Chapter 16
Almost as if he had nothing better to do, the Ringmaster was standing in front of the oddly out of place circus tent. As we approached, he grinned and bowed.
"Welcome back sir!" The Ringmaster greeted us with that infuriatingly genuine smile on his face, a little click of his heels and a spin of his cane. "Even though you've grown so much, there is no doubt it's you! Yes Sir!"
"As much as we didn't want to, we require your services." I replied honestly.
"I'm almost hurt by your tone!" He didn't sound hurt at all of course. "Oh... Oh my..." He paced around the four of us, "Who would have thought..."
He didn't touch any of them, but it was clear in his eyes he was sizing them up like a horse trader.
"You have done very well raising them!" He said, "I would never have thought she would have turned into such a wonderful looking young woman." Raphtalia 'eep'ed and hid behind my shoulder, my tail curling around her back out of reflex. (This made her 'eep' again, but she allowed my tail to curl around hers.)
"And this one! A shame about the arm, but he has gained strength and confidence!" He toured around Usa, "Clever! A whip! A good weapon for someone with only one arm!"
He started to get close to Clive, but the lizard-man focused both eyes on him and growled. "Now now! Even you have become something special!"
"It's hard to grow when you're living in a box." I said, "And before you even think about it, I am not selling them."
"Ah!" He put a hand to his chest as if stung, "I cannot lie and say I wasn't about to ask. But I would only have asked out of professional pride."
"Missing an opportunity is the bane of a merchant." I agreed, "Speaking of that. We require some riding beasts."
He perked up, "Yes Sir! This way! Dreadfully sorry to keep you waiting in the streets for me to settle into business, Yes Sir!"
With a flourish, he swept aside the huge tent flap and stepped aside to let us in. Unlike before, this was his 'official' business. It was well lit, noisy, and smelled like a stable. It wasn't foul smelling, but no matter how hard you cleaned, there would always be that 'caged animal' smell.
"Yes Sir!" He said as he quickly tottered over to walk beside me, "As you can see, we have many beasts that might fit your needs! But I must warn you!" He stopped in front of a stable, one of those feathery carriage birds, a filolial, contained within. "They are sought after, and not cheap! No Sir!"
The bird towered over him, and leaned its long neck down to see if his hat might be food, but when it got close enough to peck, a faint mark on is chest glowed. Much like a normal slave mark, it seemed to cause it pain, and it backed off from the Ringmaster with a squawk.
He was also standing by a sign. "220 silver for this one?" I asked.
"Yes Sir! It is young, strong, and quite smart! It is a little more than the average price, but he's from a good sire! Yes Sir!" He said enthusiastically, turning around and giving the bird a pat on the chest, as if to say 'no hard feelings' about the slave mark zapping it.
I considered, my eyes flicking through my inventory. I could have bought one. But only one.
The look must have shown on my face, "Well Sir! I see you may be having difficulties! Considering you missed out on the reward from the King!"
I shouldn't have felt surprised, that he knew, or that there would be a reward. "Let me guess? The three of them got a heap of money for fighting the Wave?"
He caught on to my mood. That, or he wasn't as cut throat as he looked. "Yes Sir." He said, his smile fading, "We may be at odds due to our professions! But work must be compensated for! Yes Sir!"
"And I'd be using that money now, here, if I had it." I said with a frown and crossed arms.
"And I would be happy to accept it! Yes Sir!" He laughed, the smile back in place, "But! I just happen to have an alternative! Yes Sir! This way!"
"It's a little sad we didn't get paid." Raphtalia sighed.
"I was more than happy to leave." Usa commented, "I mean..."
"Gr." Clive nodded, giving Usa a pat on the shoulder, "Growl..."
"He wants us to fail." I said, "But now I'm going to try even harder, just to make him mad."
The Ringmaster was listening, but not commenting. The smile on his face slipped back in place as he stopped in front of a table with hundreds of eggs on it. About as big as an ostrich egg, each one was nestled in a little wooden box lined with straw, and had some kind drawing on them. It reminded me of the slave marking honestly, the black ink on each of the eggs looking almost like it was chained.
A few of those little nests were empty though, and there was a little sign to the side. "Ah..." I squinted at the sign, " y? Lottery? I'm reading that right?"
"Very good Sir." Raphtalia said, reaching up and patting my head.
"Are you sure you won't consider selling her? Being able to read and write is a valuable skill! Yes Sir!" The Ringmaster asked.
