Chapter 3: Chapter 3
I awoke as the sun rose, to a forceful but dignified tapping on the bedroom door.
"Miss Jean, breakfast will be served shortly." I assume one of the servants said.
I rose from the bed to get dressed. They had provided an assortment of clothing my size. The peasant's clothes this body's previous inhabitant was wearing weren't suitable. Nonetheless I had trouble finding something that would suit me. I wasn't about to jump into the standard ladies' wear of the culture. Not that it wasn't pretty to look at, but it was horribly impractical. I found the simplest dress and shoes in the dresser, and put the ensemble on. Clearly I would have to instill practicality in the culture at some point. Also I could do with some panties that didn't have to be wrapped around like a small toga.
I released the holding spell on the doors and opened them up triumphantly. In my previous life I never had occasion to 'make an entrance', nor the 'room presence' for such a thing to be appropriate. This life would be different!
I continued my swagger right up to the breakfast table, which was distinctly different from the dinner table. I have to wonder how the staff gets anything done when even the tables need to be changed for each meal.
As I sat down to eat, I noticed the gaze of every other attendee. Something about me gave them pause, and not the wariness of dining with an unknown element. I easily made the assumption that it was my style of dress. I was the least fancily dressed by far, but that was surely not the whole story. I would have to address this before the food arrived.
"Rather than staring, I'd appreciate if you all spoke your minds."
Hesitantly, Pip spoke for the table. "At present, miss, you are wearing a sleeping gown."
"This is a sleeping gown?" I asked, flummoxed. "It's so complex. You people wear this to bed? I chose this because it was the simplest thing in the dresser, and it was still a chore to put on."
"Nonetheless that is a gown for sleeping in. If you'd prefer we could have something simple made, but for now a maid will be assigned to help you dress in something more appropriate."
"I appreciate the thought, but frankly anything requiring help to put on is not going on my body. Pip, did you put your clothes on yourself?"
"No. But I suppose I could have..."
"Good. Then I'll be raiding your closet for now. I'd appreciate if the staff could replace the contents of the dresser in my room with garments of equal ease and practicality to Pip's."
"You would wear a boy's clothing? The impropriety! I can't allow it!" One of the butlers blurted out.
"Is this because you were a man in your old world?" Pip asked, more politely than the butler.
"No, it's because I'm a practicalist. Get me some feminine clothing that's practical and easy to wear and I'll wear it. Until then I'll be sharing a closet with Pip."
An awkward silence fell on the room, the servants carrying food even halted to look my way.
"That sounded better in my head. Regardless, the point is, I have no preference for gendered clothing. I will wear whatever is most practical and available to me."
With that, breakfast was served. An assortment of fruits and what I would call yogourt was placed before me. Alongside that was a tray of meat, and boiled eggs. I hadn't seen any livestock or chickens in the town yesterday, so I had to wonder how far away these were coming from.
After breakfast was over I followed Pip to his room, under the eye of the butler whose sense of aesthetics was screeching internally. The closet was as large as you would expect. My room was most definitely a guest room.
"So Pip, what would you suggest as a travelling outfit for me?"
Pip fiddled around with the many hanging clothes. I had to stifle my laughter as I observed. His attention to detail and meandering thought processes were almost stereotypical of a woman on T.V. in the late 90s. At last he came through with an outfit. It was most definitely 'pretty', especially for a boy's outfit, but wasn't as garish as the contents of my room. Most importantly it was simple to don.
I began to change without a second thought, much to the shock of the two men present. Pip and the butler, both in sync, blushed and turned to face the other way. I left the underwear on, removing only the dress and shoes to allow application of the new clothing. A frilly shirt, and unnecessarily reflective trousers now encapsulated me. The polished brass mirror reflected almost as well as the pants, and showed me to be fairly well dressed. As the others turned to face me, I did some stretches to test the limits of motion. I was satisfied with my current range of motion, but I was reaffirmed in my opinion that this country would need a sense of practicality in future.
"Bring me that maid from yesterday, I need someone who can do my hair. Hers looked well managed."
While the maid was being retrieved I found a good pair of shoes as well. Pip's feet were significantly larger than my new body's, so I had to use one of his older pairs.
