Chapter 38
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Ripping off his headset, Eric rushed downstairs to help prepare for dinner, setting the table, grabbing drinks, and corralling his brothers towards the table. After a quick dinner with the family, he filled the cat's food and water bowls before rushing back upstairs, intent on continuing his adventures. Looking at the time, he figured that he probably had just enough time to hand in his quest and explore the village.
Getting back into bed, Eric was just about to log back in when a shadow appeared in his doorway. Looking up, he saw his father filling the doorframe.
"Yes, daddy?"
"Just wanted to make sure you're sticking to our deal. Room clean?"
"Yup."
"House vacuumed?"
"Yup, I've got the vacuum in my closet."
"Vicious cat fed?"
"It was dangerous but I managed. That cat is vicious."
This got a laugh from his father, "Alright, don't stay up too long. I know it's summer but you still have stuff to do. Your mother and I don't want you staying up all night."
Eric rolled his eyes, "I know. I'll go to bed soon."
"Alright. Night."
"Night."
As his father left, Eric didn't hesitate to log back into Fate, the now familiar roads of Tonbura village materializing in front of his eyes. As he reoriented himself, he realized that he was still standing in front of Morningstar's house. Now that there was no crazy mage threatening him, Eric got a good look at the house, idly wondering as he did why it seemed that so many of the women he'd encountered in Fate wanted him dead.
Morningstar's house was extremely sturdy, one of the few houses in Tonbura that was constructed with stone and mortar rather than wood and straw. It was also slightly taller than the nearby houses, with what appeared to be a small tower spiraling out of the corner of the house. The stones showed an advanced age, with an unwashed appearance that indicated years of abandonment. The house was not at all what one would expect when they pictured a mage's house, especially given the status mages usually held in fantasy worlds. Eric wondered if the house was nearly derelict due to Morningstar's disinterest in basic household maintenance, or for other reasons.
Looking closer, Eric saw runes glowing dimly in the window alcoves. Presumably to prevent them from shattering when the mage caused explosions like the one earlier. Doubtlessly there were also runes to prevent unwanted intruders from entering, though who would be crazy enough to attempt to break in to a mage's sanctum was beyond him.
Remembering her words, Eric checked his coin pouch. It was sadly empty, with not even a single copper Cirt to stave off his poverty. Right, he'd given every coin he owned to Craig for those arrows he lost in the forest, he thought with a pang of sadness. Conveniently forgetting that most of the cost had been incurred paying for the bow still slung over his back.
Looking at the time, Eric decided that Owin must surely be done talking with Alistair by now. Reversing directions he headed back towards the militia barracks. It was time to see what reward Alistair had in store for him! Perhaps it was a new skill, or maybe a sack of gold, he thought, happily daydreaming about the many possible rewards that Alistair could offer him as he made his way towards the northern gateway.
Arriving at the barracks, Eric let himself in, knocking on the door to Alistair's office.
"What is it?" a gruff voice echoed out.
"It's Erick Kystfyr, I came to report."
"You may enter."
Opening the door, Eric was greeted by the sight of Alistair sitting hunched over the map, his eyes flitting between various markers. Looking up he greeted the adventurer.
"Ah the half-elf escort. Owin told me what you did. That was some fine work boy. The information Owin held is crucial to our kingdom's survival."
"Just doing my duty as a member of the militia, that's what you pay me for right?"
"Aye. Though not many adventurer's actually stick to their duties when death comes knocking. Anyways, I expect yer here to claim your reward?" Eric nodded sheepishly at this, "Mostly. I was also hoping to turn in some more pelts and possibly the equipment of the goblin riders we encountered."
"Alright, well yer reward fer saving Owin and escorting him to Tonbura is ten Sricks and a promotion to Corporal. There's also a medal fer outstanding bravery in the face of overwhelming danger but as an otherworlder I doubt you care about that."
"Ah no sir. It's a great honour to be recognized for my achievements," Eric said, saluting the militia Captain.
"Alright enough of that. We're the militia, not the army or the knight's corps. Here," Alistair said, tossing him a medal and a sack that jingled pleasantly as Eric caught it. Loosening the drawstring slightly he could make out the brilliant gleam of silver Sricks. Grinning, Eric transferred the coins and the medal to his storage where they disappeared.
"Was there anything else, corporal?"
Recalling the badge in his inventory, Eric paused for a moment, fishing inside his storage for the militia medal that he'd discovered inside the corpse of a red-maned wolf.
"I found this. It seems to be a milita pin," he said, handing the medal to Alistair. Taking the medal, Alistair's face stiffened. Flipping the medal over he let out a sigh, "Rickard Karfon was the original owner of this medal. Unfortunately we lost contact with him a few days ago. I was hoping he'd just been injured and had made it to another village, but unfortunately it seems that he was killed. Thank you for retrieving this. I'll inform his family tonight," with another heavy sigh Alistair placed the medal on the table. A few small flakes of blood floating off it and falling to the table below where they mingled with the dust and dirt. Seeing Alistair deep in contemplation as he stared at the medal Eric shuffled uncomfortably, the NPCs in this game were a little too realistic sometimes he thought.