"A skill she's passing on to us. Sorry, but that's far more useful than simple coin to me." I said, "A lottery? For the eggs?"
"Yes Sir!" He said with a little flourish, "Each of these eggs can be bought for a hundred silver each." He explained, "And while the cost of raising what ever hatches is on you, I'm sure you can see the benefit!"
I considered, "We kill enough monsters that we won't run out of food..." There was also the Shield. If Slaves could be manipulated, it stood to reason an animal I 'owned' could be too. Eggshell maybe? Blood? Feathers or skin? Stupid Shield... Oh... That was an idea... later later... "But it's a lottery. That means there's something other than a common eggs in there."
"Oho! Very clever!" The Ringmaster nodded, "Indeed Sir! Out of the nearly 250 eggs, there is a Knight's Dragon egg hidden among them! Of course, there is a simple spell upon the eggs to make it seem they are all the same."
"Each egg is fertile otherwise, right?" I asked. "A Knight's Dragon? The mounts the knights use, or people ride around town?"
"That's them, yes Sir!" He nodded, "And of course! The winning egg can be worth twenty gold! But it would hardly do to have a customer pay for nothing! I pride myself on outsmarting a customer, but not cheating them! No Sir! Each egg will hatch something but that's the point of a Lottery!"
I looked at my inventory again, then held my tail while I thought about it. "I'll take two."
Raphtalia spoke up instantly, "Sir! Don't we need that money? You would gamble it away?"
"She's... not wrong Sir..." Usa said.
Clive however looked thoughtful. Probably thinking that if we did get a 'pet' or two, he'd have competition for the meat the rest of us didn't want to eat.
"Aside from training, and the time to grow, time and the initial investment is all it will cost." I said with a smile, feeling my tail twitch happily at the attention I was giving it.
"Well Sir! You must agree that you are willing to risk not getting the Prize Egg."
"I understand what a lottery is." I nodded.
"Your money please, then make your pick!" His grin widened somehow, "And of course, the slave mark is a free service for these! Yes Sir!"
I let my eyes wander over the rows of eggs laid out on the table. They really did look identical. Each and every one of them had the same colour, the same 'chain' design on them, and even the straw they were all resting in was arranged to look identical. The only difference on any of them, was a small little rune in the middle of the 'chain' drawing.
I counted out the money for him and handed it over, "Excellent sir! Stand here, yes Sir! When you pick, draw the symbol on the Egg in the dish there, and it will bind to you, just like your friends here did! Yes Sir!"
I let my tail go, then picked up the brush. It was indeed similar to the ritual for the Slave Curse. Again I let my eyes drift over them until I felt the urge to pick, and without thinking about it, I drew the first rune on the dish. Good thing they were simple... Once drawn, the egg that matched the symbol glowed red for a moment...
And with a little blink, my status window showed a new menu, 'Monster Training'. It also had a sub menu that was almost word for word the same as the Slave one, with various 'do and do not' options as well as how severe the punishment would be if they disobeyed. My guess was right, there had to be a way to influence the monster once it hatched.
"Ah, taking your time again I see! Yes Sir!" The Ringmaster said, nodding to a nearby Muscle Clown, who brought over the first egg.
"Sir is very careful." Usa said.
"Bruise in training, live in combat." Raphtalia quoted.
I smiled, then repeated my selection...
We headed back to Erhard's shop, Raphtalia and I holding little creche with their individual eggs nestled within. There was even a little timer on the side of the little incubator, showing when they would hatch! I might have been mistaken, but I think the timers were for less than a day from now, no less than an hour apart.
"Sir? Do you have experience raising animals?" Usa asked.
"I do." I nodded, "From little ones, to my world's version of Knight's dragons. Even flying ones. We call them Wyvern." I was really starting to miss the various animals, Xenos or not, back home. "But so long as we teach them a few simple things, they should take orders reasonably well."
"Things?" Raphtalia asked, "Like what?"
"I like to start with 'Friend', and 'Food'."
Erhard's reaction to the two eggs was... unimpressed. "Huh. Didn't think you'd be a sucker. An egg lottery?"
Usa and Raphtalia nodded along with him, but I held my ground so to speak, "So long as we aren't careless with them, they'll be handy to have around. And even if they can't do something like pull a cart, a little time and training and I can sell them back for a profit."
