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[center][b]The World Was Destroyed, and I had to Fight for the Right to NOT be the Main Character[/b] Chapter 11 A group of One[/center] By the time I reach the building, the shadows are long, and in the….east? I don’t even know if they use the cardinal system here. But yeah, the sky’s darkening over there. We didn’t exactly scatter to the four winds, but groups formed and headed in different directions. I…thought about it. I know Karl. I mean, we had sex, so…. But then again, he left in the middle of that night, and he hasn’t even glanced my way today. I know, mole-hill and mountains. But that’s my problem, not theirs, so I headed out on my own. I’m not sure what the plan was. There were four guilds I hadn’t seen, not that I had any interest in them. So I wandered for a while, then headed for the river, took the ferry, and here I am. There’s food on the table, leftovers from breakfast. Some don’t smell anywhere nears edible, fish doesn’t keep, especially uncooked. I hadn’t noticed how many of the dishes were raw fish of some sort. I wonder if it’s because we’re animal people, or just something that can be done with fresh fish. I mean, I know about sushi, but that’s one, rather specific, item. Could be because of the fish used to make it. But there’s also breads, fruits, and meat pastes, so I make a sandwich. The water’s tepid, but I never minded that. I will say I am glad I stopped drinking coffee a few years ago. I don’t want to think how I’d deal with caffeine withdrawal. If that’s even a thing. New body after all. That means the physical dependency isn’t an issue. So, all the coffee drinkers going cold turkey have to deal with is the psychological addiction. I’m still alone by the time I’m done. Outside, I summon the Jeep and Lao Hu and drop in the driver’s seat. I put him on my lap. “I’m sorry I didn’t summon you before. I didn’t feel—” He puts a paw on my lips and locks eyes with me. “Look, bub. I’m honored you think of me as a friend. I really am. But this has to stop. Nothing happens to me when you unsummon me. I just spend time in the Jeep. If there’s work that needs to be done, I’ll do that. Otherwise, I just wait.” He takes the paw away. “But it isn’t fair to—” It’s back in place. “You remember when you told me that I’d have to tell you when you did something I didn’t like?” I nod. “That’s what I’m telling you right now. I don’t like this. I’m your familiar, bub. I have to look after you and the Jeep, and right now, that’s telling me you need to get used to being without me. I’m not saying only summoning me when work needs to be done. I like you, when you aren’t all woe is me like this, but you need to relax.” I am not ‘woe is me.’ I purposely never let myself get to that point. Woe is me means my troubles are entirely outside of my control, and I refuse to allow that. Yeah. Protesting too much again. “So,” Lao Hu continues. “No more of this I’m sorry stuff. You didn’t need me, so you didn’t summon me.” That’s the problem, isn’t it? I’ve already latched onto him. I have been alone way too long. My decision, but doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences. “We good?” Me, being good? I nod, and he removes the paw. “I’ll do better.” “Glad to hear that. What’s the plan?” “Sleep. Tomorrow I need to figure out how to go about getting a customer. Finding a map of the region would also be nice. Beyond that, no idea. The mattress has deflated. No surprise there. And really, I need to get in the habit of putting this away. Of starting the day by turning this space from bedroom to storage. But right now, I re-inflate it, then undress, lie down to sleep, and am immediately distracted by something. I pull the sheet up and stare. I can’t remember the last time I went to bed, and an erection popped up. I’m old, remember. Well, I was. Yesterday doesn’t count, that was sex. Well, it’s there. I’d be a fool to not take advantage of it. * * * * * In the morning, I go through the steps of deflating the mattress, rolling it, badly, and tucking it against the back seats once those are raised again. I force myself to do it. You can’t imagine how much of a waste of time it feels like, since I will have to lower the back of the seats again, unroll the mattress and inflate it. But this forces me to shift gear. This is no longer where I sleep. It is where I work. Or will work. Once I find a client. “You coming?” I ask reaching for Lao Hu. “Nope.” “I’m just going to breakfast. There’s no danger of anyone thinking you’re strange.” “I told you, bub. You have to do stuff on your own.” “But I’m going to unsummon the Jeep.” “Then I’ll go with it.” “Lao Hu. Be reasonable.” He crosses his arm over his chest. “I’m not the one being unreasonable, bub. You don’t need me to eat your food.” “Doesn’t mean I don’t want you around.” “I am around. You’ll be able to summon me if you need me.” “Whatever.” I unsummon the