Beginning the Job

Okay, let me see… Gato thought as he wandered around the area outside of Alfheimwood. I do not know what sort of material I need to go get for making a suit of armor for Count Conrad, but I will find out what it is I need to get. Where is the nearest source of this material that evades the Count and his insight?

He had to think hard on this subject. After all, it wasn’t quite what he was most familiar with, no matter what he thought about it normally.

I think I need a break from running around all day long, he thought, sitting down on a tree stump. Where am I supposed to find this material that is worth its weight in armor? This is getting ridiculous faster than a dragon flying.

At that, he pulled the apple out of his pocket, taking a bite out of it. I need to stay at my best for the time being. I cannot give up soon now, can I?

“A copper piece for your thoughts?”

Who said that?

Gato turned around to find who spoke to him. It was as if the person was invisible, or even a ghost.

“Hey, kid, you are looking the wrong way. Look up.”

Look up?

Gato turned his attention upward. “A fairy?”

“Close, kid. I am a pixie,” the speaker said. The speaker didn’t look like anything Gato had ever seen in his entire life so far. For starters, a ball of floating light shrouded the being with its brightness. He couldn’t make out any details about what the person looked like out of that. “Fairies are about half again as tall as pixies.”

Gato nodded dumbly. “That would explain it.”

“So, kid,” the pixie said. “May I give you a copper piece for your thoughts?”

“Where does that expression even come from?” Gato asked.

“It comes from the fact that thoughts are cheap, and the most expensive amount of coin for them is the cheapest one around. I do not have any cheaper coinage on me, so you will have to make do with the coin I give you.” The pixie floated down to be level with Gato’s face. “So… what thoughts do you have to share with little old me?”

Gato opened his mouth, but left it open as he thought of what he had to say. “I doubt you would believe me about what I have to say,” he said.

“Try me.”

“Eh?”

“I said that you should try me,” the pixie said. “After all, you cannot be sure that I would not believe you without saying what you need to say.”

So Gato shared what he could about the subject. He shared his duty that he needed to fulfill to the Count, which was most of what he wanted, and a bit about the situation that lead up to it, primarily from that very morning.

When Gato had finished speaking for a few seconds, the pixie asked, “And?”

“What do you mean?”

“What was the reason for you being able to beat those bandits at your family’s farm this morning?”

Gato felt a throbbing in his forehead when he heard that. “This is where I’m sure you’ll laugh at me for even saying it, so I won’t.”

“Actually, you’ll say it if you want me to direct you on your way to where you need to go.”

Gato’s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull when the pixie finished that statement. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, I’m not, kid. I’d rather not be doing that to you if I can help it.”

Gato sighed. “Fine, fine, you win. It had to do with this voice that slowed time for most everyone else to a crawl, or so I understand it, and told me that using magic is not a sin.”

The pixie was silent for a few seconds after, before floating down to Gato’s face. “Trust me, I get what you mean, kid. Magic has been decreed a sin by so many people in the upper echelons of human society for so long it’s not even funny. However, let’s just say that magic is not as malevolent as you’ve been told it is.”

“Wait, what?”

“As an example, most of the so-called saints of your lands are actually magic users who disguised their power to that degree. There’s one veritable saint in your land, but he’s not talking about it yet, so I have to do it for him. In his case, he’s literally a child who was blessed by a True Divinity named Lord ΑΩ.”

“Who?”

“Wait, they literally slandered his name to where he’s no longer being taught about? Those upstart Nature Spirits need to give it a rest!”

“Er…”

“Oh, right, I need to give you your information. First off, Lord ΑΩ is someone you’ll learn about later, don’t worry. Next, to find the scales that you need, head over to the snake farm. You’ll get the next step from there.”

“Thank you…?”

“You’re welcome. Now, I need to get going, kid. I’ll see you later!” With that, the pixie flew away from where Gato sat.

What was that all about? Do I even go to the snake farm in town? I mean, whose idea of a joke is this?

He took a few more bites out of his apple, as if that would be a good delaying tactic to keep the information out of his head. Admittedly, he was still more than a little peckish, but he didn’t know how to stop the hunger pangs from coming right on back.

I wonder what I have to do in order to fix up this situation that is my life right now? Anything that I can think of? I mean, who am I supposed to go see in order to take care of the materials I need to make armor for the Count?

As he continued to think, he thought back to what the pixie had told him. The thought of going to the local snake farm was not one he wanted to have carelessly, especially since he lost his baby brother the day after he last visited the farm in question.

Has it really been ten years since I lost Rex? What’s preventing everyone from remembering him, anyway?

He sighed, before his thoughts circled around back to the words of the pixie from earlier. Stay away from the snake farm? Or go so he can get directed elsewhere?

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll go, all right.

With that, Gato finished eating his apple before he got up and tossed the apple core, walking over to his next stop. His next stop was at the local snake farm in the land. He didn’t want to disappoint the Count over this issue at all.

Here’s hoping it’s still where I remember it being last…

O=====||===============================>

On his way to the snake farm, Gato paused as he heard the bubbling of a creek. Boy, am I thirsty…

As he neared the creek, another box appeared in his field of vision. What the—NOT again!

