Neophyte World Builder

Chapter 137: The Old Guard

FISK (LOREN)

Life as an Aravel was much different than he remembered life being as a Calen.

Fisk knew that part of that was just how long it had been. When he’d awakened in this body, it had been more than a little disorienting, since he’d awakened at the same time twelve generations of memories had opened up to Loren, the youth that he now inhabited. Thirteen lives before his own had unfolded, with four of them female.

But most of those lives were not lived memories. He ‘knew’ them, and if he concentrated he could pull visions and hear speech from them, but it wasn’t like he had lived them. They were like remembering a dream, or if he’d imagined something vividly in a story that was told to him.

Initially Loren had been confused, because Fisk’s memories were not like that. They were… vivid. Intimate. They came to him in moments of emotion or with subtle reminders of the past. The distant past, in this case. Far before even the longest Aravel lineage can clearly remember, he had memories of a primitive life… and a grand adventure that became a legend.

Memories that contradicted the stories that had been told to him as a child, in many ways.

Solen and Eyssa were never sisters. Duvad’s sacrifice was never witnessed in person. The Green Tender had done little to prepare them for the journey. The Thunderers had been much more welcoming than the stories said. The list went on.

He’d tried to find out if this was normal. He hadn’t just blurted out what he was remembering, but instead had asked careful questions, quickly determining that nothing like this was known. This left him even more confused, with memories growing up in this world of tall towers and mechanical devices, mingled with harsh survival lessons with only stone and flesh to rely upon.

Fisk let out a heavy sigh. The balcony let him see the city below, the people going about their lives. He’d been called talented, guided toward being a leader of the city… but though that did appeal to him, he couldn’t stand the soft life here. Even though his body was more delicate than he’d remembered his Calen one being, he’d already learned to enhance it with mana to match or exceed his old limits… at least at the age his body was now. He wasn’t close to what he’d been in the prime of his life, yet.

“He looks a little delicate. Are you sure this is the right one? I can’t see anything like this.”

Spinning around, Fisk’s ears flicked up in alarm. That voice sounded close, close enough to be in his bedroom behind him. He certainly hadn’t heard anyone arrive, and his old instincts kicked in even with the new body. His eyes darted about to look for a weapon even as he assessed the newcomers.

The notifications came and went as Fisk dismissed them… only for the elf to flick his ears back in wary confusion. Not one, but two elves were in his bedroom. They stood only a few tails away, looking at him, both Calen by build… which was even more strange here in the city.

The one on the left was unknown to him. Dark blue lines covered her, darker even than most Aravel’s lines, and her hair was unreasonably long. Despite her fit frame, he couldn’t imagine she could do much physically with that long mane. He marked her as being a caster of some sort.

On the right was a much more familiar figure, though clothed for the modern era. The same angle of the ears, the same shade of eyes, even the same tuft of darker blue in her tail’s tip that so few knew about. This one, he knew, no matter what the notification said.

“Tastka?” Fisk stared in disbelief. “How do you look the same?”

Tastka – if it was her – wiggled her tail at him, her ears dropping in negation. “I go by Wryna… as you probably saw in your Achievements. We aren’t the same, and I can’t stay long. But I know you’re Fisk, not to worry. Vedas is in the city too, if you can find him. He’s a Calen elf, though… I guess you were the lucky one between you two. It’s easier being an Aravel in this region.”

Orpheus was the other one, he presumed. She was looking all around, putting the lie in her statement that she can’t see anything. Fisk watched as the strange elf walked over to the sleeping mat and poked it with a toe, as if she’d never seen one before.

“Wryna then,” Fisk muttered. “And Orpheus. That’s a strange name. I’ve never seen an Achievement suggest I hurt someone before. Does she get kicked in the shin a lot?”

“What?” Wryna stared for a second, then let out a bark of a laugh. “Oh… I wondered when something like that would happen. The System is normally very straightforward, but probably never realized someone would actually meet Orpheus.”

The strange elf in question turned around, ears folding down and tail swaying low in annoyance. “Is she still mad at me? I told her I was sorry.”

“If she didn’t actually give a reward, she’s probably just being grouchy.” Wryna waved off the other elf’s concern. “She’s normally very serious about her duties.”

