QuestWright BK2 C29: A Life in the 5th (Patreon)

Author note:

Sorry for the delay. I wrote and rewrote this SOB several times. Kept coming out funny. Anyways, ReaderQuest just below, and we should have a triple chapter weekend coming up.

Quest ID: JDM-0002-S-EA

[Tier 1 Scouting Quest]

Assignment: Wander Without Purpose

Most movement in the world has a destination. Work. Errands. Obligations. Routes optimized and repeated until the path feels automatic.

This Quest removes the destination.

Your Task

Leave your home or starting point. You can head downtown or to a new neighborhood. Then walk without a planned objective.

No store to reach. No errand to complete. No timer to beat.

Turn when something catches your attention.
Follow the interesting street.
Take the path you usually ignore.
Pause when you feel like pausing.

The only rule is that the wandering must be intentional.

Do not rush. Do not track distance. Do not optimize the route.

Just move through the world because you can.

Completion Condition
At least one hour wandering without a destination or task.

Timeframe: One Week

Reward
6 XP

Not every journey needs a destination.

—
J D Mullenary Sr
The Original QuestWright

Side note: Do you think I should put these into a tiny kindle book. Sell it for like 99 cents or something similar? I'm not sure if they're interesting enough. I tend to relate them to what happens in the chapter.

Chapter 29: A Life in the 5th

Eileen’s was only the first Identifier’s shop they’d dropped by. After hers was Ricks, then Wells, though neither was anywhere near her size. 

While the older woman had focused on any and everything, becoming a general Identifier as a profession, the others had gone a different direction. Rick’s shop was filled to the roof with weapons and armor, holding every kind imaginable, even down to a specially created wood-type.

As for Wells…well.

They’d been there for more than a few minutes and the scenario hadn’t changed. The middle-aged, balding man stood there as if rooted in place. A practiced glare emitted from two off-color eyes as Adya tried and failed again to ply him with her charms. 

“I told ya, this is a specialty shop. You tell me whatcha looking for, I go and get some samples. What, you think I’m just gonna leave it all out here to be stolen? Fat chance, kids.” He thumbed his nose at them, “I learned better than that long ago.”

“Sir,” she said, all smiles as she leaned against the thick, wooden counter. “We’re looking for a specialty shop, just like yours for all our future needs.” Batting her eyes at him, she pouted her lips in a show that Cass had seen her fail once already since they’d arrived. “Won’t you make an exception for us?”

Wells looked at her big, doe eyes, then turned his head away. “Tell me what you need, but you won’t be coming in the back. And that’s final.”

Five minutes later, they both left the shop, “I can’t believe he wouldn’t bend.” The Scout groused, “Cass, aren’t I pretty?”

“Gorgeous,” He replied automatically, deep in thought. Almost like he didn’t hear what she’d just said, nor his response, he looked at her, “Do you do that kind of thing often?”

Beaming brightly, Adya asked, “What kind of thing?”

“You know…the flirty thing.”

“Oh, that? My dad taught me.”

Cass missed a step, “Your dad!”

“Yep. You wouldn’t expect it from a man like him. He’s not exactly what you’d call charming. All short and rectangular. But every time we needed a deal for something necessary, he’d send me out. Worked a lot better when I was younger.” 

I’ve known her for months, and she’s never acted that way before. What else don’t I know?

She stomped the ground, then took one last, glaring look back at Wells' shop. Turning, she grabbed the side of Cass’s arm and pulled him away.

“Come on, let’s go look around Liberty some more.”

Cass allowed himself to be pulled away, “Sure.”

They walked for a while, both of their exceptional hearing picking up all kinds of conversations. It wasn’t so late that people had to turn in yet. The sun above was on its last legs before giving up the ghost, and it looked like, rather than knocking out for the evening, more and more people were up and about.

The two settled into an easy rhythm as they walked behind an ever-growing crowd traveling the 5th ring’s streets. Neither spoke as they just enjoyed the act of being together. The couple in front of them was talking about Crests, a common enough topic that Cass tuned them out and simply tried to focus on the present. Including the hand on his arm.

Here I am. Walking beside a beautiful woman in a city that I never imagined I would find myself in. How has life become so strange?

Before gaining his Calling, Cass had had plans. Warrior with the GoldenCrowns. Crafter setting up a shop near his family home. He’d thought things through. Planning several potential avenues. But he’d never foreseen finding himself in a city whose reputation was seedy at best, enjoying the moment simply because a girl was beside him.

My partner, he mind amended. Life is weird.

Putting his hand on hers as they walked, he shifted it down until their fingers interlaced. She looked at him with a grin and a raised eyebrow, the feelings she was sending his way impossible to misinterpret. He gave her a pinch of his own sunshine as a wide smile struck his face, then they continued to traipse down the thoroughfare in search of something interesting for the night.

Cass lost track of time as they wandered into one small shop or stall after another. The clock seemed to have struck a special hour where everything disappeared, and only the now remained.

That was easy to do when you find yourself in the throes of sudden romance. Adya wasn’t the first girl he’d ever become romantically entwined with. He’d dated a little before the age of 14. But after failing his first Calling, not to mention his second and third, something had shifted. That failure, through no fault of his own, had forced him to rebuff any further opportunities. As if he hadn’t had much to offer. 

Things were different now. He was different.

They continued on in a small form of walking bliss until he saw a shop that looked like it would be fun.

Leading the way, they passed through the threshold and found a place with rows upon rows of different objects resting on uneven shelves. Some of the items were small glass and opaque bottles, whereas others were cloths with a dab of something green in the center or even small metal bars connected to a few pieces of leather. 