Seeing the half-elf's discomfort Alistair turned his gaze back to him, "Is that all Corporal?"
"Should be. No wait, actually I ran into a mage earlier. Lucy M-"
"Morningstar. The star mage of Seacove. I bet she didn't take to seeing you all that well eh?" Alistair asked, chuckling quietly.
"Not really, there was an explosion so I drew my sword thinking the village was under attack. Then she attacked me with magic and started insulting me."
"Aye. That sounds like her. Not everyone agreed with the Gods decision to summon you otherworlders. Some thought that the original residents of the world should be able to repel the dangers on our own. Morningstar is in that camp. It's part of the reason why she's stuck in exile here in Tonbura instead of remaining in the capital with her mentor."
"She's in exile?" Eric asked. Alistair nodded, "She's difficult to work with as I'm sure you can appreciate having met her just once. Very talented mage, one of the youngest Advanced Mages to emerge from Novanalba in the last century. But very prickly, her experiments also often result in collateral damage. That explosion you heard was likely the result of one of her attempts to create a new spell."
"Did it backfire?"
"Hard to say really, she specializes in fire magic. The only real difference between a failed spell and a successful one is the size of the explosion these days. Fortunately fer us she stays cooped up inside her lab most of the days."
"And the residents of Tonbura are okay with this?"
"They're proud of her. She's from Tonbura village originally. Plus she's always nice to the villagers. She helps with the crops, defends the village from brigands or monster attacks, and she hasn't burned down half the village yet. It's mostly outsiders like myself and otherworlders such as yourself that she's distrustful of."
"How is she as a magic teacher?" Eric asked, not too keen to give his hard earned money to someone who hated him.
"She offered to teach you magic?" Alistair asked with a surprised look, raising his eyebrow slightly as he considered for a moment, "Well you don't need to worry. She's a professional. She might be verbally, mentally, and emotionally abusive otherwise. But when it comes to magic she's a consummate professional. You won't have many opportunities to learn from an Advanced Mage. If she's agreed to teach you magic then you should take advantage."
"Even for five Sricks per lesson?"
Alistair laughed, "Five Sricks? She only charges the villagers a few Cirts or asks them to do chores. I guess it was too much to ask for her to treat you equally. But aye. Five Sricks is still cheap for lessons from an Advanced Mage. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?
Taking the wolf pelts and other loot he'd gained from the past few days of hunting, Eric turned them in to Alistair for six more Sricks and a couple copper Cirts. Thanking the grizzled militia captain, he took his leave of the barracks. His storage noticeably emptier but his coin purse now satisfyingly jingly.
With his purse now sufficiently full, Eric set off on a shopping spree. He started with Tom's smithy where he paid to get the iron sword repaired. Tom had not been happy about the state the sword was in, but Eric's assurances that he was not at fault and that he would take proper care of the sword soothed the annoyed blacksmith. Leaving the smithy, he headed next to Craig's archery shop where he replenished his supply of arrows, purchasing a quiver of iron arrows and a backup quiver of stone arrows this time. After obtaining directions towards the tanner from Craig, he made his way towards the leatherworker's shop.
Finding himself below a sign which read, "Doreen's Leather Supplies" Eric sniffed. The earthy smell of leather filling his nostrils, wrinkling his nose slightly he opened the door, wiping away the tears forming in his eyes from the smell of tanning leather.
Doreen was a squat, smiling woman with a generously sized midsection.
"An otherworlder?' she inquired as Eric entered. "Been helping you lot all day. Great for business. I've got another man being fitted now in fact.
At the back of the shop, a tall man with sharp features and a bored look was standing with his arms outstretched while a halfling shop assistant flitted around him with a footstool, taking his measurements.
Peering closer at Eric, Doreen wrinkled her nose, "Would you like to purchase some new clothes with your armour dear? I've heard you otherworlders basic clothes can regenerate. But there's no reason to be walking around looking like that. We're not Seacove, but we're civilized here in Tonbura you know."
Looking down Eric winced, somewhere between the militia barracks and here he'd managed to further damage his clothes. His shirt was now more of a croptop as the strips that had been covering his stomach had fallen to reveal a smooth, pale stomach. His pants now had an even larger hole in the side, and the bottoms now resembled streamers, trailing behind him dripping muck and blood on Doreen's wooden floor.
With an embarrassed look Eric nodded, "New clothes sounds great. Will it cost much extra?"
"Not as high as the cost to your dignity if you keep walking around like that," Doreen sniffed. Eric gave a feeble smile, it certainly wasn't the most appealing look. Even to someone as lacking in the fashion department as him. Informing Doreen that he would indeed purchase a new set of clothes her face lit up in a huge smile, "That's the spirit deary! Here come with me. I'll getcha fitted."
