\u201cAwaken, Human.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve listened to my share of alarm clocks over the years. When I was a kid, my parents gave me an old-fashioned one* that I had to wind up constantly or it wouldn\u2019t go off. First chance I got, I switched it out for a digital alarm and then my iPhone.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*Vintage, which matters to no one unless you\u2019re a hipster. And if you are, don\u2019t talk to me.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I like to wake up early to run\u2014thus as I got older, my alarm clocks got louder. The one in my room I bought because my iPhone wasn\u2019t powerful enough. It could wake up the house if I left for my morning run and forgot to turn it off. And my folks have a big house.<\/p>\n
But no alarm clock or blaring fire alarm has ever gotten me into the waking world so quickly. The instant I heard those two words, I woke up. It was like magic*.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*Probably because it was<\/em> magic.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I raise my head and instinctively brace for agonizing pain. I don\u2019t feel any, which is alarming in itself. I should be in incredible pain\u2014or dead. And if I am dead, who woke me up?<\/p>\n Please let it not be an old white guy who calls himself God.<\/p>\n \u201cSit up.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, the voice of whomever-this-is does exactly what it says on the tin. I get up without even realizing I\u2019m doing it. I was lying on the ground, but now the world tilts the right way up for me. What\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n I remember collapsing onto the floor. On paved marble tiles to be exact. Paved marble tiles in the middle of a vast cavern, surrounded by a treasury\/armory\/mage\u2019s laboratory\/library of some kind.<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to look around, but my body is frozen. I sit completely still, unable to look around. I can see rows of dark bookshelves ahead of me, and then someone walks into view.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a man\u2014yes, a man standing in front of me. The strangest, most attractive\u2014<\/p>\n Attractive? Him? He\u2019s an old guy with a beard. I hate<\/em> older men, mainly because they remind me of my dad. But this man\u2014he\u2019s different. Different from anyone I\u2019ve met.<\/p>\n For one thing, he looks amazing in multiple senses of the word. His hair is a pale white, but not gray. Rather\u2014silvery? It has a luster about it that makes me wonder if he uses this world\u2019s equivalent of hair gel. But even the greatest beauty pageant contestants and supermodels of my world don\u2019t have hair like that.<\/p>\n And he looks like a model. An Olympian athlete past his prime but with the same body. He looks like the kind of person Renaissance sculptors would make statues of, but even David wasn\u2019t this in shape.<\/p>\n Plus, he\u2019s wearing robes that look like they\u2019re kin to the ones Ceria bought. Magical robes that look like silk and shine\u2014except that his clothing is even shinier*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *I think my brain\u2019s literally shutting down. This is wrong. People\u2026a person shouldn\u2019t be this<\/em> perfect.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And then I look up and meet a pair of eyes that are blue in one orb and violet in the other.<\/p>\n No. Blue and violet? What, am I in elementary school? The colors I see are far deeper than that. I look into this man\u2019s eyes\u2014<\/p>\n And I see a tiny bit of magic caught forever.<\/p>\n It should be impossible, but it\u2019s like staring into one of those nebulas in outer space. The amethyst and azure\u2014no, even those words aren\u2019t good enough. When I see the celestial colors in his eyes, the words heliotrope and cerulean spring to mind. Fancy words to describe a wordless sight.<\/p>\n The colors shift together in his irises, exactly like the ever-changing colors of the solar clouds. Nebulae. The pupils shift towards me, and I feel like someone\u2019s tagged me with a cattle prod*. I still don\u2019t know how I\u2019m uninjured or what this place is, but I can guess by assuming what he<\/em> is.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *I don\u2019t know what that actually feels like firsthand but\u2014it\u2019s like my entire body is being shocked, and not just in a bad way.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A mage. Or maybe the word sorcerer or wizard applies here. Because if this guy is a mage, he\u2019s an archmage or a magus.<\/p>\n The mysterious old mage-guy crooks one finger upwards at me.<\/p>\n \u201cStand, please.\u201d<\/p>\n I push myself up and onto my feet easily, again sans pain or the gaping holes in my body I know should be there. Why?<\/p>\n Now that I\u2019m on my feet, I see I\u2019m also shorter than this man by at least a few inches. And I\u2019m six foot one. He\u2019s tall, handsome, and even if his skin isn\u2019t dark it\u2019s\u2014<\/p>\n I blink for a second. Odd, I could have sworn his skin was white, but it\u2019s darker than that. He looks\u2026middle eastern? Yeah, a moderate olive brown whitened by a long time out of the sun maybe. But I could have sworn <\/em>he had white skin when I first saw him.