Across Eternity: Book 2 - Chapter 1 free porn video

A flash of light, a deafening crack, and the loss of balance; they shocked Noah without warning. A bolt of lightning fell from a cloudless sky and struck the ground directly in front of him, spooking his horse and sending it rearing onto its hind legs with a fearful scream. He tried to calm the creature, but it was all he could do to keep from being thrown off. His vision was blurred from the light and he couldn’t tell up from down with the way he was being jerked around. He reassumed as much control as he could and pulled to the left with the reins. The horse, now given a direction to unleash its panic, galloped across the rocky stream Noah had been following.

Noah’s instincts saved him, as moments later, five men emerged from the dense forest that flanked the right side of the path. Bandits, he had already encountered them multiple times since leaving Clive. Under different circumstances, he might have taken them on, but in this case, flight was the better option, not to mention his horse could get caught in the crossfire. One of the men, wearing a filthy robe, aimed his hand at Noah and shouted a spell. A golden hologram of floating runes appeared around his hand. Grape-sized spheres of light were fired from his hand like buckshot, and while most hit nothing but air, one struck Noah in the back. He jerked in pain, feeling like he had just been branded. Thunder magic, it was Noah’s first time experiencing it, and, in all likelihood, far from his last.

His horse reached the opposite bank and he turned it to run parallel to the river. Noah’s vision returned and he dared a look back at the men. One of them was taking aim with a bow and arrow. Noah leaned to the side trying to make himself less of a target, but the arrow still drilled into his shoulder and prompted a hiss of pain. He sat up in the saddle, no longer stunned, though racked with pain and with an unusable arm. He reached around and felt his back, wincing when he found the place where the spell hit him. He wasn’t bleeding, so he could ignore the wound for now. As for the arrow, he couldn’t remove it while on the move like this. The horse’s fear drove it at a good pace and Noah steered it back and forth across the creek, maneuvering past fallen trees and boulders. Five miles from the scene, he finally allowed his horse to slow, now returning to the road.

Bandits only seemed to chase their prey when they had horses, and even then, a commoner like Noah wouldn’t be worth the trouble. Regardless, he now kept a constant watch on the path behind him. It was rare for him to be caught in such a trap, as he could normally see an ambush coming from a mile away. Those guys had some skill to them, even if they lacked the follow-through to pursue him. The attack was just another reminder that this was a violent, unpredictable world, ruled by strength and magic. Minus the injuries of the lifestyle, Noah liked it this way. It gave him something he had never seen before and endless new possibilities to discover. As for the dangers, well, he had plenty of experience when it came to fighting and surviving. Getting hit with spells and arrows was not his idea of a good time, but at least it was more interesting than regular bullets.

The day was getting late, it was time to set up camp. He directed his horse off the road and towards an upheaved slab of bedrock in the distance. He led it through the woods, its reins in one hand and his sword in the other. He reached the rocky crag with just a few hours of daylight left. Millions of years ago, the nearby mountain was born and caused the upheaval of the landscape, offering not a cave, so much as a giant stone lean-to. Either way, it was something solid over his head and nothing could sneak up on him from behind. The ground was littered with animal bones for him to rake out, both the remains of past inhabitants and their meals. Many animals had used this spot as their den, including goblins, but nothing seemed fresh enough to warrant concern.

This was the safest time he could expect to get, and Noah’s wounds desperately needed attention. He washed his hands and his knife with some high-proof liquor he had bought a while ago for just this occasion, then went to work removing the arrow. It hadn’t pierced his shoulder all the way, so he couldn’t just snap off the end, nor could he simply rip it out without risking the arrowhead breaking off and being left in his shoulder. He had to dig it out with his knife, slowly, with blood streaming down his arm and the pain giving him spasms.

Perhaps it was better to be hit with bullets rather than arrows after all.

He eventually managed to remove the arrow and poured half of a healing potion onto the wound. These potions could mend flesh and bone with no less than miraculous speed, but they were dangerous if used too frequently. This was an injury he couldn’t afford to have in the wild and broke his abstinence streak. Next, he focused on his back, and used alcohol to clean what seemed to be a second-degree burn. He couldn’t see it, only feel the wound with his fingers. It was like a spoonful of black powder had been set off on his back. Thunder spells were no joke, just that one little hit had been like a jab from a cattle prod, and simply sanitizing the wound took up the last of his pain tolerance.

He drew two small vials from within his ring, both filled with ointments but of different colors. The first syrupy layer would moisturize and soothe the area and the creamy second layer would keep it sterile. The last step was wrapping the bandages, helping to ease the throbbing in his back. Tired as he was, there was work to be done.

He unloaded everything off the horse so that it could rest and feed on a sack of oats. A metal helmet had been repurposed to serve as a drinking bowl, though the horse had drunk plenty at the creek. With what light he still had, Noah gathered spruce boughs to use as bedding, as well as thorny bushes and bristle plants for protection. He established a barrier around his campsite for him and his mount. It wouldn’t stop a determined opponent, but it would hopefully be enough to hinder them, as well as help conceal the light of his campfire.

While gathering firewood, he met his dinner. A lone stag was flitting between the trees nearby. It seemed aware of Noah and was trying to leave the area without drawing more attention. Its moves were calm, and the way it stepped, its hooves on the forest floor were soft. Noah took aim with his bow, staring at his prize with an arrow between them. It was crooked, a cheap piece of scrap with a full quiver more on his back. It was the best he could get in the last town. The string was released as the deer turned away from Noah, and the arrow slipped in under the ribcage and pierced a lung.

The deer’s heart had stopped by the time Noah reached it. He worked fast, carving off the pieces that he wanted, as well as removing as much of the pelt as he could with the time he had. This had become second nature to him. Once he had collected everything he could, he dragged the carcass far from his campsite. Most of the deer was left behind, something that would have been considered offensive in a normal world, but was ignored in this one. After all, a magic circle would just pop out another one sometime soon. All animals not born through physical mating were instead conjured out of mana, keeping a fixed population for every species. One was considered lucky to be able to see a creature appear from the light, unless it ended up being a monster. Besides, that body would likely be gone within a day or two.