[^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^, ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^.]

Can’t you be bothered to verbalize what it says in the box?!

He sighed after a few moments before he walked over to the creek. He really needed that drink.

As he got closer, however, he noticed that the normal animal noises were nowhere near the creek in question, which made him pause when he got to it. What the… where are all the animals? I thought they’d love to drink from creeks like this one?

He shrugged after a bit, before he kneeled down to get some of the water. He was about to scoop the water into his hand when he saw another box enter his vision.

[^^^^^^^^ ^^^^!]

NOW what?!

“Hey, boy! What do you think you’re doing?! Step away from the creek now!”

Gato turned his head to see who was speaking to him. It was a rugged lumberjack, one who had a lot of facial hair and bulging muscles. His dark brown, almost black, hair was a mess, but his green eyes were clear as crystal.

This doesn’t look good… “Can I help you?”

“Can you help—I’m trying to save your life! The water in that creek is poisoned!”

Gato stood up in such a hurry, he almost fell into the creek. “Are you kidding me?!”

“No, I’m not, boy. I saw my buddy die from drinking the water in that creek.”

Well, drat… so much for drinking from the creek. What am I supposed to do now?

The lumberjack walked over to Gato and gave him a flask. “Here, some clean water for you to drink from, kid.”

“Oh, thanks,” Gato said, taking the flask of water and opening it. As he drank the liquid inside the flask, he noticed it was, without a doubt, clean water.

Wow… who would have thought that the water issue would have gotten me into trouble if I didn’t accept the water that was given to me even a moment ago? I don’t know if I would have died, but it’s better not to worry about it now, right?

[^^^^^^’^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^.]

Hold up, what sort of nonsense is this new box talking about now?! I’m beyond confused by what is going on around here, you idiot boxes!

“Now, kid, what are you doing in this part of the forest?”

“Huh?”

The lumberjack took his flask back from Gato as he said, “I mean, this part of the forest is off-limits for the normal population. Only specially permitted lumberjacks may be here.”

“Oh, brother…” Gato shook his head. “I didn’t know that, nor was I able to see any signs that might have given me that sort of information. Well, not like I can read to save my life, anyway…”

“That’s not good, kid,” the lumberjack said. “I think you need to get an education, if only to allow you to survive in the world.”

“My family never had me prioritized to get an education,” Gato said. “Trust me, it’s impossible at this rate, since I’m the current youngest in the family.”

The lumberjack pinched the bridge of his nose briefly. “What do you want me to do for you with this information that you just provided me?”

“I dunno,” Gato said, shrugging. “I wish I knew the answer to that.”

“You and me, both,” the lumberjack said. “Frankly, this is getting to be rather confusing. There’s absolutely no way that this will end well at this rate.”

Uh-oh… what am I supposed to do? “Sir, what do you mean?” Gato asked.

“What I mean is, there’s no time for this sort of talk when it won’t mean a thing,” the lumberjack said, walking over to a nearby tree and picking up his axe. “Maybe we should settle for getting you employed to be a lumberjack, like I am.”

Gato blinked for a few seconds. What in the world? Am I really being offered a job? I have to find out why, in all fairness, but still…

“Are you okay, kid? It’s as if you’re confused about what sort of requirements you need to fulfill for the job in question.”

Gato put a hand to his chin, lowering his head in thought. What to do, what to do… do I really need a job with the lumberjacks in this part of the woods? I mean, it could be a good fall-back job, regardless. Who knows what the Count is thinking of about this? I don’t…

“Maybe I should tell you the requirements for the job before you decide, kid,” the lumberjack said. “You’ll need to improve your upper body strength, while making sure you can get out of the way of a falling tree. Trust me, the requirements here are needed and imperative for survival in this job.”

Hmm… maybe that would be a good job for me, or maybe not. What am I supposed to do to decide this for myself, anyway? Oh, wait, hold on just a second.

“So, kid, do you want to take this job up?”

Gato turned to face the lumberjack before he sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’m actually on an assignment by Count Conrad Engelsen of Lavendash County to help him with something.”

“Wait, say what about an assignment for the Count of Lavendash? What’s the assignment supposed to be?”

Gato saw the lumberjack pale at what he said, sweat dripping down the man’s face. What sort of history do they have with each other? “I’m just going to get scales for the Count.”

“What sort of scales were you told to get for him?”

“He didn’t specify, actually.”

With that, the lumberjack sagged in what Gato could only guess was relief. “Well, don’t let me hold you up, kid.”

Gato nodded. “Well, I’ll be leaving this part of the forest now… wait, hold up.” He turned his body to his left and to his right. “Which way is it to the road from here?”

“The road is three hundred paces behind you, kid. You can’t miss the road, no matter how you try to.”

Gato inclined his head slightly. “Thank you for the information, my good man. I’d best be off, now.”

“Take care of yourself, kid,” the lumberjack said as Gato turned around to head on his way out of the forest.

Gato turned his head to look behind him. “I plan to. Have a good day to you as well.” With that, he walked on his way.

I hope that this is going to end well for me from here on.

