Jet thought he knew what pain felt like, but he was wrong. Rick was not joking when he said we would run to the town that had been two days away. He was in agony. Muscles were aching. His body was on fire. All Jet wanted to do was lay down and sleep.

"Well, Jet, how do you feel after your jog here?" Rick asked with a wide grin.

"Jog, that was a nightmare. I'm not even sure how I kept going." Jet said while panting and dry heaving.

"Just wait until I teach you how to stop using your magic. Jet, you need to understand you should run that distance without the aid of magic." Rick said, patting Jet's back.

"Rick, hate to break this to you, but where I come from, that would be impossible." Jet said in a pained voice.

"Yes, I figured that, can't here either. You need special potions for that my friend. The potions will make your muscles tighten and strengthen your bones." Rick said, opening his bag and pulling some bottles out.

"Seriously, why didn't we start with those" Jet said.

"First, you need to learn to control your magic. However, your body needs to toughen up first." Rick said, putting the bottles away.

"Ok, fine, guess I can't complain. I get to learn magic." Jet said with a tired smile.

The town Apple they were now passing through looked like an old western town from back home. Jet wondered though how they made the lumber. Then he saw the lumber mill. There wasn't electricity here, but he saw a blade spinning on a table. He started to get curious and walk over, but Rick grabbed him.

"Thought you were tired?" Rick asked, walking towards what looked like a saloon.

Jet decided that not everything was like the old west. There were no women serving people. Of course, you really can't trust movies for info. Rick walked right over to the barkeep.

"Need a room and two of your specials," Rick said while handing over some gold coins.

Rick walked to a table in the back. He then pointed at a chair next to him. Jet sat on it, wondering why he couldn't just sit across from him.

"Remember to always sit with your back to a wall. Make sure and keep track of your surroundings." Rick said, looking at Jet.

"Is it a problem being attacked while eating?" Jet asked with a worried expression.

"Not often, but it does happen. We are traveling with no carriage or luggage. The only ones that do that are messengers or people who travel. People who travel have money and, of course, gear. Always keep your guard up just in case, because the time you let it down maybe the last." Rick said with a look of sadness in his eyes.

Jet nodded, and the bartender walked over with plates of food and their drinks. He didn't drink alcohol, but he took a swig anyway. It was not alcohol. It was apple juice.

"Apple juice?"Jet asked.

"We are in the town of Apple. They're known for anything to do with apples." Rick said.

"So, the town named itself after what they grow here?" Jet asked.

"No. We had a king one hundred and fifty years ago that renamed the towns after what they produce. He got tired of all the stupidly named towns, so he made a decree for any major supply town to be named after what they supply." Rick said

"Hang on. So all the towns are named after what they supply?" Jet asked

"No, were you listening just the major supply towns," Rick said in a sarcastic voice.

"So is the kingdom capital called capital?" Jet asked out of curiosity.

"No, it's Hope," Rick said

Jet just didn't get the naming sense here. Then again, Rick probably thinks his world was the odd one. The meal was delicious. The steak was so tender you could eat it with a spoon. Even the potatoes and carrots were excellent. Jet wondered why the food was better here. Could it be the way they prepared it, or maybe things tasted better because of magic?

"Let's get you to bed. You look like you are about to fall asleep." Rick said, standing before heading to the rooms in the back.

When they got to the room, Jet took a look around. The room was bare, just a bed, with covers. A jug of water and a bucket near the bed with a lid. Jet cringed at the bucket, 'how I missed plumbing already.' He thought back to the people who said that people should go back to these times.

Well, screw them. It isn't fun.

"Did you get two rooms?" Jet asked.

"No, why would I get two rooms?" Rick said, puzzled.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"So, I'm sleeping on the floor then?" Jet asked, hoping he wouldn't say they're sharing a bed.

"No, the bed is for you. I won't need to sleep for another week." Rick said in understanding.

"A week, we just ran for two days." Jet said.

"I am used to it. Now go wash up and get some sleep. Most likely, you will be asleep for a few days. In case you don't know, the bucket is for waste. Just put it outside the door. If used, they will replace it. Now I'll be around town getting some supplies, so if you need anything, just break this stick. I've used magic on it. Once broken, I will feel it." Rick said while putting some of his stuff on the table.

When Rick walked out, Jet washed as quickly as he could. He got into the bed, afraid he wouldn't fall asleep. When going to other people's houses or motels back home, Jet just would lay there. It had not been a problem, though before his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.

Rick

Sitting at a table, Rick was deep in thought. Jet did not know his natural strength. That run was a quick test of what kind of magic he had. The problem was it didn't work. Most people have different elements that they follow. However, his body can regenerate relatively quickly, thus looks like a water element. But he ran the whole way here, so he didn't overheat that means wind. His muscles could take the burn of the run, making him faster, so now fire. Rick decided its possible Jet has all four elements.

