Dirthin spoke to James briefly, and quietly. While I was writing. I distracted myself by telling Plight about the uses of the herbs beginning with A. While telling him the A herbs, I practiced Tilton's hand writing. Once I had it down, I wrote a letter to him, asking if he can put Bibs in contact with me, and I explained who I was. Aloud, I started on B herbs. For the letter I included that it was gravely important for a certain bardic friend of his.
Once they were done chatting, I got up and walked over to James and said, "I wrote the letter for Tilton."
"Did you actually write this in his hand writing?" He asked.
I set the letter on his desk, then fetched my practice sheet and one of the papers I worked on before that was in my own hand writing and brought them to James. "I figured if a half wit could forge documents in his handwriting I could do this at least." I grinned.
"Well, you will certainly get his attention, I almost guarantee." James replied.
"Bibs could be anywhere cause he's not always home. Alexander helped me a few times, once to scare away Asmodeus and once to end the hypnotizing an undead musician was doing." I told him. "I fink this is a good way to repay the favor. To help him be a human again now rather than the future."
"I'm sorry, why is he not human?" He asked.
"Was it eight years ago? I think so. When Bibs and his group defeated the orc chieftain. Alex had an accident and fell into his bag of holding. He's a bag man right now. Kinda more like a scared wild animal than a sentient being. He likes sweets and music still." I said.
"And you know of a way to fix him?" He asked.
"Uh-huh. Both ways are dangerous, one for him and the other environmentally. But I think the second way is better." I said. "If she'd even do it." I placed my hand on my chin thinking. "Can have a cake made of a de-aging potion. It's not hard to make, since I know alchemy. Or as miss Sylvia Briar."
"...A de-aging cake. I wonder how that works." James said.
"I don't understand your pondering. I'll show the memory of how it affected Fred before." I said. "I had to be very vigilant to keep Lana from feeding it to Thomas, a dragon's son who hasn't been born yet this time." I Mind Linked to him and showed Fred being tricked into eating the cake and how long it took to take effect and how young he became in the process.
"Hm. Maybe we should give that cake to Fred again. I'm sure he would. enjoy feeling young." James said.
"Well, with the way people are you could make a tidy sum selling such a thing to people. I don't think it's something widely known about." I said. "It took a lot of looking through potion books to get something similar to it, and then after some tweaking I figured out how that potion is made. It took around three weeks of trial and error."
"No, I don't think we should make such a thing public knowledge." James said.
"Well, if it's the one I read the effects are temporary." I said. "The cake fed to Fred is permanent, as far as I can tell, and like a full age reversal."
"Now a temporary one.. That causes addiction." James said, pondering it. "An addiction can be good for business if handled properly."
"Hmm. A bit of tweaking and it could be altered to just being aging reversing instead of age reversing. Basically cosmetic rather than molecular." I suggested. "Such a thing made into a face cream for ladies would be extremely popular."
"Do you have the recipe for this, or is this something you're gonna develope? Because I can have someone working on this marketing wise." James said.
"I am not familiar with cosmetics and moisturizers, but as I said, I did memorize the initial de-aging potions formula. And that one wasn't permanent. It varies in effectiveness based on ingredients. Though I didn't check how it's effects are if not drank." I replied. "It doesn't stop aging from occuring."
"Sounds like a new product line to me." James said.
I went and wrote the formula and how to make the potion. I then sat thinking over possible ingredients for moisturizers. "Simple would be best, right?" I asked aloud.
"Simple sells, yes." James replied.
"Gycereen is easy to get isn't it?" I frowned. "Glyce-er-ine."
"Yes, it's easily acquired. I should have people producing it currently." James said.
"Alright. I think I know two ways to make moisturizer then." I wrote the two ways I'd considered down and how I thought they could be combined with the potion. My hands were hurting all over again but I brought James the recipes and offered them up to him.
He accepted it and looked it over. "I could easily have someone deal with these."
"I noted substitutes, too." I said.
"Are you sure you're not a doctor as well? You seem to have a wide variety of things you know." James commented.
"Because my companions were constantly nearly dying after I was sent to be an adventurer, I had to learn these things. Though some things I learned in the other reality as a hobby. I think my memorization skills are perhaps a little better than average." I said.
"Well, we can always give them a test." James said.
I shrugged. "Hm. I guess it could be interesting."
"Well, the next time we have some down time I suppose we can give you some trials." James said.
"Atleast you know no matter what happens that I will come home." I replied, walking back over to Plight.
"And at least you know you will always have a home to come back to." James noted.
"Yup. My safe space is under your desk." I informed him. I looked up at Plight.
