Today's Earth date: December 13, 1991

The Cuts are awful. Wearing armor in this heat with this humidity… It feels like wearing a parka in the middle of July. I would take the armor off, but then I could get sliced to shreds by coral or stabbed by the psycho goblins that make their homes down here.

We hired a guide to help us find Horcus' trail, and we think we have. The eviscerated bodies of goblins and giant snakes made that easier, and so far, it looks like he went toward the Earth Temple. The actual Temple is days away from Vientuls, so hopefully he didn't go far.

-The Journal of Laszlo the Paladin

A young, portly fellow with thinning brown hair leaned over six cuffs forged from gleaming silver. He held a jeweler's monocle up with one hand while his other hand rested on a crystal ball off to the side of the bracelets. Colored smoke formed and swirled and shifted in the ball as he went from bracelet to bracelet.

Wayne and Fergus watched with their arms crossed.

"You're certain of the class distinctions for each?" the enchanter asked.

Wayne said he was. His Diary told him that each cuff corresponded to one of the classes of the Chosen Heroes.

The man stood, removed the monocle, but continued to study the jewelry in front of him. "They aren't cursed. Of that I am certain. Would you like me to write down my assessment for each?"

"I can remember," Wayne answered. He opened a blank document on his HUD and prepared to mentally type.

When the enchanter finished his explanation, Wayne had written the following:

Boon for the Chosen Cleric - +10% bonus to all healing and buffing spells

Boon for the Chosen Fighter - +10% bonus to all melee damage

Boon for the Chosen Paladin - +10% bonus to all Holy spells and abilities

Boon for the Chosen Ranger - +10% bonus to damage dealt with a bow

Boon for the Chosen Rogue - +10% bonus to damage dealt with Backstab

Boon for the Chosen Wizard - +10% bonus to total mana pool

Margo could already use the daggers designated for the Chosen Rogue, which reminded Wayne that they weren't taking advantage of her already outlandish Backstab damage. If she could equip this boon as well, it would be even more wasteful not to build Backstab into more of their tactics.

Perhaps she could also wear the Ranger cuff to get the bow bonus as well?

They would divvy up the loot later. The party still had one item to analyze. Wayne set the round stone token they found alongside the boons on the table. He was curious what an expert would have to say about what the system described as an "Water Sigil."

The enchanter looked at it intently, his hand again on the crystal ball. As he inspected the surface, nothing changed in the ball. No smoke. No colors. It looked as benign as a crystal ball Wayne would expect to find in an Earth tourist trap.

"It's a rock," the enchanter said.

"Is that all?" Fergus asked.

"It's a carved rock."

Fergus scowled. "Thank you for the clarification."

"Certainly."

When Wayne and Fergus were outside on the street again, Fergus asked, "What's next?"

"I think some of the group are taking Vanilli to watch some dancers. Hector's idea. Not sure what everyone else is doing, though."

"Hector is a wonderful lad. I love that he assumes Vanilli would have as much interest in a woman's body as he does."

Wayne laughed. "I'm glad that they've taken a liking to him. I was worried they wouldn't get along."

"He's been an excellent addition. Sammy, especially, enjoys his company I think. Waiting at the wagon alone must have been frightfully dull."

"I wish to God he'd change his disguise, though."

"Why?"

"It would take me a while to explain the Milli Vanilli saga," Wayne said, "and even then, I'm not sure you could fully appreciate how odd it is to have a member of the duo handing you your food."

"I think he looks quite handsome."

"I don't disagree. I guess it's like if he had taken the face of a famous scholar you read about and only saw represented by illustrations. It's like he's two people, the one you read about and our Vanilli."

Fergus pointed to a bakery up the street. Wayne followed his friend toward the smell of fresh-baked bread.

"Could all of this Vanilli talk really be about your tryst with Sheeri?" Fergus asked.

"Give it a rest already."

Fergus held up his hands. "I promise I am not ribbing you."

