Infinite Lives

Bryan woke up, stretched and cracked his back, neck and elbows.

Food, then head to town.

Bryan stood, packed his bedroll into his shoulder bag and put on his chest plate, pauldrons and the rest of his armour.

Looking around, Erran was still asleep while Len was on watch.

“Ah, you’re awake. You know you do not move when you sleep,” Len said.

Well, yes, a useful habit for sleeping in the wilderness.

Bryan just shrugged as he lit the fire with a Fire Bolt and used a water jug to fill a stew pot.

“I just think it’s a bit weird, better than Erran though… He talks; had to slap him a few times,” Len said before laughing.

Potatoes, carrot, cabbage, Orc meat, and garlic.

Len looked over at Bryan cooking before speaking again, “Well, I won’t tell Erran what we are eating. It is good to get used to unusual things on the road.”

Yes, he does seem averse to garlic… things lack flavour without it, though.

Bryan nodded at Len, who then walked over to nudge Erran awake.

Once all were awake, Bryan served up a bowl of stew to each, and they ate the food.

After they were done and began packing the bowls and such away, Len spoke,

“So did you enjoy your Orc stew?”

Erran laughed before replying, “You are a funny guy, Len.”

What is funny?

“I don’t understand; it was Orc stew,” said Bryan.

Erran’s eyes widened a moment before he spoke, “What! Really?”

Pausing for a moment before Erran spoke again, “But they are humanoid… isn’t that like cannibalism?”

Len was laughing intensely now.

“Why would you guys make me eat that… Why would you eat it?” Erran said, sounding more and more concerned.

I do not understand what his point is…

Len finally stopped laughing, and his face became serious.

“Look, Orcs are not intelligent. In no way is it cannibalism,” Len said before pausing a moment to walk over and place a hand on Erran’s shoulder.

“When out in the wilderness as an adventurer, you will need to eat what you can. Felt logical that you experienced this,” Len said sincerely.

Erran rubbed his head and was silent for several moments before he sighed and then spoke,

“Ok, I see you had good intentions. But it doesn’t mean I am happy about this.”

Len shrugged and laughed again before speaking, “You’ll get used to it.”

How is Orc a bad thing… it isn’t much different from a pig.

The three of them packed away the rest of the camp.

“Point us in the direction of the nearest town, Erran,” Bryan stated.

Erran nodded before pointing north.

They walked for several hours until they left the forest and entered a large grasslands, spotting stone walls in the distance.

After a while of walking past farmland on a dirt road, they reached the gate where guards were checking travellers before letting them in.

Do what we need to here, and then get back to my experiment.

They waited in line until it was their turn. The guard spoke,

“Reason for entering Dunmere?”

“To collect supplies and hand in some bounties,” Bryan responded.

The guard looked them over before replying, “Well, those two have guild badges… ok, you may enter”

Entering through the stone gates, they walked into a busy market square.

“Point us to the guild then, Erran,” Bryan stated.

Erran nodded and led them through the crowds of people and the occasional Beastkin.

They reached a large building and pushed open its wooden doors.

Stepping into a big room, they walked through the crowds of adventurers chatting to wait in line for the reception.

Once it was their turn, the receptionist spoke, “What do you need from me, dearies?”

Bryan stepped forward and spoke, “I am here to hand in some monster parts as bounties.”

The receptionist looked over him and then at Len and Erran.

“Not sure you are aware, but in Oakenhold, you must be a registered adventurer to do that,” she said.

So I must register?... I could have Len or Erran do it, but they may not know what it is I have…

“Is there no way around this?” Bryan asked.

She shook her head and responded, “No, not in this kingdom. Others may be more lax, but I have to stick to procedure. I am sorry.”

Len chuckled and nudged Erran behind him before speaking, “This could be interesting.”

Bryan sighed lightly before speaking again, “OK, I will register then.”

The receptionist smiled, then pointed to a stone tablet on the desk.

“We will just need you to place your hand here so we know your level and can give you an appropriate rank,” she said.

Well, last time I went too high… eighty brought too much attention… I will go lower.

Alter Perception.

Bryan placed his hand on the tablet and waited.

