Haiku Deck Superstar

1 Haiku Deck

Across Eternity: Book 2 - Chapter 1

Across Eternity: Book 2 - Chapter 1

1 Slide

"Welcome to our home, you must be James. I’m Mary, you’ve met my husband Joshua, and these are our children, Thomas and Elizabeth. Welcome to our home."

Noah likewise bowed his head. "Thank you for your kindness."

"Please, take a seat."

Noah sat at the table, the young Thomas at his side and the two women across, with Joshua at the head. Dinner appeared to be rabbit meat, as well as bread, cheese, and nuts, and small bowls of spices that could be added. A cup of milk was poured from a pitcher and given to Noah. He watched everyone’s movements, as while they put food on their plates, no one had yet to begin eating. There was always the possibility of it being poisoned, but it was remote compared to the risk of breaking social etiquette.

"Now, let us say grace," Joshua grumbled. He and his family joined hands, and they even reached out to Noah. He accepted the invitation so as not to cause disruption, having seen this ritual performed by many travelers eating at inns.

"We pray to thee, God of Light, Lord Lumendori, so that you may know our gratitude for the good fortune, health, and livelihood we enjoy by your mercy. Please continue to watch over us, and guide us on our paths. Amen."

"Amen," his family replied.

Noah glanced over to a shelf above the hearth, upon which a carved wooden totem had been laid and surrounded by candles. It depicted a rune that symbolized light. Lumendori was one of the polytheistic elementals, one of six main gods worshipped by the people of Uther. Noah had been studying its followers and listening in on conversations, gathering information on this faith and the rules it enforced, such as praying before meals. Of course, everyone cherry-picked the gospel in their own way, but it was still important to know how to blend in amongst them.

Everyone began to dig in, too focused on their meal to speak. The rabbit meat was well-prepared, despite the primitive kitchen, and the bread was much softer and sweeter than the hardtack that adventurers carried. Both the milk and the cheese were sourced from the goats in the barn, giving them a strong smell, something he welcomed. After living on the road for the past week, Noah’s taste buds craved flavor.

After a few minutes, Mary spoke up. "My husband says that you’re an adventurer on your way to Took, is that right?"

"It is."

"We often get adventurers passing by this time of year, but this is the first time one has asked us for shelter. Took is full of them almost year-round, so usually, it’s the homes closer to the channel that offer room and board." She seemed amused by the situation, or at least didn’t appear to be the kind of person who smiles when angry.

"I hope I’m not intruding."

"Not at all."

"You’re not a noble, are you?" The question came from Thomas at his side.

"Excuse me?"

"Thomas," his father growled.

"Your ring."

The ring in question was on Noah’s right hand, originally belonging to an Utheric knight. It was imbued with magic, creating a pocket dimension he could use for storage. These rings were illegal to own by citizens, so the crest was covered by a black jewel that also served to double the power of the containment spell.

"No, this is just something I came across in a goblin den. I’m a commoner."

"Good." To the boy’s credit, it wasn’t loud enough to be called a child’s shout, but it drew the ire of his father.

"Thomas, that’s enough. You will mind your tongue in front of guests."

"No, it’s fine. I know that things are difficult right now. I imagine the local lord just raised taxes again? The war with Handent is a drain on everyone."

"I heard that we suffered a great defeat a few months ago," said Joshua. "Those savages amassed their own army with the beastmen and killed some big commander of ours and scattered his army into the wild. Those freed soldiers have been making their way back down south and turning to banditry in the process."

Considering how many times Noah had been ambushed on the road, he didn’t doubt it. "You heard that in Took?"

"Yes, thanks to the traffic on the channel, we get a lot more news than most other towns."

"How do you folks usually stay safe out here?"

Joshua rested his hand on his dog’s head, who was lying next to his chair. Noah had assumed it to be a domesticated wolf, but seeing it up close, he noticed subtle canine traits, such as the ears, bridge of the nose, and texture of its fur. "Bar keeps watch and starts barking if something approaches the house. Loud noise is usually all it takes to scare off a prowler, be it man or monster. Nothing in this forest hunts without taking their victim by surprise. Anything that keeps approaching, well, no one lives in these lands if they don’t know how to fight."