Another problem Rick was facing his magic pool. He didn't lie to Jet. That boy had a massive collection of magic. Kids were evaluated at a young age. If used without proper guidance, they could destroy their bodies. So he needed options.

An idea came to mind. "Well, it may work, but Jet will hate me once he figures out what I'm doing." He said to himself.

A few minutes later, Rick was outside an alchemy shop. He opened the door. When the smell hit him, Rick almost walked away. He never did like alchemy shops. They smell awful. He was looking around the shop. Ok, it looked more like a garden. The floors were dirt, and they used magic to bring each plant to its climate it needed.

"Can I help you, good sir?" A woman asked from a table in the corner of the room.

Rick looked at the woman that had to be in her early twenties. "Yes, I am looking for Dally."

He watched as the woman walked out of the room. Dally used to be an old friend of his, before she had been banished from Hope.

As soon as the older woman walked out of the back room, she had a kind smile on her face. When she got a good look at Rick, it changed to a sneer.

"Leave now," Dally yelled.

"Dally, I know you are mad, but I need your help." Rick tried to reason.

"After what you did to me, think I will pass."

"Look, I was just doing my job."

"I was too."

"That's why I fought so hard for just a banishment. However, you did kill half the council. As you said, though, you had good reasons, they betrayed the king. We have always done what is necessary, haven't we." Rick said with a sad grin.

"It has been over thirty years, could've come visit more often," Dally said, sighing.

"Yes, I should have, just wasn't sure if you wanted to see me."

"So what has you here after all these years?" Dally asked, looking him up and down.

Rick went on to tell Dally about Jetsford. She listened to his story without interrupting him. Dally is a good listener always had been. She used to say it's best to hear the story before asking questions.

"That is quite some tale there, Ricky. Jetsford sounds like an interesting kid, but I agree if he is that powerful, the potion will work. Jet may not like it, though, when he finds out." Said Dally getting a book off the shelf.

"Yeah, dampening his magic is for the best. Is there a potion without permanent side effects?" He said.

"Yes, I can make one with no permanent side effects, but there will be side effects with the potion. I'm also probably the only person that can make one with no permanent side effects." Dally grabbed a book from a shelf.

"You are the best, Dally. Shame what I did to you. I could have looked the other way." Rick said sadly.

"No, you would have never looked the other way, not even if it was family," Dally said.

Rick watched as she started the potion. Even now, he was amazed by the skill she had. The young lady from before came back to help, but Dally sent her away.

"Rick, you know this will take some time, and I like to work in peace." She said busily.

Well, Rick didn't mind. He would come back in the morning. So headed off to a blacksmith next. Jet was going to need a weapon. As he walked over, there was yelling going on.

"You sold me shit. One swing broke this sword." The yelling man said.

Rick looked at the man. He stood two heads shorter than the blacksmith. The blacksmith was a tall, dark man. Rick wondered where the man came from. He had never seen that dark of skin before. If Rick had to guess the man's age, he was still in his teens and had short black hair.

"That is not the weapon I sold you. Just looks like it." The blacksmith said calmly.

"Don't try that bull shit with me. I bought this sword only two days ago, now your saying I didn't buy the sword." The man said, grabbing the blacksmith by his shirt.

Without hesitation, the blacksmith slammed a fist into the man's gut. he crumbled to the ground. His buddies with him drew their swords.

"I said I didn't sell you that sword, it looks the same, but it is not one I made. Now the two swords your friends have are mine." He said with surety.

Rick picked up the broken sword then looked at it. No, he thought the blacksmith did not make this sword. So he grabbed one off a shelf nearby to compare. This sword was of excellent quality, and the broken was just a look-alike of low quality.

"Sir, before you left town, what did you do," Rick asked like a man with great authority.

"This is none of your business, old man."

"Look, I'm going to help you find out what happened to your sword," Rick said with an edge to his voice.

"I know what happened. This man sold me crap." the man spat at Rick.

"No, this sword was not made by this man. That is why I am asking what you did before you left town. More than likely, it was switched sometime before you left." Rick said, putting the sword away he grabbed.

"I never let it out of." The man was saying and stopped.

"There, you just thought of something, didn't you," Rick said with a smirk on his face.

"Fucking whore." The man yelled as he went running off.

"Thank you for the help, sir. My name is Tom." Tom said, holding out his hand.

"Rick, and it was no problem at all," Rick said, shaking his hand.

"So you have an eye for weapons. Most wouldn't have noticed the difference. It is quite good work they did to copy mine." Tom said, looking at the copy.

Rick noticed he was still holding the copy, then handed it to Tom. "Is this a problem around here, people getting their gear stolen?"

"No, but you got some that go to the sketchy parts of town. Although I will have the town guard look into this, I don't need that kind of reputation." Tom said, looking at the broken blade.

Rick decided he would report this too, but he didn't have the time to look into this. Now, what kind of weapon to get Jet. With the build, he has maybe a short sword. Tom and Rick talked a while about his disciple to try and find what would work for Jet.