"I had unusually large feet in my old body. I think these little feet are going to be the hardest thing to get used to in here."
"I think they're cute..." Pip shyly said.
Rather amused, I responded "I suppose they are. Still going to have to get used to them. I wore steel-structured leather work boots, and springy rubber-soled running shoes the most in my old life. Do you have cobblers around who could make those for me?"
"I've never heard of that before. You would have to inquire about that directly with a cobbler. Although if you need one with steel work inside, perhaps an armourer would have to be involved."
"Yes, I suppose in this culture that kind of steel wouldn't be very common yet."
As we finished the footwear discussion, the maid I requested walked in. Her hair was in a different style than the previous day, and still lovely.
"At your service, miss." She said, bowing.
"I'd like you to do my hair. For the time being I think a single strong braid is my best option."
"Yes miss." She replied, opening up a small box with brushes, ribbons and wax in it.
She brushed my hair with a very loose wax, which made it more easily bundle in straight lines. As she separated and wove my hair, I took note of the feeling at the roots so I could recreate the effect on my own. I have experience weaving rope and twine, so transferring such skill to my own hair will be fairly easy. Memorizing the sensations relative to position is the key.
"I want you on my core team. Assuming my plans are accepted and implemented I'll need a team of people to help me manage the reforms."
"I am a maid, a farmer's daughter. I have no experience with governance."
"Exactly, my dear. You have the perspective of the majority of the population. I'm not going to fill my office to the rafters with stodgy politicians. People who haven't experienced life at the bottom have no business telling the bottom what to do."
"But you said last night that the ruling class would still be in charge." Pip remonstrated.
"Leading by example, I believe I said. The upper crust will change their lives to be aspirational examples for the rest. Rather than telling them what to do, you'll be showing them how to do it. Of course we'll have to be careful it doesn't become an elitist pissing contest like my old world."
"I see." Pip said with some doubt.
After my hair was braided, and draped from the back to the front over my shoulder, It was time to set off. The carriage was understated, as were the rest. The entire entourage looked more like a trading caravan than a king's procession.
"I assume we're travelling incognito." I remarked as we stepped aboard.
"What does 'incognito' mean?"
"With one's identity concealed. We're travelling in this procession of plain carts and leaving via the side, so I assume we're not making our trip public."
"Ah, yes. You are correct Jean. We've decided that for the time being it's best to keep this out of public eyes. Although the show you made taking the Prince hostage won't be easily forgotten."
"I imagine not."
Despite the plain exterior, the interior of the cart we were in was quite comfortable. There was a butler and everything. The other carts most likely contained soldiers and supplies. As we got moving, the butler requested our orders for lunch.
"Is there a way you could take some dry bread, soak it in scrambled eggs and then fry it? Preferably I would top it with butter and syrup or jam afterwards."
"I suppose, miss, but I've not heard of this dish before." The butler replied with a puzzled look.
"It's a popular food from my world. We call it 'french toast', and while it's usually eaten for breakfast, it's good any time."
"I should like to try this as well." The king indicated.
"Me too!" Pip exclaimed all too happy to try food from another world.
"B-man, you want some too?"
"I suppose I should get used to new things." He replied, trying to hide his curiosity.
"Excellent, that'll be four orders of french toast please." After a pause I offered up the history of french toast. "While the name and most popular form of the dish originated in a country called France, the act of soaking bread in eggs and cooking the result is known to go back to at least the Roman empire several centuries before France was even a thing. It was thought up as a way to avoid wasting bread that had gone stale. Of course something this delicious wouldn't remain a peasant's dish, and eventually even the higher classes would eat it regularly. I've found in my own experimentation that the best way to make it is to purposely allow the outer crusts of a loaf to dry out. Then you whip the eggs and soak the bread overnight in a refrigerator before frying it."
"That sounds fascinating, and what's a refrigerator?"
"In my world it was a technology that basically created a small insulated portion of the home that was cold enough to keep food like eggs from spoiling inside it. If there's magic in this world that can manipulate temperature we may be able to recreate that. Actually I've been meaning to ask: is all magic actively cast, or are there forms of automatic magic, like runes or devices?"
