Chương 94: An Afternoon Off

When we returned to the surface after our Labyrinth run, and after we collected our allotted Presences from last week, we rushed to the mess hall for lunch. My fingers itched, and I was tempted to eat as quickly as I could. Of course, I was hungry, but the infused food wasn't very enjoyable at all, which made it all the better to scarf down as quickly as possible.

"We could stand to consume one good meal a week…" Anchor muttered.

"This is helpful," I said.

"Yes, but it's like eating ash, brother," Brawl said. Shrugging, I said, "Sage doesn't seem to mind."

"Of course not," she replied.

"I have tasted far worse medicines and experimental remedies. Have you ever tried to consume a high-grade healing potion? I don't recommend it."

"We have healing potions?" I whispered.

"If you mean 'we' as in this world, then yes," Sage said.

"They're rare. The mountain-dwelling Orders produce them, but they require ingredients from elusive local wildlife. They are, of course, cheaper to import, but importing them is difficult when Gate cannot afford to protect the oceangoing trade lanes anymore. We do not know if our overseas allies are even still intact." I winced.

"Which is why we rely more on healers."

"Exactly," Sage said.

"But your father could afford any potion he wanted, surely," Anchor said.

"And you didn't get one?" Sage shook her head.

"He did, many times. That is why I know how bad they taste."

"I've heard a potion can regrow a lost limb, sister," Brawl said.

"Myths. The best potions can fix ripped tendons—same as my healing. But they can't regrow limbs." She crossed her arms, and Morph chittered.

"Nor can they repair a damaged spine."

"Soooo…" I said, hearing the bitterness in her voice, and deciding to change the subject, "I mean, we could join the line for regular food and get a plate of it too, right? Once a week…"

"While we still can, perhaps," Anchor said.

"Soon, they'll have us all eating maegen infused food."

"We can't waste too much time, though," I added.

"We've got all afternoon, and we should probably use it to train." Everyone stared at me.

"You've already used most of your Presence, brother," Brawl stated.

"We ran a labyrinth this morning and defeated a quarter guardian. A second one."

"Most squads only ever defeat one," Anchor added. I sighed.

"But…it doesn't feel like we've done enough."

"If a blacksmith overworks metal, it becomes brittle and shatters," Sage said softly.

"Pushing yourself is good. But you can afford to take an afternoon off. We're supposed to take our afternoons after the Labyrinth run off." I nodded slowly.

"I guess, yeah. Yeah." I nodded again, but with more certainty this time, then said, "We've been getting wages still. I think we could afford to spend some time in Winworth and see how things are going. And get some actual food."

"That's the spirit, sarge," Anchor said, patting me on the back." But," I stressed, pointing to everyone's plates and the infused food, "you have to finish your veggies before desert. Chop chop." ~ ~ ~ Winworth had grown since we'd visited last. It had already outgrown the wall they'd built, mostly with tents from the survivors who'd fled the countryside, but they were farmers, and in the spring and summer, they would hopefully be able to build new houses or retake their old lands.

We walked through the palisade wall's open doors, passing guards. They were regular Dupes from the nearby battalion, plus one regular non-Dupe volunteer. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! It was somewhat early in the day, but we stopped by the tavern to pick up some real food. A few other squads had already arrived—including Yesman's squad, and Habit's squad. Both Dupes ranked ahead of me.

One day, I was going to be a better fighter, I promised myself. Apparently, both of them had already reached Steel. Sure, they'd probably had a head start on me, but I needed to catch up. I chose a table near the tavern's lattice window and told Sage, "Can you place the order? I have no idea what they're serving in the winter or what's actually good." And I didn't trust Brawl or Anchor to know, either. As soon as I sat down, I yawned, then put my forehead on my arms.

"Tired, brother?" Brawl asked.

"A little. It's fine. Soon, as my Vitality increases, I'll need less sleep. At least, according to the books in the library."

"Don't neglect your spiritual health, dustbrain," Sage said.

"Very sagely," Anchor teased.

"I'm named after the plant. Besides, if Levi truly has any aspirations to other realms of magic, or to combine System-based advancement with maegen, he can't do it with an overworked soul." I rolled my eyes.

"I'm just resting my head for a bit." Then he paused.

