Ash. The Legends of the Nameless World. Progression Gamelit Story by Kirill Klevanski (ink book reader .txt) 📕

 “I think,” Ash whispered, wringing water out of his trousers, “that only a true love’s kiss can wake our hero.”

“But…”

“Alice,” Mary whispered, “everyone knows about the two of you. Come on now.”

The girl, cheeks red with embarrassment, leaned down but Lari came to life before she could place a kiss on his lips. He suddenly sat up and hugged her. She, not accepting this turn of events, began to beat the poor man.

“And they call us an honorable group of Ternites…” Mary sighed and facepalmed.

Chapter 38

A few hours later

The Stumps were finally done preparing to continue their journey. They loaded the cloaks of their defeated enemies into the cart and buried their corpses into a mass grave (that is, a big hole that they dug as quickly as they could). The sorceress’s staff, made of expensive materials and imbued with powerful magic, Mary would sell to one of the nobles. Sometimes, trust and favors were more valuable than coin. Everything else would be sold at the market, save for the rings, which they buried deep into the ground. As valuable as favors were, they didn’t pay the bills.

Except for the staff and robes, they didn’t take anything else from the Songs. Honest Ternites considered looting an unworthy act and seldom took anything from their fallen colleagues, save for their weapons. To take one’s clothes was disgraceful and dishonorable.

The damaged armor and broken sword were wrapped in skins and placed at the bottom of the cart. One of the blacksmiths would probably manage to fix them as the steel had been properly enchanted.

After they’ve had some rest, Mary announced that they had had a nice warm-up and that the real journey was about to begin. From there on, they traveled without stopping until nightfall.

During that time, Mary kept glancing at Ash, who kept himself amused by making fun of Lari as the warrior had to lie in the cart with the goods due to his wounds. Alice had forbidden him from walking until she deemed him healthy enough to stand without falling over. Lari was amazed by how easily Ash had dealt with the sorceress. Then again, he shouldn’t have been, mages were more powerful than them. In a battle between two novices, the mage would definitely win. It was only after many years of traveling and learning the secrets of sorcery that a sorcerer could become equal to a mage. Or strong enough to stand up to them.

By the evening, the Stumps occupied a small clearing, over which, as per Mary’s orders, Ash put up a shield, spending a lot of time and nerves, though not his own, on it. After such a busy day, it was difficult for the squad to remain calm. The fluttering of a bird’s wings, the creaking of roots, the rustling of the wind, all of it made Blackbeard raise his ax and Tul draw his bow, pulling three arrows out of his quiver at once.

But soon, exhaustion took over, and they found themselves in their sleeping bags. Lari was covered with a thick blanket, having drunk a variety of potions purchased in Zadastra. Alice and Ash remained awake, sitting by the fire.

“I thought we were going to die,” she said and shivered. She was wrapped in a cloak, even though she was being bathed by the warmth of the fairy lights dancing over the grass. “This was the first time I had to fight with Ternites. It was scary.”

“Oh, don’t be like that,” Ash said. “We’ve got Mary, Blackbeard, and Tul with us! There’s no one who can defeat them!”

Alice giggled against her will and glanced at the snoring heroes. She didn’t feel like sleeping at all.

“And yet… If it weren’t for you…”

“You would’ve thought of something.” Ash filled his pipe with tobacco and lit it with a practiced snap of his fingers. “I just got lucky. That lady got really confused when her robes fell off.”

Alice couldn’t help but smile again as the young mage’s eyebrows wiggled comically, turning the smoke into a naked, dancing lady. She leaned her shoulder against him and closed her eyes. She loved Lari with all her heart, but there was just something safe about Ash’s presence.

Ash smoked, looking up at the trees looming above them. After some time, he got fed up with looking at nothing and waved his hand. The branches crackled and the giant trees seemed to pull back, exposing the night sky. Myriads of stars spilled onto the velvet, turning it into the counter of some rich jeweler.

Alice didn’t comment. She liked to watch the dance of the twinkling lights around their queen, the beautiful Myristal. Oh, how many songs have been composed about the guiding star and how many more were yet to be written. But no word, be it magical or written, would be able to convey the beauty of the night’s queen.

“Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course!” Ash exclaimed. “I’m as silent as a grave, if not even more silent… I mean, the dead can be reanimated and made to share their secrets, but not me!”

Alice smiled again and, pulling the edges of her cloak over her head, turned to one of the lights and began to pat it as if it were a kitten. To her surprise, it didn’t hurt or burn, on the contrary, it felt soft and warm

“You know,” she finally said, “I’m not stupid. I understand, but I can’t help it… I’m always afraid and I’m ashamed of it, but the guys…” she paused and looked down. Ash remained silent, not wishing to interrupt her. She had gathered the courage to open up to him, he didn’t want to make her feel as if she had done so in vain. “I just… I want to return home one day.” She sniffed and smiled as the light fluttered up her