The next morning we assemble outside the city. Four carts and six men are waiting for us. All of the carts are filled with kegs, except for one, that has various supplies in place of one or two kegs.

"What are we transporting, old Bosir?" I ask.

"Water, boy."

"Huh, I thought everyone got their water from the dungeon they live at." At least that has been the case for the village, the "meadow" dungeon and here in the city.

"Only most dungeons have water, and some don't have water in a practical place. We're heading to a mining town, where the dungeon grows a lot of metals, mostly rubrite and azurite, but it doesn't have any water."

"But why are we escorting then? Will people really steal the water? Don't most places have plenty of it?"

"That's true. The route used to be unguarded, but the last shipment was robbed, and then it was sold back at an extreme price, so Gol there asked me to come along. Hopefully if the bandits come and see us, they'll turn tail."

Some part of me wishes they'd attack so I get to do something. Just walking for three days doesn't sound that exhilerating, but I fully recognize that if they attack, they do so thinking they can win, and we might be hurt, or worse.

As the trip continues, day turns to night and we set up camp. I say camp, but it really isn't anything like the ones I know from my previous life. There are no annoying insect, no chance of rain, it doesn't get cold, we eat only cured meat and we don't start a fire. People simply whip out their bedrolls and lay in them.

"Okay, me, Kamas, Bern and Larn will do the nightwatch duty, so Yos and Atna can just relax." Bosir proclaims. Atna walks over to the opposite side of the carriage, presumably to escape my company. I have chatted a little with everyone today, bar Atna. Her blatant mistreatment of me is starting to get on my nerves a little.

"Don't worry, I'll have a talk with her" Kamas says, maybe reading something from my expression. "Those who don't talk together, don't fight together... At least not well" he mutters as he goes over to her.

It seems they will do nightwatch duty in pairs, first Bosir and Bern, then Kamas and Larn. I try asking for a slot. Since I have not been doing my regular exercise, and only casting Read every so often, I feel like I could easily stay awake, contrary to my usual early sleeping.

As I lay down on my bedroll, all manner of things annoy me. It doesn't have very heavy padding, so one can clearly feel the ground. In addition, since we have to be ready I sleep in my leather armor, which I am not used to, so I feel like I won't be able to sleep. Thinking so, I fall asleep an hour later.

Someone shakes me. Urgh, this a feeling a haven't felt in long. My whole body feels lazy and I don't want to rise, but do so anyways sayin "Good m-" before being cut off by a shushing. I look at the one that woke me, Atna, and think about what she could want. It is still dark out.

"What is it? An attack?" I mutter softly

"No, I had to tell you something." What, waking me in the middle of the night to tell me something?

"What is it?" Better hear her out before getting mad at her.

"I heard the other talk, about your gift. They think you don't need to sleep for it, only that it happens once a day, thought this would be the perfect moment to test it."

"Huh? But if that is the case, why wouldn't they tell me? And why would you? Don't you hate me?"

"I don't know why they wouldn't tell you. But I don't hate you, I just want to be better than you. And I want to be better than you at your best, so I am telling you. Think of the extra training you can get in, if it works. You'll become greater and I will become even greater when I surpass you! Now, good night, I am going back to sleep again. Oh, and don't tell them I told you, tell them you thought of it yourself. I don't wanna get in trouble for disobeying them."

I nod my head. What is this feeling, this getting pumped up, the warmth in my body. I search my memories for where I have experienced it before and I find it quickly. In my youth in the previous life, I competed regularly in track-and-field circles and sometimes, that special existence occurred.

Both of you being better than the average, you realize the only thing to challenge each other around these parts are each other, and you duke it out again and again, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. This desire to rise to the challenge, this desire to compete against someone, it's the wonderful feeling of a competitive rivalry!

Such thoughts fill my head, as I try to stay awake without alerting the night watch.