"Back where I came from, an overworked soul was a commonality. I can handle it."

"If you say so," Sage muttered. Despite my attempts not to fall asleep, I did. I don't even know how, considering how loud the tavern was. It was mostly just Dupes, other squads coming in for the rest of the day to relax and celebrate another successful Labyrinth run. There wasn't any music, though, and everything turned into background noise. I practically blinked, and the next moment, food was sitting on the table in front of us.

I offered to split the bill amongst all four of us, but Sage said, "Don't worry about it. I'll put it on my father's tab. You focus on saving up for later."

"I'm not sure if there's going to be a later," I said.

"And it's not like any of us have families to send money to." I'd heard stories of my great grandpa, who fought in World War One, sending his wage back to his family, which was enough to keep them going. It wasn't like I could send money to a different world, though. And my parents didn't need it, divorced as they were. No siblings, either, of course—having me was the last ditch attempt to save the marriage.

"Yeah, but one day, your service terms are going to finish," Sage said.

"And when it is, you'll be able to retire."

"Technically, they've suspended our retirements," Anchor told her.

"Not that it affects us freshborn, given that we still have nine and a half years, but anyone who was still serving is now serving until we're dead or the war is over. Or the situation is slightly more stable."

"One day, the war will be over," I said, and Brawl nodded in agreement. I sat up straight and looked over the food—some biscuits, some sausages, and an onion pottage that smelled heavenly.

"Most likely because the orcs overrun us," Sage muttered.

"And because we lose."

"Well, then there's not much point in retiring," I said.

"I'd rather we live, and I'd rather the kingdom survive." They all snorted, but they knew I was right.

"One day," I insisted, "we'll figure this out. We don't have to live like this, and every choice that let Gate defeat the orcs a thousand years ago and build the kingdom we know…it can be made again."

"Optimistic as ever, brother," Brawl said.

"The point is," Sage added, "that you don't have to spend your wages as soon as you get them, because what if a day does come when you can put down the spear?" I nodded.

"If you're willing to put this all on your father's tab, I won't stop you." I turned and faced Anchor and Brawl.

"Remember what you told me, Anchor? You got me to believe in Gate and what we're doing here. Don't give up on it yourself. I think the 294th's success proves that we can stop the decay."

"There were probably some in the old empires who thought they could as well," Sage warned.

"And now, all that remains of them are the Labyrinths."

"That's one example, yeah." I picked up a biscuit. It wasn't exactly leavened bread, but it was freshly baked and crumbly, and when I dipped it in the pottage, it soaked up enough broth that it crumbled after a few seconds.

"Not a certainty." Before anyone else could reply, a hand slammed down at the edge of our table. A pair of Dupes stood in front of us, watching us. They both had long hair, tied in ponytails. I recognized Yesman instantly, from the way he grew his sideburns and moustache. The second, I was pretty sure, was Habit. He had four words tattooed on his cheeks: Border, Umbria, Seaxe, Corner.

While I didn't know a lot about our history, I knew that those had been some of the older names of the kingdoms that had come together to form Gate.

"Levi, right?" Habit demanded.

"Uh. Yeah." I straightened my back and ran my fingers through my hair, straightening it and getting a crumb out of it.

"Did I do something…"

"You're an Atoning, right?" Yesman demanded.

"I thought everyone already knew," I said. At least they weren't calling me a soulstealer, though.

"Just confirming," Habit continued.

"Is there a problem?" Anchor demanded.

"What are you—""No problem," Yesman said.

"You know, for someone called Yesman, you sure say 'no' a lot," I said. Habit and Yesman both went silent, and my squad sighed. Brawl gave me the look he usually did before we got into a fight—the, we're doing this? look. Then Habit and Yesman both laughed. Habit said, "We heard what you pulled off with the 294th recently. And, being the third ranked, we wanted to give you our congratulations."

"And, of course," Yesman added, "we wanted to make an offer to your squad. We train every evening together, but we could use your hands." I glanced at the others in my squad, then back at the other two new Dupes.

"Uh—yes, yes, of course. My squad and I just have a few exercises we usually get through before then, though." I wasn't just going to stop our gravity training—it was our one way we had to pull on ahead.

"Then it's a deal," Habit said.

"We'd love to have you."