He looked down at me and said, "What can I do for you little merchant?"
"I'm not a very good merchant. I'm just an ideas person. I believe there should be proper herb books in the library. In the Estate, in the castle. Or Phintias' library, though that's in Ymir's Town. Do you want to look? My hands are tired and sore from the quill." I told him.
"Sure, we can go and take a look." Plight replied.
"You're going to go see Mr. Phintias? Why?" James asked.
"No, I was gonna let you contact Phintias and organize that meeting. Dealing with the glyphs is very tiring. So I was planning to check the library in the Estate first and maybe go to the castle's library. Though Phintias has far more books available." I answered.
"Well I certainly hope you're able to find what you want in our own library." James said.
I tilted my head. "Well, I might go see Dean."
"Who was this Dean again? A friend of yours?" James asked.
"My best friend. A person I can rely on. But I hadn't met him until I was sent to the thieves guild before. I know how to get on his good side." I told him.
"And how would one go about that? Can't imagine he's too much older than you." James said.
"He's seven now." I agreed. "I just got to tell him bout a decent mark, and maybe help him score it."
"Oh? And what's this score?" He asked.
"Due to current experience.. probably pickpocket one of the jerks who slap around the prostitutes. The girls will find it funny, too." I replied.
"Well, alright. Doesn't sound like it will interfere with anything. And when do you plan on doing this?" James asked.
"Later or tomorrow." I answered.
"Make sure to take someone with you and inform me or your uncle. You are still four years old." James said.
"What's the difference between four or five?" I asked.
"A years worth of experience mostly. Why?" James asked.
"Just curious." I said, "I promise to have Plight with me. And to let you know before I leabe."
"Good. If you see anything interesting while you're out and about let us know." James said. "And Plight, since you are a psuedo body guard at the moment, I'm gonna give this to you." He opened a drawer at the bottom of his desk and pulled out a small hammer. He set it on his desk. "You may use this hammer to defend Isarial."
Plight approached the desk and said, "I.. appreciate it.. I will certainly use it to keep him safe." He picked it up and it glew slightly.
"Don't mind the glow. It's just activating. What the hammer does is who you deem your protecting if they come to harm, a little of that damage will come to you instead." James informed him.
"Ah. I would have liked to know that before I picked it up, but that's fine." Plight responded.
"You'll be fine as long as you protect him. The hammer will let you do that." James said.
With that, I took Plight to the Hearthry library. With him minding doors for me. "I should have chosen five or six.. Bah."
"You had options and you chose four?" Plight asked, confused.
"I wanted a time in which I could make things better for everyone. You, Lucretia, Alex and his family, my Mommy, Dad and me." I told him. "I decided when I was sold would be good enough."
"That's certainly a bold choice." Plight said.
"Do you think it's not worth it?" I asked.
"Asking me that.. may not be the right choice." Plight said.
"I wasn't a very lovable child last time. I want to be loved." I said. "That means getting Snow Den here with my Dad. And getting my Mommy here. Then I have a chance to be loved. All I have to do is be useful to Dad and be cute to my step mom and Mommy." I went over to a simple herbology book and took it off the shelf, taking it to the table and waving Plight to join.
He came over and sat with me. "Every time you talk like that it reminds me your not a child and also very sad."
I opened the book to Aldaka, a medicinal mushroom. "I am really four right now. In my memories alone, I've been tortured and violated as a kid, been abandoned- sold really, been beaten by bigger kids, been the best employee for my employers, been ridiculed and mocked, died, hated.." I took a deep breath, "And called a hero."
"Sounds like you had quite the full life." Plight said.
"Satisfied people don't return to being four." I replied. "I had a lot of experiences at sixteen. Really, it was meeting you in the other reality and your friends and family that made me want to restart. Everyone who died doesn't need to have."
"Should I ask who died?" Plight asked.
"Many people did. Everyone in this city, a lot of people in Scraver's Coast. Most of the people in Winter's Halt.. And nearly everyone im Dueling Rivers." I said. "Kali and many Fey as well."
"Then I would definitely agree with you. Being able to prevent all that is a good reason." Plight said.
"I have a moral question, Plight." I said, looking at him.
"I will attempt to answer it." He said.
"If you knew someone was going to suffer a lot, and you knew you could help them, but it would probably make someone you love miss out on a lot of happiness, would you help that person to not suffer anyways?" I asked.
"To be honest, I don't think I could." Plight said.
"I feel a little better about it, then. The bad stuff happening to her will make her extremely powerful anyways. I plan to meet her in nine years." I told him.
"That sounds like it will be rough for them. But ultimately beneficial." He said.
