January 16, 2019, 8:19am.

Half an hour later I'm testing my latest umbrella design when I realize it's getting easier. At first, I'm excited, but then I realize the rain has nearly stopped. Damnit. Stupid rain.

A curtain of rain stretches from north to south, moving away from me to the west. When I turn my head to the east I can see more rain approaching. I have a short window of clear sky before it catches up. So, I make the most of it, running along the riverbank. Except with the rain receding, I can't hear moving water. Stepping closer to the bank, I look over. There's a distinct lack of river. I must have wandered away.

On the plus side, I can't be lost. Because I never knew where I was in the first place. There’s also my connection, which acts as a compass which leads to the others. So yeah, not lost.

Speaking of the others, I clamber over the not-a-river bank, moving in a westerly direction while preparing for my next opportunity to send a pulse to Beth. As my feet hit the ground on the other side, the pulse arrives.

When the connection solidifies, it gets really solid. Something is qualitatively different this time. The image clarifies, the face of the giant K'tharn greeting me. Its whiskers twitch as I mentally gag at its fish breath. I nearly forget myself, but whisper, "I'm getting closer. Over halfway."

While I’m whispering I hear the K'tharn pronounce the word "chair" slowly while pointing to a nearby combination of wood and leather, that I suppose could pass for a chair. If you don’t like chairs with lumbar support or padding. Pretty sure she should be calling it a stool. But hey, who am I to judge the giant murder kitty's vernacular while it's giving language lessons to Beth.

Its language of choice is eastern Vausian. Because of course, they named the language after the goddess they think destroyed their world.

Fun fact, off the top of my head, I can name twenty-four different words to describe the texture of meat in Vausian.

The giant has a distinct accent, rolling her r’s a little more than Uthica was used to, but it's nice to know she's using a language I recognize. How embarrassing would it be to download a language primer that didn’t work?

Beth nods her head in response to my statement, getting to her feet while holding her hand up in the symbol she taught us meant to stop or hold on.

The giant K'tharn steps back for a second, waiting. It appears they're in a hidebound tent. Now that Beth's standing, I notice the super soft rug beneath her feet. Beth makes a point of squiggling her toes in the luxurious carpet while sweeping her eyes across it. The intricate weaving depicts a sole K'tharn fighting off what seems to be a swarm of twisted little monsters, using nothing but fireballs and lightning bolts. At least I think that’s what’s depicted beneath the chair, the giant K'tharn and Beth's feet.

It's a crowded tent. It's also a nice and dry tent. I should take notes.

In the last second, I see Beth's eyes return to the K'tharn, gesturing for her to continue. As the connection fades I hear Beth mangle the word for chair so badly, she manages to say feet instead. Progress.

As my connection to Beth weakens, something else hits me.

Beth couldn't believe she let herself be fooled again. She was making her way through the forest, her inexperienced team behind her. They'd said she'd be leading experts this time.

Instead, she had a kid who looked like they were barely out of high school with an old man who was closer to retirement than his prime. Her eyes scanned the forest for threats as they moved.

At least their fourth seemed like he could handle himself, though she doubted he'd had proper training. But you worked with what you were given. It wouldn't be the first time she'd made heroes out of mice.

As they were cresting a rise, she heard the kid speak. Turning her head Beth started to respond......

The vision fades, sending me spiralling back to my body. I'm left disoriented for a second. That was more like reliving Uthica's memories than my previous connections to Beth. Weird.

Shaking it off, I start running, that rain won't wait forever. I follow the pulse in a straight line. It takes me two minutes to reach the river bank at my best run. Apparently, I managed to wander a lot further than I expected. On the plus side, the improvised bra, tightened onesie and full metal boots work better than I'd hoped.

It feels good to be running.

I never thought I'd think that. My efforts even have tangible gains.

“Skill increased: Running (3)”

On top of that, I’m not out of breath. Stamina is freaking amazing.

As much as I'm loathe to do so, on account of the water monsters, I climb down next to the river, keeping it in my sight. I feel vindicated by this decision when the rain returns moments later, cutting off vision past a couple of meters.

I bet I wouldn't have to deal with a little rain if I'd taken the Fire-Storm Elementalist class. I'd probably be flying around in the clouds, directing the rain. I wouldn't have to worry about mana poisoning either.

Not that I'm too worried about my mana poisoning.

Yet.

Currently, it doesn't have any effect other than increased sensitivity. Which isn't necessarily a problem. Considering that if it gets worse I'll die, I’m not planning to ignore it either. Who knows what options I'll have, but next time I get the opportunity, I've every intention of taking my class.

Back on track, it's time to review my attributes and notes. Okay, attributes and resources first. Focusing on my interface, I'm able to convince it to show my current attributes as well as what they're increasing to.