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n (His scales glow in the light. The golden Dragon looks at me and\u2014)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n No\u2014it\u2019s the light. I want to look up, but the light is changing in the room somehow. It\u2019s as if there\u2019s a massive color filter over the room making everything appear different. Is there a massive mirror or something\u2026?<\/p>\n But then the mage looks me up and down, and I realize something else is wrong. Namely, something is wrong with my clothes.<\/p>\n My flesh is healed, but the fabric is weak. And when a bunch of pterodactyl-type birds start trying to shred you from above and Gargoyles are spitting stone chunks at you, a wardrobe malfunction is sort of inevitable.<\/p>\n One of the stone shards must have cut me on the right shoulder, because my bra strap\u2019s been sliced in two. That wouldn\u2019t be so bad\u2014except that an important part of my shirt is missing too. Right around the chest area.<\/p>\n It\u2019s cold in the cavern. But the old guy gives my breast one dismissive look and sighs. He doesn\u2019t even seem vaguely interested, which annoys me more than I feel relieved he\u2019s not some pervert-sorcerer*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Look, obviously I care about the dignity of women. Anyone whistling at me on the street I have an urge to throw into a trashcan. But when nakedness occurs, you expect at least some<\/em> kind of reaction out of any male, gay or straight or asexual. Even if it\u2019s covering their eyes and turning away politely or staring like a monkey. But this guy doesn\u2019t even blink. Even a blind guy would be happier to be told there was a naked woman in front of him. Respect is very important, but I\u2019d like some<\/em> acknowledgment I\u2019m more important than a rock.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAh, of course. Clothing.\u201d<\/p>\n He tsks<\/em> and raises a finger. I\u2019d really love to dodge or ask what he\u2019s doing, but I\u2019m helpless.<\/p>\n \u201c[Repair].\u201d<\/p>\n His finger doesn\u2019t even glow. Unlike when Sostrom repaired my iPhone, I can see no flash of magic. But magic does<\/em> happen.<\/p>\n In an instant, my bra strap slithers back over my shoulder and reconnects itself. I feel, without being able to turn my head, my clothing growing to cover the missing spots, sealing over in a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n That felt\u2026incredibly creepy<\/em>. But I\u2019m happier not to be catching a cold, and the old mage seems happy too. He nods, once. Then he looks at me again.<\/p>\n \u201cHuman, be silent and still. Do not speak or move save that I require a response. I will ask you questions, and you will answer to the best of your abilities, promptly and audibly. You will perform no magic and act in no violent ways while you are in my home.\u201d<\/p>\n He pauses. Wow. Most people just say hello when they meet me or ask me if I want a pair of shoes.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, do not defecate, befoul, or otherwise sully this place in any way, shape, or form. And stand up straight.\u201d<\/p>\n Okay, I\u2019m not sure what Humans he\u2019s used to dealing with, but\u2014my spine is already straightening. I can\u2019t even glare at him. Crap. Is this some kind of magical hypnosis spell? But now he\u2019s walking around me slowly. Eying me like a piece of fish on sale at a supermarket.<\/p>\n \u201cI care not about your name, but you are a Runner, a messenger, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n I tried to say, \u2018yes, asshole\u2019, but apparently no violence means no backchat either. He nods like he expected that reply.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. But then tell me\u2014why did you risk such a dangerous request? Three of your kind have perished already attempting to reach my home. What drove you to risk death for this delivery?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, the response comes out of me instantly before I even have time to really think about my reply.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the reward. Eighty gold pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n Now he looks disappointed.<\/p>\n \u201cSimply for that? No other reason?\u201d<\/p>\n Huh. Was this all some sort of test? Well, motor mouth, do your thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI took the request for the money, but also because I wanted to challenge myself. There are no other requests in the Runner\u2019s Guild I could have taken, either. I am being blocked from other deliveries by fellow Runners, and this is the only request I could take.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. I see. How very mundane.\u201d<\/p>\n He shakes his head. In my<\/em> head, I\u2019m sort of annoyed. It\u2019s nice to know even an archmage former athlete can be an arrogant jerk.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well, then tell me: where do you come from? I have not seen features nor skin color such as yours on this continent for\u2026a long time. Where were you born?\u201d<\/p>\n Ah, now the hard questions come. But I\u2019m ready for this. Well, not this obviously, but after meeting Lady Magnolia, I thought of the best way to deal with someone who can tell whether you\u2019re lying or compel you to tell the truth. Either way, the only deception is in part of the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cI was born in Oakland, California.\u201d<\/p>\n He pauses. A brief frown creases the mage\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not familiar with either name. What nation does this Oakland California hail from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAmerica.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Another new nation. How troubling. The name feels more Chandrarian, but I suppose\u2026well, a map should sort this out.\u201d<\/p>\n The man strokes his silvery beard. Then he shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose it doesn\u2019t matter. Now, I wish for you to answer this question freely, but also honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n He points at me.<\/p>\n \u201cMy spells of appraisal and identification told me nothing of your class or level when I cast them. And yet you are neither undead nor construct, and you are entirely Human. Why can I not see your class?\u201d<\/p>\n At last, it seems like I can say what\u2019s on my mind. I work my jaw and open my mouth for a few nice obscenities.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026Well damn. It looks like I still can\u2019t just insult him, and I need<\/em> to tell the truth. Fine. I look the mage in the eye and talk.<\/p>\n \u201cI stopped myself from leveling. You can\u2019t see my class because I don\u2019t have one.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time since I\u2019ve laid eyes on his face, the man looks genuinely startled. He tilts his head to peer more closely at me, and I notice that he has pointed ears. Oh. Of course.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no level? And you refuse to accept a class? Why? Fascinating. Are we back to this again? You don\u2019t hail from Zeres, do you? No?\u201d<\/p>\n I have no idea what he means. I shake my head and, again, answer truthfully.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like being controlled. And I think\u2014yeah, I think that classes and levels are a way for the world or some system to control people. I want no part of it. And\u2014it feels like cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, I\u2019m treated to an expression of frank incredulity. It\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve ever articulated my feelings as well, and even I\u2019m surprised by my answer. Cheating. I guess that\u2019s really one of the big reasons why I don\u2019t like the entire basis of this world. But people level or die, which is probably why I\u2019m getting the fish-eye from him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou refused<\/em> to level up out of principle. Because you think\u2026it empowers you too much?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, more than other people.\u201d<\/p>\n He looks fascinated by this. Suddenly, the man sits, and I see a shimmering chair made out of light<\/em> appear, an armchair, which materializes in the blink of an eye. As if sitting on light is normal, the man puts his fingers together like some kind of pretentious academic. Which he now sounds like.<\/p>\n \u201cBut everyone is capable of levelling. The purest form of meritocracy, some call it. A few have considered there are benefits to doing without, but I have never met someone who denies levelling purely based on a disdain for its merits. You do not crave the power of Skills? At all?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I think I\u2019m doing pretty good on my own. I\u2019m in good shape, I\u2019m smart enough, and I\u2019m faster than Runners with Skills\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A guffaw escapes the old man\u2019s lips so fast he catches himself. He laughs in my face\u2014then stops.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. You are serious. Incredible. Well, one supposes extraordinarily misguided egos do appear rarely. You have not seen what levels can do then, young woman. How very narrow your worldview is.\u201d<\/p>\n He smirks at me. I stare blandly back because my face won\u2019t work\u2026but with inner spite in my soul.<\/p>\n \u201cBig talk for someone who doesn\u2019t know where America is. Or Oakland or California.\u201d<\/p>\n Cheap shots, I know, but it hits alright as his cheeks turn pink. That little bit of sass makes me feel better. He shoots me a frosty look.<\/p>\n \u201cYoung nations rising and falling is hardly something to keep note of for someone of my lifespan\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n His hands go up, and he checks his ears quickly as if making sure they\u2019re there?<\/p>\n \u201c…As a half-Elf. Yes. Philosophical inquiry into the function of classes and levels is far more pertinent to any discussion. Although\u2014you probably don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m talking about, do you? That\u2019s a rhetorical question. Don\u2019t answer it. Of course, you don\u2019t know what a rhetorical question is, either. Human education being what it is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n For a moment, the mage\u2019s eyes trail off. So he\u2019s a haughty half-Elf recluse. From being the imperious mage he becomes something like what I\u2019d expect an old, lecture-style college professor to be like. He gets out of his armchair and walks around me, talking half to me, half to the air.