B2 Chapter 175: Camaraderie pt. 2

As a group they left the hard packed road that cut its way through the sun-drenched Hanset Woods. Cutting across the berm, they made their way through the trees. Stout and healthy things, a mixture of oaks, ash, and many others that spread a wide canopy.

Light underbrush crunched underfoot as Kaius took the lead, plunging deep enough that they could no longer be seen from the road. As he looked around his surroundings, Kaius couldn’t help but feel strangely out of place. For all this place was nominally similar to the Sea, it was too…loose. They were nearly a hundred strides into the tree line and he could still clearly see the road. Breaks in the canopy were common, and the underbrush had none of the hearty vitality of the brush that rose as tall as he was that he was used to.

Eventually finding a decent dip in the ground, Kaius waved Porkchop over and unfastened their Dimensional Tent. Setting the storage bag in a small hollow surrounded by bushes, he activated the artefact with his mana before promptly scrunching his eyes shut and shielding them with his arm for good measure.

No need to subject himself to interdimensional truths beyond mortal comprehension. Not today, and hopefully never again.

As the tent materialised with a subtle pop, Kaius heard Ianmus jump next to him.

“What the hells is tha—hang on, why are you covering your eyes?” Ianmus started, before addressing him with plain confusion.

Groaning in resignation, he opened his eyes once more.

“Ocular skill. First time he opened it he got a little spooked by what he saw.” Porkchop explained with a snicker.

Taking a last look at the thin leather tent, vaguely making out the impression of another bush nestled amongst its cousins, Kaius turned to Ianmus and sighed. “It’s dimensional, and has an illusion cloak. Some sort of janky spatial effect didn’t react well with me when I saw it, I recommend against looking if you ever are able to.”

He stepped forwards, opening the tent’s flap to reveal the larger, rather homely space within.

“Now come on, we can talk inside.”

Porkchop led the way, diving into their space to nestle himself on the wide cushioned mattress covered in furs. Their mage, on the other hand, stared at the interior in shock as he numbly made his way in.

Stepping in after the man, Kaius let the flap fall closed and took a seat on the spacious floor. Ianmus was still standing in the centre of the space, turning slowly as he took in the interior with wide eyes.

“Why would you hide something so useful?” Ianmus asked absentmindedly. “I can think of a dozen times being able to hide in plain sight would have saved us plenty of trouble on our journey. Let alone the comfort.”

Kaius grunted, reaching over to Porkchop to retrieve their traveler’s pan, the chunk of spider leg, and as many cooking supplies as he thought he would need.

Keeping the tent a secret had been a tactical choice, if Ianmus had ever proved himself untrustworthy, an unknown ability to hide in plain sight would have been invaluable.

He told the mage as much as he went about cracking open the spider leg on a flat chopping board. The meat inside was delicate. Almost reminiscent of the rare crawfish he and Father would catch in the streams that networked the Sea.

“It wasn’t meant as a slight,” he assured. “We just wanted a gold piece tucked in our boot for if everything went to shit. Bit pointless now you’re bound by a similar secret.”

Frowning down at him, Ianmus looked displeased at his reasoning. He could understand, it was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow.

Eventually though, the mage sighed in acceptance and took his seat across from him.

They sat there in silence for a moment as he diced and spiced the spider meat. The questions would come soon, he was sure of it – but he didn’t want to press the issue.

If only he had some butter—if the spider was like crawfish it would have been perfect. Unfortunately, lard would have to do.

Ianmus sat with his elbows on his knees, head propped up by his hands as a scrunched expression of intense concentration stood frozen on his face. A moment later he sat up slowly and looked between them.

“I assume much of what you have told me was a falsity born out of necessity?” he asked.

Kaius bobbed his head, while Porkchop took the moment to respond.

“In a sense. Downplayed, details twisted and changed, and certain things omitted, but the broad strokes were there.”

Ianmus strummed his fingers against the canvas floor of the tent.

“This wasn’t your first Honour, was it?” he asked, watching them intently.

“My seventh, Porkchop’s sixth.” Kaius confirmed, looking up from his work to meet the half-elf’s eyes.

They widened in shock, a thin hiss escaping his clenched teeth. “So many? No wonder you are so strong. What’s the one Porkchop couldn’t get?”

Smirking slightly, Kaius raised his dominant hand, showing off the glyph that embossed his palm. “First one to discover glyph-binding. That’s not all, there’s bonuses too. Ones we’ve found are being the first in our ‘cohort’–whatever that means—as well as achieving one unclassed, and sometimes doing something solo. Though the last one gets murky; some honours are exclusively for doing certain feats solo.”

Rocking backwards at his reveal, Ianmus stared at him mutely for a drawn out moment.

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“Unclassed…?” he finally forced out, slowly looking between them. As soon as he finished the word he trailed off, falling silent as he gathered his thoughts.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” Ianmus said slowly, chewing on his lip. “The phase shift.”

Kaius nodded slowly, methodically finishing his prep for their meal before he activated the Traveller’s Pan in front of him. Thankfully, it stayed cool on its exterior, so he could use it directly on the canvas.