Grabbing Eric by the arm, Doreen whisked him to the side where she began to take his measurements. Chattering on about the local gossip as she did so. Much of it seemed to concern the otherworlders arrival and the reactions of various neighbours to this event. By the time he was done being measured, Eric had learned the genealogy and interests of what felt like half the village, as well as who were the most interested in the otherworlders arrival and who were the the least happy. Unsurprisingly, Lucy Morningstar topped this list. Doreen echoing Alistair's earlier thoughts on the mage's view of otherworlders.
Finishing with the measurements, Doreen left to the back of the store to find a set of armour that would fit him. As she did, the other player took the opportunity to talk to Eric, the halfling still struggling to reach high enough to measure him.
"Hey," said the man, "Nova Scotia?"
"Yup," said Eric.
"Right on, I'm not from around here. But I connected to Fate while on a business trip. My friends are all back in New York so I need to hurry up and figure out how to get back. This place is too quaint. Luckily I've got my assistant who I've been using as a tank. But he really isn't all that good at gaming. Still, he's better than the average level around here."
Eric was strongly reminded of Jun as he listened.
"You seem pretty decent. Most of the other players I've seen don't have enough to afford armour yet. You aiming for the championship?"
"Yes," said Eric. As Doreen returned and started fitting a leather chestpiece on him.
"Same, my friends and I will be participating in the tournament as soon as it's announced. I think it's a crime that Hurricane still hasn't announced the format of the competition. I think I might try and have them join me here. Players around here generally suck. Have you reached level five yet?"
"Yes," said Eric, wishing he could find something a little more interesting to retort with.
"That's good, the average level seems to be only around level three according to the forums which is just bad if you ask me. And it's even lower here. If you ask me-"
Fortunately for Eric, he did not need to ask the man as the halfling finally finished fitting the leather armour to his body. Looking at himself admiringly in the mirror, the man tossed a few coins on the counter.
"Well I'll see you around I suppose," said the tall man, the shop's bell ringing as he left the shop.
With the man's absence, Doreen began to chat once more. However, Eric now had a newfound appreciation for the idle chatter. He wasn't particularly loyal or defensive towards his home, but hearing it slandered by an outsider left him with a rank feeling in his mouth.
Paying Doreen the six Sricks and forty-two Cirts she requested for the armour, Eric left the shop. Now dressed in a much more stylish set of leather armour. The pants were a combination of leather and cloth which allowed for mobility, while the top was a leather vest of sorts that covered his torso and shoulders. All in all it was a much better look than the torn and bloodied rags he'd been wearing before entering the shop. Even if the cost left his wallet significantly emptier. Tossing the rags that had once been his first set of armour into his storage, he felt richer than the six or so Sricks left in his inventory indicated.
Checking the time, Eric decided it was probably a good time to log off. It wasn't a great idea to test the limits of his parents patience on the first night of their deal. Raising his arm to the sky he shouted, "Elegant Procrastination!" and watched as the world dissolved into motes of light. The scenery being replaced by the darkness of the FateGear helmet.
Setting the helmet aside, Eric set an alarm for early the next morning. If what the man had said was true, then he'd earned a significant lead for now. It wouldn't do to lose that lead by sleeping in. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep. His dreams full of wolves and rude mages.
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Ripping off his headset, Eric rushed downstairs to help prepare for dinner, setting the table, grabbing drinks, and corralling his brothers towards the table. After a quick dinner with the family, he filled the cat's food and water bowls before rushing back upstairs, intent on continuing his adventures. Looking at the time, he figured that he probably had just enough time to hand in his quest and explore the village.
Getting back into bed, Eric was just about to log back in when a shadow appeared in his doorway. Looking up, he saw his father filling the doorframe.
"Yes, daddy?"
"Just wanted to make sure you're sticking to our deal. Room clean?"
"Yup."
"House vacuumed?"
"Yup, I've got the vacuum in my closet."
"Vicious cat fed?"
"It was dangerous but I managed. That cat is vicious."
This got a laugh from his father, "Alright, don't stay up too long. I know it's summer but you still have stuff to do. Your mother and I don't want you staying up all night."
Eric rolled his eyes, "I know. I'll go to bed soon."
"Alright. Night."
"Night."
As his father left, Eric didn't hesitate to log back into Fate, the now familiar roads of Tonbura village materializing in front of his eyes. As he reoriented himself, he realized that he was still standing in front of Morningstar's house. Now that there was no crazy mage threatening him, Eric got a good look at the house, idly wondering as he did why it seemed that so many of the women he'd encountered in Fate wanted him dead.
