The next morning, Yuri regaled Arjelica and Emizra with the tale of how she had single-handedly fought off the pirate crew.

  “We should have gone together,” Arjelica said, staring at Yuri suspiciously. “If it really happened.”

  “You think I dreamed it? Tell her Dee!” Yuri said haughtily.

  “It happened pretty much like she said.”

  “Sounds like a wonderful night-time adventure. How did you celebrate?” Emizra said in a husky voice.

  “Just sleeping. My little mana-boy fell asleep so quickly.” Yuri pinched his cheek.

  They were waiting at the East Gate for Tianna. The walls were busy with guards, on high alert from last night. There was a tension in the air even though the pirate ship was not.

  And the towering hive was covered in bees, clambering around with careful concern. Their mandibles and antenna quivered as they studied the damage done to their home. Dee felt sorry for them. Then felt a bit silly for feeling sorry. Did bees have feeling? Giant magical bees could have feelings.

  “What is Tianna doing?” Arjelica said. “I want to get out of here.” Her hand was on her canyon runner’s reins, she was ready to go. Her eyes flicked over the other traders leaving through the city gates as they waited.

  Tianna appeared, with her mount dragging a kind of reverse wheelbarrow behind it. A single-wheeled contraption, with two large cargo bags tied to it.

  “What is all that? We have to get to Copperjack in good time, Tianna,” Arjelica said.

  “Oh, you’ll see. And you’ll thank me. Oh, you’re going to thank me,” Tianna said. She stuck her nose up in the air with a smug look, and refused to say more.

  “Are you delivering something?” Yuri asked.

  “Oh, no no no. If you think you’re so clever then you can work it out. Wait till we get to Copperjack Climb. You’ll wish you had thought of this. You’re lucky I’m a priest of the Kingfisher, may his beak find us fortune.”

  “She’s in one of her economic moods,” Yuri whispered to Dee.

  Tianna rode past them, refusing to say more. The others climbed up onto their steeds to follow her.

  From the gate it was a short ride to the trade route, a wide paved road that went north and south. They would follow it north to Copperjack Climb.

  Sparse-looking heathland spread out before them to the horizon. Clumps of tough yellow grass sat amongst a sea of short green grass. It was beautiful in its uniform repetitiveness. You wanted to stare at it, hoping to spot some kind of difference, a rock or animal crouching amongst the grass. It teased you to find the city or lost temple on the other side of the endless grass. Dee felt excitement, not just from sitting in front of Yuri. The sight of the road spoke to him. Not a city road, not modern, but a sign that there was adventure to be found, out there.

  On the road, Dee had to get used to the monotony of riding. He did feel the rhythm of the canyon runner a bit more, his body started to rock along to ease the shock of it. It was hypnotic. At top speed, every kick of their steed’s legs sent them on a little roller-coaster parabola, until they landed with a short sharp shock.

  Push. Belly turns over. Thud. Bum gets a kick. Push. Belly turns over. Thud. Bum gets a kick. Push. And on and on, as if they could run forever. Dee became a blade of grass, waving in the wind of the canyon runner’s insistent galloping.

  They were all focused ahead, not talking as if their focus would make their canyon runners go faster. It wasn’t until late morning that they stopped for a rest and to water their steeds by a small lake.

  Faint breeze made the grass rustle, a soothing sound after the insistent pounding of giant chicken feet on stone.

  “How are you feeling?” Yuri said. She was looking at him with concern.

  “I’m ok.” Dee felt a bit queasy, but it was manageable. Standing on the ground made it worse, his brain was still rocking back and forth like a chicken’s.

  “I don’t suppose Games Masters get any riding abilities.”

  “Probably not. I wish I knew what abilities I will get.”

  Tianna stormed up them. She had been talking to Arjelica. She stared up at Dee and Yuri, hands on hips and a scowl on her face.

  “Is it true what you did? Last night?”

  “Bamboozle and confound a little crew of pirates with nothing but my mana and my loyal servant? Oh yes, o-hohoho!” Yuri posed with her staff.

  “By the feathers! Are you serious? And then you just went back to bed?” Tianna stared at them with horror.

  “Yes. Even a Mist Witch needs to rest after a great battle, you know.”

  Tianna clenched her fists by her side. She looked ready to explode. “You saved a whole shipment of honeymetal from pirates and then just waltzed off. By his beak, you didn’t ask for a reward? What’s wrong with you?” Tianna threw her arms in the air and stormed off.

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  “The reward of victory is its own reward, my darling.” Yuri called after the cleric. When Tianna left earshot, she leaned down to whisper in Dee’s ear. “We should have asked for a reward, you know. A Mist Witch fights not for money, but recognition is important.” Then she flounced away to read through her books.

  “I was just trying to stay alive,” Dee mumbled. His face was red with shame again as he thought back on it. He had just tagged along with Yuri, then followed her back to the inn. Not very heroic. But I’m an NPC, in my own fantasy isekai! I hope things get better. I want to be useful!

  Tianna and Yuri were sulking in their own ways. The War Priest was looking over her equipment and cargo, and Yuri was hiding her face behind her notebook.

  Emizra was happily humming a tune to herself and tending to her canyon runner. She ruffled its feathers, trailing her hands over its neck and face, looking for ticks or fleas or whatever lived on giant chickens. The giant chicken’s eyes rolled in pleasure at the attention and pushed its head against her. She hugged it and it clucked in satisfaction.

  Arjelica stood nearby, staring at a clump of tall grass. She flicked her hand and launched one of her axes into the air. It whirled into the grass and a burst of feathers erupted from where it struck. She laughed and ran to claim her prize. It was a fat bird, something like a pheasant, long-tailed with brown and black feathering.

