There\u2019s an art to it. Like all things, tact is essential. A smile is important, because your first impression is probably your last. Always remember to be courteous, professional, and efficient.<\/p>\n
I can do that last bit. For the rest\u2026I\u2019m working on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
The blue-haired girl who opens the door blinks at me. I blink back. It\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve ever seen someone with dyed hair. But, as I quickly see, it\u2019s not exactly an intentional dye-job.<\/p>\n
The [Alchemist] brushes a bit of the blue dust out of her hair and raises a small cloud. She coughs, and I step back.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you Rikku?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nods, eyes streaming. I hold out my package, a heavily wrapped\u2026potato. That\u2019s growing. A green sprout is coming right out of the top. Oh, and the potato is bigger than a baby. Probably the size of about two babies if we\u2019re using that as unit of measurement.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s heavy. And I feel like it\u2019s still growing. The run out to this small cottage had me feeling like my backpack was moving the entire time. Gah. I regret this entire delivery, but at least it\u2019s nearly over.<\/p>\n
\u201cGot a Seal?\u201d<\/p>\n
Maybe it was thinking of [Alchemists] that made me accept this particular request. It was a mistake either way. Turns out a lot of requests are often magical or perishable, or in this case\u2014both.<\/p>\n
The oddly-named Rikku disappears back inside her hut and I wait impatiently, hoping the potato won\u2019t explode or eat my head off. I\u2019m not sure what it\u2019s for and honestly, I don\u2019t<\/em> want to know.<\/p>\n Still. Rikku. That\u2019s an interesting name for someone around here. It sounds almost\u2026Japanese. Something from my world.<\/p>\n Then again, there is a place named Wales around here, so I suppose people just choose the same names now and then. I still have yet to run into a Lenny or a George, though. Although I did meet this one guy named Adrian a while ago. That sounds almost normal.<\/p>\n But then, who am I to talk? My name\u2019s Ryoka. That\u2019s probably weird to a lot of Americans back home.<\/p>\n Anyways, potato. I want it out of my hands and into the hut before it does something weird. It was a rush delivery\u2014lots of pay to move it as fast as possible. I can see why. Plant this thing in the ground and you might actually get a magic beanstalk in the morning.<\/p>\n At last, the door opens and Ms. Blue Hair emerges with an equally blue Runner\u2019s Seal for me. What the hell happened in there? Do I want to know?<\/p>\n No.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the package. Careful\u2014it\u2019s heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n She takes it. She\u2019s stronger than she looks, but I guess [Alchemists] have to be. I nod to her as she opens her mouth, probably to say thanks or something.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m running down the grassy hill and out the dirt road before she can even reply. Well, at least this time I said more than five words. It\u2019s an improvement.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t do well with people. I really don\u2019t. It\u2019s not even that I hate humanity in general. It\u2019s just that I find conversations with strangers really, really<\/em> awkward*.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Yeah. Have you ever sat next to that silent person on the bus who just stares at you and then looks out the window the entire time? That\u2019s me. It\u2019s not that I don\u2019t hate your guts \u2013 because I do, if you\u2019re taking the seat next to me \u2013 but it\u2019s just so awkward that I can\u2019t deal. Seriously. Go away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But being social is a skill I\u2019ve got to learn here. Who would have thought? All those times my parents sent me to camp or cotillion, I\u2019d get sent back or just disappear until they had to send out search parties and the police. And yet here I am, trying to be social.<\/p>\n The key word is trying. It\u2019s really hard, okay? But I am trying.<\/p>\n I have to.<\/p>\n But hey, there is something to be said for brevity, right? As I power down the winding dirt road, I try to remember which delivery this is. Sixth one today? Or is it eighth?<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a day since I pissed off Teriarch and got myself an eight hundred gold contract. You\u2019d think that I\u2019d be halfway towards the Blood Fields or wherever that magic stone is pointing me this time, but I\u2019m still up north. Running deliveries for silver and copper coins.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve got my reasons. First off, even if Teriarch\u2019s delivery is really important, he\u2019s an arrogant jerk and he can wait. Second, I need to prepare.<\/p>\n The last time I went down to the Blood Fields I ran past Shield Spiders, a few other monster types, but nothing more. I got lucky. But there\u2019s no telling how many bandits or what-have-you might be out where I\u2019m going, so I need some equipment.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been made\u2026painfully clear to me that I don\u2019t have the skills to take down anything above the ill-equipped bandit or Goblin raiding party. I\u2019ve got Teriarch\u2019s potion, true, but I\u2019m regarding that as a measure of last resort, rather than my first option.<\/p>\n So I\u2019m lingering here, mainly because I\u2019m waiting for some of my new equipment to finish being created. Or brewed. Concocted? Whatever the correct phrase is, Octavia\u2019s doing it for me.<\/p>\n Her stink potion worked wonders in the High Passes. It was so effective, I got out of there even though Teriarch had taken it away. All the monsters were still gone, and I made it safely back to Celum without issue.<\/p>\n Now, I\u2019m not going to carry around a bottle of that nightmarish stuff unless I can be sure, absolutely sure<\/em> it\u2019s not going to leak. Even stoppered up that potion somehow still smells. Octavia\u2019s working on a more secure container, but she\u2019s also got a few more projects to focus on.<\/p>\n The cost of hiring an [Alchemist]? Eight gold coins, both for the testing and experimentation process and delivery of the finished items. That\u2019s insanely expensive, but Octavia wasn\u2019t even sure some of the things I wanted were possible. I\u2019ll get a refund if she can\u2019t complete some of the things I want, but I think she\u2019ll manage it. And if that\u2019s the case, it will be eight gold coins well spent.<\/p>\n My bare feet churn the pleasant, warm<\/em> dirt path. It\u2019s so wonderful I half-wish I didn\u2019t have to get back to the Guild to turn my Seals in. This is one of the few spots the Frost Faeries haven\u2019t yet swept over, and as such, it still looks like it\u2019s in the last stages of fall.<\/p>\n Mm. What a weird world this is, where winter is a product of creatures, not weather patterns. But is it like this across the world? These Frost Faeries seem quite slow\u2014not to mention inefficient. I almost wonder if winter isn\u2019t so much a world-wide event so much as a rolling condition that sweeps across continents, possibly changing course at the whims of the faeries. That would be quite interesting.<\/p>\n But of course how would I prove my hypothesis? Books are sort of low on my priority list right now. I don\u2019t have much time to read, and I need to save up as much gold as possible for more important things. The lack of libraries in this world is offensive*.