From Real to Realm

If there was one thing Val was good at, it was getting up early. Not surprisingly, she was the first one up. Both Cera and Amarisse were still sleeping soundly.

I wonder what time it is.

Val slowly got out of bed, doing her best to stay as quiet as she could. When she poked her head out into the hallway, she saw Sturman and the other drivers walking their way.

“Hey, Val,” he waved at her. “Is everyone up?”

Val shook her head. “I just woke up myself. We can be up and ready in a little bit.”

Sturman smiled. “No rush. We’re heading down early to make sure the wagons are good and ready. The guys aren’t ready yet either.”

Val yawned. “No breakfast before we leave?”

Sturman chuckled. “I never said that. They’re prepping breakfast right now for us. Should be ready before you all get down here. Gotta eat quick, though.”

Val nodded. “Understood. I’ll get the girls up.”

Sturman gave her a thumbs-up.

Val closed the door, turning around to yawn again. “Fuck. Still tired.”

It didn’t take her long to get Cera and Amarisse up. Even though they went to bed earlier than normal, everyone still seemed tired. As a group, they powered through it and gathered their belongings for the return trip.

When the girls walked out of their room, they saw the guys already sitting at the table on the main floor. Steaming platters of food were already set out and waiting for them. The drivers joined the table not long after as well.

Breakfast was much quieter than the day before. Since they were on a bit of a schedule, conversation was much rarer. Everyone seemed focused on refueling for the second leg of the journey back.

“Everything ready?” Weyland asked.

Sturman nodded, chewing his food.

That was the extent of a last check before everyone focused on eating. Weyland trusted Sturman; that much was obvious.

When breakfast was finally finished, everyone filed out into the back lot. Every wagon was filled with crates and barrels again. The horses were already attached again, and everything was in order.

“Alright, everyone get on,” Weyland said, climbing up onto the first wagon. “Same rules as before. We’ve got a day’s worth of travel ahead of us.”

By the time the sun rose, the caravan was already a few miles outside of Edmur. Even then, Val saw multiple people leaving their homes and making their way toward the fields. Farming didn’t wait for anyone, apparently. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the weather held up beautifully. There were hardly any clouds in the sky.

“I spy?” Thais asked again. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Val waved her hand. “Forget about that. It’s easy, I’ll explain how it works.”

Val spent the next few minutes explaining how the game worked to Thais. It wasn’t all that complicated, but it still took some time to drill home.

“I get it now!” he said, proudly. “Alright, I’ll go first. I spy with my little eye, something blue.”

Val deadpanned. “Is it the sky?”

Thais narrowed his gaze. “I don’t think this game is as fun as you said it is.”

Val and Thais continued to play despite Thais’ reservations. It didn’t last very long as they ran out of things to choose from, given their surroundings. The rest of the day’s trip was spent either watching quietly or talking about various topics. Val never was that great at small talk.

As the sun began to set, a familiar shape came into view. Indeed, it was the rocky outcropping they camped at on their first leg of the trip. The sun was still casting a warm glow even as they got closer.

“Looks like leaving as early as we did was the right call,” Val said, sitting up, popping her back.

Ainz nodded. “Shouldn’t take long to set up camp with the sun still out.”

One after another, the wagons pulled off the road to circle around the open face of the outcropping. Once they were in place, everyone hopped off to help set up camp.

“Hey, Val, mind doing another loop, make sure we’re good?” Weyland asked.

“Sure, I’ll be back in a sec.”

Val took the same loop as before, and just like before, there weren’t any threats nearby. After confirming they were safe, she returned to the camp.

“All good,” she called out.

The drivers focused on preparing the wagons and horses for the night, while everyone else set up camp.

“Looks like someone camped here while we were in Edmur,” Weyland said, poking at the charred leftover wood in the firepit.

“Must be going toward Phylandair, right?” asked Cera. “We would’ve passed them on the road if they were going to Edmur.”

Weyland nodded. “Either that, or it could’ve been bandits.”

Val set some firewood down next to him. “Are bandits a big problem around here?”

He shook his head. “Not really. The military does a good job at squashing big groups. Still have stragglers here and there.”

Thais flexed his muscles. “I dare ‘em to try something. I need a workout after sitting on my ass all day.”

Everyone chuckled at his bravado before getting back to starting the fire. Soon, everyone was circled up around a crackling fire, enjoying some stew. It didn’t compare to the food they had back in Edmur, but it was good nonetheless.

Weyland finished off his first bowl and started getting seconds. “We’ll have the same watches tonight. Everyone okay with that?”