  Dee sidled up to her as she stowed the bird in her bags. “Arjelica, can I ask you something?” Dee said.

  “What?” she stared at him. That disturbing stare of a hunter that made him feel like a mouse.

  “Can you teach me how to use this sword?”

  She glanced at his weapon. “Does your class get Weapon Skills?” She went back to checking her saddle and luggage, pulling on ropes and adjusting them.

  “Probably not. Does that matter?”

  “If you don’t get Weapon Skills, then I can’t teach you a Weapon Skill. If you do then I can teach you what I know.” She talked to him slowly like he was an idiot. Well, he was in terms of this world, but it didn’t feel good.

  “But you could just show me some moves, or help me feel bit more comfortable?”

  She looked at him, her head cocked like a cat hearing a new sound. “I suppose…”

  She grabbed his shoulder and made him turn on the spot, studying his body and posture. She poked him in the arm and stomach.

  “You don’t have any muscles. There’s no way your class can learn Weapon Skills.”

  “But my class isn’t everything. Recharging mana breaks the rules. So maybe there are other rules I can break.” He hoped it was true.

  “Maybe.” She squeezed his arm, feeling for muscle. “You don’t have a lot to work with.”

  “Well, thanks,” he muttered.

  She grabbed him suddenly, her slim arm closed around his head like a steel girder. “Try to get out.”

  “You know I can’t,” he replied.

  “Try,” she said sternly. She squeezed tight, causing him pain.

  Dee struggled half-heartedly, but it was like trying to topple an oak. She let him go. He ruffled his hair and stared at the floor, feeling humiliated.

  “Do it to me. Come on.” She pushed her head into his arm, making him try to hold her. He made an awkward attempt to trap her in a headlock.

  She twisted towards him, and struck him in the stomach with her fist. He gasped and let go of her. That punch stung, even though it had really been a play tap.

  “See? Attack any weak spot you find. You can’t overpower me, but you could try that.”

  She put him in a headlock again. Dee sighed miserably. He wanted this lesson to be over now. The reality of how useless he was embarrassed him.

  “Like I showed you.” She squeezed him again, a bit harder this time. He felt his airway cutting off.

  He twisted into her, smelt her sweat and felt her muscles against his face. Then he slapped her stomach. It was rock hard.

  She laughed and let go of him.

  “It should have been a punch, but fine.” She threw back her head and laughed again.

  Dee couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this humiliated. The others were staring at him. He wanted to be dissolved by potentia.

  “What’s your problem?” Arjelica said.

  “You don’t have to laugh at me,” he muttered. He couldn’t meet her gaze.

  “You don’t have to sulk but you do,” she said that a bit louder, so the whole camp heard him. Yuri sniffed and lifted her notebook higher to hold her face and Tianna yelped in anger. Then the sweet-sounding chuckle of Emizra rolled across their camp.

  “Why did you ask me to help? Look at you, sulking after a single lesson. Of course I laugh at you. If you could hurt me, I’d respect you. If you could kill me, I’d fight you. But you’re scared of me, so I laugh at you.”

  “Well, it’s…” he didn’t know what he wanted to say. He felt like she shouldn’t be laughing at him, but he hadn’t done anything impressive. He was confused. If only he had come here as a cool knight or demon-hunter PC class!

  “Where did the laugh cut you?” She ran her hands over his shoulders and arms. It felt good. Like a personal trainer checking his condition. A personal trainer that could strangle you and then climb a tree.

  “Live in here—” she slapped his chest and arms, “— not in here.” She rapped a knuckle on his head. “Laughter only hurts you in there.”

  It sounded like it should be true, but it didn’t make him feel any better.

  “Come back when you stop sulking.” She marched off, leaving him to stew in his feelings.

  Emizra smiled at him, an encouraging smile, but he couldn’t bring himself to smile back.

  Arjelica saddled up and called for the others to continue. Dee sat in this saddle, Yuri pressed close behind him and stared at the endless grass ahead. Where am I going? Will I be useful in this dungeon? It sounds more dangerous than the frog one.

  Emizra sang songs on the road to keep their spirits up. Some of them he understood, others were in languages he had never heard. From epic love ballads to dirty tavern songs, she had a wide repertoire. He let his worries dissolve under the sensuous sound of Emizra’s voice.

  The canyon runners were buoyed on by the sound as well, and they made good time. By late evening they had reached a shard campsite, a safe place to stay.

  A large group of caravans and travellers had convened together for protection at night. Though it was just open plains by the side of the road, the wall of caravans and groups of PCs and NPCs was a welcome sight.

  They wove past large wagons being secured, their guards watching them as they passed. There was a lot of noise and chatter as riders stretched their legs, fed their mounts or cooked food over small fires. The smell of animals and sweat and smoky meat was overpowering. He saw some steeds like their canyon runners, along with giant boar and some giant wolves. Nothing like a horse.

  As the camp-noise became louder, Dee shrank a little in his seat. He much preferred the open road and spending time with his new companions. The crowd of people reminded him of the market in Goldmeadow and the feeling of being surrounded. But it was obviously safer to sleep here with all these people around. The idea of sleeping out in the middle of nowhere was much more terrifying.

  They found an area to set down their sleeping bags, nearby a ready campfire tended by adventurers. These were smaller groups, no cargo just bands of adventurers and their steeds. Many were tired looking, well-worn armour and weapons, dangerous. Younger PCs had newer and simpler equipment. Dee could feel the higher-level radiating off the more experienced PCs, not just their look but how they carried themselves.

  Arjelica took out her earlier catch, plucked it and readied it to cook over the fire. Dee’s stomach rumbled. Time to eat and rest.