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Public libraries, that is. Any wealthy merchant or noble probably has their own library of books, but I don\u2019t see them letting me in. Hell, back in my world I needed to put on sandals every time I wanted in to a library.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Information. It becomes clearer with every passing day that even if I\u2019m discovering some more fundamentals of this world, there\u2019s an entire lexicon\u2019s worth of data I haven\u2019t even considered yet.<\/p>\n So what to do? Erin knows less than I do about some things, but she knows several groups of people who might have a lot of information. That Gnoll named Krshia, Klbkch, possibly Pisces\u2026the only question is whether talking to them is worth the risk of giving secrets away.<\/p>\n I could try and contact BlackMage, or another one of the users in my iPhone if I knew how the spell worked. Pisces was able to recover the messages however briefly\u2014could I send a one-time text to one of them?<\/p>\n Maybe. It seems risky, especially since it\u2019s been proven that the iPhones can be hacked by magic as well. And anyways, I don\u2019t know what the situation is with them. People can say anything, but even if we\u2019re all in another world, we\u2019re all still human. Politics, greed, and prejudice didn\u2019t disappear with our old world.<\/p>\n No, no. Right now I need to focus on the task at hand. Teriarch\u2019s delivery is my highest priority. Eight hundred gold will help me, Erin, and Ceria immensely. Moreover, it\u2019ll help me with my next task as well.<\/p>\n Because I have a goal now. It\u2019s to become a Courier.<\/p>\n The logic is simple. A Courier is considered to be an important figure, even vital depending on how you look at it. There\u2019s influence there, and respect. They\u2019re pretty much the same as a Gold-rank adventurer, or even higher. If I attained that position, I\u2019d be able to go across the continent and ask questions and take deliveries anywhere I wanted without raising suspicion.<\/p>\n Plus, Couriers get paid a lot<\/em> more than even City Runners for their deliveries. If I could support myself that way Erin wouldn\u2019t need to worry about her inn. It would let me save up, use the money to\u2026<\/p>\n Well, the larger plan\u2019s still hazy at the moment. But Erin was always right. If I look too far ahead, I\u2019ll trip on the things right in front of me.<\/p>\n Speaking of which\u2014I hop over a jagged rock in the road. That would have hurt. But barefoot runners learn to watch the ground constantly, so the odds of us ever stepping in something horrible are pretty remote.<\/p>\n Hm. The things we see and don\u2019t see. Is<\/em> there a way to find out where the other people from our world are? We all have iPhones, so we should be able to locate each other that way, right? How did the magic find us? Just saying it\u2019s magic is kind of cheap. Did it home in on some aspect of our iPhones? Are they sending out signals somehow?<\/p>\n Oh no. The GPS!<\/em><\/p>\n I halt in my tracks and throw my backpack to the ground. Ryoka, you idiot<\/em>. How did you not consider that? Your GPS is the first thing people would think of. They could have been tracking you all this time! Everywhere you\u2019ve gone!<\/p>\n My iPhone glows and I urgently tap my way into the Settings app. Then I pause. My heart stops trying to overload in my chest.<\/p>\n It\u2019s already turned off. Right. Of course. I remember I turned off the GPS in my iPhone the day I got it, so my parents couldn\u2019t spy on me. A smart move, since that was pretty much the reason why they let me have it.<\/p>\n Okay, that\u2019s a relief. I close out of the settings menu. Battery\u2019s still good, too. 30% or thereabouts. I could listen to some music while I run, come to think of it. It\u2019s been a lone time since I took out my iPhone, but I want to conserve the battery now that Sostrom\u2019s\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that, Human?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And just like that, my day goes straight down the toilet. The air around me freezes, and I look up. A Frost Faeries is hovering over my shoulder, staring down at my glowing phone\u2019s screen with curiosity.<\/p>\n God. I thought Teriarch had chased them away. But no, apparently nearly being fried only grants me a day\u2019s reprieve. I glare at the Frost Faeries and put my iPhone back in its worn case.<\/p>\n \u201cGo. Away.\u201d<\/p>\n The faerie just sneers at me. They never listen to what I say, or respond to my comments unless it\u2019s because they want me to answer a question. She flutters around my iPhone until I tuck it away in my pocket. Then she shouts in my ear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t ignore me! Tell us what that is! It is a thing of iron, but not. And it makes light without magic or fire! What is<\/em> it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another faerie flies lazily by my head. They don\u2019t seem to need to flap their wings as much as a normal bird or insect. She points at my pocket, talking to her friend. The faeries always seem to travel in groups of at least eight or more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2019Tis an object born of smog and flame, from another world! She brought it here, this foolish wench!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n That<\/em> makes my head snap up. I stare at the faerie that\u2019s spoken.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother world? What do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n She looks at me, and then away. They have no interest in answering any of my questions. But I desperately need answers. Just what did she mean by that? Does she mean what I think she does? If so\u2014<\/p>\n The first faerie flies down and perches on my head, freezing the skin with her tiny feet. She bends down so her head appears upside-down in my vision.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSmelly human! How does a mortal like you know the old smoker?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have no idea what she\u2019s talking about. And as much as it pains me, I\u2019m curious, so I respond.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat<\/em> old smoker?\u201d<\/p>\n The faeries exchange an incredulous glance as they hover around my head. They chatter to each other, staring at me and shaking their small heads as they do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDoes she not know? She just talked to him!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think she\u2019s as daft as the other one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTwo heads and not a brain between them! How sad!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow funny!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fairy on my head leans down and slaps the skin on my head. I wince and grit my teeth. I really, really<\/em> want to pluck the stupid faerie off my head, but the only thing that\u2019ll do is give me frostbite. She\u2019s giving me a headache just by standing there, but the faeries can get a lot<\/em> colder if they want to.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Tis the one of fire living in yon cave I speak of, you fool! The old grumpy one! How do you know of him, mortal and pathetic as you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The one in the cave? They must mean Teriarch. But why would they call him\u2026?<\/p>\n The fairy stamps on my forehead again and I wince. That\u2019s it. They\u2019re getting nothing out of me. I glare at the faerie and say nothing. If they can be rude jerks, so can I.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, ignoring us, eh? Well ignore this!