A grand side Quest

The road and surrounding neighbourhood were empty. The doors to the other homes were closed. I walked down the oddly silent street in the direction I had seen the armed elves running before. I came across a straight, softly glowing line in the ground — it cut through the grass and the road. When I looked closely at it, I noticed a slight distortion, like heat waves, coming off it and stretching up into the sky. I tossed a rock, and it passed through like normal air. My feet were still covered in a thin layer of water. Don't judge me — if you had a magic power, even a dumb one like this, you would use it constantly as well. You know I am right. Anyway, I kicked towards it and released the skill, sending flying water splashing across the glowing line. Nothing happened. I re-activated my skill, and the water slid across the ground back towards my feet, unimpeded. Perhaps it affects biological things.

I looked around the ground and air for insects — I was in a forested area, after all. There must be tons of them around. I searched all around, and there was nothing. The one time I want a creepy-crawly bug, and there are none to find. I wandered along the line, hoping to be able to just go around it. After about half an hour, it became clear this was a circle around a residential area, as I had made a full loop. For an odd fantasy world, it looked to be keeping to Western building zoning styles and mixed-use case design of the ancient world. Another check box in the 'I am living in a simulation' box. No, make that two check boxes, as I have yet to see any insects. I will not complain about that. Now that I think about it, I have yet to get a single mosquito bite — that is a win in my books.

I wanted to know more about the odd glowing line before putting an arm into it. With the crazy things the elves could do, I was not sure how safe this was to cross. I was told to stay put, after all. No one showed up in my walk, and the silence and lack of elves was eerie. I decided, since I was close to home, I would check there. I did not want anyone to be concerned that I was missing if they came looking for me. The place was just as I had left it, as far as I could tell. I tried to make myself comfortable and wait, but I just couldn't. So I left again, back to the glowing line in the ground. "System, would you please tell me what this line is?" And... nothing. "I am going to walk into this, and if it kills me, I blame you." Still nothing. I picked up a water-covered foot. Well, if it is heat, perhaps the water would protect me long enough to pull my foot back out. I cautiously put my foot into it, and nothing happened. I felt the slightest of resistance when doing so. I would not have even noticed if I had not been focusing on it so much. Well, my foot is fine. Time to try something more sensitive. I put my elbow up to it, and nothing. I took a deep breath and stepped through.

The sound was the shock I got. I went from a quiet, tranquil area into a thunderous war zone. I had to put my hands to my ears. Screams, crashes, and thunder all blended together in rubble. I frantically looked around for where it was coming from. It was everywhere. I took a step back behind the line, and everything returned to pristine silence. I gasped and breathed in deeply. This must be a sound barrier. I spent the last hour getting all worked up over a sound barrier. I decided not knowing how this world worked was more dangerous than anything else. Sure, I messed up with this sound barrier, but what if I stumbled upon something truly dangerous and thought it was mundane?

I picked some moss and shoved it in my ears to work as makeshift earplugs. I steadied myself and stepped back through the wall, still having to put my hands over my ears from all the noise that was still going on. I marched onward towards where I had seen the main gate, knowing I would come across the wall there. When I approached, I finally noticed some elves. None were facing towards me; all were on top of the wall, using ranged weapons, shooting into the distance. Since I was on the ground, I could not see what they were shooting at. I found some stairs going up to the wall walkway, and to my surprise, they were not guarded on this side. So naturally, I went up them and walked along the wall walk like I belonged to be there. I was sure I would fool no one, as I was still in nothing more than loincloths. I was too short to see over the embrasure and had to be careful not to get too close to the edge, as this wall had machicolations. What a fun word. I only know it because of some YouTuber who was obsessed with it. I am sure he would be pleased with this fortified wall.

