“I seem to have forgotten, remind me. What were your orders?”

“To protect and assist the Lord in repairing the walls!”

“Yes, so why? What in the name of, no, no… Just why?”

The Sheriff tightly pinched the bridge of his nose. The two sentinels stood at attention, had they faces likely they would be as perplexed as the Sheriff’s. After several days of work on the walls, I had found their personalities and intelligence as empty as their appearances. Their immediate query was one that had vexed and tormented me most times I tried to ask them what I thought were simple questions.

“Can you be more specific, Sheriff?”

He looked up at them, opened his mouth, but then shut it as he shook his head. He stared at me, disbelief in his eyes.

“I fixed the wall,” I said faintly, hoping to ease the tension.

He gestured at the massive oaken gate and flanking towers.

“You have disfigured the wall, and installed a point of ingress that our enemies will happily exploit.”

Yep, hope truly was just for young girls and old maids…

“Every wall needs a gate, how else will goods and people be able to come and go?”

“I told you, the wall is only an approximation, it’s not a real wall.”

“It’s the border of my soul, so it serves the same function, does it not?”

“In essence, yes. But your soul has no need of entry or exit points. There is no benefit. And your additions to the wall…”

He looked at the massive alterations and lofty towers.

“Are very impressive,” I said, refusing to hide my pride.

Nine months. It had taken me nine months of nonstop work to finally complete the restoration and partial renovation of the walls. I was never hungry or tired. In fact, every brick I laid actually gave me more energy. The work was slow and laborious at first, but after the first week my skills and speed increased. After the first month, laying bricks had become second nature to me.

I had reentered the citadel a few times, but found it empty. Even Felicia was nowhere to be found. It was lonely. The guards proved more annoying than Kevin with their simplistic attempts to respond to human conversation. They were far better suited to yes or no questions or architectural instructions. Eventually I just fully threw myself into the work, never pausing or breaking unless I needed to plan some new construction.

The towers, and double bonded five-foot tall layer behind parts of the initial wall had been difficult, but my sentinels guided me through every improvement. I even added ballistae to several towers. I was curious how the wispy soldiers knew the weapon’s design. I had seen one or two, but never their construction.

Once I had made these, I spent the final 3 months designing and building the gate, gatehouse, and defenses. The main gate was made of that beautiful oak, thick and sturdy. Two blue glass chains raised and lowered the gate. Behind it lay a fifteen-foot stretch bordered by sturdy 3-foot thick walls. Large holes for bow attacks speckled the tops of the walls while thin slits for spears dotted the lower portions.

Two tall towers flanked the stout gatehouse while two shorter towers protected the second gate allowing entrance into the city. Behind the first and second gates were portcullis constructed from the same glassy material as the chains and walls. The first gate was a drop gate while the second could be pushed into place from the side, then barred securely from said side with heavy beams.

I was extremely proud of the design. The idea was less on barring entry, than trapping would be intruders in the walled off portion for my sentinels to safely dispatch. Two minor ballistae were mounted the shorter towers, armed with blue glass tipped bolts. I was confident that any would be intruder would neither be entering my city, nor escaping from it to harass me another day.

The Sheriff looked from the wall back to me.

“Your additions are impractical and useless. You soul is perfectly spherical inside and out. The thicker walls you have added are not even uniform throughout the sphere. The towers are inside the wall, negating any actual advantage. They will serve to distort the shape of your soul, which will be neither aesthetically nor practically pleasing.

“You never told me my soul’s border was actually round!”

“Uh-prox-uh-may-shun… All you had to do was remove damaged bricks, and replace them with new ones. Gods, let’s not even mention how many bricks you’ve wasted.”

“The sentinels told me those were inexhaustible!”

“They are, but the more you use, the more difficult future expansions will be. When the new wall is being built, it will require time to deconstruct these eyesores in preparation. More time than our enemies will allow. You have effectively crippled the growth of your soul, congratulations, Lord.”

The Sheriff glowered at me while sarcastically clapping. I glared back.

“Why would you deconstruct them at all? Why not just build the new walls further out without deconstructing the older ones. You know, how cities everywhere are built?”

“That’s not how it’s done.”

There was a deep feeling of absoluteness in his words, as well as a small threat. I almost backed down, but then realized that what was at stake was too important. You might be my divine affinity, but Godsdamnit, what you’re saying makes no sense.

“Why not expand out from a portion of the wall slowly? Encapsulate areas one by one with new walls, before eventually joining them all together, forming one new wall?”

“Nature does not allow for that, every soul is only afforded one wall. For expansion the wall is simultaneously torn down and reassembled outwards one brick at a time.”

“But if the bricks are unlimited, why not?”

“That’s not how it’s done.”

“I don’t bloody care how it’s done, can new walls be added without removing the older ones or not?”

The Sheriff took a break from glaring at me to consider. He moved his hands around, picturing something. His look of intense contemplation slowly changed into one of uncertainty.

“It’s feasible, but that is not how nature works.”

“Nature is freaking trying to kill me, does it look like I care how it works?!”

