Chương 29: Chapter 28 - River Camp, Making Friends

The camp preparations passed in a blur, as the soldiers split the work of setting the camp to rights and sorting out the refugees. In short order the signs of battle were cleared, the tents repaired were possible, and new ones cobbled from supplies looted from the bandit camp when the supply fell short. The bodies of the fallen soldiers were placed in enchanted coffins that were assembled from the recovered camp supplies.

When Eli asked Coop let him know that when possible they try to return the remains of the fallen to their families, and that the engravings on the coffins would preserve them until they could return as long as the seals were unbroken. Somberly, he explained that losses happen on patrol on occasion, but they never prepared for many, only carrying enough parts for just the four.

If they lost any more they would have to be interred where they fell, but in the case of major losses, the patrol would be called off and reinforcements called in. Cooper and Sasha introduced him around in general as other members of the patrol came and went, but also to the other two members of his squad specifically, a quiet black haired blue eyed man named Franklin Smith and bubbly green-eyed and dark skinned brunette vaguely similar in appearance to Sasha if a little taller and thinner named Astrid Farrier.

Coop put them all to work setting up and cleaning the field kitchen, before unpacking the supplies and setting to work on a massive stew to feed the camp.

Sasha was thrilled to find out that Eli would be replacing her on potato peeling duty, even if Astrid was slightly put out by the change, turns out they were old friends from the same village, and while Astrid seemed to never get enough of gently ribbing Sasha to her apparent exasperation, Eli did not miss the fact the she set up her new dicing station right next to Astrid. Wondering how to bring it up delicately, but deciding Coop wouldn't hold it against him Eli asked."

So how come most of the people I've met so far have some kind of profession as their last name? Is it a cultural thing?" Coop gave him an odd look, before thinking for a moment as he diced some meat, before tossing it in the massive pot with a shrug." Aye, I imagine it might be from your perspective. For most of those in our realm our family name is based on their trade, my parents live back in the city of Emberholdt, and my father makes barrels so I'm Matthias the Cooper.

Well I used to be, I imagine if I continue my service that might change. Usually only Nobles have different names, although they have their own traditions." Elias looked at him in confusion, " Wait, Astra is named after the city?" Coop laughed, " No, you have it backwards, the city is named after the Lady's family. They are renowned for their command of fire, and on days of celebration they'll produce grand displays for the whole city. Oh you should see it when the Duke himself sends up his sign."

Cooper bounced in excitement, making a grand gesture to indicate something filling the sky, incidentally missing that Eli took a step back as the knife in his hand flicked in Eli's direction." A grand azure phoenix wings stretching to the horizon! He'll vary the performance occasionally, but the crowd favorite is when he has it circle the castle before splitting into smaller figures than wheel and swoop above the city, oh you should see it!"

He glanced back at Eli with a smirk, " Forget your dusty old dragon, the Duke's handiwork is a vision all on its own and you don't have to climb a mountain and risk becoming lunch to see it!"

"Oh what's this about dusty old dragons?" Cooper wheeled about to bob a quick bow towards Mira as she approached, Astra trailing a step behind. Coop laughed with his hands on his hips, before waving his knife in Eli's direction, and returning to his chopping." Oh just waggling my jaw Lady Blackhall, swapping some stories with this one here, found out on the trail he's never even heard of dragons of all things?

Got all excited, said he would love the meet one, and I told 'em that if he wanted to end up in the belly of the beast he's welcome to it; but if he wanted a little wonder in his life, he should come see one of the Duke's famous festival displays instead." Mira laughed, " Sage advice as always Mr. Cooper." Astra chimed in excitedly, " I do love Father's handiwork, but I might have to side with Eli on this one. A dragon, could you imagine? Talk about a once in a lifetime chance, once in any lifetime really!"

Mira gave Astra a deadpan expression, " Honestly. My Lady, if you would like to become dinner I'm sure Mr Cooper would be happy to oblige, and if you are going to serve yourself despite my warnings, please wait until my contract ends. I would much prefer to not have to disappoint your grandfather." Eli grinned and winked at Astra before mouthing, I've got you. Mira rolled her eyes at their antics before turning back towards Cooper, " As you were Mr. Cooper, how is progress on this evening's meal?

Any chance you would be willing to part with your new scullion for a bit?" Cooper waved at Eli, " He's all yours, at this point it's more about waiting than any extra work." He turned back to Eli, extending a hand after wiping it on his comically small apron." Appreciate all the work truly, it was a pleasure my friend."" Happy to lend a hand anytime, Coop." Eli returned the gesture after cleaning his own hands, " I'm all yours Ladies."

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Mira smirked and nodded for him to follow them over to their joint campsite, before gesturing at a spare folding chair, "Please. Sit." Mira claimed her own chair as Astra took another, as the three settled around the campfire in an equilateral triangle, Mira began." It appears that you are fitting in well with the patrol, it seems you may share a penchant with my Lady at making fast friends.