Morningstar's house was extremely sturdy, one of the few houses in Tonbura that was constructed with stone and mortar rather than wood and straw. It was also slightly taller than the nearby houses, with what appeared to be a small tower spiraling out of the corner of the house. The stones showed an advanced age, with an unwashed appearance that indicated years of abandonment. The house was not at all what one would expect when they pictured a mage's house, especially given the status mages usually held in fantasy worlds. Eric wondered if the house was nearly derelict due to Morningstar's disinterest in basic household maintenance, or for other reasons.
Looking closer, Eric saw runes glowing dimly in the window alcoves. Presumably to prevent them from shattering when the mage caused explosions like the one earlier. Doubtlessly there were also runes to prevent unwanted intruders from entering, though who would be crazy enough to attempt to break in to a mage's sanctum was beyond him.
Remembering her words, Eric checked his coin pouch. It was sadly empty, with not even a single copper Cirt to stave off his poverty. Right, he'd given every coin he owned to Craig for those arrows he lost in the forest, he thought with a pang of sadness. Conveniently forgetting that most of the cost had been incurred paying for the bow still slung over his back.
Looking at the time, Eric decided that Owin must surely be done talking with Alistair by now. Reversing directions he headed back towards the militia barracks. It was time to see what reward Alistair had in store for him! Perhaps it was a new skill, or maybe a sack of gold, he thought, happily daydreaming about the many possible rewards that Alistair could offer him as he made his way towards the northern gateway.
Arriving at the barracks, Eric let himself in, knocking on the door to Alistair's office.
"What is it?" a gruff voice echoed out.
"It's Erick Kystfyr, I came to report."
"You may enter."
Opening the door, Eric was greeted by the sight of Alistair sitting hunched over the map, his eyes flitting between various markers. Looking up he greeted the adventurer.
"Ah the half-elf escort. Owin told me what you did. That was some fine work boy. The information Owin held is crucial to our kingdom's survival."
"Just doing my duty as a member of the militia, that's what you pay me for right?"
"Aye. Though not many adventurer's actually stick to their duties when death comes knocking. Anyways, I expect yer here to claim your reward?" Eric nodded sheepishly at this, "Mostly. I was also hoping to turn in some more pelts and possibly the equipment of the goblin riders we encountered."
"Alright, well yer reward fer saving Owin and escorting him to Tonbura is ten Sricks and a promotion to Corporal. There's also a medal fer outstanding bravery in the face of overwhelming danger but as an otherworlder I doubt you care about that."
"Ah no sir. It's a great honour to be recognized for my achievements," Eric said, saluting the militia Captain.
"Alright enough of that. We're the militia, not the army or the knight's corps. Here," Alistair said, tossing him a medal and a sack that jingled pleasantly as Eric caught it. Loosening the drawstring slightly he could make out the brilliant gleam of silver Sricks. Grinning, Eric transferred the coins and the medal to his storage where they disappeared.
"Was there anything else, corporal?"
Recalling the badge in his inventory, Eric paused for a moment, fishing inside his storage for the militia medal that he'd discovered inside the corpse of a red-maned wolf.
"I found this. It seems to be a milita pin," he said, handing the medal to Alistair. Taking the medal, Alistair's face stiffened. Flipping the medal over he let out a sigh, "Rickard Karfon was the original owner of this medal. Unfortunately we lost contact with him a few days ago. I was hoping he'd just been injured and had made it to another village, but unfortunately it seems that he was killed. Thank you for retrieving this. I'll inform his family tonight," with another heavy sigh Alistair placed the medal on the table. A few small flakes of blood floating off it and falling to the table below where they mingled with the dust and dirt. Seeing Alistair deep in contemplation as he stared at the medal Eric shuffled uncomfortably, the NPCs in this game were a little too realistic sometimes he thought.
Seeing the half-elf's discomfort Alistair turned his gaze back to him, "Is that all Corporal?"
"Should be. No wait, actually I ran into a mage earlier. Lucy M-"
"Morningstar. The star mage of Seacove. I bet she didn't take to seeing you all that well eh?" Alistair asked, chuckling quietly.
"Not really, there was an explosion so I drew my sword thinking the village was under attack. Then she attacked me with magic and started insulting me."
"Aye. That sounds like her. Not everyone agreed with the Gods decision to summon you otherworlders. Some thought that the original residents of the world should be able to repel the dangers on our own. Morningstar is in that camp. It's part of the reason why she's stuck in exile here in Tonbura instead of remaining in the capital with her mentor."
"She's in exile?" Eric asked. Alistair nodded, "She's difficult to work with as I'm sure you can appreciate having met her just once. Very talented mage, one of the youngest Advanced Mages to emerge from Novanalba in the last century. But very prickly, her experiments also often result in collateral damage. That explosion you heard was likely the result of one of her attempts to create a new spell."
"Did it backfire?"
"Hard to say really, she specializes in fire magic. The only real difference between a failed spell and a successful one is the size of the explosion these days. Fortunately fer us she stays cooped up inside her lab most of the days."
"And the residents of Tonbura are okay with this?"
