The Red Lands

Starfield

Pacing around the dining table in the barn, Chu wiped a hand down his long face. Since they always had their meals in the workshop, this table on the ground floor remained in seclusion. Except, however, when Chu held meetings with the barn occupants or core members of the farm.

Knocking one of the thick planks that bore testament to the majority of his thrilling adventures, he raised his head. Silent, on the benches, sat his most trusted companions along with Ishara. The modest gathering reflected the absence of his companions, far away in Limerock City.

"I decided to find companions back then because I didn't plan to face this world alone. Sometimes I think you exist to make my life difficult instead of helping me keep it simple. Don't get me wrong, though, we have journeyed this far because you all did what I expected from you. It's just that this time our plate is overflowing."

Chu sucked in a deep breath before exhaling slowly while sitting down on a chair.

"Currently, we have cogs spinning in Limerock and as far as Frost City. And that is an understatement since our finger reaches out to Griz and the distant Capital. Lack of awareness on any front can lead to... let's be reasonable and say death. To compound our problems, we have taboo alliances with the goblins, befriended a Hakkim, and must improve our shoddy defenses before a prophesied attack."

Leaning onto the hard wooden backrest, he placed his hands on the armrest while closing his eyes. After a couple of minutes, Lucy broke the silence in her silvery tone.

"Are you thinking we should take a step back and reflect, before moving forward?"

Opening his eyelids, Chu fastened his eyes onto the familiar blue irises.

"Step back... not necessarily. Contemplate, yes. First things first, I want to hear about this chant and the link between magic and Sersen's abilities. Lucy, you and Miki handle the translation papers to chat with Ishara. Dyna, take it slowly from the beginning so we can all understand. If I scream to stop, it's because the seal on my heart has issued a warning. Heaven alone knows how much of this has been passed down to the Tower Mages..."

***

Chu walked over to his desk while trying to slap the remaining bathwater out of his ear. Shaking his earlobe, he reached for a slip of paper, loaded his ink pen, and started writing in his Earthen script.

Today, transformed into a learning experience for everyone. The progress yielded by the three females in unraveling the magical unknown pleased him the most. A flowery aroma greeted him from the corridor.

"You have a lot to write about today. Should I begin without you?"

"No, it's ok. I'm nearly finished. Later during the week, I'll have Dyna or Miki join me so I can note a proper record on this discovery."

Chu replied while scribbling under the oil lamp. With so many tasks and equipment to create, he never bothered Old Hodge to distill alcohol for his lamps. Regretfully, he used up all of his supply during the cleaning after the Bitzer raid. Finishing his report, he ambled over to the fireplace and sat down cross-legged beside Lucy.

Resting the base of a candle on a piece of paper, he looked at Lucy.

"Ishara said this chant is used by the Hakkim to focus the mind. Meditating once a day is enough to help remove the clouds during battle. Ever since Dyna witnessed the goblin Shaman cast those orbs of fire, she never grumbled when I had her help in translating the ancient language. I should have realized back then that she offered her aid too willingly."

He murmured while scanning across the large script of words on the paper. Ishara spent the earlier part of the night pronouncing and helping him write the words. The seal on his heart never complained, so showing him the extent of lost knowledge. Chu made a note to double the extraction of information from the raven-haired lady.

"You know how obsessed she is with thunder and lightning. Ever since you described it to her, she considers a fireball a waste of time. Seeing the Goblin Shaman casting those flaming orbs, which never burned her, and with Ishara there to guide her, it was only a matter of time."

"At least she knows constraint and common sense to practice the ability outside. I don't want to be running out of a burning barn anytime soon."

With a silent agreement, they closed their eyes in meditation. Chu spent half an hour reciting the chant on paper before switching to a more familiar one. In his mind, he found himself standing on a shore while looking out towards the horizon. A sea of mana swirled beneath a starry sky.

Concentrating, he formed the needle of solid mana which shot towards the heavens. Four times he failed, but on his fifth and last attempt, the void of darkness seemed punctured with a pin as a faint star joined its companions. His progress netted him a total of seventy-eight stars. Twenty-two more, and he would then be able to cast a small light orb or a small fire.

Knowing his mana ocean increased in size due to the additional star, Chu continued his chant before awakening from his nightly meditation. Recalling his progress, he would have patted himself on the back.

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But not today.

Lucy exhaled deeply while opening her eyes.

"How much have you unlocked today?"

Chu asked. Normally, he neglected to ask for a progress report on their Starfield since he assumed they all averaged roughly around his tally. Earlier today, however, he realized how erroneous his miscalculations were.

"I am up to one forty."

Lucy replied.

Nodding in praise, his pride sank to another low. She said one hundred and forty.

Clod netted in the thirties, Rose ignited forty-one, even little Yin had twenty stars in her starfield. And they had not only begun later than him but received a smaller amount of the ignition helping potions. Miki came in second from the top at one hundred and fifty-one, proving she had no problems casting that popping hand spell.

He had used up most of his potions on the road to igniting his stars. His rapid achievement would have placed him among blazing geniuses in the Tower Mage Academy. The rate of increasing his mana would have terrified even the Elders of the Council. Among his peers, however, he couldn't even be ranked as average.

Two hundred and nine...