<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Losing patience, the faerie on my head takes off. I know what\u2019s coming and brace myself. A second later, a snowball catches me on the back of the head, making me stagger as I run. She laughs, and suddenly the entire herd decides that they want to join in.<\/p>\n The warm air and sunny skies turn cold and blustery, and snow begins to fall from the sky as the Frost Faeries work their magic, bringing winter to this last spot. The ground freezes under my feet, and all around me, snowballs the size of my fist pelt me from all sides as the faeries fly around me.<\/p>\n I run on, trying to ignore the cold snow as it strikes my face, my chest, my back, and my legs. I know they\u2019ll stop. The faeries act just like bullies. They get bored if you don\u2019t respond. They\u2019ll stop throwing snow any second now.<\/p>\n Any\u2026second\u2026now\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ten miles down the road, I stop and drop my pack so I can pull out my snow shoes and a fresh change of clothes. Not to change with; just to wipe all the snow and ice off my body.<\/p>\n The last of the Frost Faeries flies off, laughing, and I silently curse them as I shiver. I\u2019m drenched<\/em>, and nearly hypothermic from the pounding they just gave me.<\/p>\n Who knew tiny faeries could throw snowballs so damn hard?<\/em> But they\u2019re gone\u2014at least until they get bored and come back to torment me some more.<\/p>\n \u201cGod damn <\/em>it.\u201d<\/p>\n I never thought I\u2019d hate anything as much as I did faeries. Seriously. They\u2019re worse than dogs that aren\u2019t on leashes or broken bottles on the road. I\u2019d rather run barefoot through a forest full of pine trees than have one of those faeries following me.<\/p>\n And why the hell do they bother only me? It\u2019s like they enjoy making my life a misery more than anyone else\u2019s. Isn\u2019t there some way I can get rid of them? They don\u2019t like<\/em> iron, but it doesn\u2019t seem to work nearly as well as the old stories say. Half the time I see some poor fellow raising an iron horseshoe at the fairies only to get blasted off his feet by a gust of wind.<\/p>\n And what was that they were saying? It was something about Teriarch. They wanted to know why I knew him? Do they know of him? He was able to chase them off, which is pretty unique.<\/p>\n Old smoker. Why would they call him\u2026?<\/p>\n \u2026No. No, that\u2019s not right. It can\u2019t be. I mean, that would be obvious. I would have noticed that instantly.<\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t I?<\/p>\n Teriarch is just a mage. A mage who looks suspiciously Elven, and he doesn\u2019t do anything to hide that. And he uses weird expressions\u2026and he has a cave\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026And a lot of valuable treasure in the cave\u2026and he can conjure really hot flames\u2026<\/p>\n No. I would have noticed earlier, surely. Why didn\u2019t I? The pieces all add up. But Teriarch\u2014did he do something to my head?<\/p>\n Of course he did. He did it once. Why not twice?<\/p>\n Magic. How can I tell anything\u2019s real? It could make me believe anything, couldn\u2019t it? Too much more of this and I\u2019ll doubt my own memories. What if there were things I said or did around Teriarch, or things he told me that he\u2019s erased from my memory?<\/p>\n Think. Cognito ergo sum. <\/em>That is all I know. Ergo sum cognito. <\/em>I am a thinking being, that much I can believe. But\u2026<\/p>\n Omnia quae scis forsitan species vana sit. <\/em>I think that\u2019s accurate. My Latin\u2019s rusty.<\/p>\n \u2026If<\/em> I take this off-hand quote from the Frost Faerie seriously \u2013 and how else would I interpret it? \u2013 then why didn\u2019t I notice it? Magic? Or maybe I noticed it and was made to forget.<\/p>\n How do you undo a memory spell? Is one on me? Could you even check?<\/p>\n Slow down, Ryoka. Any more of this and you\u2019ll turn into a conspiracy nut. Not that all conspiracies are wrong. Turns out the government is<\/em> spying on us, half the wealth of the world is held in the hands of just eight people, and magic and other worlds do exist.<\/p>\n Yeah. I\u2019m in trouble.<\/p>\n I run on, trying to get somewhere indoors before the melted ice and winter weather kills me. It\u2019s time to turn in my Seals anyways. I could use a hot bath, a hot meal, and a hot bed. Hell, I\u2019ll eat and sleep in the bath if I could.<\/p>\n Yeah. A bath sounds really good right now. One short stop at the Runner\u2019s Guild and I\u2019m off to an inn.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the problem with plans. They never work out quite as well as you\u2019d hope.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeven deliveries on one day? Come on Ryoka, I know I said we needed help, but try to leave something for the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n I smile faintly at Fals to let him know I\u2019m joking. He laughs as if I\u2019ve said something hilarious, and just like that, the conversation continues without any unpleasant silence.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sitting in the Runner\u2019s Guild, taking a moment to warm up and waiting for one of the receptionists to get back to me with my pay. Just so coincidentally, Fals happened to be done with his deliveries, so he came to sit next to me. He started talking, I didn\u2019t bite his head off, and so here we are.<\/p>\n Mind you, we\u2019re not the only Runners in the guild. A lot of people are inside, warming up. Including one person I was rather hoping died in a snowbank somewhere.<\/p>\n Across the room Persua glares daggers at me. If she had one in her hand, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if she threw it. I meet her gaze steadily, unblinking. If she wants a staring contest that\u2019s fine. I can stare for at least five minutes before I need to blink.<\/p>\n Fals notices and casually moves his chair so his head is in the way. I look away and across the room I hear Persua laughing loudly at something.<\/p>\n When I\u2019m in the Runner\u2019s Guilds in these cities everything shrinks down, and all the little personal relationships and vendettas come right out of the woodwork. Remember, in this place Fals is the big shot Runner that all the female Runners and receptionists love. And Persua hates my guts because he seems to like me. And Garia likes Fals, which makes everything that much more complicated.<\/p>\n She\u2019s not here right now, which actually makes me slightly relieved. We hadn\u2019t spoken after I broke the news about the Horns of Hammerad, and I\u2019m not sure what to say.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Fals is doing his charming thing, which is to say he\u2019s greeting all the Runners who come in by name, and talking animatedly with them. He\u2019s a social guy. A good guy, perhaps. I still remember the problems I had with Magnolia and the Guild, but I\u2019ll acknowledge he does his job better than any other Runner in the guild, including me. I might be faster, but he has a good relationship with all his clients.<\/p>\n Fals leans over the table, one leg bouncing gently on the floor. He, like all the Runners, is generally restless when seated. That\u2019s one thing all of us have in common. We like to run.<\/p>\n \u201cLiscor, huh? That\u2019s a ways, but the Runner\u2019s Guild in Esthelm might have a few requests going down that way. More if they know someone\u2019s willing to do the route often.