Elsewhere

Duke was awakened by system messages again. He was completely unsure of how long he had slept but since he felt rested, he guessed it was long enough. The sun was still down, but since he had no idea how long days were in this world, there was no frame of reference to make a guess from. Instead of continuing with missing information, he focused on his system messages.

*** Congratulations! You continue to survive and provide some small entertainment. Think bigger and be rewarded…

You really keep focusing on this TELEPORTATION Ability. At least you made it thoroughly entertaining. The look on that bobcat’s face was priceless. We were thoroughly entertained, so you are to be rewarded! You have gained 11 levels in TELEPORTATION which just happens to be enough to get you to Initiate rank, level 1. We are pleased with your creativity in using this Ability. Keep it up! Here, also have 106 experience for “defeating” the bobcat.

Beyond that, you made a smart decision to evade rather than engage the wolf pack. For making such a wise decision, we have decided to reward you with 337 experience and 3 levels in your Stealth skill.

Continue to be smart and entertaining. The latter being more important than the former, eh?

***

Duke smiled at his gains but he was starting to wonder how long it was going to take to actually level himself up. That was four encounters that could potentially have killed him, and he had yet to even get close to leveling up. In fact, he wasn’t even halfway there. Either he was going to have to take greater chances or get used to leveling up slowly. As he thought about this more, he considered it a real problem. He was still limited by his mana. He could only use his Abilities as long as he had mana to supply them and with such a limited supply, he was potentially in trouble.

Weighing his options, he decided that it might do him some good to find some sort of civilization. The main problem being that he had no idea where to find anything resembling civilization. Elgin had said he was in the Kingdom of Chopie, but that really didn’t mean anything. He had also mentioned a city or two but without any directions, he could walk for a month and still not find anything.

Well, two choices. One, try to figure out where I am or two, just keep going and see where it brings me. Yeah, this is going to be risky but choice one it is.

Duke TELEPORTED his way along until he found a particularly tall tree. From there he climbed/TELEPORTED to the top to see what he could see. What he saw was more forest nearly as far as the eye could see in all directions but one. There was one direction in which a single tall tower poked above the forest canopy. Having no better prospects, he decided to head that way.

A single tower in the middle of nowhere? Yep, that screams ancient and insane wizard to me. Probably not the best idea to disturb such an individual but what else can I do? I guess I should have gone with the druids. Yeah, I guess they were druids. I’m going to call them druids. The name for them here might be something outlandish like keeper of the forest but I’m just going to call them druids until I know better.

The trip to the tower was uneventful but lengthy. It took nearly two hours to get into the vicinity. Duke knew he was there when the terrain suddenly changed. The trees all became equally spaced apart and identical. He almost decided to leave as soon as he noticed it but kept on the way anyway. Anything beat the boredom of this forest with some great evil lurking that never seemed to manifest or even make a peep.

He did, however, stop TELEPORTING and took a careful walking pace. He wasn’t trying to be stealthy but rather take measured and careful steps, being wary of potential traps or something of that nature. After about one hundred meters of this ordered forest, he came upon the clearing with the tower. It rose out of the forest made out of some sort of yellowed white stone. The tower stood some three hundred meters tall and almost fifty meters wide at its base. It was quite imposing in person.

Duke followed the manicured path and carefully approached the ornate double doors. Before he could use the three-headed dragon of a door-knocker, the doors silently opened inwards. He hesitated until the doors were fully open and he could get a look inside.

Before he could move, a white-robed man burst out excitedly. He was short, barely reaching Duke’s chest and full of energy. “A visitor! A visitor! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Come in. Are you hungry? I can make a meal for you. Oh, look at you. You’re wearing rags. I’ll get you some new clothes. Come in. Come in. Yes, yes, yes. Please come in. Oh yes!”

Duke nearly fell over with the force of the man’s greeting. “Um, hi. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, yes, yes, what did you say? I didn’t quite get that?” He tilted his head as if trying to get a good ear pointed at Duke.

Duke paused and activated his TONGUES Ability. “How about now? Do you understand me now?”

“Oh, delightful. Someone with some magic attunement. The gods have finally shined upon me! This is truly an auspicious day!”