The scowl returned to his face.

“Duty must be adhered to, especially when it is the more difficult decision. Inclination must never be given in to.”

“Is your loyalty to me, or to nature?”

“Both.”

Gah! Pick a side!

“You are MY Sheriff, is your duty first to me or to nature?”

“To neither. My foremost duty is to the Citadel.”

“Then do your duty!”

“I am!”

“Are you really? Or are YOU giving in to your own inclinations?”

There was no movement, no blur, just the Sheriff’s face instantly in front of my own.

“Choose your next words carefully, Lord.”

I swallowed hard before continuing. It took a few moments, but I thought of an argument…

“You are refusing to do what needs to done because that is not how you normally do things. So you’re allowing your inclination towards resisting change to affect the safety and well-being of the citadel, yes or no?”

His stare burned through me for a minute. Slowly he turned from me and began to pace, head down. He strode back and forth, deep in thought. Occasionally he paused to glare at me, prepared to say something, then stopped himself and resumed pacing.

My heart raced as I watched him contemplate my soul’s very future. I wouldn’t die if he chose to be stubborn, but if my soul couldn’t expand, my potential for spells and abilities would be severely limited. I was going to need all the power I could get if I were to eliminate even a fraction of my enemies.

He finally stopped and looked at me thoughtfully.

“There are issues with building as you suggest, besides the imperative I mentioned, but techniquely it can be done.”

While there might be reasons for not building outward as I suggested, I’m more than willing to take the risk.

“Are you sure you want to go down this path?”

“Yes, could it be any worse than having my soul crippled?”

“Perhaps not, but you should be aware of one thing, Lord,” he smiled wickedly, “Should all hell break loose, don’t expect to be the faster runner in this plane…”

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My eyes opened to the familiar drab gray ceiling of the Spire. Turning my head, I saw several beds to my left. There were sealed potions and antidotes on the small tables next to each bed. It looked like I was in an infirmary.

Looking to the right I saw the back of a familiar head. Kevin!

Gods, being alone in my soul for nine months had not been easy. While I could converse with the guards, answering questions was all that they were good for (and sometimes only when you were specific to an absurd degree). My eyes misted a little, sure it was only Kevin, but now there was going to be real, actual conversation!

I was so happy, another, real human being! And one that wasn’t looking to stab me in the back! I opened my mouth, anticipating the friendly, “Kevin!” I was about to voice. My mouth went straight from the initial “K” to an angry,

“WHAT!?”

Kevin turned, dropping the pouch he was rummaging through. MY pouch. I sat up, frantically patting my body. Someone had removed them. I stood up only inches from Kevin, my hands lifted quickly. I was going to strangle this Godsdamn thief to death…

“Tome! H, Hey! I brought you your satchel!”

Giving a little too guilty of a smile, he quickly pivoted. Before I could grab his lying throat, he ducked down, retrieved my pouch, and came up fast as an arrow.

“Thwack!”

His head planted a firm blow under my chin. Blood splurted in my mouth as my tongue was crushed between my own teeth. My body was thrown back against the bed, tumbling over it onto the cold stone slab beneath it.

“Oh, Jesus, sorry!”

Kevin frantically ran to my side and heaved me up by my arms. My jaw hurt and my head was still spinning. I got my hands relatively close to his thick neck when he placed the pouch in them.

“There you go, no need to thank me!”

His stupid smile beamed as though he actually believed that story.

“K, Kevin, why wer, were you going through m, my pouch?”

The pain in my tongue and jaw were impeding my speech.

“You’ve been asleep for 6 days, I, I was just making sure nothing had gone missing!”

Six days, ah! But that was the least of my worries now…

“Kevin, I saw you…”

“Alright, listen I’m sorry, but I needed to borrow a little money. Things have been tight, and the healers said you were probably a goner anyhow. Come on, what would you have done?”

“Not rob a friend!”

Well, certainly I would have, though more discreetly. To think that Kevin had such bad luck to be caught by me the moment I woke up… After six whole days… EXACTLY when I woke up… He didn’t, he wouldn’t… Oh Gods, of course he would, he was Kevin!

“Hey, Tome, I’m sor…”

“Kevin… This isn’t the first time you’ve…Borrowed…From me, is it?”

His face turned pale white. My eyes darted frantically around the bed. Where were they?

“N, No, but listen… That’s why you know I wasn’t stealing from you! Every time I’ve only borrowed what I needed, and every time I’ve returned to give you your change!”

Ah, his integrity was so moving! No, they’re not on the table where my pouch was…

“I had expenses, and there was no way I was eating that slop in the cafeteria.”

Such a tragic story, no wonder he had no choice but to turn to a life of crime! They weren’t on the bed or behind me…

“The Vice Dean made me run around the spire for two hours since my clothes were all bloody and torn. There was no one I could ask to lend me the money!”

Yes, yes, ask for money! Why even bothering seeing if there was work you could do for some coin? Maybe they’re under my bed… I gave my best sincere smile as I slowly squatted down. There you are!

