hunting. I guess that explains why you did not.”
“It is just as well that it waited. Plus when I queried about my level, it turns out that I am now within 300 xp of Level 4. You guys ‘power leveled’ me, with the work of seven only giving experience to three. That is a term from Earth. Anyway, thank you.”
He smiled. “Minor gods, I meant ‘sneeze three times’ for us, not you. But we’ll catch up. Probably faster than you like. With you being gone six days at a time, we’ll be getting a lot done while you only have the two and a half hours. Can you train anything at all during that time?”
“Yes. Meditation and Tactics. My Interface brought up a tactical board game from Earth called ‘Chess’. It was all in my mind, but we could play just like I used to there Are there games like that here, where the players mostly sit and think? Then they move a piece according to the rules, and the other person thinks and makes a move.”
“Yes. One is called just that, ‘Think’. It is played with pieces on a wooden board with alternating squares of dark and light. Rhonda has a set.”
“Oh, great! You guys are going to have to teach me. Anyway, what has been happening while I was away?” In unspoken agreement, we began walking toward the road as our conversation continued. The talk of training made me remember Analyze. As we are walking and speaking, I open my inventory and Analyze the six things I am wearing. At one point I even analyzed Onre; I am sure he knew why I touched him.
“By the way, Arrjee said to tell you that he would be doing his grades this morning. He missed two days last week, and that was enough for a while. The whole village learned about the new school and the Trichyans. Just as Arrjee expected, some of them don’t like it. Heck, I think some of them wouldn’t like it even if there would not be any Trichyans. For the most part, though, the Mayor, your dad, has gotten a lot of support for it. Besides that, Asha sent our gold, with a note saying he had reported to the guard about the school. He may have already talked to the duchess by now. I don’t know.”
“Oh, and that spooked horse? As we rode back to town, we found it wandering toward there as well. I’m sure it would have made it back on its own.”
“That’s good. Even if it wasn’t a war horse, I wouldn’t have wanted it to die or otherwise disappear.”
“Me either. We did not bother reporting that it had temporarily run off. With you gone, both Kossa and I got separate horses. That part was an unfortunate yet obvious thing. I liked her next to me, her hands wrapped around my chest. Oh well.”
He paused for a second. “I apprentice now in the afternoons with Master Thorm, along with her. He teaches us both self defense, both bare-handed and with the knife. We're both Rank D Brawlers now. And even though I won’t be a bard, he helps me sing. They say I have a really good voice. Kossa is excellent with the flute, and she plays sometimes while I sing.”
“I have gotten into a good routine. After a discussion with Dorra Marson, and a test, she decided I would not need to do grades with her. I’m almost 15 anyway, and she says my test result was excellent. So instead, I spend my mornings at Rhonda’s shop. My presence allows her to either visit about town or make potions, salves, and perfumes. We talk a lot, too. She has lived amazing lives!.”
He knows more about her now than I do.
I asked, “Have you made any decisions about what your other class will be?”
“Yes, I was wanting to let you know. It was Master Thorm who helped me decide. I stayed after a session and spoke with Brune. (Outside of apprenticeship, he prefers we just use first names). I explained to him as best I could about Mindsmith and Ki Prestidigitation. He understood why I would want to stick with something of my fathers. He still suggested that I keep my mind open for other possibilities. I’m sure that is good advice, but I was quite sure it would be one of the two. I told him I would continue to think about it during the next few weeks, though.”
“We agreed that the Ki Prestidigitation would be overall more flexible while adventuring. Mindsmith would make me a pure healer, like my foster father was. It would have its uses, but if we avoid getting hurt physically or mentally, what would I do? I guess interrogate captured foes, maybe. Then Brune asked me to look at the longer picture. Do I still want to be adventuring 20 years from now, or become a healer/scholar, like Bren?”
As we approached the road, he looked straight at me with a big grin, “Adventuring, wolf! Ki Prestidigitation. Invisibility, confusing our foes six different ways, sneaking around. What could be more fun? When I am old, I can still be a healer and scholar, just not with Mindsmith.”
“That is what I would have chosen if I were you.”
I can’t tell him I can choose Mindsmith in a later life. Ki Prestidigitator as well.
“Absolutely nothing is wrong with Mindsmith, but for fun and flexibility, I think you made the right choice. Hey, do you know if I am scheduled to do anything today? I know I am supposed to meet with Dorra after her classes this morning, but I don’t even know when that is.”
Onre responds, “Well, classes are from 6:25 to 10. And Arrjee asked me to bring you to the jewelsmith. Your armbands are ready and paid for. It is not even 9 now, so you’ll have plenty of time to get the bands first.”