B-man offered his knowledge. "There does exist a method for imparting a specific spell on an object, but the process is quite tedious. Setting a runic spell on something is far easier, but I've not heard of anyone using it in such a way."
"But is it possible to make a runic spell for any cast spell?"
"Theoretically, but I would advise asking someone at the university for specifics. There are some who specialize in runes despite their limited usefulness."
"That will be the next trip then."
The morning passed without incident. A lunch of french toast was served to all present, as there was enough of the two primary ingredients for even the soldiers. It was met with universal approval, and I was thanked personally by several soldiers.
Shortly after our journey resumed, we found ourselves entering a tight forest. The trees were tall and unfamiliar to me, looming above like green and brown spires. Within this mass of trees, the sunlight pierced through only in thin stripes. One of the guards in the lead carriage cast 'Lumos Solus', conjuring an orb of light above the cart. This provided enough light to continue forward along the narrow road.
The road travels through several small clearings cut into the forest on either side, making convenient rest-stops. I surmised that they would also make for effective ambushes.
"You're correct, Jean. We do hear the occasional report of bandits using the clearings on this road to rob passers-by. It's usually a single cart though, with a lone merchant or a small family. Not often will a trade caravan be detained. Still, the platoons we send in occasionally to clear out bandit camps have reported the groups are getting larger lately."
As we continued along, I felt a growing unease. A trepidation I'd not felt for some time had lodged itself in my chest and refused to leave. The feeling that I should be doing something, but not knowing what, is unfamiliar and unsettling. I tried to brush it off as the effect of being so low in such a tall forest, but I knew better.
Upon entering an especially large clearing, my suspicions were confirmed. A hidden gate was closed behind us, and a closed gate was waiting ahead. We were not the only cart to be detained this day, the field was filled with travellers. Their belongings strewn about with bandits rummaging through them. Literal highway robbery, charming. The guard captain in the front cart and the soldiers in the back quickly sprung to action. The middle carriage where I and the royalty rode was quickly surrounded by our protection.
The bandits hadn't expected this, so their initial reaction was a disjointed attack with arrows and magic.
"Well this is good." I said sarcastically.
"We're surrounded, with a sturdy gate blocking our path. The soldiers and guard have shields and swords, but no bows, and only the guard captain is a mage. We're in trouble here."
Looking out the window once more I could see the bandits who had been rummaging through stolen goods. They've lined up for a volley. My unease from earlier had heightened. I wonder, is this fear?
No time for that.
"To hell with this." I say, stepping out of the carriage.
The others inside panicked when I opened the door, but I quickly closed it and climbed up on the roof. By my count we have 50 bandits to deal with. Most of the detained civilians were already taking shelter in the treeline. With the bandits otherwise occupied, they weren't going to keep the unarmed scrubs under guard.
The firing line was formed and drawing their bows. The tightness in my chest gave way to purpose. I remain uncertain about my chances here, but without risk there is no chance of success.
I inhaled deeply, anchoring my feet behind me on the roof of the carriage. "Vis Wúqíng"
My vision flexed and bowed before me. The air split and the light refracted in a loud rainbow as the bandits flew backwards from the impact of my voice.
"FIRE!" A voice shouted behind me.
Turning to see what was happening on the other side, I stray arrow caught me in the shoulder. I stumbled sideways, grasping the arrow to gauge the damage. The silk had given way for the arrow to penetrate, but had not itself been cut.
"That's good silk." I muttered, cringing as I stood. "Atmos Tegatai!"
Between the bandits and soldiers formed a barely visible wall. Arrows stuck and magic dissipated as they came into contact with my wall. The atoms in the air have been bonded to each-other in relative position. So where an arrow would normally force them out of the way as it travelled through, these particles will stay where they are. The shield collected several dozen arrows before the bandits stopped firing and hid behind their trees.
It was a tense moment, but nonetheless a lull in battle. My shoulder throbbed around the arrow, and I wasn't sure how long I could maintain the barrier.
"Attention Bandits! Walk away now and you will not be pursued. Keep fighting and I'll burn the forest down around you!"
