Chapter 14: On the Right Tack


Age 38

Spring was coming to a close as, yet another summer arrived in the lands of Alagaësia. The days continued to lengthen while the nights drew shorter, while bright rays of sunlight shone upon the wilderness. The sun, or as the locals called it Aiedal, loomed in the sky, causing flowers to bloom and birds to sing.

As opposed to the cold and often dreary winter, each day was hotter than the next, especially in the southern regions of the empire. Humans and animals both would search for shelter from the heat, often spending time to cool down in the shade. A practice I, and Kratch often partook in, sometimes spending hours during the day sitting under a tree near Tenga's tower, lazily watching as the clouds moved by.

With my goals and plans for the future looming over my head, I often had little time to relax or laze around. It was however with the insistence of my companion that I eventually gave in and dedicated some hours in my schedule to ease both my body and mind, taking time to break away from arduous training and studying.

Today was a day like any other, as I and Kratch silently sat amongst the roots of an old oak tree, watching as a particularly large cloud drifted by, being slowly dragged across the light blue sky by the same soft summer breeze I felt rustle my clothes and ripple through Kratch's dark grey fur. All was quiet until he suddenly shifted and began slowly rising into the air, his tail twirling beside him.

"Now wasn't that a pleasant nap. One of the best I have had in a long while. Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures as I always like to say. Although, the days are becoming quite boring. Much less interesting than they were before."

"In a way Kratch, I must agree with you. We have spent many years as guests of the old hermit. During our time here, I have learned much of what there is to know about the world around me. Unfortunately, it would seem that even Tenga's seemingly endless collection of knowledge does indeed have a limit." I replied, with a hint of sadness in my tone.

Tenga, despite his many flaws and quirks, was indeed a truly interesting teacher. While I would not go so far as to say that he taught me everything I would ever know, he certainly did expand my horizons by a large margin. With him guiding me and providing me important insight into the inner workings of obscure paths of magic I was able to grow exponentially, dwarfing my own initial expectations.

"Then I suppose it is time for you and me to move on. Nothing good ever comes of staying in one place for too long. So, shall we float to it?"

"Yes, let's. My belongings are already stored and packed, there is nothing holding us back. It would be courteous of us to say farewell to our host, however. It would be impolite to simply disappear into the day. We are polite today, aren't we Kratch?"

"Oh, I tend to be until I'm not. I suppose I am today, though I have changed several times since morning. Well, come along then, time waits for no one."

Accompanied by Kratch, floating by my shoulder, I began making my way into the elven tower. It had changed since my arrival here, and stood once more, looming over the trees. No longer was it a shadow of its former self, crumbling from age and the weight of many years gone by. Sturdy and smooth, the tower was now fully repaired, with a gleaming brand-new roof basking in the sunlight.

Walking through the front door I entered the bottom level of the tower. Where once there was a messy pile of scrolls and books now shone a clean wooden floor. The dust which had once lined the many bookshelves and the dining table was gone, dispersed with the regular application of magic. The repaired stairway leading to the upper levels of the tower, with rooms that had long been explored, protected by doors long since opened.

It had taken the time and countless efforts to convince the old hermit to make this change, but eventually, under my words, he gave in. Speaking of the old man, it would seem that he too decided to spend some time unwinding, as I saw him quietly reading a scroll by the fireplace, mumbling as always under his breath. The man had not physically changed at all since the day of my arrival, with his beard being the only exception, growing longer than ever before.

"Good afternoon, Tenga. You do not mind if I disturb you for a moment, as I have quite the important matter at hand?" I questioned, breaking him away from his inner musings.

"Well, out with it then! What is so important that has made you disturb me at a crucial step in my investigation? I have yet another question that needs answering. Did you wish to join me in my search?" he replied, raising his head to stare at me with his piercing blue eyes.

"Quite the opposite in fact. I and Kratch wish to thank you for the hospitality and teachings you have imparted to us in the past few years of our stay here. Unfortunately, it is time for us to part ways, as my questions can no longer be answered here. We believe it is best if we go on to search elsewhere for the answers we seek." I began, carefully monitoring his reaction to the news.