PANDORA ATTRIBUTE VALUE ADJUST STRENGTH -20 (+/-) CONSTITUTION 0 (+/-) AGILITY 12 (+/-) ENDURANCE 5 (+/-) INTELLECT 80 > 83 (+/-) SPIRIT 80 > 83 (+/-) PERCEPTION 32 (+/-) RESOLVE 11 (+/-) Integration Points RESOURCE CURRENT/MAX [EDGE] (REGEN) Health 42/44 > 42/45 [-3.2] (20)/d > (21/d) (15)/d Stamina 43/59 > 43/61 [1.9] (31)/d Mana 283/292 > 283/301 [26.8] > [27.7] (224)/d > (233)/d Focus 190/214 > 190/220 [15.7] > [16.0] (141)/d > (145)/d Matrix Facet 28/71 > 28/73 [6.2] > [6.4] (53)/h > (55)/h

Nothing unexpected here, on to my notes.

A quick glance is enough to realize I should reorganize them.

Several minutes later I'm done, leaving me with four separate lists.

List number one.

Things to remember so I don't die, horribly or otherwise.

Get some class Raise bed and leave drain holes (to prevent water from trying to kill me in my sleep) Avoid dragons Don’t throw rocks into the river Keep practicing magic Rescue others Resolve memories so I have full health regen

Not really looking forward to that last one, but tonight....

Tonight I'm going to try.

Okay, List numero… uhhh. Two. List numero two.

Things to remember so I can find a way home.

I’m able to use spatial magic to teleport to the standing stones. Practice, practice, practice. There’s a portal near the sanctuary city of Bethreyne. Easy to spot, the walls have a silvery lustre, like stainless steel. Really heavy rain may or may not be involved in travelling between worlds.

Nothing super concrete yet, but at least I have some ideas.

List number three.

Things that are awesome about coming here.

I have magic (again?) Smoulder Dragons (best to avoid but still totally awesome) Dinosaurs (same as dragons) Uthica Teleportation (does this count as magic? I don't care, I'm counting it twice.) Josh's pink bathrobe Laundry is super easy

I feel like the third list is especially important at this point. It's easy to get down about the crap I've gone through, especially reliving some of my most painful memories. But this world, with its magic, is pretty amazing.

List number four.

Things to try.

Flight mode using wind/metal/fire manipulation. Should be possible. Water walking on a nice shallow pond. This should also be used for early flight experiments. Figuring out how to do anything other than Return with spatial manipulation. Figure out how to time-freeze. Probably requires dealing with my memories.

I actually had a couple of other ideas for experiments written down, but I've already created better versions.

Despite my meandering thoughts and the onslaught of rain, I've been trying to keep my eyes open. So when I notice a dark shape moving across the river, I'm surprised. Because it wasn't there a moment ago.

Watching carefully, I realize it's not touching the surface of the river, so much as floating above it. I stop for a moment, staring out. The shape stops alongside me. Until I take my next step that is.

It doesn't move closer, but it follows along, matching my pace. When I stop, it stops. When I walk, it floats forward. It's creepy at first, but after having it shadow me for half an hour with no other signs, I start making a game of it. I try skipping, running then stopping, then I even try walking backwards. I do a pretty good job, only stumbling a little. It always keeps pace, but otherwise just floats there, matching my speed.

I do not throw rocks.

I don't stop watching it, but I decide I really should be doing some practice. Still not up for crafting. Definitely avoiding twilight and ice. Reaching for my water mana, it beads on my fingers, before snapping into the shape of my umbrella spell again.

Apparently, this is what the shape has been waiting for, as now that I'm distracted it decides to draw closer. I immediately let the mana disperse, but the damage is already done. The shape keeps approaching, so I quickly discover it was further out in the river than I'd thought.

By the time I'm able to clearly make out any details is when I realize there aren't many. It's a big ball of water, over eight meters in diameter. That means this thing could swallow our old moving van whole. The rippling motions along its surface are like little waves, searching for shore.

Even as I watch, I keep walking. My heart is beating a mile a minute but it hasn't actually attacked me. That said, after seeing how much damage water can do, I've no intention to provoke it. While I'm observing it, one of the smaller balls starts changing shape. At first, I'm worried it's decided to attack, but then it creates a copy of my umbrella.

Then it reforms the umbrella into a ball again, before slowly forming the umbrella once more. Is it having the same problems I'm having?

No, I can see the spell structure forming, snapping into place. It's different.

Hold on. I can't even see my own spell structures if they're outside my control radius (roughly 2.7 metres at this point.).

Oh. It's not copying me, it's using a different structure.

Is it showing me how to create the umbrella?

Resummoning my water umbrella, I start copying the giant orb's spell structure. Creating several concentric circles, I start linking them together with small triangle segments that are incorporated along the rim. By the time I'm done there's a crapload of little triangles connecting the circles.