Wayne gave Fergus a doubtful look.

"Despite the jokes, I think it's wonderful you connected with someone, even if just for the night. She seemed quite fond of you as well."

The Zero Hero didn't speak. He only kept walking.

"Would you see her again?" Fergus asked. "Sending her that basilisk egg makes it seem like you would."

"She's a demon."

"So?"

"Where I was raised… Demons were blamed for all kinds of things, and it was drilled into me that they were evil."

"Not so different in this world."

"Right. Shaking that feeling has been hard, like it's hardwired into me. Besides, isn't interspecies intercourse frowned upon?"

Fergus scratched his beard. "All of the taboos I am aware of involve a beast who cannot provide meaningful consent. She isn't a sheep, Wayne."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"There's also a chance I never see her again," Wayne said. "Even having this conversation could be a complete waste of time."

"You're allowed to imagine a happy future for yourself regardless of the plausibility, you know."

Wayne didn't reply.

"And seeing her again isn't outlandish. We'll be back through the Cuan area eventually."

"I hear you."

"I'm not sure you do," Fergus said. "You've managed to turn wonderful memories of a pleasant date into a yoke that you carry. That's quite a talent you have, actually. You convince yourself a good moment is some sort of trap that will turn on you the second you lower your guard and enjoy your life."

"I don't do that."

"Do too."

They stopped in front of the bakery window. "Don't you have some cake to buy?" Wayne asked.

"Donuts. We're getting donuts. They have all the perks of cake with none of the stigma."

"Stigma?"

"If I go in there and buy a cake, the baker will ask me 'oh ho what's the occasion, good sir?' And when I answer that the cake is entirely for my own enjoyment, he'll look at me like I'm a gluttonous monster. A dozen donuts, though? I get the same volume of dessert, a greater variety of flavors, and no one judges me because it's assumed that I intend to share."

"You've not worried about what people thought of before."

"This is a baker we're talking about. Their demeanor affects the flavor of anything they've touched. I can't have that negativity ruining my dessert."

"Is it okay if I go explore? I'll come back."

Wayne looked up from his table in the downstairs of their inn. He was alone that morning and had a few Iomallach guidebooks spread out before him. Vanilli stood stiff, awaiting Wayne's answer.

"You don't need my permission."

"You're my master."

"Employer." They had had this conversation before, several times now, so Wayne cut it off before it could repeat. "You're our quartermaster. That's it. If we aren't on the road, your time is completely your own. Do whatever you want with it."

"Whatever I want?"

"Whatever doesn't hurt anyone or get you arrested. Fergus gave you your pay right?"

"Yes. Do we have a departure time scheduled?"

Wayne shook his head. "In the next few days, probably, but nothing is set. We'll tell you and wait for you. Don't worry."

"Will I like Iomallach?"

Gesturing to offer Vanilli a seat, Wayne slid him a stack of guidebooks. "I have no idea. I've never been either."

"I've heard humans here speak of a festival this time of year. They say there is a lot of music."

Thinking for a moment, Wayne picked up one of his open books and flipped back several pages. He set it down in front of Vanilli and pointed. "They might have meant the Salt of the Earth Festival."

Scanning the text, Vanilli said, "Yes, this is the one."

"From what I've been told," Wayne said, "Iomallach's culture is a lot different from Cuan. I know you haven't been there either, but I don't know much more about Iomallach than you do. It'll be new for all of us."

"Fergus speaks highly of our accommodations."

Wayne laughed. "He negotiated for us to stay at the home of a noble we've done work for. It's supposed to be pretty luxurious."

"What has interested you in these books?" Vanilli asked, reading over a table of contents.

"Iomallach is supposed to be really into sports. The only one I recognize from Earth is wrestling, so I'd maybe like to see a few matches of that and then check out the others. I'm not hopeful I'll understand any of the rules, but I'm still curious to see them anyhow. There's also an arena where you can watch people fight monsters. I'm not sure how I feel about that, so I don't know if I'll end up going."

