Chương 121: An Evening Off

After dinner, as the sun set, I set out, walking alone through the tournament grounds. Even at night, it still buzzed with activity. Probably more activity than I say during the height of the day. Although my increasing Vitality made swings in temperature meaningless, the heat of the day was unbearable for most people, and they could get far more done in the late afternoons and evenings. Keeping my promise, I visited the circle of wagons where the Byrnwold Company had gathered. I waited outside the camp hesitantly.

Performers donned their vibrant yellow costumes—open vests and baggy pants for the men, and leotards for the women—and their helpers, workers like Alis, helped them prepare. Stage makeup, cleaning their uniforms, gathering their equipment. As I stood, watching, a sinking feeling set in. What was I even doing here? I was supposed to be a soldier, and getting this invitation seemed pointless… Unless Alis was actually being honest. If she just was looking for friends, what harm could this do?

Like I'd said, this was my break day. Maybe it was alright to just relax a little. And I always said I'd need allies in this quest. So here I was, looking for allies, wherever I could find them. Just, when I'd thought of allies, I hadn't necessarily assumed they'd be wandering performers (I still didn't believe they weren't a circus). More like nobles and lords who could help me gain the power I needed. Then again, what could it hurt?

After mustering my courage, I stepped into the circle of wagons, hunting for Alis. I didn't really know where I was supposed to watch from, and— Before I made it more than three steps, something tapped me on the shoulder. I glanced back, finding Alis standing behind me.

"There you are," I said.

"I'm gonna be honest, I don't really know where we're supposed to watch from."

"In the central clearing," she said.

"There's a gap between the tents. A town square of sorts. We shall begin in a half hour from now. Don't be late."

"I won't."

"Wonderful. Now—""Alis!" a voice shouted from somewhere deeper within the performer's wagon circle. A man wearing red robes and a leopard fur shawl wandered around, holding a cane with a brass head.

"Alis, where are you?"

"Over here, mister!" she called back. Then she glanced at me.

"I must go finish some papers," she said.

"Travel documents. Trading licenses, checkpoint passes. Toll accounting."

"Good luck," I replied. Then I narrowed my eyes.

"Wait, why do they have you on that task? Just a worker, huh?" Alis tucked a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.

"You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"Tell them what?" She whispered, "They're not always perfectly…legitimate. I help forge their papers. There are just so many documents you need nowadays to do anything. But my handwriting is as neat as any noble's, and it's easy enough to forge a document when you know what you're doing…"

"You'd have to have a good knowledge of the laws," I said.

"And I do. That's what makes me useful to the company. Not my mediocre water gathering abilities." I shrugged.

"Well, I won't tell anyone. As long as it doesn't help the orcs, I don't care."

"Just go to the town, then," she said.

"I shall meet you there once I'm done." I nodded, then walked back to the central town plaza. It was directly down the street from the lists, but the jousting grounds were empty tonight, save for a few non-Dupe workers who swept the audience bleachers. The ground here was nothing but packed mud and scattered gravel, and the odd weed. People gathered at the edges of the town plaza already, awaiting the performers, and I barely snagged a spot.

A few workers rushed around the plaza, placing stanchions and ropes, isolating a space in the center for the performers. After a minute or so, a horn sounded, and wagons rumbled along the road. The performance company's wagons trundled into the plaza, loaded with equipment. When they arrived, they parked in the center, and a worker at the front of each wagon spun a capstan. Some of the wagons' covers pulled back to reveal pools of water, and others' cargo beds tilted upward, like dump trucks.

Using a complex system of ropes, they transformed into a tree-like apparatus of dangling rings and glowing torches. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The man with the leopard-fur shawl marched into the center of the plaza, holding his cane out to the side. A pair of lute players followed him, wearing the average uniforms of the company, strumming a tune, while a petite woman perched atop a wagon and played a matching melody on a fife.

I blinked, trying to take in the chaos, but at least I didn't have to watch it alone. The crowd cheered when performers emerged from their hiding spots in the wagons. Fire-wielding sorcerers lit the rings aflame with an Art, a bar of glowing fire. A few druids transformed into seals and splashed through the pools.

"Welcome, all!" the leopard-shawl man exclaimed. He bowed to the crowd, then said, "I am Byrnwold, and this is my company, here for your amusement, and for the joy of your lords!" He paused.

