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A Soldier's Life - 263 - Mistakes Are Made
🕑 Added 2024-09-15 02:26:55 +0000 UTCChapter 263: Mistakes Were Made
The city was less clean than the Elven cities. The fetid sewer under the streets was noticeable in the air near the grates in the streets, and the alleys were filled with vagrants and debris. Still, the city felt safe with cheerful pairs of guards walking the streets.
It took us half a day to find acceptable accommodations in wealthy district. The inn was called Crescent Crossroads. I think it was the most luxurious inn in all of Gramney. I rented an entire floor suite with five rooms and a massive common room connecting them. There was also a private bath with running water—which may have been why I selected this particular inn. It was time to consume the apex water essence and unlock the affinity. Having a bath nearby would be welcome.
After checking in, Maveith and I were in one of the rooms with two large beds. Maveith sat on the bed across from me, bouncing and shaking the frame, as he had never seen springs on a bed before. I could only imagine what the people on the floor below us were thinking. “It’s too soft and bouncy. I don’t think I could sleep.” His large mass was sinking into the soft mattress every time he landed. If he lay down, it would probably swallow him.
“You can always sleep on the floor, Maveith,” I said, irritated. I had paid a large gold coin for four nights, and that was supposedly a two-gold discount, according to the keeper. At least Ginger’s stabling was included in the cost. With a thud, I dropped his pack from my dimensional space on the floor. He bounced a few more times, considering before kneeling and starting to unpack his large bedroll.
While Maveith set up his sleeping accommodations on the floor, I considered how I would release my passengers. I had four people to extract—a mother and her two children, and a First Citizen Mage. The mother was the wisest choice to bring out first and get her acclimated to calm her children when they came out next. The mage was probably going to be trouble, but at least she was dosed with magebane poison.
“Maveith, why don’t you see if there are any orc adventures in the Guild Hall.” Even though he knew the plan was to add an orc to our group to serve as a guide, he ground his teeth a little. “I don’t need help with the mother and children. You can meet them when you come back.” The truth was I didn’t want them to be frightened by Maveith. If you didn’t know goliaths were an honorable people, Maveith was rather intimidating.
He finally let out a long sigh of disappointment. “Okay, I will inquire. I will bring back dinner for us and them.” He had been drooling at all the carts we searched for an inn.
After Maveith left, I went to the most opulent room in the suite. This was clearly for a lord, and the large window offered a marvelous view overlooking the square, featuring a massive statue of a Pegasus in flight and an armored knight on its back.
From Hearne, I knew that was impossible. Pegasus were rare creatures, but were more gliders than flyers and couldn’t get aloft with any significantly weighted rider. As far as aerial steeds, griffins were larger and more powerful, but still required slight riders to avoid fatigue. I briefly wondered how Raelia was doing. Her griffin egg should have hatched by now—or at least I hoped it hatched. It would have been cruel to give her an egg that had a dead embryo.
I pulled the window's blinds, lit the room's three oil lamps, and produced my glowstone. I placed the clothes I had stuffed for the three on the bed with the jewelry the mother had packed herself. When she appeared, she crumpled to the floor. I had given her two oblivion pills, and to her, that had happened just moments ago.
I placed her body on the bed and untied her. She was quite beautiful for a woman with silky blonde hair, vibrant skin, and delicate facial features. At that moment, I realized I had never learned her name. Centurion Sergius never mentioned it, and she never told me. I remembered that her children’s names were Marius and Clara.
I watched her sleeping, her chest rising and falling, then turned away, suddenly feeling creepy. Maybe I could wake her? I shook her shoulder strongly until her groggy eyelids fluttered. She was going to have to fight off the effects. She had difficulty speaking, and her eyes wouldn’t focus on my face, but she had some recollection of what had happened. “Where?” she asked, confused.
“You and your children are in Gramney in the Duchy of Manch,” I said softly.
She was slow to process what I said, but suddenly, memories came back to her, and she tried to stand but failed to do so, falling to the floor in a heap. She was drowsy and fighting the effects of the oblivion pills. It was stupid for me to wake her. I should have had patience and let her wake up on her own. As I helped her onto the bed, she pushed me away, “Don’t touch me!” She then remembered I had her children and needed to be polite to me. “I can manage,” she said more civilly.