Fisk clucked lightly to remind them he was there. “I’m not sure that I want to know how one makes the System angry with them. That isn’t why you’re here, is it?”

“Don’t worry about the System, you being friends with me is some level of protection from her ire.” Wryna swayed her tail as she talked, thoughtfully. “You already agreed to this, but don’t remember it, so I’ll just ask again if you’re willing to organize a dedicated force for handling dungeons. You seemed very interested before, but I know you can’t remember that discussion.”

Fisk tilted his head, his ears splaying outward in concern.

“Dungeons. The things that are appearing more and more often lately.” He stared at his old friend, now young again.

Young like himself.

“How am I here? Where are the others?” Those questions leapt to mind before he could hope to agree to something like this.

Orpheus finally paid attention to him. “Expected questions. I want you to know that all of this is Wryna’s idea, and I was persuaded to help because I owed them.”

Wryna gave an annoyed flick of her tail. “Why are you even here if you’re going to act like that? I think you just like-” She caught herself. “Never mind.”

She turned back to Fisk and sighed. “Because of your accomplishments, you were given a reward. It was sort of like an Achievement before Achievements existed. You and the others were given some choices, and you and Vedas both chose to have yourselves reborn again at a later time, so you could see the world of the future. Eyssa, Solen, and Kelas all chose to become gods… the Fisk god that some worship doesn’t really have a mind or personality of his own.”

Fisk curled his tail about one leg, but Wryna wasn’t finished.

“You do not have to do what I’m asking, it’s just what I’d like you to do.” She gestured toward the world. “If you’re enjoying yourself as you are, just keep doing what you are doing. I don’t want you to-”

“No that’s fine,” he interrupted. “I’ll do it. Sounds fun. Doing it here among the Aravel is a fun challenge. Does Vedas know? What about Duvad and Dashe? You didn’t mention them.”

Wryna laughed, “You were eager when we talked about this before, too.” She lost her amusement when the others were brought up. “Duvad and Dashe are fine, but both of them chose a different option. I can’t tell you what it was, but it was their choice. Gathur was also offered the same options, and also chose that third choice. We’re going to tell Vedas after this, so he will know where to find you, if he accepts.”

Fisk looked to the side, where Orpheus was tapping at the rim of a pot of water. “And what is she here for?”

“Observation,” Orpheus answered without looking toward him. “I find that I enjoy seeing how Wryna handles matters. It is a pity she can’t join you for this, but we simply do not have the time to spare.”

“I have other responsibilities,” Wryna agreed. “Related to my… other half, I guess you would remember them as. But…”

She stepped forward and gave him a light touch on his cheek, then leaned in to bump muzzles. “It’s good to see you. I’m not the same as you remember, but I hope I can visit when you and Vedas are alone, and we can talk about the old times.”

The gesture startled Fisk, but he tilted his ears up as Wryna finally displayed some of the old emotion he’d known from her. “I’d like that. I think I might have myself busy though. How large of an team did you say you wanted?”

Wryna blinked and canted her head to the side. “Oh, I must have forgotten. Would it change your answer if I told you I wanted it worldwide? Across all elf, dwarf, and rooken lands? Even the Scourge, if you can talk to them enough to get them to listen. It’s possible, but they are quite stubborn.”

The request hit Fisk hard, but his only reaction was to break into a laugh!

“You never did set easy goals for yourself or anyone else.” His ears twitched in amusement. “You don’t want a team, you want an entire organization? Now that is a challenge. Is there anyone else I should talk to? Someone who knows the dungeons well?”

His old friend put on a little expression of amusement, tail swaying as she stepped back. “Oh, I can’t make it too easy for you. You should find your own way… isn’t that what you’re good at?”

Orpheus tsked, “Wryna. We really should be going. Teasing this poor mo- man will get us nowhere but distracted.”

The strange elf turned to him and dipped her head slightly. “I am pleased that I could meet you again and that you will remember me, this time.”

“Stop flirting with my <unintelligible>, Orpheus,” Wryna grumbled, grasping the stranger’s arm. “Fine, we’re going, if only because you’re starting to worry me with how you’re acting. Fisk, good luck. I’ll try to see you again soon.”

Fisk lifted a hand to say farewell. “All right… Tastka…”

His words trailed off as he stared at the suddenly empty room.