It was not long before I was stopped. The male elf looked quite unhappy to see me there. He was trying to talk to me, but I had yet to learn more than a handful of words, and with the loud noises, it was a futile effort on his part. I noticed what I assumed was a water mage of some sort standing behind the angry elf. This water mage elf was also a male, so was every other one I could see along this wall, and there were a lot of them. The water mage had a small floating orb that he was holding, and the water was being pulled off it, headed towards my feet. I had my 'Foot wetter' skill on, and it apparently wanted his water ball. Up until this point, the most water that had pooled over my feet only became a thin layer, but as his water touched my feet, it expanded to be more like shoes made of water. I was about an inch thick. The angry elf moved out of the way when the water mage tapped him on the shoulder. They had a short conversation, and the angry one left, and the water mage kneeled down to take a closer look at my wet feet. He put his hand out, and it glowed softly. He frowned a bit. I looked at him and nodded, then released the skill. The water rushed quickly back into a floating ball in front of his hand. It looked bigger than before and had a hue of turquoise to it. He raised an eyebrow and then smiled. He leaned around the merlon, and the rippling water flew off so fast at first, I thought it just disappeared. I reactivated my skill, and more water started to form around my feet faster than it had any time before. I looked around and noticed that the ground had become quite wet around the water mage. He leaned down and started rapidly adding water from his glowing hand to my feet. When my feet stopped collecting water, it was like I was wearing boots. He looked at me expectantly, and I released the water. It rapidly formed into a massive ball in his hand, far bigger than before, and taking on an even deeper turquoise colour than before. He gave me a broad smile and popped back around the merlon and cast it into the distance like the last one.

We continued with this little game. The water balls did not continue to get bigger — it looked like we had reached the max size. I guessed that my 'Foot wetter' skill was somehow enhancing his water ball spell; why else would he keep me around? I checked my stats screen, and mana was still none. I asked the system, but continued to get no responses. I guess the system had gone to bed. One more check for this being a simulation and not real. I decided to find out what the water mage's name was by activating 'Identify' on him.

(Male Elf: Eldáriön)

As always, another long, flowing name. This one looked far too much like the fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars. I decided that I was going to think of him as this. The cacophony of noises had quieted down a lot since I had first arrived. So I took this opportunity, while he was in one of his cycles of refilling his water balls, and decided I would try to say his name: "El-dah-ree-on." He lost his concentration for a moment. The water ball splashed out of his hands, and I had to pull it towards my feet again. He looked at me perplexed. This is not the first time I stunned an elf by knowing their name. I was effectively a child who could not speak the language, but I knew names I was not told.

"System, is 'Identify' a rare skill?" I asked, and much to my surprise, it answered me finally. I guess it decided to get out of bed.

[No, it is a common skill for beings who have unlocked a class, but varies in what it shows for each individual.]

"Did I get it because I have ‘child’ class?"

[No, ‘child’ is not an actual class. Your Realmwalker trait opens up the possibility for you early.]

He must think I have a class then. I pointed to myself and said my name as best I could: "Péthánthál." Then I gave him a smile. He started laughing and pointing at my feet. Yes, I have a stupid name, and I nodded to him. He then gestured for the water, and I let him have it. He sent it off, and we continued.

Lightning without thunder started to occur. When I looked up, the sky was still clear, but a strong wind was building. It was surprisingly warm — I wondered if this were a tropical area. I looked at Alderaan and gave him my best questioning look. He simply smiled back at me. Well, I guess being a water mage, a little storm would be more useful to him than detrimental. I just hoped it was a normal storm approaching and not some magic nonsense. It was not long after the rain did begin to fall. As it hit me, it was sucked down towards my feet and then dumped into his water ball spell. He no longer passed water to me and was now just pulling it from me as I pooled it by my feet. He started doing new, grander things with the water. He made a shield and put it in front of him, now boldly standing in the wall opening. He started freezing the water into ice shards and sending them off like bullets.

I gestured pleadingly for me to be able to have a look into the distance. He shook his head and outright refused to lift me up or let me pull myself up to have a glance at the other side of the wall. I guess he does not want a child to see a war zone, and I can't blame him for that. I just want to know who we are fighting.