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, the rhetorical question was first invented by the Dragons. Only naturally. Of course, Elves and Dwarves adopted the practice, but it was Dragon-kind that first thought of a question that had no need for an answer. Elves were too in tune with nature; they expected<\/em> answers to pop up, possibly from the rocks and trees they talked to. Dwarves on the other hand are literal creatures. If they ask you a question, they demand an answer. Humans on the other cl\u2014hand\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He broke off, shaking his head and sighing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I forget my audience. You don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m talking about, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s still an arrogant ass. But I get the distinct impression he\u2019s also starved for company. Well, I can still answer back, so let\u2019s see if I can\u2019t continue this. Even if swearing is out of the question, I\u2019m great at getting under people\u2019s skin. It\u2019s practically one of my Skills \u2013 [Being a Smart-mouthed Jerk].<\/p>\n \u201cI know what a rhetorical question is.\u201d<\/p>\n He waves a hand at me and shakes his head pityingly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, yes. I\u2019m sure you do. Ah, I\u2019d forgotten how Humans exaggerate and lie.\u201d<\/p>\n Does he forget I can\u2019t<\/em> lie at the moment? I try to glare, but my facial muscles still aren\u2019t working.<\/p>\n \u201cWould I really be that much of an idiot that I\u2019d lie about knowing what a rhetorical question is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell of course, I would assume\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pause. I enjoy the look on his face for a few seconds before he gives me a flat-lidded stare. Well, if I die at least I died doing what I do best. You can put that on my gravestone*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Ryoka Griffin, 1995 \u2013 2016. \u201cNever knew when to shut up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I see that you are marginally more intelligent than the others I have met. Very well then, perhaps you will be able to answer my next question as well.\u201d<\/p>\n He gestures, and from out of nowhere a map flies over and unfurls itself in the air. It\u2019s a real map, old and dusty. I really want to sneeze, but I can\u2019t. It stays motionless in the air as the mage shows me a map of the continent. Damn. I really wanted to see the world map.<\/p>\n Mr. Mage taps the old parchment with one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish to know of any ongoing major wars between multiple nations, new technologies or spells developed, legendary monsters sighted or slain\u2014import of that nature. Tell me all the news you have heard of in the past several years or so. What has transpired while I have been\u2026secluded here?\u201d<\/p>\n Oh boy, I\u2019m going to love this. I give him the most casual shrug possible and spread my arms out.<\/p>\n \u201cDunno.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t pay attention to world news. You probably know more about what\u2019s going on than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Blink, blink. Oh yes, score one for Ryoka Griffin*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *He\u2019s still up by a few hundred thousand points, though.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Again, the mage harrumphs and glares at me, but his truthiness spell on me is working, and both he and I know it. He sighs, tugs at his beard again, and tries a different tack.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you at least know if Magnolia Reinhart still lives?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, indeed. That is good. Well then, have you heard of a strange child known as Ryoka Griffin? She is a Runner, like you, although presumably high-level in the [Runner] class, unlike you. I am told her leg is currently injured or she may have been recently healed. Do you know of her?\u201d<\/p>\n Oh gods. Poker face. There is so much I want to ask in those last few sentences, but\u2014stick to the truth!<\/p>\n \u201cI know of a Ryoka Griffin, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed? Do you know her address, a location where she stays at night? I have tried scrying her with magic, but either the name I was given was wrong or she is protected by powerful magic.\u201d<\/p>\n Now why the hell would Magnolia\u2026? No, that\u2019s a stupid question. I know the answer to that. But why wouldn\u2019t he be able to find me? I don\u2019t have any magical protections on me, not any that I\u2019m aware of*. And how the hell am I going to answer? Ah, got it. Again, with the truth.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Note to self: have this checked out and buy something soon.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin\u2014Ryoka doesn\u2019t have a permanent place of residence. She moves around a lot, and she doesn\u2019t stay in one city or inn for very long if she can help it.\u201d<\/p>\n The old man sighs at me and shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well, very well. I shall have to ask again for her true name, if that is the case. Although why Reinhart would have failed to extract her full name astounds me.\u201d<\/p>\n Aha<\/em>! I\u2019ve got it. I know why he can\u2019t find me with magic. He might be able to cast the highest-level scrying spell or whatever, but it\u2019s no use if he can\u2019t spell my name. Turns out having a dad who gives you a traditional Japanese name comes in handy once in a while. Ryoka. Trying spelling the kanji<\/em> on that one, sucker*.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *Kanji, the written language of Japan. My name is Japanese, and although my U.S. birth certificate shows the English reading of it\u2014Ryoka\u2014my real name as given to me is \u6dbc\u9999. I\u2019m willing to bet that he\u2019d need to know that in order to find me.