Resting with his elbows behind the counter was a disgruntled-looking man, who perked up the moment he saw them. “Welcome to Johan’s Curious Curatives, the best place in Liberty to find a concoction or poultice for whatever maligns you.”

“Are you Johan?” Adya asked, regretfully letting go of Cass’s hand as she looked around.

“The one and only in Liberty, I think. Oh, oh!” He thrust an arm out with a stricken look, “Don’t shake that please.”

Cass put the small bottle down, “Sorry, I just haven’t seen something like it before. What’s aidville?”

“It’s pronounced advil, and it’s from the old world.” Johan said, back to smiles as soon as Cass stepped away from the shelf. “It’s used to help reduce inflammation, though it’s current price is quite the steal. Just twenty Crests. I don’t know how effective the pills still are after this much time. At this point, it’s basically an expensive keepsake.”

“Inflammation,” Adya said, coming over to look at the bottle. “Dev used to talk about that. Said it’s what happens when something is hurt, or there’s an infection. Things get all swollen.”

Johan’s head bobbed appreciatively, “Yes indeedy, feed the needy. Right you are, young miss. Though magic and Callings may have joined the world, I’m afraid old illnesses are still rearing their head. People pop up in here all the time looking for help. Sadly, I can’t help them all. But I do try.”

Adya smiled, and through her emotions, Cass could tell she’d instantly taken a liking to the man, “That’s very kind of you.”

Johan rubbed the back of his neck as he shrugged, “I do the best I can.”

Cass looked around the room, then back at the shopkeeper, “You’ll have to pardon my bluntness, but what did you do before the world changed?”

“Do I look so old?” Johan took on a tricken expression, though there was a glint in his eye. When Cass began to respond with an apology, he laughed before the words could come out. “I’m just Joshing ya. Before the world changed, I was a pharmacist. I made things like what you’d find in that bottle there.”

Cass nodded, shrugging off any embarrassment,  “How’d you end up in Liberty?”

“I was the town healer up north. When word came that a big city had popped up seemingly out of nowhere, I ran my pinched ass down here.” He looked at Adya, “If you’ll pardon my language.”

She waved him off, “I’ve heard worse.”

“I’ll bet you have, Miss.” He reached below the counter and pulled up a small jar. Within were several thin pieces of wood attached to something golden yellow. Pulling two out, he held them out, “Would either of you like a honey lollipop? I’m afraid they aren’t as tasty as what I used to offer, but they do in a pinch, and they’re cheap to make.”

Adya took hers first, giving it a quick lick. Her eyes went wide, “I’ve never had something like this before, it’s delicious!”

“Sugar’s a bit expensive out here,” The man said, popping one into his mouth after Cass took his own. “Honey is the best I can afford in bulk.”

It was in an odd shape, forming some doubts in his mind. But Cass had long ago learned to trust Adya’s senses. The lollipop teleported into his mouth, and he allowed himself to enjoy it. “That is pretty dang good.”

“Hah! Then that means I got the new recipe right.” He mimed wiping some sweat away from a dry forehead, then grinned. “I like you two, and not just because you enjoyed my candy or you came into my shop. If you ever find yourselves in a spot of trouble, drop by here and I’ll see what I can do.”

Cass looked at the smiling Adya, then held out his hand, “That’s very kind of you, Johan. Call me Cass.”

They introduced one another, then Johan came out from behind the counter. Little by little, Cass and Adya peppered him with questions about the goods on his shelves. By unspoken agreement, they were careful not to ask how anything was made, just what each object did.

Sadly, Profile could not reliably distinguish pill types from one another when so many looked similar. But for anything else, it took in with relish as Cass and Adya’s Index ability expanded into the medical field.

They were about to say their goodbyes when Cass’s ears picked up the loud clatter of heavy steps and even heavier breathing. He’d almost missed it over the sound of Adya laughing at something Johan had said. 

Focusing, his ears picked up the older woman stumbling around the corner just before she arrived. There was a body covered in red patches of dry blood in her arms that she immediately set down as she valiantly tried to catch her breath.

“Johan! You have to help my Abe!”

The man immediately stopped speaking, turned, and rushed over. Falling to his knees beside the boy, he looked him over without touching, “What happened?”

“We were making a delivery in the 4th ring when a horse reared up…” She swallowed heavily as a bit of drool leaked from the corners of her mouth. “Scared Abe. He fell back into that speed trap the levelers run through-”

“I understand.” Reaching forward, he pulled back the boys closed eyes and looked closely at them. He quickly followed that by checking his ears, then putting his own ear near the boy’s mouth. When he looked up, Cass and Adya were on the floor beside him.

“Can we help?”

“I knew I liked you for a reason,” He muttered. Pointing without looking, he indicated a shelf to the left, “Cass, get the bandages with the yellow dot in the center. There’s straps and a buckle on them. I’ll need at least two. Adya, go behind the counter and grab the packet that says coagulant below the shelf with the tin box. After that, reach into the chest in the back, you can’t miss it, and bring me a large bag of ice. Be quick, the boy’s life depends on it.”

Cass and Adya rushed to do as he asked. When they returned, he sent them to get more items as he continued to minister the boy’s wounds. Boiled water came out, alcohol and something called antiseptic too. By the time they were done, close to forty percent of the boy’s body was covered in wraps.

Johan pulled the mother aside as he spoke quietly with her as Cass and Adya gave them their privacy.

Cass put an unused bandage back in it’s place as he said “I bet he fell into the Private Highway and got trampled.”

“What’s that?”

“They’re in most of the rings. It’s like a path where very high-leveled runners sprint through to get from one place to another. I haven’t really gotten a good look at them, aside from seeing it on the map.”

Then, a terrible thought entered his mind. There’s no way that this was a Private running one of my deliveries…right?

There was nobody who could answer that for him.