“Oh my, well that doesn’t happen often; you are level sixty,” she said before turning around to check some charts behind her.

Turning back around with a larger smile, she spoke, “Well, that means you will be a gold rank. My name is Bessy, by the way.”

Behind him, Bryan could hear Len and Erran talk.

“See, that explains it. He is a Gold rank, and level sixty is awesome,” Erran said.

“No, it doesn’t add up; we will talk about it later,” Len replied.

After a short while, Bessy handed Bryan a gold marker on a necklace.

“Thank you. May I hand in my bounties now?” Bryan asked.

She nodded, and Bryan proceeded to pull out Orc parts, Wyvern scales, a Troll core and various other parts from his shoulder pouch and placed them on the counter.

Those nearby were watching; some silent but staring, others whispering to each other.

“That stuff has to be fake, right?”

“Obviously no one collects that much in one go.”

“I mean, he has an item box, though? Nobility?”

The receptionist was stunned for a moment before sorting through all the items.

“Wow, I did not expect the bag you have nor the quantity of things,” said Bessy.

She turned around and looked through some books behind her before turning back.

“The most I can give you is fifty gold and a guild-certified note of how much we owe you,” said Bessy, scratching her head.

Logically, they likely need a reserve… it should do.

“If you stay the night in town, I am sure the guild can find a travelling trader who will buy most of this. We could have the rest tomorrow?” said Bessy.

Bryan shrugged and spoke, “Yeah, that will do.”

Those nearby watching could be heard again.

“Bessy checked it… So it’s real, wow.”

“Eh, likely a famous adventurer from another kingdom.”

Bessy turned around counted some coins, wrote a note before stamping it and handing them over to Bryan.

Bryan nodded and turned back to Len and Erran, who stared at him for several moments before they walked out of the guild.

Erran tried to speak, “What was that?”

Len interrupted him and said, “Not her; we should get an inn since we are staying here, then talk.”

An inn is a logical choice.

Bryan nodded, and Erran led them down a few streets until they found an inn.

Pushing the slightly worn doors open, Bryan walked inside, followed by Len and Erran.

They waited for a few minutes until a large lady finished serving people and practically glided over to them.

“Hello boys, I am Tessa and welcome to the Rest and Ruin. What can I do for you?” she said with a warm smile.

Hmm, she looks familiar.

“We require a room each for the night,” Bryan stated.

Len butted in, “Oh, are we not sharing? I wanted to cuddle,” Len said before bursting into laughter.

Erran scowled at him and looked at the floor awkwardly.

“Ignore him; he says illogical things often. Three rooms, please,” Bryan said.

Tessa smiled before replying, “It’s ok, I have a sense of humour. For one night, it will be three silver per room, including food.”

Not a bad price.

Bryan nodded and handed her nine silver coins. She smiled, walked over to the counter and came back with three keys for them.

Bryan, Len and Erran looked for a table in the corner away from people.

“It is good we chose a table away from others so I can find out what you meant earlier,” Erran said, looking at Len.

“I simply chose this because it is in the corner and I could see assailants before they reached me,” Bryan stated.

It is the most advantageous position.

Erran laughed and sighed, “Why am I not surprised you have an oddly practical reason.”

“Ok, since it is just us now, I will say it mostly because I don’t think Bryan cares or listens to half of what we say,” Len said.

“Incorrect. I am aware of what is happening around me, but if it is not useful, I will forget it,” Bryan stated before continuing to stare across the bar.

Not listening would show poor perception.

Len rubbed his face before Erran spoke, “So, what is there to discuss? He is gold rank, right?”

Sighing before looking serious, Len replied, “That is the problem. I am level fifty, and yes, sixty is the high end for Golds…”

Len scratched his head before continuing, “I have worked with Gold Ranks, level sixties and higher. The things I have seen Bryan do, he is the strongest person I have seen.”

I am thirsty…should see if they have honey ale.

Erran thought for a moment before replying, “Maybe you just have not seen one like him?”

Len shook his head before he spoke, “No, I have seen high levels fight. Bryan is something else. That is even without the many abilities he has that I have never seen before.”

“Oh, but how does knowing this help us?” Erran asked.

“It doesn’t help us do anything,” Bryan stated.

