Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (15 page)

Promising himself to thank Hannah later he couldn’t help but feel blessed in having met her. With a quick scan of the room he confirmed that all was still as it should be.Katarina moved around the area, patrolling it as if there might be a counter attack. Focused on her task of defending the team. Feeling more at ease he let himself return to the young lady.

The merchant had not taken her eyes from him and Runner had the impression she was unsure of what to do. A quick inspection confirmed that her status was free of negative effects. Letting go of her shoulder he took her hands in his own and then stood up, pulling her along for the ride.

“Upsa daisy little lady,” Runner said. Fearing that she might collapse he kept a tight hold of her hands. He waited for a few moments to see if she’d strike up a conversation, but in the end couldn’t wait any longer.

“Safe and sound, whole and healthy. My comrades and I have cleared the entire fort, nothing alive in the entire place except for us.”

Flinching at his words she tugged at her hand that was still locked in his own. Unwilling to let her go just yet in case she bolted or worse, he gripped her hand firmly. As his fingers pressed more firmly to hers he realized they didn’t fit quite right. Letting his view drop down he could finally understand her reaction to him holding onto her hands. Missing the first two fingers of her right hand he found his own hand engulfing the nubs. Brushing his thumb over one of the missing digits he rotated his hand over to get a better look. Pale puckered scars and long white tracks extended the length of her wrist. They continued all the way into her tunic’s the cuff of her tunic at her bicep.

“Interesting. Clearly unrelated to what happened here. Long healed from the looks of it. This, something like this wouldn’t happen normally. One can only assume it’s part of your back story,” Runner said thoughtlessly. Meeting her eyes with his own he grinned. “Surprise, you’re unique. Got a name that I can put to those pretty green eyes?”

“N-n-n-n…Nadine. Nadine Giselle. Traveling m-m-m-mer-merchant,” stuttered the woman. A warm timbre that was on the higher pitch side of the scale, but trapped behind a stutter. On closer inspection Runner was able to make out large amounts of scar tissue across her throat that reached up to her cheek. It ended abruptly under the eye socket, probably having struck the bone there. Most of her left ear was simply gone, missing. Putting it all together it would seem she had been savagely mauled by a beast in her youth.

Well, character creation.

“A true pleasure to meet you Nadine. I’m Runner, Runner Norwood. Those are my companions over yonder. Were you to arrange them by height, that is Katarina Saden, Hannah Anelie, and Thana Damalis. Fighter, Rogue, Sorceress, respectively. We were in the area simply to dispatch the Orc tribe here and collect all their belongings. You happened to be a pleasant bonus for us. You’ll need to excuse me, but I’m afraid I have things to attend to. Please,” Runner insisted, pulling her over to the throne and forcing her to sit in it. “Have a seat, make yourself comfortable. You’re welcome to accompany us when we leave here. We planned to head onwards to the next village to sell our ill gotten gains.”

Releasing her hand from it’s forced captivity he patted it gently with his fingertips. Nodding to her once more he went over to where the rest had gathered around the corpse of Wrinkles.

“Not wanting to add more troubles to your shoulders there, but we’ve got more fucking bad news. Or maybe good? Don’t know. It’s fucking weird regardless,” Hannah greeted him as he approached.

“I see. What’s the current issue? Or issues if more than one,” he asked.

Sighing Thana put her fingers to her brow as she took the explanation over. “The first problem is we couldn’t loot him. Now we have a second problem that is precluding the first one from being solved. Ahem,” Thana cleared her throat and her eyes fixed on nothing a few inches in front of her chest. “You have leveled up, would you like to assign attributes now?”

Like slamming into a brick wall, his train of thought came to a screeching halt. Runner could only look from Thana, to Katarina, and finally Hannah. Each watched him looking for his reaction as they all apparently could see the same system notification. Cupping his chin in his hand he lowered his head and thought hurriedly.

