Naomi

Kobolt Under-Tree City, Savriâ

Finding the sunsquat tree which the kobolds called home hadn’t been particularly difficult with Jonah’s overview ability. It had taken a bit longer than they’d hoped to get all the way back, but they’d still made the trek incredibly efficiently. So efficiently that Naomi was fairly certain she was going to pass out soon.

Her mind was fine, an advantage of her empty state, she supposed. Pushing herself past the limits her body tried to impose had been simple. The worst her body’s discomfort had done was send shivers of murky grey throughout her soul. She could still feel pain, but it was a distant thing. Almost academic. The colors were more intense, more interesting.

Somehow, Jonah appeared entirely fresh as they approached the guards standing to either side of the dark patch at the base of the tree. Oddly, the Kobolds seemed to recognize them, as they were just waved through. Smiling and thanking them, Jonah passed through. Naomi didn’t bother. The gesture would waste energy she didn’t have.

It had taken them a total of about sixteen hours to run here. Considering it’d taken a bit over three days of walking to find the jimble-grimb camp, they’d made good time. After following the long tunnel which slowly darkened until maintaining a light level similar to mid twilight, they entered the bustling Kobold town. The entire thing was much the same as the first time they’d seen it. This time, though, Naomi didn’t feel a wave of excitement and wonder rush over her at the sight.

The shockingly large settlement and bustling nature of the city were certainly impressive. Not to mention the industrious way residents moved around like a well oiled machine. Despite all that, she didn’t feel a thing. Standing near the tunnel’s mouth awkwardly, they were noted. Jonah waved at a few of the kobolds which gave them more than a cursory glance, but none seemed interested in stopping to talk to him. They appeared to all have something better to do.

Deciding she’d rather to be taking a nap if they were going to wait around, Naomi started off toward the area she remembered Skeetha and Halshath’s hut. While she wasn’t entirely certain she remembered the path correctly, her mental map was clear enough to at least try. A few minutes of walking later, Naomi stopped and looked around, she thought the hovel to their right was the couple’s. Glancing over to see Jonah looking between the houses with an uncertain frown, she caught his eye and raised a brow.

He shrugged, “Might as well knock?”

Nodding, Naomi put word to action and rapped the wall to the side of the woven curtain blocking the entrance. An unfamiliar kobold pulled back the curtain and looked up, and up, at her visitors. Pink eyes stared with wide surprise, nose flaring, “Cans I helps you?”

Came the surprisingly chirpy voice. Before Naomi could answer, Jonah nodded, “Sorry to bother you, we’re looking for Skeetha and Halshath?”

“Oohs! You’re the outsiderss which theys brought in before!” The little crocodile-like snout bobbed rapidly as she nodded.

After another moment, she hadn’t actually answered the question or indicated any interest in helping. Naomi asked pointedly, “Can you tell us where they are?”

Blinking more like an owl than a reptile, she gasped, “Ohs! Yes! They are ins the next burrows!” She pointed a clearly recently sharpened and painted red claw toward another clump of homes.

“Follow mes!” She added happily, stepping around Naomi and past Jonah to lead them along. Quickly falling in step, they followed. “Thank you for helping us, it’s a little hard to tell everything apart after only being here once.”

“Yes!” Their guide agreed, “Is hards to understand the lay of the lands with just human senses!” She snickered softly in a way that Naomi was certain was mocking. She didn’t care, and Jonah didn’t appear to notice. He was looking around with bright interest evident in his eyes, just as excited by the little underground society as the first time they’d come.

Stopping in front of one of the mud baked homes, the pink kobold nodded, “This iss their places! They will probablys be out working still, you waits here?”

Glancing at each other, Naomi did her best to portray her exhaustion through her eyes. Apparently, she did so well enough as Jonah chuckled slightly and asked, “Would they mind if we laid on their floor? We’re a bit exhausted.”

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Waking, Naomi found Skeetha standing over the large pot in the middle of the hut. She honestly didn’t even remember entering the room, much less laying down. Yawning, she stretched and sat up.

“It’s good to see you Skeetha.”

The matron of the household flashed her a grin made wicked by sharp teeth and lack of lips. She waved, “Yous too, friend Naomi.”

Glancing around, she realized Jonah was nowhere to be seen. Before she could ask, though, Skeetha explained, “Friend Jonah is with Halshath. He explained what you learned and what you asks of us. Halshath wished to teach the young mans something. We gave promises to teaches you for findings the jimble-grimbs.”

Nodding, Naomi asked, “Can I do anything to help while we are waiting?”

“Rests. You have slept for only a couple hours. You needs more.”

Nodding, Naomi laid back down on the oddly comfortable woven mesh which laid over the dirt floor.

