"Wow... No offense, but that's a lot of gods."
"Indeed," the Elder says.
"So...How do you remember all of them in that detail? No offense."
"Oh don't worry honey, the reason why I had to is that it was required for me to know them. OR at the time. Nowadays you just simply need to answer a questionnaire about whether you are insane or not. Plus it dictates the suggested programs to which you should apply when joining the Royal Army. If you scored something specific you might be designated as a healer, a cleric in the back, or a spearman at the frontlines. Varies really."
"I see..." I say gently rubbing my wound a bit.
"So Seelah...How are you feeling?" I ask
"Hmph!" she turns her head to her left in a pouty manner like a kid.
She still ain't over the fact she got teased again. Also "caught in 4K" is the term.
[That is so 2018...It has been over 50 years]
"Hold it!" Jarvis yells as he stops the horse.
As they stop a group of armor people are sitting near a campsite with a flag. It is designed with a shield in yellow and a sword crossing over it in black.
Jarvis gets off the horse and walks over to them as the armor people stand up.
I get up myself only for the Elder to stop me.
"Don't get too worked up honey, these are the Cecilian checkpoint for the settlement. We don't have to worry. If anything you can relax now. Plus they will recognize me. Trust me" I do as she says and sit back down.
I look at Jarvis chatting with one of the soldiers and about 4 of them follow Jarvis behind him, while the other 20-ish stay back.
As they approach us they begin examining our cart a bit. As they approach closer they get to me and notice me in the cart with bandages and then speak up to the Elder.
"Hey, Elder, whose this guy?"
"Oh, he is someone who helped us a great deal. I assume Jarvis told you what happened at our village?"
"Yeah, he told me. I am so sorry...Those damn Night Watch can't do their job right and now the people have paid the price for it."
"Oh, honey don't worry about them. I know how hard it is right now diplomatically right now with the neighboring regions. But do not worry about this young boy here, he saved our village, and not only that, saved my grandaughter as well a second time and got severely injured by a Giant centipede."
Wait she's Seelahs grandma?!
[Wow that would seem like such a huge reveal if the age didn't make sense. But she is old so I don't find it a shock.]
Well, I do. She never said anything...
[Do you think people have an obligation to tell you everything about their family?]
Good point, but also fuck you asshole, you're being a douchebag...
"Ah, then that explains why there are centipede armor chunks in a bag Jarvis said. Nice work kid. Say, you don't look like anyone in this carriage no offense. Especially with that eye of yours. From the Far East, I take it?"
"Uh, yeah. But I lived in a rural mountain so I don't know anything really."
"Ah, well let me just say personally thank you for helping these villagers. The Elder has been very friendly to us checkpoint guards very often since I have been here. I'd say you single handily did a better job than the entire Night Watch Order! Haha!" the soldier walks off.
The soldier waves his men over and they open the gates for us to pass through.
We begin hitting the road again and I let them pass by for a couple of dozen feet before I ask my question.
"Elder, who is the Night Watch Order? I keep hearing about them so."
*sigh* "The Night Watch Order, they are the region order that keeps the peace and security of the region. Every region of Celicia has an Order. Typically each region is designated an Order when established and is built up from there through funding of a city. Eventually depending on the status of the city, due to population, trade, and strategic position, an Order is formed. However, in Celicia, the Night Watch Order is considered to be the worst of them. Because it isn't made up of nobles, respectable people, or veterans of past wars or experiences. But with convicts, criminals, con men, rejects of other Orders through exile or demotion. But sometimes it is treated as a prison for some. Because the Night Watch has also been used as a way to get rid of political enemies, and "undesirables", and even get used as bait or a meat shield for other orders. Overall, it is a shame our village has the Night Watch as the regional Order for our protection. As it has the highest rate of raids from bandits, marauders, monster and beast attacks, and suspicious movements of other organizations. But the Kingdom sadly doesn't care to reform the Night Watch but has it as the "alternate" prison sentence for many people. So far it is numbered around 3,500 members." she finishes with a sigh
"I see...So have you ever met a Night Watch member?" I ask
"No, the only namable one is the Commander of the Order. Commander Shev Charles. He used to be a lieutenant in the Royal Guardsmen who served directly under the King himself. But he apparently was sending information to the neighboring kingdoms as a spy to all of them. Sold himself and his people to foreign nations. He was stripped of his title, family name, and reputation in the books. He was then sent to the Night Watch as punishment. However, instead of dying or going into a drunk craze, he apparently excelled in the chaos of the Night Watch and within 2 years achieved the title of Commander. Meaning his removal from the Capitol as a Royal Guardsman meant nothing as he controlled an army of criminals and now has the status of a commander of an Order. Even though it is the weakest." she finishes
"Well, are we still in Night Watch territory?" I ask
"Yes, sadly. Several dozen miles until we are out of Night to Watch jurisdiction."