Jeep, and him. So mature. Hey. I’m no longer a fifty something. I’m allowed my immaturity. Inside, it’s the two Capines, George and the woman, and our Gueck sorcerer. Trust me, the ‘would-be’ is at the back of my head, but he already looks miserable enough. I guess nothing hurts like a reality check hitting you square across the face. As promised, the selection is nothing like the previous day. Mostly fish dish, so better plan on having food for dinner by then, if I come back here. And breads. There isn’t enough of those to last until tonight. To drink it’s something that smells fruit and mildly alcoholic, or water. I didn’t die from drinking water yesterday, so I’m having that again. My choices are the Gueck or the Capines. Well, there’s a third one, the most appealing one. Which is why I’m not taking it. “Do you mind if I sit here?” I ask George. He chuckles. “It’s not like I own the place.” I almost dig in before I remember he isn’t alone. “I’m Sylvester,” I introduce myself to the woman. “I am the Lady Analie of Radine.” That throws me. “Noble?” I ask hesitatingly. “Hardly. My father owned businesses, which would have become mine if idiots not sacrificed my world to their arrogance.” “I thought it was to rid it of demons,” I say, glancing at the Gueck. “Ah, as if that is why they did it. Those demons, they claim so vilified our world brought peace and prosperity to my kingdom. The Lord Banarik enforced a just rule over all that lived under his banner, be they human, creature, or demon. But that threatened the kings and queens and petty rulers of other kingdoms, and my Lord expanded his protection to those willing to accept it.” Okay, that’s a different spin on the story our friend over there hinted at. And why isn’t he commenting? It’s not like she whispered it. Ah, food barely touched, shoulders slumped. He’s lost in his own little depression world. “Excuse me,” I tell George and Analie, taking my plate of partially eaten food and goblet. What am I doing? I don’t like people. I don’t do the ‘shoulder to cry on.” No. Let me be more precise. I don’t initiate that state. I’ll be there for anyone and listen to their problem, but they have to come to me. That’s the only time I can be confident that if I have a suggestion, they’ll be in a position to listen back. “Can I sit?” I asked the Gueck. This has to be because we’re animal people. It’s the only reason. I’ve always preferred animals to people. Not that I ever cared for frogs. “Go away.” And of course. I sit down. And now I’m going to start prying, make an annoyance of myself. “I’m sorry this isn’t turning out the way you hoped.” What? Who the Hell is doing the talking? My version of being diplomatic is to keep my mouth shut. “I was a master sorcerer. I spent decades dedicated to the craft. I was the one others came to when they needed advice or help.” He looked at his hands. “I am now nothing.” “I know it’s not the same, but I’m in a similar situation. I can’t be a writer anymore because they don’t really read here.” He looks at me. There’s anger in his eyes, but not a lot of strength. “I’m sorry. I’m not good at this.” I shrug. “Just trying to relate.” I pick at my plate, my hunger sympathetically diminished. “Can I make an observation?” He shrugs. “We’re young again. We have time to learn how this place works. I doubt it’ll be easy, but I think that if we can remember that, it might be easier to get through the initial hurdles.” Great advice. How long do you think until I forget I’d said that and never apply it to myself? “And you are smart, so you will understand how it works. While me?” I chuckle. “I’ll be lucky if I amount to anything.” Okay. Am I being self-deprecating? I already decided I didn’t want to amount to anything. “They have uses for scribes and scholars.” “Yeah. I’m not good at doing what I’m told when it comes to writing. I’m too full of my own knowledge. I’ll start with transcribing, then, I’ll be making changes because I just know better than them. That kind of mindset doesn’t survive an environment like that.” “If your ideas have merit, your masters will pay attention. It is how an initiate grows.” “That’s not my experience. Unless you’ve already climbed the ranks, you need to stay in your lane and do what you’re told. Wait, did you just try to cheer me up? I thought I was the one on cheer up duty.” “You are a poor purveyor of cheers, but you did bring reason. You are correct. I am no longer at the end of my life. I must remember that I have the years needed to learn what is taught here. So do you.” I shrug. “I’m going to do my own thing and see what happens.” “Then, I wish you luck. But should you require to supplement it, remember my name. I am Kamir of the Tower of Artlamey.” “Sylvester Sandusky.” I offer him my hand, and he simply stares at it. I remove it with a chuckle. “If you need something moved from one end of this kingdom to another, I’m your man.” “I shall remember your name.”