After getting nods from everyone, he sat back down. It was at this time that Val glanced over to catch Cera looking at her. Immediately, the girl blushed and looked away.

I might need to talk to her about that.

When the fire was beginning to die down, it was time for everyone to get some sleep. Val would be sharing the second watch with Cera again. Val’s eyes started getting heavy as soon as she was snuggled up inside her bedroll. Before long, she was sound asleep.

“Val.”

Someone was shaking Val awake again.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. “I’m really not a fan of this being shaken awake thing.”

Amarisse chuckled. “Might have chosen the wrong career then.”

Val slid out of her bedroll, stretching her arms and rolling her head. “Our turn for watch?”

Amarisse nodded. “Cera is getting up, too.”

Val rolled her bedroll up and set it close to the fire. Not so close it would catch, but close enough it’d be warm when she came back.

“Ready for our watch?” she asked as she passed Cera.

“Oh, uh. Yes.”

Val walked through the gap between the wagons. Cera followed behind her, eyes scanning the distance. They stood side by side, leaning against the side of one of the wagons.

“So, about what you saw the other night,” Val started.

Cera shook her head. “I didn’t see anything.”

Val chuckled. “You’re not a very good liar. I can tell from the way you’ve been acting.”

Cera didn’t say anything.

“I was in a coma with some magical illness almost a year ago.”

Cera turned to her, eyes wide.

“I’m fine now,” Val assured her. “Somehow I fought it off. Anyways, it wasn’t something documented, and no one could figure out the issue. When I finally did wake up, I had this.”

God telling this lie is getting old.

“I’ve learned to live with it. Amarisse doesn’t know yet, so I’d prefer you didn’t tell her.”

Cera was fiddling with her hair. “So, I know something about you that she doesn’t?”

Val nodded. “Amarisse is a very close friend of mine. I plan on telling her at some point. Just not an easy conversation to bring up.”

Cera nodded. “Is it just the two of you in your party?”

“It is. We have someone else who might be able to join later on. If she recovers.”

“So no healer?” Cera asked.

Val shook her head. “Not at this moment, no.”

Cera was quiet after that. Val felt content to sit in silence as well.

Throughout the rest of their watch, Cera didn’t bring Val’s endowment up again. Val was content to relax and enjoy the cool evening breeze. At one point, she even nodded off, only to be poked in the side by the frustrated healer beside her.

“Shouldn’t be falling asleep on watch,” Cera said, glaring at Val.

“Sorry, just got really comfortable, that’s all.”

To avoid another slip-up, Val opted to practice again. She found a spot and began flowing through the motions. It was always a good idea to practice the fundamentals. The fact that it kept her awake was just a bonus.

It wasn’t much longer before Cera walked over. “Our watch is almost over. Do you need to wash off again?”

Val chuckled. “I probably should. Try not to peek this time.”

Cera’s face got red as she struggled to give a retort. “I… that’s not… you—“ Eventually, she turned around and walked away, grumbling.

Val struggled to hold back her laughter. She made her way to the back of the last wagon and stripped down again. This time, she was a bit quicker about it since the breeze was a bit chillier than before.

By the time Weyland was up for his watch, Val was walking back into the center of the campsite.

“Was your watch peaceful?” he asked.

Val nodded, grabbing her bedroll. “It was. A bit chilly out there, though.” She smiled to herself the moment she realized her bedroll was nice and warm.

“Smart girl,” he said, motioning to where his bedroll was. “I wondered which of you figured out the trick. Works like a charm on cold nights.”

Val smirked. “I might be hot, but I have a brain too.”

Weyland covered his mouth, laughing. “Cocky too.”

With that, he walked through the gap in the wagons. Val rolled out her bedroll and took off her boots, setting them next to the fire as well. When she slid inside her bedroll, she let out a very happy sigh. The fire had done a wonderful job of warming it up for her. That, combined with already being tired, meant she was knocked out in minutes.

“You shake her awake.”

“Why me?”

“She told me she’s getting tired of it. I have to deal with her long-term; you do it.”

“Oh my gods, you fucking babies, I’ll wake her up.”

“Hey, Val, get up.”

Val slowly opened her eyes. “You guys are a bunch of babies.”

She looked up to see Cera, Amarisse, and Thais in front of her. Thais was crouched next to her with his arm on her shoulder.

“You act like I’m going to bite your head off for waking me up,” she said, slipping out of her bedroll. “We’re on the job, it’s not like you’re doing it to be a dick.”

Amarisse rolled her eyes. “Well, good morning then. We’re about to head out.”