"They're proud of her. She's from Tonbura village originally. Plus she's always nice to the villagers. She helps with the crops, defends the village from brigands or monster attacks, and she hasn't burned down half the village yet. It's mostly outsiders like myself and otherworlders such as yourself that she's distrustful of."
"How is she as a magic teacher?" Eric asked, not too keen to give his hard earned money to someone who hated him.
"She offered to teach you magic?" Alistair asked with a surprised look, raising his eyebrow slightly as he considered for a moment, "Well you don't need to worry. She's a professional. She might be verbally, mentally, and emotionally abusive otherwise. But when it comes to magic she's a consummate professional. You won't have many opportunities to learn from an Advanced Mage. If she's agreed to teach you magic then you should take advantage."
"Even for five Sricks per lesson?"
Alistair laughed, "Five Sricks? She only charges the villagers a few Cirts or asks them to do chores. I guess it was too much to ask for her to treat you equally. But aye. Five Sricks is still cheap for lessons from an Advanced Mage. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?
Taking the wolf pelts and other loot he'd gained from the past few days of hunting, Eric turned them in to Alistair for six more Sricks and a couple copper Cirts. Thanking the grizzled militia captain, he took his leave of the barracks. His storage noticeably emptier but his coin purse now satisfyingly jingly.
With his purse now sufficiently full, Eric set off on a shopping spree. He started with Tom's smithy where he paid to get the iron sword repaired. Tom had not been happy about the state the sword was in, but Eric's assurances that he was not at fault and that he would take proper care of the sword soothed the annoyed blacksmith. Leaving the smithy, he headed next to Craig's archery shop where he replenished his supply of arrows, purchasing a quiver of iron arrows and a backup quiver of stone arrows this time. After obtaining directions towards the tanner from Craig, he made his way towards the leatherworker's shop.
Finding himself below a sign which read, "Doreen's Leather Supplies" Eric sniffed. The earthy smell of leather filling his nostrils, wrinkling his nose slightly he opened the door, wiping away the tears forming in his eyes from the smell of tanning leather.
Doreen was a squat, smiling woman with a generously sized midsection.
"An otherworlder?' she inquired as Eric entered. "Been helping you lot all day. Great for business. I've got another man being fitted now in fact.
At the back of the shop, a tall man with sharp features and a bored look was standing with his arms outstretched while a halfling shop assistant flitted around him with a footstool, taking his measurements.
Peering closer at Eric, Doreen wrinkled her nose, "Would you like to purchase some new clothes with your armour dear? I've heard you otherworlders basic clothes can regenerate. But there's no reason to be walking around looking like that. We're not Seacove, but we're civilized here in Tonbura you know."
Looking down Eric winced, somewhere between the militia barracks and here he'd managed to further damage his clothes. His shirt was now more of a croptop as the strips that had been covering his stomach had fallen to reveal a smooth, pale stomach. His pants now had an even larger hole in the side, and the bottoms now resembled streamers, trailing behind him dripping muck and blood on Doreen's wooden floor.
With an embarrassed look Eric nodded, "New clothes sounds great. Will it cost much extra?"
"Not as high as the cost to your dignity if you keep walking around like that," Doreen sniffed. Eric gave a feeble smile, it certainly wasn't the most appealing look. Even to someone as lacking in the fashion department as him. Informing Doreen that he would indeed purchase a new set of clothes her face lit up in a huge smile, "That's the spirit deary! Here come with me. I'll getcha fitted."
Grabbing Eric by the arm, Doreen whisked him to the side where she began to take his measurements. Chattering on about the local gossip as she did so. Much of it seemed to concern the otherworlders arrival and the reactions of various neighbours to this event. By the time he was done being measured, Eric had learned the genealogy and interests of what felt like half the village, as well as who were the most interested in the otherworlders arrival and who were the the least happy. Unsurprisingly, Lucy Morningstar topped this list. Doreen echoing Alistair's earlier thoughts on the mage's view of otherworlders.
Finishing with the measurements, Doreen left to the back of the store to find a set of armour that would fit him. As she did, the other player took the opportunity to talk to Eric, the halfling still struggling to reach high enough to measure him.
"Hey," said the man, "Nova Scotia?"
"Yup," said Eric.
"Right on, I'm not from around here. But I connected to Fate while on a business trip. My friends are all back in New York so I need to hurry up and figure out how to get back. This place is too quaint. Luckily I've got my assistant who I've been using as a tank. But he really isn't all that good at gaming. Still, he's better than the average level around here."
Eric was strongly reminded of Jun as he listened.
"You seem pretty decent. Most of the other players I've seen don't have enough to afford armour yet. You aiming for the championship?"
"Yes," said Eric. As Doreen returned and started fitting a leather chestpiece on him.
"Same, my friends and I will be participating in the tournament as soon as it's announced. I think it's a crime that Hurricane still hasn't announced the format of the competition. I think I might try and have them join me here. Players around here generally suck. Have you reached level five yet?"