Duke couldn’t help but smile himself. This guy’s enthusiasm and excitement were overwhelming. He found himself being led inside by the laughing man without a second thought. The inside was decorated in pure opulence. The entrance rug was soft under his boots and woven into a detailed depiction of the tower itself. While the walls were adorned with similar tapestries that showed the construction of the tower itself. The furniture all had a “tower” theme. It was all ornately carved, but was starting to give Duke some misgivings.

“Oh, I see you noticed that everything in here is related to the tower? A bit disturbing, right? I know, right? Now imagine being stuck here for a century and this is all you have to look at? You have no idea how happy I am to have another person here.”

Duke was slightly disarmed by that but still a bit uncomfortable with things. He remained wary.

“I’m Baslin, by the way. Archmage Baslin the Best if you want to go by full title.” He proceeded to speak in a stage whisper, “For the love of the gods, please don’t go with the full title.”

Duke responded in kind. “You can call me Duke.” Before he could say another word, Baslin interrupted.

“You’re a Duke? Oh my. What happened to your clothes, my Duke?”

“No, no, no! I am NOT a Duke. It’s only my name. Yes, I know it’s odd, but that’s it.”

“Um, Ok. No need to get so defensive about it. Just a natural conclusion, you know.”

“Sorry, it has caused me difficulties in the past and I didn’t want to have to deal with them again.”

Baslin smiled again, “I see. I see. Totally understandable, yes totally understandable, my new friend. Please have a seat while I get us some refreshments. So exciting!” He then jaunted off out a side door humming to himself.

While he was gone, Duke took a moment to assess his situation. He was sitting in a very comfortable chair in a world he knew very little about in a forest that seemed to go on forever wearing the shredded remains of his flightsuit.

Kind of a mixed bag there. I could really use some new clothes so that is annoying but I have some abilities that I could have only dreamed about in the past. I can teleport and I heal faster than is believable. I can understand whatever anyone says and, with some effort, they can understand me too. All-in-all, not too bad considering the alternative. Now, I’m here with this overly enthusiastic host. He’s creeping me out, I have to admit.

Duke was interrupted as Baslin returned, a large silver tray loaded with food and drinks floating along behind him. With a gesture, the tray landed gently on the coffee table and he sat down in the chair to my left.

He smiled warmly, “Eat, drink, and oh, yes, your clothes. One moment.” He quickly cast another spell at me, so quickly that I didn’t even have time to register it before it was done.

***A SPELL HAS BEEN CAST UPON YOU

You have been subjected to the spell Grand Repair. Your system has attempted to absorb the spell but the duration was too brief. You will need to be subjected to the spell’s effects several more times to have a chance to absorb it.

Your clothes have been restored to pristine condition. Everything is repaired and all flaws have been corrected. Your clothes now fit you perfectly. Your socks are dry and defunkified – you don’t even want to know what your regeneration was keeping at bay in there. Even your boxers are clean. Wouldn’t your mother be so proud!

***

Duke paused as the system message rolled over his consciousness and Baslin noticed. “Are you alright, my friend?”

“Um, yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that spell was pretty impressive. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Oh yes, Grand Repair is a wonderous spell. It keeps this entire tower in top shape if I do say so myself. I could teach it to you if you like.” Baslin inclined his head with the implied question, his brown eyes twinkling.

“That could be useful. What would it take?”

Baslin paused to think it over for a few moments, picking up a pastry from the tray of food and taking a bite. He gestured to the tray for Duke to east as well.

Duke grabbed a similar pastry with some trepidation. My REGENERATION should work on any poison or drugs in this, right? He received no response, so he took a bite anyway and was greeted with pure joy in his mouth. It was sweet and rich and buttery and indescribably good.

“Create Glorious Food. I could teach you that one as well.” He smiled in thought. “In fact, I could teach you all sorts of spells.” He stared into the distance, trailing off as he spoke before a smile came beaming to his face. “I could teach you all my spells! Yes, yes, yes, that’s it!” He shouted.

Duke was becoming increasingly confused at this outburst. “Well, ok then. You seem pretty stoked to teach me spells. Why is that?”

Baslin stopped and turned his attention back to Duke with a frightening smile. “Let me tell you a bit of a story and you’ll understand.”

Duke nodded assent and took another of the glorious pastries to eat, waiting for the story to unfold.