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Being stumped at anything seems to be a unique experience for this guy. He looks put out, at any rate, but then he turns his attention back to me, and I get the full intensity of his stare again.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, as interesting as this has been, I have no further questions for you. Runner, tell me, are you one of the better Runners in your guild, despite your lack of levels?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n No exaggeration or deceit needed there. The old guy looks unconvinced, but he nods reluctantly.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. In that case, hear my request. You have come here seeking payment and a delivery. I will offer you your paltry sum, but you will<\/em> complete my request, sparing no effort to fulfill it, either by your own hands or ones more qualified. Is that understood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n I really don\u2019t like the sound of that. And I\u2019ve got a bad feeling that whatever he\u2019s going to ask of me, I\u2019m going to be bound to do. A geas*<\/em>. Damn.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n *A geas<\/em>, or geis <\/em>if you prefer the Irish spelling, is a type of quest. Or\u2026an oath bound by fate and magic. Look it up if you don\u2019t know. Old myths and stories were full of them, and they never ended well for the people who took them on. Here\u2019s hoping this one\u2019s a simple task.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n He points at me. I can already hear the silent orchestra in the background playing. Great. Why not add some wind and special effects to make it even more dramatic, old man?<\/p>\n \u201cYou will go to the area known as the Blood Fields and locate the individual known as Az\u2019kerash. Or\u2014perhaps he uses his former, Human name. Perril. Perril Chandler, I believe.\u201d<\/p>\n Perril Chandler? That\u2019s a far cry from Az\u2019kerash. But since I can still talk, I guess it\u2019s time to ask as much as I can.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is this guy?\u201d<\/p>\n The man eyes me again, as if I should know. I shrug, and he sniffs and shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a powerful mage. A [Necromancer], to be exact. But I believe he would be most easily identifiable by appearance. His hair is pale white, as is his skin. His eyes are violet. Although\u2014he may use illusion spells to conceal such features when moving about. You may have heard of him as the Necromancer of Terandria and that he had passed away\u2014he has not. Hence the geas<\/em>\u2014the rest of the world thinks him dead, and I would not wish to start another continental war, possibly intercontinental, by making a mess of things.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh fuck. Isn\u2019t he supposed to be dead, according to the Horns? <\/em>But all I can do is listen.<\/p>\n Silver-beard strokes said beard again and pauses. He seems to think for a moment and then nods.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose the easiest way would be to go wherever the undead are most prevalent. He has an army. A fortress of the dead, to be exact. If you can make it here\u2026well, you are the only Runner to reach even my humble abode, so I must take the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh fuck. Oh geez. Oh gods almighty and deceased tap-dancing on my unmarked grave.<\/em> That<\/em> does not<\/em> sound like a survivable request.<\/p>\n The old mage is already turning away, but I can\u2019t just take that and run off. I clear my throat, and he turns and reluctantly looks back towards me.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeak.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. If this guy\u2014Az\u2019kerash is surrounded by the dead, how am I supposed to get to him without being killed?\u201d<\/p>\n He looks annoyed at the question or perhaps my stupidity.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally, his bodyguards will attempt to slay you. No doubt they regard all living beings as a threat. You must simply make your way to him, regardless of the peril. Besides, most of the animated dead are slow and easy to outrun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but they have arrows. How am I supposed to dodge those?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are a Runner, are you not? Can you not simply outrun arrows?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026No. I can\u2019t outrun spells either, and I\u2019ve seen undead mages. I won\u2019t survive more than a few seconds if I run into a Lich by myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Silver-beard looks put out. He tugs at his beard again, almost as if he wants to rip it off.<\/p>\n \u201cConfounded hair\u2014I suppose I should have expected as much from a Human Runner. Without levels. Very well. If that is the case\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He trails off. Looks like he\u2019s deep in thought, but I still have more questions. I clear my throat again, and his brows snap together as he glares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you just send the package or whatever it is with magic or something? Is it too heavy to transport? Because if it is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMagic<\/em> is not the solution here. The one I wish to deliver a letter and small item to\u2014he is shielded from location or communication from any form of spell, either malign or beneficial. As am I. I cannot discern his location nor speak with him save through the slowest of methods, which is why I requested a Runner. Also, it is the principle of the thing. I am not doing this out of pleasure, but obligation. Damned obligation\u2026ahem. Thus, I will also require your return to report success.