We have few more days of riding before we reach the famous Red Mountain. The name comes from rare meteoric ore that can be found there with an unusually high ratio. Every year they could mine just enough ore to create 10 full sets of armors and weapon. Not much? For comparison the 2nd greatest dwarf clan that laid their hands on another source of same ore can make 6 per year. Ah, kingdoms are bleeding each other to get three sets that Kingdom under Red Mountain sells or gives away as a gift.

Right now I was having conversation with Florian about that.

- “Fucking useless trash, I tell you!” Or actually he was having a monologue, as no one really asked him. “At least for you – adventurers. Sure, it is durable, swords made of it can cut through most of the thing, but it requires too much effort to maintain it sharp! Do you imagine using star dust to keep it sharp?! That will ruin every owner! Kingdoms after buying one are waging wars against their neighbors to plunder their lands to cover at least part of expenses. Sure, they can spread terror on the battlefield, but I was always trying to convince my father to look for some alternatives! Putting it into different use! He called me a fool that wants to ruin family business that lasted for generations! And… um… one word lead to another, and argue between two of us emerged. Then I had to leave home. Yes. I HAD to, because this way I could keep my dignity. Otherwise father would banish me – same effect, less honor.”

- “So you were traveling around the world improving your craftsmanship? How long were you away from home?”

- “…. 120 years. I hope pap is less angry. AND IS NO LONGER A BLINDED FOOL IGNORING OBVIOUS THREATS!”

… Dissidence in factoring lead to small argue lasting for over a century. Your average dwarfish behavior.

- “I hope so too. Otherwise he would kick us outside the town.”

- “He wouldn’t. You are guests. He may hate me, but not you. As long as I would introduce you properly he would accommodate you with respect, then when you would leave we would have… a talk. Dwarfish hospitality is legendary for a reason!”

- “I am more than eager to check that myself. Now, as we will travel for a little, would you mind if I would meditate for a moment?”

- “Ha-ha-ha! Already got enough of me?!”

- “That’s not the case, Fional, and you know it. I just have to… boost my powers a little.”

- “Hmm. I did hear that you are some kind of freak…”

- “HEY!”

- “Yet I was never directly told what’s the deal with you.”

- “I am a shapeshifter.”

- “Like every stronger druid, what’s such a big deal with that?”

- “The deal is that druids can transform only into animals that are their spiritual guides. A druid of wolf can turn only into a wolf, Druid of bear only into a bear. I have no such restrictions. I can turn into whatever I want.”

- “Bullshit. What are limitations?”

- “There are none.”

- “Then turn into a dragon.”

- “Ehh. You are a smith, right?”

- “Much more! Telling you that I can make only…”

- “Then make me a sword. Right now. Just to prove it.”

- “Hey! I need materials, hammers, hot enough fire and…”

- “Exactly. I also need preparation beforehand. My shifting is like swords you make. At first they need to be forged. This is what I need meditation for. To prepare... a vessel for the shift. Then I need ingredients - the monster. After consuming essence of creature I can turn into it. If you want to see I can turn partly into bird, wolf, sneak, insect, minotaur...These are like swords. But dragon – that a whole set of your meteoric armor.”

- “That’s why you asked armor to be elastic? And reason why you told me that you will be strong enough to use it. Are you even human?!”

- “…”

- “THA-HA-HA! Oh, that’s why you aren’t as boring as these humans. Good. That will impress my father. It is hard to impress him.”

- “I am not sure if I want to impress anyone…”

- “Oh, you do. But that’s your thing to decide. Changing subject, I have no idea why you didn’t want Gisele to drive the cart! Lass is doing great.”

- “Because now we are riding over main roads. Nice, clean and flat. Wait till we would enter side routes. She has a magical ability to find EVERY hole, pebble and mogul.”

- “You are exaggerating! It can’t be that ba…”

- “NA-HA-HA-HA! Sorry there! That rock came out of nowhere! Are you alright?” Could be heard from driver spot.

- “… that’s just a single event!”

- “FUCKING DEER!! Why it had to jump on the road right now?!”

I just gave Fional skeptical look. He opened his mouth to say something more, but another forced him to swallow his own words.

- “Ranald! Change Gisele…” The prince called one of his follower.

- “B..But how to convince a bloody dragon to stop doing what she enjoys?”

- “Politely, Ranald, politely.”

- “M..Miss, aren’t you tired? Maybe go rest with the others?”

- “Ah! That’s sweet of you! But I am all right! See? I am full of energy! I feel as if I can drive for day and night!”

- “Fucking perfect.” Prince cursed quietly. “Zari, do something. That’s your woman!”

- “She is more stubborn than a dwarf. If she would decide that she would start doing something, then she is the only one who can decide to stop it.”

- “Come on! You must have a trick in your sleeve!” He said after another. occurred

- “I told you. I want to meditate.”