With the disappearance of the sun, night overtook the forest, save for the shadow of the cliff, where transient sparks were glowing like stars. The striking of flint and steel finally brought forth flames from some birch bark shavings, and soon, a steady campfire was burning. He set up a tripod over the fire with three sticks and dangled a metal pot, about the size of a coffee can. It was full of water from the creek, filtered through a handmade life straw. As Noah waited for the water to come to a boil, he went to work preparing the meat. What wasn’t hung over the fire to be smoked was turned into stew, along with some dried vegetables bought in town and some herbs and mushrooms added for extra flavor. Most of the plants in this world had the same properties as their counterparts in other worlds, at least in these lands, so Noah often stopped to gather anything useful.

Last, a lump of salt was dropped in, and a hearty stew was made, sided with some chunks of bread and cold pine needle tea. In this world, this was considered an adventurer’s roadside feast, while in most other lifetimes, this would be thought of as some homeless person’s back alley meal. It was worth the extra effort, at least, Noah believed it to be. It was best to enjoy the little things, to live in the now. He repeated that to himself obsessively, like a little hamster spinning its wheel in the back of his mind.

The horse had settled nearby, but it had yet to fall asleep. Like Noah, it knew that sleep was dangerous in lands like these. Those who lived here had to be aware at all times, always ready for battle or escape. When the horse did lower its head and drift off, its ears remained pointed up, twitching from every noise within their range.

Lying on his bedroll with his sword beside him, Noah waited out the night, half asleep. He kept his eyes on the fire, moving only to put on more wood. In the absence of technology, a man can stare into a fire for hours without getting bored. How many times had he done this already? How many evenings had he spent, simply staring into the fire while surrounded by dangers and unsure of the next day? Perhaps it was instinctive, a habit ingrained from the earliest members of the human race to huddle around a fire, to nourish their minds with its light and warmth when night fell. Perhaps it was just due to his experience, being well versed in such a scene.

Even when he closed his eyes, Noah trained his ears on the fire, its crackles and snaps competing with the evening chorus. Everything seemed to come alive at night, from the clicking and crying of insects, to the howling of wolves in the distance. It was just another sound he had grown used to hearing when he slept, like the roar of traffic, the mountain winds, raining shells and automatic gunfire, the groaning of metal hulls in the sea, air, and space, the silence of burnt-out cities and atom bomb craters, the soft breathing of a woman at his side and maybe the snoring of a dog at his feet, the beeping of heart monitors either after his birth or before his death, and so many more.

A crack, too loud to come from the flames, awoke him. He got to his feet with his sword in hand, despite his eyes not fully adjusting and blurred from sleep. Noah focused his gaze, spotting a humanoid figure standing on the other side of the thorn barrier. It had just stepped on a pinecone, one of many that Noah had laid out to alert him if any enemies came close. He moved around the fire but off to the side, not wanting this intruder to hide within his shadow. The creature was more muscular than a human, as well as taller and with longer limbs. It wore clothes made of animal hides and carried an axe. What stood out most, other than its missing lips and sharpened teeth, was the single great eye in the middle of its face, flanked by long, greasy hair. It stared at Noah with a rumble in its throat.

“You just keep on walking,” Noah said with his sword raised.

Would it attack from directly in front? Either leaping over or charging through the wall of thorns? That would be its fastest means of attack, and considering its stature, it was not an opponent that could be faced with a weakened defense. He’d have to fight it while focusing on technique over strength. It could also attack from the sides, perhaps try to find an opening in the defenses that it could exploit. It was a slower method with less chance of receiving injuries from the thorns, injuries that would distract it. It would also give Noah enough time to cast his magic.

Numerous scenarios played through his head, but Noah’s heart was calm. He didn’t move a muscle, keeping a solid grip on his sword. Releasing one of his hands to activate a spell would likely provoke the creature, so he waited to see what it would do. It was analyzing him, trying to determine whether fighting Noah was worth the risk. Even for Noah, being stared down by that huge eye was a bit unnerving. It felt like a billboard projecting the creature’s blood lust, while Noah himself felt its gaze scrutinize everything, sinking into his flesh like radiation. There was no telling what information the creature was receiving.

“I’d rather not kill you. After all, I’d have to drag your corpse away so it doesn’t draw animals. What do you say you spare us both the effort?”

Whether or not the creature actually understood human language, it gave in and receded into the darkness of the woods without ever taking its eye off Noah. He waited a few minutes, scanning the area, and when all was peaceful, he returned to his bedroll. He put some more wood on the fire but did not go back to sleep. Getting a deep rest was hard out in the wilderness, especially when he was on his own. His internal clock was telling him that dawn was near, so it would be best to just wait it out.

To pass the time, he decided to train his magic. He covered his left eye with his hand, and to anyone watching, Noah seemed to vanish into thin air. In reality, he had just made himself invisible. While he himself couldn’t see the difference, he could feel his mana wrapped around him, concealing his appearance, smell, and any noises her made. It felt like he was stretching his body, as if after a deep sleep, and every single cell was joining in. His veins felt enlarged, allowing more blood to run through his body and at a faster rate. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, but to expend mana was little different from using physical energy; it required effort and resulted in fatigue.

Right now, Noah was trying to calm the mana in his body, except for his hand. He wanted to learn how to use this spell in a lighter fashion, in this case, only making certain parts of his body invisible. His mana would naturally stick to things and make them invisible as well, such as his clothes and weapons, and could likewise be retracted to return them to normal, but he couldn’t seem to control the mana within his body.

‘I can’t help but feel like I missed steps with my spells. If I had acquired magic at a younger age, I probably would have had to work my way up to making my whole body invisible.’

He gave up after thirty minutes, the halfway mark of his mana reserves. He had to conserve his strength and be ready to fight at any moment. The sky was starting to brighten, he might as well get ready to leave. Breakfast was the leftover stew, heated up over the fire. Reheated food was just as bad over a fire as in a microwave, but he ate it regardless. He packed his things and opened up the thorn barrier. It still wasn’t bright enough to return to the road, so he let his horse graze. It stepped out of the enclosure and he led it into the woods, then released it to nibble on whatever met its fancy.