Over the years I had learned to understand the body language of the hermit, being able to tell his mood and feelings at a time. While for many it would appear that Tenga showed little to no emotion at all, microscopic twitches of his mouth and eyebrows told otherwise. It would seem that he at first was slightly surprised by my words, as his eyebrows slightly moved upwards. Thought that greatly changed as an uncertain feeling of sadness and pride appeared in the man.

"Ah. History likes to repeat itself, does it not? Yet another one of my students wishes to venture away, back into the world of the fools. Never will I understand the urges of youth, your desire for adventure. I suppose there is little I can do stop you, for it would be the same as throwing rocks at the sun, wishing for it to go backward. Well, off you go then, no need to bother men anymore!" Tenga replied, promptly going back to his scroll, and making a shooing gesture with his hand.

"You know, I expected more of a fight or resistance from your side. Though, in the end, we are grateful for your support. Thank you for everything and may the answers to your questions always come as quickly as you pose them. Farwell Tenga."

"Bah, stop dilly-dallying and get out of here already! Farewell, young elf and remember, the wisest men follow their own direction. Now go forth, and on the way, do me a favor. Do try to teach those fools what wisdom really is!" he shouted, before returning swiftly to his scroll. If I were any less an optimist, I would think that I saw his eyes sparkle more than ever before, but it must have been my imagination.

"Farewell old one. Do try to not make sense all the time, lest you ever get as boring as the others" Kratch commented before disappearing and appearing away at the door. With both our parts said and farewells given, we swiftly exited the tower and made our way towards the rocky path and down the hill.

"Oh dear, well wasn't that an awkward situation. It may have been best if we simply left, but what is done is done, no use reminiscing about it. So, what now Vidar? I am sure waiting for something more interesting than more dry books, scrolls, and old men! I could bear it once, but not again." Kratch exclaimed, twirling in the air next to me.

"No, nothing of that sort for a while. I do however have the perfect direction for our next travels. There has been one little thing that has been on my travel plan for quite some time. The next step of my journey is there." I replied, picking up speed and pulling out a map of Alagaësia stored in my portable magical inventory.

"Aye, steps are good. Though do remember that while the steps to enlightenment brighten the way, they are also steep. Best take them one at a time. Careful now, try not to shake me off." Kratch suggested before settling down on my shoulders to keep up with my ever-growing speed.

I once again increased my speed, dashing through the forest, meadows, and undergrowth, eventually stopping at the summit of a rather large hill overlooking the land around us. Endless plains of grass and forests spread out in all directions around us. Taking a few moments to admire the beautiful landscape of the magical land of Alagaësia I began preparing our mode of transportation for the rest of the rather long journey towards our destination.

Now that I had greater knowledge and experience there was a multitude of methods to drastically increase my movement speed, making travel faster than ever before. Unfortunately, it would still be some time before I manage to use magic to safely myself between different locations. The extremely high energy cost was a major roadblock that I yet had to overcome.

Instead, I had devised several alternate spells to allow me to move at speeds faster than thought possible. Eragon was correct in believing that flight was truly a marvelous experience. Unfortunately, only dragon riders had dragons on which to do so. And only the most creative of mages in the land ever thought of trying to replicate such an effect. Tenga was correct, they really were unimaginative and stale idiots.

The first step in replicating flight with the use of magic was layering several protective and quality of life enchantments on oneself and his companions. This was to ensure that the human or my hybrid body, despite its already high resistance to various conditions, was able to handle not only the colder temperatures but also the wind pressure exerted during flight.

Furthermore, I had to also ensure that my companion, who, being a scaredy-cat that he is, was comfortable and tightly secured. He might have some minor motion sickness, but I am sure the poor kitty can handle it. I mean come on, he floats and twirls all the time in the air. This should be second nature to him, albeit a bit more extreme than before.

Finally, as an additional security measure, I applied a camouflage spell, which would hide us from prying eyes. While it would be unlikely that anyone was to see us if we flew high up into the sky, additional security is never amiss. With the new layer of protection, we would seamlessly blend in, and become invisible to anybody random peasant and magician who set their sight upon us.