Noah’s mana was almost at its limit and it seemed safe enough to release his spells. His hair had been overdue for a trim even before coming to this world, and it now hung almost over his eyes, letting him cast and deactivate his spells with anyone else thinking he was just brushing it out of his face. He made eye contact with the daughter, Elizabeth. It was brief, she immediately looking back down at her plate. For rural young women like her, adventurers were something to be feared, ranked just below bandits as roaming predators. The only difference between them was what they hunted: monsters or humans.

"Do you ever get soldiers patrolling this way? I thought they were supposed to help deal with the bandit problem."

Joshua shook his head and grumbled. "Not for a few years. They’ll ride around, sure, but they don’t do anything. They’re either new recruits or failures who couldn’t make it on the front line. I heard the bandits just bribe most of them to look the other way. All we can do is rely on ourselves. Of course, the adventurers help keep the bandit numbers in line, even if they don’t mean to."

"How many bandits have you killed?" Thomas asked.

"I don’t keep track."

"Thomas, not one more word," said Mary. "It is a sin to speak of bloodshed during meals." She turned to Noah. "My apologies, he dreams of being an adventurer."

Joshua grunted.

"You disapprove?" Noah asked.

"In my opinion, adventuring is not an honorable life," said Joshua. "They have no loyalties or ties, and they don’t kill monsters because they want to help people. They’re just eternal strangers. I’m sure you can understand why I’m hesitant to trust them."

"Indeed, I can. Is that the general feeling in these parts?"

Noah spoke without the slightest hint of defense or humor, just curiosity. The more he could learn about a town before entering, the better. Whatever kind of response Joshua wanted, it was difficult to tell whether he was satisfied or not. "I’m not sure. Besides, Lumendori guides and protects us as long as we have faith."

"Lumendori is worshipped by the paladins, correct? Does that mean you can use light magic?"

"While I have not been chosen to wield the holy light, I am given strength all the same. What about you? Whom do you follow?"

A tricky question. Religious tolerance was hit-and-miss out here, as people either didn’t care or cared too much. "I await the day when my own path to God is made clear, but I do not believe it can come by following the directions of mortal men. I will find my faith when it chooses to be found."

The agnostic answer seemed to satisfy Joshua.

"That is a very charming mantra," said Mary. She turned to her daughter. "Elizabeth, you haven’t said anything yet."

"Hello," the girl chimed.

"Hello," said Noah in response.

Silence once more. "About how far are we from the town?" Noah then asked.

"A little under half a day’s ride. It’s a big town, about a hundred buildings or so. Are you heading down the channel?" Joshua asked.

"That’s right. Do you know of a way?"

"From what I hear, merchants and passenger boats might hire adventurers for protection."

"Protection, huh?" Noah suppressed a grimace, hoping this next job wouldn’t be as exhausting as the last.

He had more questions to ask, but everyone had finished eating and were clearing the table. Noah got to his feet and bowed his head. "Thank you for the wonderful meal."

"You are very welcome," Mary replied happily.

Lantern in hand, Joshua led Noah outside. The rain was pouring at full force, so they hustled over to the barn and Joshua handed over the lantern. "You can also use the horse blankets if you need to."

"Thank you."

The doors were closed, leaving Noah with the livestock. They were startled by his return and calmed when they heard the wooden beam returned to the barn doors, sealing them inside. He still wasn’t fully trusted, something Noah respected. This was a life where trust couldn’t be easily given out. He found the horse blankets and laid them atop his hay mattress, with his own traveling blanket covering him. He put out the lantern and gratefully laid his head back, using his horse’s oat bag as a pillow. He was quite content, as his fatigue silenced the issues and enhanced the benefits of his bed. On the road, this could be considered a luxurious evening.

"Eternal strangers," Noah said to himself. "I’ll have to remember that one."


The sound of thunder pulled Noah from his sleep and he automatically drew a knife out from under his pillow. The barn was dark as a coffin, even out of reach of the lightning outside. Wait, it was no longer raining. The thunder boomed a second time, and Noah recognized it as Bar’s warning. The wolfdog continued barking and Noah sat up, caught in a state of his alarm fighting against his exhaustion. Since arriving, he had reverted to the survival mindset of living without clocks, but right now, he’d be willing to pay good money to know the time.

