Chapter 294- Preparing for a journey

Preparing for a journey

Ever since Mr. Thomas converted half of the old corral into a training ground, the site had undergone a myriad of changes. A stout fence encircled the area, not for keeping prying eyes away but to prevent accidents from the practicing weapons. An unroofed house with narrow corridors and large doorways remained from the days when Doug and his party trained for skirmishes within the confines of city streets.

The open plot next to it, supported close combat with assorted wooden weapons while at one end served as an archery range. Except for a few diehards like Jim and a couple of women, most of the residents preferred the crossbow. Before a higher wall lined with stacks of hay, stood rounded targets and also stuffed animals and figures. Red dye marked various points on the body highlighting the critical or fatal points.

Chu sat on a wooden bench while wiping away the torrent of sweat running down his neck. Dowing the ladle of water he scooped from the nearby barrel into his parched throat, he raised his head. His eyes fell on the round target in time to view three crossbolts thuddings seemingly simultaneously into the red-painted center.

"Amazing, no matter how you look at it, Miki. Is three your limit and how often can you do it?"

Chu asked the dark-haired girl who stood inspecting her crossbow. Frowning while plucking the string of her weapon, she walked towards him.

"When I activate my speed, three bolts are my limit. With my talisman, I don't have a limit on the number of times I can do it for the day. Practically, I need time to ready the bolts and prep myself so I'm limited to three. As for how often, I think, maybe four times an hour?"

"Only four? But then again, three shots fired so quickly that they appear simultaneously is OP in itself. The range of fifty to sixty feet is also not bad considering they all hit."

"It does have its drawbacks, however. When performing this feat, I need to focus so I am at the mercy of my surroundings. Also, just like when we activate our Blink skill, the change in vision makes me vulnerable for a few seconds. We have been so busy these days, I barely find time to venture out to hunt. Right now, I require practice on moving targets. If I was better, then that Snowbear would have been dead much sooner."

She replied. Sitting down next to him, she grabbed the half-filled ladle from him and began guzzling the contents. Pointing to her weapon, she explained.

"My crossbow is also a part of the limitation. The wire has a high chance of snapping if let's say I sit in one place and constantly fire. Bon told me I should see if I can find a weaponsmith who works for the Tower. He once heard rumors that certain treated parts of demon beasts can increase the performance of weapons. They also don't deteriorate as fast as the sinews on our multishot."

The water dripped down her lightly tanned neck and disappeared into her shirt. The unbuttoned collar at the top exposed the smooth skin and the beginnings of an alluring valley. Chu coughed at the undisputed beauty sitting sweating and disheveled while casually thumbing the multishot on the western platform.

"Yes, I browsed across books recording matters like that in the Tower library. I dare say some of the books we accumulated from the goblin ruins also contain such information. We have been running around so much, I only browsed a few. Later, I need probably a few years to assimilate that knowledge. It might seem boring, but I yet deem information of this world to be critical. Especially considering what we have personally experienced."

Chu stated while standing up. He paused as a thought surfaced in his cluttered mind.

"What about mid-range combat? How is your throwing skills?"

"Hehe..."

Miki replied as she rested down the ladle. Walking towards the straw effigies, she paused about ten paces from them. Looking back at him with a smile, her hands flashed.

Chu registered the muffled thumping of iron into the cloth. His normal vision only picked up the blur before it was all over. Six of the figures now paraded a thin dagger embedded into either their left or right eye.

"My Thunder palm is not as half as destructive as Dyna, so I plan to use it more as a defensive trump card. That way, I can surprise any close assailant to increase the distance. My focus is on becoming a dependable ranged supporter for our party so I've been honing these skills instead. "

"Good enough. I can ask Halter to fix a swinging bullseye so you can practice on moving targets for the little time we have. Clod might ask for you and Dyna to spend a week hunting so the smoke shed is full before leaving. As for finding a use for your mana, have Ishara teach you fire magic. If you can summon and cast a true fireball like the Goblin Shaman, it can become another weapon in your ranged arsenal."