He walked a few feet back and conjured his bow and an arrow from his ring. The horse began shuffling around, giving everything a sniff. The forest choir hadn’t eased. If anything, the birds and crickets seemed emboldened by the sun. Noah cleared it from his mind, hearing only the steps of his horse on the forest floor and the flaring of its nostrils. His breath did not fog, but he felt a chill in the air, joined with the dew gathering on his face and hands. All was calm, all was quiet. Noah kept a constant vigil, turning his head like an owl. If anything was going to happen, it was bound to happen soon. Ah, there it was, the snap of a twig. A deer entered the scene. Noah took aim, and while he didn’t release, he never took his eyes off the creature either. For all he knew, it could turn into something grotesque or launch fireballs from its head.

The horse and deer noticed each other, forming lasting eye contact around Noah as they both tried to identify their distant relatives. They soon looked away, each judging the other to not be a threat. Noah considered lowering his bow, but instinct told him to wait. Barely a moment later, the deer was knocked off its feet as a wolf slammed into it like a missile. Its fangs found the deer’s neck, silencing it before it could scream and spilling its blood upon the forest floor. The wolf pinned its prey down, biting it over and over with a crushing grip to ensure its death.

Noah’s horse, noticing the fate of the deer, began to panic. Its frantic steps and voice drew the eyes of the wolf, forgetting about its meal and staring at an even bigger prize, only to find itself on the unfriendly end of an arrow. If it took a step forward, he’d shoot. He waited, hearing the fearful breaths of the horse behind him, and the restrained whiffs of the wolf as the smell of blood tickled its nose and riled it up. Moments passed, the rising sun casting its light upon the three actors. Cooler heads prevailed, and the wolf began dragging away its kill. Noah kept his bow drawn, only lowering it when all was silent. It was time to get going. He rode his horse out of the woods and back onto the road, sending it on a steady trot. The morning was more peaceful than he expected, no monsters or bandits lying in wait, or perhaps unwilling to test their luck.

Up ahead, he spotted a group of adventures, heading in the same direction. Unlike bandits, which preyed on people, adventurers hunted for a living, as well as performing odd jobs. It wasn’t always easy to tell the difference in time, so he was hesitant to approach. They heard the heavy steps of his horse and looked back, then moved to the side to let him pass. It could just as easily be a trap, but decided to take a chance.

“Excuse me, a moment of your time?”

He rode up alongside, and the leader, a bearded man carrying a sword, turned to him. He was a dwarf, standing just four feet tall. Noah had seen them before in various towns, this offshoot of the human race hailing from the east. They were long-lived and their diminutive bodies made up for it with increased strength, at least for the males. The females were slenderer, dainty even.

“What do you want?” It wasn’t spoken in anger, rather it was the natural response in these lands.

Noah pulled a map out of his pack and unrolled it. “Is this road the fastest way to the capital?” Hand-drawn maps were rarely reliable, so it was best to get confirmation. He glanced at the other three members of the group. Only one of them was a woman, but she was armed and appeared healthy, so she likely wasn’t being abused. The state of female members was one of the details he’d use to determine risk. “I’ve been heading south from Clive. Should I keep going towards the mountain or go west?”

The leader of the group tapped the mountain on the map. “That mountain is the territory of a dragon, you’d best avoid it at all costs. The western road will take you around, but you’ll pass through the lands of several lords and you’ll have to pay a toll each time. Your fastest option would be Took, here along the channel. You might be able to get a boat ride to the capital.” The channel he referred to was a narrow line of ocean, severing a huge chunk of land off the side of the continent. It was also used as the dividing line between Uther and the dwarf nation of Vandheim.

“Took? Thanks.”

He tossed the man a coin and rode off, looking for the next road to the east. Near midday, he broke out of the woods, the road momentarily sided by an open pasture of tall grass with the creek on the other side. Both he and his horse were in desperate need of a break, and when he climbed off the saddle and touched down on the ground, a groan of relief escaped him. Riding a horse all day was exhausting in its own regard, and anything that wasn’t numb was aching.

He led the horse to the creek and let it drink to satisfaction. Noah refilled his canteen while keeping an eye out for anything lying in wait. Minus some cat-sized slimes scooting along the riverbank, he didn’t detect anything that could be a threat. His horse appeared sated, so he brought it back to the pasture so that it could graze. Before letting it go, he put his hand over his right eye, activating his second spell.

Rather than making him invisible, it created an illusionary clone of himself, a holographic puppet. It was more than just a trick of the light, as the clone had its own smell, could project Noah’s voice, and even cast a shadow. He sent it off, running through the field like a frightened rabbit to draw the attention of anything lying in wait. It couldn’t make physical contact with anything, but it produced the sounds of physical actions, in this case, the breaking and swishing of grass. Each could only be maintained for an hour, leaving him with just enough strength to continue fighting, and that time was cut in half if he used them both at the same time. However, that was only if he didn’t actually separate from his clone.

The toll got heavier and heavier as he increased the distance. For Noah, sending it off felt like swimming straight down, with the pressure increasing with each step, and his mana lasting only as long as he could hold his breath. It was best used only in quick bursts, sending it running out for several seconds and then bringing it back so he could steady himself and slow his mana depletion. Not too long ago, separating from his clone was easy, but he had become overdependent on mana potions during training, leaving a detrimental effect on his magic abilities. Hopefully, he could recover.

As his horse ate, Noah piloted the clone through the tall grass. Near the middle of the field, a trapdoor made of earth and webbing was tossed aside, and a spider, half the size of a grown man, lunged out towards the clone. It simply passed through the illusion, and before it could figure out what had happened, the clone had run off, unhindered. Noah saw the rustling of the grass and heard its signature hiss. The giant forest arachnids, despite being fierce predators and just as terrifying as one might expect, usually stayed in their burrows until a potential meal entered their reach. He wisely kept his distance and made sure the horse stayed close.

Both Noah and his mount enjoyed the chance to relax and eat. As the horse feasted on grass, Noah made short work of the smoked venison from the day before. He continued piloting his clone while he ate, not just to lure out enemies, but for training. He wanted to keep the motions looking as realistic as possible and was pushing the limits of how far he could send the clone. He couldn’t see through its eyes, so he had to keep it in view in order to best control it, like piloting an RC car.