“That sounds good to me. I can’t wait to see the bands, and wear them. But would you mind running extra before entering town? I want to rank my Running to D today. I have only run on the road to town. Want to see what is a mile or so beyond it? Those two extra miles might not level me, but I’m sure they’ll help a lot.”
“That sounds good. Will you be okay with me running ahead and then back to you? I will gain more if I run faster and farther. I don’t want to make you feel bad, though.”
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“Oh, it won’t,” I told him. “Even if we aren’t running close to each other, I will still think of it as running together.” So we took off. At what felt like a quick pace, I was running almost as fast as Jacques could full-out when he was younger, but it was not winding me as quickly. Onre was running at least 50% faster. He got 200 or 300 yards ahead, then turned around, ran to me, then turned around again. He was going to get a lot more rank points than me. That was fine; I was getting what I needed.
As we approached the gate, Onre made sure he was close to me, knowing I would have a question. A fairly large area was cleared of brush and trees near the wall, at the left side of the gate. “Is that?”, I started.
“Yes. The Mayor and others decided to get some elements of the school built early, so they broke ground three days ago. The two Skolturi Wraiths will be here in a couple of weeks, and nobody knows if they will be comfortable living in town. So the town is building two apartments with basements, plus a preliminary administration office. And in town, a vacant cottage has been reserved. They will have their choice when they get here.”
I gave a quick laugh. “You guys get a lot done in two and a half hours.” He responded with a short laugh of his own, and sped ahead again.
We did the extra mile and then ran back. Sir Rallee was on duty, and he joked, “Young Forrest, with the way you ignored and ran past the gate, I thought you did not recognize the village. Does the cleared land make it look so much different?”
“I think it looks great, Sir Rallee. Onre was just giving me lessons in Running. I need all the help I can get.”
He responded, “I have heard you have been set up with quite the training schedule, starting with Dorra Marson at 10. At about 14:25 we will be having a family meeting at your house. Onre, you are welcome to come as well. Rhonda is thinking of you like family anyway.”
Onre got a shy grin, happy at those words. “I have no other plans Sir Rallee. I will be there.”
“Thank you for telling us, Uncle Ralf. It sounds like I may have an interesting and productive day.” We walked through the gate into town. I checked my map momentarily to show me the best path to the jewelsmith, and we headed there. It was only 9:20, so we had plenty of time to get my armbands and still be at the school by 10.
----------------------------------------
As we got about 50 yards from the shop, we almost simultaneously heard an explosion and saw its large window shatter outward. We started running toward it, and soon there was smoke billowing out of the window. There was an acrid odor in the air.
“Wait!” I commanded. “Go get Rhonda. Tell her there was an explosion at the jewelsmith’s shop. It was possibly chemical, and there are likely to be casualties.” With a nod, Onre ran off.
There was a pup standing near, just staring. He was wearing a loincloth, and fortunately a cloth shirt. “Young wolf, you know what you can do to help? Go soak your shirt in some clean water and bring it back here. I’ll use it as a mask.”
“Okay, Forrest,” he said as he acted.
People that I haven’t met are aware of me.
I approached the shop. I could not see flames yet, but something was generating that dense smoke. Other adults had come out of their shops and maybe from the adjacent road. Some had buckets. I guess they were already forming a bucket brigade. It’s a start!
Loudly, I command, “Don’t go in yet; the smoke is too thick. I have had a lot of experience fighting fires in my first life.” Then I ask one of the Covargh with a bucket, “Will we have lots of water?”
“Yes,” he replied. “We start with the community barrels, and the brigade will eventually form through the back gate to Passing Stream.”
These names. I didn’t even know there was a back gate. Or a nearby stream.
The pup was back, bare-chested and holding his sopping shirt. He held it out for me to take. “Thank you! What is your name?” He tells me it is Norrus. “Anything I do, it will be because of your help, Norrus.”
I wrung out the shirt so it is barely damp. I had no intention to be in the smoke very long, but I would rather its particles stay out of my lungs if I have to breathe it. Then I wrapped his shirt around my head, tying it in the back. It was double-layered around my nose and mouth, with a single layer of cloth over my eyes. I activated Dark Sight and got closer to the smoke. My hope was that I’ll be able to see through the smoke and more or less breathe. Yes on Dark Sight! It allowed me to see for almost three yards as if it were fog in the early morning.
Ki, I love you!
“Son, what are you doing?” The Mayor is here, and as I turn to look at him, I see Grandma and Onre, also.