He looked super doubtful, but in the face of my confidence, he could only sigh a long 'old man' sigh, "Well, if you want new equipment made, just be here early tomorrow. Speaking of, a few people wanted to talk to you."
That made me a little nervous, and a bit worried for Erhard. "I hope we didn't bring trouble to your doorstep." I said.
He waved it off, "No no, not those kinds of people." He smiled, "You've met one of them already. The Witch and Apothecary. They found out you were camping in my spare room, and sent a message over while you were out getting those." He used that same hand to wave dismissively at the eggs.
"Might be a good idea to visit before we leave." I mused, "Hmm." I looked down at the egg incubator in my hands and thought of something else, "Okay, we'll be back after that to help in the shop."
"Sure. Don't get lost." He nodded as we filed out.
The Apothecary's face almost sparkled when we entered his shop. The bookish thin face lit up with a smile, and he waved us over with something close to enthusiasm. "My message got to you then, splendid."
"I can count the people who smile at me like that on one hand, not counting my friends here." I said, "What's the occasion?"
"Here." He took a book off the shelf behind him, an old and well loved tome that would have made a good shield all on its own for how thick and well bound it was. "The medicines you sold to me have been quite popular, but are still rather basic as far as what can be made." He set the book on the counter between us, and with one last brush with his fingers, pushed it at me, "I'm sure that if you can learn these, you'll be well on your way to becoming one of the best medicine makers in Melromarc."
In Orario, you'd have to either become an apprentice, or steal, to get a book like this. "I'm thankful." I said seriously, but making no move for the book, "But that can't be all. This book looks as old as you, or older."
"Well, truth be told, I have family in Riyute. The efforts of you and your party kept them from harms way. I also heard about what happened last night..." He frowned, "I can't offer much in the way of coin, but this?" He gave the tome a pat, a bit of dust flaking off it, "I haven't needed to open it for years, and even rewrote it the last time I did."
In the face of such a gift, I couldn't refuse. I hugged the incubator to my chest with one hand, and opened the book with the other. As well worn as it was, the pages turned with hardly a sound, and the slightly yellowed pages were perfectly readable.
Well... Readable to someone who could read. I was still learning. But what I could make out, was done in a neat hand. "I will do my best, and see if I can't return with my own versions."
We shared a smile, the kind of smile I would share with one of my Familia after a good sparring match, where we both learned something. "I would like that." He replied.
"Sir? What about the things you learned?" Usa reminded me.
"That's right..." I nodded. The Shield, while a little insulting, had shown me some simple things that helped Raphtalia and I grow with... fewer stomach grumbles. "A bit of paper? Quill? Raphtalia? My letters are still..."
"I'll write for you, but only if you read along with me!" She took the offered quill from the Apothecary, "You too, Clive, Usa." She waved a finger at us in true Big Sister fashion.
"Yes Ma'am. (Grr.)"
I hadn't actually gone to the Witch's shop yet. The nice tailor lady told me about her, even gave me directions! But by the time I'd concluded my business with the Apothecary that day, I was getting hungry. Of course, that was the night I was framed for burning down that lady's home...
If I were my old self. Or even ten percent of my old self, I could have just... No... Don't think about that. Think about what next, not what if.
The Witch's shop was an old house that was covered in ivy and other plants. At first glance, it might have looked foreboding or mysterious. But to me, it was very practical. All of the plants growing around or on the walls were useful for alchemy. Sure, you couldn't see much through the windows, but humans, even in this world, had figured out candles.
Sadly, I was the only one of the four of us who thought so. My party was practically clinging to my back while I opened the door. The inside of the shop however, broke the mysterious air. From the friendly chime over the door that announced our entrance, to the bright (yet not harsh) glowing crystals that were hanging high on every wooden support pillar, there was nothing gloomy about this place at all.
Well, okay, there were a few weird things mixed in with the perfectly ordinary wood shelves and clean floors. Strings of herbs I'd yet to see were hanging on what could have been clotheslines on a normal day. Colourful potion bottles with liquids in them that seemed to fizz without cause. Chunks of rock, with and without crystal bits in them. Odd animal skulls of various sizes.
Oh, and an astrolabe. And if it was for this world, then I would have to worry about the full moon... Maybe?
"Sir?" Usa's hand gave my tail a pat, "Is something worrying you?"