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Sounds good. I\u2019ve got a\u2026friend down there so I\u2019ll be heading there a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Fals\u2019 eyebrows rise, but he masks his surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, I\u2019ll talk to the Guildmaster down there when I\u2019ve got the chance. We don\u2019t deal much with the Drakes and Gnolls, but that\u2019s because they seldom come north to trade. It could be good to open up a conversation again.\u201d<\/p>\n I nod politely, and try not to say anything he\u2019ll regret. Of course he\u2019s surprised I have a friend. I\u2019m surprised just saying it.<\/p>\n Guildmasters, huh? From what I understand, the ones in each local Runner\u2019s Guild are retired Runners. The same goes for the Adventurer\u2019s Guilds. The staff is either hired help or people too injured or old to work the jobs themselves. It\u2019s a good system that gives work to people who\u2019ve contributed to the guild.<\/p>\n Fals looks at me and then coughs politely.<\/p>\n \u201cI was\u2014wondering if you\u2019d like to grab a bite at a pub later. I know a good chef who just learned the [Advanced Cooking] skill.\u201d<\/p>\n Crap. This <\/em>is what I was afraid of. I hesitate. Fals is a probably a good guy, but I\u2019m not interested in him. I\u2019m just not. But then, I can\u2019t just refuse outright. I try to think of an excuse, and then the door opens.<\/p>\n Fals and I look around, and then both of us leap to our feet. Our chairs crash to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cGaria!\u201d<\/p>\n She stumbles into the room, unsteady on her feet. Her hand is clasped to a bandage around her temple, and blood is running down her left cheek. One of the Runners by the door seizes her before she can topple over.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t remember crossing the room. But I\u2019m next to Garia before anyone else, peeling back the bandage. Fals hovers over my elbow anxiously.<\/p>\n \u201cHow bad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t see. Get out<\/em> of the light and get me some water. And\u2014a potion.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019d nearly forgotten about healing potions. I\u2019m remembering all my first aid training. I snatch a water bottle someone gives me and use a length of cloth someone else gives me to wipe gently at the blood. It doesn\u2019t look like Garia\u2019s skull is fractured, just bleeding, but I need to check.<\/p>\n Breathing? Good. Pulse? Strong. If the head injury is bad, I need to avoid aggravating it. But first aid training is always given with the theory that the injured person will receive more complete care later. This world doesn\u2019t have doctors or hospitals, just [Healers]. If she\u2019s injured, I might be the most-qualified person to help her.<\/p>\n Garia shudders a bit as I dab at the blood, but sits still. Her eyes are unfocused. Crap. I pray she doesn\u2019t have a concussion. But that might be better than a broken skull.<\/p>\n Fals pushes a healing potion into my hands.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold on. I need to check\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I feel as gently as I can around the injury. That does make Garia moan, but I need to know that nothing is broken. If it is, a healing potion might make the bone knit wrong.<\/p>\n Garia\u2019s skull isn\u2019t broken. I don\u2019t even think the bone is cracked. She\u2019s just lost blood. I uncork the potion and pour some around her injury.<\/p>\n It begins to close as Garia whimpers. She grabs my arm\u2014so hard I can feel her pressing down on my bone. But I don\u2019t tell her to stop.<\/p>\n In a few seconds the injury is closed and Garia lets go. She takes a few deep breaths, and then looks at me.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n I stare at her. She\u2019s still pale from loss of blood, and the healing didn\u2019t do anything for her concussion, if that\u2019s what she has. I grip her shoulder to steady her while I look into her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n As if I don\u2019t know. But Garia just shakes her head. Her lip trembles. She looks at me, and then Fals, on the edge of tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI got attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The story comes out as the other Runners find Garia a padded seat. We have her sit down and the entire room congregates around her. It surprises me, but then, I\u2019ve never been in the Guild long enough to see someone come in injured.<\/p>\n Whatever you might say about Runners and their pack mentality, they do look after their own. One Runner gets attacked and everyone\u2019s at risk. That\u2019s why the receptionist comes out from behind the counter with something alcoholic for Garia to drink, and Fals sits next to her while the other Runners crowd around, listening to her story.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was bandits. They came over a hill when no one was around and tried to cut me off. Some were shooting arrows, and one had a club. I tried to out run them, but he got me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Garia gestures to her healed head and the dried blood on her cheek. She doesn\u2019t seem to notice as another Runner wipes the blood off.<\/p>\n \u201cBandits? On the main road?\u201d<\/p>\n Fals shakes his head and some of the other Runners exchange glances.<\/p>\n \u201cThey must be getting desperate. I\u2019ve heard there was a band around here that was preying on travelers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t believe they hit one of us in the daylight. And arrows? Normally they just try to rob us, not kill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you get away?\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s what I want to know. Garia blinks up at me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014was saved. I was on the ground when someone else attacked the bandits. I don\u2019t know who. A traveler, I think. Maybe another Runner?\u201d<\/p>\n Fals frowns worriedly, and glances at the map on the wall. The main roads and cities are all marked.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone from Wales? We could ask the Guild if they had anyone coming this way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShould we go out and see if we can find them? If it was one person\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey either got away, or the bandits got them by now. We wouldn\u2019t find anything and we\u2019d only put ourselves at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Runners argue in the background. I\u2019m still intent on Garia. Fals asks the question I was going to next.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got away? Why were you still injured? Didn\u2019t you have time to heal yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I just kept running. I didn\u2019t think to heal myself. I couldn\u2019t, even if I wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? You lost a lot of blood. A healing potion would have stopped you from collapsing like you did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014don\u2019t have one. I can\u2019t afford it.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia blushes and turns red. She stares down at her feet as the other Runners look somewhere else. Of course. Of all the City Runners, Garia\u2019s one of the slowest, even if she can carry a lot. She runs for only a few silver pieces at best, usually coppers.<\/p>\n The others are silent, but then Fals pats Garia on the knee. She looks like she\u2019s going to cry from embarrassment.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing to be ashamed of. You got here on your own two feet, after being hit by a club. I couldn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Runners agree. Fals turns, and calls out.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t we have anything hot to drink? Not alcohol\u2014can someone get a mug of goat\u2019s milk? And food. And a blanket! Garia\u2019s nearly frozen here!\u201d<\/p>\n Some Runners immediately make for the doors at his words, and the receptionist darts into a back room to look for a blanket. I stare at Garia.<\/p>\n Not even enough for a healing potion. Jumped by bandits on the road. It\u2019s never happened to me, but then I run so fast that maybe it wasn\u2019t an issue.<\/p>\n Just when I think I know this world, something like this happens to remind me that you don\u2019t need horrible monsters. Humans are evil and cruel enough to each other.<\/p>\n Fals is still trying to get Garia to sit still and calling out for something warm to drink and a blanket. I look at her, and the other Runners, and decide she\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n Quietly, I make my way out of the crowd of people and towards the door. I slip out. I\u2019ve got someone I need to visit. I was going to see her anyways, but now I\u2019ve got two reasons to talk to Octavia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I hear the screaming just before I push open the door. Damn it. What now?<\/em><\/p>\n I flatten myself against the side of the boarded up windows, listening hard. Octavia\u2019s screaming inside. Will I get a face full of explosion if I open the door? No time to wonder.<\/p>\n Yank open the door, throw myself out of the way. Nothing explodes. I rush into the shop and see Octavia in the center of it.<\/p>\n The dark-skinned young woman is screaming and clawing at her face.<\/p>\n \u201cMy eyes! <\/em>It\u2019s in my eyes!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A bright red\u2014no, vermilion<\/em>-colored potion is sitting on the table in front of Octavia. It\u2019s uncorked. Immediately, I cover my own eyes and hold my breath, but it doesn\u2019t seem to be toxic.<\/p>\n And\u2014I\u2019m pretty sure I know what it is. And if it is<\/em> what I think it is, Octavia\u2019s only making it worse by wiping at her eyes.<\/p>\n I make my way as quickly to Octavia as I can without knocking anything over. She\u2019s clawing at her face, but her eyes are streaming so badly she probably can\u2019t see.<\/p>\n \u201cAaaaagh! <\/em>I can\u2019t see!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOctavia! It\u2019s me!\u201d<\/p>\n I grab at her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t rub at it\u2014you\u2019ll just make it worse!\u201d<\/p>\n She isn\u2019t listening to me. Octavia\u2019s fingers are at her eyes, and she\u2019s fighting me as I try to restrain her. She\u2019s strong\u2014maybe stronger than me.<\/p>\n \u201cOctavia, listen to me, stop\u2014!\u201d<\/p>\n Her fingers dig into<\/em> her eyes and I freeze. Octavia screams, pushes with her fingers, and her eyes pop<\/em> out of their sockets.<\/p>\n I see the fleshy orbs moving, and then they\u2019re in the air, real and horrible for one second, attached by red string to the sockets. And then\u2014<\/p>\n Two cotton pieces of fabric stitched together to look like eyes land on the ground. I stare down at them, and see the orange-red stain of the potion soaking the front of the cotton.<\/p>\n Octavia sighs, and relaxes in my grip. She speaks normally to me as she turns two gaping empty sockets my way.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, hey Ryoka. Can you find my eyes on the ground?\u201d<\/p>\n I stare at her. Octavia\u2019s face is still flesh, but without her eyes I can literally look into two empty sockets. They gape at me, and I feel my lunch coming up.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh wait, it\u2019s the sockets, isn\u2019t it? Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n She closes her eyelids and I can finally look away. I pick up both eyes very gingerly, and press them into her hands. Octavia smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Ryoka. I wasn\u2019t expecting that to hurt<\/em> as much as it did. Wow. Good thing you came along, or I\u2019d be looking for these forever.\u201d<\/p>\n I nod dumbly, and then realize she can\u2019t see me. Octavia carefully feels at the table in front of her as I stare at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, sure! Sorry if I scared you\u2014I was just testing that potion you had me make. It\u2019s strong stuff, let me tell you. Worth every copper piece you invested, and as soon as I clean the mixture off I\u2019ll be happy to show you the others.\u201d<\/p>\n She fumbles around, nearly knocks over the pepper-spray potion, and steadies it just in time.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Ryoka, I\u2019ve got a basin of water around here. Can you find it for me?\u201d<\/p>\n Silently, I locate the bucket and put it in front of Octavia. She tosses the eyes in and begins to scrub at them gently.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Feels like the oil in the potion is sticking rather well. I know I\u2019ve got a cleansing potion on my shelves. Can you grab it? It\u2019s green with streaks of blue.\u201d<\/p>\n It takes me a few minutes to locate the correct potion, but when I give it to Octavia she adds a tiny bit to the water. It instantly turns clear, and less than ten seconds later she pulls her eyes out of the water and gently pats them down with a towel before popping them back into her face.<\/p>\n Octavia turns and beams at me, blinking a few times and wiping her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhew! Sorry about that. It\u2019s always a challenge getting the cloth clean after a spill. I should just keep the cleansing potion on my belt, but you know how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n I stare at her. I just can\u2019t quite erase the image of her sightless gaze from my head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust fine, thanks for asking! I\u2019ll admit it hurt a lot<\/em> getting that stuff on my eyes, but I can safely say that this potion\u2019s complete. I\u2019d ask if you want to try it, but you can\u2019t pull your eyes out of their sockets, so just take it on faith, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n I blink at the pepper potion as Octavia lifts it and recoil.<\/p>\n \u201cGet that out of my face.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOops, sorry, sorry. Let me just cork that.\u201d<\/p>\n Octavia stoppers the potion before handing it back to me. I gingerly shake the potion and watch the thick liquid sloshing around inside.<\/p>\n \u201cOne pepper potion, ready to blind anyone you really don\u2019t like. It should cover a lot of space. Just make sure you don\u2019t throw it upwind or you\u2019ll be just as blind when it hits you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot it. I mean\u2014thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Yeah, a pepper potion. To be more accurate, this is this world\u2019s equivalent of pepper spray. Octavia took every hot pepper and painful substance she could and mixed it into something that would probably make mace look like lemon water.<\/p>\n And yes, I asked her to make it for me. I just didn\u2019t expect her to test it out on herself.<\/p>\n I eye Octavia\u2019s eyes. They\u2019re still a bit red and the skin around her face is a bit irritated.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure you\u2019re okay? That stuff is giving you a rash.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEh, it\u2019s not worse than anything I get from spilling acid on myself. I might try and get it fixed later, but I\u2019m fine for now.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course. Stitch-people wouldn\u2019t need healing potions. Or if they did, it would only be as a last resort. But it\u2019s far easier just to replace some fabric or stitch something together.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Well, good. I uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I shake my head and remember why I\u2019m here.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have any healing potions? Good ones. I need one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHealing potions? I\u2019ve got lots! Any particular potency you desire? The good ones are all over a gold coin\u2019s worth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need one for Garia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n Briefly, I explain to Octavia what happened. The stitched girl\u2019s eyes widen.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s terrible! Of course I\u2019ve got a healing potion. The girl needs it! Here, I\u2019ll give you a discount. Garia can pay me back.\u201d<\/p>\n She reaches for a potion, but I stop her.<\/p>\n \u201cGaria said she couldn\u2019t afford one. She\u2019s not rich, so she could probably afford only a few silver coins\u2019 worth.\u201d<\/p>\n Octavia frowns.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026not really enough. I suppose I could give her something weak, but if she\u2019s running she\u2019ll need a strong one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight, so give me a healing potion that\u2019s only<\/em> a few silver coins. Here\u2019s the payment.\u201d<\/p>\n I place a gold coin and four silver coins down on the counter. Octavia\u2019s eyebrows shoot up and she stares at me.<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n She hesitates, and then pushes the coins back towards me.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it. Garia\u2019s a good kid, and she\u2019s been a long-time customer of mine. I\u2019d hate to see her get hurt\u2014more than she already is, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n That surprises me, but Octavia takes a yellow potion off the shelf and puts it on the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one should be worth only a few silver coins. And best yet, she can use it sparingly if the wound isn\u2019t deep. Tell her I\u2019ve got more in the shop. Tell the other Runners, too!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will. Um. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Awkwardly, I take the potion. Octavia smiles at me.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, is that all? As you can see, I\u2019m still in the middle of testing and creating some of the things you asked for, but I\u2019ve got some if you need them.\u201d<\/p>\n I hesitate, then nod. I might as well. I\u2019m not due to head back to Erin\u2019s inn for a few more days, but better safe than sorry. Garia\u2019s just illustrated that point.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take whatever you\u2019ve got ready. How many did you manage to complete?\u201d<\/p>\n Octavia turns and moves to a small crate, talking as she opens the lid and shows me what\u2019s within.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pepper spray potion is ready, although I didn\u2019t come up with a way to spray it like you asked just yet. But you can still hurl it. I\u2019ve got two bags done, and two more bottles for you.\u201d<\/p>\n She hands me some bags with the drawstrings tightly closed. They\u2019re supposed to be special cloths that won\u2019t let anything through, but I make sure the knots are tight before I put them in my pack.<\/p>\n Octavia places a warning hand on my arm before she gives me the two other potions.<\/p>\n \u201cCareful with these. I had to buy enchanted glass for both. There\u2019s a cork on the top\u2014pull it out and the glass will weaken so you can smash the bottles if you want. But be careful. Break it anywhere near you and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be careful. You\u2019ll keep working on the other two?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! When you come back I\u2019ll have multiples of each. And then we can talk about another deal, perhaps? I\u2019d love to work on any more projects, if you\u2019ve got the coin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI should, when I get back.\u201d<\/p>\n I store all the potions in my pack, carefully wrapping them in the blanket I bring for long runs. I nod at Octavia.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to get back to Garia. I\u2019ll see you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Later. You Runners are always busy. Come back soon, and with more coin!\u201d<\/p>\n I leave the shop and jog down the street. That was an exciting few minutes, but the most important thing is that I\u2019ve got a potion. With that in mind, I double-time it back to the Runner\u2019s Guild and nearly run into another Runner coming in.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy fault. You first.\u201d<\/p>\n He grins at me, and I nod and walk inside. I haven\u2019t seen him before, but then maybe he\u2019s from further away. I find Garia and the others more or less where I\u2019ve left them, only now Garia\u2019s got food and drink in front of her and a blanket on her shoulder.<\/p>\n Fals looks over as I walk towards him. He raises his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka, where have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGetting something. Here.\u201d<\/p>\n I take the potion out and put it on the table in front of Garia. She goes wide-eyed at the sight of the glowing mixture.<\/p>\n \u201cFree of charge. Octavia\u2019s compliments. She says she\u2019ll give a discount to any Runner who wants a healing potion.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Runners murmur appreciatively, and I feel more than one hand slap me on the back. Well, maybe Octavia will get some business from this after all. Probably as she intended.<\/p>\n That thought\u2019s unworthy of her. She gave me the potion for Garia\u2019s sake. She might have known it would engender goodwill, but that\u2019s just good business sense along with a kind heart.<\/p>\n Garia stares at the potion and then up at me. She turns red again.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t\u2014this looks expensive.<\/em> I can\u2019t take this. I\u2019ll pay you\u2014her back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a gift. Take it and use it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Fals nudges Garia gently and winks quickly at me. For once I\u2019m grateful he\u2019s here.<\/p>\n \u201cListen to Ryoka, Garia. Octavia knows she can get us buying her potions if she can prove she\u2019s got quality. Besides, you need<\/em> something for emergencies like today.\u201d<\/p>\n He pauses and snaps his fingers lightly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a spare wand with a single cast of [Slow] enchanted in it. It won\u2019t stop arrows, but it should let you get away from any group of bandits next time. You can come by my room later and pick it up.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Runners like that notion. One offers a stamina potion, and another tells Garia he\u2019s got a dagger she can have. The good mood lasts right up until I hear the high-pitched voice from just opposite me.<\/p>\n \u201cSome<\/em> of us make enough money to provide for ourselves. We don\u2019t need to bother other Runners.\u201d<\/p>\n I look up. Now, why couldn\u2019t the bandits have attacked Persua? She sniffs at both me and Garia. Her eyes flick towards Fals, and then shoot daggers at Garia.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the big deal? Garia got away with only a little scratch. If she were faster, she wouldn\u2019t have been caught at all.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m no expert, but even I know that was the wrong thing to say. A lot of Runners glare, but to my disgust, some seem to agree with Persua. Bastards.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyways, Garia should<\/em> pay Ryoka\u2014I\u2019m sorry, I mean Octavia<\/em> back for the potion. We all earn enough, don\u2019t we? At least, I<\/em> do.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia\u2019s face is a tomato, and my chest is too tight. My hand clenches. Can I punch her? She\u2019s not too far away. I could turn her stupid face into a paste before anyone could stop me.<\/p>\n But\u2014no, damn it. I can\u2019t do that. I loosen my hands and force myself to smile at Persua. She wants to use words? I can do words.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, really? How much do<\/em> you earn, Persua? I\u2019m curious. Do you earn a few silver coins each day or are they all copper? I earn quite a lot. Want to compare numbers?\u201d<\/p>\n Persua\u2019s sallow* face goes slack, and then she gives me a look of pure, unrefined hatred.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Still not sure that\u2019s the right word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAt least I<\/em> don\u2019t run off whenever I please. I\u2019m a dedicated Runner to the Guild, not some aimless drifter.\u201d<\/p>\n That was weak. I open my mouth to retort, and Fals breaks in. He glares at both of us from Garia\u2019s side.<\/p>\n \u201cPersua. Ryoka. Not the time.\u201d<\/p>\n She tosses her hair and I close my mouth, ashamed. Damn it. That was catty. I should know better, but Persua\u2014<\/p>\n I\u2019ve never had girls in high school run me over with a wagon. Just try to push me down the stairs. Persua\u2019s on a whole new level. But Fals is right.<\/p>\n He waits until he\u2019s sure we\u2019re not going to start anything, and then turns back to Garia. He talks to her soothingly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll ask the Watch to put a few patrols on the roads. What happened to the ones who jumped you, Garia?\u201d<\/p>\n She shudders, and begins to speak, but someone cuts her off. A tall guy steps forwards and raises his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re all dead. I\u2019ve reported the incident to the local Watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone looks at him. Garia opens her mouth and gapes, and I realize I\u2019m standing right next to the guy who I saw outside the Runner\u2019s Guild.<\/p>\n The tall Runner who I saw entering the Guild nods to the other Runners. He looks with interest at Garia\u2019s head and speaks to her.<\/p>\n \u201cGood to see you didn\u2019t get too badly hurt, Miss Runner. I was worried, but you got away before I could look for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Garia\u2019s eyes widen, and she tries to get to her feet. Fals stops her, but Garia points her finger at the newcomer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014you\u2019re the one who saved me!\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s not quite as handsome as Fals is \u2013 someone broke his nose once, and it was never set quite right. But he\u2019s got something the other Runners don\u2019t, and that\u2019s a presence. He looks like some of the athletes you see in the Olympics and in sports\u2014someone with enough self-confidence in what they do that it shows in everything<\/em> they do.<\/p>\n Fals smiles at the new Runner, and gets up to extend a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou<\/em> saved Garia on the road? Thank you, from me and everyone in the Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink nothing of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger returns Fals\u2019 handshake and smiles in reply. His eyes flick towards me, and then at the other Runners.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good Guild you\u2019ve got here. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Valceif Godfrey. I\u2019m a Courier from First Landing. I\u2019ve come down this way to do a delivery to the city of Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n He nods at the stunned room.<\/p>\n \u201cPleased to meet you all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t stay. I\u2019ve got an important delivery to make.\u201d<\/p>\n That was the first thing Valceif said after the uproar had died down enough for him to be heard. He balanced on the balls of his feet, looking from Fals to the map on the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cIn truth, I\u2019d like to have been on the road an hour ago, but I had to take care of those bandits and deal with the local Watch. And\u2026I\u2019m lost.\u201d<\/p>\n He stands in the center of the room as if he\u2019s used to the looks of amazement he\u2019s getting. I\u2019m<\/em> the one who\u2019s not used to it. The other Runners, both City Runners and Street Runners, are treating this guy as if he\u2019s some kind of rock star. Even Fals looks amazed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to meet you. I\u2019ve only seen two Couriers before, and never this far south. My name is Fals. I\u2019m sorry the guilds didn\u2019t notify us you were coming down this way, ah, Valceif.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCall me Val. It\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Fals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we get you anything? You must be tired. Again, if we knew you were coming\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Valceif shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t stopped running since I passed Invrisil. Unless you\u2019ve got a mage in your guild, I\u2019m not surprised you haven\u2019t heard I was coming this way.\u201d<\/p>\n A mage in a Runner\u2019s Guild? I could see how that would be helpful, but that speaks to a far larger guild than the small one here. And did he say he came from Invrisil? Isn\u2019t that the city six hundred miles north of here?<\/em><\/p>\n Fals looks like he can\u2019t believe it either, but Val just smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine. Truly. I wouldn\u2019t have stopped, but I\u2019ve never come this far south and the snow makes it hard to tell where I\u2019m headed. If you could point me to one of the main roads, I\u2019d be grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut we\u2019d love to talk to you. If it\u2019s not an imposition\u2014I know a lot of Runners aspire to be a Courier one day. Could you spare an hour from your journey to rest?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, the Courier declines.<\/p>\n \u201cMy delivery\u2019s a priority. I can\u2019t stop even to chat. Apologies, but I\u2019ll be coming back up this way. There will be plenty of time then.\u201d<\/p>\n Fals nods immediately. I wonder what\u2019s so important that a Courier wouldn\u2019t even be allowed to stop to rest.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can have a Runner show you to the spot. We also have a map if you need one\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA Runner is fine. Preferably someone fast?\u201d<\/p>\n Fals nods. Flustered, he looks around. Well, this seems like a good opportunity. I raise my voice and step forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m heading down that way myself. Mind if I join you?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Runners look at me, and Val glances questioningly at Fals. He nods, relieved.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka is the fastest City Runner in the region. She can take you to the road fastest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, if it\u2019s not too much trouble, I\u2019d like to move out soon. Is that okay with you?\u201d<\/p>\n He raises an eyebrow at me, challengingly. I think I almost like this guy. He\u2019s confident, not just cocky. He reminds me of other athletes I\u2019ve met.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me five minutes. If that\u2019s not too long?\u201d<\/p>\n Fals looks like he\u2019s going to inhale his tongue, but Val grins broadly.<\/p>\n \u201cFive minutes is fine. I\u2019ll be here.\u201d<\/p>\n I nod and move towards the counter. The receptionist is staring at Vals behind it, but she jumps and looks at me as I cough.<\/p>\n \u201cI still need my payment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Oh! <\/em>Of course! Just let me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n It takes her slightly longer than five minutes to get me my coin, mainly because her hands are shaking so bad. But eventually I have my money and I secure my pack as I tighten my shoes.<\/p>\n Vals nods at me and extricates himself from the crowd of Runners.<\/p>\n \u201cReady to go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/p>\n He turns and nods at the room.<\/p>\n \u201cRunners, Miss Garia. It was a pleasure to meet you all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for saving\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Oops. The door closes behind me and Val. We\u2019re already out the door. I glance at him. He\u2019s a Courier? I wonder how fast he is.<\/p>\n As if he\u2019s reading my mind, Val glances at my feet and then at the open street.<\/p>\n \u201cSlippery road. If you want to take it slow, I\u2019ll match your pace. Just point me in the right direction and I\u2019ll be on my way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have business in Liscor too. I might join you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome to.\u201d<\/p>\n If you can<\/em>. Neither he or I need to hear the unspoken words. I grit my teeth. My body\u2019s tired, but this is a challenge. This is a race<\/em>. Me against a Courier. Time to see how high the bar is.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go. Try to keep up.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t break into a sprint right away. Unless you\u2019re running a race that\u2019s a terrible idea. But I do set a fast pace through the city.<\/p>\n Val keeps pace effortlessly with me, and I can tell he\u2019s watching me as I run. I know because I\u2019m doing the same.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have good form. It\u2019s nice to see someone else who knows how to run.\u201d<\/p>\n He says that, but that\u2019s my<\/em> line. When I first came to this world, I thought no one else knew how to run properly. Even Fals tends to waste a bit of motion in his movements, and most of the Runners don\u2019t have good posture or form.<\/p>\n But Val runs like any athlete on the track. Short stride, center of gravity light, stepping with the fore and middle of his foot rather than landing on his heels. He and I both run as if we\u2019re falling forwards, bodies relaxed, feet flashing across the frozen ground.<\/p>\n The city disappears behind us and I decide it\u2019s time to test how fast this guy really is. I move into my fast run, the speed I run at in a marathon. Val doesn\u2019t even blink as he speeds up.<\/p>\n Huh. Okay\u2026<\/p>\n I move faster. I\u2019m at a dead-run now, racing speed. He stays right next to me, not even blinking. So I sprint. I push into the ground and take off. My feet might be hampered by these damn shoes, but even with them I can go terrifically fast.<\/p>\n The world blurs around me and becomes a tunnel. I strike the frozen earth with my feet as fast as possible, leaving a flurry of powdery snow as I dash ahead. That should do it. That should\u2014<\/p>\n Val runs right next to me, legs flashing through the snow, grinning. Not mockingly; not even in challenge. He\u2019s enjoying the run, and he\u2019s right next to me as I run as fast as I ever have.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got to be\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have any Skills, or Classes, do you? That you can run this fast is truly impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n Val shouts that over the rushing wind. I can\u2019t even spare the effort to look at him\u2014I\u2019m putting everything<\/em> I have into the run. But I hear his voice, not even out of breath. I feel like I\u2019m gasping for air over here.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what the pinched-face girl in your Guild told me. She doesn\u2019t seem to like you.\u201d<\/p>\n Persua? In five minutes\u2014she talked?\u2014what a bitch.<\/p>\n Can\u2019t even think. I try to increase speed, but Val doesn\u2019t even look strained.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt your pride, but I do<\/em> have a job to do. You\u2019re quick, but I need to get to Liscor by tonight at the latest. So\u2014pardon me.\u201d<\/p>\n He runs a tiny bit faster, so he can nod back at me. Then he says two words.<\/p>\n \u201c[Double Step].\u201d<\/p>\n The world is a blur around me, but Val was like the center of a focused lens. Since he and I are keeping the same pace, it\u2019s like we\u2019re the only two people in a world of blurred colors. But when he speaks, he suddenly blurs<\/em> forwards.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t believe it. But suddenly, Val is taking two steps for every one of mine. His feet aren\u2019t just blurring on the ground\u2014I can barely see his legs moving. He accelerates forwards, running twice as fast as I do.<\/p>\n In seconds, he\u2019s a hundred meters ahead of me. It\u2019s like I\u2019m standing still<\/em> while he\u2019s running. That\u2019s how fast he\u2019s moving.<\/p>\n The blur of motion that is the Courier accelerates to the main road, and then seems to pause. Suddenly the blur reverses direction and Val appears by my side, effortlessly keeping pace with me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see you in Liscor! I\u2019m looking for some strange person who plays chess there. I\u2019m told a Drake [Tactician] is the best player in the city. After I locate him we can have a drink or two.\u201d<\/p>\n I can\u2019t do anything else but nod. Val grins, and raises two fingers to his forehead. He accelerates, and then he\u2019s moving faster than I am, faster than any human from my world has ever moved. He dashes down the snowy road, kicking up massive spays of snow into the air.<\/p>\n In less than a minute, he\u2019s pulled so far ahead of me he\u2019s a speck in the distance. I lose sight of him shortly after that.<\/p>\n I slow down and stop sprinting. My shoes slide a bit on packed snow, and I feel my feet rubbing at the leather and chafing horribly. I probably already have a blister or two, but that doesn\u2019t concern me at the moment.<\/p>\n My heart is beating out of my chest. The cold air burns my lungs. I feel my body trying to recover as my legs scream in agony. I stare down the empty road, and say one word.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Fuck.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There\u2019s an art to it. Like all things, tact is essential. A smile is important, because your first impression is probably your last. Always remember to be courteous, professional, and efficient. I can do that last bit. For the rest\u2026I\u2019m working on it. \u201cDelivery.\u201d The blue-haired girl who opens the door blinks at me. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[11693082,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693131],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-1664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-2","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n