We moved from the coverage of small trees and upon one of the mountain sides. There into the cover of the bushes. I took out my spell book and started meditating while holding it. Yet the mana seemed to be elusive for me. Flickering in and out of existence, never getting a grasp on it.

“I heard from one of my patients, a magus with a few loose screws, but that’s not important. That to start off - on magic - try imagining it as the breath you take in.”

I did as Kali told me. At first it felt the same, but on one of my tries I managed to breathe it in. An invigorating feeling washed across my body. It circled about gathering in a few spots before it stopped and got absorbed by my whole body.

I opened my eyes and breathed out. Before me I saw Kali with some herbs, plants, and berries.

“Thanks for the advice.” I said and sat in front of her. She was tasting them and then placing them on different piles.

“It’s okay. I after all I don’t have the required talent to see it, at least it helped you. By the way, you never mentioned what you were doing before all of this?”

“I was a worker for some administrative company, nothing much, but it paid the bills. On the battlefield that’s where I felt I was truly alive.” I looked to the setting sun and thought about all my comrades. Dusty, Mayers, Greg and even Greasy Jack they must’ve died in the last attack from the Meteorite Swarm.

Funny, not even nuclear weapons were enough to take down their barriers, much less guns. It was futile, but here… perhaps it’ll be different. I looked down at the point where my hand made contact with the spellbook, I felt it, the mana flowing through the spell book.

We ended up eating some plants and berries that seemed that they weren’t poisonous. After all they looked unlike any plants I’ve seen before, but I trust Kali sorted them correctly.

“By the way, give me your daggers I’ll put some dizziness poison on them.” I gave them to her and watched as she put it on them along on her sword.

“You know I could have done it myself.”

“That’s out of the question. It would have gotten into your wounds. Here you are.”

“Thanks.” I took them from her and saw a green coating on them. “It’s from the berries, right?”

“Yeah, we can pick some more up on the way and the others too. It’s best to have supplies.”

“I’ll be going, now.” I said and stood up; the sun was already giving off the last radiance off before its inevitable change with night. I checked all of my gear and threw the pickaxe on the ground; it’ll just be a burden while sneaking.

“I’ll see you off. But only to a safe distance, there I’ll be waiting for you.” Kali said and gave me the pickaxe back to carry it.

“If anything’s wrong then, run.”

She didn’t give me an answer, but I’m sure she understands. And so, it happened as it should when we get to about to about five hundred meters from the tower she stayed in a bush. I gave her the pickaxe and off I went.

At the base of the tower were tents placed around, from them light was radiating, accentuating the tower. The closer and closer I got, the more cautious I had to be. The last one hundred meters I spent crawling on the ground moving only when no one was looking.

And let me tell you there was a lot of Prophesized Ones, in the mix there were also humans. These must have been the lucky chosen ones, the ones the guards were talking about. They looked dignified doing their respective duties. These were mostly maid duties like cooking, cleaning and some other things, that could be imagined by the moaning and screaming from the tents.

Now that I look at them, I don’t think I saw any of them being ugly. Every human servant here, be it man or woman had a beautiful appearance and a healthy body.

I sighed.

Privileges of the beautiful what can I do? Me and my scars… I’m far from a beauty. Got to be honest.

I shrugged my shoulders at my ridiculous thoughts and crawled behind one of the tents. Although I have to admit there was a clear distinction between the Prophesized Ones. The right side of the encampment was inhabited by more militaristic ones. While the left ones by these low-lives, for whom this was akin to an outing with all kinds of carnal pleasures.

In view of that I sneaked towards the left side as it was less guarded. There were ten people moving about nine of them being human while one was a Prophesized One. I avoided them and peered into one of the tents.

There were books strewn all across the floor alongside armour and clothes. In the tent were two beds, while on one was an on-going great battle. Of size of one Prophesized One versus three women.

Seeing them lost in their own world I knew that this would be easy. I slipped into their tent and crawled on the ground over to the items on the ground.

I picked up the armour, it had two sets. One was made out of metal plates, while the other was chainmail. I didn’t think about it for too long and took the chainmail for myself. After that I started looking through the books, while laying against the bedframe.

The books were written in Yrmis, their language. It proved me a challenge to even read their titles, but I managed to pick out some books. Namely Medi - tation or cation -, beginner spells and fighting against a magus, I guess?

I picked up some Yrmis while fighting on one of their planets, not enough to read books but enough to read signs up on taverns. This is going to Alan; he should be able to read it.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I continued looking through the parchments that were on the ground, but then I heard a grunt and a moan come from above me. As I looked above, I came face to face with one of the women.

She had her head over the bedframe as the bed continued rocking. Her face was a drooling mess, yet she still saw me.

“In ah, ah” She tried warning of my presence, but the Prophesized One gave her no chance as he continued railing her harder and harder.

“Sorry, but I have to do this for the success of the plan.” I whispered. It’s not like you’re not going to enjoy it.

I took out the spell book and moved the mana from the page with sensitivity increase. I got it on my fingers, it brought a pink glow on them that I then placed on her forehead. I felt her drool land on top of my head.

I sighed and repeated Kali’s mantra ’calm down, don’t punch her’, it had a surprising effect of calming me down. Somewhat.

So, with a strained smile I got the substance off my head and moved out the fallout zone.

I wanted to look some more through the parchments, but I felt the movements of the bed stop and a loud groan came. I saw the head of the Prophesized One right behind hers. His eyelids were closed in delight, but that was enough warning for me. I slipped away by rolling under one side of the tent.