Stowing away the map, I pulled out several bars made out of an aluminum alloy as well as a synthetic sailcloth I had transmuted during my stay at Tenga's tower. With a wave of my hand, the components began to assemble themselves, firmly sticking together to ensure no accidents occur during use. In but a few moments I had lying in front of me a unique hang glider, ready for use.

During my first ever attempts at unsupported flight I encountered the familiar issue of high energy usage and high cost required to me and anything I am carrying into the air. Not only would I have to be able to provide enough energy to take off from the ground and reach a sufficient altitude, but I would also have to continuously pump magical energy to remain afloat. This is of course not to mention the energy required to create speed, counteract air resistance, and propel me in the required direction.

While this would be more or less feasible on short bursts of flight, long journeys such as the one we are traveling on now would quickly consume all of my stamina, no matter how energy efficient I make the spell. Even if I attempt to recover my energy from living beings in the air, such methods were risky and unpractical.

In my attempt to find a suitable method to fly I eventually stumbled upon the idea of gliders, drawing a lot of inspiration from the show Avatar: The Last Airbender. Gliders, while potentially less fast than true unsupported flight would greatly help mitigate and lower the high energy required for aerial long journeys.

While some spells would be required to ensure safety and comfort, they would have a minimal cost compared to the tremendous requirement to constantly support a weight larger than a human body for a prolonged period of time.

During my first tests, Kratch had been somewhat reluctant to travel in such an unorthodox and never before seen manner. While he had indeed considered the idea as 'fun' and highly 'interesting' his cat-like nature acted actively against him. "It's fun to have fun," he said, but "you need to know how" he argued. In the end, after multiple demonstrations and trial runs, he accepted the hang glider as a method of 'safe' travel.

With the hang glider double-checked for any flaws, Kratch comfortable attached and hanging in his own personal magical bubble to protect from annoying wind currents, I strapped myself in and prepared to take off. Gathering magical energy to my legs, directing my thoughts towards the required goal I wordlessly cast the simplistic spell.

Immediately, we were propelled from the hill and into the air with tremendous force. My spell did its work, however, as neither I nor Kratch felt the least uncomfortable, with multiple wards protecting us from heavy wind currents. With practiced eased, I directed the wind with magic, making it push the glider upwards and propel us forwards.

We soared over the wilderness, both grinning with our already signature Cheshire grins. Hills, forests, and rivers passed below us, as we, invisible to all, soared in the bright summer day, the wind smoothly blowing at our faces. At times, I would use energy to maintain the ideal altitude and speed, but overall, the glider did most of the work on its own. And while this was certainly not superman flight speed, I was pleased with our velocity.

Why walk and stumble on the ground, when you can soar like a bird in the air?

There were so many different applications of magic, many lesser magicians would only focus on those that give ultimate power, missing all those that gave complete superiority in all domains and aspects.

It goes as the saying says, never put all your eggs in one basket.

Never Stagnate.


Age 38- 2 Days Later

Feinster was a city similar to its counterpart Teirm, in that they both functioned as port cities, widely known for the large number of ships and traders who come to sell their goods from every corner of the Broddring empire. The streets were as always bustling with merchants trying to sell their goods, with a wide variety of ships docked at the busy port harbor.

Some of the ships and longboats showed distinct characteristics which one identify from which part of the empire they came from. Large longboats carrying pounds upon pounds of goods were easily traced to the northern reaches of the empire. Smaller Cog boats often donning bright colors hailed from the regions of Surda, carrying a cargo of expensive silk and spices, luxuries that most peasants were unable to afford.

Apart from the many merchants and inhabitants of Feinster, the streets were heavily lined with imperial guards and soldiers. Unlike my humble isolated city of rebirth Ceunon, it would seem that the local authorities had a much more imposing presence.

Guard patrols would commonly pass by the trading stalls, no doubt searching for any potential thieves and other evildoers. Judging by the brand new and young faces of the soldiers it would seem Galbatorix was able to restore his army after its defeat at the hands of me and the Urgals.