"Yes," said Eric, wishing he could find something a little more interesting to retort with.
"That's good, the average level seems to be only around level three according to the forums which is just bad if you ask me. And it's even lower here. If you ask me-"
Fortunately for Eric, he did not need to ask the man as the halfling finally finished fitting the leather armour to his body. Looking at himself admiringly in the mirror, the man tossed a few coins on the counter.
"Well I'll see you around I suppose," said the tall man, the shop's bell ringing as he left the shop.
With the man's absence, Doreen began to chat once more. However, Eric now had a newfound appreciation for the idle chatter. He wasn't particularly loyal or defensive towards his home, but hearing it slandered by an outsider left him with a rank feeling in his mouth.
Paying Doreen the six Sricks and forty-two Cirts she requested for the armour, Eric left the shop. Now dressed in a much more stylish set of leather armour. The pants were a combination of leather and cloth which allowed for mobility, while the top was a leather vest of sorts that covered his torso and shoulders. All in all it was a much better look than the torn and bloodied rags he'd been wearing before entering the shop. Even if the cost left his wallet significantly emptier. Tossing the rags that had once been his first set of armour into his storage, he felt richer than the six or so Sricks left in his inventory indicated.
Checking the time, Eric decided it was probably a good time to log off. It wasn't a great idea to test the limits of his parents patience on the first night of their deal. Raising his arm to the sky he shouted, "Elegant Procrastination!" and watched as the world dissolved into motes of light. The scenery being replaced by the darkness of the FateGear helmet.
Setting the helmet aside, Eric set an alarm for early the next morning. If what the man had said was true, then he'd earned a significant lead for now. It wouldn't do to lose that lead by sleeping in. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep. His dreams full of wolves and rude mages.
Ripping off his headset, Eric rushed downstairs to help prepare for dinner, setting the table, grabbing drinks, and corralling his brothers towards the table. After a quick dinner with the family, he filled the cat's food and water bowls before rushing back upstairs, intent on continuing his adventures. Looking at the time, he figured that he probably had just enough time to hand in his quest and explore the village.Getting back into bed, Eric was just about to log back in when a shadow appeared in his doorway. Looking up, he saw his father filling the doorframe."Yes, daddy?""Just wanted to make sure you're sticking to our deal. Room clean?""Yup.""House vacuumed?""Yup, I've got the vacuum in my closet.""Vicious cat fed?""It was dangerous but I managed. That cat is vicious."This got a laugh from his father, "Alright, don't stay up too long. I know it's summer but you still have stuff to do. Your mother and I don't want you staying up all night."Eric rolled his eyes, "I know. I'll go to bed soon.""Alright. Night.""Night."As his father left, Eric didn't hesitate to log back into Fate, the now familiar roads of Tonbura village materializing in front of his eyes. As he reoriented himself, he realized that he was still standing in front of Morningstar's house. Now that there was no crazy mage threatening him, Eric got a good look at the house, idly wondering as he did why it seemed that so many of the women he'd encountered in Fate wanted him dead.Morningstar's house was extremely sturdy, one of the few houses in Tonbura that was constructed with stone and mortar rather than wood and straw. It was also slightly taller than the nearby houses, with what appeared to be a small tower spiraling out of the corner of the house. The stones showed an advanced age, with an unwashed appearance that indicated years of abandonment. The house was not at all what one would expect when they pictured a mage's house, especially given the status mages usually held in fantasy worlds. Eric wondered if the house was nearly derelict due to Morningstar's disinterest in basic household maintenance, or for other reasons.Looking closer, Eric saw runes glowing dimly in the window alcoves. Presumably to prevent them from shattering when the mage caused explosions like the one earlier. Doubtlessly there were also runes to prevent unwanted intruders from entering, though who would be crazy enough to attempt to break in to a mage's sanctum was beyond him.Remembering her words, Eric checked his coin pouch. It was sadly empty, with not even a single copper Cirt to stave off his poverty. Right, he'd given every coin he owned to Craig for those arrows he lost in the forest, he thought with a pang of sadness. Conveniently forgetting that most of the cost had been incurred paying for the bow still slung over his back.Looking at the time, Eric decided that Owin must surely be done talking with Alistair by now. Reversing directions he headed back towards the militia barracks. It was time to see what reward Alistair had in store for him! Perhaps it was a new skill, or maybe a sack of gold, he thought, happily daydreaming about the many possible rewards that Alistair could offer him as he made his way towards the northern gateway.Arriving at the barracks, Eric let himself in, knocking on the door to Alistair's office."What is it?" a gruff voice echoed out."It's Erick Kystfyr, I came to report.""You may enter."Opening the door, Eric was greeted by the sight of Alistair sitting hunched over the map, his eyes flitting between various markers. Looking up he greeted the adventurer."Ah the half-elf escort. Owin told me what you did. That was some fine work boy. The