"A little. But look at this stuff!" This wasn't just a 'Witch's shop'. No, this was a place of science. Primitive science sure, but I'd almost have bet a tail that one of those bottles was filled with mineral oil, and that rock over there was a lump of chalk, and I was sure I was smelling something similar to catnip someplace around here...
The other three weren't really convinced, but my confidence was infectious, and they relaxed a little. "Ah, good afternoon." Said a voice.
A short, stout old lady with a kind round face and a black summer hat (yes, a witch hat) bustled out from behind a bookshelf in the back. Her face, soft with age, was framed by short brown hair without a hint of grey in it. And she wore all kinds of simple jewellery set with polished stones. In the presence of such a harmless looking woman who had that exact smile you'd expect from a friendly grandmother, my party finally stood behind me properly. I didn't blame them. At the sight of us, her face lit up with a smile and I could almost imagine her next words to be 'did you want some cookies'.
"I was hoping Sir Erhard would send you over." She smiled, waving us to her 'front desk'. Aside from the astrolabe (essentially a 'model' of a planet, and I was guessing it was this one), there were a few other 'magical devices' on it. One of them being a very nice crystal ball, a tome that someone like Marius from back home could use as a shield, and a... well, I was guessing it was a magic desk lamp, but it wasn't on.
"I'd been meaning to visit." I said, "But I'm not exactly the most popular."
"A shame really." The nice old lady sighed, "But, I know you're quite busy, and expecting apparently."
She motioned to Raphtalia and I. I caught her meaning, but knew exactly what Raphtalia was thinking as soon as she started blushing. "I'm hoping one or both of these will hatch into some kind of beast we can stick a carriage to." I said, swishing at Raphtalia with my tail.
She laughed, "Well, even if that silly man in the castle wouldn't thank you..." She carefully pulled the pillow under her crystal ball, and slid it towards the middle of the desk, "I also have family in Riyute, and would like to give you all a little something for your hard work."
"Also?" Usa tilted his head, his tall ears flopping over his face for a moment before, "How did you..."
"Gr?" Clive turned an eye towards Usa, who was now trying to hide behind him, away from the 'mind reading' Witch.
"Oh, I can smell his work on anyone who's been there." She said, her smile fading just long enough to think there was a history between her and the Apothecary. "No doubt he gave you something as well."
"He's been very helpful!" Raphtalia said, "Both Sir and I are young demi-humans."
The Witch took a moment to consider that, "Ah, I see. Well you've both grown into splendid young adults." She put her hands to either side of the crystal ball, the inside of it shimmering in the light as if it were a hollow sphere of smoke. "One of the services I provide here, is testing for magic aptitude. Earth, fire, light, dark, lightning, water and wind." She explained, "Dear, set that down and stand in front of me."
Raphtalia perked up, pointed at herself with her free hand, then handed me the incubator she was holding. The crystal orb in front of the Witch glowed slightly, the cloudy interior shifting a little.
"I see, it does make sense, being a Half-Raccoon. Your affinities are light and dark. Common to have together, as they are really the same but at different intensities." She smiled and waved, "Don't be shy, you won't feel a thing."
Raphtalia moved aside, and I handed back the incubator. I also stepped aside, and motioned with my head for one of the two boys to step forward.
"Gr?"
"Oh, a lizard Therianthrope. I do like your colour." She smiled at him.
Looking at her shop, most of the walls were painted a nice green.
"I see. Very strong earth affinity. Though... You can't speak, can you dear?"
Clive shook his head. "Gr-rr."
"Well..." The Witch looked a little sad about that, "Well, you may not be able to cast traditional magics, but you don't need to speak to enchant magic items." She touched one of her many bits of crystal jewellery, "If you meet my son again, maybe he can show you how he does it." She smiled.
"Your son?" Raphtalia asked.
"Well, son-in-law." She smiled, "about this tall, nice beard, could stand to lose a little weight?"
"Oh, the nice merchant?" Usa asked. "He was very kind."
"It's good to know he's still a nice young man." She smiled and waved Usa closer, "Oh... An interesting talent you have. Lightning. It is one of the rarest talents, but!" She held up a finger, "Also the hardest to control, even more than fire!"
"Usa is very cautious." Raphtalia said with a smile.
"What about you, Sir Hero?" The Witch asked, "Don't be shy."
Everyone looked at me expectantly. I technically didn't need to be tested, though to be fair, when Akeno, and later Yasaka checked my magical 'balance' as it were, that was under 'Earth' rules. So I met her half way as I stepped in front of her, the crystal ball between us. "I know what I would be, back home in my world."
