Chapter 46: On the Road Again

Words : 1627 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 46: On the Road Again “You see, this one’s technically a silver penny, but everyone calls it an ‘acorn’ because of, well, obvious reasons. You can buy yourself a meal or an ale with one of these at most taverns. Meal might cost a few if it’s a more well-to-do kind of place. Ten of these acorns are worth one of these, an ‘oak’. I can’t remember what those are supposed to be called, now that I think about it, but it doesn’t matter! Just call it an oak and everyone will know what you’re talking about.” Jadis listened to Ludwas’ earnest explanation of money and coin with only one ear. Or rather, she did so with Jay’s ears, that third of her mind focusing on the man as he walked next to her, the two of them a few paces to the left of the slow-moving wagon. As he talked, he held up the two different silver coins, examples of the ones she’d looted from the dead village. “You could buy a new set of clothes for a couple of these oaks,” Ludwas continued. “Or buy a chicken for one, maybe a smatterling for two oaks if you’re into that kind of egg. I think a cheese wheel would go for one oak if you wanted one of those—” Ludwas continued listing out examples of what acorns and oaks could buy, not following any particular pattern and occasionally using words that Jadis had no familiarity with. But he was genuinely trying to inform her of what were reasonable prices for commodities she might want or need, so she appreciated the effort. As Ludwas talked and Jay listened, Dys held her own conversation with Gerwas on the right side of the wagon. “Maybe about two years? Close to that, I’d say,” the mercenary grumbled, scratching as his thick beard. “I’ve lost track of what moon it is but suffice to say it’s been well on two years since the demon lord struck Weigrun.” “Just Weigrun? If he’s here, I’d think there’d be more, I don’t know, destruction?” Dys prompted. Keeping two different conversations going at the same time was a little taxing for Jadis, but with her Refracted Mind skill it was manageable. Gerwas shook his head, making a symbol with his fingers across his chest Jadis didn’t recognize but assumed was either superstitious or religious. Was superstition a thing in a world with magic and gods? “This demon lord is a sly one, gods blast him. He didn’t rally one massive army and charge the eastern borders like they usually do in all the stories. We would have been ready for that. Instead, he sent smaller armies to different lands all around the edges of the empire, forcing us to spread our own forces thin to protect the people. Then, while the empire’s armies were busy dealing with the fodder, he sent a true invasion force to the Rubeline Dominion. Whole country’s overrun. Poor bastards...” Gerwas trailed off at the end, a look of pained pity on his face. Jadis wondered if he had some direct experience with what had happened or knew people from the fallen country. She didn’t press those questions, though. “Can’t the empire push them out of Rubeline? The demons, I mean?” Dys asked, trying to get as much information on the world situation as possible. The man shrugged and shook his head. “Not yet, no. Like I said, this demon lord is a tricky bastard.” There was the little hand sign again. “He took the islands and the main landmass of the Dominion, then built walls. Walls! His force there mostly just stays holed up and protected, sending out random numbers of wild demons to chip away at our defenses while in the meantime, our armies can’t breach their defenses because of how spread thin we are.”CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m “That sounds pretty bad,” Dys nodded along. “Well, it’s not the end of the world. We’ll root them out eventually,” Gerwas said, putting a bit more spirit in his gruff voice. “This invasion will be a long one, drawn out, but we’ll win again, always do. They say the hero’s up north dealing with the demons that invaded there. It’s only a matter of holding out long enough for him to get strong enough to slay the corrupting wretch. And we’ll be getting stronger, too! Dark times to live in, demon invasion and all, but with all the extra experience Valtar and his holy host grant us for slaying Samleos’ demon spawn, we’ll be far stronger than our parents before us.” At the mention of parents, Gerwas quickly looked up at Dys, giving her an apologetic grimace. “Ah, sorry, didn’t mean to bring up any sore wounds.” “No, it’s fine,” Dys assured him. Jadis didn’t have to try to fake a frown on her face. She didn’t actually know what had happened to her parents back on Earth now that she was dead and reborn. Were they alright? She had no idea how she had died, or for how long she’d been dead. She hoped they were doing okay. Jadis put the thought of her parents aside, not willing to let her spirits be dampened. They’d have been just as excited as her at the thought of exploring a fantasy world with magic and adventure. Maybe not so much the sexually deviant stuff— Ugh. She did not want to start thinking down that route. Syd let out a bark of laughter at the innuendo. She was glad to know that old saying was shared between Earth and Oros. “No, no, nothing to do with your height,” Syd grinned back at the man. “If you really want to know, I’ll say that she’s more our type, if you get my meaning.” Syd hooked a thumb over her shoulder, indicating Aila driving the wagon. “Oh. Oh!” Volker exclaimed, the realization lighting up his eyes. “Well damn me then. That’s that then.” Specht chose that moment to break into the conversation, adding his own commentary for the first time in over an hour. “Better luck next time, boy. You’ll find a big’un who’ll fall for you eventually,” the now chuckling man teased, patting Volker on the shoulder. “Maybe you should head for the west, find yourself a nice orc lady. You might even live through the wedding night if you gain a few more levels!” Volker brushed off Specht’s hand, ignoring the jibe. He looked up at Syd with a half-smile, shrugging his shoulders. “What can I say, I have a type, too.” “What about her then?” Syd motioned behind her again. “She’s tall, for a human, right?” Volker laughed, shaking his head. “I’ve been trying to entice Bean Pole since spring, but she’s as cold as the winter wind to me. Despite my best efforts, I haven’t even seen a hint of a smile from her sent my way.” Volker dramatically clutched at his heart with one hand. “Ah! To be tempted by such beauty on a daily basis yet turned away like a beggar at the tavern door. Torture! And now three more temptations suddenly appear, making their way into my broken heart, kindling hope, only to quash it just as quickly! I am truly the most piteous of Valtar’s children!” Jadis found it hard not to crack up at Volker’s overly theatrical histrionics. Bursting out into laughter while Dys was learning about demon invasions from Gerwas and Jay was politely discussing armor and weapon prices with Ludwas would have been more than a little impolite, not to mention confusing. Syd still openly giggled at the performance the mercenary was putting on, happy he had a sense of humor about his failed advances at least. Once she had her giggles under control, Syd asked the still bemoaning man, “You called Aila something just before. Bean Pole? What’s that about?” “Hm? Oh, just a nickname. Apparently, it’s from her childhood. I know she might not seem like much compared to you and your kin, but she really is quite tall for a human woman,” Volker answered. “I think her uncles call her that, so we all started to.” “Huh,” Syd mused. Bean Pole was appropriate for a person of great height, she supposed, but she wouldn’t want to have a nickname like that. It wasn’t exactly flattering. “You know, you may have better luck with her than I have,” Volker broke into Jadis’ thoughts. “What? Who, Aila?” Syd furrowed her brows down at the now slyly grinning man. “Who knows? That might be why all my attempts have been met with failure. I’m not one to begrudge another their chance at glory. If you’re interested, I say make a move.” Syd’s lips quirked at Volker’s advice. She hadn’t been too focused on the redhead, what with everything else vying for her attention, but the girl was in her strike zone. Those freckles splashed across her cheeks and nose were adorably cute. Both Jay and Dys eyed Aila surreptitiously while they continued their own conversations. Jadis had noticed Aila was giving the two of her glances, always quickly looking away whenever their eyes met. Was there a chance? Well, as Jadis had observed not all that long ago, bold actions usually worked out for her. Couldn’t hurt to test the waters, see how Aila responded. Only, if she was going to flirt with the pretty redhead, she was damn well not going to do it with her two uncles walking right next to her.

Chapter 46: On the Road Again

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