I nodded. "Yeah. Anyways, let's go over these plants and work on your reading skills, shall we?"
"I had a hunch that was what was happening. But I didn't want to call it out, just in case." Plight said.
I grinned at him pridefully and said, "Yup. I figured that was one of the best things I could do for you. I can answer any question you might have."
"I don't know of any questions to ask." Plight said.
I accepted that and started going over the plants in the book with him, encouraging him to attempt reading the words and helping where needed. After a while, Marie arrived and informed us it was meal time. Plight was informed him meal was set up separately, like earlier. I was led to the dining room, joining Dirthin and James.
While we were eating, I said, "I need to prepare recipes and wrote down a spell to prepare for dealing with Phintias. I should focus better. And maybe I could tell them a different weapon to fight their smelly neighbors."
"And who, precisely, are their smelly neighbors?" James asked.
"Undeads. The Lich. I wonder if they would listen if I said their men would become rats." I pondered.
"I cannot speak for how they would listen. It would be good to inform them at least." James said.
I narrowed my eyes, thinking. "Hmm. I could give them the tip as to how and why since the Sultan once saved my life."
"It's always good to repay debts, even if they were from a different lifetime." James said.
I agreed as I munched a few more bites. "Maybe I'll make you and Uncle Birthday cake this year. What do you think?"
"And what kind of cakes would you make? Out of curiousity." James asked.
"Uncle likes fluffy sweet cake with strawberries and whipped cream." I said, grinning, "Though you aren't fond of sweets.. I think you might like lavender honey cake with cream cheese icing."
Dirthin coughed and said, "I'll take cornbread."
"You don't like sandy textures." I said, laughing.
"God dammit." He grumbled.
James looked quite amused about this. "I would be intrigued to try out this particular cake you're describing to me."
"I like carrot cake. It's also not very sweet." I told them. "But you didn't like it. I was born December 11th and you both were born December 17th and Snow was born October 23rd." I tilted my head. "I don't know when my Mom was born."
"Unfortunately, I don't have that information either." James said.
I sat back. "Well. I'll just have to ask her when I can."
"Alright. Once we.. Have her here safe and healthy, we can all sit down and figure this out." James said.
"Should I pretend to be normal?" I asked.
"That is a difficult question. And one I feel I can't answer." James said.
"Yeah, Kid, that's a tough one." Dirthin agreed.
"My mom has been very sick a while. She probably doesn't remember 'me' but instead that she had a son." I said with a shrug. "I'm actually really anxious about it."
"What? All your future knowledge useless here? Come on. Ya gotta know something here." Dirthin said.
"I only met my mom in August 872. I wasn't a very good son and didn't take the time to get to know her. In the other reality she was minding her job and tending her oversized dog, plus her child was a daughter in that reality." I told him. "So I don't know her well. I just know she wanted to die because that fool told her I died."
"This is not exactly a common dynamic the two of you had." James said.
"I guess so." I said. "I'm probably in a lot of trouble with the two of you from the other reality. You both wanted to have words with the you both of this reality. I snuck away after leaving letters."
"Wait. I could have fought me, and you denied me this? Oh, yes. I'd be furious." Dirthin said.
"His wife will keep him amused." I said off handedly. Before realizing what I said. I paused and glanced up at him.
"I'm sorry, his what? My what? I have a wife?" Dirthin repeated, surprised. "This is way in the future, right? Cause I got shit to do."
"Do you actually want an answer?" I asked.
"Just on the time frame. Distant, right?" He asked.
I grinned like a devil. "Would you ever believe you'd be a fool for a woman?"
"I am nobodies fool." Dirthin said firmly.
"Because you don't know her." I replied. "It's fine, she won't be around for another nine to twelve years."
"Whew. That's. That's fine. That's a future me problem." He said.
"I never knew what my brother feared the most would be a woman." James said.
"I don't fear women. I fear love. It fucks with you." Dirthin said, pointing at him.
"Other Dirthin said, 'See brother, I was right. She's good for you. Without her, you're a complete ass.' And then Snow punched his side and he laughed." I told them.
"Ha. I can agree with that. You are an ass." Dirthin said.
"I'd rather be an ass than play the fool." James said.
"The main difference between your demeanor and the other James is that he's affectionate with his kids and wife." I said. "Dirthin does any silly thing to make his wife laugh."
James looked at me and said, "You continue to let things slip. I do not wish to know anything else."
"It's kinda you're fault. You're the one who taught me to tell you everything in expwicit detail." I pointed out. "It's a hard habit to break."
Dirthin sighed and said, "That's how you make everyone report to you. That is on you."
