-Callen-

  I blink blankly at Sis’s comment. The idea that I had spent an entire week in meditation was hard to comprehend. I looked back down at my body but couldn’t notice any immediate signs of starvation. By every means I could use, my body seemed perfectly fine.

  “I did try to wake you up, but eventually I settled for occasionally checking your condition to see if there was any deterioration. Was it something the sword did, or were you just holding it with your eyes closed the whole time?” Callia pressed for answers that didn’t immediately come to mind. However, after some thought, I remembered how dilated time seemed to get when I communed with Nightshade. Maybe harmonizing with other creatures includes altering my perception of time to match theirs. So it wasn’t just time passing quickly while I meditated but my mind calibrating to reality from the perception of a plant.

  I briefly shared my findings and speculations with Sis while we went to inform the others. Despite having stuffed myself with food, I was already starting to get hungry again. I chatted with the others, catching up on everything I missed in between the meditation. The ship had passed relatively peacefully with a brief stop in the capital of our territory, the city of Harlanou. Apparently it wasn’t particularly impressive other than an impressive colosseum and extensive population. If I thought crime had been a problem in Nox, Harlanou was a whole different level, with Callia having to punt three different pickpockets and breaking the legs of one person who tried to stab Hew. However, the biggest news was that Sis had tracked Freema to a massive castle built on the edge of the city.

  I think it was likely more lucky than unlucky that Callia didn’t have time to try infiltrating. From what I heard, it didn’t sound like the type of lord who would be merciful to an intruder. Other than that day-long stop, our voyage has been unmolested by any trouble that the merchant's security team couldn’t handle. Paul and Philip were surprised by how peaceful the journey had been, almost to the point of feeling anxious. As the updates finished, a voice echoed from above.

  “Passengers, pack up your goods; we'll be docking in Rax momentarily.” The others left to gather their travel gear, and we made our way up to the deck. I looked out towards the far side of the river, but the far side was so far I couldn’t make out any sign of it. I struggled to comprehend just how much water needed to pour in to make such a colossal and fast river flowing nonstop. I turned around to get my first view of the city, and it was unlike any I had seen in the north.

  The wall was a measly fifteen feet, forming a long line that stretched out around a central castle. Unlike Nox City, where the majority lived inside the innermost walls, this castle was clearly designed without sheltering humans from monsters in mind. What it lacked in height and area it made up for in towers with various siege weapons mounted and aimed upward. A thorough deterrence to flying monsters, but I struggled to accept that the outer wall was sufficient to stop any serious monster.

  Still, I disembarked with the others, and another major difference became apparent. Everyone in our group stood nearly a foot taller than the local humans. While there were some taller people among the crowd, our group stood out like a sore thumb. I tried to reconcile the people I saw with humans in my memories, but at some point my perception of normal size must’ve been skewed. Our group awkwardly shuffled our way through the crowd trying to make it to the eastern gate.

  Most people didn’t pay us much attention, but as we got deeper into the city, I noticed on occasion children would point us out while trying to get their parents’ or friends’ attention. We were definitely a spectacle for the local population. Finally we made it to the gate, and I couldn’t understand why the man guarding the gate just ignored everyone passing through while being more interested in chewing on a stick.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Still nobody challenged us, and there was no restriction on entry or exit, so we left without issue. Hitting the road again should’ve felt familiar, but the lack of monsters trying to attack was a stark contrast to everything I knew. On my side, Hew started chuckling as he observed Sis and I trying to comprehend what was going on.

  “Welcome to the heartlands of humanity. Safest place on earth for humans. The land where you can walk from one city to another without hiring an extensive escort!” Hew flourished his travel cloak as he presented the path ahead. “Now don’t ask too many questions. This is only the second time in my life I’ve been here. I think I heard previously that humans swept the whole region between the Great River and the smaller rivers from the Glassy Shallows. Only a small game is still around, which is enough to give locals like that gate guard a step up over civilians, but by our standards a guard here is the same as a civilian. Don’t mistake that for thinking nobody here is high level. I'm not sure of the specifics, but the number of knights per city is similar to home.”