Now for his next exercise. While sitting on a fallen log and watching his horse, he cast and recast the spell over and over again, each time trying to manifest it only in portions. His goal was to figure out how to only cast partial illusions, such as make one arm invisible while creating a fake arm to use as a decoy. Unfortunately, he found the same problem with his invisibility training. The spells were either on at full power or completely dormant, and he could stop his mana no easier than he could stop the blood in his hand from flowing. As usual, he used up half his mana before calling it quits. It was time to move once more.

Barely an hour since departing, he was forced to slow his horse. A boar was up ahead, loitering in the road with its tail swatting at flies. The beast was larger than an oil drum, with tusks that could possibly punch through armor. The scent of Noah and his horse reached the boar’s snout, pushing it into a state of agitation. It stomped its hooves while snorting and squealing, its beady eyes focused on Noah.

“It’s always one thing or another.”

Noah conjured his bow from within his ring grazed its back with a cheap arrow. The boar charged and deflected a second arrow with its tusk. It was close enough now that the horse decided to act on its own. It reared up on its hind legs, threatening to stomp on the boar if it came close. The boar ignored the warning, continuing to charge like a runaway train. A third arrow, planted in its shoulder, managed to throw it off balance and miss the horse. It tumbled across the ground, breaking the arrow lodged in its flesh. A fourth arrow, right through the eye, ended its life before it could make another attempt.

Sitting atop his horse, Noah pondered for a few moments, looking at the body and then checking the position of the sun, and then sighed. “Nah, not worth the effort.” He cracked the reins and his horse carried him off.

The hours passed without further attacks and he even spotted a road sign confirming he was on the path to Took. That was the end of his luck, as the weather was taking a turn and the sun was setting with no village in sight. He’d have to set up camp with the expectation of rain. He continued to ride, searching for a suitable place to bed-down, and the smell of smoke soon made him pull back on the horse’s reins, bringing it to a stop. He looked around in search of the source and spotted some fallen branches with fresh leaves. He moved them out of the way and revealed a path in the forest, formed by wagon wheels and horse hooves. He had yet to encounter bandits using wagons, so it must have led to a hidden farm. It was a risk, but the clouds overhead were starting to rumble, as if complaining of the weight of the rain they carried. Last time he got stuck out in the rain, it almost killed him.

He led his horse onto the path and closed it behind him, then activated his invisibility. If someone was lying in wait, they wouldn’t attack a lone horse. He followed the path through the woods, coming out into a freshly logged area bordering a field of growing wheat. At the end of the path, a barn and farmhouse, with smoke wafting from the chimney. As Noah approached, a collared wolf began to bark. He activated his second spell as the door opened. His ethereal copy appeared around his invisible body, occupying the same space he did and making him appear normal.

A tall bearded man stepped out with a bow and arrow. “That’s enough, Bar,” he said, bringing the wolf’s barking to a low growl. “Who are you?”

Noah, still invisible, leaned down and away from the arrow’s most likely path and had his clone raise its hands. “My name is James, and I’m an adventurer on my way to Took. I was hoping you might grant me some shelter for the night.”

James was a name picked at random. Since he was now on the road, Noah had reverted to an old habit of using a fake name whenever possible and changing it each time. He wasn’t aware of anyone looking for him, but it was best to cover his tracks all the same.

“This isn’t an inn.”

‘In this case, it would be more like a B&B.’ “Listen, I can pay one silver coin now, and a second one tomorrow morning. I just need a roof to keep me out of the rain.”

Two silver coins were as tantalizing as Noah expected, making the farmer pause and reconsider. “Toss me one of the coins.”

Noah took it out and threw it, letting it land by the man’s feet. The light coming from within the cabin was just bright enough to illuminate the silver face on the coin. He eased his pull on his bow. “Very well, you can sleep in the barn tonight. Follow me.”

The farmer retrieved a lantern from inside and led Noah to the barn. Noah helped him open the double doors, and inside lay two horses, a dozen goats, and several chickens, most already asleep. The smell of livestock was nothing compared to camping outside on a night like this. The walls were lined with tools and Noah had already spotted two hay bales that would make for a decent mattress.

“Just don’t light any fires, and I’m locking the doors so that you don’t sneak off with anything.”

“I understand, thank you.”

He left Noah with the lantern and secured the barn doors with a heavy wooden beam. Before doing anything, Noah searched the barn for any peepholes or hiding spots for assailants. He could not rest his wings until he was sure he wasn’t in a spider’s web. Only when the barn was declared safe did Noah unpack and remove the horse’s saddle, letting it feed and drink from troughs in the corner. It was a warm night, so not being able to make a fire wasn’t a problem, and he even had a blanket sealed within his ring. He sat down on his makeshift bed and looked in disdain at the venison that was his dinner. After eating it for the past three meals, he now thought fondly of the boar he had killed earlier. Just a few bites in and he was stopped by the sound of the doors being opened. His sword was kept in reach for just this scenario.

The farmer had returned. “My wife insists that I invite you to join my family for dinner.” Both his tone and expression were stony, but he appeared to be telling the truth.

‘I don’t want to let my horse and stuff out of my sight and I especially don’t want to experience yet another slasher movie death. On the other hand, homecooked food, hopefully not made of human flesh, and a chance to learn more about this culture. Besides, refusing might just piss him off and get me kicked out.’ “I’d love to.”

They stepped out of the barn and Noah felt a fat raindrop hit his nose. It seemed he had made the right call to take refuge. He followed the farmer into his home, moments before the downpour. The house was made of stones gathered from plowing land and had a thatched roof with everything inside serving some purpose, no furniture or items that weren’t worth the space they took. The kitchen was built around the fireplace, which served as a barbeque grill, a stovetop, and an oven, and there was a ladder going up to a loft overhead where the beds were kept. Aside from the single table and set of chairs, the best craftsmanship could be found in the few chests and cupboards. There was an earthy smell in the air, from the bare soil just beneath the floorboards and the thatched roof overhead.

The farmer’s wife was setting the table with the help of their son and daughter. They all wore clothes made of the same rough wool and linen and appeared healthy. Upon seeing Noah, she stopped and bowed her head with a smile.

“Welcome to our home, you must be James. I’m Mary, you’ve met my husband Joshua, and these are our children, Thomas and Elizabeth. Welcome to our home.”

Noah likewise bowed his head. “Thank you for your kindness.”