“But don’t worry! I bought a few hard to find items, I’ll split them with you!”

Oh, your generosity knows no bounds! I stealthily grabbed one of my daggers and brought it behind my back as I stood up. My fake smile turned decidedly real as I took a step towards Kevin. He laid a filled cloth on the table.

“And don’t worry, I will pay you back every last cent.”

No idea what the hell those are, but it’s okay, your blood will suffice! I took one final step, debating on whether to go for his throat or abdomen. The throat would be a sure kill, but easier for him to see and block. With the abdomen I could get two to three stabs before he even considered reacting. If I did enough damage or he still failed to react, I didn’t plan to stop stabbing!

“Here, take a look at some of the hard to find things I bought!”

He unraveled the cloth, revealing several vials and bottles, a clunky box with several glass lens, and a rectangular thingy with numbers on it. I hesitated as I looked at what appeared to be junk.

“I bought cologne, shampoo, Pepto-Bismol and Tylenol, medicines from my world. You wouldn’t believe how much trouble my stomach has with the food here! A camera, a…”

So you wasted the money I earned from the lamia on nice smelling liquids, untested medicines, and useless trinkets... I froze in anger. My plans had changed. I was now going to stab him several times in the stomach, then rip his eyes out, followed by his intestines! Angrily I breathed in, preparing for my flurry of strikes.

“And a cell phone.”

I tensed up, the dagger now at my hip.

“A cell phone? Like the one you had before?”

“Yeah, I know it’s useless, but another other worlder sold it with the camera as a package. Together they only cost me 5 large silver!”

Gods, another of those wondrous devices! My odds of survival had actually improved! I quickly moved my blade from my side to behind me. I had no idea there were more cell phones here. And to think, that of all people, Kevin, would manage to obtain one.

And for only… Oh Gods no…

“Kevin, I had 2 gold and 6 copper in my pouch. How much do I have left?”

He grimaced, his pale complexion tinged light green.

“Well, maybe, sorta, about… 15 silvers, almost…”

We stood in silence for several minutes as I debated which was more valuable to me, those lost gold or my life. Finally I exhaled, in the grand scheme of things, there was really only one sane choice.

MY MONEY!

I brought the blade to his throat before he could utter another Godsdamn dishonest word, and I sliced. And… Nothing…

My blade clattered noisily on the floor. I looked from it, to Kevin, to my empty hand, and back again to the knife. Kevin hadn’t moved and I sure as hell hadn’t let go of the handle.

What the hell? Screw it, I thought, wrapping my hands around his throat. I’m just going to have to do this the way the Gods intended. Before I could squeeze as tight as he deserved, my mind was flooded by painful images and visions, most soaked in bountiful blood.

“Shit!” I screamed, jumping back.

Kevin’s arms belatedly came up to defend himself, “Whoa, WHOA! Tome, Uh, no need to get angry! I, I’ll pay you back, I swear!”

Kevin’s eyes kept a wary gaze as I picked up my knife. While I still wanted to run him through, those images had shaken me, and I did not want to experience them again. Especially all that red... Even worse, my anger was being replaced by something far worse, embarrassment. I looked around, sure enough there was a girl in a white robe watching us with interest. Why, why did there have to be a witness to this fiasco?

I quickly sheathed my knife. My reputation was certainly going to take a hit. If I continued to attack and fail miserably, I might lose what little pride I had left. As much as I wanted to kill Kevin, it wasn’t going to be today.

“You’re paying me back, every last copper, right?”

He nodded enthusiastically, “Of, of course!”

I nodded, picking up the rest of my belongings before discussing concrete plans with Kevin for my remuneration. I also began planning how to deal with him in case, or more likely when, he failed. I took one last look at him before leaving the infirmary.

Walking down the hallway, I turned the well-used dagger over and over again in my hands. The weight was fine. I clenched and released my dominant hand before shaking it vigorously. There didn’t seem to be any issues. I cursed, how in the hell did I drop my knife in the middle of a strike?

--------------------------------------------------

All other worlders have volumes to say about their civilization. Weapons of war more devasting than a seventh level mage, devices that think for themselves and their owners, wondrous medicines and golems powered by the burning of volatile substances or use of lightning. We’ve tried numerous times to duplicate their supposedly fearsome guns and golems, but to no avail. Even when the powder, weapons, or engines were perfectly manufactured, they were weak and defective.

The greatest scholars of Nostrum have investigated this phenomenon and discovered that the laws that govern our worlds are too different. The combustion that allows their engines and weapons does not work the same here. Oddly enough, their "electronics" are useable here, but not reproducible. Likewise our arcanes can be used in their world, but not learned there.

The other worlders think themselves superior, and in some respects I concur. Though the lack of arcane cannot be rectified with their technology. I have tried explaining this to my sole other worlder friend, but he thought me arrogant and narrow minded. Sadly he failed to realize that there are ancient and terrible evils worse than even an army of mages. Worlds and souls with no arcanes have very limited defenses.

One day or another they all learn why worlds without magic are referred to as buffets…

-Silvanus Bruti, Earth Mage