  Looking up to the peaceful sky, I relaxed a bit and let myself enjoy the sun. With no interference and straight, smooth roads, we would likely be able to make it to the capital before sundown. I close my eyes while letting my hearing keep me in step with the others when the sharp thwip of an arrow flying out catches my attention.

  “Careful, Cal, just because there is only small game in the area doesn’t mean the small game doesn’t want to bite.” Sis pointed out a rat that was waiting on the side of the road. Almost forgot that while travelling was safe for everyone else, we still had to live with the difficulty cranked up. Though I don’t know why Sis felt the need to warn me since she eagerly dealt with any rodent that dared show anywhere near the path. She even felt bored enough to try doing trick shots.

  My favorite was her firing one arrow slower than the follow-up so that they collided and bounced into two targets. I even gave her a polite golf clap. About halfway to the capital I saw something I never thought I would see in this life. A farmer working out in an open field. I gave the man a friendly wave, excited by the novelty of it, but he just spat in my direction and shouted at me to fuck off. I just blinked and lowered my hand slowly while Sis burst into giggles, devolving into full-blown laughter.

  Ok, maybe I should just leave the farmers to their work. I sent a small spark to jolt Callia in retaliation but missed as she twisted out of the way. With a sigh I accept that the days of catching Sis off guard with simple attacks may be gone forever. I should’ve spent more time counter-pranking her instead of all the time digging into books and experimenting.

  Along the road as we got closer to the city, we passed a farmer pulling a cart of goods down the road. I glanced at her as we passed, but the moment she saw us, she jumped from her cart and ran off screaming.

  “Is there something wrong with me?” Callia, however, already had her eyes locked down the path. Three men similar in size to us approached.

  “Hey fellow big’uns. Are you northern or southern?” His tone was amicable, but even I could tell that he wasn’t the type we would get along with.

  “If you’re asking where we’re from, it’s the north. We just arrived by boat from Nox City earlier today.” The man seemed excited by my response, and his companions shared that response.

  “Welcome to the South! Land of easy prey and assholes! Which do you want to be, prey or asshole? My mates don’t mind making space for some new friends from the north.” I looked at Sis and Hew to see if they understood any better than I, but from the way Sis tightened her grip on her dagger, I got the message. Bandits or bandit wannabes who had some kind of a grudge against locals.

  Return to the Duke

  Lilia walked up the steps to her father’s castle. When she left, she had been angry and resistant, but now she had nowhere else to go. Freema looking between the castle and her energetically didn’t improve her mood at all. She reached into her pocket and clutched the vial of blood. Its presence had caused her skin to break out in a rash, but she couldn’t leave it behind. The gate opened as she approached without her prompting or request. A familiar butler greeted her by someone else's name and guided her and Freema to her father's study.

  A familiar sense of oppression from an apex predator settled over her and even seemed to quiet the shadow in her mind.

  “I see you have returned. I take it this is the one you’ve chosen for your mission?” I give a firm nod and reply in a disciplined tone.

  “Yes, Father,” He looked at Freema skeptically but accepted my choice.

  “We’ll have her tested to prove her worth. In the meantime, your return means it is time to begin. Butler, send out my orders to every city and town in my domain. They are commanded to send all children between the ages of 10 and 15. Have a knight sent to each city to escort the valuable children, and have weapons sent to the towns so that they can earn a place in the future by the blood of their enemies.” The butler disappears quickly to accomplish his task, and I open my mouth to speak, but Father speaks first. “My heir, go wash yourself. I smell something both delicious and rotten; it's distracting me. I’ll assemble tutors for the final phase of your education while your army is assembled.”

  https://www.patreon.com/cw/PortTownMage_Chylore