I let her get on the bed, and I could tell she was fighting off sleep. Two oblivion pills were a lot for her slight frame. “Just rest for now. You are safe, as are your children, I promise.” Her eyes told me she didn’t believe me, but sleep soon took her.
Maveith knocked a few hours later while I watched over my victim. I waved him in, and he brought a feast in numerous canvas bags. He must have hit every vendor stall in the city. Mini pies were baked on formed wax leaves, different types of skewered meat and vegetables, three different kinds of bread, and a bag of cookies with jam baked into them. The crumbs on his clothes showed that he had done a lot of sampling on his expedition.
After unloading his haul, he stood over the woman studying her and then looking at me. “She is pretty. The children?”
“Not yet. She is working through the effects of two oblivion pills.” Maveith nodded in understanding and looked at all the food he had brought. I asked, “Any luck with an orc guide?”
He chewed his cheek unhappily. “There are three orc adventurers in the city. I have two addresses, and the third is guarding a trade caravan and will return in a month. It would be best if you interviewed them.” He stated with a note of pleading.
Maveith did not talk quietly. The woman fluttered her eyes, and Maveith leaned over her, smiling. She screamed as her eyes focused on his gray beaming smile. It was just as I feared as I pulled away the confused Maveith. I soothed her. “It is fine. Maveith is a goliath. A good goliath.”
Seeing me, her scream died. “I…I…I am sorry.” She was still disoriented and slightly terrified. I motioned Maveith to the door in case someone came to investigate, but it was a short, piercing scream, so maybe it went unnoticed.
“What is your name?” I asked with a friendly smile.
“You don’t know my name?” She suddenly sounded exasperated and exhausted. “Viridia Janus, wife of Milo Janus. Are you not the one who kidnapped me? Are my children here?” She really had not seen my face, but she should have recognized my voice. She sat up, taking in the luxurious room. She was shaking but hiding her fear well.
“Give me a moment, and I will check on Clara. You can change out of your nightwear,” I pointed at the pile of clothes. “The jewelry you packed is there as well.” Viridia blinked her vision clear, fighting off the fading effects of the oblivion pills. I moved into the common room, closing the door behind me. I went into the smallest room, probably for servants, and pulled the girl onto the bed. She had been sleeping peacefully when I pulled her into my dimensional space months ago.
Part of her mattress, sheets, and blankets appeared with her. If I had placed her into my space by touching her, I might have been able to differentiate the various fabrics from the girl. The girl was a miniature version of her mother and sleeping heavily, oblivious to her fate. I removed the cut fabric gently to remove the evidence of my powerful spell form. I was going to get her mother, but didn’t need to.
Viridia Janus came through the door, ran to her daughter, and started crying into her chest. Clara stirred and asked her mother what was wrong. The mother just wrapped her arms around her daughter and hugged her to her body while standing.
I guessed the girl’s age to be ten, and not past accepting affection from her mother. Viridia had clearly doubted my sincerity in guaranteeing the safety of her children. The young girl, confused, hugged her mother back on the verge of tears herself because she didn’t know what was going on.
“Where are we? Where is Marius? Is father home?” The girl asked her mother, who cradled her to her chest. Viridia looked to me for answers as she continued to hold her child against her chest.
“Marius is well. I do not know the fate of Milo Janus,” I told them truthfully.
Maveith stood in the doorway, taking up the entire doorframe. Clara noticed him for the first time, her eyes widening in shock. She was not afraid, though. After Viridia’s reaction, Maveith was more hesitant. “I have some food in the other room,” he offered, pointing awkwardly.
“Mommy, is that a giant? Did you get me a giant for my birthday?” The young girl asked excitedly.
“Of course, because they were all out of unicorns,” Viridia said sarcastically. The young girl didn’t catch the sarcasm and pushed away from her mother’s hold to approach Maveith. Viridia calmed down and whispered, “How did we get to Gramney, and where is my son?”
I would do my best to keep my secrets, and I tried to distract her with events. “I smuggled you here through a portal. The Emperor is dead, and the Telhian Empire is besieged from four sides. I suggest you and your family make a new life here with your wealth.”
“If I had known you were telling me the truth, I would have opened the secret vault in the villa,” she sighed resignedly. “Still, we have trade assets and agents in the Duchy of Manch that were out of the Emperor's reach, and the olive fields should be fruiting in a year or two. Milo can build his network again.” By the way she was talking, she still thought her husband was alive, but knowing Centurian Sergius, that was unlikely.
