Dreamland

The Lynx and Spartacius were coming back with a mountain of woods. Actually, Spartacius was carrying the bunch; the Lynx had only one branch in its jaws and majestically stepped near him as if parading. Well, it was a sizeable branch; maybe that's why it looked like him being at the parade, as it had to keep his head high and stiff. Terri was just grinning happily, riding my mount, and squealing excitedly. Did the Lynx not let her ride before?

I wondered at the mountain of firewood:

“Do you plan to roast a cow?”

Spartacius answered candidly:

“Not exactly, but I am hungry.”

A bit confused by his answer, I tried again:

“Where is the 'not exactly cow'?”

“I have my bag with me.”

“Yes, OK, but the rest of us? I wonder if we could order something from town, or should I go hunting?”

I do have some historical food in stock in my inventory, but I was keeping it for special occasions... Is this one?

“Don’t worry, it is a magical bag. I paid a lot for it, but it was worth it; you can feed an army with it. I only have to put my hand inside it and say what I want to take. Isn’t it fine? Did you say roasted beef? We make roasted beef!”

Spartacius started to prepare food for all, assisted by the Lynx, but only after lighting the respectable fire. The 2 seemed to cooperate reasonably together. Terri was 'helping', sometimes talking excited, sometimes shy, as if not finding her balance. I guess too much isolation was not good even for a fairy… Oh, come on, she is an AI! Why do I keep thinking about them as persons? But the atmosphere got slowly through to me, and I was feeling more excited. Interesting what a bonfire does to you.

“Why the whole fuss with wood for fire if you can pick roasted beef directly from your bag at the right temperature?”

“It is not the same without the fire, can’t you see?”

Yes, he was right.

Alice had retired herself some 10 steps from the group. It seemed she needed some time alone. Probably to digest what we spoke. Also, Spartacius's action with Noviel weighted certainly heavy on her.

I chased again, the AI thought. All my senses conspired against my brain.

I stayed and watched the fire. Terri went over to talk to Alice. She put a hand on her shoulder and was now chatting.

“What’s the matter with you? Did you two have argued?” asked Spartacius looking at Alice.

“No, on the contrary, but thinking about us, Spartacius, what do we do if we cannot leave?”

“Yuuhuuu! I do not need to go to school tomorrow! Here it is more fun, and I feel well…. Err, did I tell you I go to school?”

He looked at me, suddenly aware he could not fake his age too much anymore. I laughed.

“No, you didn’t; when we had the rally round last time, you've let me understand you were 20 something. Did you find the elixir of youth?”

He tried hesitatingly to save what he could save:

“Well, I am sixteen, you know...”

The Lynx intervened, also wondering:

“Sixteen? You look well developed for a sixteen-year-old boy. I thought you were rather twenty-something!”

I stopped Spartacius a bit harsh and condescending:

“Fourteen. You are fourteen.”

He tried to protest:

“Not true!” - but then added - “How do you know?”

I had to laugh:

“The info popped out automatically in the lobby when you said I am sexy!”

The Lynx was now confused.

“Hey, what are you two talking about? What lobby? What info? How can that pop-up? And yes, you are sexy!”

He said all that in one go. I laughed and rolled my eyes at the Lynx complimenting me, and yet it felt good.

Spartacius was unhappy.

“Where from does the system know I am fourteen? Merde! I always avoided giving that information.”

“Who is the system? Did anything pop up now? Yes, you are sexy, you are sexy? Hell, nothing is popping up?”

The Lynx looked at him and then at me for an answer. I tried my best definition. As unhappy as he was, Spartacius laughed. I rested my hand on the Lynx's shoulder:

“The system is the all-controlling entity that makes this world be. You are probably older than fourteen; besides, I do not think any info will pop up here; there are different rules inside.”

“Interesting name you have for all gods. There are different legends from what other races say...”

Spartacius shook his head.

“Don't bother with that, Lynx; when you know the world from the outside, you get a different understanding!”

And now we get again on the dangerous track of telling the AI about the outer world. But did I not tell Alice about it? Is each NPC controlled by a separate AI?

“How can you know the world from the outside? Is there an outer world?”

“Yes, there is an outer world.”

“And are you fourteen there?”

He acknowledged this time.

“Yep.”

“This explains some.”

“What does this explain?”

This time Spartacius was a bit suspicious, but the Lynx eased him.

“Well, your warm blood, your temper, your character, your…everything. I feel a similar soul in you! “

Alice and Terri came meanwhile back, with Terri making herself comfortable near me.

“After lunch, I would like to hide again”, - whispered Terri in my ear

“Are you not feeling safe? Be assured that we will set up a guard for the night!”

She raised her shoulders.

“Why should I take any risks?”

“OK?”

If my skin gives her more security and she can sleep like that, it does not disturb me.

“Sausage? Who wants sausage? Or beefsteaks?”

Spartacius started to share the food. I took some dishes from my inventory to help him spread it. The Lynx complained about my plates.

“Don't you have something bigger?”

Well, I do have. I had to search a little. I have a vast plate that was meant to put a whole roasted pig on it... somewhere inside my inventory box. Ah, found it and retrieved it! He accepted it with a grin.

“Aaah, now that's a plate for me!”

As we were chewing happily, I undressed my jacket and stayed only in my blouse to be more comfortable. I was glad the conversation turned now to the food and not the outer world, even if I knew that it would eventually come back.

Spartacius kept on putting new and various foods on the plates, one more appetizing than the other. We ordered, and he conjured. Instant delivery. He could conjure almost anything that was food or drinks, and I was surprised to find out how many different sorts of food and beverages Alice knew. The bag limits seemed to be only its' opening diameter, no big roasted boar or complete oxen, just chunks, no barrels but bottles.

We were now getting deserts, and the Lynx was confabulating about tarts with honey.

It was getting dark, and the first stars started to illuminate the sky. No moon yet, but there will be two soon. The third one will arise much later.

It is a strange world with two suns and three visible moons. There are even more moons if you have good elf eyes.

That's a bit unfair; the elves have good looks and good eyes and strong magic affinity… Well, yes, physically, they are weaker...

“Fire!!! Give them a lead intoxication!!”

A chorus of voices, underlined by the barking of their shotguns, answered:

“Yuhuu!! Yaaarrr!!! Charge! Fire! Fire!”

Shotguns. Low levels preferred weapons. Dozens upon dozens of them.