NOVEL NEXT Chapter 335 – Talking Around Rosha
The memorial would never be a popular attraction. The very work put into that pushed the limits of illusion and craftsmanship so far that the rules broke made sure of it. Once seen, a person would feel unwilling to point others towards it. This memorial truly kept the memory alive in all of its gory and horrific detail. Most definitely not a place to bring the family as it were.
After experiencing it, the group understood exactly why Peter put it as the last place to visit. Such a powerful scene would have ruined the rest of the day. As it is, it will only make whatever dreams come tonight be of the unwelcome sort. Nightmares are a near certainty after seeing something like that giant bear horror. So after spending less time than they felt it deserved and yet more time than they ever wanted to spend on it the trio heads to the house as the last rays of light come across the top of the surrounding buildings.
Back in the den Peter is waiting for them, stretched out over a number of the beanbags yawning. He turns his head when they enter, “Well, took you long enough to get back here. The memorial really takes it out of you, doesn’t it?”
Rosha sticks her tongue out at him, “You knew what was up. Hell, Gregor downplayed it as well when he described it. Of course it isn’t a tourist attraction!”
Gregor walks in from the kitchen laughing. After placing down a small pot of soup, he shrugs, “Didn’t want to scare the three of you off seeing it. While you guys don’t treat our world like a game as much as other travellers do, you still had some of that view. I’ve found the memorial tends to knock it out of all except the delusional.”
Jason grabs a bowl of soup and sits down, “As a famous playwright in our world once said, ‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players’. Some of us merely take it more literally here than they should. And it isn’t hard to see why. When death is merely a suggestion instead of a stopping point, many things get exaggerated.”
Peter rolls his eyes, “Of course you quote Shakespeare at us. We might not get many more recent references, but you travellers seem to need to share as much of your culture as possible.”
Rosha laughs, “I don’t know if you could understand our modern references in the first place. We’ve crafted the art memetic self referential in jokes to an incredibly fine edge. We would have to explain over a hundred years of history our people just seem to pick up by osmosis. Like, I don’t even know where to start to try to describe the whole joke category of bone hurting juice. That meme has centuries of history behind it at this point.”
Gregor squints, “I assume that the name doesn’t describe it or some such?”
Jason laughs and shakes his head, “Oh no, the name describes it perfectly. It is an image set where a character drinks bone hurting juice and then their bones hurt.”
Gregor squints harder, “That. That isn’t funny?”
Courtney sighs and rubs her temples, “There is a reason we would be here all night explaining why a joke that old still survives. Let’s instead refocus on tomorrow. Me and Rosha are leaving. Jason, are you heading out?”
Jason shrugs, “I’m sticking around until Sunday break. I don’t want to come back only to find my campsite surrounded by wolves or some other nonsense.”
Rosha nods, “I guess that is a potential worry for us as well. Of course, we are taking the safer route. Or at least for whatever quantity safer means for us. Still traveling through the wilds. We aren’t exactly trying to never die as without Lily there isn’t as much penalty.”
Jason grimaces, “Yeah, I wouldn’t trade her for anything but I’m running in hard mode right now.” He turns to Courtney and in reference to what he told her about irl cultivation asks, “Any progress on what I told you?”
Courtney nods, “I had a few small-scale tests of the first part and have seen the results. Though even that has attracted too much attention.” She sighs, “I’m going to have to personally test it at this point to go anywhere without letting the family know as it were.”
Rosha looks worried, “I know I’m not supposed to know but this doesn’t sound all that safe?”
Jason laughs, “From my point of view it is safe enough. Admittedly, it would be safer with my guidance since I’ve already walked the path. You don’t have to worry though, I’ve told her the signs of danger and with my help anything she gets into should be fixable.”
Courtney glares at him, “That is yet to be seen! What you suggest has truly world altering consequences even if only the first step is helpful. You don’t alter the world without breaking things.”
Jason shrugs, “As luck would have it most of the eggs that need breaking for this omelet have already been cooked up and eaten years ago. There are even already methods of life extension sitting around. The early steps could be seen as that but cheaper.”
Courtney shakes her head, “There is a large difference between cheaper and literally free to anyone with a bit of time on their hands. Like I said, world altering.”
Jason rolls his eyes, “It was bound to happen. As it is, anyone half lucky here can live twice as long in our world. If anything, this would distract people from here for a short while.”
Gregor coughs, “So I can’t help but overhear this and might have some points to make.”
The two turn towards him as one and he laughs, “Don’t think that despite how short your kind’s time has been in our world that we haven’t noticed. Wherever your main form lives doesn’t have quite the lifespan, even normal humans and goblins have here. Of course, most die young, especially the goblins, but even the most basic power training can help extend one’s life to about three hundred years.”