“Please, take a seat.”

Noah sat at the table, the young Thomas at his side and the two women across, with Joshua at the head. Dinner appeared to be rabbit meat, as well as bread, cheese, and nuts, and small bowls of spices that could be added. A cup of milk was poured from a pitcher and given to Noah. He watched everyone’s movements, as while they put food on their plates, no one had yet to begin eating. There was always the possibility of it being poisoned, but it was remote compared to the risk of breaking social etiquette.

“Now, let us say grace,” Joshua grumbled. He and his family joined hands, and they even reached out to Noah. He accepted the invitation so as not to cause disruption, having seen this ritual performed by many travelers eating at inns.

“We pray to thee, God of Light, Lord Lumendori, so that you may know our gratitude for the good fortune, health, and livelihood we enjoy by your mercy. Please continue to watch over us, and guide us on our paths. Amen.”

“Amen,” his family replied.

Noah glanced over to a shelf above the hearth, upon which a carved wooden totem had been laid and surrounded by candles. It depicted a rune that symbolized light. Lumendori was one of the polytheistic elementals, one of six main gods worshipped by the people of Uther. Noah had been studying its followers and listening in on conversations, gathering information on this faith and the rules it enforced, such as praying before meals. Of course, everyone cherry-picked the gospel in their own way, but it was still important to know how to blend in amongst them.

Everyone began to dig in, too focused on their meal to speak. The rabbit meat was well-prepared, despite the primitive kitchen, and the bread was much softer and sweeter than the hardtack that adventurers carried. Both the milk and the cheese were sourced from the goats in the barn, giving them a strong smell, something he welcomed. After living on the road for the past week, Noah’s taste buds craved flavor.

After a few minutes, Mary spoke up. “My husband says that you’re an adventurer on your way to Took, is that right?”

“It is.”

“We often get adventurers passing by this time of year, but this is the first time one has asked us for shelter. Took is full of them almost year-round, so usually, it’s the homes closer to the channel that offer room and board.” She seemed amused by the situation, or at least didn’t appear to be the kind of person who smiles when angry.

“I hope I’m not intruding.”

“Not at all.”

“You’re not a noble, are you?” The question came from Thomas at his side.

“Excuse me?”

“Thomas,” his father growled.

“Your ring.”

The ring in question was on Noah’s right hand, originally belonging to an Utheric knight. It was imbued with magic, creating a pocket dimension he could use for storage. These rings were illegal to own by citizens, so the crest was covered by a black jewel that also served to double the power of the containment spell.

“No, this is just something I came across in a goblin den. I’m a commoner.”

“Good.” To the boy’s credit, it wasn’t loud enough to be called a child’s shout, but it drew the ire of his father.

“Thomas, that’s enough. You will mind your tongue in front of guests.”

“No, it’s fine. I know that things are difficult right now. I imagine the local lord just raised taxes again? The war with Handent is a drain on everyone.”

“I heard that we suffered a great defeat a few months ago,” said Joshua. “Those savages amassed their own army with the beastmen and killed some big commander of ours and scattered his army into the wild. Those freed soldiers have been making their way back down south and turning to banditry in the process.”

Considering how many times Noah had been ambushed on the road, he didn’t doubt it. “You heard that in Took?”

“Yes, thanks to the traffic on the channel, we get a lot more news than most other towns.”

“How do you folks usually stay safe out here?”

Joshua rested his hand on his dog’s head, who was lying next to his chair. Noah had assumed it to be a domesticated wolf, but seeing it up close, he noticed subtle canine traits, such as the ears, bridge of the nose, and texture of its fur. “Bar keeps watch and starts barking if something approaches the house. Loud noise is usually all it takes to scare off a prowler, be it man or monster. Nothing in this forest hunts without taking their victim by surprise. Anything that keeps approaching, well, no one lives in these lands if they don’t know how to fight.”

Noah’s mana was almost at its limit and it seemed safe enough to release his spells. His hair had been overdue for a trim even before coming to this world, and it now hung almost over his eyes, letting him cast and deactivate his spells with anyone else thinking he was just brushing it out of his face. He made eye contact with the daughter, Elizabeth. It was brief, she immediately looking back down at her plate. For rural young women like her, adventurers were something to be feared, ranked just below bandits as roaming predators. The only difference between them was what they hunted: monsters or humans.

“Do you ever get soldiers patrolling this way? I thought they were supposed to help deal with the bandit problem.”

Joshua shook his head and grumbled. “Not for a few years. They’ll ride around, sure, but they don’t do anything. They’re either new recruits or failures who couldn’t make it on the front line. I heard the bandits just bribe most of them to look the other way. All we can do is rely on ourselves. Of course, the adventurers help keep the bandit numbers in line, even if they don’t mean to.”

“How many bandits have you killed?” Thomas asked.

“I don’t keep track.”

“Thomas, not one more word,” said Mary. “It is a sin to speak of bloodshed during meals.” She turned to Noah. “My apologies, he dreams of being an adventurer.”

Joshua grunted.

“You disapprove?” Noah asked.

“In my opinion, adventuring is not an honorable life,” said Joshua. “They have no loyalties or ties, and they don’t kill monsters because they want to help people. They’re just eternal strangers. I’m sure you can understand why I’m hesitant to trust them.”

“Indeed, I can. Is that the general feeling in these parts?”

Noah spoke without the slightest hint of defense or humor, just curiosity. The more he could learn about a town before entering, the better. Whatever kind of response Joshua wanted, it was difficult to tell whether he was satisfied or not. “I’m not sure. Besides, Lumendori guides and protects us as long as we have faith.”

“Lumendori is worshipped by the paladins, correct? Does that mean you can use light magic?”

“While I have not been chosen to wield the holy light, I am given strength all the same. What about you? Whom do you follow?”

A tricky question. Religious tolerance was hit-and-miss out here, as people either didn’t care or cared too much. “I await the day when my own path to God is made clear, but I do not believe it can come by following the directions of mortal men. I will find my faith when it chooses to be found.”

The agnostic answer seemed to satisfy Joshua.

“That is a very charming mantra,” said Mary. She turned to her daughter. “Elizabeth, you haven’t said anything yet.”

“Hello,” the girl chimed.

