Chương 44: Chapter 43 - Thoughts of the Future

Eli joined Mira and Astra for dinner again with that addition of Tia, although the conversation tonight was much lighter fare, the group settling for just trading the kind of small anecdotes that are common around camp fires. Before Mira turned in for the night she reminded Eli that his training would begin in earnest tomorrow and to get some rest. Astra smiled stroking Tia as she dozed in her lap emitting a quiet whistling snore.

Eli smiled as he settled back in after returning their cookware to the kitchen, " I really wish I could share with you just how happy that makes her. Companions must really make the ultimate emotional support dogs, have you ever considered one of your own? You really seem to like her." Astra let out a quiet laugh shaking her head, " What is with your people and giving dogs all these strange jobs?"" Maybe it is the translator, but how is a dog supposed to be a mind healer?

Ours just take naps and maybe catch a few vermin." She looked up at Eli, " Aye. I have wanted one ever since I was a girl. What little girl would not?"" A valiant steed to carry you to the far corners of the realm, or a stalwart companion to join you on adventures? From my lips to the Ancient's ears."

She looked up at the sky for a moment, possibly hoping that someone was listening, before shaking her head, her crimson man draping over her shoulders, shimmering like a river of flame in the soft reflected glow of the campfire. She breathed a sigh, " Alas it was not meant to be, at least not yet.

A common woman could bond with a stray cat or a friendly bird with no worry, and while they would probably never be able to carry a true conversation, supposedly the ability to share feelings can be a real comfort at times."" No."" A duke's daughter swims in perilous waters and such a companion would be a liability at the best of times. Given not only my clan's duty to serve the Empire, but also my personal situation and the unending parade of…

'suitors' and 'concerned friends'... well."" I would need a companion of no small potential power, as well as a sturdy constitution at the onset. Father and Mira have warned me that 'interested parties' may seek to use such a bond as leverage to force my hand in certain affairs, and it would be unwise until I could find a suitable specimen, or grow my personal power to the point where such a thing would be an action tantamount to suicide."

She snickered before shooting a look at Eli, " Did you know that 'suicide by Grandmaster' is considered a valid cause of death in the Empire? It is vanishingly rare and relegated to a very small subset of arrogant young noblemen, but it does occur from time to time." Eli joined her in a snicker, " I could only imagine. Well let me know what kind you might want, who knows? I might stumble onto something. At the very least you can always borrow Tia when you need your teeny dragon fix."

She gave a snort before looking down at the wyvern with a melancholy expression, " Aye. Thank you, Eli." Eli threw a pebble at her, " Oi! Enough of that! You tell me what shape your best friend comes in so I'll know them when I see 'em." Astra swatted the pebble away with ease, shushing Tia as she stirred in her sleep, but it worked and a smile returned to Astra's face, " Hey!"" Oh I don't know how I would choose!"" If Father had his way it would be an Emberhide Razorback, but that's so boring!

A nice fluffy Frostwarg, or maybe one of those banded Coral Serpents?"" They love the water though and I wouldn't be able to guarantee a posting near the sea. I could definitely see riding into battle on a giant Owlbear, the enemy troops would soil themselves!"" Oooh, maybe something that can fly like a Giant Eagle?" Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! Wait, no, Tia hates birds so that wouldn't work."" What about a Griffin?""

They can fly and carry a rider, does that count as a bird?" Eli laughed, " I have no idea, you would have to ask Tia I imagine, I think I know what some of those are? What is a Coral Serpent, back home those would be tiny...." Eli sported a smile for most of the evening as he and Astra daydreamed about her future companions, the companionship and casual comradery wrapping him in a warm blanket easing his mind from the worries of the previous day, and making him hopeful for his future in this world.

Thinking back on the past few days with Mira and Astra, Coop and the gang, he never would have imagined he would have connected with others so easily after his experiences in his past life. I guess you never know what you are missing until you find it for yourself. As the night wore on and Astra passed over the snoring Tia Eli stopped her for one more question before she turned in, " Hey Astra, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

A small mischievous smile crossed Astra's face before she, deliberately poorly, schooled it into an expression of feigned indifference, " Depends on the question Eli. A Lady has to keep some secrets." Eli cleared his throat, fighting his own smile at the insinuation, " Coop told me it might be in poor taste or a little rude but I have to ask, do you have some kind of crazy legendary class or something?" Astra huffed and rolled her eyes, " Boring."

The pleased smile on her face did show that she took it as a veiled compliment though." I wish, but no nothing quite so grand, close though." She waved him forward to whisper in his ear, Eli suppressed a shiver that ran down his spine as her breath brushed across his ear." I'll let you in on a little secret though. My class is Epic, and not only that but you can count the number of people in the Empire who reach Epic in the second tier in each generation on two hands."

She leaned back giving him a smoky look, holding a finger to her full lips with a wink, " For now, that information is for your ears only, my counterpoint. My family is hoping to use this to our advantage at the Academy." She smiled, " Good Eve, Eli," before sauntering off to her tent with a little extra sway in her step than usual.

Eli watched after her for a moment, before heading off to find a perch for the night, thankful for the cool night breeze on his warm face, even in the distant mountain brook burbled in a rhythm suspiciously like quiet laughter. As he settled onto a branch in his favored position, Eli before sighed a bit, realizing he should probably be a little honest with himself, damn this is not good, I got it bad don't I?

I don't know shit about this world, but I'm pretty sure some vagrant from the woods dating a duke's daughter is a hard no. I imagine even if her brother is the heir, she's still probably slated for a political marriage or something. Eli thought back to the night they met and her startling admission that she was exhausted with her peers and was happy to just have a friend, even Mira agreed that she could use a friend and companion. I would really hate to ruin it, especially if she has so few already.

The memories played back through mind's eye, and one line, that he barely paid attention to at the time, stood out all the more as he got to know Astra better." No I like you very much just the way you are, it is frankly refreshing to meet someone who neither knows nor cares about my position, and all the baggage that comes with it. Let me handle the rest, please don't change your behavior on my account." Eli took a steady breath, No, I should trust her words and not make assumptions.

He smiled, Getting an Epic class early is supposed to be crazy special right? I'm not surprised she has something like that after seeing her in action? Maybe if Mira can help me get an Epic class too, I can shoot my shot without dear ol' Dad turning me into a smoking crater.

The image Astra laughing in the firelight her sky blue eye twinkling in amusement, crimson hair dancing in the evening breeze, cheeks dimpling with her brilliant smile as she snorted at his joke about finding the world's highest level housecat for a bond, that surely they could find strong enough to carry her into battle in full gear as long as she could balance on a teeny saddle.

A flash of her smile splattered with blood after battle, another smile covered in soot beneath a fern, another of happy exhaustion as the freed Mira, another gentler one the morning after, yeah, I definitely have a thing for her. Eli shuffled deeper under his blanket, tucking a second blanket around a gently snoring Tia cradled on his chest, taking one last look at the ringlit sky before closing his eyes, she's so worth it though.