Channelling mana into the finished structure, it forms into a smooth rounded barrier, a familiar notification appearing to herald my success.

"Spell discovered: Umbrella (Adaptive Water Shield). Would you like to add this spell to your preferred spells?"

Before I have time to inspect my new shield, nevermind read the spell description, the giant orb sends one of its lesser spheres hurtling towards me at a terrifying speed. Before I can think to dodge, the sphere smashes into my barrier. Instead of knocking me back, damaging the barrier or draining its strength, the sphere is absorbed. The barrier didn't just deflect the water, I can feel it has gotten stronger.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Staring at the giant orb, it bobs up and down several times. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was excited. As it's bobbing, it smacks into the river several times making large splooshing noises which cause Smoulder to finally take notice of it. I can practically feel the disdain oozing from her as she shakes her head before settling back down.

She doesn't take her eyes off the orb.

With its effectiveness thoroughly demonstrated, I replace my standard shield spell with Umbrella.

With my new and improved umbrella already out, I bring it into place above me while stowing the stone in my pack. The new spell is so effortless to maintain, that I can easily continue playing with water manipulation. With an audience right here, I decide to display my proficiency with the English alphabet.

I worked hard on it, I'm pretty proud of my results.

I'm at the letter E when it starts copying me, struggling to keep up. So I slow down, showing it each letter, one at a time, repeating them until it gets the hang of them. We go through the alphabet twice before I start holding up several letters at once. The most I've attempted before was three, but this time I go all out, holding six letters at once. After my breakthrough this morning, it's almost too easy.

"Alexis," I say pointing at my name hanging in front of me, then pointing at myself. I repeat this pattern a couple times when a gurgling sound issues forth.

"Ahl lexx hiss," it says. There's an echo to it, but it just repeated my name. Not bad for a first attempt. It also copies my letters, spelling out my name.

"Alexis," it says again, much clearer this time. As it speaks, it sends a ball in my direction which shifts into an arrow pointing at me. Luckily not at heart-stopping speeds this time. Before reaching me the arrow reverses direction, becoming a ball once again as it resumes orbiting the giant sphere.

Not sure what to do next, I try talking to it. "What's your name?" I ask.

It takes a moment, but then it repeats my question back at me, "What's your name?" echoing through the air, slightly garbled. Yeah, English's probably not going to work. In a reasonable time period that is.

But I have another idea. If this thing is native to Akilo, then maybe it knows Vausian.

With that thought in mind, I try saying "Hello," which really sounds more like "Re-ow." There's a bit of a twist to my mouth as I say it. Even though I know their language, it feels surpassingly strange saying it out loud.

In response, the orb slips into the river, disappearing without a sound. Its reaction is so sudden, I stop in my tracks while looking around. That wasn't because of me, was it? All I said was hello.

After a few seconds a small blob of water forms over the river. It stops growing when it's half a meter in diameter. I try saying hello, in English this time, but it doesn't respond. I must have scared it. Starting along the bank again, I start rambling at the shape in the water. In English.

I'm not sure what else to do to reassure it.

“So, do you like it around here? I’ve only just arrived myself. It was pretty awesome at first, but then my friends disappeared. That’s where I’m going. I’m trying to find my friends. I guess I could have stayed back at the church. Oh right, it's a temple actually. But the others seem like they need my help. At least Josh and Roberts do. I think the K'tharn are trying to teach Beth their language.”

I’m really starting to get into it when Smoulder butts my hand, interrupting my flow. Indulging her in head scritches, I look out at the orb again.

I wonder if I can inspect it as I did with Smoulder.

“Creature analyzed: Elder Water Elemental. Mana seed: 2.

A water spirit originally bound by a K'tharn Aquamancer. This elemental has been on its own for over a century. In that time it has grown far more powerful than the spirits most Aquamancer's are capable of binding. This is a particularly advanced version of the standard water elementals often found in the waterways of Akilo.

Name: Splat (in K'tharn. Note, it doesn't like this name Alexis. Sorry about the language primer.)

"Uhm, thanks for the tip Wyonna," I say. Probably a good warning. I would have used its name with nary a thought. Best not to upset the multi-tonne ball of water.

Further, that is.

"All good, just warn me next time maybe? Before I'm already falling unconscious, preferably." I add as I continue to read.

Attributes: Physical; Medium, Mobility; Medium, Magic; High, Awareness; Low.

Attacks: Tidal wave, Engulfing presence, Water blast, High Water manipulation.

Defences: High physical resistance, medium magic resistance. High fire resistance. Immunity to water. Vulnerable to lightning."

"Important survival tip, while some creatures you encounter won't react to being analyzed, it's a pretty invasive process. It's guaranteed to let most creatures know you're looking. Hehe, I'll do my best. That wasn't how it normally works."