Len laughed before he spoke, “He is right; it may as well be a curiosity.”

Bryan waved Tessa over and ordered a honey ale.

Erran looked at Bryan and spoke, “So, how strong are you?”

Bryan shrugged, then replied. “Strong enough to achieve our goals.”

The ale is good.

Len burst into laughter. Once he calmed down, he spoke, “Did you expect a different answer?”

Erran sighed and replied, “No, not really.”

“I will have a few ales, dinner, then go to bed. May as well get all the money before we go shopping,” Bryan stated.

Len and Erran nodded in response.

They had a drink, ordered food and waited for it to arrive.

Once it had, Bryan dug in first, Len took a bite and exclaimed,

“Oh god, why does this stew have so much garlic?”

Erran frowned, took a bite and spoke, “You are not wrong; it is a lot.”

It seems underseasoned to me.

Len laughed and looked at Bryan before speaking, “Did this innkeeper teach you how to cook, Bryan?”

Bryan shrugged before speaking, “It needs more garlic.”

Both Len and Erran laughed.

Almost in unison, they said, “No, it really doesn’t.”

How peculiar.

Before they both laughed again, they finished eating and drank some more before they went to bed.

***

Bryan woke up, stretched and shuffled to the edge of his bed.

Beds are more comfortable, but the experiment comes first.

He put on his armour and made his way downstairs. Seeing Len and Erran at a table, he walked over to sit with them.

They ate breakfast, and then Bryan spoke, “Logically, I will give you some of the money from yesterday. Len and Erran, you both go get Erran some armour while I collect the things I need, and we meet here later.”

Erran smiled, and Len spoke, “Sure, always love shopping.”

Bryan stood up, nodded at them and made his way out of the inn.

He walked straight to the guild and walked inside; only a few stared as he walked over and stood in line for the reception.

Once it was his turn, Bessy smiled and spoke,

“Luckily, we found three traders who bought the parts, so we have your money. I don’t recommend holding onto this much next time, as there is no guarantee it can be sold quickly.”

Well, it is logical to keep a variety of things for when I need money.

Bessy handed him a large bag of coins and spoke,

“The remaining three hundred and fifty gold. We look forward to doing business with you again.”

Bryan put the coin bag into his shoulder bag and began walking out, overhearing some onlookers.

“So the stuff was real?”

“Guess so. Never a dull day, is there?”

“I mean, yesterday we didn’t exactly do much.”

“Shut up”

Bryan opened the guild doors and walked through into the busy streets until he got to a large shop.

Looks like the right kind of shop.

He went inside and gestured to the wolf-looking Beastkin shopkeeper.

“Hello, sir. What can I do for you today?” said the shopkeeper.

“I require forty etching tablets and forty mid-grade Mana orbs,” Bryan stated.

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened before he replied, “I have the tablets, but we only have eight orbs in stock… no one keeps that many.”

Well, logically he can collect them for me.

“I will have the tablets now; how quickly can you gather the orbs?” Bryan asked.

The shopkeeper went back and forth, bringing stacks of etching tablets from the back room and placing them on the counter.

“What you are asking is not cheap. The tablets are five silver each, and it will take me a week to get the orbs, which will cost three gold each. Do you have enough money?” The shopkeeper asked while raising an eyebrow.

I wouldn’t be asking if I couldn’t afford it…

Bryan put a hand in his shoulder bag and pulled out the gold bag, dumping coins onto the counter.

“I can’t wait a week; would two hundred and twenty gold speed things up?” Bryan asked.

The shopkeeper smiled and stumbled over his words a bit. “Erm, yes… that will do nicely. I will make it my mission, sir.”

Bryan handed over the coins, put the rest into his shoulder bag along with the etching tablets and exited the shop.

The shopkeeper turned the shop sign to ‘closed’ as he left.

Will need to spend another night… should start preparing the tablets.

Bryan made his way back to the inn, gave Tessa more money for the rooms and went to his room.

He sat for a while etching spells into the tablets by concentrating and applying Mana.

Later on, he went down and saw Len and Erran sitting at a table.

“Get what you needed?” Len asked Bryan.

“No, we will need to wait till tomorrow for me to get the Mana orbs I need,” Bryan responded.