\u201d<\/p>\n Even better. I really should not<\/em> open my big mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI barely survived getting here. I probably won\u2019t a second time. And if finding this [Necromancer] is as dangerous as it sounds\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI heard you. Be silent.\u201d<\/p>\n Well, there goes speech. I helplessly stand and watch as the old man talks to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is why\u2026Humans\u2026it cannot be helped. Hm. A Courier would have been far more preferable. But if the issue is simply a matter of survival and speed, I suppose\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He looks around. Then he points and beckons. From a corner of the cavern I can\u2019t see, a bottle flies into his hand. Mages can use the Force. Who knew?<\/p>\n Silver-beard holds the bottle out to me. I stare at it. It\u2019s an orange\u2014no, a glowing orange-pink mixture contained in a glass bottle. It looks like nothing I\u2019d want to put in my body, but my hand reaches up to take it anyways.<\/p>\n \u201cHere. Take this as your fee for delivery. As to your fee for arriving here, albeit injured\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Another gesture, and a shower of gold swirls up into the air and down into a bag he holds out in his hand. Despite the amount of money, the bag doesn\u2019t even ripple as the coins flow into it.<\/p>\n The mage hands me the bag, and I find myself placing it at my hip.<\/p>\n \u201cThe potion is a concoction that will enhance your speed greatly. Do not<\/em> drink it all at once. A single dose should suffice for any monster, undead or otherwise, that you encounter. With it, you should be able to reach Perril Chandler more or less intact. Be sure not to confuse mana potions with health potions either. Your mana poisoning was most inconvenient to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh. Was that<\/em> what it was? Damn. It all makes sense now. No wonder I wasn\u2019t healing. But I could have sworn Ceria gave me the right potions.<\/p>\n \u201cWas the mana poisoning bad? If so\u2014thank you, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n Silver-hair raises his eyebrows as if surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cMana poisoning? You would certainly not have died from the amount of mana you imbibed. Violent illness, fever, and uncontrollable bodily excretion would have been the worst you would have suffered over the next few days if I had left it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Wow. Suddenly, I\u2019m really glad he took the time to heal that.<\/p>\n \u201cWas it intentional? If you were attempting to augment your body, I must tell you it was done poorly. A minuscule increase to your diet is the only way to properly acclimatize the Human body to magic. Not that I would expect modern mages to know how to naturalize magic within themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Okay, if my ears could move, they would definitely perk up at that. And I\u2019d love to ask more questions, but suddenly, my employer seems eager to have me gone. He shakes his head and flicks his fingers at me.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless, do not injure yourself unnecessarily while fulfilling my task. Take this letter and this ring.\u201d<\/p>\n Two more objects fly out of nowhere, and the mage hands them to me. The first is a scroll, tightly sealed with wax. The second is a small ring made of what looks like silver and an onyx gem. I say \u2018looks like\u2019, because when my hand closes over the metal it feels warm, and both gem and metal seem to be shining from within. Magic. It looks amazing, though.<\/p>\n The old man eyes me sternly and points to both items.<\/p>\n \u201cDo not wear the ring or you will suffer excruciatingly. The same goes for opening the letter, is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrystal.\u201d<\/p>\n He eyes me again and shakes his head. Then he seems to waver, bits his lip, and grumbling, flicks his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bloodfields should<\/em> be empty, but\u2014just in case, and in addition to my generous remunerations<\/em>, I shall present you with this wand. It is a powerful flame wand for self-defense.\u201d<\/p>\n A crystal wand with what looks like red magma<\/em> joins the other objects. He hands it to me\u2014but holds on as if reluctant to give it away.<\/p>\n \u201cDo not<\/em> use it unless you are removed from your target. You understand? If you have no need of it on this trip\u2014it will doubtless sell for some good coin. I trust you will do your best to survive. Retrieving my gift and message would be inconvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNice to know you care. I guess I should just see myself out then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd waste time? No. I will expedite the first leg of your journey. Regardless of my healing, you will need several days no doubt to fully recover from the magic used and prepare for the journey ahead of you. Do not delay.\u201d<\/p>\n He points at the ground at my feet. I nearly jump out of my skin as an intricate circle of countless interconnected shapes and runes appears at my feet.