“Hey Laina! didn’t think I’d see you here, how are you?” Ozzy asked, his boredom and annoyance turning to excitement.

  “Well I work here Ozzy… I missed you at lunch.” Laina walked over to where Ozzy was sitting, not taking a seat beside him and opting instead to lean against the wall to stared down at him.

  “You know, I’m not accustomed to being stood up and then visited at work right afterwards.” Her words came out playful with a sharp undercurrent, like a lawyer reading out indictments.

  “Shoot… “Ozzy put his head into his hands, he’d completely forgotten about the date. ” We got jumped on the first platform and I lost track of time trying to get Emil to a healer…” Ozzy groaned.

  “That was you two?” She quirked an eyebrow. “I actually heard about that. The platform's hunters have been looking for that group for months, they caught two of them hiding in a nearby shop. They missed the Mantaur though.” She said, her voice calming and returning to its normal smooth cantor.

  “Good for them.” Ozzy’s mood immediately soured as he thought back on the fight.

  “The fight was that bad?” Laina asked delicately.

  “It was my first time fighting anything other than monsters, and even that I’m new to. It sucked.” Ozzy said.

  Compassion crossed Laina’s face as she looked down at Ozzy, and she sat down beside him, placing a hand on his knee. “You killed him?” The question was an ugly one, yet it flowed out of her with kindness unbecoming a stranger.

  “I did.” The words falling from him like winter raindrops.

  Not saying anything Laina wrapped an arm around Ozzy, pulling him into a wordless embrace. Together they sat for a space, and Ozzy for the first time since arriving in this world feeling like he belonged.

  “I see you’ve made a friend.”Emil said, moving to sit ir-reverantly on the other side of Ozzy.

  Quickly Ozzy and Laina separated, sitting up straight as though neither had been in contact. While Ozzy was loathe to move he was more than a little aware of the fact that he didn’t know this woman at all. Back on earth he’d never been much for dating, and felt wholly out of his element now being confronted here with Laina.

  “You could say that, Ozzy was just telling me about how he had to save you from a couple common thugs.” Laina teased, looking slightly perturbed at having been separated.

  “You told her?” Emil asked, his voice rising an octave as a hand raised to his chest in affront.

  “Wha— I didn’t!” Ozzy began.

  “Context clues Emil, doesn’t take a genius to figure it out, especially knowing you.” Laina said, driving the metaphorical dagger into Emil’s heart.; Ozzy had to work hard not to chuckle at thim.

  “We do need to get going though Laina, mind if I take your new patient? He’s had a long week.” Emil said, wiping some of the offense off of his face.

  “Only so long as you bring him back.” Laina waved at Ozzy as he stood to go, winking as they left.

  Together they left the waiting room and went out into the city. Emil waved down a small person drawn cart called a rickshaw, it was this places version of a cab and they made a good pace all the way across the fourth platform where both the healing house and Emil’s place were located.

  As they went Ozzy was privy to a much more beautiful and well lit city than platform 1. Up here there were plants, plenty of space for light to get through and bounce around, and plenty of light sources to keep it from looking like the dark and dreary hellscape the first platform had been. It was peaceful, and for the first time since fighting the leviathan he had a second to check up on things.

  Clicking his watch open he was reminded that this very morning he’d had his blessing upgraded. He hadn’t even been able to take a moment all day to check it, and with a contented slouch backwards into the rickshaws cushions he watched the screen pop up.

  Congratulations! You have been recognized by the Prime of one of your absorbed core’s concepts. Fauga Lord of Powder and God of Guns has seen fit to bestow upon you a blessing.

  Blessing: Touch of The Maker, low level blessing. Touch of The Maker modifies: Furry Scavenger, Furry Scavenger will now add additional bonus loot in the form of ammunition for your various firearms.

  Notice: You have been granted a low level blessing. Blessings can be empowered by Prime Concepts at their discretion and pleasure.

  Notice: You have been further recognized by Fauga Lord of Powder and he has seen fit to grant you further power.

  Blessing: Touch of The Maker, low level blessing upgraded.

  Blessing: Touch of The Maker mid level blessing. Touch of The Maker modifies: Furry Scavenger, Furry Scavenger will now add additional bonus loot in the form of ammunition for your various firearms. Gain the ability to summon rounds in the style of rounds previously encountered or looted with the ability Touch of The Maker.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  Blessing: Lord of Powder, gain more direct control over the conjuration of firearms and ammunition. For extra or reduced mana cost rounds may be modified to be more or less lethal, faster or slower, or to have different bullet tips. Summoned firearms may have their forms tweaked in minor functions and capacities.

  Well, it wasn’t the world ending power he’d hoped for, but then again from what Ozzy understood he’d get more power from Fauga the stronger he got. Maybe his body just couldn’t handle it right now, or there was always the case of fatherly Fauga not wanting to hand a gun to a toddler. Who was he to judge?

  In all he was happy with it, and chances were he’d be able to get rid of the stupid knife on the end of his revolver which would be a major plus. Not to mention maybe getting a scope on his rifle, or at least some sort of holographic sight like he had on his revolver. The possibilities were endless, he just hoped the blessings would provide as much utility as they seemed to advertise.

  He was halfway tempted to try summoning his revolver and work on some ammo alterations and getting rid of the knife then and there. A lifetime of firearm safety and the fact they were in a moving vehicle surrounded by the worst traffic Ozzy had ever seen put a bit of a damper on that though, maybe he could do it tonight.