She nodded, then put both her hands to either side of the crystal ball. "Oh... oh my... you are quite the mess."
Four out of four worlds agree, my internal magical workings are screwed up.
"Legend says that the Shield Hero would have talent for healing and support magic, but you..." Her hands got closer to the polished surface of her magic ball, not quite touching, "Certainly not fire it seems, but your water affinity isn't very high... Usually when one is so absent, the opposite thrives."
The light inside the crystal ball seemed to shake and twist, like something inside was trying to get out. "I have a different style of magic that seems to work here." I said, "Though, my original style was a kind of... personal empowerment. I use MP, and boost my physical stats."
She moved her hands away from the orb, and the glow cut off, making it seem like just another ball of polished smoky glass. "Different? Can you show me? Or rather, is it safe to demonstrate indoors?"
So, with the four of them watching eagerly, I demonstrated my limited ability with Senjitsu. I turned a cup of warm water (her tea) into ice, then back to room temperature. I made a pile of sand into a thin wall. I blew out a candle from across the room (and nearly tipped over a very expensive looking jar of... something fizzy). And lastly, I made light.
"Oh... this isn't quite... right for magic." She said as we all watched a happy little foxfire ball wander around the room.
"It's not using my MP, but SP." I said.
"Hm. This reminds me more of the Way of the Dragon Vein." She said, "Sadly, I have no talent for it, and it is... not well known in Melromarc."
"An interesting parallel." I nodded, "It has a similar name back home."
"Well, I feel a little bad. I don't think I can help you, Sir Hero. But..." She went to one of the many bookshelves, selected a book, and offered it to me, "I would like you to have this."
I took the book, set it on the desk, and opened it. My limited ability to read made it almost impossible to figure out what was in it. But just like the Apothecary's gift, the old book was very well preserved. "Raphtalia?"
Raphtalia flipped through the pages, and the Witch spoke again, "If I had them, I'd give you all a crystal ball. But..."
"Isn't that..." Usa motioned with his hand.
"Oh! In this case it is a small orb of crystal that can instantly teach a spell to a person." She explained, "But the Royal Court ordered a bunch of them for the heroes... After what happened, I'm guessing..."
"First I've heard of it." I confirmed. "That's okay though." I reached over and gave Raphtalia's shoulder a squeeze, "We have a reliable teacher, and if any of us can learn something from this book, we'll be able to."
"It won't be easy." She said with a kind smile, "But there is no limit to how many spells you can learn from a book like this! Only your natural talent will show in the final effect of the spell."
Raphtalia closed the book and picked it up carefully, hugging it to her chest, "I will make sure they all learn something!"
"Well now, with a reliable teacher like you, I'm sure they will!"
On the way back to Erhard's place, Clive took hold of my tail for a half second, "Gr?" Just long enough to get my attention and ask 'if there was something on my mind'.
"You seem happy." Usa said.
"Aside from you three, I can count on one hand how many people in this world I have said 'thank you' to, and meant it." I gave the two eggs a pat, "Soon though, I might need both hands. Even with the King and the other Heroes being total jerks, some people understand I'm here to help."
"Well... if Sir continues to do well..." Usa scratched at one of his ears, "More people will be thankful, even if the King is not?"
"Hope so. I hate working a thankless job." I sighed, "After lunch, we'll be helping in the workshop. After that, reading lessons."
"Yes sir(gr)."
The rest of the day was taken up with busy work. With Erhard directing us, we added some 'finishing touches' to the equipment he'd already made us. Using the bones of various monsters, the Chimera, Black Dog and the Worm Viper specifically, he added minor enchantments. 'The silly grin' put on by all enthusiastic weapon and armour makers seemed to be the same in every world, and once we told Erhard about our magic affinities, he came up with some interesting little additions.
Clive's bleached cape of (formerly) black fur? Erhard enchanted it further with something close to a chameleon's colour changing ability. It wasn't perfect, and couldn't do anything 'shiny'. But it was able to blend in with various wood and stone colours. Clive had to stay as still as possible though.
We changed Usa's whip again. Erhard and I made some Ko-steel and Light Metal alloy (he figured it out while we were gone, and was super eager to use it with something), and the core of Usa's weapon was now made of thin, nearly unbreakable cable, instead of chain. And yes, it still had the spike at the end. It was also a little bit of 'future proofing'. If his element was lightning, and he could figure out how to use it, well...