"Before we begin, I must note that we appreciate any and all donations. Performances like this are only possible through the sponsorship of thegns…" He began to ramble about all the domains he'd visited and all the thegns and Ealdormen he'd entertained, but I lost focus—out the corner of my eye, I picked out Alis navigating through the crowd toward me.

"You're done already?" I whispered.

"That was fast."

"It was only three documents."

"And it was only, like, fifteen minutes," I said.

"Insanely fast."

"That is my normal pace," she replied with a grin.

"I respect the effort, then." I crossed my arms and leaned back on a barrel.

"So you're travelling around with these guys, just…seeing the world?"

"Seeing the world." She nodded.

"Looking for friends."

"I guess you did say that before. Have much success?"

"It's only been a year." I laughed softly.

"A year, and no friends."

"It's hard, moving from place to place. But one day, it'll work out." Alis nodded, as if to reassure herself.

"Byrnwold finally assigned me to apprentice under…" She pointed at one of the performers, a woman who launched herself through burning rings using wind Arts.

"Aedilhild. She's that one."

"She's very good."

"I've been working with her for a few months now. But I'm not ready."

"Sometimes you've just gotta take a leap," I countered.

"Well, I shall see what Byrnwold thinks next time I demonstrate what I've learned so far."

"Does that mean you're a Path-walker?" She nodded.

"Titanium tier. At the moment." I scowled.

"So then why'd you let the squires push you around like that. You must have a reforged body and all that."

"It's so tiresome to always be…putting on appearances and trying to make people see me a certain way. I knew they couldn't hurt me, so why bother?"

"Fair enough, I guess. Well, nice work getting to Titanium."

"Just nice?" She tilted her head and looked up at me.

"Most people are more impressed when I tell them. I'm only nineteen. They want to know my aspect, or if I'm a druid or such—I'm not, I'm a sorcerer."

"Just nice," I replied. Then I realized that came out a little harsher than I intended.

"Sorry. I'm not used to dealing with Path-walkers. Would you like me to ask your aspect? You guys have an aspect assigned, right, if you're a sorcerer?"

"I…suppose usually people want something from me when I say I'm a Path-walker."

"Remember the deal? You don't owe me anything." I shook my head, then jumped up onto the barrel I was leaning against. Instead of leaning, I just sat on it cross-legged.

"That's not how I roll."

"You're simple."

"I know you guys can sometimes mean that as an insult—""I don't mean it like that," Alis insisted.

"Are you good at keeping secrets?" I tilted my head.

"Yeah? Why?"

"You asked my aspect." She lowered her voice.

"I don't know what it is. Even though technically I'm past Steel, and I should have an aspect, I don't know exactly what it is." That earned a raise of my eyebrows.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well, what can you do?" I glanced at her, trying to examine her for any clues as to what her aspect might be. Sometimes, there were clues, like singed hair (fire-wielders) or puckered fingertips (water-wielders)—but that was according to the books in the library. All I could pick out, though, was a slight ripple in her hair.

"Is that, whatever's gone funky with your hair?"

"I don't know what half of that means, Levi," she replied.

"But I shall assume it is soulstealer ramblings." She shook her head, then reached into her dress and retrieved a keychain of eye-shaped silver brooches on a necklace. There had to be at least ten of them.

"Illusion charms. I'm using one to create the bandana to appease Byrnwold. I don't like hiding my hair. Too stuffy, not free enough. But it's the company's worker's uniform."

"How did you get those?" I asked.

"Greenway merchant," she said quickly. Then, with a resigned sigh, she added, "No, though, before you ask. I'm pretty sure illusions—or, that would be dream-aspect maegen—isn't my aspect. It's just a charm."

"Have you learned any Arts?"

"Teleportation. Short distances, of course. And it's not super reliable."

"I can see why they'd want you to perform with them, then. Could be a cool Art for a performance." Alis laughed.

"Usually, there's a stronger reaction when I tell people that. Besides…I haven't told anyone in the company that I have that Art. They…wouldn't take it well."

"Teleportation." I shrugged.

"I've seen weirder in the past few months. Considering I went and stole someone's soul." Alis grinned, then flicked my shoulder.

"Next time a girl tells you about her magic, you must give her a better reaction than that."

"Alright, alright. That can be arranged." After the show finished, I was about to navigate back to the castle, but I glanced back at Alis.

"You guys are gonna be around a little longer, right?"

"Of course," she said.

"The company stays until the end of the joust."

"Well, I'll see you around, then."

"See you around, Levi. Don't get yourself in too much trouble."