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Willow

The Summit, Savriâ

Waking from a restless sleep, Willow stretched and opened her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she sorted through her memories from the previous day and night. While Madrick had been ready to grant her “reward” immediately upon reaching the mountain top, she had needed rest.

Her Back Into It had saved her life dozens of times, bringing her back from the literal brink of death. Besides that, she had literally scaled a massive mountain as Madrick broke it beneath her freehand while pushing the boundaries of her focus ability. If all that hadn’t been enough, she’d created a brand new spell! It had been enough for one day. That said…

She pushed herself to her feet in as smooth a motion as she could manage, trying to give the impression of waking up entirely alert and ready to go. Her execution was fantastic, flawless, even! If only I hadn’t been on the edge of a mountain. She only just threw herself backward, back onto her bedroll, before stepping directly off into empty space. Did anyone see that? The dark chuckle from behind answered the question.

Giving her dignity up as a lost cause, Willow pushed herself back up and turned. There was Madrick, still sitting on that stupid chair of his.

“Did you sit there all night and stare at me while I slept?”

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“…No.”

“Really? Cuz it looks like you’ve been there for a while.”

“I have better things than watch a child sleep.” He dismissed with a wave of his hand.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Willow stared at him.

He stared back. If he wasn’t so weird she’d probably try to win the staring contest. Instead, she decided it was time to get down to business.

“I’m ready for my training.”

“Finally! What do you want to learn?”

“Uh… What?” Her arms dropped, surprised.

“Don’t you have something planned? Some malicious obstacle course to teach me the limits of my body, or maybe a meditation ritual to sharpen my mind? A bunch of incantations to memorize so I can shoot fireballs?”

He snorted, “What do you think this place is?” He waved his arm in a generally all-encompassing manner. “This is a small trial-by-fire. The so-called obstacle course. Though, honestly it’s a bit more dull than I’d hoped. Generally, doomed planets are more exciting.”

That peaked her interest, “Doomed? Also, why do you sound surprised? Didn’t you know where you were sending us?”

“You. I sent you. Your hangers-on just followed. And no, I had no idea where you’d land. I have this artifact.” He held up his left hand, showing a black ring with what looked like an empty stone setting at first glance. Stepping forward to get a better look, she realized it wasn’t a setting but rather the open jaws of some indistinct beast.

“Weird and disturbing. Appropriate for you. Also, they’re my friends, not ‘hangers-on’.” She looked up from the ring to meet his brilliantly green eyes. Those goat pupils throw me for a loop every time.

He let his hand drop without breaking eye contact, “The ‘Jaws of Doom’ artifact allows me to open a portal to a random doomed planet. It’s shockingly useful.”

“You often meet new people and drop them through portals into a planet which is supposed to explode soon?” She narrowed her eyes, then straightened as she realized she was still slightly hunched from looking at the ring. Shoot. If anyone saw they might have thought I was bowing to him!

“It’s an amusing way to determine whether they’re worth my attention.” After a beat he mentioned, “Though doomed can mean many things. The planet may not explode. It could end up disintegrating, being swallowed by a star or black hole, eaten by a god, transformed into something new, compressed into a bauble… The possibilities are endless.”

That was… Actually interesting. So Madrick could provide useful information instead of just being a jerk. Speaking of, “You really don’t have any training planned for me? When I got that mission request I assumed there was an agenda. A lesson plan of some kind.”

Shaking his head, Madrick answered simply, “No. You tell me what you want to learn. If it’s within my ability to teach, I will give you an hour of instruction. If I don’t know or am not sufficiently equipped to train you in the subject, you will ask for something else. Simple.”

“Can I just ask you to teach me what I need to know the most?”

Snorting, Madrick stood and paced to the edge of the cliff, looking out into the horizon, “How am I supposed to know what you need most?”

Scowling at the man’s back, Willow replied with her best ‘aw bless his little heart’ sickly sweet voice, “Weyll I don’t know. Maybe it’s that you’re some kind of ancient and powerful entity who’s seen it all and knows it all. Maybe that’s what gave me the impression you might have an inkling of an idea of what you would want to teach a disciple.” By the end of her retort the sickly sweet tone had become more like vinegar.

Turning around, Madrick rested his right hand on the pommel of his ridiculously delicate looking sword. He sighed dramatically, “This is why the tutorial system is so flawed. It doesn’t actually teach you how anything works. Especially in…” His face twisted in disgust before spitting out, “…modern, tutorials. They teach you all the wrong lessons. They teach you that others will guide you. They teach you that humanity is best when working together. They teach you that you should help and rely on each other. They teach you that others know what’s best for you.”

Hesitating, Willow took a moment to think through what Madrick was saying, “Those… Aren’t good lessons? Humans are primarily successful because of our ability to work together and pass down advancements between gen…er…at…ions…” She slowly trailed off at the end as she realized the hole in that logic.