When I was out, I diminished my presence and caught my breath as I listened to any commotion from the tent.

“Lord Galio it’s my turn now. Please mess me up!”

“Then bark for it like the bitch you are.”

“Bark, bark please my Lord it hurts each second that you aren’t inside of …mgh, agh.” And the moaning restarted.

“My Lord let me.” The voice of the third woman got heard before slurping sounds were heard.

Thorough all of this my eyes were dead. This must be some kind of mental torture. I feel mentally damaged. I know I should ask Kali to heal me, after all her job as a nurse should take this into account.

I moved away from the right side as it was causing me mental anguish and also because it didn't seem like there was anything else of value.

Before I got to the right side, I stashed all of my righteously acquired things on a pile some distance away from the outpost. I also took out the dizziness poison Kali gathered on the way and my mischief could start.

The only regret I have is the fact we couldn’t find any plants that were laxatives. I can only imagine, how that would look. I almost couldn’t stifle my laughter as I crawled over to one of the tents on the right side. I did have a though about getting to the tower, but the number of people remained while some were acting as a lookout.

By the looks of things there must’ve been about seventy people in the whole camp and I don’t want to be caught in the middle of that.

I peeked into a tent and saw what looked to be a proper soldiers’ dorm. They had their armours displayed on stands while they slept. I saw their respective weapons laying in beds with them instead of women. Their breathing was light, acclimatized to survival in the wild.

Sneaking inside would be much harder, not impossible, but harder. Yet even if I did sneak inside what should I take. These guys are dirt poor. Except weapons and armour, they have nothing. Besides Eli is a thief with principles and won’t steal something without value. Eli is a good thief.

I nodded to myself.

After hyping myself up I inspected every tent on the outskirts, but came up with nothing.

’How about I do this?’ I thought as I sneaked further into the encampment. I made sure to look out for a window of opportunity.

I saw someone stepping out of the tent in front of me. So, I took my chance and slipped inside from the back. Inside, was the commanders tent it seemed, there was a long table in the middle of the room with a map on top of it.

There was also personal desk that I hid behind. Other than that, there were papers with magical circles hanged on one side of the tent. I observed the commander that was standing in the open doorway of the tent overlooking the encampment.

‘Stay just like that little man. And let me grab something you won’t miss.’ I thought as I started looking through his drawers on the desk. I found there a map of this valley we were in. I was going to leave, but not before getting a good look at the big map.

It was illustrating the world and its layers up to layer eight although further there were question marks. Informing of the possibility of further depth. Before I could know anything else about the map a sizzling sound was heard through the tent. In panic I ducked and just in time as I heard the footsteps of the little man.

His face was stern before it turned into a scoff.

“What a fucking joke, some pathetic noble got killed here on the fucking layer zero. At least it’s some lesser-known noble. This should pass over. A stain on my career for this would be a joke.” He said as he was looking at one of the papers that was sizzling out of existence. It must be the life paper, useful to know condition of the recipient.

“After all what noble family would let themselves be a laughing stock, because one of their imbeciles got killed. Although I-” He stopped as the soldier that was keeping guard walked into the room. Meanwhile I was looking at everything from behind the desk.

“Sir, a thunder-arrow spell was seen on the south side from us. Some two kilometres away.”

The commander sighed before telling him. “Take three more soldiers with you and check it out. It was most likely a beast, but be prepared for a possibility of enemies from the High Castle.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And one more thing.” The commander called out as he was leaving. “Make sure any of the noble brats don’t learn about this. We don’t want to blow this out, do we?”

“Yes, sir. No other living being other than our squad will hear of this.”

“Perfect, now go.”

I took the chance and slipped outside as both of them had their backs to me. When I got outside, I saw the air being clear. And went out of the camp. After taking my things I headed for the location where I got separated with Kali. I found her sleeping in one of the bushes her head laid in a pillow of grass. Tools and plants placed all around.

“Hey, wake up, sleepy head.” I tapped her on the cheek and before she could react, I continued. “Do you mind having sex?”

I didn’t have to wait too long for her before I got my answer. Her sword aimed and swinging for my nether region. I dodged backward narrowly evading losing my family jewels.

“I knew it wasn’t that easy. The Pretentious Ones must have some tricks.” I said and nodded to myself.

She glared at me, reason thankfully returning to her gaze. The same couldn’t be said about me – got to admit that.

“It seems hour by hour you’re getting more stupid.” Kali said.

“It was worth a shot.”

“Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“I’m not surprised. I can’t imagine a single person that could live with you for more than twenty-four hours.”

“So, that’s why I lived alone.” I said with a surprised expression and I flashed her a goofy smile as she kept on looking at me in irritation. “Okay, okay. Did you get enough sleep? I think I know where some of the survivors are or at least there’ll be a battle there.”

“Then what are you waiting for we could have already been on the way.”

“By the way take this.” I gave her the chain-mail armour she’ll need it more than me as she’s going to fight close combat if anything. Not that she’s aware of it, but look at me there’s no way anybody’s expecting me rushing the enemies.

“Thanks.” We took all of our stuff and headed for south; with our departure I heard the shouts from the commander from the encampment.

"There's a thief here! Check out the slaves!"

I sighed hearing that, at least it seems they don't yet know about us being here. But that can quickly change.

"We have to be there quicker than the soldiers."

"Why?"

"If I'm not wrong, they don't yet know of us hijacking their portal. But that can quickly change. If they find out any trace of our doing."