Chapter 23: Travel Plans

Chapter 23: Travel Plans

Noah opened his eyes, finding a light headache pulsing against his head. It took him a second to shake the blur from his eyes, as he rose up. “I don’t like how this is becoming a thing,” he murmured, shaking the sheet resting on him off.

Rising to his feet, Noah looked around. The sun — or rather suns — were still high up in the sky, so most likely he hadn’t been unconscious for a very long time. Or I was knocked out for an entire day.

Trying not to dwell on the possibility, Noah reached out to his Astral script. A sharp pain formed in his head as he did, and he let the command go. Best to leave that alone for now.

Walking outside his room, Noah looked around for a bit, before making his way to Aurelia’s room. After a quick knock, the door opened.

“Finally awake?” Aurelia asked. She wore a light armour, and pants, with her belts strapped around her.

“It would seem so, unless this entire thing has been a dream. Then no, not yet,” Noah replied.

Aurelia turned sideways at the door, gesturing for him to come in, and Noah walked into the chamber.

The inside of Aurelia’s room looked a lot neater than his, and he wasn’t even particularly messy. The sheets were folded, and neatly tucked in, the plates were set on a side table and were cleaned enough to reflect his face, and the floor was practically shining in her room. All of this only made the single section of disorganisation in her room stand out even more.

Maps were scattered across her table, markers and pointers charting places in a disorganised mess that seemed to connect into one another.

“Sorry about the mess,” Aurelia said, quickly rushing past Noah to her table, as she began to sort the sheets of parchment.

“You’ve been working on something?” Noah asked.

“Trying to chart a path from here, make a best guess where the team that betrayed me might go, and where to go from there if I don’t find them in Windrest,” Aurelia replied.

“Sounds like you’ve been working hard.”

“Well, one of us has to.”

“Touché,” Noah replied. “Anyway, if you had a little time to spare, would you mind if I ask you some questions? About the sub-attributes.”

“I figured you would, so go ahead,” Aurelia replied, as she finished sorting all the maps into a neat pile, and placed them on the table.

“What are sub attributes? Unlike regular ones, they had no numbers, or anything. But... letters and ranks?”

“Right. We’ve not had a proper discussion on this, so I suppose this is about time. Do you know what your attributes are?”

“They’re stat points, right? I kill monsters, I gain levels and stat points, and thus become stronger?” Noah said.

“Stat points? I don’t know what that is, but no. Not quite. Attributes are a reflection of your current potential maximum in the four attributes of your Astral soul. Power, Constitution, Agility and Mystic. These are the four attributes that define your soul, and when you strengthen these attributes, you strengthen the capacity of your soul.”

“How’s that different from what I said?” Noah asked.

“Because strengthening attributes does not mean you immediately grow stronger. Imagine your soul has an ability to grow. It defines the potential you have, so when you strengthen an attribute, you’re increased that part of your soul,” Aurelia said, before taking out a sheet of parchment as she began to draw a diagram, before she showed it to Noah.

“Is that a rotten apple?” Noah asked with a frown.

“We’ll be taking the shorter path, then?” Noah asked.

“If you’re in a rush to die, then yes. I’m not, so I’ll be taking the longer path. The way cuts through a valley with a well-established trading route. Most we’ll have to worry about are bandits and wolves. Maybe a couple of dire-wolves, but that’s all. If we manage to find a caravan, we could offer to protect them in return for travelling with them as well,” Aurelia replied.

“We’ll get to Windrest in a week, and then I’ll go look for the team that betrayed me. You should go get registered. Tell them that you’re an outer-worlder, they’ll get someone to help you out regarding paperwork. But don’t spread the news around, obviously. Once you’re registered and evaluated, you can start taking quests. We’ll put in an official quest in for the Iron Fist, and gain information from the guild. In the meantime, you should go explore the city and try to get as many tomes as you can,” Aurelia replied.

“What about after that?” Noah asked.

“Well, if we find the Iron Fist, we get them locked up, I get my compensation, I split it with you, and then we go our separate ways,” Aurelia said, glancing at Noah. “Or you could come with me. I was planning to head to Heartilia. There’s some people I know there, good folks, I’ll get some money saved up, do some quests, before seeing where things take me beyond that.”

Noah nodded. “Aye aye captain! Whatever you think is best,” he said. Then a chime interrupted him.

New Quest obtained!

Quest: The City of Winds!

Reach Windrest with your adventuring companion safely.

Difficulty: Medium

Reward: Experience points.

A marker showed up on Noah’s mini map, pointing at Windrest in the distance. “And I’ve got a quest for it too, so this just made the trip official.”

“Good. We’ll leave in an hour then. The Mayor got us the horses while you took your nap, and I’ve made the preparations. Pack your... I guess you don’t have anything.”

“Yup. Empty handed, with an inventory full of junk and ready to leave,” Noah said.

“Let’s head out then,” Aurelia said, packing her things, and Noah followed along.

***

Their exit was almost as abrupt as their visit. They got their horses and mounted them, Noah taking a few minutes to adjust to the animal that didn’t seem very fond of him. Quite a few townsfolk had come to say thanks to the two of them for clearing out the mines, and more than a couple of them had been pointing at Noah’s obsidian colored arm peeking through his bandages. Noah saw the innkeeper, Lorian, in the distance as well and gave the man a wave before he noticed the woman whose son’s necklace he had. She stood with her daughter, looking at him.

Reaching out to his neck, Noah grabbed the necklace, displaying it to the woman. He mouthed the words “I’ll cherish it,” and the woman dipped her head in gratitude.

“We are just a small town, but the two of you have been a great help. Please, feel free to visit if your paths ever bring you this way. We’d be more than happy to welcome you,” the Mayor said.

Aurelia nodded and then tapped her horse. With a jerk, the horse began to move, and Noah’s horse followed as well.

“What a strange visit,” Noah said, glancing at his new hand, where Tony slept peacefully.

“It’s only just the beginning,” Aurelia said with a smile.

Noah nodded, feeling excited about his journey ahead. Indeed, this was only just the beginning.