She had the upper hand all throughout our sparring. She’d been right, I relied far too heavily on my spells in combat. I still didn’t think I should skip out on training for synergy, but taking the time to occasionally focus purely on my martial ability seemed like a good way to round out my strength. After we were done we shared a drink at the tavern and I went up to Zevrack and my room to sleep.

Zevrack himself didn’t sleep much. I wasn’t sure if it was a peculiarity of Kobolds in general, or he was just odd, but instead of sleeping in one large chunk he instead took random naps throughout the day. The only thing that was consistent about them was the fact that he was more likely to take one when there was sun coming in through our window and a warm patch of light for him to lay in.

Because he didn’t sleep at night, I had grown used to hearing him tinker and work while I slept. He was primarily still working on the bat wings he’d adjusted for his own use, but occasionally he would break off to develop some traps or anything else that tickled his fancy. Tonight it looked like he was experimenting with some rune work. He didn’t have any magical ability himself, but from what I’d heard from Millicent and his conversations, anyone can write out a runic formula, it just won't be powered unless a certain kind of sorcerer works with it.

I fell asleep to the sounds of him scratching things out on paper or working them into metal. It wasn’t quite the sounds of the rainforest app I used to use back on Earth, but it was more comforting than falling asleep in silence.

I woke the next morning with the sun, had a light breakfast at the tavern, and headed toward the demo. With our next job already lined up for a month after this one, I was free to focus on training, gathering any spells I could, and generally messing around. This time I gained no spells, but I was gratified to see that the demonstration remained the same each time. That meant I’d be seeing the exact same spells every day, which increased the odds I may get the ones I wanted. All of them seemed useful. The shield spells, the color manipulation, the invisible stairs, the lighting bolts, I wanted it all and was grateful that I had a chance to gain them for free.

I noticed Patience briefly in the crowd, but unlike the first time she didn’t meander and instead made a businesslike pass through the crowd, and left quickly, leaving their pouches lighter.

After that was done I met Millicent and Zevrack for a quick lunch and dropped by Elle’s current fascination, the Croft Quarter, where Patience’s people were gathered. I walked through, noting their somber garb that contrasted sharply with that of the natives, and made my way to the inn Elle had been staying at, ‘Blessing of Life’. When I walked in I saw here interviewing a man with sideburns that rivaled hers and a bald head. Elle had been trying to learn all she could about the farming techniques the people of Crofton used. It was very different from how mushrooms were cultivated by her people and she found it all fascinating.

I, on the other hand, felt the opposite. Because of that we had drifted apart a bit since we’d reached Itlan. I went to the bar and ordered a water, they didn’t serve any alcohol until they were certain all the work for the day was done, and then I sat patiently waiting for her to finish her conversation. When they were done talking the bald man got up, took his hat in his hand and walked out with a small smile on his face. I went to his seat and sat across from Elle.

“He seemed happy,” I said as I sat.

She nodded. “Yes, the Croftons are always willing to talk about how they work. I had expected to need to buy them drinks or work to get information, but they seem to think sharing how to do a job the right way is a reward in and of itself.”

I nodded. “Seems like the protestant work ethic is alive and well in them, even if they aren’t protestant anymore.”

She looked at me questioningly.

“Don’t worry about it. Just a cultural thing from my world it seems like they brought with them. It’s the idea that those who do well before they die are destined for rewards in the afterlife. It makes them work harder than groups that don’t have the belief.”

She scratched her sideburns thoughtfully. “Interesting… I wonder how the system decides which elements of culture to let people retain when they come through.”

I shrugged. “Beats me.”

She shook the thought away. “So, what’s up?”

“Well, I just got an escort job to Heracleum. I know you’re not interested in adventuring work, but it’s a good chance to go someplace new and learn a few things.”

She shook her head. “Thanks for thinking of me, but I’ve still got a lot I want to learn while I’m here.”

