Quest Complete: Tom's Challenge

  DING! Experience Gained

  Sword Mastery 1% Mastery.

  I had no time to react to the notifications or question their validity… at least as much time as I wanted.

  I was falling through the ground fast. Dirt was everywhere, falling into the nooks and crannies of my clothes and messing up the attire I had just changed. The fall came to an abrupt stop. I was back on solid ground, standing in a green pasture. I looked for the hole I fell through, noting that my clothes were indeed dirty, and found nothing. Tom stood beside me, looking fresh out of a bath. Not a speck of dirt was on him.

  "Welcome to my Den," Tom said in a jovial tone, his arms stretched out, presenting his home in a proud manner.

  I looked around and got it. I'd be proud to call this place home too. Lush grass covered the ground. Bloodwoods, aspens, and oaks formed an organized jungle… if that was even a thing. There was a large crystal clear pond full of exotic fish, rows of crops, an orchard of fruit trees, and a pack of beefbears led by a massive wolfbear roaming around.

  The air felt fresh and smelled of rich earth and vibrant flora.

  Nestled in the jungle was a fenced-off rock garden with a stone path leading to a quaint cottage. The home looked like it was big enough for three rooms. Ceramic tiles covered its gabled roof. The walls were built out of a mix of stone and wood and had a heavy wooden reinforced with iron and a couple glass windows.

  I looked up expecting to see the ceiling of the cavern, only to see a clear sky and augmented light that gave off warmth like the sun. It didn't surprise me. Highlanders and mountaineers had similar rune tech. They were the masters of earth and runes. Tom probably learned the technique long before he became tuskless.

  "Nice place," I said.

  "This is nothing. You should see the other Tom's Pond."

  "The place just outside the Bloodwoods?"

  "Ae." Tom nodded.

  "Great fishing. Friendly people. My partner wanted to live there." Probably should've left the girlfriend part out.

  "Found sumthin better?" Tom asked.

  "She's dead."

  "Oh."

  "Yeah… shouldn't have led with that."

  "Ae." Tom nodded.

  "So why don't you go back?" I asked.

  "Can't. I'm wanted."

  "The highlanders can't touch you in the Empire."

  "Not just them," Tom said matter-of-factly. "The Silvers as well."

  "Oh." The Silvers were a world-renowned mercenary band. Their headquarters were hidden on the island of Muana, and their influence touched every kingdom. If an impossible problem needed to be solved, hire the Silvers… Tom still had a Silver rune on his neck, which explained his hiding.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "And the Emperor," Tom added.

  "Oh."

  "The dusty Deliverer gave me a mighty scare the other day when he showed up in the forest. Thought he was after my hide. Never felt so much relief when he left… didn't have to destroy so much of my forest, but 'least I'm breathing… The last bit was said less enthusiastically.

  "Then you showed up looking like a former marine and I knew he had sent his scouts." Tom's face was serious. A faint wisp of fern energy radiated from him, far stronger than what Lipper could conjure. I felt a firmness around me, like I was buried alive.

  "I'm no scout. Haven't been for years. Independent now—life as an adventurer. The Deliverer's the one that killed my girlfriend… and my squad… and me." The reveal earned me a questioning look, so I explained everything without holding back. If Tom was going to be my mentor, knowing who he was dealing with would only help.

  After collecting Icy, we sat down in Tom's lodge. Much like the exterior, his interior followed the traditions of highlanders. Mats covered the floor. Thin paper-like sliding doors divided the space between the kitchen, where Tom prepared food, and the dining hall. I kneeled in the dining room on a soft mat, knees tucked underneath a table.

  It was a custom I was used to growing up in Kukoa. Plenty of traditionalists were on the island, so we were taught the customs of Mauna and Alderi. My parents had no ties to the mother island and preferred the more relaxed customs of Alderi.

  Our meal was steak and rice, and a mix of fruits. Tom provided a highlander fermented rice drink and enhanced it with a fruity flavor. Simple and delicious. Reminding me of the promise I made at the beginning of this loop to eat better. I let myself down. Fortunately, the portions were large, and Tom encouraged seconds, boasting of his ability to out-eat anyone.

  While we feasted, Tom shared a bit about his past. It was full of sorrow and heartbreak. During the highlander's service as a Silver, his son got into a bad spot with a noble house. A powerful noble house whose connections stretched into elven and human kingdoms.

  The Silvers didn't want the conflict to ruin their neutrality and demanded Tom renounce his family. Tom fled. His family hid in the mountains of Mauna for as long as they could. Eventually, the noble house's desire for blood became an unquenchable desire. They raised flags of justice and honor, putting up large ransoms. The family was forced to flee their nation.

  In Agoria, they hoped to start a new life. Their tusks were shorn so they'd be more accepted. For a time, they were. As outsiders. Never accepted into the guilds or trades. Offering their goods at prices that didn't cover costs. And hunted by the Redstones in seemingly every city. Tragically, several years of fighting slowly killed off Tom's family. First his wife, then his son, and grandson. The fire of the feud only burned hotter. Daughters. Sisters and Brothers. Grandchildren. The toll grew.

  Safety only came when Tom accepted a position to train Alderi marines. To bring the Silvers techniques to the Empire. Backed into a corner, clutching at the few remaining members of his family, Tom accepted the role. The marines were transformed under his training—a severely bastardized version of the Silvers.

  The Silver's eventually got word of a former merc sharing their teachings and pressured Alderi to execute the culprit. Alderi agreed. Tom got word and fled; before he could get to his family on the plot of land given to him, they were detained by the Empire and held hostage.

  Tom watched the last of his family from afar as they lived out the rest of their days under close watch of the Empire. As Tom's branch's last main line died, the Empire's watch on the town decreased. Eventually becoming a distorted legend.

  The residents of Tom's Pond were distant generations of Tom. None of them practiced cultivation to a high degree due to the mandate of the Empire. And Tom never visited to not cause problems.

  "That's enough talk for the day." The jovial highlander's spirit was dulled by talk of the past and strong drinks.

  I agreed. We had spent the entire night talking and eating. It was easy opening up to the grounder. He had a high charisma like Lana and seemed genuinely interested in my life. We connected through our losses, betrayal, and isolation. My questions about the dungeon he lived in could wait for another time.

  Tom's greenish-brown energy moved around the table, connecting to empty dishes. The dishes were pulled into the wooden table in a sudden motion, faster than a blink. The table, seeming more lively than before, released a groan of satisfaction.

  The sage led me to an extra room tucked into the earth. It was cool, dark, and filled the barest qualifications of a bedroom.

  "Try to sleep," Tom said.

  I stripped down, washed off, got into new clothes, and crawled into bed. It was soft and cozy, and I dozed off a moment later, preparing mentally for the training ahead.