Chương 17: Chapter 16 - Heeding the Call

Elias and Astra doused the fire, and Astra eyed his thin clothing before jerking a thumb towards the forest." Before we go let us see if we can find you some better equipment." In companionable silence, they set to the macabre task of stripping the bodies of the fallen men of anything useful. Despite the distasteful nature of the task, Eli let out a small groan of pleasure as he stomped his feet to settle them into his new pair of boots.

Most of what they found was ill-fitting but the set of dark leathers would provide some protection while not advertising his presence to the whole forest like the white linen he still wore underneath them. The dagger and swordbreaker combo made a good replacement for his tusk daggers, which he kept for nostalgia's sake tucking one into each boot.

Eli also took the well made spear from the first man he found but he turned down the various pieces of armor plating, as well as the various sidearms, settling for a set of well worn dark leathers to pull over his thin linen tunic and pants combo. When Astra looked at him doubtfully and asked if he was sure Eli responded."

I'm not so dense that I can't appreciate the value of quality armor or an extra weapon or two, but these pieces are so different from what I'm used to in my world that without a chance to drill and practice in their use it would hurt more than it would help."" I've practiced thoroughly with daggers and staves as they are still somewhat common in my world, if only in slightly different forms.

I've never used a sword before, and while I understand the pointy bit goes in the other guy, I'm just as likely to cut myself as my opponent." Whirling the spear through a few forms to test the weight Eli continued." I imagine our adversaries will have the advantage of greater numbers as well as pre-positioned defenses, we need to play to our strengths as well, with smaller numbers we should focus stealth and speed." Eli tapped the gleaming steel breastplate."

That means avoiding the unnecessary noise of loose metal, or any reflections that can give us away in the moonlight." Astra gave him an appraising look before another small smile grew on her face." I see I was more fortunate than I thought, that you fell out of that tree. I'm glad to see you have more than a void between your ears" She looked back at him with a grin, " Maybe if we ever get to the capital, you can show that Baron's boy how to think further than the first whim that enters his head."

Eli arched his brow and grinned at her, " By all means, does that mean I also get to accompany you for a turn on the dance floor first?" Astra scoffed and gave his chest a light slap with the pauldron she was holding before tossing it over her shoulder." Aye, but only if that silver tongue of yours doesn't get you in trouble first. Here." She tossed a small pouch in Eli's direction.

Elias opened it to find a small pile of gleaming coins of various colors and sizes, and looked up as Astra jingled a pouch of her own before tucking it away with a shrug." They are not going to be using it anymore, spoils of war after all, that's your half." As he poked through the coins in the pouch he sighed, realizing he knew so little about this world that he did not even know if he should be excited or not. He doubted that a bunch of brigands were pocketing any earth shattering amounts of money, but who knew?

Astra looked at him in confusion and disbelief." If you do not want the coin, I would be more than happy to hold onto it for you? Most I have met are happy to get a little extra coin?" Eli shook his head as he pocketed the pouch and started heading to the river.

"No, it's not that. I was just thinking how very little I know of this world, I don't even know whether this guy had heavy pockets, or if this is just enough for a meal." With a small frown Astra followed, "I can't imagine what that would be like" looking up at the sky before looking back at Eli." Waking up some place beyond the stars and not even knowing how much copper will buy a loaf of bread." She perked up and playfully punched his shoulder while grinning."

Do not worry friend, I will take you shopping first, that way some old fishmonger does not get you to empty your purse for lunch. Speaking of which…" As they turned down river Eli looked askance at the mischievous grin spreading across her face." When you were telling me about your world I noticed something you never mentioned. Say, Eli? Does your world not have the System?" Eli looked at her with a smirk, " No we don't, there are some fictional equivalents, but nothing quite the same. Why?"

Astra's grin grew wider, " So how do your people grow in power, how do they walk the warrior's path?" Elias looked back at her in confusion." I'm not quite sure what you mean? If you want to work on your strength you would do resistance training for your muscles or train in the martial arts?" The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Shaking his head, "But what the system offers, guiding your strikes or giving you telescopic vision?

Nothing like that; the best you can do is hone your talents, build a better weapon, or deploy a better strategy." Astra's grin grew into a full blown smile as she tilted her head back to look up at the stars in wonder." It is wondrous to think there is so much more to existence than I knew! I can hardly imagine such a place! Somewhere where a battle can only be won by your wits and the strength of your swordarm." She gazed up at the stars with a delighted expression, hands on her hips." Ha!

What a challenge that would be!" She looked back at Eli with that radiant smile." I bet your realm has produced some legendary warriors, you will have to tell me more, but first!" Elias gasped as Astra snapped her fingers and a dancing flame lit in the air above her palm, the reflection shimmering in her eyes as they danced with mirth under the ringlight." You didn't think a paltry vision enhancement was the only boon the system of the Ancients could grant, did you?"