“Can you control your son when I wake him? Almost no time would have passed for him,” I asked her, wanting to finish the reunion. Her emerald eyes slowly gained life and sparkled with hope. She was accepting her fate and slowly formulating a way to survive.
Getting her son out was slightly trickier. When I stashed him away, he had been awake and walking onto the villa's balcony. I was in another small room when Marius appeared. He was sweaty, barefoot, and shirtless. His confusion quickly turned into an attack as he lunged at me. I sidestepped his tackle attempt and called for his mother as I threw a wet towel at him. Viridia rushed into the room and didn’t cry this time as she wrapped up her confused son. She was calming him as I stepped out.
I checked on Maveith and the girl. They were in the lord’s suit having something akin to a tea party on the floor. Clara was asking Maveith a stream of questions while she plated food for him. He seemed happy, and I noticed his checkers board to his right, so I left him to his fate. Did I do the right thing? Yes. Would this goodwill come back to bite me in the ass eventually? Probably.
I still had one passenger, but this had taken a lot out of me, and the First Citizen was a mage and much more dangerous than the mother and children. I entered the room and rested on the bed while I ran the apex water essence across the back of my knuckles. It was a fascinating essence with the appearance of shifting water inside.
Maveith arrived in our room late at night. “I hope you let her win a game or two,” I said, smirking.
“I let her win them all,” he said loudly, then quieted, worried the girl might have heard.
“I am going to use this tonight,” I said, tossing the sphere lightly in my hand. “Can you watch over me and help me clean up after?”
“Of course!” Maveith said agreeably. “Let me first make something to cover my mouth and nose.”
Maveith was in the bathroom with me as I prepared to take the essence to unlock the water affinity. He had watched over me in the Shimmering Labyrinth when I unlocked a new affinity, so he knew how painful, messy, and foul it would be. We had wet blankets, and the modest tub was filled with water for me to scrub right after.
Maveith had prepared everything and looked concerned at my reluctance, “Eryk, are you sure you want to do this?”
I held up the apex water essence to him, “All you big guy. I don’t need any more.” He shook his head and backed away as he held up his hands. I shrugged, stripped down to just my loincloth, and lay down on the wet towels. If I had the urge to vomit, a bucket was nearby. We were as prepared as we could.
“Bottom’s up,” I saluted Maveith and deposited the essence in my mouth. It tasted like sugar water as it dissolved, and I quickly swigged some water from a canteen. Maybe that wasn't very smart, as I would probably throw it up, but my mouth was already cottony.
I focused inward and felt the aether spread through my body from my stomach, and when it found my aether core, all the water aether flowing through me raced toward my core like two magnets attracting each other. That was as long as I could focus inward as every muscle in my body contracted, contorting my body in weird poses. I forced myself into a protective fetal position, thinking I just needed to ride it out for a minute or so. Anyone can deal with intense pain for a minute.
My skin burned as a slimy, foul-smelling substance was pushed out my pores. My loincloth was suddenly full of shit and urine, but I didn’t remember releasing it. My heart raced, and I panted to catch my breath. This was by far my worst experience. It sounded like I was underwater as Maveith’s voice tried to reach me.
“Eryk, what’s wrong!?” He sounded a bit panicked.
Through clenched teeth, I rasped out, “Should be fine in a minute.”
“It has been almost half an hour!” Maveith said worriedly. Ah, shit, well, that sucks. Then I passed out.
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Comments
Erick Thiemke
I changed it on the master to: I noticed the checkers board Desdemona had given him to his right, so I left him to his fate.
HappyNoms
Maveith was forced to leave his checkers board behind in the dungeon, he was starting to gathering the pieces and Eryk screamed at him to leave it, which he did, etc. It's very possible I missed him reacquiring a new one though, so I'm unsure whether him having it here is a very minor contuinity detail. He definitely could have easily reacquired a fresh one. Maybe cover the bases by tweaking by a word and describe it as his "latest" or "reacquired" checkers board? Idk. Apologies if it was already sorted and I've missed recalling a line a few chapters ago. TFTC.