O=====||===============================>

“So, that blasted Count of Lavendash doesn’t know where I am, does he?” the lumberjack asked out loud. “Who would have thought I would run into one of his errand boys here, of all places?”

He shrugged, before he opened his flask that he had given the kid. Still, I have to wonder what was with his tight lips that act as if he hadn’t been given a truth potion. I mean, he drank enough for a kid his age to be dosed, but where did the effect for it go?

“Oak, report.”

The lumberjack stared into the flask as he spoke. “The Count of Lavendash is in the area, and he has a strange errand boy.”

The man he reported to was silent for a bit.

“There’s also a strange circumstance I have to ask about, boss.”

“Fire away.”

“Is it possible for someone to be immune to the potion in this flask?” He looked up and turned behind him to face his boss.

The boss was a rugged man with dark red hair and a single blue eye, his right eye socket covered by an eyepatch. He wore loose armor that barely fit him, as if his stature were too small for the material covering him, and all of it made of leather.

“That should be impossible, Oak,” the boss said. “I’m telling you the truth. The people who can create an instantaneous immunity are not in the area, and I checked that already.”

“Still…”

“Are you sure that there’s someone with an immunity in the area?”

The lumberjack sighed. “Even though the Count of Lavendash doesn’t know where I am right now, I’m unsure if he hired an errand boy in the immediate area or brought one of his own.”

“I see. Keep me appraised, Oak, so that we can stop the Count from coming after you. We don’t want to lose you to the Nobility of the land. You’re a valuable member of our group, I hope you realize.” The boss pulled out a longsword from his belt, scabbard and all. “Here, for your strong duty to the group.”

The lumberjack gaped. “Boss, are you sure?”

“I’m more than sure.” The boss walked over to the lumberjack and fitted the longsword and its scabbard into the man’s belt. “Now, be prepared for further instructions as time goes on. We still need you to be seen separately from the rest of us, since we’re not going incognito.”

The lumberjack nodded. “Of course, sir, I truly understand this.” He walked over to his ax, which was leaning against a tree in the immediate area—

“I’m afraid you won’t be a lumberjack any longer, Oak.”

The lumberjack looked at his boss. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you now have a new assignment. There are a pair of bandits from another group that need to be erased, given that they’re in the town guard’s custody. Their boss is trying to curry favor with a specific nobleman, even if said nobleman won’t be able to help them out of this mess. Your assignment is to kill these bandits, or at least make it impossible for them to sell us all out.”

The lumberjack looked at his ax, then looked at his boss. He made his choice. “Yes, sir, I understand.”

O=====||===============================>

Sheesh, what happened to the road being three hundred paces away from there? Gato thought, even as he tried to keep track of how many paces he walked. This is getting ridiculous!

He sighed as he walked over to where he thought the road would be, at least based on the instructions he received. How am I supposed to find the road from here?

“Ah, kid, there you are.”

Gato looked around to see who spoke, only to look up. Oh, great, just my luck… he thought. It’s the pixie.

“I’ve been waiting for you to show up here for quite a while now. I hope you realize that a fey’s patience is mercurial at the best of times,” the pixie from earlier said.

Gato sighed. “No, I didn’t know that. I wish I knew, though.”

The pixie made a sound of giving Gato a raspberry. “Now I’m seriously considering keeping this info away from you.”

“Wait, what info?”

“I mean, you drank tainted water earlier today, and yet you didn’t get affected by it.”

Gato raised an eyebrow. “You mean the lumberjack from earlier gave me water from the creek?”

“Uh, no, he didn’t. He gave you water mixed with a truth potion.”

“Water mixed with a truth what?!”

“Yep,” the pixie said, popping the ‘p’ and floating towards Gato’s level. “Now, do you understand what’s going on here?”

“I think I do.”

“Good thing. Now, I need you to continue walking straight.”

Huh? Continue walking straight?

“What I mean is, your way forward and to the snake farm is straight ahead of you, which will help you with finding the road from here. There aren’t any trees in between you and the road, though it’ll take a bit of walking to get there.”

Gato looked past the pixie and gaped. True to the pixie’s words, the road was visible from where he was standing in the forest. It was as if by magic the path was cleared for him to go down… or was it?

“Where did the path come from?” he asked.

“Uh, it was always there, kid.”

Gato gave the pixie a flat stare. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely sure. Now, kid, you’d better be going on down to the road. I’m not able to leave the forest at any point, but I will make sure you stay safe while you’re here.”

Gato sighed. Well, not like I have any say in how this will go, do I?

“Are you okay, kid?”

“Peachy, peachy,” Gato said. “I’ll be on my way now, just so you know.”

As Gato walked on his way to the road past the forest, he heard the pixie call after him. “Just so you know, there’s a threat that wants to take you out for some insane reason, and they’re completely wrong about how it works.”

Hold up, what’s going on?

Gato turned to face the pixie, only for the fey to be conspicuously absent suddenly. He scratched the top of his head. “That’s odd… where did the pixie go?”

Shrugging, he walked on over to the road from there. That it was a clear route from where he stood to the road was impressive for him. He didn’t want to miss on this opportunity.

Still, what did the pixie mean earlier, anyway?