A Gamer's Guide 378

The four of them share a look. Have I mentioned that I’m terrible at lying? Or maybe that came across just now when I totally fumbled this interaction. Classic Lo Fennrick, can’t talk to save his life. Why the heck did Lett agree to come along? Maybe he enjoys watching a guy mess up everything he does? Yeah, that might be it. Garath, too. Always the same—

The swordswoman punches the man with the staff in the arm. “I told you there wasn’t any dragon!”

“Ow! I’m not the one who saw it, Ross! If you want to blame anyone, blame that old coot for looking too much at the sun.”

“An hour to get into my full gear and now I have to get out of it because that senile law-fetishist doesn’t have anything better to do than push around his employees,” the swordswoman—apparently named Ross—grumbles.

The spear guy watches them for a moment. “Well, looks like this was a complete waste of time! Time to head back and get chewed out for abandoning our posts.” He almost moves to put his hand on my shoulder, only to withdraw it at the last second. Good, because I’m not sure if it would have gone through this time. “Thanks for keeping it real, fish guy. We humans have to stick together, right?”

“Um…” I look down at Lett. With my wallet feeling lighter and lighter with each passing day, I guess this might be as good a moment as any. “If you don’t mind…” But what can I give in return? What do I have to repay them with? Hides, rats… Shoot. That’s all I have. Or maybe I can use my miracle somehow? Would that work? Ah yes if you help me out here I’ll use my divine powers as a god to maybe help you out if I feel like it. Yeah, great plan. 

He smiles and angles his head. “What is it?”

I clutch Lett tighter to me. Damn it. “My friend here is cold and hungry, so, if you don’t mind, could I please come along? A—assuming you’re going somewhere where there is warm food and a fireplace or something. But if not, then that’s totally okay. Sorry. I know this is a lot, it’s just…” And now I’m guilting them. Great going, me. Horrible, horrible.

“Are you serious?” His words make me twitch in sheer terror. This time, he not only tries, but also succeeds in putting his hand on my shoulder. Warm. “Absolutely!” He grins at me. “We’re heading back to the presiding judge’s place, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind it one bit!”

“He might mind it a little,” Ross mutters.

“But if he does, we’ll figure it out. No worries!” Smiling, he pats my shoulder. “Same planet, same blood. Right?”

“R—right. Thanks. I… I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it, fish guy. Wait, no, can’t keep calling you that. What’s your name, man?”

I tell them who I am, and they tell me who they are. The spear guy is called Lion, the guy with the staff is Gravy, and the quiet magician girl is Hum. As we walk together, I allow Gravy and Hum to hold and take care of Lett for a bit, casting spells to defend against cold alongside a few healing spells. Watching them, I can’t help but feel a little hollow inside. All the way back then, when I was picking my weapon for all this… Should I have gone with the staff? Maybe then I could have had abilities that weren’t designed to kill and maim, but to heal and calm. Now, all I have are my claws and teeth. 

…No, not anymore. I have more now. Although this whole god of hope business feels more like a bad dream than reality, it has still done good things. I saved Lett and I saved Garath in ways only I could. 

I have to hold that tight. I can do good for the world. Even if the good I can do is little and unimportant in the grand scheme, it’s still there. 

And, sometimes, that’s all you have.

Since the city entrance was pretty close to where we met, we don’t have much time to talk before we’re stopped for a general control. 

“You’re back awfully quick,” the one and only guard—a rather old gentleman—says.

“We happened upon an acquaintance who cleared up the whole thing. No dragon! Must be mass psychosis or something. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense; what kind of dragon would land this close to a city without attacking?”

“That’s logical, I suppose. And this is the acquaintance?” 

I give a curt bow. “It’s a pleasure,” I say, very diplomatically. I’m still wearing a shirt, right? Yeah, yeah. Good. Being courteous is important. Keeps people from searching your person and coming across things that tie you to a few events best forgotten. 

“Polite fellow. And the little one?”

“Sick,” Lion says. “He’s very cold, so we’re bringing him to the castle.”

The old guard smiles. “You’re a good kid, Lion. Best get going before the little one expires.”

“Thank you, sir.” Waving to him, we head into the city.