  ***

  By the time they made it to Emil’s house the sun was very nearly setting and with a very handsome tip Emil sent the rickshaw away and pulled Ozzy inside.

  From the outside the house hadn’t been much to look at. Unlike the buildings on the first platform everything up here was generally well constructed and in good condition. Buildings were made from flowing and symmetrical brickwork, thick stained logs, planks, and even in some rare instances stone. Apparently the platforms had no issue with weight. Emil’s house was far from unique however, and stuck to the uniform red brickwork that was common in the area with richly colored walnut door.

  The inside was where the building flipped the table of his expectations. Flowing woodwork and ornate furniture decorated an entry lounge and hall leading to a mixed living room and kitchen. There the kitchen took up the vast majority of the room and an array of burners, fire pits, a massive clay oven, and other cooking contraptions he didn’t recognize which dotted the space around, save for in the rooms far corner where a small dining table stood against the far wall.

  Waiting inside of the kitchen for them was a very angry, and very short woman with a frown that would have sent them both packing and off to fight another leviathan if it were possible.

  “And where have you been?” She yelled at Emil as he entered.

  Emil’s wife was a cute thing, she was on the pudgy side but only so far as one would consider comfort weight. Her eyes were a fierce hazel, and they rested angrily under a pair of sharp eyebrows. The death glare Emil was getting however softened as Ozzy walked into the room.

  “Sorry sweetheart, I was busy helping a friend.” Emil said amicably, elbowing Ozzy hard in the side to let him know it was going to be the story they’d be sticking to.

  “Sorry for dragging him in late, I’m Ozzy, Emil and I met on the wagon.” Ozzy inclined his head respectfully towards the still rather perturbed woman as Emil led him into the room.

  “It’s alright Ozzy, I should be used to it by now.” She said, giving Emil a look that could’ve melted steel, before turning to smile at Ozzy. “I’m Elizabeth, but please just call me Liza, and the pleasure’s all mine. Please, sit!” She said animatedly, running to pull the small table off of the wall and to a more central location in the room.

  Rushing to help her Emil did his best to play helpful husband. It seemed this wasn’t the first time he’d come home several hours late, and he was more than practiced at the submissive helper role.

  “I wasn’t expecting your trip to get cut so short, is everyone okay? I only heard a few hours ago when one of the watchmen saw your wagon and posted it on the arrivals board. I wouldn’t have even noticed except for Katie pointing it out.” Liza spoke as she busied herself setting tableware out.

  Much like America the tableware here was contrived of a spoon, fork, and knife. Though their version of a fork was much like a pair of children’s chopsticks, at the top of the pair of tines they were joined together. While they were made of metal they were flexible and had ridges cut into the inside of the tines to assist with grabbing things and keep speared objects firmly on the them.

  Curiously turning the piece of silverware over in hand and squeezing it like a pair of earthly chopsticks Ozzy was met with a confused look from Liza and a bemused expression from Emil.

  “Have you used one of those before?” Liza spoke to Ozzy like a kid, a dumb kid.

  “I actually haven’t before… I’m new in town.” Ozzy confirmed.

  Laughing under his breath Emil went into the kitchen, pulling several chunks of crab meat out of his bag and throwing them into a pot that was already prepped and hot on the stove.

  “Oh a traveler! How long’s it taken you to get through the swamp? Where are you from?” Liza asked, her expression lifting as she turned to look at Ozzy in wonder.

  “Ehh-” Ozzy began, not quite sure what to say before Emil interrupted him.

  “Let’s just say he’s a long way from home sweetheart, he can tell you about it over dinner.” Emil said as he began to fiddle with some herbs and spices.

  “Whatever.” Liza rolled her eyes, leaving the table to go press herself against Emil as he picked between the different spices.

  Several times Liza playfully slapped Emil’s hand, making him drop a bag or bottle and handed him something else. “You’re doing it all wrong. Honestly Emil, if you’re going to buy something as expensive as crab you shouldn’t be experimenting with it.” She huffed, nuzzling against him. “Thank you for getting it for me though…”

  “We actually got that bit from a sting crab we fought early this morning.” Ozzy added helpfully.

  In an instant Liza was towering over a cowering Emil, a spoon raised high overhead. “What does he mean you fought a sting crab just this morning?!” She hissed. “If they send you home to me in a box Emil I’m following you into the After and strangling you!”

  “It snuck up on us I swear! Plus Ozzy had my back!” Emil sputtered out, his hands up in front of his face defensively.

  “He’s not a hunter! You were taking a tourist out hunting??!!” She shrieked, thumping him on the wrist with her spoon.

  What ensued was a very hasty retelling of everything that had happened between Ozzy’s arrival, and their arrival to Emil’s home over a meal of sting crab meat. Throughout the whole thing Liza made comments about how Emil was as stubborn and foolhardy as they came. Being shocked about Ozzy’s origins, and generally giving Emil a hard time. Things took a turn for the worst however when Emil neglected to omit the part where they got jumped on the first platform.

  “I heard about that you know!” She said. “Some prancing pony dancing around a mantaurs punches only to get shot in the back by some dunce with a crossbow. Then he had to go and get saved by the other guy who ran him off into the crowd after braining a scalie who thought he could get away with a quick backstab. That was you wasn’t it you blithering idiot. I oughta chain you up and never let you hunt again! What have I told you about showing off Emil?”

  “Never take more risks than I have to...” Emil said, ever ounce a chastised child.

  “Thank you, you should have put him down while you had the chance, now you’re gonna have to look out for a knife in the back!” She huffed, spearing her last chunk of crab meat.