HappyNoms
"She was quite beautiful for a woman with silky blonde hair" Suggest adding a comma between woman and with, though it's funny for unintentionally roasting blonde people that use shampoo, and maybe Eryk has a thing for fiery redheads.
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
deleted this paragraph
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
i cut this - Eryk is just gonna assume it
Jedlák
Eh, why is mc putting himself into these situation. He could have easily released the family without revealing his face, identity or affinity. This way he s just asking to get tattled on even just for his space affinity alone if not anything else. He just couldn t wait until the next portal to release them on the day they would leave so he could escape any complications? Also what happened to the legionare girl?
Andrew Crews
From Hercule, I knew all the assets of Milo Janus’ merchant Empire had been seized after he refused to sell them to the Emperor, * accusing him of his family's death in the fire I started. From Hercule, I learned that all the assets of Milo Janus’ merchant empire had been seized after he refused to sell them to the Emperor, whom he accused of causing his family’s death in the fire I started.
Andrew Crews
“What is your name?” I asked *was a friendly smile. “What is your name?” I asked with a friendly smile.
Andrew Crews
*By the crumbs on his clothes showed that he had done a lot of sampling. The crumbs on his clothes showed that he had done plenty of sampling.
Andrew Crews
*Form Hearne, I knew that was impossible. From Hearne, I knew that was impossible.
Jamie Idle
I doubt he is used to having it and it may not of helped since this is a cultivator style purge
Erick Thiemke
there were 3 edits of the chapter. i left them all up so you could see the evoltuion
BloodStorm
I thought the water mage had her two guards in the storage too?
Keven Leigh
Why didn't he use his void aspect to clear his bowels?
Karnnie
since they prepared beforehand, you would think that Eryk would have relieved himself before taking the essence.
Salvo
Frost blasts spell forms are likely the crowd control you are thinking would be good.
Salvo
Calling it now. Eryk is gonna see ‘cleansing bath’ as a spell form and pick that over ice beams , water bending or rainstorms. I don’t think Eryk has ever turned down a bath.🤣
Faa Diallo
Shouldn't there be another half dead woman in the storage?
Kbzzy
Do you intend for soldier to still be running with Eryk being hundreds of years old?
Erick Thiemke
He is going to run into Castile s company in a few chapters and Konstantin will come looking for Castile
Da Worst John
How will Konstatantin know to look for him or that he's even alive?
Shane clark
What would be interesting is that his core not accepting any new affinities, but when he tries something new again, maybe it increases his mana pool to a very small degree.
Silver Beard
I was more thinking along the lines of keeping his secrets close. His guests don't need to learn of him now they have their freedom.
Sparrow
Oh man ... It feels bad to reach final releases chapter.. I guess I'll give other stories a shot, I like this one and I think it does have a great potential, don't know about other stories but I believe this needs to have the most attention, stuff like power tree and make it more balanced, world building, maybe a map for each kingdom and updated through story? Maybe other MCs POV, those who moved from other worlds? ... Yes .. so much potential... But it needs to be focused on
Jeff Kollada
They can always claim he kidnapped them which he did. At face value anyone would take their claim over his
Thresher
I think he meant it was stupid to try and unlock a new affinity right now. Especially since he’s already been through it and knows it’s a painful process that leaves him disgusting. Sure he didn’t know it would knock him out, but still. Wasn’t a smart move as he is currently dealing with the whole passengers situation. Plus last chapter or the chapter before when he used Earth Speak as the teleporter lady was using her spell, right after she explained how delicate of a process it was and how people have died. That was stupid and could have interfered with the spell, causing them to die or be ported somewhere else. Point is he is being very reckless right now. Not really thinking before he acts.
Erick Thiemke
He only offered the essence as a gesture, he knew Maveith wouldn’t accept
Erick Thiemke
What are they going to run to the guard and complain that he saved them from certain death? He could have dumped them somewhere and not shown his face but they would probably have just as many complications as showing himself and Maveith. This way he can be the good guy and control the situation. The First Citizen is going to be much messier
Erick Thiemke
With three apex essences it would settle around 8-11 for him
Erick Thiemke
Idea is the space is freed for Ginger
Erick Thiemke
Eventually…
Erick Thiemke
It would take dozens of apex essences for Maveith to reach ten in a new affinity. He would unlock it at 1, and then It would take a lot every point, think it is 30 apex for him to raise one point but I would have to check. That does t even include diminishing returns
Thresher
Yeah not his brightest moment. Seems like Eryk’s iq has dropped these last couple chapters.