information Owin held is crucial to our kingdom's survival.""Just doing my duty as a member of the militia, that's what you pay me for right?""Aye. Though not many adventurer's actually stick to their duties when death comes knocking. Anyways, I expect yer here to claim your reward?" Eric nodded sheepishly at this, "Mostly. I was also hoping to turn in some more pelts and possibly the equipment of the goblin riders we encountered.""Alright, well yer reward fer saving Owin and escorting him to Tonbura is ten Sricks and a promotion to Corporal. There's also a medal fer outstanding bravery in the face of overwhelming danger but as an otherworlder I doubt you care about that.""Ah no sir. It's a great honour to be recognized for my achievements," Eric said, saluting the militia Captain."Alright enough of that. We're the militia, not the army or the knight's corps. Here," Alistair said, tossing him a medal and a sack that jingled pleasantly as Eric caught it. Loosening the drawstring slightly he could make out the brilliant gleam of silver Sricks. Grinning, Eric transferred the coins and the medal to his storage where they disappeared."Was there anything else, corporal?"Recalling the badge in his inventory, Eric paused for a moment, fishing inside his storage for the militia medal that he'd discovered inside the corpse of a red-maned wolf."I found this. It seems to be a milita pin," he said, handing the medal to Alistair. Taking the medal, Alistair's face stiffened. Flipping the medal over he let out a sigh, "Rickard Karfon was the original owner of this medal. Unfortunately we lost contact with him a few days ago. I was hoping he'd just been injured and had made it to another village, but unfortunately it seems that he was killed. Thank you for retrieving this. I'll inform his family tonight," with another heavy sigh Alistair placed the medal on the table. A few small flakes of blood floating off it and falling to the table below where they mingled with the dust and dirt. Seeing Alistair deep in contemplation as he stared at the medal Eric shuffled uncomfortably, the NPCs in this game were a little too realistic sometimes he thought.Seeing the half-elf's discomfort Alistair turned his gaze back to him, "Is that all Corporal?""Should be. No wait, actually I ran into a mage earlier. Lucy M-""Morningstar. The star mage of Seacove. I bet she didn't take to seeing you all that well eh?" Alistair asked, chuckling quietly."Not really, there was an explosion so I drew my sword thinking the village was under attack. Then she attacked me with magic and started insulting me.""Aye. That sounds like her. Not everyone agreed with the Gods decision to summon you otherworlders. Some thought that the original residents of the world should be able to repel the dangers on our own. Morningstar is in that camp. It's part of the reason why she's stuck in exile here in Tonbura instead of remaining in the capital with her mentor.""She's in exile?" Eric asked. Alistair nodded, "She's difficult to work with as I'm sure you can appreciate having met her just once. Very talented mage, one of the youngest Advanced Mages to emerge from Novanalba in the last century. But very prickly, her experiments also often result in collateral damage. That explosion you heard was likely the result of one of her attempts to create a new spell.""Did it backfire?""Hard to say really, she specializes in fire magic. The only real difference between a failed spell and a successful one is the size of the explosion these days. Fortunately fer us she stays cooped up inside her lab most of the days.""And the residents of Tonbura are okay with this?""They're proud of her. She's from Tonbura village originally. Plus she's always nice to the villagers. She helps with the crops, defends the village from brigands or monster attacks, and she hasn't burned down half the village yet. It's mostly outsiders like myself and otherworlders such as yourself that she's distrustful of.""How is she as a magic teacher?" Eric asked, not too keen to give his hard earned money to someone who hated him."She offered to teach you magic?" Alistair asked with a surprised look, raising his eyebrow slightly as he considered for a moment, "Well you don't need to worry. She's a professional. She might be verbally, mentally, and emotionally abusive otherwise. But when it comes to magic she's a consummate professional. You won't have many opportunities to learn from an Advanced Mage. If she's agreed to teach you magic then you should take advantage.""Even for five Sricks per lesson?"Alistair laughed, "Five Sricks? She only charges the villagers a few Cirts or asks them to do chores. I guess it was too much to ask for her to treat you equally. But aye. Five Sricks is still cheap for lessons from an Advanced Mage. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?Taking the wolf pelts and other loot he'd gained from the past few days of hunting, Eric turned them in to Alistair for six more Sricks and a couple copper Cirts. Thanking the grizzled militia captain, he took his leave of the barracks. His storage noticeably emptier but his coin purse now satisfyingly jingly.With his purse now sufficiently full, Eric set off on a shopping spree. He started with Tom's smithy where he paid to get the iron sword repaired. Tom had not been happy about the state the sword was in, but Eric's assurances that he was not at fault and that he would take proper care of the sword soothed the annoyed blacksmith. Leaving the smithy, he headed next to Craig's archery shop where he replenished his supply of arrows, purchasing a quiver of iron arrows and a backup quiver of stone arrows this time. After obtaining directions towards the tanner from Craig, he made his way towards the leatherworker's shop.Finding himself below a sign