“I can use Dark Sight to see, and this shirt should allow me to breathe for a short time if I need to. I plan to go in and pull anyone in there, out.”
Grandma shook a vial of something up and down my body. “This is a fire retardant potion for your armor, and it will also help prevent your skin from getting burned.”
I love magical alchemy, too!
Dad instructed, “Do not stay in there very long. Come out immediately if something interferes with your plan. We don’t need you as a casualty also.”
The bucket brigade had commenced splashing their buckets into the window, I announced loudly, “Stand back. When I open the door, probably nothing will happen but just another place for more smoke to come out. But I cannot be sure.”
I stood to the side of the door, and pulled it open. The doorknob was not hot, and there was no rush of flame. Smoke began billowing out of the doorway.
The fire is probably in a back room, or we would have seen its flames by now.
“Here I go. I’ll be as quick as I safely can.” I took a big breath and entered. As I expected, there was nothing burning yet in the display room. I proceeded to the back, where there is some sort of work room. I see two prone bodies. I can make out that one is Werol Jordan, the proprietor. The other is a male Human. They are both burned but not in the fire.
I touched them both quickly to see their stats gauges with Analyze. The Human was in much worse shape, with about 20% of his HP left. Werol had close to 50%. Both have been poisoned by the smoke. I gave both three doses of Bless Blood, which eliminated most of the poison. I probably changed carbon monoxide in their blood back to oxygen, so that’s a big plus
With the smoke being denser the further off the floor, I don’t even attempt a fireman’s carry. Instead I grab the Human by his ankles, and start dragging him out, bent over with my butt in the lead. He had fallen forward, and I hope that none of the debris from the explosion causes him further injury. But out of the smoke and away from the fire has to be an improvement, regardless.
It took me over a minute to drag the man out. On exiting the shop, someone assisted me in moving him away from the smoke and other danger. Grandma was ready with a healing potion, holding the vial up to the mouth of this unconscious man. Whatever works. And it did, I could see his health gauge immediately respond. He still needed two additional doses of Bless Blood to eliminate the toxins, though.
A female Covargh I didn’t know had copied my mask and was ready to go in. I lifted my mask up and took several deep breaths. Then I reported to her, “Werol Jordan is still in there. He was at 50% health. I cleared his toxins, but I’m sure breathing the smoke has poisoned him again. Oh, I’m Forrest Rhodes. And do you have Dark Sight?”
“Yes, I do. I am Vosrin Loruste,” she replied., “ You are wearing my son Norrus’ shirt, so I feel like we know each other.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
Just then, we were each handed two buckets filled with water. “I’m sure you will find this useful,” someone told us. I didn’t recognize the voice, but Vosrin thanked them for both of us. The rest of the brigade had established a steady rhythm of splashing the contents of their buckets into the shop door and window, at all different angles.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“Yes, let’s go. With the two of us it should be a lot easier. The fire was spreading slowly, so I expect no major problems.”
We entered the shop and proceeded to the work room. Part of the fire was nearing Werol, burning along some sort of shattered workbench. We each used a bucket to extinguish that, then chose separate flaming items for our other buckets.
I had entered further into the room this time. Werol was down to about one third of his health, and now I could see a vicious bleeding wound along his side, curving toward his stomach. It is about 10 inches long. “Just a moment, let me heal his side, “ I informed in my muffled voice. I healed the heavier-bleeding end of his wound first. He had been poisoned again, and so I next dosed him with Bless Blood until his toxic gauge was green. Finally I healed the rest of his wound.
“Okay,” I said, “let’s get him out of here.” This time I had Vosrin assist me in placing Werol across my shoulders in a fireman’s carry. I was not sure if she knew of the technique, but it was simple enough for her to realize the usefulness in what I wanted to accomplish.
The terminology had become outdated on Earth; the carry was now considered more of a military technique, to help move wounded comrades. In a fire, elevating a victim’s head into the heavier smoke at shoulder-level had made it a fringe technique for firemen. But with my Bless Blood skill and Rhonda’s potions waiting outside, this should be fine. We managed to make it through the wet debris and get him outside.
As we exited the shop, I saw an elderly male Covargh begin casting some kind of water spell, causing a heavy stream from the palm of his right hand to flow into the window.
A hydromancer maybe? Cool With him around, who needs fire hoses?
We laid Werol down on the street, and Grandma was ready with another healing potion. I gave him a final dose of Bless Blood. Unlike the injured Human, who had not yet moved, he opened his eyes, and turned his head to look around. “What happened? I remember the explosion and fire. Is Mista Smithson okay?”
That must be Kossa’s dad.