My first impression would have to be that it’s sparse. Rather than claustrophobic houses squeezed together in long rows, each house is allowed to breathe and exist on its own, which also means they can be appreciated for their individual designs. I do enjoy watching them, and it’s a breath of fresh air to see houses without the shutters all drawn. Smoke is billowing out of almost every chimney, and if I glance inside one of the houses, I can spot the people inside, doing their minute tasks, like cooking or weaving or playing or cobbling. Framed by icicles and frost, their everyday lives look almost magical. 

Despite the cold air, people are still out and about, expelling puffs of white air and pulling their overcoats and scarfs as close to them as they will get. Their hats, the tops covered in a fine layer of snow, produces a pretty intense contrast. Very cool.

Lion points a gloved finger at a castle, only barely visible above the rooftops. “The judge of Bramtown lives in that castle up there. There used to be a moat around it, but the town hasn’t seen wars in so many years that it’s all dried up. Nowadays, you’ll mostly just see kids playing down there like it’s a big park, hoping to find old helmets or rings that haven’t been scavenged yet. You’d think it was all gone by now, but the other day I spotted a group of scamps jimmy a vambrace out of the walls! The judge yelled at them for that one… He still let them keep the vambrace, though. Yeah, he’s not very good at being a big scary governor. He tries, but…”

“He doesn’t have the face for it,” Gravy says, finishing Lion’s trail of thought. “Knew it when I first saw him. Big old cuddlebear. Might try to scare you anyways, he still isn’t used to all this human business.”

“As long as he has charity for Lett, I don’t mind if he’s mean or otherwise.”

“Shouldn’t be an issue,” Ross says.

During all of this, I can’t help but notice that Hum has yet to say a single word aside from those of healing and warming. Which wouldn’t be strange in and of itself—I can be pretty quiet as well—but there’s something about the way she’s been looking at me that I find a bit worrying. Like she knows something the rest of them don’t. Something about me. 

…Of course, even if it is something bad, Lett is the priority here. Should something happen, things will be fine. I’ll be able to solve it and we’ll be able to leave, no issue.

At least, so I hope. 

A few minutes later, we arrive at the castle. It isn’t exactly massive or anything, but still large enough to be considered a castle, and the style is certainly to be appreciated. Spiralling towers, fine details here and there, statues lined across the rooftops… Yeah, that’s the good stuff. The primary entrance is a big stone bridge leading across the empty moat, though I can tell by the gate that there used to be a drawbridge here. One that apparently hasn’t been needed for many years, since the main gate is entirely open. Again, there’s only a single guard to halt our entrance, but he’s even less wary than the one at the city gate. All he does is look us up and down and then we’re good to go. Gee, if I was trying to do away with this place, it would not be hard. Not that I’d ever want to or anything. That’d be weird.

Let’s see, if I smell a little… It’s… pretty empty? I think I can smell thirty people in there at most, which is extremely few, all things considered. Maybe ten or fifteen servants at most? No children, either. This judge has failed to secure an heir to the throne. He is an embarrassment to the country and must be removed. 

<Even at this distance,
I can still hear you.>

I was kidding! What reason have I to mess with the Empire’s politics? None, that’s what. Anyways, how’re the legs? 

<Bad.>

Ah, I see. Keep in mind that the toes should be pointing outwards, not inwards. 

<Ah, yes, this is much easier.

You have my undying loyalty.>

Oh, you’re too much! Tee-hee! Then, I assume you’ve been hearing everything that’s going on?

<I could piece it together, yes.>

Right. I’m still not sure how you’ll fit into all of this, but I’m putting together a backstory for you in order to smoothly introduce you into this whole mess. At the moment, I’m leaning towards something like, Oh, and I forgot to mention, but I’ve got a buddy from Earth who is actually the first human to ever become a dragon, and also a former! Isn’t that awesome? Anyways be nice to him or he’ll eat you. How’s that?

<Not too shabby. Eating them 

might however be a bit inaccurate

to how I tend to handle those who

dare to be mean to me.>

Sure, but He’ll commit a worldwide genocide to your entire race wiping out a third and forever scarring the species is a bit of a mouthful, so I’m opting for the former one.

<If you say so.>

Oh, shoot, we’re entering the castle. I’ll talk to you later man, I need to be really nice and polite to this here judge guy.

<Have fortune.>

Thanks. I’ll need it.