It was with this annoying complication that I and Kratch infiltrated past the city gates and into the harbor, often masking our presence with magic and hiding in the shadows. While Kratch would often easily blend in and fade into the shadows of dark alleys and corners, I concealed myself with the use of my favorite traveling cloak. A new and improved illusion hid away and protected my elven features from prying eyes, further covered by the black cowl of my cloak.

Making our way through the busy streets I discretely indulged myself by scanning and examining the minds of its residents. It had been almost a decade since the last time I had visited a large human settlement and it would do good for me to catch up to the events occurring within the empire. During my prolonged isolation, I had in fact indeed missed several important pieces of news.

From my discreet investigation, I had gathered that the general public had remained blissfully unaware over the years of the cause of the disappearance of the imperial army. Despite almost thirteen years since its defeat, news, and information about it had not reached public ears. No doubt the servants of Galbatorix had put a large amount of effort to conceal the information.

Speaking of the servants of the king, it would appear as if the Varden had not been idle since its creation around the time of my childhood. At least another three Forsworn had perished, most probably at the hands of Brom. While the citizens of Feinster were unaware of their exact date of demise, some of the higher-ranking citizens had noted their lacking presence throughout the empire.

The years had passed quickly, and troublesome times were drawing closer. Soon, Galbatorix would complete his quest to subjugate all the Eldunari in his possession. When this occurs, he will finally take the reins of his empire for a few years, subjugating any rebellions within. While the Varden would survive, the next few years would lead to troublesome times for the citizens of the empire. I myself would experience potential difficulties and have a greater risk of being discovered by unfriendly parties.

Fortunately, I had beforehand devised a plan for the next century, which would not only allow me to continue exploring the lands unhindered, grow my own power but also remain completely concealed in the shadows. I would be killing two birds with one stone, successfully avoiding the trouble of dealing with an active king and the increased activity of his servants while growing my own power.

Passing by a particularly eager and infuriating merchant, who seemed to ramble about some cloud district in the city, I ducked into a particularly small alley leading to the docks. As I began making my way through it, I immediately sensed several presences approaching me from the other end. My worries of discovery abated quickly as I identified my ambush. It was but a couple of thugs, preying on innocent passerby's who happened to walk into this dreary street alley. They would be dealt with quickly and silently, for I had no time to spend on such idiotic matters.

With a sigh I straightened my posture and continued onwards, preparing for the confrontation about to occur. I sensed Kratch's presence appear in a nearby shadow, as his eerie Cheshire smile and chilly green eyes glimmered with impatience from within. It seems my companion would take distinct pleasure in what was about to occur.

As they appeared from the shadows, drawing knives and no doubt ready to pounce I leisurely whispered a spell, one that I had unfortunately not yet practiced casting wordlessly. As the figures moved closer, blissfully unaware that not even a single sound of their cries would exit the alley, I put on a pair of black gloves on my hands. A large bulky man, obviously the leader of this pathetic gang stepped forward, pulling out a dull dagger from his waist.

"Never should have come her-" he began but was promptly cut off, as his whole upper body exploded into a shower of blood and gore. While the narrow walls of the alley were quickly covered in red matter, not a single drop of it stained my clothes.

The other pathetic bandits had not time to react, as with but a touch of my hand to their bodies they all quickly followed their leader. Pulling off my black gloves and storing them away in my spatial inventory, I continued walking forwards, unperturbed by the scene around me. Kratch who had disappeared from the shadow reappeared next to me, his grin growing just a bit wider as his gaze lingered for a moment on a broken barrel stained in crimson.

With a tap of my foot, as I approached the exit of the alley, the walls rippled slightly. The blood that was on them disappeared without a trace, replaced with a fresh layer of stone. The remaining body parts of my victims crumbled into ash behind me, alongside their clothes and weapons, dispersing into the wind. My barrier of silence quickly dispersed, as another spell removed all traces of magic use in location, as even the smell of blood disappeared from the air.

