This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/PepperAntique on 2024-10-28 23:04:55+00:00.

Previous / First

Writer's Note: Journeys continue for everybody. And Joey and Noodle find something to bond over. Hatred of annoying forest critters.

Enjoy.

Joey grunted as he made it over the last few feet of the path and up onto the vista overlooking the small valley in front of him.

Ykmir had been correct about it being a difficult path to take, and also about it being cold. He pulled the collar of his new jacket up as a gust of wind kicked up and brought a chill with it.

The chill was quickly dismissed as Noodle crawled up the path beside him, using her inner heat to keep herself warm.

She looked at him with the same distrust she'd shown ever since the clearing, and he had a feeling that that was gonna stick around for a while.

At least now she was letting him touch her without issue. A privilege he exercised as she strode past. He reached out and let his hand run down her side, giving the occasional scratch as he did. The warmth within the drake's core was akin to a campfire, and made his hands feel worlds better than the simple gloves he was wearing.

Ykmir hadn't been wrong about the cold. And he also hadn't been wrong about the danger of the mountains.

He'd been traveling through them for the better part of a week now. And already he'd narrowly avoided dying at the hands of several landslides, a wind storm that had battered the both of them with hail and the gritty dirt around them, several minor quakes, and one wandering air elemental that they'd both instinctively hidden from in a naturally formed hollow at the base of a tree.

The elemental hadn't been anywhere near as impressive as the fire elemental that had ravaged the capital. But it had still been a forty foot high wind monster that had legitimately looked like the Tornado Titan from the old Hercules movie of his parent's childhood. It had been wandering between several of the smaller peaks aimlessly, picking things up and tossing them around like an infant throwing a tantrum. They'd had to wait several hours before it had simply.... dissipated into the air again.

Oh, and there were the creatures he was starting to think of as the shit-slingers.

He'd heard of them, somewhat. Some of the tavern patrons had mentioned getting harassed by them on their way to a mine near the town he'd left. According to those chit-chatters at the tavern they were actually called canyon slingers. But given their tendency to throw anything they could get their hands on, even if it was their own excrement, and the fact that their mocking noises were made by pursing their lips and making rather.... gaseous.... noises. Joey had come to think of them as shit-slingers.

They were roughly the size of a toddler, maybe fifty or sixty pounds at most. And the closest thing he could think of to compare them to were gibbons from Earth. Gibbons if they'd developed their arms like gorillas, and had ignored their legs to the point that they were almost vestigial.

They were, for whatever reason, endemic to this region of the mountains.

And after the first few days, Joey could honestly say that they were on the very, VERY, short list of things he absolutely hated. 

As he rounded the bend in the small path they'd chosen, Joey saw another forest in front of them, similar to the ones they'd already come through, and he picked his shield back up from where it hung on his arm. It was actually just a piece of tree trunk that was roughly the size of a shield, which he'd fashioned simple arm straps for. But it did the trick.

And sure enough, as they neared the trees he began to hear the familiar farting noise that the shit-slingers used as a warning cry of some kind.

"I fucking hate these things." He said as he heard the, increasingly familiar, rumble of Noodle getting ready to use her fire.

A tree branch flew at him and he blocked it easily as his eyes glowed lightly.

The second it thunked off of his shield a jet of fire flew at its source and one of the monkey-like creatures yowled as it scurried off into the deeper woods.

It was kind of nice to think that Noodle was, at least to some degree, protective of him. Although it wasn't impossible that she was also just as annoyed by the things as he was.

But, unfortunately, there was never only ONE of the shit slingers.

Joey held his shield up over his head and thanked himself for having the forethought to ensure that his outer layers of clothing were all at least semi-waterproof. There had already been a few times, thanks to the slingers, where he'd needed to use his enchanted ewer to wash off their.... mess... while he'd been setting camp for the night.

This was going to be a long portion of the trip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Papers please." The blue armored guard outside the city gate demanded with an outstretched hand.

Gorna produced their papers as Five finished with the bit of crochet she'd been working on as they waited in line.

"Say." Gorna said with a note of curiosity, causing Five to look up. "I've never been here before. Are you a member of the Cobalt Legion?"

"I am." The guard said as he inspected their papers. His off hand was tapping at the side of his ornate helmet. He waited for a few moments, and both of them could feel some kind of magical effect happening to the helmet, though it was hard to tell what. "Ah, you're the Earth travelers. Yes?"

They both nodded.

"I've wanted to see this place since I was just a child." Gorna said. And it wasn't a lie. "Even in Vatria we've heard of some of the amazing inventions that have come from this place. And now with the new Gates." She gestured at the crowd around them. "I can see why you would be so busy."

"Right." The guard saidThe as he handed their papers back. "Earth has already had their demonstration. But yes. It's become quite the sight. Mages from all over are coming to inspect them." They shrugged, causing the blue armor to clank and rattle slightly. "Seem to be forgetting that the Duke doesn't let things work like that." He gestured toward the open city gate with his helmeted head. "Now if you don't mind, the Duke would like you to visit him at your earliest convenience. Please enjoy your stay in Ostielle."

There was no question in the last statement, and the Cobalt Legionnaire was already gesturing for the next visitors to move forward and present their paperwork.

"First the King. Now a Duke." Gorna wondered as she trotted through the large gateway. "We seem to be a hot commodity."

"I thought this city was run by a lord?" Five questioned as she tucked away her needles and the incomplete sweater in one of the saddlebags.

"Must have been promoted thanks to the new Gates." Gorna replied. "Makes sense. That's a proper shake up for the nation's status among the other countries of the world."

The two of them paused as they finally got past the cities outer walls.

"Jesus Christ." Five said as she stood up and braced herself on Gorna's shoulders.

"This is.... not what I imagined of a city famed for its mages." Gorna said as she took in the sight before them.

"It's a shit-hole." Five said flatly. "I've blown up E.A.C. dirt villages that look like mansions compared to this place."

As they stood there, taking in the overwhelmingly haphazard construction of the city, a person was sent flying from one building's third floor window. It wasn't like they'd been thrown, but more like they'd been launched by a catapult. And they crashed into a building across the street with an explosion of straw and feathers.

"What the fuck?" Five asked, beating Gorna to it by a split second.

"Success number ten!" The person yelled as they stood up from among the mess of, what was apparently a landing pad for whatever they were doing. "Add more power!"

"Just the mage's quarter." An older man in fancy clothing said as he hobbled past with the assistance of a cane. His right arm was in a sling, yet he still had a long and slender rapier sheathed on his left side. "In about a mile you hit the beginning of the entertainment district. It's a lot less nonsensical after that."

Another person flew overhead with a scream that was equal parts fear and joy.

They... didn't... hit the improvised padding this time, instead impacting on the side of the building behind it and crashing through the wooden structure.

"Failure number seven!" The first flying person called out as the two of them sensed healing magic from out of sight.

"Lets get to that entertainment district." Gorna said, to which Five nodded.

"And then the duke." Five reminded her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Captain Kaladi watched as the commander questioned the people of the town Rangebottom.

He'd gathered them in the town square and had her cordon off the area. Now he was standing up on a box usually used for the towns crier.

"We have the authority of the King. And of my lord, the newly advanced Duke, to find this person." He said. "So any information you bring forth will gain you our favor, and potential rewards from the kingdom."

Kaladi wasn't surprised by the sudden murmur, or the fact that several people immediately raised their hands. Rewards always got answers, just not always useful one.

The Commander ignored them for now and pointed at the large, blue-skinned, half giant who was standing toward the back of the crowd. Sp...
***
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1gefzc9/rebirth_relearn_return_gateverse_48/