Zurko
his affinity will be pretty low to start... i dont know if its worth inscribing anything right now. depends on the options I guess
Zurko
any new affinity essense would be better of going to eryk, mavith has a really small aether pool if I remember right. even the earth essences would be better for eryk cus stone shaping doesn't sound good in a fight. he should just focus on physical essences due to his large build.
Chachi
gem chp once again
Devourerofwords
Or you know large pile of money since she still have tonnes of wealth stashed away
luis angel jimenez rubio
I think you wrote an spoiler in this chapter XD
Jordan
I’m not sure why Eryk’s even considering getting Maveith a new affinity since it takes so much essence for someone without his convergence ability to build a new affinity
NightRider
Viridia had clearly doubted my sincerity in guaranteeing the safety of his children. Should read, safety of her children.
momo2009
More room for other items. Ginger perhaps
momo2009
As payment for saving her I would expert the mage to teach the MC magic or give some knowledge into the amulet. Or at least useful info for later adventure. Rich lady should provide free olive oil, or safe house at her land when needed in the future, or business credential that mc can used in other nations etc.
momo2009
Yep, maybe mind control and lighting long ranged attack.
momo2009
Mavieth is being so unhelpful. Not willing to learn other magic to help out Eryk in any fight is naive and dumb. Especially since they will face major adversary in orc land to rescue his sister and girlfriend.
Jordan
Eryk also has other affinities that haven’t been explored yet (ie lightening and charm)
Andrew
Thank you!
Jordan
I like the idea of limiting him to only so many affinities for a while. A good limiter on his power so he doesn’t get to “God mode” too quickly.
hrs
will this be something he learns from the guild, castille, or maybe the rogue first citizen? if he gets a chance to have castille leave a version of herself in the dream amulet it would be a great way to scale up his power as needed. or short term he could ask the rogue first citizen for some help with affinities that castille doesnt have.
Devourerofwords
Are we going to do anything with Eyrk's lightning affinity?
Tetsu-nii
Well, like the chapter title states … 🤪
Tetsu-nii
Glad Eryk managed to evict three-quarters of his passengers rather successfully! Thanks for the chapter!
hrs
paragraph 9 "she was very comely for a woman..." should probably be "she was a very comely woman...
1536539
For water magic, i think he either needs a utility or a ranged attack spell, crowd control would be nice but water doesn’t seem suitable for that.
1536539
Not in the last draft
Silver Beard
Should have gotten the family elsewhere before this bit of stupidity.
Erick Thiemke
Next chapter, you find out that this is his last affinity unlock. I will leave it open that he has to rest his aether core for a hundred years of something like that before adding another one but for this story - water is his last. He will open be able to improve the ones he has
Erick Thiemke
more his aether core is being stretched to accomodate each new affinity. it can only stretch so far. Maveith gets him help in the next chapter - probably Monday
PatronTurtle
I wonder what will happen when he has every type of magic. Is there a synergy effect going on that this purge every time a new one is added also helps the others a little bit more?
Jeff Kollada
Maybe you can only unlock so many types? Like there's a limit to what the body can handle?
Erick Thiemke
there is no room left on his aether core for another affinity
Jeff Kollada
I thought he killed one of the female legionaries when he captured her?
Lemes
Well, all that's left is to unload the mage now and she's sleeping with the oblivion pills, it shouldn't be that hard to control. Why is this unlocking of the water affinity being so difficult? Does it have something to do with the fact that he's using an apex essence?
1536539
Yep the previous chapter was 262
Erick Thiemke
corrected, thanks
Garrett
Tftc
Jelani Willock
isnt this 263
Erick Thiemke
All three drafts are in patreon
Erick Thiemke
He just has the mage. There were three drafts of that chapter. In the final draft he just took the mage. Most likely Konstantin is going to cross paths with the two female legionnaires and use them to find Eryk/Castile since he told them Gramney was nice this time of year
Nick Nicholson
I thought he was carrying the Mage as well as the two women who were guarding her. Am I remembering that wrong?
Erick Thiemke
2nd of four for cycle. Sorry, I spent about 16 hours driving the last three days. A bit tired from that. Working on Town Builder next