The angry elf had returned and stopped to talk with my new friend Alderaan, who frowned. Then he pointed to the elf and nodded towards me. The other elf looked at me expectantly. It took me a few seconds to clue into what I think he wanted me to do. I activated 'Identify' on him.

(Male Elf: Thórnágór)

Great, the grumpy elf with a bow gets the name with Thor in it, and he does not even have a hammer. "Thor-nah-gor," I said, and his expression wavered for just a moment. Then he gave the mage a light-hearted punch. He then took my hand and began to lead me away. I waved at Alderaan and reluctantly followed him away.

As we traveled in the rain, I was having so much fun. I finally got to try out another skill — 'Water step.' Using this, I could keep up to the elf without issue. I glided across the ground with the grace of an ice skater, or so I felt. In reality, I probably looked like a child splashing in every puddle I could get to, and I was not ashamed of this at all.

Thor brought me all the way back to my home and deposited me there. Once the door was shut, the handle glowed softly for a moment. I waited until he was clearly gone before trying the door, and it was locked. I guess I have effectively been grounded. I hoped that my parents didn't know about this, but I was sure they did. How else would Thor have known where to take me? I didn't even get to see who or what they were fighting. I wondered if I could get out a window. I was already going to get into trouble, I was sure of it. So I went for it. I climbed up onto the kitchen counter to try to get out the window. It didn't open.

Alas, I gave up around the time I realized that nature was calling, and I did need to find out if the washroom was indeed a washroom. If I were wrong, this could be awkward. I entered the small room and lifted the seat to have a look inside. About a foot down along the bottom was a chartreuse-coloured moss that was also crawling up the sides of the walls by a few inches. Along the rim of the seat were some yellow and white gemstones. The white ones were glowing softly. There was no flush handle—I guess that would be pointless with moss—but I did see some polished stones on the wall that could be buttons. Thankfully, the hole had no smell to it at all. The room gave me a hippie composting toilet vibe that really sealed in the feeling with the glowing gems, but why would anyone want light coming from the toilet?

"System, is this a toilet?" I asked hopefully.

[You don't know how to use the three sea shells? I am aghast!]

I frantically looked around, "What seashells?" confused. Then it struck me. The system trolled me good. That was a reference to Demolition Man. While trying to hold a straight face and look disgruntled, I said, "I have a sudden urge to start swearing to find the paper dispenser." Before losing it and beginning to giggle.

Then I looked around for some toilet paper and found nothing. The system was not wrong. I might as well be looking at three seashells. I grimaced at this. "I could use a little more help than movie references. Please."

[Once you are done with your business, before you get up, push the stone to your right. When you close the lid, push the stone to the left.]

"And what does that do?"

[It's more fun to watch you find out on your own. I have already said too much.]

"Fine." I took a seat, this was awkward as it was meant for someone much bigger than I was. I did my thing, pushed the button, and wowzers. I almost fell in. That felt odd. How do I describe this? It was sort of like being blasted with warm water, but there was no water, leaving behind a bit of a tingly feeling down there. I was clean, though, better than toilet paper would have done. My world has marvels beyond words thanks to the slow incremental advance of technology. Here, they use magic trickery to do wonders that I could not explain, and they were sensible enough to include them in day-to-day items. I looked down, and the moss had absorbed the waste. I closed the lid and followed the instructions by pushing the other button. A soft yellow light started to shine through the edge of the seat. The room got an earthy smell to it.

I had to climb up onto the counter to reach the washbasin and clean my hands. It had water and another one of the buttons. I pushed it, and water started to spin around in the bowl. I put my hands in and felt the same tingly feel as before. When I pulled my hands out, the water pulled off my hands back into the bowl, sort of like the 'Foot wetter' skill in reverse.

I realized the day had been quite long, and I was ready for nap time as my eyelids were getting heavy. I wandered off to the bedroom and collapsed for a nap, listening to the pitter-patter of the rain as I drifted off to sleep.