“Hello,” said Noah in response.

Silence once more. “About how far are we from the town?” Noah then asked.

“A little under half a day’s ride. It’s a big town, about a hundred buildings or so. Are you heading down the channel?” Joshua asked.

“That’s right. Do you know of a way?”

“From what I hear, merchants and passenger boats might hire adventurers for protection.”

“Protection, huh?” Noah suppressed a grimace, hoping this next job wouldn’t be as exhausting as the last.

He had more questions to ask, but everyone had finished eating and were clearing the table. Noah got to his feet and bowed his head. “Thank you for the wonderful meal.”

“You are very welcome,” Mary replied happily.

Lantern in hand, Joshua led Noah outside. The rain was pouring at full force, so they hustled over to the barn and Joshua handed over the lantern. “You can also use the horse blankets if you need to.”

“Thank you.”

The doors were closed, leaving Noah with the livestock. They were startled by his return and calmed when they heard the wooden beam returned to the barn doors, sealing them inside. He still wasn’t fully trusted, something Noah respected. This was a life where trust couldn’t be easily given out. He found the horse blankets and laid them atop his hay mattress, with his own traveling blanket covering him. He put out the lantern and gratefully laid his head back, using his horse’s oat bag as a pillow. He was quite content, as his fatigue silenced the issues and enhanced the benefits of his bed. On the road, this could be considered a luxurious evening.

“Eternal strangers,” Noah said to himself. “I’ll have to remember that one.”

----------

The sound of thunder pulled Noah from his sleep and he automatically drew a knife out from under his pillow. The barn was dark as a coffin, even out of reach of the lightning outside. Wait, it was no longer raining. The thunder boomed a second time, and Noah recognized it as Bar’s warning. The wolfdog continued barking and Noah sat up, caught in a state of his alarm fighting against his exhaustion. Since arriving, he had reverted to the survival mindset of living without clocks, but right now, he’d be willing to pay good money to know the time.

Bar must have been barking louder or longer than usual, as Noah heard the front door of the farmhouse open and Bar’s claws scratching the porch. Was Joshua just letting him out, or was he anticipating a fight? Noah had enough experience with dogs to know that they could spend half the night barking at nothing at all, but it was best not to take the risk. He’d have to hope for a deer and be ready for a bear.

Outside, he heard Bar’s howling weaken as he zoomed into the distance, then, it didn’t stop, so much as it was stopped.

“Well, that’s unfortunate.”

Noah pulled his boots on and stood by the barn doors. They were still locked, but he could at least hear what was going on outside. Hopefully, Joshua could handle this on his own and Noah could get back to sleep. Until then, he was curious as to how this would play out.

“Bar! Bar!” Joshua called out.

Noah heard a sword being drawn, but no footsteps. Joshua wasn’t going after Bar, a good choice. Several silent seconds passed by and Joshua called again. Those seconds turned into minutes. Bar had yet to return or even resume barking, his fate almost guaranteed.

Finally, “Whoever’s out there, either show yourselves or get off my land!”

Joshua was answered by a flash of light, a thunder spell striking him in the chest with its luminance worming through the smallest cracks and gaps in the barn walls. Noah heard the cry of pain and the farmer fall to the ground. ‘That went about as well as expected.’ He found a crack to look through, so narrow that he could only see the light of their torches, five of them. He cast his invisibility and began chipping at the crack with his knife, widening it enough to see.

“Oh look, he’s back on his feet! You’re getting weak, Cal!” one man said as he drew his sword.

Noah looked over and saw Joshua standing, but it was a struggle. He appeared to be wearing metal armor, an incomplete set but with a chest plate strong enough to keep the spell from burning him. It didn’t protect him from electrocution, even if it was a nonlethal charge. Despite their flashiness, thunder spells appeared to simply be mana imitating lightning, or at least replicating it to some degree, meaning that it had different properties in how it dispersed and the impact it would cause, with a significant drop in power compared to its natural counterpart.

Noah could see Joshua trembling as he gripped his sword, perhaps the result of his injuries, perhaps him imagining the handle to be the throat of whichever intruder killed his dog. What possessed him, fear or anger? Giving in to emotion would be a fatal mistake.

“Marco, Phil, kill him. Cal, hang back, make sure nobody runs off. Jozef, you search the barn. I’m going to see what goodies are in the house.” The man who spoke appeared to the leader of the group, carrying an axe large enough to cleave a man in two.

“You stay back!” Joshua roared.

Two men approached him, one with a sword, the other carrying a length of chain. Joshua secured his footing as a blade was swung towards his throat. He parried, the resulting sparks looking like the stars above the clouds. Once, twice, three times more, swords collided. Joshua was putting up a good fight. Despite his injuries, he seemed to be getting faster, and his swordsmanship hinted as to the depths of his experience. A former adventurer perhaps, or maybe a retired soldier. He dodged the second man’s whipping chain and threw a small wooden mallet at him, a tool from inside the house. His aim was true, striking the man in the head, and while it wasn’t enough to take him down, he staggered back, covering the developing lump and howling in pain.

The first man landed a lucky shot, trying to stab at Joshua and instead leaving a deep cut across his arm. He was too close to slash at, so Joshua instead struck him in the chin with the pommel of his sword. Before Joshua could deliver a finishing blow, his cohort lashed out with his chain. It wrapped around Joshua’s sword and he managed to keep hold of it. He tackled the man, sending them both to the ground. He pinned the man down, both of them fighting for control of the sword as it approached his throat. He was once again interrupted, this time by the leader. He strode over and kicked Joshua in the side of his face, hard enough to send him flying through the air, his jaw surely broken with severe head trauma. The leader’s leg, it was glowing with runes, the sign of a body-enhancement spell.

“Monk magic,” Noah muttered. He had seen other adventurers using those techniques, usually only able to apply it to one or two limbs.

“Quit screwing around! Is one farmer really too much for you guys to handle?!” the leader barked. He turned to another member, armed with a bow. “Jozef, quit gawking and open up that goddamn barn! You two come with me!”

Joshua wasn’t getting up, so three bandits stormed into his house and the screaming began. They soon emerged, each dragging a member of the family, struggling to break free.

