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New world,
What is it that one desires?
Through history many people were faced with the same dilemma, countless people thought about it. As for me, I am not sure.
Yes I want to see the stars, but what else what about the time after this, maybe I should think about what my teacher said.
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Sitting a bit farther away from the group me Leonard and the boy huddled around the fire.
Although it was never really cold in the area we were in, it was never warm either.
Looking at the grey sky I watched the slowly disappearing light of Aurora. Soon the world would be dark again.
Although you could not say that there was much light at day either, it was more than enought to see however far the damm forest did not constrict your sight.
„Hey Leonard, what do you think of training the boy?"
He really needed a name, but Leonard was against it, something with human tradition to give names only for an important deed.
Throwing another piece of wood into the fire he replied without much motivation.
„Why me? You are a far better teacher as far as I can tell, considering how much you know it should not be difficult to give him a basic education."
„Well" I made a pause to take another sip of the herbal tea I mixed, „ while that would be fantastic he cannot even speak, much less understand even the concept of math. No that must wait for now, what he needs right are two things, combat training to prepare him for whatever comes our way as well as someone who speaks to him. He seems pretty good on the uptake so it should not take too long for him to talk."
Grinning I continued.
„And ah so tragically I am not suted for close combat, the only thing he can use right now, so regretfully it seemed as if it falls upon your shoulder to show him the art of the dagger."
Patting him on the back I stood up and went towards the rest of the convoy. There were a few things I had to take care of.
First I went towards jack who wordlessly handed me a small back of monster parts, containing a sample of everything they had. Next of I went a bit of the road and into the forest. While it was unwise to leave the road normally, I would not take long so I should be fine.
Once I made sure nobody could see me anymore I took out a small microscope out of my backpack, and looked at the different samples.
They were fraszinating, although looking completely ordinary they displayed far greater resilience than it should be possible.
Two hours later I finally found something. The materials were, similar to the one in my database, and the structure, except a few small surprises contained nothing interesting.
That means theyr properties should not exeed the ones from my world by much, a bone is a bone after all. But what was completely different were the fine lines that permeated the entire material. They could be found in every single one of them.
The only reason I took so long to find them was, that they were technical not there.
Well they were there just not in the form of matter, they were invisible and intangible. The only reason I could find them was that everything else inside the structure suggested, that there was something. It was probably magic.
Satisfied with my findings I stooped for now, I would need a larger laboratory aswell as living samples to get any proper results.
Putting everything back into my bag I stood up and waved away the shiny spots that gathered and danced around me while I was sitting down. These tiny creatures were everywhere in the forest and I was absolutely glad that they would not pester me anymore. They were also called the hunters light, they guided hunters towards pray, so they could feast on their remeinings. They were a blessing aswell as a curse depending if you were the hunter or the pray. During the month long journey, I learned not to underestimate even the cutest creature.
Coming back to the camp, I was greeted with an interesting scene. Leonard was actually taking his job seriously and showing the young man how to fight, going as far as to stand next to him and correcting him whenever he did a mistake. It looked just like a master and his student.
Happy to see this I decided against interrupting them and sat myself below a lantern to study my magic. It was definitely important for Leonard to experience more proper human interactions, otherwise I fear he would eventually go crazy while practicing magic.
Even I could feel it, the wight of this world was pressing down onto me and although I seemed calm, the events of the past few months were not easy on my psyche.
Opening my pocket watch, I looked at the group picture inside it. We were a group of ten, the twelve year old me and 9 men and women from all over earth. Closing the watch again, I decided to sleep a little before we sat out again.
Maybe it was the dark and never changing sky, or the seemingly never ending monotone road it was driving me crazy.
Rubbing my temple I could feel a mild headache.
„Want some"
I don't know since when, but Jack was walking next to me smoking a strange herb he picked up on the roadside.
„no thanks I don't do drugs, can't stand an addiction having power over you"
He lightly shook his face and took another deep breath.
„Helps agains the craze, it calms your nerves."
Falling back a bit I nuged Leonard "The craze, what is he talking about?"
"Heve you never wondered why the job of a merchant is considered dangerous although the road shields us from the beasts?"
Hmm that was strange indeed,"maby the bandits, and criminals?"
He shook his head" No, while they can be quite troublesom, they are rare. And they do not kill mindlessly rather they only steal your wares. Why should they cut of potential custemers. No the real danger lies within your mind" He pointed at my head"You have seen it before, a crazy person. That can happen because of the monsters, but one of the most commen reasons is far more ordenary. Walking. "
"Walking?"
"I am sure you have noticed it already butthe long way wears on your psiche. There is nothing you can really do, and if I were you I would not take that strange stuff. It would only treat the symptoms temporarily, this is something you have to get over with yourself."
The rest of the 5 week long journey was arduous. What happened before, the burning people and strange lands already overwhelemd me, and this was just the last push. The biggest pillars of support were Leonard, Jack and the little boy.
I think I could now understand the people's perspectives a bit better, travelling was dangerously, and Leonard had to be absolutely insane to travel from the highlands to this place, just to chase some dream. How long had he remained on the road? What had he seen already?
Setting one foot infront of the other I tried to empty out my mind to chase away my depressing thoughts.
Impossible.
Looking at the world around me my eyes finally reached the dark brooding forest. My fear.
Starting to walk again I closed my eyes. For the first time in quite a while I made myself venerable. Even while sleeping I made sure I was never truly out of control, using dozens of safety measures to make sure that it would be hard to even come near with me waking up.
Quickly I could feel my heartbeat quickening, my hair standing up and me getting nervous.
But I endured. And it was horror. But the fear made me feel alive, like I was there in this very moment.
The adrenaline rushing through my body all my muscles tensed up.
Opening my eyes I stood there panting heavily, not even 5 minors had passed according fo my watch, but it was enough.
Looking weirdly at me Leonard weaved his hand before my eyes.
„Have you finally gone insane?"
I smiled no, I think I found a method to disrupt the trance I had been living in. It was not perfect, and for the next time it would be better to developers some games or something, putting yourself into a position of Extrems fear brought its own problems with it. But it gave me something to do, something that allowed no other thoughts, something that forced me to live in the moment.