Isekai-eh Chapter-20 (Patreon)

“Hey, old man, open up already,” Gwen said, banging on the door for the third time since they’d walked up to the shop.

“Maybe he’s out for lunch,” Jed suggested, gaze shifting to look over the market. More than one of the stalls below was serving street food. Jed wanted to sample them all.

Judging by the running commentary Mythlyn was making, he wasn’t the only one.

“And that’s upper Deshlon stir-fry, though I doubt it’s authentic, not with that many green veggies. And that…”

“Maybe we should grab some lunch ourselves then come back,” Jed suggested, eyes fixing on a stand that seemed to be serving a wide assortment of meat skewers. He hadn’t had meat like that in a long time, and his mouth was already watering.

Gwen banged on the door one last time before moving over to stand beside him with a grunt. “Fine. I suppose we can do food first.”

“Great,” Jed said, moving towards a nearby staircase, only to pause when he realized Gwen wasn’t following him. Instead, she grabbed one of the cables and leapt over the edge.

“It seems she is lacking any sense. Jed, what are you-”

Mythlyn’s question turned into a scream as Jed followed Gwen’s example, though with a bit more forward momentum than she’d had, laughing as he descended, managing to land beside Gwen who’d just turned to smirk back up at where she’d left him.

Her smirk vanished when he thudded to a stop beside her, turning into a frown for half-a-second before she wiped it away. “Glad you’re not totally useless,” she said before turning towards one of the stalls serving nothing but greens.

Jed followed along, flexing his hands. He hadn’t had greens in a long time either, other than the piece of crunchy lettuce in his sandwich the night before. Also, she had all the money.

“Mind if we hit up that one too?” Jed asked as they lined up at the stall. Many of the people didn’t seem to be hunters, based on the lighter styles of clothing, and lack of visible heavy weaponry. Almost everyone was armed, but most didn’t have a rifle strapped across their back or to their legs.

Gwen followed his gaze then rolled her eyes.

Jed took that as a reluctant yes, and started working out what he wanted to order. Which was a lot. He was also trying to figure out how he might slip Mythlyn some lunch.

That turned out to be easy. Mythlyn instructed him to save it for later. Jed had never been a fan of leftovers, but he wasn’t going to criticize his friend’s choice.

Gwen rolled her eyes at him again when he left each of his orders half finished. She still paid for his food, so he didn’t complain. Honestly, he was feeling pretty lucky to have met Metsa and Sotas straight out of the warp. They’d taken good care of him.

He definitely owed them a half-dozen favors by that point.

Or a really big payday.

As he tore off juicy meat from one of the skewers, Jed thought about the shadow districts. If he was able to repair one, would they consider that a fair repayment for all their training? He’d have to ask.

Much as he was enjoying Vaskerville, he knew he wouldn’t stay for too long. After being trapped in the station for a decade, he felt the need to keep moving. For the moment there was a lot to explore in Vaskerville, but that wouldn’t last.

“That’s enough food,” Gwen declared as Jed wiped his chin with one of the little balls of absorbent material she’d brought back with the meat skewers. “Let’s see if the old man’s awake yet.”

“Sounds good,” Jed said, eyes moving to the cables they’d used to come down. “Guessing we have to take the boring way up.”

Gwen’s grin grew wider as she led him over to the end of the hall, where there were several cables moving at high speeds, whatever they were attached to hidden out of sight. “Only if you’re a coward.”

Then she reached out and snagged one of the cables, hurtling towards the upper level.

“Jed, please don’t tell me-”

Once more, Mythlyn was cut off as Jed grabbed hold of one of the moving cables, grateful for the sleeves of the jacket as he used them to grip the cable. He was grinning wildly as he ascended. He almost missed grabbing the railing of the level he was aiming for, the jacket sleeve not helping with his attempt.

He managed it right as Gwen closed her arm around his, hefting him foreward. “Not a total coward, at least.”

“Been a minute since I did something like that,” Jed said as he climbed over. “Little bit different with steel cables and lifts instead of rope and hay bales.”