Bar must have been barking louder or longer than usual, as Noah heard the front door of the farmhouse open and Bar’s claws scratching the porch. Was Joshua just letting him out, or was he anticipating a fight? Noah had enough experience with dogs to know that they could spend half the night barking at nothing at all, but it was best not to take the risk. He’d have to hope for a deer and be ready for a bear.

Outside, he heard Bar’s howling weaken as he zoomed into the distance, then, it didn’t stop, so much as it was stopped.

"Well, that’s unfortunate."

Noah pulled his boots on and stood by the barn doors. They were still locked, but he could at least hear what was going on outside. Hopefully, Joshua could handle this on his own and Noah could get back to sleep. Until then, he was curious as to how this would play out.

"Bar! Bar!" Joshua called out.

Noah heard a sword being drawn, but no footsteps. Joshua wasn’t going after Bar, a good choice. Several silent seconds passed by and Joshua called again. Those seconds turned into minutes. Bar had yet to return or even resume barking, his fate almost guaranteed.

Finally, "Whoever’s out there, either show yourselves or get off my land!"

Joshua was answered by a flash of light, a thunder spell striking him in the chest with its luminance worming through the smallest cracks and gaps in the barn walls. Noah heard the cry of pain and the farmer fall to the ground. ‘That went about as well as expected.’ He found a crack to look through, so narrow that he could only see the light of their torches, five of them. He cast his invisibility and began chipping at the crack with his knife, widening it enough to see.

"Oh look, he’s back on his feet! You’re getting weak, Cal!" one man said as he drew his sword.

Noah looked over and saw Joshua standing, but it was a struggle. He appeared to be wearing metal armor, an incomplete set but with a chest plate strong enough to keep the spell from burning him. It didn’t protect him from electrocution, even if it was a nonlethal charge. Despite their flashiness, thunder spells appeared to simply be mana imitating lightning, or at least replicating it to some degree, meaning that it had different properties in how it dispersed and the impact it would cause, with a significant drop in power compared to its natural counterpart.

Noah could see Joshua trembling as he gripped his sword, perhaps the result of his injuries, perhaps him imagining the handle to be the throat of whichever intruder killed his dog. What possessed him, fear or anger? Giving in to emotion would be a fatal mistake.

"Marco, Phil, kill him. Cal, hang back, make sure nobody runs off. Jozef, you search the barn. I’m going to see what goodies are in the house." The man who spoke appeared to the leader of the group, carrying an axe large enough to cleave a man in two.

"You stay back!" Joshua roared.

Two men approached him, one with a sword, the other carrying a length of chain. Joshua secured his footing as a blade was swung towards his throat. He parried, the resulting sparks looking like the stars above the clouds. Once, twice, three times more, swords collided. Joshua was putting up a good fight. Despite his injuries, he seemed to be getting faster, and his swordsmanship hinted as to the depths of his experience. A former adventurer perhaps, or maybe a retired soldier. He dodged the second man’s whipping chain and threw a small wooden mallet at him, a tool from inside the house. His aim was true, striking the man in the head, and while it wasn’t enough to take him down, he staggered back, covering the developing lump and howling in pain.

The first man landed a lucky shot, trying to stab at Joshua and instead leaving a deep cut across his arm. He was too close to slash at, so Joshua instead struck him in the chin with the pommel of his sword. Before Joshua could deliver a finishing blow, his cohort lashed out with his chain. It wrapped around Joshua’s sword and he managed to keep hold of it. He tackled the man, sending them both to the ground. He pinned the man down, both of them fighting for control of the sword as it approached his throat. He was once again interrupted, this time by the leader. He strode over and kicked Joshua in the side of his face, hard enough to send him flying through the air, his jaw surely broken with severe head trauma. The leader’s leg, it was glowing with runes, the sign of a body-enhancement spell.

"Monk magic," Noah muttered. He had seen other adventurers using those techniques, usually only able to apply it to one or two limbs.

"Quit screwing around! Is one farmer really too much for you guys to handle?!" the leader barked. He turned to another member, armed with a bow. "Jozef, quit gawking and open up that goddamn barn! You two come with me!"

Joshua wasn’t getting up, so three bandits stormed into his house and the screaming began. They soon emerged, each dragging a member of the family, struggling to break free.

"Oh, she’s a feisty one! I call dibs!" the man with the chain laughed, said chain wrapped around Elizabeth’s throat to try and stop her flailing.