Len nodded and spoke, “Fair, we got him armour. Luckily, the blacksmith had armour in child sizes.”

Len burst into laughter while Erran scowled at him.

“Thank you for this; I am so grateful you’d do this for me. I have never had armour fit this well,” Erran said to Bryan while smiling.

The armour will help, but more will need to be done.

They had dinner and drank a while before going to bed.

After getting up, Bryan went down to the main room and waited for Len and Erran to join him.

Tessa came over and spoke, “Think you will be staying another night, my boy?”

Hmm…she certainly feels familiar from before I came here...

“As long as I get the orbs I came for, no, we will be heading out,” Bryan responded.

Tessa smiled and handed him a honey ale before moving on to serve others.

Len and Erran joined Bryan at the table, one at a time.

“I’ll grab the orbs, and then we should head back towards the villages,” Bryan stated.

“Good idea, I’m getting a bit antsy just sitting around… I didn’t leave the elven forest for more slow life,” Len said before laughing.

“Oh, so the elves all live in a forest together?” Erran asked.

“No, I really don’t want to explain elven culture to you right now,” Len said before sighing.

This conversation isn’t useful; I should get the orbs.

Bryan stood up and walked out of the inn, picked up the Mana orbs and waited by the gate for the others.

Once they had arrived, they left through the gate and made their way into the forest.

After travelling a while, a hooded figure approached them.

Erran and Len aimed their weapons at the person.

The person then pulled down their hood to reveal red skin and black horns poking out of their hair.

Len lowered his weapon while Erran seemed more panicked.

“Hands up, demon… You will not kill us today!” Erran shouted.

Erran is not very perceptive.

The demon woman laughed, waving the book in her hand around.

“Erran, did you not see the badge? She is an adventurer,” Len stated before laughing at Erran.

Erran’s eyes went wide before he lowered his sword and spoke, “I’m so sorry, miss. I have not seen a demon before.”

The woman laughed again before speaking again, “That is clear, young boy, yes I am an adventurer, though I’d call myself a researcher.”

We will need to work on his perception as well, it seems.

The demon woman looked through the book in her hand before speaking,

“I am looking for magical curiosities; have any of you seen any?” she asked.

Len laughed and then pointed at Bryan before speaking, “I’d argue he is one.”

The woman tilted her head, locking her red eyes on Bryan.

That served no useful purpose.

“No, we have not encountered anything of interest,” Bryan stated.

“Oh, the big one speaks… was unsure if he was mute, but if you have not seen anything, I will take my leave,” said the woman before she turned to leave.

While walking away, she was reading from a book with one hand.

“How does she not walk into trees if she reads while walking?” Erran asked.

Len laughed again before replying, “Not everyone is as unaware as you, Erran.”

He has a point.

Erran scowled at Len before they carried on towards the closest village.

Once there, Erran spoke to the villagers and explained that Bryan was going to make it easier to help them.

“So how will this help us, and how does it work?” asked the villager.

“You use this bell to alert other villagers once a threat is evident, correct?” Bryan asked.

“Well, yeah, most villages around here do,” the villager replied.

“Put simply, I will attach an etching tablet powered by a Mana orb to your bell, and once you ring it, I will be alerted you are in danger,” Bryan said.

That explanation should be sufficient.

“But the village doesn’t have a mage?” the villager said.

That is a confusing statement.

“Oh, I don’t think anyone needs it,” Erran said.

Bryan attached the tablet and dug a small hole for the orb below it, then concentrated and connected the two with Mana Channelling.

Now, logically, they wouldn’t work in my item box, so I will keep them in a normal shoulder bag.

“Now, if you ring your bell, the tablet in this bag should make a sound to let me know,” Bryan stated.

The villager scratched his head but reluctantly rang the bell once.

A few moments later, a loud ding came from Bryan’s bag.

Good… it functions.

Erran smiled at the villager before speaking, “Now just use the bell as normal, and if you ring it, we can come much quicker.”

The villager still looked unsure but thanked them and walked off to talk to others in the village.

Bryan and the others left the village and set up camp.

Now Erran has armour, but I will use the trainer skill to improve the rest of him.