"Then I am explicitly asking you to not share that to the best of your abilities." James said.
"I can try. I am not even good at lying, though." I said. "It's very hard to do. Hmm. I got it. I'll think of you both as different people, so I don't owe you explanation in my mind. You're an 'outsider' to that life."
"However you need to process it." James said.
I shrugged and looked at Dirthin. "Maybe I'll go through 'terrible twos'."
"You're not two. Your four. You can't go through that. You're past it. Both mentally and surprisingly physically." Dirthin said.
"I was told that kids that are comfortable and safe act out more than kids who are afraid. I've always been well behaved." I said. "Well, except when I blew up that church, but I learned my lesson."
"You blew up a church? Even I haven't blown up a church. That's an accomplishment." Dirthin said.
"It.. was painful." I said, my eyes blanking out a bit as I remembered the searing pain of the flames colliding into me. "Worse than the whip and slicing instruments...."
"I've been blown up a couple of times. Didn't die though." Uncle laughed in a not amused way. "It is excruciating."
"And you were properly compensated. I even gave you a vacation that one time." James said.
"Again, you're an ass." Dirthin said. A pause occurred. "... Did you just say you were whipped and sliced?"
I blinked, and looked up at them. "Yeah. But that won't happen now."
"And who did this the first time?" James asked cooly.
"The Reinier family." I answered.
"I may have to skip tearing them down brick by brick and just destroy them completely." James said.
"I don't care as long as they never touch me again." I said. It was honestly surprising they bothered to eat meals in the dining room like this. Why had it changed? Was it because I wasn't crying a lot? Was it because I wasn't just staying in the office?
"I do have a surprising amount of black powder I just got from a job." Dirthin said. "I could put it to use. They wouldn't know.wjay was happening until they heard the sizzle."
"Ooh. Shapnel hand granades." I said suddenly. Remembering something Kali and I had done in the war against Undead. Then I tilted my head, "Wait. A little glass vial could be placed in the middle filled with holy water. It would explode with the shapnel. The shrapnel would cut into the enemy and the holt water would burn."
"That sounds excruciatingly painful. Undead or not." James said.
"It's brilliant." I decided. "I bet I could fashion some arrow heads to use that method, but smaller."
"The Sultan would pay you handsomely for these, I'm sure." James said.
My eyes grew large, and my face lit up with excitement, "Dad! If the very tip is flint it could spark on impact causing the splosion!"
James actually laughed a little.
"The pure joy you seem to have at these ideas is frightening. Don't ever turn your mind to torture." Uncle suggested.
"Eh." I waved my hand dismissively. "Torture is too easy. I once got a doppelganger to scream and give up information where you and Tilton couldn't."
"Again the whole four year old saying these things still gets to me." Dirthin said. "Also, I am an intimidater, not a torturer."
I grinned. Then yawned. We'd finished eating and were just talking by this point, and my body was growing tired quickly. I didn't mind all the uncomfortable parts of my memories. I'd grow past them, better than ever. Due to my still growing and sleepy state, rather than staying up to play a game, I was sent to wash up and head to bed.
After I bathed, I was so sleepy. I asked Plight if he wanted a bath, too. I also asked him to stay with me until I fell asleep rather than be on our own. I mumbled that he can practice reading over night and I'd help him in the morning. Then I was asleep.
Everything was terrible when I woke. My head and stomach ached, I was burning up, coughing and confused, my vision a little blurry. Showing my physical age, I started crying. Weirdly, my mom came in the room and placed her hand on my forehead. Her hand was cool and gentle. Soothing. My tears lessened some, as another person briefly stepped in and left.
It looked like my mom was going through a book, but my eyes wouldn't focus on the book. In fact I seemed to have fallen asleep again, if for a few minute. As soon as I was awake again, I started crying once more. My dad came in briefly, then left. More people came in after some time.
Probably, they were probably trying to treat me, but I behaved poorly. I screamed, and was fussy, uncooperative. A big gold hand covered my head and eyes, followed by a distant sounding voice. "Calm." I was sure that was my dad's hand and voice.
Thinking so, I did start to listen to the order. Still I cried and coughed. Until I fell asleep again. When I opened my eyes next, everything was calm. My body still felt miserable, but my eyes and ears were clear. I noticed James was in the room.
He turned his head and eyed me. "How are you feeling now?"
"My head and body hurts. But my head isn't like it's underwater now." I answered, with a cough.
"Good. That's progress." He said. "The doctors stated that thanks to the herbs Plight administered, and their own efforts, that this shall be cleared up in another day or two. Do you want me to grab you anything?"