<\/p>\n Oh, apparently I can move now. But Silver-mane scowls at me, and my feet immediately shuffle back into the center of the circle.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2014what is this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA teleportation spell. Have you not\u2014but of course, I suppose your mages are too weak for that. Now, where do you live?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCelum. But hey, I can run back. The potion you gave me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo not waste its effects. It is worth far more than the gold I gave you. Now, this city Celum\u2014it is not too far from here, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLess than a hundred miles. Not too far, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n He seems immune to sarcasm. The mage strokes at his beard as he talks to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cCelum? Celum\u2026ah. I believe I remember the general vicinity.\u201d<\/p>\n He points again, and the circle glows. I wonder if he needs to chant spells like some of the mages I\u2019ve seen. But then\u2014this guy seems to be head and shoulders above every other mage, so I guess words are optional.<\/p>\n At last, the mage nods. The magic runes at my feet begin to glow brightly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe spell will take you to the heart of the city. Go, and carry out my request as soon as you are able.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for the encouragement.\u201d<\/p>\n He waves his hand at me and then pauses. Reluctantly, he looks at me as the glowing magic circle at my feet begins to shine with multiple gradients of light.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose it would violate the basic rules of hospitality not to inquire. So tell me Runner\u2014what is your name? I am Teriarch. Speak it not but remember it, for what it is worth.\u201d<\/p>\n For a moment, he looks sad, then dignified, as if he\u2019s some fount of great wisdom and dignity in his hideaway. And I? I grin at him. Well, I guess I can go for one parting shot. The runes at my feet glow\u2014and I feel myself being dragged away by something massive. I open my mouth and say two words.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin.\u201d<\/p>\n Then I\u2019m gone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Teriarch stopped and stared at the place where the Human known as Ryoka Griffin had just been. Desperately, he reached out, but even with magic, she was already out of his grasp. Short of casting multiple undirected spells that would teleport quite a bit of the city back here, she was gone.<\/p>\n Cursing silently in his own language, Teriarch berated himself for not observing basic etiquette. True, it was with a Human, but\u2014how was he supposed to know it was that exact<\/em> Runner who would show up on his doorstep?<\/p>\n Ah, well. He knew her face, and that would make her marginally easier to locate. Teriarch was still unclear what strange power shielded her from his scrying spells, especially since Ryoka had no magical power or even classes of her own. She was a strange Human, but now he understood part of Reinhart\u2019s fascination with her.<\/p>\n It would be a truly problematic occurrence if she were to die delivering his message. If he\u2019d known it was her, he would have given her another item of far greater ability. If she died, Magnolia would have his hide.<\/p>\n That was one of his concerns. The other was that either the earth had lowered again in the last few years or he\u2019d miscalculated the exact coordinates of the city of Celum. To be more accurate, he\u2019d been spot on in every geographical specification except one\u2014<\/p>\n Altitude.<\/p>\n Teriarch winced as in his magical view of the city of Celum he saw Ryoka appear. She was more or less in the center of the city as he\u2019d claimed, but she was definitely too high up. He watched her plummet down out of the sky from roof-height.<\/p>\n \u201cOops. Ah, well. This is why Humans use healing potions after all.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned. Ryoka would live, and he was busy. Busy and annoyed at having to do work after so soon. He didn\u2019t think long on Ryoka. Magnolia could have what she wanted, but he\u2014<\/p>\n He was aloof. Separate. He didn\u2019t think to ask what had driven her to run almost to her death here. Because he didn\u2019t care. He had done his duty in regards to Perril Chandler, distasteful as such things were. Duty, obligation\u2014and a bit of work before he could rest once more. The old man strode off to take care of the work that had built up.<\/p>\n Teriarch made it a few steps and then tripped again. This time, it was over his robes. He growled.<\/p>\n \u201cFlayed scales and hoard blight!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cAwaken, Human.\u201d I\u2019ve listened to my share of alarm clocks over the years. When I was a kid, my parents gave me an old-fashioned one* that I had to wind up constantly or it wouldn\u2019t go off. First chance I got, I switched it out for a digital alarm and then my iPhone. \u00a0 *Vintage, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693081,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693130],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-13646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-1","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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