which read, "Doreen's Leather Supplies" Eric sniffed. The earthy smell of leather filling his nostrils, wrinkling his nose slightly he opened the door, wiping away the tears forming in his eyes from the smell of tanning leather.Doreen was a squat, smiling woman with a generously sized midsection."An otherworlder?' she inquired as Eric entered. "Been helping you lot all day. Great for business. I've got another man being fitted now in fact.At the back of the shop, a tall man with sharp features and a bored look was standing with his arms outstretched while a halfling shop assistant flitted around him with a footstool, taking his measurements.Peering closer at Eric, Doreen wrinkled her nose, "Would you like to purchase some new clothes with your armour dear? I've heard you otherworlders basic clothes can regenerate. But there's no reason to be walking around looking like that. We're not Seacove, but we're civilized here in Tonbura you know."Looking down Eric winced, somewhere between the militia barracks and here he'd managed to further damage his clothes. His shirt was now more of a croptop as the strips that had been covering his stomach had fallen to reveal a smooth, pale stomach. His pants now had an even larger hole in the side, and the bottoms now resembled streamers, trailing behind him dripping muck and blood on Doreen's wooden floor.With an embarrassed look Eric nodded, "New clothes sounds great. Will it cost much extra?""Not as high as the cost to your dignity if you keep walking around like that," Doreen sniffed. Eric gave a feeble smile, it certainly wasn't the most appealing look. Even to someone as lacking in the fashion department as him. Informing Doreen that he would indeed purchase a new set of clothes her face lit up in a huge smile, "That's the spirit deary! Here come with me. I'll getcha fitted."Grabbing Eric by the arm, Doreen whisked him to the side where she began to take his measurements. Chattering on about the local gossip as she did so. Much of it seemed to concern the otherworlders arrival and the reactions of various neighbours to this event. By the time he was done being measured, Eric had learned the genealogy and interests of what felt like half the village, as well as who were the most interested in the otherworlders arrival and who were the the least happy. Unsurprisingly, Lucy Morningstar topped this list. Doreen echoing Alistair's earlier thoughts on the mage's view of otherworlders.Finishing with the measurements, Doreen left to the back of the store to find a set of armour that would fit him. As she did, the other player took the opportunity to talk to Eric, the halfling still struggling to reach high enough to measure him."Hey," said the man, "Nova Scotia?""Yup," said Eric."Right on, I'm not from around here. But I connected to Fate while on a business trip. My friends are all back in New York so I need to hurry up and figure out how to get back. This place is too quaint. Luckily I've got my assistant who I've been using as a tank. But he really isn't all that good at gaming. Still, he's better than the average level around here."Eric was strongly reminded of Jun as he listened."You seem pretty decent. Most of the other players I've seen don't have enough to afford armour yet. You aiming for the championship?""Yes," said Eric. As Doreen returned and started fitting a leather chestpiece on him."Same, my friends and I will be participating in the tournament as soon as it's announced. I think it's a crime that Hurricane still hasn't announced the format of the competition. I think I might try and have them join me here. Players around here generally suck. Have you reached level five yet?""Yes," said Eric, wishing he could find something a little more interesting to retort with."That's good, the average level seems to be only around level three according to the forums which is just bad if you ask me. And it's even lower here. If you ask me-"Fortunately for Eric, he did not need to ask the man as the halfling finally finished fitting the leather armour to his body. Looking at himself admiringly in the mirror, the man tossed a few coins on the counter."Well I'll see you around I suppose," said the tall man, the shop's bell ringing as he left the shop.With the man's absence, Doreen began to chat once more. However, Eric now had a newfound appreciation for the idle chatter. He wasn't particularly loyal or defensive towards his home, but hearing it slandered by an outsider left him with a rank feeling in his mouth.Paying Doreen the six Sricks and forty-two Cirts she requested for the armour, Eric left the shop. Now dressed in a much more stylish set of leather armour. The pants were a combination of leather and cloth which allowed for mobility, while the top was a leather vest of sorts that covered his torso and shoulders. All in all it was a much better look than the torn and bloodied rags he'd been wearing before entering the shop. Even if the cost left his wallet significantly emptier. Tossing the rags that had once been his first set of armour into his storage, he felt richer than the six or so Sricks left in his inventory indicated.Checking the time, Eric decided it was probably a good time to log off. It wasn't a great idea to test the limits of his parents patience on the first night of their deal. Raising his arm to the sky he shouted, "Elegant Procrastination!" and watched as the world dissolved into motes of light. The scenery being replaced by the darkness of the FateGear helmet.Setting the helmet aside, Eric set an alarm for early the next morning. If what the man had said was true, then he'd earned a significant lead for now. It wouldn't do to lose that lead by sleeping in. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep. His dreams full of wolves and rude mages.