I looked around the simple furnishings and plain adornments that surrounded her. It wasn’t anything I considered worth learning, but I pushed that dismissive thought away. I may not understand it, but I should respect it anyway. She was doing the job she felt she needed to for her people.

“Alright, well, that’s all I had.”

She smiled. “That’s alright, I have to meet another farmer about his irrigation methods in a few minutes anyway. Tell Zevrack I said hi.”

I nodded and stood. “I will. Don’t be a stranger.”

She nodded too, and I left. I felt a little odd about our interaction. It had a kind of bittersweetness to it. Elle had helped me figure a lot of things out when I’d first arrived, but it seemed like it was time for our paths to fully diverge. I’d certainly still help her out anytime she needed it.

The rest of the day passed without incident, and I went for my third week in a row of demos and training. No luck once again, but this time I managed to ask for additional demonstrations of the invisible stair spell. They’d been surprised. Usually people ask to see the fireball again, which took too much energy from everyone to accomplish safely. Because they were so surprised they went and did it three additional times for me. I still didn’t get a new spell, but I thanked them anyway and left.

The next day I went back, and this time I noticed a number of guards in the same gear I was used to seeing Tib in, were standing around the square. I ignored them once again, and watched the demo. I was rewarded with a new spell, the exact one I’d been hoping for.

Invisible Steps- create five 3x1’ steps in ascending order, each of which can hold up to 300 Ibs

I zoomed out of the spell an looked again

Invisible Steps 1x per day (cost 1 splinter of wood or glass)

I smiled and decided I’d skip the rest of the demo to try out my new spell. I turned to leave the square and found that two guards blocked my path.

“Going somewhere?” asked one of them, taking a step toward me.

“Yeah, figured I’ve seen enough for the day.”

The other guard talked to a man wearing the same blue robes as those giving the demonstration. “This the one?” he asked.

“Yeah. He’s been here every day for weeks,” said the robed man.

I took a step back. “What’s this about?”

“You’ve been coming to this demo every day for the last month?”

“Yeah…”

“We happen to have had a number of complaints of a pickpocket who strikes during these demonstrations. “

I grimaced, they were looking for Patience. “I’m no pickpocket. You can search me if you’d like.”

The guards looked at each other, then back at me and nodded. One of them frisked me, while the other went through my various pouches. All he found was bat guano, feathers, oil, some glass splinters that must've been new from the system, and a handful of gold pieces. I never carried all my money with me at the same time. Patience had been kind enough to give me that advice shortly after I’d first met her.

The guard looked me in the eye and pocketed all the gold I had in the pouch, leaving a handful of silver and copper. I bit my tongue. It wouldn’t be smart to start a scene. Besides, from what I’d gathered about the Heraclens, this was considered the polite way of doing business.

After they were done searching me they returned my things. I buckled my now lighter coinpurse back to my waist.

“Satisfied?” I asked.

The guards nodded, and I pushed my way past them, shoulder checking them as I went. I couldn’t resist testing things that small bit. They let me through without comment and I made my way back to the tavern, feeling an odd mix of thankful and annoyed with Patience. Thankful she’d taught me never to carry a full purse, and annoyed that her thievery had cost my five gold. I shook my head. It wasn’t worth fussing about, though I may need to stop attending the demo every time.

As I was walking I decided to try casting my new spell. Unlike with fireball I could cast a reduced version right away in the middle of the street without creating an incident. I put my weight on a single invisible step, and walked off it quickly, not wanting to disrupt foot traffic by stopping on it completely. I almost missed the transfer to the nearest island and decided to test the spell out a little more, creating four more steps one at a time that let me walk the distance the islands had moved, and make the transfer without trouble. I got some raised eyebrows as I did it, but no one bothered to say anything. The steps were interesting. I could feel where they were, even though I couldn’t see them. I started whistling as I rounded the corner to the tavern, my mind occupied with all the new possibilities the spell provided.