Authors Corner

Thirteenth chapter. Thirteen is an ominous number.

Such a thought made me think to remind you all to check the genres of this fiction. All of them are warranted.

Anyway, I've caught up somehow, so you get another chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 13 – I'm down on my knees.

Wilson.

Hungover.

Next morning.

Anilea showed up as early as possible. She waited until I woke up before torturing me with a tour, which is nice. Her current torture is dragging me around again in circles seeing places I've already had a chance to look at last night. I have a hangover, if I take another turn I might spew. I shouldn't complain when I think of how poor Ted ended up. Ted shouldn't complain either, at least he's alive.

I can barely say the same, this hangover is so bad. I've stumbled upon a funny prank pulled on me by that bastard upstairs. It turns out that holding onto the Mana Sealers makes the hangover worse. I don't see how mana could cure hangovers by itself, but I'm holding the proof inside a pocket of my new cloak.

This means I have to choose between erratic behavior or an erratic stomach. Obviously I chose erratic behavior. The choice I wish I could have taken was going back to sleep. That annoying inn employee came to wake me up. To be helpful, he said, because Anilea was waiting for me.

Helpful to who!?

I want to sleep. Please Let me sleep.

“This is where they make fleetingwood chairs.”

I don't caaare about chaaaairs. Let me sleeeep.

Anilea is droning on in her soft voice and short clipped sentences. It's making my drowiness worse.

“This is where they make armor for magic users.”

I perk up from my stupor.

“Magic users?” I ask

“Yes.”

One word answer. Seriously?

“Not Mages?”

She tilts her head at my question. It'd almost be a cute expression if she wasn't so spiteful.

“Mages included. They're magic users.” she finally replies.

Success.

I already knew this piece of information from Ted, but I wanted to fact check. Finding out if I could get useful information out of Anilea was a bonus. Based on her indifferent attitude, I don't think it's wise to push my luck on that front.

Anilea circles around throughout the remained of the Lower City. I really don't think I needed to see this much of either section, but it's nice to see them in the light of day. Now that I have less conspicuous clothes, I can get close to the shops and people without looks of surprise.

Anilea had been rather unimpressed with this cloak though. She's unimpressed about everything it seems, so no loss there.

“Is there anything else you'd like to see?” she asks, sounding rhetorical.

I'm tempted to say yes, to see if I can bother her, but I honestly just want to be done with it. Despite my poor condition, I'm quite excited to see the fleeing trees. Everyone calls them Fleetingwoods, according to Ted. They are pretty close to town, sometime people see if they can catch one by accident.

I'll take an accidental catch myself at this point.

“No, let's go find these trees.” I say.

I know that I'll regret it.

---

Wilson, the neeeeds sleeeeep.

Nearing the mana grotto.

Anilea is at it again. She's being a consummate professional.

She is walking always just ahead of me. At a pace that makes it feel like I'm slowing her down.

I am.

It's been a few hours since we've left, it's almost afternoon now. My body isn't in top condition, so little things like sore feet and humid heat are getting to me. I hope my condition is good enough to get my paycheck. In the meantime I'm taking care not to rush things.

“We're getting close, would you like to take a break? I've heard Mages aren't known to enjoy … physical activities.” she says. She's pretending to just now notice how tired I am. I think I see a faint trace of suspicion on her face. Suspicion saying 'With a body like that how can you be tired?'

Stop looking at me like that. Yes, I'm fit. No, I'm not faking it.

“I would, if you wouldn't mind.” I reply.

She nods and passes me the water that she pulled from nowhere. Is there a hidden compartment on that armor? I've … observed the armor very closely, and haven't seen any sign.

I don't really need the water, and I'm not sure how my stomach will mind it, but I take it anyway and plop down on the ground.

It's actually good. It cools me down a bit. I'm almost grateful. Almost. If only I didn't have to chase after trees now, I would be able to enjoy it.

As I lean back and enjoy my break, I look up into the sky.

Is it just me or is it somewhat teal?

Oh. More things are adding up.

I couldn't find out anything from Ted about magic, but I'll risk it to see if Anilea knows anything.

“The sky looks somewhat teal, doesn't it?” I mention, trying to be a casual as possible.

Anilea looks up from where she is standing and appears to consider it. Then she turns back to me and gives me a slight nod of her head.

Okay. Next up.

“That means we're getting close to the grotto?” I ask, trying to find my answers obliquely.

She simply nods.

That nod is enough. What I have suspected is likely to be true. Mana concentration makes the sky teal. When I first arrived, the sky was far more teal than this.

Hmm.

I put my hand into my pocket and start holding the bulky Sealers, just in case.

Am I using mana after all? Is it powering my body? Why doesn't my hangover feel better? Will the Mana Sealers still work? All I have is more questions.

Questioning everything won't put coins in my pocket though.

It's tree punching time.

---

Why-did-I-sign-up-for-this Wilson.

In the grotto.

Why did I sign up for this?

Oh, that's right, I need money. Money is important. If you have money, you don't need to sign up for hunting trees.

I've gone full circle. Why am I so stupid?

More questions, like usual.

“So that's them?” I ask the culprit of my angst.

“Yes.” she affirms.

I'm looking at a tall, strangely plump tree walking around on its roots make mewling noises.

Mewling noises.

These oddly rounded trees are twenty or thirty meters high, and thankfully have no faces or mouths. Yet they make cute animal noises as if their were small and fluffy.

“Wooloo … loo?”

Yes that.

There is one really close to us. We're crouched behind a low knoll peeking up to watch the trees, and this one is just on the other side. Anilea is waiting for me to kill it, placid as always. To her, it's a foregone conclusion that I'll destroy the thing making these adorable sounds.

“Will a regular sword cut these trees?” I ask her.

“Probably. It might chip the sword. The wood needs to dry before it becomes stronger than metal.”

In my non-expert opinion, I believe punching will work.

“Woo loo-loo?”

Is it calling to me? I feel like I can almost understand what it's saying. I really don't like the thought of punching something harmless. It doesn't have a beard, and it isn't harming me. I'll have to spend a lot of effort to chase it down and murder it.

What do I do?

I know what I have to do, I just don't want to do it.

But I need money.

“How much did you say I get paid for each of these?” I ask.

“3 Gold.” she says, averting her eyes. It's the first time I've seen her look anything close to bashful. I take it to mean I'm getting screwed on the amount. I don't have any negotiating power, and I need the money.

Fine. I'll do it. For money. For my freedom.

“Can you hold these and stay here for a moment?” I say, giving Anilea my Mana Sealers.

She shrugs and accepts them.

The effect is … there is no effect. I'm confused. Wasn't the teal sky causing me to run wild?

I don't get it.

I guess I'll have to deal with it as my … calmer self.

I stand up and come over the hill. The tree notices me and it's branches start waving rhythmically in the air, as if it's saying hello.

“Woo! Woo! Wooooooo!” it exclaims. I think it's excited to see me. My eyes start to moisten.

It gets closer and closer.

I feel it.

Closer.

Not sadness.

Closer.

Happiness.

Closer.

Anger.

Close enough.

I want to kill it. I want to kill it. I want to kill it.

I can't even think.

I bark out a laugh as I slam my fist into it's soft fleshy bark. A good half of it's meter wide trunk splatters outward, covering the ground with pieces of bark and a viscous dark green sap.

“Woo loo... loo...” are it's dying words. What a stupid tree. Hahahahaha.

Why stop there? These trees are basically standing still. My body feels great.

There's another, it's coming towards me. Perfect.

I start running up to meet it, swinging my fists just like a child.

Laughing all the way.

---

WonderWil, the magnificent tree destroyer.

Twenty-two trees later.

The trees kept trying to approach me. Aren't they supposed … to run?

I'm confused. The confusion makes me stop for a moment.

They're running now, that's for sure. Haha.. ha.

It's not as funny anymore, somehow.

I feel tired. I want to sit down.

My body is making it through to me. Telling me to stop.

I need to stop.

I need to put the Mana Sealers on and go back to the inn and have a nice sleep. Mana Sealers?

Holding onto that thought, I immediately run back to Anilea and grab the Sealers from her. Why didn't she tell me they try to hug you? It's so much better when th-... Focus, Wilson, focus.

I put the Sealers on one arm only. Ahhhhhhh.

And with that I'm tranquil. I'm disgusted with myself at the same time.

Disgusted.

I'm covered in the sticky sap of the recently deceased.

Anilea didn't react to me grabbing the Sealers. She is just staring at me. This time it isn't a subtle stare. She is wide-eyed. Her mouth is agape.

She must be disgusted with me too.

I tear my mind away from the dark place it's heading towards. I focus on how sore I feel.

So much running... I will never drink alcohol again. I miss my perfect body.

I'm on the ground this time, puking again. There might be tears mixed in.

I'm going to pretend that it's due to the hangover... I have to...

I've puked so much by now that my body is starting to weaken even more. I'm exhausted. That inn is sounding pretty nice right now.

So, Anilea, I'm down on my knees,

I'm begging you please,

To go home.

Woo loo... loo...

---