"Not a chance. I told you, virgins sell better. You want to get your wick wet, you’ll wait your turn for this one," said the leader, holding Mary.

"I’ll take the boy," said the one known as Cal. Noah recognized the robe he was wearing.

"Jozef, how’s that barn coming?"

The archer, struggling to remove the wooden beam blocking the doors, finally had to put down his torch and use both hands to open the doors. There wasn’t any warning, not even a glimmer of the blade as it sliced the man’s neck open. Noah stepped out of the way to avoid the spraying blood and let the body fall to the ground. Seeing their comrade spontaneously drop dead, the remaining four bandits began shouting.

"Who’s in there?!" the man with the chain shouted.

‘Right now? Nobody,’ thought Noah, approaching the bandits without even leaving footprints in the grass.

"Phil, go check it out!" the leader barked, pulling Thomas from his hands. Before Phil could even complain, the top of his skull was lopped off, Noah’s sword striking at the indent between the nose and forehead.

"What the hell is this?! What the hell is this?!" Marco, the chain user shouted.

The answer came in the form of an invisible wire, wrapping around his throat from behind. The wire cut deep into his skin and the force of Noah’s pull left him gasping for air. He let go of Elizabeth as he was lifted off his feet, eyes bulging and mouth foaming. He clawed at the wire, now looking like a bloody smile, with his boss watching in horror. He threw Mary and Thomas aside and charged with his axe. All repercussions had been forgotten, as his swing sliced his cohort in half at the waist.

"I’ll kill you! I don’t know who you are, but I’ll fucking kill you!"

He began swinging wildly, trying to keep death at bay. He didn’t see the arrow, shot almost point-blank, nor did he feel it and punch through his skull. He fell to the ground and a second arrow was planted in his chest for good measure. So many bodies falling, each one drawing a cry of terror from Mary and her children. Cal, the last bandit, made the wise decision to flee, but Noah had already decided his fate. He took aim with his bow and shot the fleeing mage in the back, a nonlethal injury that sent him dropping to the ground.

Noah released his spell, seemingly stepping out of the darkness in front of Mary, making she and her children yelp in surprise. He handed her two healing potions and spoke with a calm voice. "Joshua is over there. If he’s still alive, give him these. Get him inside and don’t come out until I tell you to." He then merged with the night once more. He strode over to Cal, his heart barely even raised and his demeanor stoic, compared to the wounded mage, who was sobbing as he tried to crawl away. In his hand, he held a Kris—a dagger with a wavy blade, which would prove to be a very poor choice.

Noah grabbed his arm, and the mage, feeling the invisible hand gripping him with a merciless force, screamed in terror and swung wildly with his dagger.

"Lord Relampargoza, save me!"

Relampargoza was the god of thunder, not that prayer would do him any good. A kick to the face put an end to the nonsense, and with the Kris in his other hand, Noah dragged the unconscious mage into the woods. Once away from the house, he dropped him facedown onto the ground with his arms stretched out in front of him on a tree log. What came next woke the man with a howl of agony.

Noah stepped back and released his invisibility, not that the man could see him anyway, pinned down the way he was. The arrow in his back was no longer his greatest concern, it was now the dagger driven through his hands, pinning him to the log. The only way to free himself would be to lift his hands to reach the guard and dislodge the blade, like prying out a nail. Unfortunately, the way his arms were outstretched, one of his shoulders would probably dislocate if he tried to do it from that position, not to mention the curved, widening blade would enlarge the wounds. He’d have to create space and leverage by raising his upper body, but with the arrow in his back, he was far from flexible at the moment. He was shivering, on the verge of going into shock, and the ground against his face was turning into mud from his tears and snot.

"This is a trick I learned in the military. Well, not THE military, rather A military. It’s really good at getting the subject’s attention, is it not?"

"P-p-p-please, I’ll do what-what-whatever you want. Just let me go."

"You’re free to leave whenever you want, if you can."

"W-w-w-w-what d-d-do you w-want from me?"

"I thought we could have a little chat. There are plenty of things I want to ask you, so first, I want you to explain everything you know about magic."

"Why are you doing this?"

Noah calmly picked up a stick and banged it against the handle of the Kris, hammering it deeper into the log and making it vibrate like a tuning fork, all to draw out fresh cries of agony.