Apart from a slightly cleaner alley, not a single trace of the encounter remained as I walked out back into the sunlight, adjusting slightly the cowl of my cloak. Kratch followed after me, disappearing into another shadow nearby. Approaching the docks, I made my way towards one of the ships docked at the quay.

It was an imposing longboat, obviously crafted by an individual with great woodworking skill and expertise. Intricate designs ran across its length, as a single mast supported a large white sail. A fierce woodworking sculpture of a dragon was attached at the prow of the vessel. The crew of the longboat seemed to be loading on supplies and cargo, hiding it away into the hull. Unlike my initial reservations, it would seem that this was a merchant ship, about to set sail.

My gaze soon fell upon an imposing man standing beside the crew, yelling out orders to the sailors. With a large black hat and a scraggly beard, a pipe in his mouth, he had the typical image of a pirate or sailor. In fact, the resemblance between the images and drawings in my past life to the man I was seeing now was hilariously uncanny.

I began making my way to the man, as Kratch appeared from the shadows at my side, as a wordless illusion swiftly masking his large and unnatural features under an image of a simple black cat.

"Now Kratch, this man will be our passage for our next destination. Do try to look cute and cuddly and please do not spook him off during the first minutes of our arrival."

If I were not looking, I would have missed the almost imperceptible sigh of my companion, as the corners of his smile twitched upwards under the illusion. As we drew closer the man finally sensed our presence, turning around and warily beginning to scrutinize with his unfaltering gaze.

"Ahoy, there stranger! What brings you to the dock of captain Sven's vessel, the swift Whisper. Perhaps ye be looking for something to buy, or better to sell?" he asked, putting a hand on the sword attached to his hip.

"Greetings Captain. My name is Floki, and I was here to ask whether you would be willing to accept some passengers to Eoam aboard your vessel. For a satisfactory price of course." I replied, taking off my hood to reveal my face, protected obviously by an elaborate illusion.

"Aye, we be making our way to Eoam next, got some goods to unload there. I suppose that for the right price, a few passengers can have a place aboard my ship. Though I see just one laddie in front of me, where are the rest?" he confirmed, puffing out circles of smoke from his mouth.

"By passengers, I would mean only me and my cat. I'm sure a ship like yours might do with a hunter for any mice that happen to live inside. Why he will rid you of them in a jiffy. So, what would the price of this journey be?" I answered, tilting my head to the side.

"Ten crowns I say, for a meal a day and a place to sleep on board. Any less you can go find yourself a different ship to travel on" the captain proclaimed.

A fair price he charged, unlike many of the other sailors I observed in the city. While I could have used magic to bypass this whole situation, what was a few gold coins to a magic user like me. Taking out a small pouch at my side I sorted out ten gold coins and handed them to the waiting hands of Sven.

"Welcome aboard then lad! the Whisper will do you mighty good service. Follow me, I'll show you around the ship" he welcomed, walking up the plank and hopping onto the deck. I and Kratch followed after him, as he made way to the prow.

While I do not mean to pry lad, but not many people of the empire happen to wish to visit the isles. Ye have some business to attend there?" he questioned, before barking out a few more orders to the other sailors.

"Well, I am bard, a musician who makes his coin of singing songs and telling fables in taverns. This corner of land seemed dry of it, so I hope to try my luck in other places. Always wanted to see the world as well." I replied, taking in and observing the work and faces of each of the members of the crew.

"A bard ye say. Good that, it's high time the crew had some music to listen to. Might do them some good, those knuckleheads. All they know is how to mop the deck and ride the wind. Though if ye a bard, where be your instrument Floki?" the captain guffawed, taking a glance back at me.

"Ah, I like to keep my lyre safe in my pack. If your men want some music, I will be happy to indulge. I know some mighty good songs that I am sure you have never heard of before. We be leaving soon, yes?

"Aye, it be high tide soon. We leave then, in about an hour when the men finish loading our cargo. The best furs and leather you can find in these parts, all supplied by yours truly. Well, I be leaving ye, don't be shy to have a look around, bard Floki" Sven chuckled, slapping me on my back with his enormous paw of a hand before making his way back to the sailors, no doubt to bark out more orders.