Technically speaking, this was all completely impossible. NPCs didn’t level up, they remained as they were. Plans had been drawn up for the eventuality of the day he’d have to leave them behind. It’d be due to the level differential and he’d be forced to find new companions. NPCs were tools, made to be utilized and set aside, without regard to their longevity. There were outliers to this of course, household NPCs one would keep in their homestead for altogether different reasons.

Yet here I am, surprised once again. When I thought I’d seen how deep the rabbit hole goes, I find I’m nowhere near the bottom. The system had changed itself, again. Now it’s pushing NPCs deeper and deeper into a PC role. More and more human.

Clapping his hands together, he made his decision. “So be it. You’ve discovered the secret to this world. This is a much larger and very long conversation, but for now I need you to memorize the following. Character, Inventory, Quest, Party, Skills, and Map. As an example, say Character inside your head, in a very similar way to what we did earlier. Another floating box will appear. You’ll see yourself, numbers, and information. This is how the world views you. Should you have a question, place your finger over the area and think, ‘Help’. You’ll receive yet another floating box with more information. To close them, simply hit the little X in the top right. This isn’t permanent and can be recalled or dismissed whenever you wish. Whatever you do, do not accept the level up invitation. Decline it for now. We’ll pull it back up later in your Character window. Your homework is to read over all the information in your Character, Skills, and Inventory as we make our way to the next town. We’ll get a room when we get there and discuss what to do next. Please save your questions for then, I promise I’ll answer them all as best as I can. Now, for Lord Wrinkles of the rotting meat clan.”

Runner put out his hand and called up the Loot window. Sure enough, there were a few uncommon items, a rare, and a unique, on the corpse. Since Runner disabled party rights they were unable to loot the body.

Two gold pieces immediately went into his pouch, bringing his total wealth up to a staggering five gold pieces. He’d have to convert all the copper and silver they’d collect into higher denominations, then sell all their loot, but he expected his little fortune to grow.

There was a heater shield that added additional block and armor, a piece of parchment that he’d need to read over later, a silver ring that increased Stealth ability, a second ring made of platinum that provided a bonus to all items sold, and a short sword appropriate for the level range with a small bonus to damage. Putting them to one side of his inventory he pulled up the rare item. It was another ring, one made of white gold that provided the wearer additional strength to the wearer. Finally the unique item’s turn came and he inspected it eagerly. Once again it was a ring, a palladium circle formed into a simple band. Analyzing it he found that it added points to Intelligence but also provided a large amount of hit points.

A frown creased his brow as he considered the four rings.

This is too much. Too convenient. Unless my lack of a class is breaking even the loot system, than something else is going on here. I mean, awesome haul, but really?

Deciding to thank whatever God or Goddess of loot proclaimed him the winner of the loot lottery, he moved on. With a plan for all of the items he stowed them separately from the rest of the loot they’d taken and looked to his companions.

“Time to vacate. We’ve done our business, though I’m afraid we’ll need to leave the Skulls for later. They’re quite heavy and we’re loaded down with weapons and armor. I’m not aware of the local area outside of a very generalized idea. I know I need to get to the island to the east, but not the fastest way to port. Or which port will offer the fastest crossing. Now comes a time of choice, which road will get us to a coastal town the fastest?”

Silence was the answer to his question. Each of his companions was not a local to the area, or had even visited it until whatever brought them here. Realizing his error Runner relegated himself to the idea that he’d simply have to travel the road and hope for a town.

“N-n-north east by north. It’s a central t-t-trading town. I frequen-n-n-nt them often when I pass through. For a com-m-m-mission I’ll sell your wares. I’ll get a better price tha-n-n-n you will,” Nadine interjected confidently. She’d walked up during the conversation unnoticed.

“Aren’t you the trooper. Say five percent commission, but you guide us all the way to a port town,” Runner offered.