"Funny thing about asking questions, it’s one of the quickest ways to get yourself noticed. People don’t like questions, especially when they’re asked by strangers. The absence of knowledge they consider common raises red flags, marking you as an outsider. So, when I need deeper information, rather than asking regular people the easy way, I ask bad people the hard way. The answers aren’t always reliable, so I have to do it to enough people for their overlapping answers to reveal the truth.

You do a good job and I’ll pull out the knife for you and send you on your way. You might even live long enough to make it to Took and get help. You do a bad job and I’ll leave you to deal with that knife on your own. I suggest you consider how many beasts are going to be drawn by the smell of your blood and the sound of your whimpering.

Normally I have a rule against stuff like this, but that’s the great thing about people like you. There aren’t many people who would condemn me for this, so I can justify it as punishing you for your crimes, rather than torturing you for information. And am I not merciful for giving you a chance to earn your life and freedom?

Now, tell me everything you know about magic."

"Mana! It comes from mana! It’s the power of the soul and given to us by the gods! I can turn my mana into lightning."

"I am aware of that much."

"And runes! All magic is based on runes! They appear as spells are developed!"

From what Noah had seen, that much was true. Whenever a magic-user cast a spell, magic circles would appear around them, consisting of runes. For warriors, it appeared around their weapons, while for everyone else, it appeared around their bodies or whatever they might be trying to manipulate. It was spontaneous, beyond their control, but there was an exception he had come across: himself.

"And what are runes?"

"The language of the gods! That’s what everyone says! They shape mana into magic!"

"And how do they work? How are they used for things like tools and weapons?"

"Fuck if I know!"

Noah hammered the dagger, making Cal scream. "That answer is unhelpful. Tell me of every type of magic you know."

"Mages control the elements! Water, wind, fire, earth, and thunder! Paladins summon the holy light! Monks get super strong! Warriors enhance their weapons! Shamans control animal spirits to transform themselves! Druids control the trees!"

"And alchemists?"

"I don’t know shit about alchemists!"

A third strike was made on the dagger, driving it deeper into the tree and widening Cal’s wounds. "I understand that you’re bleeding out and not in a very cooperative mood, but whether you live or die depends on how useful you are."

"I don’t know! I swear I don’t know!" the man wept.

Noah was beginning to hear movement nearby. "Very well, then let’s change topics. Tell me about the bandits in this area. Are there any groups that I should know about? I suggest you don’t lie to me."

"I don’t know about other groups. They constantly form armies and then break up when the knights and soldiers ride in!"

By now, the growl had reached both Noah and Cal. Wolves were closing in. Cal began to scream and pull at the knife, not that it did him any good.

"Please, let me go!"

"You haven’t told me anything specific or anything I don’t already know." Noah stood up. "I’m far from impressed. I suppose I should get back to the farm."

"Wait, I did hear something! An ogre tribe is rumored to be passing through the area!"

"Go on."

"Big, one-eyed monsters! They come from the north, bloodthirsty nomads that eat whatever cross their path! A tribe shows up in Uther every few years! They don’t speak our tongue and kill us on sight! They’re rabid beasts!"

Noah recalled the previous night, the glaring cyclops. ‘If there is a tribe of those things in the area, then it would probably be best to get to Took as soon as possible.’

The wolves had fully circled and weren’t hiding their steps.

"Please! Let me go!"

"Well, I’d say you’ve earned a fighting chance." Noah pulled the knife out and Cal held his hands to his face, as if seeing the wounds would somehow make the pain go away. Noah dropped the knife beside him. "I think you’re going to need this more than me."

He then disappeared into the darkness, and the wolves, while confused as to how one of their prey had suddenly vanished beyond the reach of their senses, were glad that one meal still awaited them. Once more, Cal’s screams echoed through the night, but by the time Noah reached the farmhouse, he had gone silent, and there was only the growls and yips of the wolves fighting over his corpse. It was always nice when loose ends solved themselves.