"Huh..."
*2 hours later*
"We are almost there everyone!" as we begin to climb over a small hill with the horses we see a city in the open plain of green grass for miles. A city that appears to have white walls and red rooftops of tiles. With what I am betting to be over maybe over a hundred different farms around the city itself.
"Wow, that actually seems beautiful," I say quietly
"Indeed, the city has grown a lot over time. I remember it was a small outpost for farmers, now it has become a large city. Agriculture primarily.
*40 minutes later*
We have arrived at the gates of the city and are about to get into the city when we get stopped like the others for inspection.
"Hold it there, you know the rules we'll do an inspection and then you'll be on your way!" a guard says.
After a couple of seconds of inspection, and a couple of eyes on me, they wave the okay and we are allowed into the city.
As we go past the 10 feet long wall I see the gleaming city. The streets are like solid cement, and the sidewalks are clean and almost white. There are stalls, markets, commerce, taverns, and little hub areas. But that is not what gets my attention. As we get pulled in I notice there are people with long ears, people with animal-like features like tails, and ears, and some have legs associated with some animals. I don't think we are on Earth, to be honest...
[Agreed, I am just not sure anymore. That giant centipede was already a clear sign nothing is normal anymore.]
If anything, seeing a giant centipede is normal.
Jarvis stops the cart, hops out of it, and tells everyone his plan.
"Okay everyone, I know a guy I used to work with, and he has an unused estate outside of the city. But it is a large farm but he lacks the money to upkeep it or pay for workers. But from the last time I met him, he said if I ever wanted to try my hand at fixing it up all I had to do was call him up. I will go see him and hopefully, we will have a new home within a couple of minutes!" Jarvis finished optimistically.
He turns to his left and walks inside the tavern and everyone begins getting fidgety. They are nervous. They have one chance to get a home or else they might all have to live on the street I guess.
"So, I guess this is the end of our journey," I say to the Elder
"Oh? You will be leaving us?"
"I am. I came here on a pilgrimage in search of something. I can't stay here. But I am glad you people are so nice to welcome me and assist me when needed.
"Well, then I suppose I can't do anything about that. I thank you once more and for the final time for saving my daughter, and my people." she finishes
"Daughter?! I thought she was your granddaughter?"
"Oh did I say that? Hmm, maybe I misspoke oh well who knows? I am getting old you know." she finishes playing coy
"You were telling me not that long ago about the pantheon of the gods..." I state
I turn to Seelah who seems to be in a sad mood a bit. Did I say something to her?
"Hey Seelah, you alright? Seem a bit down?" I ask
"I-I, well...*Sigh* I to be honest feel a bit sad. Because you-you're leaving."
"Oh..." I respond
"Once you go I feel like I will lose something. But, I won't stop you if you decide to leave. We are safe now. But I won't forget what you've done for me, and for us." she says finally.
"Heh, who said I was leaving you all? I am on a pilgrimage yes. I did say I was leaving. But I didn't say I was going to leave this city. I will be around. Maybe find some work at the farm perhaps?" I say suggestively without saying what farm.
She lights up a bit but then she shakes her head and turns it away from me.
"Well, we could use some help," she says trying as hard as she can not crack a smile.
"Uhuh...Well, let's hope this deal goes well." I say scratching under my chin.
*THUD*
A door gets kicked open and Jarvis is walking out. Most of us are a bit anxious a nervous about the answer.
"He said, YES!"
The villagers all cry out in joy and I hold myself back from cracking into a wide smile. There very much is a lot of fo hope for these people.
[So you're going to be a farmer...]
We will see