Raphtalia's only change was a little adjustment in her armour. Clive couldn't speak, Usa wouldn't speak, and I promised myself never to tease a girl about her wardrobe. We did however give her a thumbs up when she asked if she looked okay. (Because it did.)
Between helping with fitting and hammering, I was also working on my mask. I'd made the metal last time I was here, but I was using the time I wasn't spending on the others equipment to shape the mask. I would have to experiment a little on this world's version of enchantment before I started the real work on it, so I just stored the partially finished 'product' in the Shield once we closed up for the day.
After dinner, an attempt at some of the foods from that party in the Castle, Erhard went out, and the four of us camped out in his spare room again. With the alchemy book for me, and the magic tome (this world's equivalent of 'magic for dummies', with some basic magic for all elements in it) for all of us, we followed Raphtalia's lessons VERY closely.
I was settling into 'the quiet time' just before bed. The other three were getting ready for sleep, taking turns in Erhard's bath, chatting, that kind of thing... But I was working on the Tarot for Haruhime.
With ever so gentle taps of my hammer on the end of my chisel, I etched each line of the portrait with care. With every line, I thought of every memory I had of her. How we met, how we acted with one another, how she acted with others, how others acted in her presence...
In every curve I marked into the metal, I thought of her as a single entity. How she felt under my fingertips, how her various scents tickled my nose, the sound of her heart, the tone of her voice when happy sad or angry...
And lastly, as I shaved away the smallest amounts of metal to make a background, I worked in the actual 'connection' enchantment. Before, on the very first Tarot I'd made, I used runes, scratched into the back of the card. But I was far past that in skill, and it was just another layer of my will worked into the metal. Of course, there were more memories laced in with that. The Manor, Our Children, hopes I knew we both shared for the future. Connecting with her, meant connecting with her Home, since it was almost as much a part of her as the people around her.
And it was done.
I sat up, feeling my back ache with being hunched over too long, and looked at my work. On the once smooth card of metal, was a picture of my wife. Sitting in her usual house kimono, she looked to be standing in the doorway of the Manor. Behind her, the open sky, with one of the pillars of our front 'porch' just visible behind her. She could have been entering, returning from where ever it was she'd just been, or waiting for you to join her as she left for an errand. But the most important thing, was she was free to do either one.
Just like my now sleeping party members, in this strange world... She too had been in a box, her growth stunted by chains and rules. And just like her, I was doing my best with these three here, to help them grow and gain their own strength.
I looked at the two egg incubators on the desk, and carefully touched the smooth surfaces. I would do my best for these two as well. I hoped they would be useful, sure. With the time limit of the oncoming wave, we needed strength, and speed, so we could move from place to place as we gained power. But even if they weren't what we needed, I wasn't just going to throw them away.
Of course, I was also going to cheat as much as I could... But this time, I knew that I was influencing them with my 'cast off' mana. It was also a good way to become drowsy. So I let my hands rest on the eggs, and very slowly pushed my mana into the shells, just enough so that I could watch the MP bar on my status screen drain away.
"You look pretty tired for how quiet you were last night." Erhard teased me at the breakfast table. When only I gave him a dirty look, or reacted at all really, he asked, "What kept you up?"
"I made this." I said, reaching behind me, and summoning the Tarot out of my inventory. Having the Shield on my back was good for keeping it out of the way, and anything I summoned out of its inventory appeared exactly three centimetres above the green gem. My fingers pinched closed on the Tarot, and I brought it forward to show them all.
The four of them looked at it, "Ohhh, she's very pretty!" Raphtalia said.
"Gr." Clive's eyes rotated forward to really focus on it.
"Is that her? Your wife?" Usa asked.
"That's some impressive detail." Erhard nodded, leaning forward almost far enough to get his chin covered in butter (yes, I made pancakes). He leaned back, and started to paw at his belt pouches, taking out that little 'appraisal loop'.
"And I'm tired because I stayed up a little late working on the enchantments. Back home, we call it a memory stone. And once you're done drooling over it, you old lech, I can tell you how it works." I tried teasing Erhard.
But it wasn't effective. "She seems a little soft for me, but she does have good curves." He admitted in the same tone one might say 'I got eggs at the store'. "If you could put the same amount of effort into some other magic enchantment, you'd solve your money problems." He said, putting the loop away, "So how does it work?"