Upon reading Wyonna's second tip, I start eyeing the elemental, watching to see if it's going to attack.

But no, I realize it has instead retreated further beneath the surface. Now there's only a small ball the size of my fist near the river's edge.

What the hell could someone have done to a being literally made of water, that would leave it this terrified of me after I said hello?

I try coaxing it out with more water shaping, but it remains in its hidden position. I consider offering it jerky, but does it even eat? With my new umbrella in place, I keep walking south until I reach the point where the river starts heading back north still pondering its condition.

My new companion hasn't done anything to slow me down. it hasn't come back up yet either. It just continues floating in the river. Watching me.

I can't waste too much time watching it, now that I'm at the south tip of the river, it's time to check on the others again.

Pulling myself up the bank so I'm out of the immediate reach of the river, I count out the pulse. This time it's down to 76 when I reach out.

I've barely connected when I hear the word, "right." from Beth. Immediately after, I feel the bond strengthen again. This time I'm pretty sure Beth is doing something on her end too.

Beth's kneeling in front of Josh, who seems fine, except for the vacant look in his eyes, like he's not all there. While I'm processing Josh's appearance, Beth starts speaking again. She blurts it out so fast, I have to reflect on her words. Then I understand she said, "Alexis, they're searching for you."

In the time she was speaking Beth's eyes aren't idle. First, she looks at Josh, then Roberts, then at the K'tharn that appears to be watching over her.

This isn't the giant K'tharn I saw before. It's hard to tell since Beth is kneeling, but I think this one's only my height. She seems casual as if she isn't really worried about Beth or the others. Actually, now that I know K'tharn tells so well, I'm pretty sure she's bored.

I suppose no one likes guard duty.

As I'm taking in the K'tharn, Beth keeps moving, pushing the rough hide, which serves as the door, aside. Already this connection has lasted twice as long as any of the previous links. Whatever Beth did, it's working.

Bah…

duh… duh… Dragon….

….

All my thoughts come to a screeching halt when Beth clears the entrance to reveal the creature I'd only caught a glimpse of, that first day near the beach.

Nostrils flaring, the great dragon turns its head in our direction, flapping its green frills. Its emerald scales glisten in the sun as it opens its mouth in a yawn, hints of jade tinged smoke leaking from the corners.

It doesn't feel as massive as the elemental which was a literal wall of water, but it's definitely much longer. It's large enough that the giant K'tharn, the one that's been hanging around Beth, looks small and dainty seated on its back. The K'tharn is clearly connecting its harness to a compatible harness on the dragons back. There are several empty harnesses strapped to the sides of the dragon as well.

Her point made, I feel Beth relax, the connection once again fading into something else.

Beth hiked her rifle upon her shoulder. Progress was slower than she'd like.

The kid was trying, but it was clear this was their first time out in the wilderness. They didn't even have the proper gear. Obviously, they didn't read the briefing.

The old man had proven more capable than Beth expected. Talks too much though. He's going to attract attention if he doesn't stop talking to everyone.

Hefting her rifle again, Beth wondered if that would really be so bad. It would be nice to have something to shoot. She'd have to keep her eyes open. Maybe she could bag some dinner.

Motioning the others forwards Beth considered telling the others to quiet down but decided to hold her tongue. At least they're bonding.

Coming back to myself, I sit down hard. I've been so busy dealing with my personal crap, that I didn't consider they might be searching for me. Looking up at the rain, wondering if it isn't a gift, I start pushing myself to my feet. While I'm in this rain it should be a lot harder to find me.

Right?

Ruefully, I think back to my progress yesterday. Sure, I made good time. But I made good time while leaving a trail a mile wide, heading straight towards their camp. I built a bridge for crying out loud. To say I haven't exactly been discreet is almost an understatement. Not that being stealthy is my strong point.

I suppose now that I have twilight, it could be.

And hey, maybe they're friendly?

Would that matter for Josh and Roberts? Even if they're friendly, would the guys be allowed freedom? After what I learned about how the K'tharn view their males, it's pretty doubtful.

Looking around, I see a path that leads away into the forest.

I need to figure out a way to get them out. In order to do that, I can't afford to get caught. I need to stop running around slinging magic everywhere. So as much as it pains me to admit, I should probably leave the river behind as well. I have the pulse to guide me, but the river…

As long as I'm next to the river, I feel like I know where I am. I know the way back.

But it's not safe here. Calling out to the elemental, I wave goodbye. With Smoulder held tight, a little tighter than strictly necessary even, I step away from the river.

I continue walking into the surrounding forest, pulling my umbrella close as the river disappears behind me.

The rain continues to fall, but I have my umbrella now.

That makes all the difference in the world.