Chapter 95: Troublesome Day

Blood drips, slow down the walls. So many bodies, no, I don’t want to join them. Feeling chains on my arms. My body, so heavy. I must fight…

Waking in a cold sweat. Rising from bed like a bullet. What a nightmare. Shivering at the slowly fading memory. Quickly escaping the suffocating sheets. Feeling them clinging to my body.

Stepping out of bed and stumbling slightly. Legs heavy underfoot. Eventually reaching my bathroom, turning my shower on. Sat down with my legs to my chest, feeling the warmth rush over me like a soothing hug.

Eventually, I feel like starting my day. Finally looking out the window to see the sun only slightly cresting above the horizon. “Damn, how early is it?” Looking at my clock answers me, 7am.

I went to bed at around 5, I didn’t sleep at all. What a pain, should I return to bed? Flashes of my nightmare responding to my internal query. That’s a no then, now am I going insane? Throwing a bit of humor did help my mental state.

Heading downstairs, I trip and fall. Nearly hitting the offending object, before realizing Sling chose to sleep on the bottom step.

“Why do you test me,” I say with a sigh, to who? I don’t know. Continuing my route to my kitchen. Spotting chic touching up some webbing clearly designed to hit me in the face. Approaching silently, I get within 2 meters before Chic spots me. Shrieking in terror seeing me before falling off the web.

“Serves you right, troublemaker,” I say with a hiss before swatting away the web. I’m in no mood today for this crap.

To combat my mood, I prepare some boiled eggs. Something ate by me throughout my childhood. Tasty and extremely good for you.

Watching the eggs boil away in swirling water. Snapping out of my partial trance to realize I've over-boiled the eggs. Lightly massaging my temples before pulling my hair back.

I calmly place those eggs in some cold water before boiling some more. Taking the time to peel the failed eggs. Grating them on a cheese grater before mixing them with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, and a hint of chiv. Guess I'm having an egg sandwich for lunch today. Taking the eggs out of the water to slowly cool while I prepare the sandwich. Spreading the mixture evenly before wrapping and refrigerating them.

Turning to my now boiled eggs with some thinly sliced toast. The meal was quick but sentimental. The eggs soft, not runny, not hard, just slightly set.

Disposing of the shells and cleaning the plate; before walking to my study for my therapeutic reading. Opting for a more fictional novel over useful literature to me. Ignoring the titles, ‘History of the empire’ and ‘Ancient kingdoms.’ Preferring enjoyment over the information in this specific situation.

A small tidbits housed within the neglected books include the crusade of the dragon. A foolish attempt at killing the ancient creatures for the safety of the world, or so they say. The opposite book seems to think it was a wealth grab. Ending in complete disaster, given they neglected to account for ancient dragons. The army was led by a war hero. Prince Hirnlos, a poor choice given he died first. Failing to account for the lethality of baby dragons, died to a juvenile.

They never did find the items dropped from the half dozen dragons they did kill. What a waste of life; such a shame.

As much as they are dangerous, they don’t kill for no reason. Having a small territory, they guard with care. They sleep for massive amounts of time to sustain their gigantic bodies. Allowing the earth to replenish before eating and then returning to their slumber. A smart method to sustain massive bodies.

Enjoying the book, a simple book of saving. The journey to save his dying wife, heart-warming if overused. Setting it down, I rise from my comfortable chair. Let's go say hello to Jengal.

‘knock, knock,’ I drum on the door in slight rhythm. Finding a familiar figure, his mother. “Hello, Aeternum, please come in.” She says as if it’s an option. She drags me in with fervor before handing me a tray of biscuits. Sitting me down on the sofa before shouting at the top of her lungs. “Aeternums here, go entertain your guest.”

She then immediately slumps into an opposite chair. Opening a book off to her side with delicate care. Flipping through pages rapidly, eyes darting around like cannonballs. Hearing loud footsteps on the floor, my attention turns to the newest arrival.

A slightly out of breath Jengal with fluffy hair and soft cotton pajamas, “Hey Jengal.” I say with a light smile and a wave. Once breath returns to his body, he returns the pleasantry. Seating himself comfortably on the sofa.

“Bit early, don’t ya think?” He says in a slight accent.

“Couldn’t sleep, it's 10am; you will live,” I say unremorsefully.

His eyes dropping ever so slightly before his focus returns. “Fine, fine; what you been up to in the last few days?”

Mulling over his words for a moment, “I've been improving upon different areas of enhancements.” Realizing he’s unaware of my clone body system. Telling him I have a vampiric body, is unwise.

“What enhancements?” Tilting his head slightly.

“Magical improvements to speed, damage, durability, and general survivability.”

“Sounds cool, made any progress.”

I nod, “Some, some; it’s definitely not something I will be giving out too easily. I already stand out enough.”

He snorts in laughter, even his mother cocking an eye while sniggering. “Man, you already the center of attention. The whole streets are talking about you. You have a cult of builders worshipping you.” He says in between fits of light laughter.

“I do hope that cult thing is a joke.”

“Of course, although they still love you. The builder is… considered a poor mans job. That was until you erected an island, a couple ships, and your own house in record time.”

I just lightly rub my head, “Oops.”

Which garnered another fit of laughter between the pair.