Chu said. Sheathing his sword for the day, he stepped towards the exit and continued without facing the pleased girl.

"And don't forget I didn't notice you snatching my ladle and guzzling down the water. When we arrive at Frost City, I'm going to have Mrs. Thomas re-educate you on the etiquette of being a lady..."

***

After completing his routine mediation for the night, Chu left his desk and descended the stairs. At the long table, sat his companions who slept in the barn. Seating himself at the head chair, he nodded at the surrounding faces while drumming his fingers.

"Lucy and Miki has been helping Ishara disguise and become familiar in moving around humans. A worker told Marie that the Healers down in the southern cities bordering the Desert Kingdom wear wooden masks. We can use this to our advantage. With the various adventurers and parties gathered in Frost City, she should blend in well. Sherry is already finding out about the particulars so we can have one carved."

He looked towards the golden eyes of the Hakkim.

"Ishara will depart with us to gain some experience in the human world. We may also find information in Frost City which might require her assistance to decipher."

Chu said. Frost City stood as a bastion and reminder of the past. He would be a fool not to walk with a translator should he stumble upon ancient information. He dragged a finger on the wooden table in the direction of two small girls sharing a nearby bench.

"Yin will leave with us, as well as Hope. Under a Sersen powered party, and that talisman horse of hers, the two should be the safest travelers on the roads."

Looking at the tiny clenched fists and beaming smiles, he continued.

"Don't expect the road to be filled with adventures like what Ming tells you. Most of it is just a long and weary ride. We'll take a wagon with us, so let Rose help you to gather a traveling bag. Clod, pack a chest filled with flasks of the soft lotion for us. They will find themselves sore from riding after a week."

"Will you travel over the grassland? I want to know if to walk with the compass."

Miki asked.

"No, we have enough time since Doug asks that I arrive before the beginning of Autumn. We will take the normal route to Limerock and then to Frost City. If we travel over the grassland, who knows what we might meet up or if we might require extra time to take detours due to rivers or cliffs. Leave the compass for Rose to use when they need to plot roads and streets."

Chu decided. The road to Limerock would take them a month's travel and then he estimated a similar time for the journey north. By spending less time in the cities, he planned to not only cut their traveling time but to limit exposure of Ishara to high populated places.

In Limerock, they could rest and restock supplies outside the city walls while Dyna could maybe take Hope and Yin on a brief sightseeing tour. Under the protection of the redhead who wielded a token from the Tower, one would have to be crazy to waylay them.

"It's time we help Mr. Thomas regain his pride, and secure a foothold in Frost City. Clod, I leave our barn in your and Rose's hands. In two weeks, we will prepare to leave so I plan to hold as many meetings and discussions with everyone. Our family has a bunch of capable minds so you should not encounter any major problems."

Looking towards the straw-colored head on the rippling frame, he continued.

"You have the Tower token I borrowed from Tye and the assistance of the village. Don't become complacent when we leave, however. Ishara is a warning beacon to the dangers boiling in the north. Your goal is to ensure we have a defense and a food reserve to weather the impending storm."

Tapping his fingers, he expressed his thoughts.

"Jill knows she has to train a band of scouts who can roam under the guise as peddlers to the villagers rebuilding in the north. Use the birds so you can know of any approaching dangers. The goblins will also help in this matter since it concerns us all."

"I think the person Marie hired to train the young falcons can have them deliver messages from anywhere and they will fly straight home. The only problem is that we have to carry them back."

Rose said.

"Not a problem, it's better than not having information. Use the villagers to help you. Rebuilding a village requires materials. For the villages north of Karst and far from the first, chop and trade lumber. For the ones north of us, sell grains and nails. As soon as the falcons are ready, send out your wagons of peddlers. I'm not sure how long we will remain in the north so I don't want you waiting. We might take a few months or even over a year."

"Great, so it's decided then. Chu, I have a list of items to requisition..."

****