Are you faring well so far in our care?" Eli arched a brow in Mira's direction, " Yeah everyone's been the very picture of hospitality, am I missing something." Eli was confused at the grin Astra was trying to hide while snickering quietly under her breath, as he looked back at Mira as she was now confused. Looking askance at Astra, she gave Mira a small nod, before Mira looked back at Eli with a strained expression and explained.

"While I understand that you are not sworn into ducal service, and are therefore not under my command, I was under the impression given Astra's brief explanation of your translation magic that we shared a definition of the word prompt. While I'm not your superior I did ask for a prompt report, and I was expecting that delivering said report would at the very least rate somewhere above peeling potatoes." Astra lost her composure at Mira's put upon expression, breaking out into laughter at her plight.

Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye Astra reached over to pat Mira's knee in solace." I tried to explain you were from another world, and as such were a little." Waving a hand while she searched for a word, " Let us just leave it at different. However, it's one thing to be told and another to see it for yourself." Eli wrinkled his brow at Mira, " I am really sorry Mira, I didn't mean any offense, a friend of Astra is a friend of mine afterall. I did not know it would be so important to you.

Your advice was very helpful, I have no problem filling you in on how it went, where would you like me to begin?" Mira waved it off before settling on a neutral expression, " Pay it no mind, why don't you begin with whatever it was you were doing while Astra was working her magic." Elias happily launched into an explanation of his attempt to view Astra's magic, and the progress he made on his skill on the wagon.

Astra broke into a small smile as he quickly reached the point where he mentioned the skill level maxed out and grew from there as the explanation continued. Mira's neutral expression broke a brow arching upwards as he explained separating a thread of energy into his iris, and the second joined the first as he explained adjusting it to a variable state with enough success that the system included the feature into the skill.

As Eli was winding down he explained his thoughts on his current hurdle and how he suspected he might surpass it, Mira cocked her head and held up a hand to stop him." Mr. Mercer, please indulge me. Could you explain the composition of the human eye as you understand it?" Eli took a deep breath, " I mean it is a pretty complicated structure, and I only have a layman's understanding of it, but I'll do my best."

Elias fished a stick out of the nearby stack of fuel for the firepit, circled around to crouch between them, before beginning to diagram out the structure of the eye as he knew it. He made sure to include separate diagrams for the smaller features such as the lens structures, and the rods and cones, before drawing a few crude diagrams of their functions.

He stopped to explain that they would be here all night if they wanted him to explain how photons worked and how the rods translated them into signals, only to realize that the two had been completely silent for minutes now. Eli looked up from his work to find two very different reactions. Astra was wearing a broad smile so smug that could only barely be described as a grin pointed in Mira's direction, while Mira looked at him in utter bewilderment.

It took a moment and Astra tapping her leg for Mira to realize Eli had paused his explanation. She looked at Astra and back at Eli before pointing at his drawings with an incredulous expression." This. This is considered a layman's understanding among your people?" Eli looked down at his diagrams and then glanced back up towards Mira." Yes?

I mean there are plenty of people who would study such things in greater detail, but this would be part of the standard education provided to all citizens albeit only in the last few years of study." Eli snorted with derision, " Of course there are always a few assholes who brush it off as unimportant and sleep through class, but what can you do? A lot of parents look at the classes as free child care and the attitude spreads to their children."

Mira held up a hand and pinched the bridge of her nose, " I'm sorry, you need to repeat that last part."

"Free? As in free education for all citizens?"" Everyone, not just nobility? And years? As in multiple?" Eli rolled his eyes before looking at Astra with a smile, " I see where you get it from. Yes it's free, well to be specific every citizen chips in a small portion of their income to pay for it via taxes, about 2% annually.""

Yes every citizen has access to it, we don't really have nobles in my country, it's a different system, and yes many years, the minimum number by law is 12 years but nearly all regions provide a free year beforehand to help the children prepare for it." Even Astra looked stunned, " All for a 2% income tax? Just how wealthy are your citizens, is it a small country?!"

Eli grew a defensive look, " I mean, I have no way to provide a comparison, I know next to nothing of your world, but we never seemed especially wealthy, I was just another average citizen on the street. I don't even know what is considered small? If it helps, the city where I'm from has a population of around 700, 000 and the whole country is around 330 million? Considering our whole planet is at roughly 8 billion we are only considered just above average in population."

Astra and Mira both share a long serious look. Mira takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before looking at Eli in a completely different light." Well, you are certainly full of surprises. This conversation went in a direction I would never have expected it to go. Thank you for your unexpectedly thorough report."

Mira reached over to pat Astra's knee before looking back, " If you would excuse us, my Lady and I have a few things to discuss in private before dinner, but if you are amenable I am sure both of us would greatly appreciate your company for dinner. Would you mind returning in about 30 minutes?" Eli gave them both a warm smile, " Sure I would like that, thanks again for the advice Lady Blackhall, and if you are amenable I would love your help with that final step as well."

"Before you go, you had no quarrel with Astra using [Identify] on you before, do mind if I do as well?" Eli shrugged, " Sure, have at it. See you ladies later." Eli rose to his feet, dusted his pants and strode back towards the kitchen, spear over his shoulder, humming a tune from home, completely unaware of the wary looks following him from a distance.