"Well, to look at the memory, or rather, my memory of her, all you have to do is hold it with both hands, and close your eyes." I replied.
Sadly, and this was part of the reason I was so tired... It didn't work. Oh, the memory was in there. But at the moment, it couldn't send a 'signal'. After soaking the eggs in my MP, I tried to connect to Haruhime. But no matter how much MP I used (yes, I ate a mana pill to try and boost my 'signal'), it was like there was nothing on the other end.
I would try again later, every day if I had to... But I suspected it would only work during a Wave. But even if it didn't... I could still hold Haruhime's memory to me. I was still going to get my ring back, even if I had to bite someone's finger off to get it. But for now, I could maybe keep the bad dreams away. I'd made tarot of the two most important people in my life now.
They all had a turn 'looking' at the memory. And everyone but Clive had a similar reaction. Now, to be fair, I didn't know if Clive was capable of crying. But everyone else did, though Erhard said he had something in his eye.
Afterwards, you know, once all the embarrassing eye wiping and excuses for it being so dusty in here, I looked at the timers on the incubators, and made 'an executive decision'.
"Not a bad idea." Erhard said, "Unless something really weird comes out of those eggs, the farmers and hunters in Riyute will know how to care for your new pets."
"We also need money, and a less hostile place to make a base of operations." I said, "You've been an incredible help, but..." I sighed.
"I get it! You've all been great guests." Erhard waved a hand to 'clear the air', "Riyute is going to need extra hands rebuilding a little too, and even if none of you pick up a hammer or saw, the hunters are going to be overworked with protecting the lumber camps."
I nodded, but it was Raphtalia who spoke up for us, "We'll take extra good care of your work, and tell everyone who made it!"
Erhard nodded and administered some fatherly headpats to all of us, "Just come back alive. That's the best kind of advertisement! Wouldn't say no to a few more exotic materials, but only if you're all alive to bring them!"
As much as I didn't like this world, it was good to hear that Rule number One was the same here. If you get home alive, you win.
Even if most of the citizens were giving us 'the glare' (either because we were all demi-human, or because they were with me, the Shield Hero), we were all in pretty high spirits. Unless something really delayed us, we'd be in Riyute in time to get set up at the inn, before the eggs hatched. From there, we'd ask the Hunters for a good spot to either clear out for the 'civilians' to gather resources, or for information on monsters they couldn't deal with.
And if the two eggs were both 'duds' in regard to being able to pull a wagon, then we'd rent a wagon to someplace more 'dangerous'. All while avoiding this stupid city and the guards...
Speaking of delays and guards though...
"Halt!" Yes, we were at the southern gate, and yes, one of the guards had stepped in front of us and stopped us.
I sighed, hoping that the egg in the incubator I was holding would absorb the giggles I was letting out and become happier in my stead. "What do you want?" I asked flatly.
The guard who didn't stop us frowned at my tone, but I hoped the look on my face would tell him I'd make that look permanent if he did more than just frown. The one in front of me though didn't seem too off put by my reply, and just handed me a bit of paper. "Message for you sir."
I looked at the folded and wax (yes, red wax was apparently used in this world too... four for four worlds on that one too) sealed paper and turned it over in my hand. "Really..." I was surprised, and very curious about its contents now... "Message received." I said to the guard, "Thank you."
This guard actually clicked his heels together At Attention, then turned and went back to his post on the other side of the gate.
"Sir? What does that say?" Usa asked, looking over my shoulder at the paper.
"That's in the writing from the other hero's home world." I replied, "Apparently, the Sword Hero wants to tell me something." Because the words on the outside of the paper were in kanji, and said 'From Sword, to Shield.'
We walked out of the city, keeping to the side of the road to avoid the very occasional cart or other foot traffic. While we did, I opened the letter. Just as simple as the outside, the inside had the same neat kanji. The other three leaned in just a little closer, "I thought you were all from different worlds? Is it the same? How can you read it?" Raphtalia asked.
"I have a theory about why. But it's not important right now." I said, swishing at her with my tail to stop her from clinging to my shoulder in suspense, "It reads... Kodori-san. Itsuki and I left something in Riyute for you. You can pay us back with a lesson. Ren."
"It sounds a little suspicious..." Usa said, "But... they did speak up for you..."