"No, thanks. I don't want anything." I said. "I think I mistook Plight to be my mom."
"I can understand that. He was certainly doting over you like a mother." James said.
"I've never experienced a mother, so I don't know." I paused, coughing. "But my mom has green eyes and black hair."
"Are we sure he's not your mother?" James asked, joking probably.
"I thought you liked women." I said, my eyes big.
"Well your brain seems to be not fried. So that's good." He said dryly.
"I hope I won't be sick often." I said. I rolled over.. And so did my stomach.
A whine emerged, with a gurgle and James picked something up from the floor. A bucket, I noticed, after I'd violently threw up. Once it was over, I had tears running down my face. I laid back down, listless. "I fink I'll go back to sleep."
"Sleep is the best thing for you at the moment, yes." James said. "I'll ask the doctors if there is anything you can keep down."
"Ok." I said. "I neber thought you were a bad dad."
He paused at the door, and said, "I cannot speak for future or alternate reality selves, but I can say that you are a good son. Now get some sleep."
He continued out the door as I fell asleep again. The next time I opened my eyes, I was encouraged to drink broth. It was warm and rich, and I mentioned noodles, then. But I fell asleep again and didn't get to tell them how to make such a thing. Which was fine, because in the morning I told them more about noodles. Like how to make them.
Today I was able to help Plight with his books, but I also spent half the day sleeping. The next day I was strongly encouraged to stay in bed. So I did, though I was able to be alert all day, and do some writing down of recipes that went with noodles and some alternatives to the ingredients to make noodles. I also wrote the arcaic formula for the spell to call water to the surface in a long term sustainable way.
The next day the first of my visitors arrived. Bibs and Tilton. I was in James' office when they arrived and were let inside. I was a little surprised.
"Welcome." James said to them. "My son has told me a few things about the both of you, but he is the one you'll be dealing with today."
"Dad! I may have altered things about this reality!" I said shocked. Tilton was clearly a full elf. My eyes rounded, "Ah. That also means you both know Bryna- I mean Ashtar."
Tilton looked angry, "What do you-"
Bibs held up his hand, cutting him off. "I'll handle this one, Mr. Emotional over here. So, let's unpack what just happened here. You have reality hopped. You know things that a four year old can not possibly know. And something between the two of us has changed between realities. A couple of questions, if you would. How did you jump realities? Is this your home reality? And have you gone through time as well? If you could answer those, it would be most helpful."
"No problem. So, I was sent to the other continent to handle unpleasant business and during that time ran into the Mad King, the Dragonette one. A companion of mine angered him and in the process of killing us, his mage sent me to Dal Quor. Then I used a glyph to get home, that shouldn't have worked the way it did. Archimedes helped me come home. I wanted to restart to help people and ensure your town, Winter's Halt, Valor's Crest and Scraver's Coast did not face mass death." I explained. "I have no gripe with Full Elf Tilton. Only Half Elf Tilton, so I apologize for forging your hand writing."
"Alright. Now let's go to the Ashtar bit. Could you give us more information on that?" Bibs asked.
"Yes. In five years she'll be reborn because Asmodeus decided he was bored keeping her soul." I answered. "She regained her past life's memories at five. Year 870."
"We're going to have to have a conversation with the King of Hell. Whatever he wants to call himself." Bibs said.
".. Ok, but I do know what happened to Alex and a way to free Jack." I said.
"You certainly know quite a few things that we haven't told anyone. What do you know?" Bibs asked.
"Alex had the brilliant idea of trapping the orc chieftain in a bag of holding to dump it out over a cliff. Unfortunately, he tripped and fell inside. Currently he's a bag demon. He'll be around in a bag of holding made by you. He can be lured by sweets and music or to save someone." I told him. "He can be restored by feeding him de-aging cake, which will leave him in a coma for a few days, or by miss Sylvia Briar which will leave them both unconscious, but no ill effects to them for a day. And maybe, he might have twins if that changed in this reality like Tilton did."
"Well, that can easily be whipped up." Bibs said.
"I do know how to make the de-aging potion." I said. "And Jack's matter is easy since you're gonna go visit Asmodeus anyways." I took a piece of paper from the empty stack, as I'd been noting future events again, and started writing out the contract as I babbled. "You needn't be weary of me. At one point Bibs restored my life, so I am happy to repay the act, even though that won't happen again. And maybe avoid traveling the East road, hm? I'd hate to have to uncage you again, just cause Kershka got mislead into a pit where a giant spider was." I finished it and offered it to Bibs, who I had to look up to because I was so small.
Bibs gently took the paper from me and said, "You certainly do know us, if you know that Kershka would fall for that."