While everyone fought a losing battle of igniting a star a day, her rate had him bending his head in shame. Worse yet, Dyna still held a sizable storage of potions.

The progress of magic had given Chu food for thought. The discussion earlier had him forming the inference that maybe the humans of this world possessed a keener mind. Since he embarked on educating the residents of the farm, they demonstrated a keen sense of understanding. If not for his modern knowledge, which proved useful in this medieval world, he might have been branded a simpleton.

There was one flaw, thankfully, in this theory, which uplifted his morale. As a man, Chu boasted the sin of having to be at least as good as someone.

"Hey Chu, you finished meditating already?"

"Yes, we just completed."

Chu replied with a wonderful smile.

"Ok, well, I'll take a corner here. I don't know how you guys can do it. I just can't seem to cross these thirty-nine stars. If I don't do it within the next few days. I will have to beg you for a potion."

"Don't worry, you'll do it. I have full faith in you."

Chu patted the teen's shoulder as a show of comfort while replying in a solemn tone. Ming shot him a curious glance on receiving this sympathetic but rare treatment.

Lucy bent her head while shaking it from side to side. She had been with Chu long enough to see the flicker that passed across his face when he questioned her about the number of stars.

She looked towards her chatting companions and spoke softly.

"I think no matter what you may feel, to me, you're the smartest person around."

"Why, thank you."

They both replied.

"..."

Later, the three of them sat together with their backs leaning on the wall and feet extended out towards the fireplace. Ming breathed out a sigh of relief on finally igniting that elusive star. With the worries gone, his mouth became free.

"Now that I think about it, since returning from Limerock, we haven't had a good rest at all. Ever since we entered that Academy, we have not had a good night's rest. Look at Clod, that chap has been hitting the sack early every night. He doesn't even budge from his warm bed until morning unless he has guard duty..."

"Why does it seem like you have a problem with that?"

Lucy answered with half-closed eyes.

"Of course I have a problem! How come he gets to sleep so good while I have been awake past midnight since we rode off to Limerock City? It pisses me off!"

"Stop being jealous of Clod because he was resting when you were out traveling. Don't forget, it's you who wanted to become an adventurer. Wasn't it you who told me back then in the room at the Trading Post that you wanted to see the world? You'd better man up... because this is the life of an adventurer."

Chu corrected him. No wonder poor Clod had to bear with the experiments from this idiot. This teen's narrow-mindedness knew no bounds. They sat in silence before Lucy inquired softly.

"So, what is it?"

They remained in silence without movement until Chu sighed. Speaking with his closed eyes, he shared his mind.

"Do you think we can defeat a Kurat?"

"Unless you have a cave ready, I think we are far from it. Seeing it lumber after them, I agree with Lucy back then. Facing such a demon beast is like comparing us to flies around a horse. What do you think, Lucy? You're the one who had a brief skirmish with it."

"My first impression gauged it as a wild beast. From the time it attacked and chomped the head of the Jaga, my mind changed. My intuition screamed then that this was a highly intelligent beast."

Lucy continued talking with her eyes closed as if recalling the confrontation.

"Thinking back, I realize the Kurat didn't reveal itself in a normal way. It arrived from downwind, from the south instead of the north. When it appeared, it demonstrated its strength, as if wanting to strike fear. I remember its bulging eyes kept roaming and flickering around. It never rushed down to Ishara but strolled down as if savoring the moment..."

"More like a human than a wild beast..."

"Yes, only by Ishara placing herself in danger could I wound it. As for critical strikes, unless you are successful on the first try, I don't believe you will receive another chance. The Kurat fought with calculating strikes not befitting a wild animal."

Chu kept his head resting against the wall on listening to Lucy. Keeping his eyes closed, he searched his mind.

"As it is now, can our speed best the beast in battle?"

"Yes, but only us. I think Toll might be hard-pressed since the Kurat demonstrated a burst of speed similar to his. As for sheer strength, I don't think I'll match it anytime soon."

"Ming, how is your acceleration with the sword? Is the Bitzer ability effective?"

"The progress had been slow. The talisman activates the full body when in use. I'm finding it difficult to summon the skill for my hands alone."

Ming reported. Besides training in the paralysis charge, he had been increasing his efforts in incorporating the inconceivable acceleration into his swordsmanship. A sudden flashing cleave, a shooting stab could floor an opponent with greater efficiency. Treading a path without guidance, however, proved a tough and arduous road.

"Continue practicing. Unless all those damn action flicks are lies, a high speed should provide us with a blow powerful enough to wound a Kurat. Currently, the only true close combat fighters on the farm are you and Rose. Lucy and I are more of assistants while Miki is ranged."

"I'll double my effort, but I don't know when I may succeed. I do admit, speed has its advantages since I nearly lopped off the head of the wildcat I fought in the forest when I activated it. Controlling a sword strike at high speeds is risky, though...that's why I want to narrow the skill to my hands."

The three remained silent before Lucy spoke.

"I know speed is all well and good, Chu, but my crossbolt at close range failed to make a dent in its neck."

Chu slowly opened his eyes. When he had visited the village, he had heard some mighty tall tales spread by Ming or Miki. Recalling his past memories, didn't most warriors of legend own one?

"That's why, Lucy, I intend to find a swordsmith capable of forging a suitable sword."