“Oh, she’s a feisty one! I call dibs!” the man with the chain laughed, said chain wrapped around Elizabeth’s throat to try and stop her flailing.

“Not a chance. I told you, virgins sell better. You want to get your wick wet, you’ll wait your turn for this one,” said the leader, holding Mary.

“I’ll take the boy,” said the one known as Cal. Noah recognized the robe he was wearing.

“Jozef, how’s that barn coming?”

The archer, struggling to remove the wooden beam blocking the doors, finally had to put down his torch and use both hands to open the doors. There wasn’t any warning, not even a glimmer of the blade as it sliced the man’s neck open. Noah stepped out of the way to avoid the spraying blood and let the body fall to the ground. Seeing their comrade spontaneously drop dead, the remaining four bandits began shouting.

“Who’s in there?!” the man with the chain shouted.

‘Right now? Nobody,’ thought Noah, approaching the bandits without even leaving footprints in the grass.

“Phil, go check it out!” the leader barked, pulling Thomas from his hands. Before Phil could even complain, the top of his skull was lopped off, Noah’s sword striking at the indent between the nose and forehead.

“What the hell is this?! What the hell is this?!” Marco, the chain user shouted.

The answer came in the form of an invisible wire, wrapping around his throat from behind. The wire cut deep into his skin and the force of Noah’s pull left him gasping for air. He let go of Elizabeth as he was lifted off his feet, eyes bulging and mouth foaming. He clawed at the wire, now looking like a bloody smile, with his boss watching in horror. He threw Mary and Thomas aside and charged with his axe. All repercussions had been forgotten, as his swing sliced his cohort in half at the waist.

“I’ll kill you! I don’t know who you are, but I’ll fucking kill you!”

He began swinging wildly, trying to keep death at bay. He didn’t see the arrow, shot almost point-blank, nor did he feel it and punch through his skull. He fell to the ground and a second arrow was planted in his chest for good measure. So many bodies falling, each one drawing a cry of terror from Mary and her children. Cal, the last bandit, made the wise decision to flee, but Noah had already decided his fate. He took aim with his bow and shot the fleeing mage in the back, a nonlethal injury that sent him dropping to the ground.

Noah released his spell, seemingly stepping out of the darkness in front of Mary, making she and her children yelp in surprise. He handed her two healing potions and spoke with a calm voice. “Joshua is over there. If he’s still alive, give him these. Get him inside and don’t come out until I tell you to.” He then merged with the night once more. He strode over to Cal, his heart barely even raised and his demeanor stoic, compared to the wounded mage, who was sobbing as he tried to crawl away. In his hand, he held a Kris—a dagger with a wavy blade, which would prove to be a very poor choice.

Noah grabbed his arm, and the mage, feeling the invisible hand gripping him with a merciless force, screamed in terror and swung wildly with his dagger.

“Lord Relampargoza, save me!”

Relampargoza was the god of thunder, not that prayer would do him any good. A kick to the face put an end to the nonsense, and with the Kris in his other hand, Noah dragged the unconscious mage into the woods. Once away from the house, he dropped him facedown onto the ground with his arms stretched out in front of him on a tree log. What came next woke the man with a howl of agony.

Noah stepped back and released his invisibility, not that the man could see him anyway, pinned down the way he was. The arrow in his back was no longer his greatest concern, it was now the dagger driven through his hands, pinning him to the log. The only way to free himself would be to lift his hands to reach the guard and dislodge the blade, like prying out a nail. Unfortunately, the way his arms were outstretched, one of his shoulders would probably dislocate if he tried to do it from that position, not to mention the curved, widening blade would enlarge the wounds. He’d have to create space and leverage by raising his upper body, but with the arrow in his back, he was far from flexible at the moment. He was shivering, on the verge of going into shock, and the ground against his face was turning into mud from his tears and snot.

“This is a trick I learned in the military. Well, not THE military, rather A military. It’s really good at getting the subject’s attention, is it not?”

“P-p-p-please, I’ll do what-what-whatever you want. Just let me go.”

“You’re free to leave whenever you want, if you can.”

“W-w-w-w-what d-d-do you w-want from me?”

“I thought we could have a little chat. There are plenty of things I want to ask you, so first, I want you to explain everything you know about magic.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Noah calmly picked up a stick and banged it against the handle of the Kris, hammering it deeper into the log and making it vibrate like a tuning fork, all to draw out fresh cries of agony.

“Funny thing about asking questions, it’s one of the quickest ways to get yourself noticed. People don’t like questions, especially when they’re asked by strangers. The absence of knowledge they consider common raises red flags, marking you as an outsider. So, when I need deeper information, rather than asking regular people the easy way, I ask bad people the hard way. The answers aren’t always reliable, so I have to do it to enough people for their overlapping answers to reveal the truth.

You do a good job and I’ll pull out the knife for you and send you on your way. You might even live long enough to make it to Took and get help. You do a bad job and I’ll leave you to deal with that knife on your own. I suggest you consider how many beasts are going to be drawn by the smell of your blood and the sound of your whimpering.

Normally I have a rule against stuff like this, but that’s the great thing about people like you. There aren’t many people who would condemn me for this, so I can justify it as punishing you for your crimes, rather than torturing you for information. And am I not merciful for giving you a chance to earn your life and freedom?

Now, tell me everything you know about magic.”

“Mana! It comes from mana! It’s the power of the soul and given to us by the gods! I can turn my mana into lightning.”

“I am aware of that much.”

“And runes! All magic is based on runes! They appear as spells are developed!”

From what Noah had seen, that much was true. Whenever a magic-user cast a spell, magic circles would appear around them, consisting of runes. For warriors, it appeared around their weapons, while for everyone else, it appeared around their bodies or whatever they might be trying to manipulate. It was spontaneous, beyond their control, but there was an exception he had come across: himself.

“And what are runes?”

“The language of the gods! That’s what everyone says! They shape mana into magic!”

“And how do they work? How are they used for things like tools and weapons?”

“Fuck if I know!”

Noah hammered the dagger, making Cal scream. “That answer is unhelpful. Tell me of every type of magic you know.”

“Mages control the elements! Water, wind, fire, earth, and thunder! Paladins summon the holy light! Monks get super strong! Warriors enhance their weapons! Shamans control animal spirits to transform themselves! Druids control the trees!”