- “You won’t be able to focus in such conditions!”

- “Adaptability is one of my strengths. Now excuse me.”

~ Heeeey. Reeead me!

What’s now, Codex?

~ I am bored! Read me!

Last time I did that my eyes exploded.

~ One – All-seeing-eyes you used is a spell that is not written on my pages, I have no idea where you get it from, but not from me. Two – you were the one who used unknown spell without consultation!

… I want to grow core! Who knows what a nice monster can await for me at mountains!

~ Listen brat. Do you know why I am not letting you reading me whenever you desire?

I have never thought about it. Maybe she has some limitations? Restrictions regarding time of uses? Maybe both me and her have to be on similar level of relaxation to allow mental link

… No

~ Because usually I have better things to do! Do you get it?! I AM FUCKING BOOOORED! Let’s do something crazy.

… I expected nothing, yet I am still disappointed.

Codex-chan. Can we do it when we would be heading back?

~ … I am a source of ultimate powers. I hold a 7th part of every knowledge regarding forbidden arts... DON’T IGNORE ME! Oh, I wonder what would happen if you would use Chaos magic in angelic form? I mean –these two shouldn’t work as angel is incarnation of light, but on the other hand magic relies more on soul then physical appearance.

How about you doing some simulations?

~GOT IT! See you in a week, fucker!

I let my mind drift as I entered meditation state. There is a trick about meditation I noticed – this skill was meant to be an exercise for mind and it takes various forms. And with time I could chose the form of the training I wanted – what does it means? Right now a computer-like screen opened in my mind and I was playing games. Yuup. Neat. Unfortunately it looks like my head doesn’t meet minimal requirements to play Skyrim, so I have to satisfy myself with memorization game. You know, 50 pairs of cards lying covered and I need to uncover two same using as few moves as possible. That’s something

Meditation - OnBoosts:INT +5

WIS +5

SPI +5

Mana regeneration up

Some of your skills may have additional effectsCore ProgressionsCreation of additional Core - On

Improving already existing Core - Off

After reaching level 5 with it, it started leveling up in extremely slow pace. 1% per hour. I grew and improved so many cores for past few months, yet meditating for hour before sleep brought me only here – 97%. Maybe I should go for a month into the mountains to find inner peace and meditate? Well, I am heading into mountains right now, yet I doubt I would find time for meditating. At least I can use this time now.

I am a peaceful mind. My thoughts flow so easily. I am a calm oasis of… MOTHERFUCKER! I am sure that card with two hearts was exactly fucking here! You won’t lie to me, fucking brain! I remember where was a card I uncovered barely 10 moves ago!... oh, it was one to left… sorry, brain! Like a meditating monk my mood is unchanging…

- “Sorry!”

- “For fuck sake! I clicked the wrong card because of you!”… I said that aloud, didn’t I?

- “W..what do you mean? You act weird, Zari… Wait, is he meditating again?”

- “He does!”

- “He always gets somewhat irritated. I thought it was supposed to calm you down!”

- “It does! You leading the carriage into every hole drives me mad! Come here already!”

- “Hey! I won’t get better if I won’t try!”

- “Then train without passengers!”

- “Hmph! You are a big boy, you will withstand some turbulen… ”

- “Lesson one – eyes on the road Gis!”

- “How did you know that I wasn’t looking?”

- “I didn’t. it was a bluff. You told me now, though.”

- “Bastard!”

- “Technically I can’t be a bastard for I was shaped of clay – no parents means no cheating father and such.”

- “Grr! Ranald, your offer to change me is till up to date?”

- “Yes! YES! It is! If you feel tired, annoyed, hungry, thirsty, hot or cold you should totally take a rest!”

- “At least one gentleman on this journey…” Sweet, innocent child. “…What do you want from me?” She asked as she got inside.

I patted with hand place next to me asking her to sit. She did as I asked, then I just laid my head on her shoulder, both to get myself comfortable and restrict her from returning on the driver’s spot, just in case her mood would improve and she wanted to [train driving a cart] again. Before I shut my eyes again I saw Florian thanking me with his gaze.

Ok. Game – resume… Symbol of sun… I am pretty sure I saw it somewhere.

I kept meditating till evening, finally leveling up meditation till level 6th

Your skill [Meditation Level 5] has leveled up [Meditation] is now level 6Bonus Mental Attributes:INT +2

WIS +2

SPI +2Additional effects of certain skills while being in [Meditation] state will be improvedTime needed to create new core and improve already existing will be decreased

Yup. I definitely should spend some more time meditating, free attributes point is a great thing. I am getting almost half of level by growing cores. I know that speed of leveling up decreases, but if hypothetically 1 hour of meditations earns me 1% of skill exp, and I could meditate for 20 hour per days, then after 10 days I would got 12 free points. Almost a level up. How often do I level up? Definitely not every 10 days. Ahhh. Man can dream.