Elias gasped in wonder at the dancing flame in Astra's palm as she effortlessly swirled the flame in a circle before coalescing the flame in a spherical burning ember and lifting her hand to point upwards leaving the ember hovering above her index finger illuminating her surroundings. A warm smile spread across her face as she took in the childlike glee running through Eli's expression as his dreams of swords, sorcery, and valiant warriors battling epic foes with otherworldly powers ran through his mind once again.

A smirk crossed her face as she crushed the ember in a fist that left behind a faint wisp of smoke drifting skyward." I noticed that your world seemed not only very different, but that its inhabitants would very likely be unfamiliar with the path to power in our realm." Despite being barely a head taller than Astra, her confident and expressive nature made her seem larger than life to Eli, to the point where he had not noticed her height until she stepped closer.

A sincere and earnest expression crossed her face as she wrinkled her brow up towards Eli, and in a low husky voice she reiterated." I meant what I said that I owe you more than you can imagine, and that not only my clan's honor but my own personal honor demands this. We have long fostered a reputation for ferocity in combat, but have often tempered it by showing an equal generosity off the battlefield as well, and I will not be the one to break this tradition."

Astra stepped back before clasping her fist over her chest in a roman salute, a closed fist pressed to her breastbone." I may not be able to guarantee a path back to your realm but I can assist you as a guide in this one." A gentle smile crossed Eli's face once more before he clasped her shoulder." We have a similar saying in my world, no greater friend and no worse enemy. I understand your feelings on this, but trust me, you owe me nothing."" But, I would be glad for your help all the same."

He scoffed before squeezing her shoulder and brushing past her to begin trotting downstream." Besides, I would much prefer to have a friend." Astra shook her head with a smile, before turning to follow, striding after him.

The pair loped downstream at a steady pace, Eli doing his best to temper Astra's desire to race to her allies' rescue by reminding her that they would be of no use if they arrived exhausted. As they raced along the river bank, forgoing stealth for speed, Astra caught Eli up to the current situation in between huffing breaths." Given my exhaustion when I awoke, the ambush must have happened early in the night, somewhere during either the first or second watch.

The scuffle did not last long before I escaped into the forest, maybe ten minutes at most." Astra paused in her description to pull a leather strap from a pocket and grip it in her teeth as she wrestled her crimson tresses back in a rough ponytail. Grunting around the strap as she jogged." Ah musht aff grwn bouf twu" Eli laughed at the sight as he trotted along not even breathing hard." Sorry, what was that?" Astra rolled her eyes before finishing the tie and repeating herself."

I must have ran about two hours at least before stopping to start that fire, but running through the water to break up my trail must have slowed me greatly. I imagine that I had only traveled two leagues, maybe three at best." Eli arched a brow at her.

"Sorry but I have no idea how far a league is?" He narrowed his eyes as he noticed something he hadn't noticed before, the movement of her lips did not quite match what he was hearing." Come to think of it, I have no idea how I can understand you at all? I doubt you are speaking English, and to be honest your lips are not quite matching the words I'm hearing, almost like a well dubbed movie." Astra took a few paces to catch her breath and think before replying."

Well, I'm speaking System Common, a language everyone in this realm speaks." Puffing before continuing, " There are some ancient languages that are different, but are only spoken by priests and scholars. They speculate that they may predate the system." Gasping before she caught her breath again, " I imagine the System is translating for you, I'll show you how to check later." Puffing some more, " I'm not sure how to translate a league to you, but we'll be there in about an hour or two at this pace."

Eli smiled and nodded his thanks before turning and casually continuing his pace." Ok sounds good." After a couple more minutes of trotting along the river banks, Eli retreated into his normal head space for a long distance run dissociating into a zen state as his body trotted along on auto pilot as he took in the beauty of forest in the ringlight. The forest went beyond old growth into a distinctly primeval category, and while it was breathtakingly beautiful during the day, it was even more so at night.

Eli realized he had missed out on many wondrous sights by not exploring in the dark as well. Peering into the gloom he could make out phosphorescent fungi carpeting down trees, bearded moss draping from branches that cloud with a muted internal silvery light, and the gentle twittering calls of small creatures flitting through the branches.

He even spotted what looked like a variant of the small fuzzy bats swooping to snatch berries and fruit bushes extruding upwards from the low brush before disappearing back into the towering canopy above.

The river was no less spectacular as the lack of daylight reduced the rayleigh scattering, allowing him to see a little further into the depths as he ran, spotting some surprising large fish covered in glittering silver scales with patches of softly glowing skin along their head and jaws flitting among patches of underwater grass. Elias was consistently dazzling by just how beautiful the nature in this new world could be, and it brought a smile to his lips as he loped along, Astra gamely puffing along at his side.