Val started putting her boots on again. While she was lacing them up, Cera leaned over.

“Are you feeling okay?”

Val tilted her head, confused why she was whispering. “I feel fine, why?”

Cera stared at Val, or maybe it was more accurate to say through her?

“Your aura is… it’s almost frazzled in a way,” she finally said. “Like there’s excess energy?”

Val stood up. She stretched, moved around, and tested her joints. “I don’t feel any different? Just like I got a good night’s rest.”

Cera pressed her fist to her chin, looking at Val again.

“I promise if I’m feeling off, I’ll let you know. You’re our healer after all.”

Val walked past with her bedroll under her arm. When she did so, she gently patted Cera on the head.

“Everyone almost ready?” Weyland called out. “We’re leaving in five!”

The next five minutes were spent making sure nothing was missing or being left behind. Sturman and the other drivers made sure the wagons were still in good condition. Thais, Amarisse, and Val hiked to the top of the outcropping to check their surroundings. When they returned, it was time to finally head out.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Thais called out.

Weyland hopped up on his wagon. “Good. Let’s go.”

Slowly, the wagons started moving through the grass. The wagons leaned back and forth as they traveled over the uneven ground. That all ceased the moment they were back onto the main road.

“Last leg,” Ainz said. “Hopefully, I get a few days off.”

Val smiled. “Time off sounds good to me, but I can’t afford to.”

Thais raised an eyebrow. “Hitting the dungeon?”

“Maybe not right away, but I definitely want to get back in there,” Val said, looking in the distance. “I’m ready to grow, I can feel it.”

Huh. Maybe Cera’s onto something with my “aura”.

Conversation dwindled from there as everyone fell back into the traveling rhythm. Thais convinced Val to try “I Spy” again, but soon gave up when Val guessed what he spied multiple times in a row. Ainz at least got a good laugh out of Thais’ grumbling afterwards.

As the caravan continued along through a small grouping of trees, Val and Thais saw the same thing. In the distance, there was a herd of large shaggy creatures.

“Thais, what are those?” Val asked, hand over her eyes to block the sun.

He sighed. “Drumhoof. They’re crossing the road.”

Then two high-pitched whistles pierced the air.

Each of the wagons came to a prompt stop. Val saw Weyland and Amarisse drop down from their wagon.

“Come on, Val,” Thais said, hopping off his side.

Val did as he said and dropped down. She followed behind him to meet in the middle with everyone.

“Alright, take a minute to relax,” Weyland said, sighing. “The Drumhoof are already moving across the road, shouldn’t be much longer. Bathroom break, snacks, whatever you need.”

Val looked past him. “Is this going to delay us?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t be enough to force us to camp again. We’ll reach the checkpoint for sure. If we need to stay the night there, we can.”

“I would rather we get home tonight,” Cera said, frowning.

Weyland nodded. “I do too. It all depends on how long the herd takes to move.”

“I don’t know much about Drumhoof, but can’t we usher them along? Make some noise to get them moving?” Val asked.

Thais laughed while Weyland gave her a look.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “They can bowl over the wagons with ease. I don’t want us fucking with them at all.”

Val held her hands up. “I get it. I didn’t know they could be dangerous. Looks like big fluffy dogs to me.”

Everyone returned to their respective wagons and waited. It took almost an hour before the Drumhoofs were finished moving across the road.

“Hey, Thais. Wake up, idiot,” Ainz said, slapping him on the chest.

“What’s wrong? They done moving yet?”

Val rolled her eyes. “Have a nice nap?”

Thais yawned. “I did.”

Weyland swung around the side of his wagon and made a motion with his hand. “Move out!”

One by one, the wagons started moving again.

“We should see the checkpoint again soon,” Ainz said. “The check will be a little more thorough since we’re coming back from the empire.”

Sure enough, within the hour, Val was able to see the silhouette of the checkpoint in the distance. Nothing had changed since the last time she saw it. Not that she expected anything to truly change in a few days.

There was less of a line trying to get into the Free City of Phylandair than leaving. That meant it wasn’t long before it was their turn for another cargo check. Checking their badges and paperwork was exactly the same as before. However, this time their cargo check was much closer to the way Edmur did it. Every barrel and crate was opened, and they actually moved the cargo around more.

“Everything checks out, you’re good to go once your lead wagon starts moving.”

The guard handed Val and Thais back their badges. A handful of seconds later, Sturman’s wagon started moving. This meant they were around three-quarters of the way home.

Val leaned back. “I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed again.”

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