Pleased with the outcome, I and Kratch settled down at the prow of the longboat, silently observing the sailors who had finished loading the cargo and had now settled down behind the oars, ready to leave the port. With a bark from Sven, they soon began to row, as the boat slowly drifted away into open waters. While the crew hoisted the sale or rowed behind the oars Sven steered the boat, standing proudly at the stern.

Hours passed and as the day lengthened, we soon found ourselves in the open sea. Kratch, with his great distaste for water, had curled up beside me, a fair distance away from either side of the deck. The sailors were rowing slowly, as the boat made its way forward through the waters. While the sea breeze and rolling waves were pleasant for the first few hours, I quickly tired of the near silence that permeated the ship.

"I think it's time for some music on this ship. What is this, a funeral or something?" I exclaimed. Unseen by the crew, with a whisper under my breath, a beautifully carved lyre materialized from a block of wood behind me. Reaching for it, I tested the strings, ensuring all was well before making my way to the center of the ship.

Mentally, I entered the mind of each sailor and the captain, subtlety adding information on the lyrics of some of the songs I was to sing. While I do enjoy solo performances, it would do some good for the sailors to join in with me. Nodding at the captain, who smiled back I began playing a rhythmic but pleasant tune with my lyre.

"What do you say, lads?! How about some music to liven the atmosphere?!" Sven cried out, as I was preparing myself for the performance. Time to liven up my first day of the Sailor Experience.

Who knew sailing was going to be this fun? Ah, I just love my new life!

"Aye, Aye Captain!" The crew cried out, banging their feet against their floor. Impatient lot they were, that's for certain. With a final chime, I mustered my voice and began to sing, my voice echoing across the deck.

My mother told me
Someday I would buy
Galleys with good oars
Sails to distant shores

Mixing magic along with my own voice, I drew upon the feeling of confidence and unity within the crew. While this was not exactly a spell I had developed on my own, I was inspired by the connections between magic and sound from countless fictional stories and myths. Perhaps in the future, I could make my enemies flee with just a few words or inspire strength in my allies. For the moment, however, my magic was raw and unfiltered, subtly filling the sailors with strength and boosting their morale.

As I continued to sing, one after the other, the sailor picked up the song, joining in and creating a chorus of voice. With the notes escaping from my lyre and the banging of their feet against the floor creating a rhythm, a pleasant mood was developing on the ship. My mental infiltration had worked, as the words for a previously unknown song appeared on the lips of the sailors. Soon, even Sven joined the reverie, as the voices of over forty grown men grew louder and louder on the boat.

My mother told me
Someday I would buy
Galleys with good oars
Sails to distant shores

Stand up on the prow
Noble barque I steer
Steady course to the haven
Hew many foe-men
Hew many foe-men

Our voices echoed across the sea, as for hours I entertained the crew with a vast variety of songs I and sea shanties I once heard in my past life. Perfect memory certainly is a magnificent thing. The sailors were happy, rowing at a steady rhythm while I played in the center. While I never would have thought that I would get to experience life at sea during my second life, it was a pleasant feeling.

A sailors for me, it is. Truly a marvelous experience.

And so, in the sunset, as the sky turned orange with the waves burning a bright red, our ship sailed onwards, towards the mysterious isles in the south and the bright future that awaits me there.


Author Notes:

"Not all treasure is silver and gold mate"- Captain Jack Sparrow

Welcome to the end of yet another chapter. Hope this one was to your liking.

It was time to start a new stage in the life of Vidar, as new adventures await.

This is also the first time I have tried inserting the lyrics of a song inside a story.

I know some readers hate it when authors do that, so I tried to find something short but sweet.

I hope that Svens 'sailors speak' was not too cringy as well. Give me some slack, I tried my best.

Minor changes have also been made to the last chapter, mainly grammar and spelling.

If you find anything of that sort in this one, please point it out so can I change it later.

Please comment and review, those are always greatly appreciated.

Cheers Lads and have a good day.