- “Okay, lads! It’s getting dark. Find some nice place to stop and make a camp. Tsh, two more days till we reach Red Mountain. You know what is best in traveling?” He asked me. “Visiting new places, trying new food, checking how miserably humans are trying to make beer and the worst about traveling? It’s traveling. DAH! Those stupid mages are keeping the Ancients Gates for themselves! It could make communication so much easier!”

- “I traveled by Gate once…” I said remembering my first journey from Forest to Capital “… it is fast, but not very comfortable. Makes your head spin, your guts to twist, and then you are dizzy for next two days. 3/10, wouldn’t travel again if I would have a choice.”

- “Still, reduce time needed for traveling from a week to two days is something worthy being mentioned.”

- “No country would ever allow to freely use gates. Taxes. As a merchant yourself. Yes, I know that you are not just a merchant… but as merchant yourself you know that usually you have to pay a percent of value of your goods, if you would skip traveling through few kingdoms the monarch would lose too much gold coins.”

- “… Fair point. I wasn’t thinking about economical aspect of gates. Then – a fee from using a gate? Still worth it. Kings would have a coin and merchants would save a coin that they would normally spend on food and inns. HALT! That’s right spot. Move bit off road so we wouldn’t be that visible. “

We set a camp, lit a fire in the middle, cooked some meat and feasted in pleasant mood.

- “Ok lads, who would take a first shift…”

- “I will guard camp for whole night. You can rest.” I said. “I already have a trick prepared.”

Ok. Let’s try this.

Meditation - OnBoosts:INT +6

WIS +6

SPI +6

Mana regeneration up

Some of your skills may have additional effectsCore ProgressionsCreation of additional Core - On

Improving already existing Core - Off

Now, next step!

Ability [Map Mind] activated.Spell [Echo of Earth] activatedBecause of [Meditation] skill radios of [Echo of Earth] has been increased

Map mind, skill I got in tower, has created a vision of my surroundings – these I already traveled by, the part of map covered in [fog] became partly transparent after using [Echo], which also marked magic and life forces around. I [saw] everything in radius of 300-400 meters. I saw lifes of Gisele and few dwarves around, plants, insects and few smaller mammals around. I set on some kind of [Alarm] that would inform me when some bigger source or life or mana would enter area of spell’s effect. I waited for couple of minute to see how high is mana consumption, and after quick calculation I learned that I have more than enough mana to last till the morning. Here I come, my sweet bonus 8% of Meditation skill exp!

Now, maybe I would play [Leave the maze]? Vision of maze from above appeared in my mind for ten seconds with me inside before being covered in fog. Hur hur hur. My inside nerd is nicely teased.

After a few hours, when rest of the team fell asleep and I finished few more rounds of game, my alarm rang quietly in my head. I open the Map, just to see a couple of lifeforces that could be described as “above average in size”. Stronger than humans, something like minotaurs from the tower. I whistled a bit waking everyone up.

- “We have a company. 280 meters on West. They must have seen fire from the road, they moved off the road stepping in bushes. Taking into consideration their actions, they are intelligent, animals would leave us be and monsters attack frontally, guessing by the pace of them traveling through the bushes, they are used to living in forest and can see quite well in darkness, and because they are trying to approach us from the darkened side, they don’t have good intentions.”

- “Raghol! Get the crossbow, Tharig, Thorig, shields and axes! On your position!... Guessing by the behaviors we are about to get visited by Ogres. What are they doing so far from Mountains?! How many?”

- “Hard to say, they are moving close to each other and their life forces are overlapping! More than four, maybe five.”

- “In that case six. It’s a scout team. Six for scouts, fifteen for camp, thirty for raid. That won’t be much of a challenge, still, that old fart will welcome us… pardon… welcome me warmer if I would bring few ogres heads with me. Gentlemen and lady, let’s dance with fucking green-skin!”

Advertisement A note from Anuel

And once again. I feel really weird by doing this, and by weird i mean bad, but i am afraid that i have to put my pride aside

I (my family) really do have financial problems. Once again, if every 10th follower I have would pledge a dollar my situation would improve by a lot. Please, if you are enjoying the story and wish me to continue creating it at a similar pace as in last two weeks, consider helping me out. Trust me, if i could choose, i would prefer not showing that embarrassing situation of my family. Yet i still wish to believe, that by art can at least partly help out my family. Otherwise, i would be forced to start looking for part time job which would greatly reduce my free time i use to write, for as i overheard conversation of my parents, they said that we would have problems paying bills in next month.

Damn, i just felt naked

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Chapter RSS About the author 2 Fictions 0 Posts 0 Threads Anuel Follow Author Friday, July 28, 2017 7:11:54 PM

Bio: Some people want me to write with Style, some people want me to write with Passion, some people wish to see me using logic, yet I... I find madness to be much more alluring.

Srsl tho, I am kinda crazy, ya know?

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