“T-t-ten percent. Trooper? No, com-m-m-mon sense. Can’t stop no m-m-matter what happens. You have t-t-t-to dem-m-m-mand your due. Final offer,” Nadine countered. A grin blossomed on her face. Runner couldn’t help but laugh while adjusting his perception of her entirely. Attitudes like that moved mountains. Not everyone would be able to overcome their lot in life and bounce back this capably.

Standing no taller and no shorter than himself. One could consider pretty if they could move past the scars and disfigurement. She held herself upright and confidently, her figure fairly average and presenting nothing out of the ordinary. Tanned skin from days walking the roads she wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. Straight blonde hair and green eyes felt out of step when paired to the background cruelly written for her.

“Done, on the condition that you allow me to be present when you make your sales. It isn’t that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust those you’ll do business with.”

Runner held out his hand to her, his eyes daring her to deny him the informally formal way of sealing agreements.

Hesitantly she held out a trembling hand. Before she had time to change her mind Runner reached out and took it in his own. Firmly squeezing it he smiled at her.

“How would you feel about accompanying a traveling band of blood thirsty mercenaries? Pay starts at four copper a day, food, room and board, will be paid for you. You receive eight up front, four for today, four for your last day. You’ll earn two percent commission beyond this first sale for all future sales. Though I do value your courage and tenacity, no beetles for you. They might be up for negotiable down the road, but for now you’ll have to look on with envy as Kitten and I enjoy them.”

Possibly sensing that he couldn’t or wouldn’t offer her more she delayed only a fraction of a second before nodding her head. “I accept. Uhm, bee-t-t-t-tles? Who’s Kitten? Katari-n-n-na? N-n-not very clever of you.”

Laughing he could only agree. It really wasn’t that clever at all. Runner could only shrug and reached out to pat her hand with his left even as he clenched it in his right, preventing her from pulling away.

“No, I’m not very clever at all.”

They’d been traveling the road for a few hours in the dark of the night. Nadine assured everyone that they’d reach the next town just before daybreak. Traveling by night didn’t sound the most pleasant of experiences but reaching town rather than camping did.

Katarina walked point position, Runner took the middle with Nadine and Thana, with Hannah pulled rear guard duty. They’d made idle chit chat but nothing in depth or ground breaking. In truth the entire group was still feeling each other out.

Fingers brushing over his chin, Runner figured this to be an opportune time to try and work a few of the hiccups out of the party. He looked back to Hannah and threw a thumb towards the road ahead. She nodded her head in confirmation to his unspoken signal. Then he tipped his head to Thana and Nadine and jogged to catch up with Katarina.

“Come along Kitten, let’s do a recon up ahead a bit. Stretch those long legs of yours,” Runner called back over his shoulder to her even as he passed her.

You didn’t need to be a psychic to know Katarina would take him up on the unspoken challenge. Runner knew there was no contest in this, she simply had better synergy between her stats, passive abilities, and traits than he did. It didn’t make it any less thrilling to compete with her though. Losing didn’t remove the enjoyment of a contest.

Katarina came parallel with him swifter than he anticipated. She didn’t overtake him but ran alongside him companionably. Catching her eyes with his own he grinned at her, receiving her smile in return, and they jogged along in silence.

In time, Runner let his pace deteriorate, eventually coming to a complete stop. He felt like they’d gone too far already but there was an appeal to running in the dark. A slight quickening of the blood as shadows danced along at the edges of your vision.

He glanced back down the way they came. The rest of the group was now too far back to be seen in the dark. Runner turned back to Katarina and faced her directly.

“Can’t say I’m surprised that you caught me so easily,” Runner complimented her. Pulling a beetle free from his inventory he looked askance of her to see if she’d like one. Still smiling she inclined her head towards him in acceptance. Katarina clearly enjoyed competition as much as she did battle.

Handing her two beetles he began chewing on the first one for himself. Looking around at the roadway and the surroundings he was struck by the fact that the world truly was gorgeous. Nothing like this had existed on Sovereign Earth in a long time.