Noah searched the bodies of the other bandits, taking anything of use or value, and then dragged them into the woods. The wolves would come after them next, so it was best they not be eaten right in front of the house. Finally, he did a quick sweep of the property in search of Bar, eventually finding the slain wolfdog. He had an arrow in his neck, a well-earned quick death. Noah summoned a glass bottle from within his ring and poured the purple liquid within on and around Bar. A pungent smell filled the air, like skunk mixed with rotting flesh, forcing Noah to retreat. The liquid was an experiment of his to try and find a good monster repellent by combining various ingredients found in the wilderness. Unfortunately, it only worked for a few hours and it was such a nasty stench that he couldn’t use it anywhere near himself without getting sick, so he chalked it up as a failure. Hopefully, it would keep the prowlers at bay until Bar could be buried.

His business done, he stepped up onto the porch and knocked on the door. "Hey, it’s me."

There was movement inside and the door was opened. It was Mary, with the inside of the house lit with candles. "James," she said, sounding like she was on the verge of fainting.

"How are you folks doing? How’s Joshua?" He looked past Mary, seeing the farmer lying atop the dinner table with his children around him. It was slow, but he sat up.

"He’s alive, thanks to you. How can we ever repay you?"

"Well I’m going to go back to the barn to get a little more sleep while I can, I suggest you all do the same. After that, some breakfast would be lovely."

"I… uh… you… uh… consider it done," she stammered.

"Goodnight, then."

Noah returned to the barn and closed the doors behind him. His makeshift bed felt as soft and cozy as a foam mattress, despite the stench of horses and goats. He still didn’t know what time it was, but if there truly was a merciful god in this world, then the sunrise would be an eternity away. It felt like he heard the barn doors open just moments after he closed his eyes. He instinctively drew his knife and sat up to face the intruder, only to find Joshua. The sun was rising outside, an unwelcome sight. Oh well, a better night’s sleep wasn’t far off.

"Good morning," Noah said as he rubbed the tiredness from his eyes. Instead of replying, Joshua prostrated himself, bowing with his forehead pressed to the ground.

"I do not deserve to be your host. I belittled your profession last night, and then you save not only my life, but the lives of my wife and children. I relied on someone I called a stranger because I was too weak to protect my family. This is a shame I will never live down."

Noah sighed and sat back down to put his boots on. "Don’t worry, you’re forgiven. While I can’t say I applaud your manners in insulting your guest, I’m not invested enough in adventuring to take anything personally. As for the incident last night, you fought remarkably well despite being wounded. Be proud of yourself." He got back onto his feet. "By the way, I found Bar at the southern end of the field. I’m afraid he didn’t make it."

"Did… he suffer?"

"No, he died well. I poured some monster repellent on him, so hopefully you can still bury him."

Joshua looked away, wiping some tears with his sleeve. "Come on, Mary is putting breakfast on the table."

They left the barn and returned to the farm house, where upon entering, Noah found Mary and her children bowing at almost perfect right angles.

"You saved this family, and for that, we will be forever grateful."

Noah nodded. "Thank you."

They gathered around the table for breakfast and joined hands for grace. "Lord Lumendori, we thank you for the bright and beautiful day that awaits us, and we thank you for allowing us to cross paths with this young man beside us. We would not be here without him," said Joshua.

"Amen," Mary and the kids replied.

Even worse than the previous night, Thomas was excited and curious, bombarding Noah with questions, most of them about how he pulled off the fight from last night. Joshua and Mary reeled him in, but Noah was able to dodge and deceive the questions that got through. Breakfast was bread and eggs with some cheese, and Noah, wanting to get out on the road, ate fast. He then stood up and bowed his head.

"It is time for me to be off. Thank you once again for the meals and shelter."

He returned to the barn and loaded up his horse with his few possessions, and as he turned to leave, found Joshua standing at the entrance, holding out the silver coin from last night. "I can’t let you leave without this, not after what you did for us."

Noah didn’t bother trying to refuse and accepted the coin. He had simply been hoping that Joshua would forget the second he promised him. He got onto his horse and departed for Took. Joshua and his family were good, honest people, yet as soon as Noah returned to the road, his mind discarded their names.

Please comment!

This story was taken from one these sites, check them out to find more sex stories:

https://freelivesexcams.me/indian-cam-girls

https://freelivesexcams.me/category/cosplay-cams

https://freecams.name/teen-live-cam

https://freecams.name/ebony-cam-live

https://freesexcams.name/webcam-girls

https://nudecams.name/nude-chat

https://adultcams.name/nude-cam

https://freecams.name/sex-cam

https://freecamgirls.name/mature-sex-cam

https://webcamgirls.name/live-sex