“And alchemists?”

“I don’t know shit about alchemists!”

A third strike was made on the dagger, driving it deeper into the tree and widening Cal’s wounds. “I understand that you’re bleeding out and not in a very cooperative mood, but whether you live or die depends on how useful you are.”

“I don’t know! I swear I don’t know!” the man wept.

Noah was beginning to hear movement nearby. “Very well, then let’s change topics. Tell me about the bandits in this area. Are there any groups that I should know about? I suggest you don’t lie to me.”

“I don’t know about other groups. They constantly form armies and then break up when the knights and soldiers ride in!”

By now, the growl had reached both Noah and Cal. Wolves were closing in. Cal began to scream and pull at the knife, not that it did him any good.

“Please, let me go!”

“You haven’t told me anything specific or anything I don’t already know.” Noah stood up. “I’m far from impressed. I suppose I should get back to the farm.”

“Wait, I did hear something! An ogre tribe is rumored to be passing through the area!”

“Go on.”

“Big, one-eyed monsters! They come from the north, bloodthirsty nomads that eat whatever cross their path! A tribe shows up in Uther every few years! They don’t speak our tongue and kill us on sight! They’re rabid beasts!”

Noah recalled the previous night, the glaring cyclops. ‘If there is a tribe of those things in the area, then it would probably be best to get to Took as soon as possible.’

The wolves had fully circled and weren’t hiding their steps.

“Please! Let me go!”

“Well, I’d say you’ve earned a fighting chance.” Noah pulled the knife out and Cal held his hands to his face, as if seeing the wounds would somehow make the pain go away. Noah dropped the knife beside him. “I think you’re going to need this more than me.”

He then disappeared into the darkness, and the wolves, while confused as to how one of their prey had suddenly vanished beyond the reach of their senses, were glad that one meal still awaited them. Once more, Cal’s screams echoed through the night, but by the time Noah reached the farmhouse, he had gone silent, and there was only the growls and yips of the wolves fighting over his corpse. It was always nice when loose ends solved themselves.

Noah searched the bodies of the other bandits, taking anything of use or value, and then dragged them into the woods. The wolves would come after them next, so it was best they not be eaten right in front of the house. Finally, he did a quick sweep of the property in search of Bar, eventually finding the slain wolfdog. He had an arrow in his neck, a well-earned quick death. Noah summoned a glass bottle from within his ring and poured the purple liquid within on and around Bar. A pungent smell filled the air, like skunk mixed with rotting flesh, forcing Noah to retreat. The liquid was an experiment of his to try and find a good monster repellent by combining various ingredients found in the wilderness. Unfortunately, it only worked for a few hours and it was such a nasty stench that he couldn’t use it anywhere near himself without getting sick, so he chalked it up as a failure. Hopefully, it would keep the prowlers at bay until Bar could be buried.

His business done, he stepped up onto the porch and knocked on the door. “Hey, it’s me.”

There was movement inside and the door was opened. It was Mary, with the inside of the house lit with candles. “James,” she said, sounding like she was on the verge of fainting.

“How are you folks doing? How’s Joshua?” He looked past Mary, seeing the farmer lying atop the dinner table with his children around him. It was slow, but he sat up.

“He’s alive, thanks to you. How can we ever repay you?”

“Well I’m going to go back to the barn to get a little more sleep while I can, I suggest you all do the same. After that, some breakfast would be lovely.”

“I… uh… you… uh… consider it done,” she stammered.

“Goodnight, then.”

Noah returned to the barn and closed the doors behind him. His makeshift bed felt as soft and cozy as a foam mattress, despite the stench of horses and goats. He still didn’t know what time it was, but if there truly was a merciful god in this world, then the sunrise would be an eternity away. It felt like he heard the barn doors open just moments after he closed his eyes. He instinctively drew his knife and sat up to face the intruder, only to find Joshua. The sun was rising outside, an unwelcome sight. Oh well, a better night’s sleep wasn’t far off.

“Good morning,” Noah said as he rubbed the tiredness from his eyes. Instead of replying, Joshua prostrated himself, bowing with his forehead pressed to the ground.

“I do not deserve to be your host. I belittled your profession last night, and then you save not only my life, but the lives of my wife and children. I relied on someone I called a stranger because I was too weak to protect my family. This is a shame I will never live down.”

Noah sighed and sat back down to put his boots on. “Don’t worry, you’re forgiven. While I can’t say I applaud your manners in insulting your guest, I’m not invested enough in adventuring to take anything personally. As for the incident last night, you fought remarkably well despite being wounded. Be proud of yourself.” He got back onto his feet. “By the way, I found Bar at the southern end of the field. I’m afraid he didn’t make it.”

“Did… he suffer?”

“No, he died well. I poured some monster repellent on him, so hopefully you can still bury him.”

Joshua looked away, wiping some tears with his sleeve. “Come on, Mary is putting breakfast on the table.”

They left the barn and returned to the farm house, where upon entering, Noah found Mary and her children bowing at almost perfect right angles.

“You saved this family, and for that, we will be forever grateful.”

Noah nodded. “Thank you.”

They gathered around the table for breakfast and joined hands for grace. “Lord Lumendori, we thank you for the bright and beautiful day that awaits us, and we thank you for allowing us to cross paths with this young man beside us. We would not be here without him,” said Joshua.

“Amen,” Mary and the kids replied.

Even worse than the previous night, Thomas was excited and curious, bombarding Noah with questions, most of them about how he pulled off the fight from last night. Joshua and Mary reeled him in, but Noah was able to dodge and deceive the questions that got through. Breakfast was bread and eggs with some cheese, and Noah, wanting to get out on the road, ate fast. He then stood up and bowed his head.

“It is time for me to be off. Thank you once again for the meals and shelter.”

He returned to the barn and loaded up his horse with his few possessions, and as he turned to leave, found Joshua standing at the entrance, holding out the silver coin from last night. “I can’t let you leave without this, not after what you did for us.”

Noah didn’t bother trying to refuse and accepted the coin. He had simply been hoping that Joshua would forget the second he promised him. He got onto his horse and departed for Took. Joshua and his family were good, honest people, yet as soon as Noah returned to the road, his mind discarded their names.

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