“Would not have taken you for a farm kid,” Gwen said, looking him over again.

“Spent the last ten years trapped with my best friend,” Jed said, stretching. “Wasn’t much opportunity to really stretch my legs.”

“Don’t think I’m going to forget your reckless behavior just because you’re buttering me up! That was dangerous, and you’re not nearly as tough as you should be for such stunts.”

Jed could practically see Mythlyn standing next to him, arms crossed as she glowered at him. He patted the hilt of his revolver in silent apology. He hadn’t meant to worry her, after all.

“Let’s check on the old man,” Gwen said, already striding away.

Jed shuffled after her, checking his bag of half eaten vendor food to make sure nothing had spilled during his little escapade. Was one thing to worry Mythlyn, but ruining her food would’ve been a bridge too far.

Once more, Gwen pounded on the thick steel door of the Hunter’s Quarry. After her fourth attempt, there was sound from inside.

The door creaked open slowly, a single yellow eye peering through the crack at them. “We’re closed.”

“Don’t give me that, Baltir,” Gwen said, arm pressed against the door. “Door’s already open.”

“You’re almost as annoying as your grandmother, you know that?” he grumbled as he stepped back, pulling the door open.

“You say the sweetest things, old man,” Gwen said as she pushed past him into the shop.

“And who’re you?” Baltir asked as Jed finally got a good look at the shop owner. He was easily as wide as he was tall, wearing a thick furry coat, with a pair of amber goggles fit tight to his face.

“Name’s Jed,” he replied, offering his hand. “Metsa’s trainee.”

The man didn’t even glance at his hand, simply grunting and turning around yelling after Gwen. “Don’t touch that! Fool girl, you trying to blow your hand off?”

Their bickering continued as Jed followed them inside the tightly packed space. It was very neatly organized, everything had neat hand written labels next to them. He wasn’t sure what any of the numbers meant.

There were numerous heavy dusters and amber goggles about, so he was sure that Gwen had at least brought them to the right place.

As he came around the corner, he found Gwen standing in a heavy brown duster whose tails reached all the way to the floor.

“That’s too big for you, too big,” Baltir said, tugging at one of the sleeves. “Don’t go through my things.”

“It feels perfect though,” Gwen said as she sloughed out of the jacket.

“Not perfect. Tails are too long, can’t you see with your eyes?” Baltir asked, jabbing his fingers in her face before taking the coat and setting it to the side.

“Are these sizes?” Jed asked, running his hand along the numbers.

“Just wait, I’ll get yours once I get this disaster out of my shop,” Baltir grumbled.

“I’m paying for both, so you’re going to need to set us up together. Goggles and guns too,” Gwen said, quickly accepting the newly offered duster from Baltir’s hands. “Okay, you’re right, that one was too big. This feels perfect.”

Jed nodded, it really did look good on her. Flattered her figure and made her look deadly to boot.

“Don’t think I’ve seen you look at a woman like that before. Not even me.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jed mumbled as he turned away to look through the goggles. They had several different looks to them, in addition to their sizes, and Jed wanted a set that didn’t look too ‘off’.

A silly vanity, but it was there.

“You find her attractive. And here I thought you simply didn’t like women. I find myself somewhat annoyed.”

Jed didn’t respond. He also didn’t look over at where Gwen was modeling the duster as Baltir made adjustments.

“I also wasn’t aware this subject was one that could make you uncomfortable. Especially after some of the things we’ve talked about.”

“Little bit different out in public,” Jed mumbled, holding up a pair of goggles that had long sweeping points that led out to either side. There didn’t seem to be a reason for them, other than the look, which was a bit much.

“What’s different out in public?” Gwen asked as she came over, moving her shoulders as if to draw attention to her new duster. It wasn’t the only thing she drew attention to.

“Looks good,” Jed said instead of answering. “Makes you look like a professional hunter.”

“And now it’s your turn,” Baltir said, thrusting a bundle into Jed’s arms. Jed unfolded it, only to find it was a cloak.