"Well, I doubt either of them know how to make a bomb..." I sighed, "Anyhow, Clive, Raphtalia, keep an eye out for medicinal plants and little purple berries. Usa, listen for monsters. We're going to jog to Riyute."
The town was still quite a mess. But long before we got to town, we could hear the sounds of industry. Hammers, saws, people yelling, wagons and their attached beasts trundling around... It was a community rebuilding itself after a disaster.
It was good to hear, even better to see. Sure, the destruction itself was bad, but seeing the people rally like this reminded me of the good there was in this world. It also cemented the idea that the monarchy in this kingdom needed some... reworking...
But apparently, I was a little misguided in that as well...
"Sir? I hear heavy armour." Usa said as we got within sight of the chest high wall around Riyute. "Coming this way."
I sighed, (once again hoping my happiness would be absorbed by the egg in my hands), "Let's deal with this like civilized people. If they draw steel, we drag them to the hunter's lodge to sleep off their idiocy."
The four of us stopped as the knights got closer. Three in all, it had a... maybe... familiar face in the lead. Their armour was caked with dust and a bit of blood, so I knew they were actually working with the town, not 'standing around and collecting pay'.
"Sir... Isn't he..." Raphtalia started, "Oh, from the Wave?"
I tried to picture the one in front without a helmet, and just as I was getting a good idea of where I'd seen him last, the three of them stopped in front of us and snapped their heels together 'at attention'. "Sir Hero. It's good to see you here."
Click. The voice did it. "You're from the Wave, the guy who actually listened to me after I kicked that old twit." My hands were occupied with the egg, but I did give him a little bow.
He took off his helmet, also a 'standard' gesture of politeness across worlds, before speaking again. "I am Sir." He said with a nod. "While I was demoted for not defending my captain, the rest of my squad and I wanted to thank you for helping to protect the villagers and us."
Getting a good look at him, he didn't even look old enough to drink, let alone be a knight. But his face was honest, and his eyes held a certain pride. He was a soldier for the people, not politics.
So I handed Clive the incubator, and offered my hand to him. "Kodori. Pleased to meet you."
He did the same, passing his spear back to one of the others, and shook my hand, "Ake. The honour is mine."
His grip was respectful, and I felt myself smiling at just how plain faced he seemed. After we'd let go and recovered our burdens, (no Clive had not eaten the egg), I asked, "So what can I do for you?"
"My squad and I were hoping you could take us with you when the next Wave arrives." He replied without hesitation. "Others have been ordered to follow the other heroes, but we refused."
"We? How many in your squad?"
"Short dozen Sir."
"Hm." I considered that. If it meant the same in this world as it did in the others, that meant 'eleven'. Assuming ten plus Ake as the captain. But how could I get them around? Other knights followed the other heroes, so...
"Sir?" Ake seemed a little anxious, and my delay in reply wasn't helping.
"Sorry, just a moment." I half turned from him, my eyes sifting through the status screen. Under the party tab maybe? Aha! A help file that was actually helpful.
Sub parties can join the Heroes during a Wave. They will be teleported to the epicentre of the Wave with the Hero and their party.
"Seems like you can." I said with a nod to myself. "Can you form a party with your entire squad?"
"It's more efficient if we do so with groups of no more than six." He replied, "Does that change things?"
I looked away again into that middle distance, "I... Hmm, seems not? Though..." I seemed to have 'slots' for sub parties, but there was no indication I could see on how many I could have. But, more than one was all I needed for now. "I'll need to..." I looked at the help menu again, then back to him, "I'll need to talk to your other group leader, then I can have you both show up next time the wave hits."
He looked relieved, "Thank you sir!" The two behind him smiled as well, "Ah, when..."
"Forty three days." I said, "While you are helping here, I suggest training extra hard, and if you can, upgrade your equipment. Or at the very least, make sure it's well maintained." Something else occurred to me, "Ah... And while the Shield seems to be able to get you to where ever the Wave is, it doesn't say anything about getting you back."
He looked behind at his two fellows, then back to me and shrugged in the most unprofessional way, "The jog home will do us good."
I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Well, maybe make the twelfth member of your group a Filolial, and you can cart your way home after. Something to think about."
"Sound advice. Will you be staying in town?"
"Yes. My party and I need to settle in a little, then we'll be out again to help, and hunt monsters." I looked to the others, "We've got some catching up to do."
NOTES!
You'll see the new party mascots in the next chapter. :)
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