“Right. Pass down your knowledge to your descendants. Sure… Except you’ll live forever.” He drawled derisively, “So what’s the point? Also, who would want to have child?” He made a face as if disgusted at the thought.

“Hey! Some people love being parents! Raising children is an important and honorable… Uh… thing!”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure.” He waved his hand dismissively, “As pointless as it is, I’m certain it’s so rewarding. Probably some kind of UA available for freaks who have enough spawn.” The second sentence was said more quietly, but with enough volume Willow thought she was likely supposed to hear it.

This is going nowhere. Though, I guess I’ve gotten some good information? Maybe? So if he’s not going to just tell me what I need to know, I need to figure out what I want to know.

“Okay, teach me how to rank up.” She said firmly.

“Nah. Here.” Madrick dismissed immediately.

“But you just…” before she could continue she got a notice from her UICI.

DISCIPLE GIFT RECIEVED!

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Your master, Madrick, has sent you a gift!

Gift: The Comprehensive and Concise Guide to Ranking

Seeing that she’d received the alert, Madrick continued, “Rank milestones are simple information, easy to acquire until the hundreds. That guide will pretty much outline how to progress between each rank.”

“Oh. Okay, thanks.” Suddenly being given a resource like this was nice, but… Felt weird. She narrowed her eyes and looked up to find Madrick smirking at her, “What? What’s with the creepy smile?”

The expression vanished, “It’s a charming smile.”

“Uh hu. So’s the joker’s.” She deadpanned.

Clearly not getting the reference, but understanding it wasn’t a compliment, Madrick made a ‘go on’ gesture and began tapping a foot impatiently.

Ooookie. I guess I don’t need to know how to rank up, so what else do I need? I want to be able to break his dumb face for being so weird… But other than that… My main goal is to leave The Origin universe within a hundred years. Or… Do I have to rank up to leave?

“I want to leave The Origin. How do I do that?”

Eyebrows raising, Madrick’s weird smile stretched back over his face. Why’s it so off putting? Is it because it looks vaguely threatening? Or is it just his clothes scream vampire so much that the lack of fangs seems wrong?

“A much better question. To leave the origin you need three things.” He held up his hand, three fingers raised.

“First,” a finger fell. “You need to be able to resist being torn apart by higher tier potentia. Every other universe has a much higher potentia density. Second,” another finger dropped. “You need a world key. And last,” a fist formed. “You need a guide.”

“Before you complain that you don’t understand anything I just said, of course you don’t.” He preempted her follow-ups.

“First, the high potentia. Potentia is the energy of the world, everything is potentia and potentia is everything. However, the more real something is, the more potentia it gives off or is comprised of. I’m not a scholar, so don’t ask me for all the details, I never cared about all that. The important part is that if you get touched by a spark with one potentia it will singe you. If you touch a spark with a hundred potentia it will go through your body without stopping. The size and intensity of the spark will be exactly the same, yet you would know the difference if you saw two sparks with different amounts of potentia. Within The Origin, potentia is a constant. Everything is as real as everything else. Outside The Origin, potentia is variable. Some things may barely exist, while others are so real that just looking at them makes you less real.”

Oddly, Madrick seemed to actually be a decent lecturer. As soon as he’d begun his explanation, his voice had become animated and excited. He begun to pace back and forth in front of her as he continued. “As for the other two, they’re somewhat self explanatory. A key is an object which allows you to open a passage between universes. They come in too many forms to count. Similarly, your guide can be essentially anything. A compass, a cube of jello that tastes weird when you’re going in the wrong direction, a cloud of faces which says ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ based on whether you’re going in the correct or incorrect direction. There are myriad options. Most guides can only help you navigate between two specific universes. The best guides allow you to cross multiple.”

Stopping in front of her again, Madrick turned and rubbed his hands together, “This brings us to how you get a guide or a key. Rifts have you ever heard of rifts, little tree?”

Shaking her head slowly, Willow sat down cross legged, it seemed that Madrick had landed on a topic that would keep him going for a while.

“Rifts are the backbone of civilization. They are portals to pocket universes. They are exceptionally strange, in that they are technically part of the universe in which they appear. Yet their rules aren’t necessarily the same. For instance…” He hesitated, then winced and visibly restrained himself, “I’ve answered your question on how you can leave. Would you like to ask another question?”

Holy cricket song! He’s actually trying to help! Did I misjudge him? Hm… The image of him staring down at her, invoking the strongest fear response she could possibly imagine came back to her. Nope. He’s still a baddie. Still, this is interesting…

She shook her head, “Please keep going, I want to know all about rifts.”

The smile was back. Oh no.