“Rather have a duster,” he said, gesturing to Gwen.

“You sure?” Baltir asked, squinting at Jed.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” he said, setting down the goggles he’d been playing with.

“Strange,” Baltir said, shaking his head as he ambled over to the side of the shop. “Woulda sworn you were a cloak type.”

“Based on what?” Jed asked, causing the man to jump, apparently not having noticed Jed following him.

“Don’t do that. I have a heart attack, you’ll never get the right cloak,” Baltir said, waving Jed back.

“Which would be fine, since I want a duster,” Jed reminded him.

“Right, right…” Baltir paused, adjusting his goggles. Then he pulled them off, squinting at Jed. “Why’re there two of you?”

“Oh. He must be able to sense me. And he’s right, I would prefer a cloak.”

“Would you believe Metsa told me not to talk about it?” Jed replied with a shrug.

“Makes sense, makes sense,” Baltir nodded, which had Jed turning to look over at Gwen who was sorting through the other goggles. Because it absolutely didn’t make sense to Jed.

“Tell him to give me a cloak in gray.”

Jed didn’t bother pointing out that she couldn’t wear a cloak, simply passing along the request.

Baltir didn’t even blink, waving his hand at Jed as if it was obvious that he needed a gray cloak and his duster.

Eventually the old man found a duster for Jed, though it had taken him a lot longer than it did for Gwen.

“Must be why Metsa took you in,” Gwen said from his elbow as he was trying the duster on, making Jed jump slightly.

“What’s that?”

“If Baltir took more than a minute figuring out your shroud, that means you’re already attuned to the warp. And not in a small way,” Gwen said, looking Jed over from head to toe as if reassessing him. “No obvious demon marks. You get lucky, or you a written?”

“You think Metsa wants me talking about any of that?” Jed asked, thankful to have his new friend as a shield.

“Probably not,” Gwen said, shaking her head. “Guess I’m just used to everyone knowing everyone’s business, especially mine.”

“Metsa didn’t even know who you were,” Jed pointed out.

“Yeah, cause she’s not everyone. Her and Sotas are elite,” Gwen said, handing him a pair of goggles as Baltir tugged at the duster, using a needle with a strange clip attachment to make minute adjustments. “Like, don’t belong in Vaskerville, elite. They should be working out of a real city. Maybe even the capital.”

“Don’t get the impression they’d enjoy that,” Jed said as Baltir took a step back, nodding to himself. Then he plucked the goggles Gwen had just placed in Jed’s hands away, glaring at Gwen.

“Which is probably the only reason they’re still here,” Gwen said, handing Jed another set of goggles. This earned her a hiss from Baltir who snatched them away too before proceeding to smack her arm with them, ushering her to another aisle.

Once he had them safely cordoned off, Baltir helped Jed select a pair of goggles that allowed him to see comfortably. Only then did he allow Jed to look through designs, though he laid out three that he felt Jed would prefer.

Jed ran his finger over a pair to the side with feathers inlaid in them, his other hand resting on the grip of the revolver.

“If you’re thinking of getting those for me, don’t. I might look good in a cloak, but I’d look awful in goggles. Besides, I don’t need them.”

“What are the goggles for?” Jed asked, realizing no one had actually mentioned it.

“Keeps the warp from burning out your vision when it flares up,” Gwen’s muffled voice replied from behind one of the nearby shelves.

“Ah. You don’t need them either, though revealing that would likely be more trouble than simply wearing the goggles.”

“I do like being able to see,” Jed said, his attention returning to the three sets Baltir had set out. Two were very simple, and he did like them.

It was the third that he knew he’d be getting though. They were exactly the nerdy sorts of goggles that most people wouldn’t understand. But those who did? Those were his people.

“Very good, very good,” Baltir said as Jed slid the goggles on and ushering Jed to another section of the store he hadn’t even noticed, filled with clothing.

“Oh,” Jed said, stopping as Mythlyn cackled joyously in his ear. “This… is probably going to take a while.”