“You have got to show me how you build so fast sometimes.”

I shrug slightly before removing my builder's wand. “This lets me place lots of blocks at once. Combined with flight and a bit of creativity, you can build very fast.”

“You’re a one-man army; that’s awesome.” He opts not to test it within his own home. Allowing me to return it to my bag. “You know, flying is great. The flying belt was a good choice. The odd robber is easy to deal with. Ant that right, mum?”

She nods affirmatively, “Although, I lost my only excuse not to visit gran. She lives on the other side of town, so I always said she's too far away. Now, with flight, she doesn’t let me off the hook.”

His mother interjects, “You know you should visit her, don’t be mean; she raised you for half your life.”

Jengal slumps into his chair slightly, “But she's so boring. Keeps trying to teach me to cook.”

“A valuable skill you would do well to learn. She used to be a well-renowned chef.”

“Cookings boring though, it's no adventure.”

“I could get her to teach you knitting; she makes a great scarf.” Which gained a quick “No way.” His mother smiling in victory before sinking back into her book.

I finally enter back into the conversation. “I cook, you know, it’s a really good skill to have.”

He looks at me in surprise, “You too? I can't win.” Sulking even more.

Smiling lightly, “I don’t think you can sink any further into that chair.”

Suddenly, light returns to his face. “I almost forgot, guess what I found.”

“Do tell.”

“Found a guy up north selling those crystals you wanted. Wants a small fortune for them, but he will sell you all you need.”

“Sounds good, mail me the address and contact details. I’ll give the man a visit.”

Beaming with energy once more, he somehow ropes me into going for a walk with him. He called it a walk, but I would personally call it a sprint. “Slow down,” I shout at the rapidly disappearing blur. Finally catching up with the athlete, I catch my breath.

Returning to the pace of a brisk walk, he slowly shows me places of interest to him. A few hiding spots that won him a tournament. Every year the local children play a massive game of hiding and seek. Split into 3 groups evenly, the hiders, the seekers, and the watchers. The latter is to stop cheating and make sure the rules are upheld.

He apparently remained undetected, found over 12 people by himself, and caught a single cheater. Netting him a small monetary reward. The cheater in question tried to leave the walls to hide outside the playing area.

Jengal managed to hide inside a really small cavity within an overgrown area. So small I questioned if he’s a contortionist when seeing it.

Eventually, I bid him farewell, mostly because I can't keep up with him without activating some kind of powerup. If he had a Soujourner's Sash or even more so a globetrotter's sash, he would be a terror.

Next on my visit list, Cassie. Finding her street quiet in the early afternoon. ‘Knock, knock’ “Anyone home?” I say jokingly.

A beautifully dressed woman answers the door. “Hey Cassie, good afternoon.”

She gives me a light hug, “Good afternoon.”

Entering, I prepare us both some tea. Something I made myself, some fermented black raspberry leaves, desiccated apple skin, and peppermint. It’s an extremely fragrant tea, I note to myself while serving it. “Hope you like it, I made the tea myself.

“I know you made it; you just walked into my kitchen to make it.”

Faltering slightly, “No, I made the tea I used.”

She looks into the cup, smelling it. “I see, that’s why it smells unique.”

Taking a careful sip, she takes on a look of contemplation. She then sets down the tea. Deflating slightly at her lack of response. “So, how is it?”

She turns to me, “Ah, yes, it's nice.” For some reason that didn’t make me feel better.

I sit comfortably next to her and enjoy the tea in her company. She is idly looking over some documents, work most likely.

We sit in that comfortable limbo for a time. Eventually, I start the conversation, “How have you been.”

“I've been fine, nothing interesting happened while you were gone.”

“So, only interesting things happen when I'm around?”

“Yes, it’s mighty suspicious when a giant crater appears when you're around.” I attempt to not show embarrassment on my face.

“Yes, how strange. Did anyone ever figure out what happened?” I ask, a little curious.

“Some kind of energy explosion, they think it was a relic of some kind.”

“I see, how interesting.”

“It's totally your fault isn’t it?” She asks while looking me in the eye.

Deflating slightly, “Yeah, totally me.”

“Knew it, I won the bet with Average.” She says with excitement.

“A bet?”

“Yeah, he said it was a coincidence, I said it was absolutely you. So, what happened?”

“Well, I was fishing right. And while fishing I disturbed something sleeping at the bottom of the ocean. A short battle later and boom, we have a crater.”

“A little underwhelming,” She grumbles. “It’s just like you to fish something out the lake. Something somehow missed by 3 generations of fishermen from this town.” She says with a hint of sarcasm.

“Has anyone ever explored the bottom of that lake?” I ask in reply.

“No, why would they? It’s a lake.”

I just sigh in defeat, “Well sorry, my bad.”

She nods acceptingly before returning to her book.

I couldn’t resist asking, “So, how much did you bet?”

She turns to me with a beaming smile, “I’m 10 silver richer.” The merchant side of her rearing its head as her eyes turn to silver coins.

“Glad I helped you earn some money. Although I should head off, didn’t get much sleep. Wanted to go fishing before heading home.” She just snorts before replying.

“Yeah, and pull something out of the water while you are at it.” Enjoying the excellent sarcasm, I leave. I do hope I don’t fish anything nasty out of that water.