"You're bluffing!"
"Astar Fierum." I cast into the forest setting some nearby bushes smouldering.
"She's not bluffing!"
"Take her down!"
'Ah great.' I thought. "Aero Verticalus"
As I shot into the air a volley of arrows from either side pierced the space where I had been standing, injuring some of the bandits on the opposite sides.
"Fine then, you want to be on fire? You get to be on fire!" I yelled down at them. "Ignis als kholyn!"
Everywhere I concentrated my vision below me caught fire, frenzying the raiders and causing them to scatter.
Their leader screamed, "She's crazy! Cheese it!"
"You couldn't just leave, and now you're on fire!" I yelled down at them again.
They all scattered into the woods, not one daring to look back. I was losing altitude, but couldn't let the fire keep spreading, so I clenched my fist and snuffed out the flames. Aero Verticalus wore off before I landed, so I hit the top of the carriage with a painful thud.
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"Defensive position three!" I shouted, the order answered with an enthusiastic 'HUO'
An impact on the defensive line shook the ground, but the line didn't move. I was in charge, issuing orders, but I couldn't see past the orders I was giving. Did I die again? No, this was... something else was happening here. A vision perhaps. I looked around the battlefield, smoke rising on all sides, flying columns moving quickly in the north. Pip sat in the emperor's pavilion giving orders to the rear lines. He doesn't appear much older than I know him, but the look in his eyes belies more growth than his body.
I try to hear what he's saying, but I can't through the growing din of battle. I try to see beyond the lines but can't through the fog of war.
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"Jean! You alright?" Pip's voice calls again, more clearly. "I think she's waking up."
I open my eyes again to a bright light. I see Pip's face above me looking down with a relieved expression. There's a peculiar sensation under my head.
"Oh thank the Five, you're OK." Pip said directly down to me.
I looked around without moving. I was apparently on the ground with my head on his legs. I remember seeing this in several pieces of fiction in my old life. Albeit in reverse.
"So, what's happened while I was out?" I asked, looking him in the eye.
Through a growing blush he replied "There was a surgeon among the hostages, so we had him remove the arrow from your shoulder. Everyone else is busy collecting their things and readying to continue their journey."
"Explains why there's only a throbbing in my shoulder now. I don't suppose you know any healing magic?"
"No, and not many do."
"Fine I'll do it myself." I said as I sat up.
My shoulder was bare, bandage wrapped around the wound. I would have to think of a way to excite the cells into repairing themselves and the new space between them.
"Maybe I'll just keep it simple this time." I say. "Sphere of Repair."
A globe of energy filled my hand, and I pressed it into my damaged shoulder. There wasn't even a scar when it was finished. I removed the bandage revealing a complete healing. It was still sore as I stretched out, but that would pass quickly.
"How are you doing that?" Pip asked in astonishment. "You're always using spells I've never heard of, but you don't have the bearing of a master. It's as if you're making it up as you go."
"I am making it up as I go. I thought you knew. I form an image of what I need to accomplish, choose words that reflect the goal, and apply energy while speaking those words. As I've seen it, magic in this world is simply the direct manipulation of physics. My understanding of physics allows me to clearly envision this manipulation. Nobody could do this in my old world, so I'm unsure how it's actually made real, but I expect to figure that out soon."
"Your world knows the secrets of creation?"
"Not most people. And even those like me don't know everything there is to know. Of course if we could manipulate it directly we might have an easier time learning it all."
"So the education of your world?"
"A lot of wasted time. Many subjects were taught that nobody would use in their daily lives, while the knowledge of higher concepts was looked down upon."
"It's a strange world you come from."
"Indeed."
The remainder of our journey to the Church was uneventful, save the final approach.
While clearly ancient, the design was a stark contrast from anything I'd previously seen here. It could only be described as having originally been a mess of glass and steel. This confirmed for me a suspicion I'd been developing over the past days. This was a post-technological world.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Cosmopolitician
Cosmopolitician This one took me a few months to formulate. The depiction of travel is a challenge for me. I don't travel well so long distances are often just a blurry memory.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone