{"id":3783,"date":"2017-12-09T09:21:44","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T09:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wandering-inn\/?p=3783"},"modified":"2025-12-24T00:57:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T00:57:08","slug":"3-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2017\/12\/09\/3-36\/","title":{"rendered":"3.36"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 49<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

My name is Laken Godart. I am blind. Also, I\u2019m trapped in another world where reality seems to conform to the rules of some kind of game.<\/p>\n

I could be a victim of some kind of elaborate prank or test, or a social experiment. I could see myself being an easy target for some kind of shady government project\u2014if of course I\u2019m not just crazy.<\/p>\n

Right now, I\u2019m not ruling out any options. The reason why I ended up in this world could be anything as simple as an alien abduction gone wrong to genuine magic. I\u2019m leaning on the magic side, myself.<\/p>\n

This place is just too\u2026real. Too real, and I want to believe in it. In the short month and a half since I\u2019ve been here, I gained sight. Of a kind, yes, but sight nevertheless. I found someone I loved, and I found something to fight for.<\/p>\n

But I won\u2019t forget to think about what I do. I\u2019m no hero with a sword. I\u2019m fairly certain I\u2019d hurt myself just trying to pick one up. I can\u2019t be a warrior.<\/p>\n

But I can be smart. I can choose what I want to do and pick my battles, if there are any in the future. I have friends. I have a class.<\/p>\n

I am an [Emperor], and I have responsibilities. That, more than anything, informs how I act. Even now, I\u2019ve travelled to this place, this city, for the people under my protection.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really is a big city, isn\u2019t it, Durene?\u201d<\/p>\n

I say that out loud and feel Durene laughing nervously through our connected hands. I can tell she\u2019s next to me. I may be blind, but I have my other senses. Here is what I know. I\u2019m holding Durene\u2019s hand. Her palm is callused\u2014rough. Almost like a shark\u2019s skin? I touched one once at an aquarium\u2014a small, non-threatening shark or so I was told. Durene\u2019s skin is somewhat like that.<\/p>\n

Her hand is warm. On this cold, brisk day, her hand is warm. And I can hear her every step. But I can also hear the voices.<\/p>\n

Oh\u2014the voices. I\u2019ve been in huge cities before, heard cars passing by, honking, shouting, but there\u2019s just something about a mass of people<\/em> that seems large to me. Maybe it\u2019s because I know each person has to be out there, each one an individual moving and talking and thinking on their own.<\/p>\n

A hundred voices. A thousand, some shouting, others just talking as they pass by me and Durene. More still simply walk, and it\u2019s that movement which really tells me that I\u2019m in a city.<\/p>\n

I can smell\u2014dirt and stone. And sweat, musty odors coming off of winter clothing probably. But more strongly through the air, baked food. Hot tangy scents wafting towards me and making me hungry. Someone\u2019s cooking food over to the left, and the wind\u2019s blowing it towards me. Not a meat\u2014something else?<\/p>\n

They\u2019re not the only ones. There are more food vendors all about. Smell, hearing\u2014I\u2019m being overwhelmed on both fronts by the sheer input.<\/p>\n

However, I am used to it. I know better than to panic, and it\u2019s hardly like I\u2019m incapable of moving about. I let Durene lead me through the city at a good pace. I just wish\u2014<\/p>\n

I wish I could see <\/em>all of this. Sound and smell only get me so far. But from what Durene tells me, this city is like nothing in my past world.<\/p>\n

\u201cLizard people? Really, Durene?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re called Drakes, I think. I\u2019ve never seen one before. Um, I think they live far to the south of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazing. Drakes. Draco. Are they related to Dragons, by any chance?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know? They um, have scales. And long tails. Some of them have green scales, others have red or blue or\u2014that one\u2019s yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene moves as if to point and stops herself. I nod to myself as we walk on. I\u2019m trying to imagine what these creatures\u2014these people might be like. But I don\u2019t think in terms of sight, naturally. I have a rough image in my head, but I would love to talk to one of these Drakes, shake their\u2026hand?<\/p>\n

\u201cDo they have hands?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething like that. It uh, it\u2019s more like claws. They look sharp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claw hands. I try to fit that in and reconsider shaking hands. But if I could touch one\u2014<\/p>\n

And how would I do that? I\u2019m assuming these other species have the same taboos and social norms\u2014at least broadly\u2014that Humans do. Durene didn\u2019t think it was too strange for a city to have Drakes in it, for all she\u2019s never seen one.<\/p>\n

Maybe if I got to know one. Naturally I can\u2019t just stop someone on the street\u2014well, I could, but I have more pressing matters.<\/p>\n

I am in this city for a reason. I speak to Durene, feeling her guiding me left to avoid something or someone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you say we\u2019re close to that plaza you saw now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so!\u201d<\/p>\n

She sounds excited and worried by turns. Excited, and overwhelmed by her first glimpse of a city, as I suppose anyone would be. I have to remember Durene\u2019s never even left her village. This must be overwhelming for her. I have to keep the cool head.<\/p>\n

And yet, I can\u2019t help but feel like Durene\u2019s the one who\u2019ll be most useful in a pinch. She proved that when she stood up to those adventurers. All I could do was raise my voice and be useless.<\/p>\n

Those adventurers\u2026I sigh as I walk with Durene towards the plaza.<\/p>\n

Bastards. Ditto for that lieutenant. But the insight into this city was helpful. There\u2019s corruption here, or at least, casual racism against one type of species. Ironic, that. I guess in a city with countless races joining hands\u2014or claws\u2014there has to be some group that gets pushed out.<\/p>\n

I have to understand the world around me to interact with it. That\u2019s why Durene and I have been walking through the city this last hour, taking it in, finding the measure of it. Better that than rush off and make mistakes. And it was a very pleasant walk too\u2014Durene described so many odd sights for me. And yet, I guess you step in dog shit at least once on the best of strolls.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, I can hear the adventurers shouting now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, in my ears I can now pick out a different set of shouts, this one growing louder as Durene and I walk forwards. Adventurers.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026the Storm Raiders will sell our axes to anyone in need of a strong arm! Make us an offer!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014the best, the mightiest! Our shields will block spell and fang alike! The Ironshield Vanguard!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a group of [Soldiers] who fought in the Yelten-Grimmor conflict! We\u2019ve over fifty kills between us! You want protection, turn to us!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ah, adventurers. Durene leads me forwards, and I can just tell she\u2019s stopping to stare around.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you see Gamel around?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene sounds worried, although she shouldn\u2019t be. I can feel her shift\u2014is she standing on her tiptoes? I imagine she would be able to see practically everyone in the plaza. Even these \u2018Gnolls\u2019 don\u2019t sound as tall as she is.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see him, Laken. Should I call out, do you think? Or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

I squeeze her hand gently, reassuring her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Durene. It was just a thought. I imagine he\u2019s off in some other square. We did say we\u2019d meet at midday. Correct me if I\u2019m wrong, but we\u2019ve a little bit of time before then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. You did say\u2014okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s take a seat\u2014if one\u2019s available. I could use a few seconds to rest, and I\u2019d like to listen to what all these people are shouting. You can describe them for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

We make it a few more steps into the plaza, and then I feel Durene slow. She bends towards me and whispers something in my ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaken, I think that girl is still following us!\u201d<\/p>\n

I pause for only a microsecond, but then move forwards. Durene is stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Keep walking, Durene. Don\u2019t look back at her\u2014or if you do, just glance past her, as if you haven\u2019t seen her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Laken. But what does she want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sure she\u2019s following us and not going somewhere else?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure! We practically walked in a circle, and I keep seeing her!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDescribe her for me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene pauses. I can hear the nervousness in her voice when she speaks again.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm. Tall. Taller than you, Laken. A few inches taller? She\u2019s\u2026got black hair, darkish skin\u2014I\u2019ve never seen someone who looks like that. Is she a foreigner? Uh\u2014she\u2019s uh\u2014beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful?\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an alien word to me. Beautiful is a word I associate with a voice, not with faces or appearance. But Durene\u2019s voice is filled with a longing that tells me all I need to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s beautiful. Sort of scary-looking, but beautiful. And\u2014she looks like a Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene spotted the girl following us a few blocks back. She pointed her out to me\u2014well, described her to me\u2014as one of the oddities of the city. A foreigner, someone not native to this continent.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a\u2026hard thing for me to think of. I know there are ethnicities in my world, of course. Nationality, race, gender\u2026that\u2019s easy to understand. But skin color? I don\u2019t know what the color blue is supposed to look like.<\/p>\n

Apparently, the folk of Riverfarm and this continent look predominantly like the people of my home continent, Europe. That is to say, mostly fair-skinned. This girl isn\u2019t. She could be black or Asian or Latino\u2014Durene\u2019s descriptions don\u2019t help me think of her in that way. She\u2019s just clearly a foreigner, and one who stands out in this multi-species environment. No\u2014more so because she stands out among her own kind, Humans.<\/p>\n

And she\u2019s following us. What does that mean? I frown as Durene worries next to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get to a seat, and you can tell me if she stays in the area. If she doesn\u2019t\u2014well, we\u2019ll know then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene\u2019s palm is slightly sweaty in my hand. Or is it mine? Because I hate to imagine it, but this could be an issue.<\/p>\n

Why would someone follow us? A thousand reasons come to mind. They might be a prejudiced asshole like the adventurers. Or they might be interested in Durene. Or maybe it\u2019s something to do with me?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m in a gaming world. Is this just a random event? Is this a scripted NPC? I\u2019m sure this isn\u2019t that kind of game, but why else would someone follow us? Is she aware of Riverfarm\u2019s plight? Is she simply curious about an interspecies couple?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know. But I think. That\u2019s what I can do in this world. Think. Think, and try to understand. Who is this young woman? What does she want?<\/p>\n

And what should I do about it?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ryoka Griffin gritted her teeth as she saw the half-Troll\u2019s head turn. She slowed, but the tall girl\u2019s head found her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe can\u2019t have spotted me. She can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka muttered under her breath as the girl named Durene seemed to glance at her, and then hurriedly look past. It was the third time she\u2019d done so in as many minutes. It made Ryoka worried.<\/p>\n

And annoyed, because Ryoka really didn\u2019t want to think she\u2019d been spotted by a Troll. Half-Troll. Whatever. That would be embarrassing, and yet\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cShe saw me. Damn, damn, damn\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

In writing, it sounded easy. Follow a blind guy being led around by a half-Troll. How hard could that be? It was probably wrong to think, but Ryoka had the impression that the half-Troll girl wasn\u2019t exactly the fastest brick on the block. She seemed simple, somewhat timid, and gentle. A giant, in short, easy to follow without being seen while Ryoka listened to what the two were doing.<\/p>\n

But the Troll\u2014Durene was her name, wasn\u2019t it?\u2014kept looking around. Ryoka felt the half-Troll girl\u2019s eyes pause on her again and tried to meld with a group of laughing Drakes. But the problem was that becoming one with the crowd only worked if the crowd was the same species as you were. And for all her varied interests over the years, Ryoka had never tried espionage. To be more accurate, she\u2019d never tried following someone who kept pausing every few minutes to stare about.<\/p>\n

In movies or in books, the protagonist following the suspect had the advantage of darkness, or an unaware target, or some convenient plot twist which would help them complete their mission. And at the very least, they could blend with the crowd.<\/p>\n

But Ryoka stood out. She knew<\/em> she stood out. She was an Asian girl who didn\u2019t look like the other native Humans to this land, and certainly not like the other species. So she\u2019d been spotted with disgusting ease. The blind guy couldn\u2019t see her, but his helper could, and she kept staring around\u2014probably to tell him what everything looked like!<\/p>\n

That was one side of the problem. The Troll-girl saw Ryoka. She saw Ryoka, but Ryoka saw the man following the pair. That was someone the half-Troll hadn\u2019t spotted.<\/p>\n

And no wonder\u2014he was completely bland. He had flaxen hair, a nondescript face\u2014his clothes weren\u2019t anything to blink twice over. And yet, he was following the blind man known as Laken and the half-Troll Durene as well, Ryoka was sure of it.<\/p>\n

He was following them, and Ryoka wanted to know why. She kept eying the man as she walked into the plaza with all the adventurers lined up. They were an odd bunch. It looked as though each one had their space to, well, show off. Teams of adventurers\u2014Silver-rank at best by the looks of them\u2014were doing tricks with swords or just trying to give off a certain amount of swagger as their teammates or hired help extolled their virtues, trying to get them a job.<\/p>\n

It was an odd way of doing things, but Ryoka supposed it was needed advertisement if you wanted a lucrative contract. In a place with so many adventurers\u2014Ryoka saw one every block it seemed\u2014people with requests could choose their team, which meant competition had to be fierce.<\/p>\n

Now the human and half-Troll seemed to be stopping. They were headed for some unoccupied benches sitting in the shade of some trees in the plaza. Ryoka bit her lip.<\/p>\n

She hadn\u2019t gotten close enough to hear more than a few snippets of conversation and she\u2019d already been made. Should she try to get close, knowing she was exposed?<\/p>\n

It had just been a few words. In German. Just a few words\u2014why couldn\u2019t there be some nation based off of Germany, or some culture with Germanic roots? But Ryoka had to know.<\/p>\n

So she walked closer. She looked around\u2014where was that man in plain clothes? He<\/em> was a master at being invisible. Ryoka would never have spotted him if she hadn\u2019t noticed him following the pair like she was.<\/p>\n

There.<\/em> He was strolling ahead of her, right next to the half-Troll. Ryoka\u2019s eyes narrowed. She watched as he approached, and then cursed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon of a\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

It happened in a moment as we were walking towards the bench that Durene had found. I, walking by her side, felt her pause for a second.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! I\u2019m so sorry!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy fault, Miss. Please excuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n

An unfamiliar voice. Male. Pleasant. I frown and hear him walk away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that, Durene?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, Laken. I just bumped into that man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene sounds at ease, but my frown remains. Something feels wrong. Bumped into her. Why does that\u2026<\/p>\n

Who would bump into someone as big as Durene? From what she\u2019s said, she gets a lot of room even on a busy sidewalk. Who goes around bumping into people ordinarily, anyways? And the way he said it\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDurene! Check your money pouch!\u201d<\/p>\n

I snap as thoughts come together in an instant. I\u2019ve encountered thieves and pickpockets before. I know the scam. I hear Durene gasp and then her anguished shout.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gone! He took it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo after him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo, Durene!\u201d<\/p>\n

I shout, letting go of her hands. That\u2019s not just her money that was taken\u2014Durene had the entire pouch of coin and gems I found by her cottage! If that thief runs off with it\u2014<\/p>\n

To her credit, I hear Durene hesitate only for a second. Then I feel her turn and run away from me. Then her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop! Thief!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shout that drowns out all sound for a second. Durene has an impressive pair of lungs, and I can practically hear the thief\u2019s heart stop as she runs towards him.<\/p>\n

I stand in the plaza, not moving, fishing in the small rucksack I\u2019m carrying for something. I pull out my foldable cane and extend it fully.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t had to use it in a while. I decided not to use it when Durene was walking me around\u2014I trust her completely and it might have gotten in the way of all the pedestrians about. But it\u2019s a useful tool now.<\/p>\n

A quick check\u2014I tap carefully in a circle around me and find the bench we were about to sit at. I move over to it and sit down.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not as if I\u2019m not panicking right now. A thief, taking all the money Durene and I have\u2014the money meant for Riverfarm? That\u2019s a disaster. But what can I do in this situation? Panic?<\/p>\n

Durene\u2019s chasing after the thief. Either she gets him or she doesn\u2019t. I can only make things worse by shouting and running about. So I sit and try to think.<\/p>\n

If she fails to get him\u2014we have to talk to the Watch. But can we get our money back? It\u2019s not like I had a credit card\u2014that gold and those gems are probably as good as gone the instant they\u2019re lost. And would the local law enforcement help us? The way they treated Durene\u2014<\/p>\n

I wrench my mind off of that train of thought. Consider the worst when it\u2019s over. The real question is\u2014why target Durene? Who steals from a half-Troll? I haven\u2019t ever really laid eyes on Durene, it\u2019s true, but a girl who towers over the biggest Human and who can probably bench press a horse is not<\/em> someone I\u2019d expect pickpockets to normally go after.<\/p>\n

Unless that\u2019s normal in this world. No\u2014it can\u2019t be. Did that cutpurse realize how much money she was carrying? Or\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn. A Skill. It must be that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why didn\u2019t I think of it? It\u2019s a reasonable explanation. If you assume there\u2019s a class for everything, and that\u2019s what Durene seems to believe, then there\u2019s definitely a [Thief] class. And what better Skill than one that allows someone to pick out an easy mark? Or a rich one?<\/p>\n

I clench one fist as I hear Durene\u2019s shouting and the commotion growing more distant. Pray. Hope. And think about what to do if she doesn\u2019t catch him\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me. Is your name Laken?\u201d<\/p>\n

I start. A voice\u2014a female voice comes from above and to my left. I turn my head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello. Pardon me, but have we met?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot before. But tell me\u2014woher kommst du?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The pronunciation is terrible, and the words are stilted, spoken without fluency. But I stiffen nonetheless, because I know German when I hear it.<\/p>\n

And I know that no one on this continent speaks German, as far as Durene or Gamel know.<\/p>\n

So why is someone speaking it to me right now?<\/p>\n

In the time it takes for me to clear my throat and respond, my thought process is simple. Who\u2019s talking to me? It has to be the girl Durene spotted. Why?<\/p>\n

Well, either she thinks I\u2019m from her country or, more probably\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cAus San Francisco. Und Sie?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

A sharp, indrawn breath is my only answer. But it\u2019s the only one I need.<\/p>\n

\u201cDieu merci. <\/em>I am not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can you feel shock, amazement, relief, and confusion all at once? I\u2019m sure there is one, even if it\u2019s not an English word. There are words in other languages for feelings that are never fully translatable into English.<\/p>\n

The Norwegian word forelsket<\/em> for instance\u2014I feel that towards Durene every time I touch her. I suppose in lieu of a word now, I think I\u2019ll go with \u2018relief\u2019 as incomplete as it may be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

I feel tears spring into my eyes, gathering behind my eyelids. As strange as it may sound, I really did think I was alone up until this moment. Alone, in a new world.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s someone else. I stand up, and hear someone take a step back. There\u2019s noise all around us\u2014has Durene caught the thief? I can\u2019t focus on that. Suddenly, I\u2019m in a small bubble with this girl.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re\u2014from home, aren\u2019t you? Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy god. Excuse me, but who are you? I\u2019m blind\u2014are you the young woman who was following us around earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause. I listen, heart beating, before the young woman replies in a low voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am. I\u2019m\u2014a friend. My name is Ryoka Griffin. Tell me, when did you get here? Do you know why you came to this world? Who have you talked to\u2014who\u2019s that girl who was with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The questions are like a storm, tersely delivered. I hear in them echoes of all the things I want to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name is Laken. Laken Godart. I came here a little over a month ago. I don\u2019t know how or why\u2014the girl\u2019s name is Durene. She\u2019s my guide, my friend. She found me when I first came to this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is she, do you know? She ran off\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the thief. I think she got him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe did?\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m astonished, but there\u2019s a flicker of amusement in Ryoka\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. She picked him up and threw him on the ground. I think she broke some of his bones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDurene?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t imagine it. Well, I can, but I can\u2019t imagine her<\/em> doing that. But this strange young woman seems focused. I hear her moving closer and resist the urge to reach out to try and touch her.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, I don\u2019t have a lot of time before your friend gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have a cellphone? Flashlight? Anything\u2014anything from our world?\u201d<\/p>\n

The question catches me by surprise, but then I fumble at my pocket, and then remember and grab for my rucksack.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do. I have an iPhone\u2014it\u2019s practically out of battery, and there\u2019s no signal obviously, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can recharge it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a mage casts a [Repair] spell it\u2019ll go back to full charge. Okay, listen. Did you get a call\u2014no, you wouldn\u2019t have if you were only here for two months\u2026huh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

I can tell she\u2019s thinking hard about something. Myself, I\u2019m just astonished. Mage? [Repair] spell? You mean I can charge up my phone in this world with magic? What possibilities might that unlock?<\/p>\n

Then I hear Ryoka\u2019s voice in my ears and jerk away. She\u2019s so close!<\/em> And she\u2019s whispering, very urgently.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen up. You\u2019re not entirely safe with that iPhone. You might be tracked with it\u2014there are people in this world who know we come from another one. If you get a call on your phone, don\u2019t answer it. There are more of us in this world, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, hold on! More of us?\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t process everything that she\u2019s saying. Ryoka shakes her head\u2014I know because her hair hits my face slightly as her head moves.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t give you the full details, not yet. Look, we need to talk. Why don\u2019t we meet up later? I have something to do now, but I can meet you here in\u2014an hour. Can you wait until then?\u201d<\/p>\n

My head is spinning, but I nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can. I\u2019ll be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019s gone before I can give voice to the questions in my mind. At least, I think she\u2019s gone. I tap around cautiously with my cane\u2014she could be just out of range and I\u2019d never know.<\/p>\n

What was that? I sit back down on the bench; my knees are shaking. Before I can collect my thoughts, I hear a voice speaking to me again.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir? Are you the friend of Miss Durene?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a second I think Ryoka has come back. But it\u2019s not her\u2014the speaker is different. There\u2019s a bit of a growl to her tone that makes me think of a dog. And worry. Dogs scare me. I\u2019ve been bitten three times while walking\u2014I can\u2019t tell where they are until I run into one, and if the owner\u2019s not got a leash or isn\u2019t attentive, some of them take objection to my presence.<\/p>\n

But this is no dog. It must be a Gnoll! I stand up, turning my head in the direction of the speaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I help you\u2026Miss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. My name is Raisha, and I am a [Guardswoman] on duty. I am told you are blind. Well, I would like you to know that I have recovered your lost belongings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got it, Laken!\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene calls out and I realize she\u2019s standing with Raisha. I smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou caught the thief?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, your friend broke his arm and several ribs.\u201d<\/p>\n

An amused tone enters Raisha\u2019s growling voice. She touches something which makes a metallic noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has been arrested and will be charged. However, I would like to confirm that this bag\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

She hefts something metallic with a strained grunt.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014is yours. Is this so?\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m confused and say so.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is\u2014but Durene, you were carrying it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but\u2026well, it is<\/em> yours, Laken!\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s true, but I have to shake my head over Durene\u2019s semantics. Raisha, the Gnoll [Guardswoman], doesn\u2019t seem to care who owns what.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need to know who was carrying what. The issue is simple, sir. I just need to prove that you are the owner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Now I\u2019m worried. It\u2019s not as if I could prove anything. Raisha opens something with a snap<\/em> and rummages around in some sort of purse.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have here a gem enchanted with a spell of [Detect Truth], sir. It will tell if you are indeed the owner of the stolen goods. Will you comply with this test?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth spell? Well\u2014certainly. What do I need to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlace your hand out, palm up. Good\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

I feel something small and hard drop into my palm. It\u2019s cold and I jump a bit. Raisha\u2019s voice is calm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will ask you one question. Please answer yes or no. Is this stolen pouch of coin yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t help but feel worried. It\u2019s technically<\/em> mine by the uncertain rules of finders keepers, and it was on Durene\u2019s property, which is to say, mine. And it was a byproduct of a Skill, but I can\u2019t help but tense a bit. I wait for any reaction, but the cue must have been visual.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re speaking the truth. Thank you sir, I just had to check. Your friend has your belongings now. Thank you for cooperating. I regret that you were the victim of this crime, and hope you will have a pleasant day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2014thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raisha leaves. Durene steps over, and bends down to talk to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaken, it was amazing! I ran after that thief\u2014I thought I\u2019d lose him, but I just kept on shouting and someone tripped him up for me! Then I grabbed him and threw him down\u2014I didn\u2019t mean<\/em> to break anything, but I was just so worried he\u2019d run away! And then Raisha ran over and said that she\u2019d never seen a dumber [Thief]\u2014trying to steal from me I mean, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s too much for me. I sit back down hard. Unfortunately, I miss the bench and land hard on the paving stones in the plaza. That hurts.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaken!<\/em> Are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Durene. It\u2019s just\u2026something happened when you were gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

I have to laugh as Durene helps me sit down on the bench. How can I tell her? It\u2019s actually easy to say, really. I met someone from my world. Six words. The rest is just speculation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say it again as we sit together. Durene is silent, thinking. I told her what happened. I wouldn\u2019t keep a secret like this from Durene. I don\u2019t think I\u2019d keep anything from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know why she found you? I mean, how?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea. I just know that she must have been watching us\u2014she was talking to me in German, so she must have heard my comment to that guardsman earlier. It might have been coincidence or\u2014she knows about me some other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. Magic? Or maybe\u2014she mentioned my iPhone might be used to track me somehow. I wonder, can they use the GPS\u2026? I\u2019d imagine it has to be on, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

I trail off. After a moment Durene speaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do, Laken?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo? Wait for her. But do it intelligently. Before she gets back, I want to just sit\u2014sit and think, Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019s a good listener. I have to smile, and when I reach out, she takes my hand. For a few seconds we sit together, sitting together<\/em>, not just on the same bench. I feel myself calm down and when I have my thoughts in order, tell her what they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe learned a lot, and not just that there are other people like me, Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we had better find a bank\u2014or some kind of moneylender. That thief didn\u2019t go after you by chance. Also, I had no idea there were truth spells in this world until very recently.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t? I mean\u2014of course you\u2014but you have things like that in your world, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing like that. Oh, we have something called a lie detector test\u2014it can\u2019t be trusted. There\u2019s no certainty, no knowing if someone\u2019s telling the truth like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Truth spells, huh? If we had that where I come from, politics might be a lot different.\u201d<\/p>\n

I shake my head, thinking about what that might mean. Fact: that guardswoman had a truth stone. Even if that\u2019s only because this is a prosperous city, it means that a truth spell isn\u2019t out of the reach of an affluent member of society. So\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThings just got a lot more complicated, Durene. I think we\u2019d better wait for Gamel and Ryoka Griffin right here, but in the meantime, here\u2019s what I think we should do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene\u2019s voice is quivering with\u2026anticipation. She doesn\u2019t seem scared, only focused and ready to act. It seems like when the chips are down, she\u2019s not afraid to be bold.<\/p>\n

I admire that\u2014I\u2019m completely scared spitless by recent developments. But\u2014I smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI smell good food. If I hold down the bench here, you can get us lunch. And something for Gamel too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Food?\u201d<\/p>\n

Durene is incredulous. I shake my head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no use thinking on an empty stomach. And believe me, we\u2019ve got a lot of thinking to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn, damn, damn, damn, damn\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka stalked down the street, cursing under her breath. She was upset. Not upset at what had just transpired, but she was\u2014tense.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are ye cursing? You spoke with the blind man while his protector was away, did ye not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ivolethe piped up from her position in Ryoka\u2019s belt pouch. The young woman paused and took a breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did. It\u2019s just\u2014hell, Ivolethe. Was that the right thing to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

The faerie\u2019s answer was an eloquent shrug. She\u2019d found a bug from somewhere and was holding the squirming insect as she pulled a leg off of it. Ryoka had to pause, with people passing by her from every side and giving her dirty looks, to admire that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a monster.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHah! You eat cows and sheep and birds! What\u2019s a small insect to all that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t eat them live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka paled a bit as Ivolethe tore the twitching leg off and bit at the insect\u2019s abdomen. She closed the belt pouch for a few seconds and collected her thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s from another world. Fuck. Okay. He\u2019s from another world. What do I do now?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Frost Faerie poked her head out and shrugged. She was licking something off her face\u2014Ryoka looked away.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWho says you have aught to do? \u2018Tis not your business whether he lives or dies. Why not do what ye need to? You have duties. Your enchanted items, learning to run like the wind\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I know, but\u2014I can\u2019t just ignore him. He could know something important. He could\u2026I can\u2019t just ignore someone else. It\u2019s one thing to know about the kids Magnolia has, but she has no idea about Laken. I want to keep it that way, warn him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA smart idea. Perhaps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ryoka glanced down sharply at Ivolethe, but the Frost Faerie\u2019s comment could have been just an offhand insult. After a moment, Ryoka nodded and resumed striding down the street.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just find Reynold. I thought he\u2019d catch up by now, but he might have had trouble parking that carriage. That was lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHm. Perhaps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ryoka wondered if Ivolethe liked<\/em> giving her ulcers, or if the faerie didn\u2019t know what effect her words had on Ryoka\u2019s paranoia. No. She had to know. Ryoka shook her head as she made her way out of the plaza\u2014she saw as she went out, some farmer\u2019s kid pleading with a group of adventurers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSirs, please! My village is\u2014it needs protection! We don\u2019t have much money to spare, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He got no further because the adventuring team\u2014a rough-looking group of warriors led by a huge man armored like a Viking\u2014turned away from him in disgust. The young man despondently hurried over to the next group as Ryoka shook her head.<\/p>\n

Poor people, without money or friends. It was the same in every world; those who had neither got stepped on. She walked swiftly away, hearing him begin pleading with another group and hoping that he found someone who would listen.<\/p>\n

After five minutes Ryoka did find Reynold, or rather, he found her. She was nearly back at the Runner\u2019s Guild when she saw him walking towards her down the street. He\u2026stood out.<\/p>\n

A [Butler] walking down the streets of New York City would stand out, and Invrisil was close in nature to fit that analogy. Heads were turning as the trim and elegant Reynold proceeded down the street. He stopped and nodded politely to Ryoka; a grunt was his response<\/p>\n

\u201cTook you long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy apologies, Miss Ryoka. I was unavoidably detained. May I escort you to your desired meeting with the [Enchanter] in charge of your artifacts now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLead on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two turned and Reynold led Ryoka away from the business district, into an upscale area clearly occupied by the wealthiest individuals. It was still a place for work to be done, but these were clearly homes that doubled as working places. Ryoka was relieved that Reynold set a good pace; for a man who dressed like a Victorian-era servant, he certainly could move quick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never asked, but you know how to fight, don\u2019t you? Magnolia wouldn\u2019t hire a normal [Butler]. Not her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do indeed have a few levels in, ah, auxiliary classes which inform my main class, miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Were you a former adventurer?\u201d<\/p>\n

Reynold turned his head slightly. Ryoka met his gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Miss. Not an adventurer.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a tone in his voice that shut down the conversation. Ryoka had used it countless times before. She debated pressing him further, but she couldn\u2019t quite make herself be that rude. She sort of liked Reynold.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere we are, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reynold led Ryoka to a rather plain door. Ryoka blinked at the grey granite door and lion knocker. Reynold stepped up and rapped the knocker twice smartly. The Runner stared up at the building that looked like it had been carved completely out of a single block of granite and snorted. It stood out from the elegant facades and buildings covered in paint and architectural daring.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say I admire this [Enchanter]\u2019s sense of aesthetics. This building is an eyesore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is shaped to contain magic. Stone is a necessity to avoid leakage; paint wears away in no time. My dwelling is plain because I have shaped it for function, not visibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

A calm voice came from the doorknocker. Ryoka jumped as she saw the lion\u2019s stone eyes had shifted to stare at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are Ryoka Griffin. And you are Lady Reinhart\u2019s representative? Enter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The door swung out, revealing a far more impressively-decorated interior. Ryoka blinked at the rosewood floor and well-lit entryway. Then she stepped into the [Enchanter]\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

The door closed behind Reynold as the two walked down the corridor. The inside of the [Enchanter]\u2019s house was no featureless stone building. The flooring, walls, and hanging glass globes of mage light were all extremely costly. But Ryoka\u2019s eye was drawn more to the decorations on the wall.<\/p>\n

Wands, swords, a shield, a helmet on a stand or a single metal gauntlet adorned the walls of the [Enchanter]\u2019s home. Ryoka realized in a few seconds that these were ornaments as well as the merchandise; she still had to blink as she entered a living room where a massive greatsword hung over the fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am in my work room. Please, take the door across from you and proceed left down the hallway.\u201d<\/p>\n

A voice echoed throughout the house. Ryoka did as instructed, and found herself in a large room filled with oddities.<\/p>\n

The first thing she noticed was a circle drawn in the center of the room, a complex diagram of countless lines that formed\u2026well, a circle was the rough shape, but the pieces that made it up were countless symbols joined together\u2014<\/p>\n

They glowed white-blue as Ryoka stared at them and she looked away, blinking as her head began to ache. When she could see again she saw a man standing along one wall of the room, holding a sword in his hands.<\/p>\n

It was one of the swords that the Horns of Hammerad had recovered. As Ryoka watched, he lowered it into a tub, a wooden basin holding\u2026what?<\/p>\n

Dust? No\u2014iron dust, small fillings as fine as powder. The man muttered a word and Ryoka saw the sword\u2019s blade flash in the basin. When the man pulled the sword out, the iron dust had clung to the blade of the sword in a strange pattern. It was clearly a magical symbol, and it changed as Ryoka watched.<\/p>\n

\u201cClever.\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Enchanter] turned and the dust fell back into the basin. He nodded at her. Ryoka was surprised to see this man was barely thirty years old. He didn\u2019t seem old at all, but he had a pale cast to his skin that spoke of staying out of the light far too often, and he was missing the ring finger on his left hand.<\/p>\n

He was clean shaven, had pale orange hair, a nervous tic where he would tap an object twice with his left finger, and a businesslike attitude. He nodded to Ryoka.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, the iron dust magnetizes when exposed to the enchantments under the right circumstances. Not with all enchantments, but it is a preferable alternative to other sundry materials.\u201d<\/p>\n

He gestured, and Ryoka saw there were other basins in the room containing similar materials. This man also had an anvil and hammer leaning against the wall. No fire though\u2014he\u2019d probably conjure that, wouldn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have quite the setup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka nodded at the anvil. The man didn\u2019t turn his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do. Now, you have come to have the qualities of your magical items explained, yes? I assume the nature of these artifacts may be shared with the servant accompanying you? And the\u2026thing in your belt pouch?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The [Enchanter] tapped the back of his right hand with his left hand\u2019s finger.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll transactions and words uttered within my abode are private. They will not be shared; rest assured, my wards will keep out even the most powerful of mages from listening in without my knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka glanced behind her at Reynold, who had taken a position by the door. The [Butler] nodded politely at the mage.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Hedault\u2019s services are recognized as the best in the city. He is extremely competent, and does not reveal any information passed to him in confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault made no reaction to Reynold\u2019s words. He stared at Ryoka with a fixed, off-putting, focused stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cI put a question to you. Will you share the information with the [Butler] and creature you are carrying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka muffled the outraged shout from her belt pouch. She stared around and found the items she\u2019d given Reynold to have appraised. A silvery circular buckler with a hairline scratch, a sword whose hilt was burnt but had little else wrong with it, the blade of a sword\u2014the metal deformed in two places, and a dagger. The dagger was curved and sharp; Ryoka thought the tip was reddish, but aside from that the weapons appeared like normal, functional killing instruments. But not magical artifacts.<\/p>\n

Then again, what did she know? Ryoka spotted two other small objects\u2014a pack and a small bag that looked like it held only a few objects inside. An adventurer\u2019s pack and bag of holding.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you analyze everything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I shall list the properties of each artifact first, and then inform you as to the nature of any damages that may have occurred and the probable cost of repair. Please, do not interrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on. Do you mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault turned and stared flatly at Ryoka. The girl rolled her eyes and closed her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. To begin with, this sword. It is worthless.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man walked over to the sword blade without the hilt and lifted it to show Ryoka. He pointed at the melted bits of metal.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee how the blade has been melted from the heat? The enchantments are broken. Unable to be reconstructed. There is no merit to using the blade; the magic is defunct.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan anything be salvaged? Could you study the enchantment\u2014tell us what it does?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another flat look. Hedault tapped the blade twice with his finger and replied testily.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there were any use for it I would have stated. I asked you to remain silent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but I like asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time Ryoka saw the man\u2019s eye twitch. Hedault placed the sword blade back on the table without another word.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext, this dagger. It is unharmed from the fire damage. Curiously, it was not affected despite the enchantment not being warded against magical damages. I can only surmise luck played a role in this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want to know where these weapons came from?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka couldn\u2019t resist breaking in, just to annoy Hedault, really. He looked at her and she saw Reynold covering his face out of the corner of her eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not have to ask. I know. These came from Albez.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could tell?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe enchantment style matches the other artifacts recovered from that location. Moreover, rumor points to the Horns of Hammerad having found magical items in that ruin recently. It matters not; the enchantment speaks for itself. Do not ask another question or I will silence you with a spell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka shut her mouth and raised her hands. Hedault sighed and tapped the blade of the dagger twice.<\/p>\n

\u201cNote the tip. The blade is common steel, but it is warded against physical harm and heat. When a word is spoken, the tip will ignite. However, the heat will be contained. Thus, when using it like so\u2014Terith.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

He spoke a word and Ryoka saw the tip of the blade began to glow red. But not a bright hot-red; rather, the color seemed almost illusory, a red overlay over the plain steel blade. Hedault turned with the blade extended away from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cObserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a piece of firewood on the table. Hedault picked it up and touched the tip of the dagger to it.<\/p>\n

The entire block of wood burst into flame. Ryoka recoiled and stared at Hedault\u2019s hand, but the man had hurled the firewood away. It hung in the air, burning fiercely as he lowered the dagger.<\/p>\n

\u201cTermas.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The color on the blade returned to normal. Hedault placed the dagger back on the table as the firewood burned in the air behind him. He waved his hand and the blaze ceased, leaving the wood charred but intact.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you can see, the flame enchantment is not for heat per se, but to spread fire. An important distinction. The contact radius of the flame is around\u2026the volume of a tree, I should say. Or an Ogre. With it, it would be possible to immolate several targets at once, but the flames will be non-magical. Alternatively, it is possible to set fire to something like the surface of a lake, although the magical aspect of the flame will last for seconds\u2014it will quickly extinguish if the material is not readily combustible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJeeze.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka breathed the words, her heart still pounding.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat<\/em> was magic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault stared at Ryoka. She bit her lip, remembering his injunction. But he smiled, turning up his pale lips for the first time since she\u2019d seen him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was. A competent spell. Too often the blades I see with heat enchantments are simply hot.<\/em> But this? A useful tool for a mage to distract the enemy, especially if used with telekinetic spells to strike at range, as the old [Battlemages] often did. Now\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned to the sword. Hedault sighed as he picked it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn intact blade of weight. The enchantment is finer than most, but it is unremarkable.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned and raised a finger to forestall Ryoka\u2019s question.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a common enchantment favored by warriors. It amplifies the weight of the blade when struck with. So\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He raised the blade and tapped it on the wooden table, using the flat of the blade rather than the edge. The table broke with a crash <\/em>that made Reynold and Ryoka jump. Hedault blinked at all the weapons lying on the ground and tsked.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, this blade is quite powerful I suppose, but otherwise uninteresting. A valuable weapon for a warrior, I suppose. With this grade of enchantment\u2026you could very well fight a creature such as a Wyvern and cleanly slice through its hide with the right swing. Next.\u201d<\/p>\n

He put the blade on another table as he levitated the buckler out of the broken wood. Hedault seemed to grow morose as he touched it, showing Ryoka a hairline fracture on the center.<\/p>\n

\u201cA shame. This shield is damaged and requires repair. However, the enchantment is largely intact\u2014it will emit a field around the buckler of around three feet in every direction. It is hard to describe to a non-mage\u2014consider it a moving barrier extending the natural shield, with it as the focus. Such a barrier is practically impervious to most weapons, although a strong blow may destabilize it. And of course, the true benefit of such a shield is that it is practically weightless\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA force shield.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka breathed the words. Hedault cocked his head and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cCrude, but accurate. This buckler is highly useful, not to mention original. But as I said, it must be repaired first. I will inform you as to the cost later. Now, these conclude the weapons recovered. But this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned to the adventurer\u2019s pack and flicked his fingers at it. It rose and spilled out its contents into the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who recovered this pack were wise not to disturb it. However, there was no trap spell on the bag, merely one to prevent it being opened by the wrong user and reinforce the materials. I have bypassed that; here are the contents.\u201d<\/p>\n

He showed Ryoka a sheaf of very cracked and faded papers, a broken inkpot whose contents had spilled over some other objects including flint and steel, waterskin, small brush\u2014a toothbrush?\u2014sealed jars, a small gold ring\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cMost objects were mundane and of little worth. There was also a quantity of rotten food which I disposed of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault shuddered and tapped his hand against the bag before levitating something up to show Ryoka.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014This is what is valuable. These four potions are, in order, a healing potion, a potion to provide sustenance, and two potions which prevent the user from needing to breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

He held out a hand, forestalling Ryoka, but this time the girl didn\u2019t speak. Hedault eyed the smiling Ryoka and explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe potion to provide sustenance is a rare acquisition that [Alchemists] may pay well for. It is not a common discovery in adventurer\u2019s packs however, as they generally fail to stopper said potions correctly\u2026this one is untouched. Drinking a small bit will forestall hunger for a day. Drinking the entire potion at once will provide sustenance for up to a month depending on the level of exertion, and the user will find it difficult to imbibe any other foods in the meantime although it is possible\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the breathing potions?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly what they sound like. Generally such potions have the efficacy to provide their users to hold their breath for\u2026two hours. Note that the creation of such potions differ\u2026you may wish to consult an alchemist, but a majority of the potions were made to be held in the mouth rather than swallowed. Swallowing such a potion may result in extreme indigestion. Explosive effects tend to ensue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explosive? Ryoka could just imagine what that meant, and wished she couldn\u2019t. Hedault placed the potions back in the pack dismissively.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext. The last items of value are this bag of pebbles and ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pulled out a bag filled with tiny circular, flat stones and a ball which was made out of leather. Someone had stitched an angry face onto the leather in red thread. Ryoka was tickled by it. Hedault gestured to the pebbles.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach one is enchanted to shed [Light] for twenty four hours before fading until exposed to sunlight for an equal amount of time. A useful tool I suppose. But this ball\u2026is quite extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n

He had that look which told Ryoka it was more interesting than the rest. She stared at it. Hedault pointed to the face stitched in the leather.<\/p>\n

\u201cNote the symbol. This one is meant to provoke an opponent. If it is touched here, and then thrown\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

The instant his finger touched the ball, Ryoka saw the stitching contort. The face contorted, and then began to scream.<\/em><\/p>\n

Instantly Ryoka clapped her ears to her head. Reynold did the same, but Hedault just tossed the ball. It immediately shot out of the room and rolled down the corridor, emitting that same ear-piercing shriek <\/em>of noise. After a few seconds in which Ryoka shouted and Hedault calmly shook his head, the sound ended and to her surprise, the ball rolled back into the room. It sat at the enchanter\u2019s feet, calm and inactive.<\/p>\n

It took a few minutes before the ringing had died down in Ryoka\u2019s ears to hear again. When she did, Hedault calmly picked up the ball and showed her where to press.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes a rather strong force from a living hand to activate it. However, when used it will aggressively seek out any living creature in the nearby area, excluding those in a general radius of activation\u2026if no quarry is found it will return.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUseful!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka shouted the words. Hedault nodded and smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cInnovative. That is all of worth in the pack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka put her finger in one ear and winced, wondering if she\u2019d lost some of her hearing for good. She saw Reynold shaking his head and turned to Hedault.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of this\u2026is this a good haul for a group that went through a dungeon? In your experience?\u201d<\/p>\n

He stopped and considered that, hand on the last item, the bag of holding.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Some of these artifacts are indeed valuable\u2014the shield and sword I suppose are most useful\u2014but they are hardly impressive finds. Given the risk, I would say that this recovery is rather mediocre.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka\u2019s head lowered. Hedault smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014If you do not count the contents of this bag, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her head snapped up, and Ryoka saw a smile flash over the enchanter\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do<\/em> have a sense of humor. Huh.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned away from her and carefully opened the bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the quality of the items recovered, I had assumed the Horns of Hammerad had broken into a competent but average mage for the era, perhaps an intermediary mage in their craft. However, when I finally managed to open this bag\u2026it is clear now that the fire trap spell that triggered consumed many powerful artifacts. Yet this bag was completely unharmed; an appropriate measure given the artifacts contained within.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka and Reynold held their breath as the enchanter reached into the bag. The room went silent as Hedault fished around inside and then pulled out\u2026<\/p>\n

Three rings and a wand. Ryoka exhaled hard as she stared down at the items in Hedault\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me looks are deceiving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault appeared annoyed as he placed the items on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways. These artifacts are all exceptionally valuable. Let me impress the reasons why upon you now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka gestured for him to go right ahead. The enchanter muttered to himself a bit and then tapped the table as he pointed to the bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirstly, the bag. It is superbly enchanted. By which I mean to say there is no magical leakage whatsoever.<\/em> Do you understand the concept around magical interference between artifacts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI get it from context. Leaky magical items conflict? Can\u2019t have a sword and a shield if the enchantments are bad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Such a combination would lead to a reaction in the worst cases, or a clash of magics which would unleash the spells, alter them in adverse ways, or simply break one or both of the enchantments. But this\u2014this bag is perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault sighed as he held it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the limited size\u2014you may be able to fit twenty pounds of weight inside at most\u2014it is stellar. A mage practicing magic may carry it without fear of any kind of magical interference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh. Twenty pounds? Doesn\u2019t sound that great.\u201d<\/p>\n

The look Hedault gave Ryoka said he was considering fitting her head in the bag and giving it a good kick.<\/p>\n

\u201cBags of holding rarely contain more than a few hundred pounds of weight\u2014and those bags are very magically unstable, let me assure you. This is the work of an artisan above my ability. You would be lucky to find another bag so well made.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh really?\u201d<\/p>\n

On a hunch, Ryoka pulled out her bag of holding, the one Teriarch had given her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one holds a bit more than twenty pounds. I fit a bunch of chairs in it one time. I haven\u2019t found the upper limit. Mind telling me how good this one is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHah. This is\u2026this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault\u2019s voice trailed off as he took the bag from Ryoka. He peered at it, and then his eyes bulged. Ryoka snatched the bag back and smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was just a hunch, but why would a Dragon ever have a bag of holding that was less than perfect? Hedault stammered as he stared at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho made\u2014where did you\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does this ring do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka lifted a ring up. Hedault had to visibly compose himself for a second\u2014in the corner of her eye Ryoka could see Reynold writing something down. She turned with a frown, but he had tucked it into his waistcoat before she could see.<\/p>\n

He was recording all of this down\u2014not just the artifacts, but what she had as well! Ryoka bit her lip and made a note to have words with him afterwards. Hedault shook his head and turned back to the ring Ryoka was holding.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is inadvisable to touch something until an [Enchanter] has identified it. In this case, the danger is to me. Please hand it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka did. Hedault slipped the ring onto his finger and sighed, going back to his business-like self. Nevertheless, his eyes still glittered as he showed the ring to Ryoka.<\/p>\n

\u201cNote the circular diamond in the center.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s large. Flawless. My g\u2014wow. And perfectly cut.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault nodded, acknowledging Ryoka\u2019s insight into the gem itself. Ryoka had seen valuable gems\u2014she was aware of the difference between cheap cut stones and the really important stuff. The diamond was the latter kind.<\/p>\n

\u201cPure. Without faults. And large\u2014yes. This gem acts in tandem with the metal\u2014it is not, in fact, silver but platinum.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kidding me. People knew how to work platinum back then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes. Platinum is a very powerful metal when used for enchanting or spells\u2026in this case, it acts as a conductor for the spell with the gem. When the ring is put on the finger and the hand is flicked like\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault paused as he put the ring on his finger. Ryoka saw Reynold duck out of the way, and she herself felt uneasy the instant she saw it go on his finger. The enchanter stared around the room and shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026If I used it, my walls would suffer damage. I shall avoid demonstrating it now. Know that this ring can be activated and deactivated. But when activated, a flick\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He demonstrated after taking the ring off. It was a quick snap of the wrist.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014will send a piercing spell flying at the target. I believe it would be\u2026difficult to aim without practice, but let me assure you that this spell far surpasses any Tier 2 or Tier 3 spell of a similar nature. It would be\u2026around Tier 4 in potency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBlood on my grave, that\u2019s nasty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reynold muttered out loud and clapped a hand to his face as both girl and mage turned to him. He colored, but Hedault nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cA powerful spell, designed to cut past any quick defense. A perfect tool for an assassin\u2014or a mage disinclined to fight fairly in a magic duel. Very powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I see. And this ring?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka pointed to one made out of wood. Hedault shrugged, losing interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery powerful. Very common. [Barkskin].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you mean literally bark for skin, or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere may be some physical alterations given time, but only temporarily. The skin will indeed grow tough\u2014not as strong as armor, but certainly far more durable which would be invaluable against daggers and to an extent, swords\u2026but [Barkskin] also provides the wearer with a degree of cold resistance due to the thicker exterior, and of course, some users simply prefer it when travelling outdoors as the sun will provide them with energy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait a second, you mean you\u2019ll literally have bark for skin, as in, you can take in light like a plant?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault gave Ryoka a confused look.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the implication with the spell, is it not? In any case, it is a valuable item, especially given that it is a permanent<\/em> spell. Again, I impress on you the difference between temporary and permanent. [Stoneskin] is a powerful enchantment for instance, but I have heard of only a handful of cases where it was ever successfully imbued into an artifact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood stuff. Got it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well, this ring is far more interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault shook his head as he pushed the other two rings back and picked up the third. Ryoka\u2019s eye was caught instantly by the way this one was clearly magical. It looked like it was made up of air. That was to say, it was practically invisible, but for shifting\u2026waves in the air. It looked a lot like the shimmering that came off of pavement in the heat, only twisted into a band.<\/p>\n

\u201cA ring that allows the user to jump up to six times their height without consequence. Weight will affect the spell naturally, but this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The enchanter breathed the words out loud, eyes shining. Ryoka and Reynold blinked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh come on. That\u2019s <\/em>your powerful enchantment?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka glared at Hedault. The mage looked insulted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis enchantment is splendidly made. And though it is not a physical enhancement, the use of gravity magic is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a ring of jumping.<\/em> Tell me how that\u2019s as useful as a ring that turns your skin into bark or shoots missiles?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you could crush a man in armor with your foot if you put it on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka paused with her mouth open.<\/p>\n

\u201cExplain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ring does not simply allow you to \u2018jump higher\u2019. It allows you to jump higher and maintain the weight of your fall while protecting the user.<\/em> To put it in simpler terms, this is not a ring that has a simple [Featherfall] and [Lightfoot] dual enchantment. This ring uses gravity. Thus, if a warrior in plate armor were to jump twenty feet into the air and land, the impact would\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly crap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite. Do you understand? This is no ordinary ring. In fact, a ring of jumping completely misses the point. With it, a user could grab hold of say, a team of adventurers and leap to safety, or use it themselves to travel up a cliff without fear of falling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there are limits, right? You couldn\u2019t just jump off a cliff and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault raised his eyebrows. Ryoka gulped.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ring will come into focus the more its energies are exhausted. See, it is practically transparent? It will slowly stabilize and its true form\u2014I believe it is a brass band\u2014will emerge. Thus, a user will be able to calculate if it is becoming drained from usage. Although I doubt it would be drained from anything other than a powerful impact. And it will recharge within days at most\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It was odd. Throughout her talking with Hedault, Ryoka had just marveled at the magical items, wanting to try one or the other, but without any real desire to use any of them. What was she going to do with a sword? Well, it would be fun to chop a few things apart, but\u2026<\/p>\n

But now she couldn\u2019t stop staring at the ring Hedault held. She wanted it. Ryoka Griffin wanted it more than anything she\u2019d ever seen in the world. She wanted to climb a cliff with it. Or a mountain. She wanted to jump. She wanted to fly.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, that one\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRelatively speaking, it is<\/em> the second-most powerful item discovered. But this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault sighed and picked up the wand. Ryoka\u2019s eye fixed on it. It wasn\u2019t a wand made of wood. It was metal. Iron? The dark grey\u2014almost black metal was twisted like it had been alive, though. It was fashioned as though it were a bit of wood taken from a tree, ending with a blunted tip.<\/p>\n

The [Enchanter] looked at Ryoka as he cradled it in his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I inform you as to this item\u2019s usage\u2026I don\u2019t suppose you would consider my offer? I realize it is completely unconventional, but I feel compelled to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAllow me to pay you eighteen thousand gold pieces to purchase this wand from you. I will not make this offer again, and if you desire to accept you must not ask what this wand\u2019s usage is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reynold sounded like he\u2019d inhaled his tongue. Ryoka blinked a few times and put her hand to her ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cEight\u2026eighteen? Not just eight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the number for silence, for not inquiring. The wand may be worth less, but this is my price. Will you take it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka gulped as she met Hedault\u2019s eyes. She looked at Reynold\u2014the man was blinking rapidly as his eyes fixed on the iron wand. There was quill and inkpot balanced on his hand as he held a small book in front of him.<\/p>\n

The young woman turned back to Hedault and sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamnit, if you knew me\u2026I have to know what the hell that wand is. Sorry, no deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault nodded. He looked visibly disappointed\u2014Ryoka supposed that was crying and weeping on anyone else. He stroked the wand and then looked at Ryoka.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. Then, an explanation first. This wand is not metal as you might surmise. It is iron wood\u2014it comes from a rare tree that is extinct as far as I know. But inside the wand\u2026there is something. A core.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean, the thing that gives it magic?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I do not know what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t tell?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is something I have never seen before. Something\u2026powerful. This wand is powered by the core\u2014it is a classical wand. I suppose you do not know the difference between a classical wand and variation designed for spellcasting\u2026? No, I see not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me guess. One\u2019s better?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSubstantially.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault nodded. He indicated the wand he held.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis wand has no spell attached to it. It is\u2026well, I suppose you could call it an aid to spellcasting, but an aid hardly encompasses\u2026it will boost any mage\u2019s ability to cast spells immensely. Not like the modern wand. Those have cores of course, but these are almost invariably small mana stones. They are consumed with every cast of the spell embedded in the wand\u2014you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne\u2019s temporary and helps cast a certain kind of spell, the other one\u2019s good at everything and doesn\u2019t run dry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault nodded as he reluctantly let Ryoka inspect the wand. It was heavy<\/em> she found\u2014and the iron wood did indeed feel like wood. Cold, metallic wood.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch a wand is\u2026valuable does not begin to describe it. Consider, please, the limits of modern construction. A\u2014a wand made today would have to be of some high-quality wood. Perhaps meltwood, or cerabark? And the core might be unicorn hair or unicorn horn if you were so unimaginably lucky\u2014it would be inferior to this wand by a substantial degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka whistled as she held the wand.<\/p>\n

\u201cCeria and Pisces are going to tear each other apart over this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny mage would. In fact, I advise you to take care in transporting it\u2014it is not magically significant so a casual [Detect Magic] spell would not identify it immediately if concealed correctly, but any mage worth their salt would do almost anything to obtain such an object.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka eyed Hedault.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you lie about what it was, then? Seems odd you\u2019d just tell me what it is after making one offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The enchanter glared at her, outraged by the suggestion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI make my living based on my trustworthiness. I would not lie\u2014even when sorely tempted to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, sorry. It\u2019s just\u2014wow, this is the big one, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. It is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault grew silent as Ryoka turned the wand over in her hands. He sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations, Ryoka Griffin. I am told there are two mages in the Horns of Hammerad. One of them will benefit greatly\u2014assuming the other does not attempt to kill them to possess this wand, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka put the wand down and turned to Hedault. She felt lightheaded\u2014possibly because she\u2019d listened to him chatter on about magical artifacts for the better part of an hour. Or was it more? She couldn\u2019t tell how long she\u2019d been standing here.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas that it? You said something about repair costs\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault flicked his fingers and levitated the buckler up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the only object in need of repairs to function. The hilt of the sword enchanted with weight could use touching up, but that is a minor cost. Now, I estimate that this buckler can be fixed with a modicum of effort and time\u2014say, five days? I could do it myself for a small reduction in fees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryoka nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the price?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hedault tapped the buckler twice as he thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would think that the least I would ask is\u2026one thousand and six hundred gold coins for the buckler, and four hundred\u2026and fifty for the hilt. Now, understand that an error might occur in the repair process in which case the fee will be refunded, but the enchantment will in all likelihood be completely lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked up and saw Ryoka had gone dead white.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you like, I can offer you a very good price if you would consider trading the wand\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outside, quite a number of streets away, Laken sighed impatiently. He was sitting with Durene and Gamel, both of whom were flicking crumbs from their lunch and snack at some inquisitive birds who\u2019d flown down to look.<\/p>\n

Laken knew he should be at the inn they\u2019d found, feeding Frostwing. And he had business at the Merchant\u2019s Guild\u2014and the Runner\u2019s Guild\u2014and the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. But he was waiting here for Ryoka Griffin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is<\/em> she? I wonder if something\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Across the city, one of the overworked [Receptionists] in the Mage\u2019s Guild sighed long and hard as he got another message in. This one was addressed to a name he\u2019d had cause to curse in the last few days.<\/p>\n

He neatly took note of it, recording the sender and the addressee.<\/p>\n

To: Ryoka Griffin<\/p>\n

From: Erin Solstice.<\/p>\n

This was the first message from this sender, but he had messages from\u2026the [Receptionist] consulted the sheet out of idle curiosity.<\/p>\n

Ah yes. From Krshia Silverfang, Selys Shivertail, Klbkch (no last name given), Lyonette (no last name given), Ceria Springwalker, Pisces (no last name given), and now Erin Solstice.<\/p>\n

He wished she would turn up.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

And last, but certainly not least, the female [Receptionist] at the Runner\u2019s Guild grimly stopped talking with one of the Runners who\u2019d come in. She was going off-duty for the day, but she left a message for all [Receptionists] on duty. She had a message for Ryoka Griffin too, and she was sure the girl wasn\u2019t going to like it.<\/p>\n

And outside, the snow began to fall. The winter was more than half-over. It had been a long one, but the longest day of the year was fast approaching. After that, the snows would linger for a while, but then melt.<\/p>\n

Winter was ending. But there was a lot to do first. And much of it turned on a young woman who was currently talking about payment plans with an [Enchanter].<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 49 \u00a0 My name is Laken Godart. I am blind. Also, I\u2019m trapped in another world where reality seems to conform to the rules of some kind of game. I could be a victim of some kind of elaborate prank or test, or a social experiment. I could see myself being an easy target […]<\/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":[11693083,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693132],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-3783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-3","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n3.36 - The Wandering Inn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/2017\/12\/09\/3-36\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3.36\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Day 49 \u00a0 My name is Laken Godart. I am blind. Also, I\u2019m trapped in another world where reality seems to conform to the rules of some kind of game. I could be a victim of some kind of elaborate prank or test, or a social experiment. 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