Vanilli didn't look up from the guidebook or speak, but he nodded as Wayne talked to show he was listening.

"Pretty much all of the books rave about the view from the Lighthouse. I'm looking forward to that too."

"What function does a lighthouse serve?" Vanilli asked.

"When sailors travel at night, they're more likely to hit rocks they can't see. A lighthouse provides a frame of reference so sailors can know where the land is. Helps with navigation."

Vanilli scrunched his face.

"What's wrong?"

"I think I am confused. I thought sailors piloted boats, and boats were built for water."

"You're right, and I see why that's confusing. This building looks like a lighthouse is all, so that's what people call it. No water, no boats, and no sailors, though. Just a tall building."

"Hmm."

"We're also visiting the Earth Temple, but I know you're skipping that one. There's talk of there being more dwarven ruins to discover in the area too, so Fergus and I will probably be in the library a lot. You're welcome to join us for that if you'd like. I know you like books."

"Thank you," Vanilli said, standing. "I believe I'll go explore now."

Wayne smiled. "Have fun."

"You're not coming?" Fergus asked, standing in the door of Wayne's inn room. Vanilli had picked a restaurant and invited the party to join him for dinner.

"I am. I'm just making a stop first."

"Need backup?"

"No, I'll be fine. I'll be right behind you, but please let the group know they don't need to wait."

"As you wish," Fergus said. "Vanilli will be disappointed if you don't come."

"I promise I won't miss it."

With a nod, Fergus departed.

Wayne wasn't sure if he was about to do the right thing, but he was going to try, regardless.

Some time later, Tulip opened her door. "Did I forget an appointment?" she asked.

"You didn't. If now is a bad time, I can leave you be."

"No, no, no," Tulip said. "Come in."

Wayne found the loveseat far more comfortable without Fergus wedged in next to him.

"More questions?"

"No, but I felt like you should have this." Wayne held out a silver cuff. "This was meant for the Chosen Paladin, and I think you should have it."

Tulip didn't move to accept the bracelet. "Why?"

"Honestly, I don't have a reason. Only a feeling."

"Won't the next Paladin need it?"

"It's hard to explain, but no. It was made for the Paladin but this pre-dates the Heroes."

"What would I do with it?"

Wayne lowered the cuff. "I'm learning the Heroes left a lot of collateral damage in their wake."

"Collateral damage?"

"Umm…" Wayne thought about how to explain it. "Throwing a fireball at a monster is meant to kill the monster, but innocent people could get hurt in the process."

Tulip nodded but didn't speak.

"I'm not a Chosen Hero, but they were from my world, and I was brought here the same way… I feel like I have a responsibility to do right by the people they affected. If I can."

The woman leaned forward in her chair and patted Wayne's leg. "Laszlo made his choices. Not you, and I'm fine. Lucas isn't damage. He's a blessing."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know, but I want you to see that I'm happy. I don't regret anything. Has it been hard? Yes. There were many hard days, but there were so many good ones too."

Tulip waited for a moment to see if Wayne would speak. He didn't. He only looked down at the floor.

"If I could do it over again, I would make the same choices," she said. "I loved him, and I can't imagine myself ever not loving him."

"Really?"

Tulip smiled, weakly. "It was right for that moment, and moments don't last forever."

Wayne held the cuff up again. "In this moment, it feels right to leave this with you. Sell it, give it to Luke, toss it into the Cuts–Entirely up to you."

A frail hand accepted the bracelet. "Promise me you won't be so hard on yourself, okay?" she asked.

"Okay."

Tulip stood and opened her arms. "Give me a hug."

Her body felt like it was made from tooth picks and crepe paper, and she suddenly seemed so much smaller. For a few seconds, Wayne felt like he was back on Earth, hugging his own grandmother. He had forgotten what that familial connection felt like.

"Be careful, you hear?" Tulip said. Wayne promised he would be.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.