I reincarnated in game

23 Race against Time

On the return trip to Halea, Hugh reflected on his relationship with Matthew and Kenneth.  He told Judi that he had never known his father.  He saw Matthew’s bond with his son and always thought that would have been the way he pictured himself with his father, had he known him.  After meeting, and spending time with Matthew and Kenneth, he thought of them as his surrogate family; he would do anything to help the two of them.

Judi agreed that Matthew and Kenneth were good people and did not deserve to die at the hands of Bob’s thugs.  They would do everything in their power to ensure their safety.  Then her mind turned to their confrontation with Bob and his men … “You know, I thought you were dead this afternoon.  You had that sword sticking out of your back; you were down on the ground, bleeding out … then, after you let out that yell and started to get up, I couldn’t believe my eyes!  I thought I was dreaming!  How did you manage that?”

“I thought I was finished, too!” Hugh said.  “I was laying there, expecting the end, when I thought I saw something shimmering close to me … somehow, I knew that I had to reach it.  I remember straining to move towards it but then everything went black.” 

Hugh paused a moment, replaying the scenario in his mind.  It still seemed kind of surreal.  He remembered it as being almost like he was a character in Ether Sword and the player was in control of his actions.  He knew he couldn’t describe it to Judi that way, so continued, “The next thing I knew, I was standing up.  I felt this energy pulsating within me; I have no idea where it came from.  I remembered the lessons you taught Kenneth and I back at the Crystal Inn.  I focused on my core, and then projected the energy from my hands; it worked just like you taught us.”

“Do you think you could do it again?” Judi inquired. 

“I don’t think so.  I wouldn’t know where to find an energy source which would have that effect on me,” Hugh replied. 

“I am glad you are all right,” Judi said, sincerely.  “It seems that ever since I met you several weeks ago, I have been in more fights than I ever was in all the time I have been here on Fourth Level.  It kind of makes me want to go back to just wandering like I was doing before.”

Hugh opened his mouth to speak, but then realized he had no response to her statement.  What Judi said was true.  He also knew that he really enjoyed her company and would miss her terribly if she wasn’t there to be his companion.  The final decision would have to be hers, not his.

Judi interrupted his thoughts saying, “We are going to have to stop for some water soon; the pressure in the steam wagon is getting low.  We’ll have to keep an eye out for a suitable place to refill the tank; hopefully, we can find one before too long because it will soon be getting dark and we won’t be able to see what we are doing.  We can rest while it fills and heats up to the boiling point.  That will take a couple of hours.”

It wasn’t long before they came across a small stream.  There was an overgrown track beside the water, leading to an abandoned building with a broken water wheel.  This would be perfect; it would enable them to maneuver the wagon close to the water supply.  They could even rest in the building while the wagon took on water, although it looked from here like half the roof was missing.

Night fell.  Judi and Hugh sat against the wall which was under the part of the building with the roof still intact.  They looked up through the improvised skylight and watched as the stars twinkled brightly in the cloudless sky.   “It is a good thing that it isn’t raining,” Hugh mused.  “There isn’t much shelter here with only half of the roof above us.”

Judi smiled.  “This kind of reminds me of the night I first met you.  I was up in the tree appreciating the beauty of the stars when you came stumbling along, poking at the trash piles with your stick.”

It was Hugh’s turn to smile.  “Yes, I remember that night.  It seems like that was such a long time ago.  So much has happened since then.  The best thing about that is that I not only found the urn I was looking for, but I also met you.”

“That is very sweet of you to say.  I can also say that I have changed a lot, for the better, since meeting you.  I used to appreciate being alone, and on my own; now I am much happier in your company,” she replied.

Hugh hesitated a moment to think about how to phrase his next thoughts … he didn’t want to offend Judi.

“You know, Judi, I have seen your reluctance to use your bow.  You only used it when it was a matter of life and death.  I don’t know what it is that makes you uncomfortable using it, and I am not going to push the issue with you.  I just want to say that I feel that I have learned a lot from you which makes me a stronger person in battle.  So as long as we are together, I will be able to protect you; you won’t have a need to use your bow,” Hugh stated earnestly.

Judi was touched by Hugh’s sincerity.  She decided it was time to share, with him, the reasons she became a wanderer on the fourth level.

“Thank you, Hugh,” Judi replied.  “I think I am ready to share the reason behind my reluctance.”

Hugh listened quietly while Judi continued speaking.

“Back in Cowson, on Third Level, I was a lot different than I am now.  When I was younger, I was conceited and arrogant; very full of myself because, as elves go, I was considered a genius.  I thought I was invincible.  My best friend, Laura, was my side kick.  One day, I felt emboldened and suggested to her that we should go hunting in the forbidden forest.  She followed me, without question.  While we were hunting, we heard a low, rumbling sound that came from behind us.  I thought it was one of the wild animals which were known to live in the forbidden region; I turned and fired an arrow at the source of the sound.  It wasn’t an animal.  It was a dark crystal.  The arrow released a concentrated ray of its darkness element.  I saw it coming and dodged.  Laura didn’t.  It hit her square in the chest.  I turned just in time to see her shocked expression as she watched this vile, purplish energy spread over her body from the impact point.  Her skin cracked, little fissures appeared everywhere.  She only had time to look at me and whisper my name before she fell; her body eroding to dust before my eyes.  I was devastated.  I gathered up as much of the ashes as I could, brought them back to town, and buried her remains in the cemetery.”  Judi paused a moment.  Hugh sensed she was not finished so didn’t interrupt.

“I couldn’t face going on without Laura, nor could I face the condemnation of the queen and all the other elves.  I chose to exile myself to this land, becoming a wanderer, and avoiding as much contact with people as possible.  I had not picked up my bow from that point until I had to use it against the bandits.”  Judi hung her head in sadness and remembrance of her lost friend.

Without speaking, Hugh reached out and put his arm around her, tenderly holding her close.  A few tears could be seen glistening on her cheeks in the moonlight.  Hugh let her have a few moments to grieve.  “I am so sorry for your loss.  You couldn’t have known what would happen and could not have done anything to help your friend.  I am sure that she would not want you to be so hard on yourself.  I can’t change your past, but I can be here for you now.”

Judi raised her head and looked at Hugh.  “Thank you.  I needed to get that off my chest.  I think I have just made up my mind to join you on your adventures, that is if you will allow me to come with you.”

Hugh replied, “I can’t think of anybody who I would like to be by my side more than you.”

At that moment, the steam whistle on the wagon emitted a short blast, signaling that the steam was up to pressure.  It was time to get back on the wagon and on the road to Halea … their friends were in danger!

About noon the following day, they arrived at the Crystal Inn and rushed in to find Matthew and Kenneth.  They were nowhere to be seen.

The two friends looked at each other in panic.

“Don’t tell me we are too late!” exclaimed Hugh.