Miles English

Book 4 - Chapter 48

Marksi had a horrible gouge on his side, as well as a dozen other nicks and a big bruise across one leg.

“No. What do we do?” Brin checked his pockets for something that could help. Most of the stuff he normally carried in Lumina’s ring was gone so that he could fit the spear in there, but even so he never really carried first aid supplies. Why would he, when he healed so quickly? Because not everyone else did. It seemed obvious now.

Marksi was obviously hurting, because not...

Book 4 - Chapter 47

Brin found an empty corridor, cast Self-Invisibility, and then came back out to the stairwell where the guard was keeping watch. He didn't notice Brin at all, which meant he didn't have any [Rogue] Skills. So this guy wasn't a problem.

He ordered his Directed Thread that was monitoring Cid to tell him to meet on the fifth floor, and then turned his attention to that room where the servants were hiding out. These were all in purple and gray, colors he was learning to associate with Lord ...

Book 4 - Chapter 46

The evacuation was news enough, but Brin was more interested in why.

"What do you think?" Cid asked Brin.

"I don't know. There's a lot about this situation that doesn't make any sense."

"You're right." Cid nodded. "We need more information. Let's go."

The two of them hopped back on their horses and rode towards the center of town, but when the crowds began to press in Cid worried about bringing their horses into a potential riot so they elected to leave them in the car...

Book 4 - Lumina Interlude

Lumina hid her grin behind a cup of tea as Master glared at the door where the [Maid] had recently made her escape. 

"She didn't offer to tuck me in," Master said with a cute little pout.

"It hasn't been in fashion for the staff to offer to tuck in your napkin in seventy years, Master," said Lumina.

Her Master didn't look nearly as old as he was, that was something that everyone could agree on with confidence, but she couldn't say that age hadn't made his mark on him at...

Book 4 - Chapter 45

Brin looked to Cid for help, but the Prime just nodded at him as if to say, Go on.

Brin cleared his throat. “Where to start? I suppose I’ll start from the beginning. No, let’s go to the end and then wrap around to the beginning afterwards. A few years ago I was with Cadwy right before he died. He knew he was soon to die, and we had a short conversation. He answered a few questions I had, and then asked me for a last request. He asked me to come find you and tell you what ...

Book 4 - Chapter 44

One of the things Brin loved about traveling was seeing new things and new ways of living in a world where everything was still unique and exotic instead of the bland and uniform modern cities of his old world. In that respect, Canibri didn't disappoint. The entire town was made with bare stone as if every single house, shed, or pub were its own little castle. And not the real castles of history that would've been covered in plaster or whitewashed.

Only the governor's fort, a tall squar...

Book 4 - Chapter 43

Four months passed. Rather than head straight back to the Order like Caradawg had wanted, Cid had opted to resume their regular patrol. Despite the drama of the previous few days, it didn't take long for the Lance to get back into their regular routine. Riding during the day, camping under the stars at night or occasionally staying in an inn.

It was all exactly as it had been before, but of course everything was different. The guys were finally getting along the way a group of comrades ...

Book 4 - Chapter 42.5

I figured it was about time for one of these. Just as a heads up, 42 was the end of part 2, so we'll be moving into Book 4 Part 3 on Friday. Normally I'd have an Interlude here, but I haven't quite nailed down who will be starring in this one, so we'll have to swing back to it. See you Friday!

Information

Name: Brin isu Yambul

Age: 14

Race: Human

Class: Glassbound Illusionist

Level: 40

Attributes

Strengt...

Book 4 - Chapter 42

As soon as Cid outed his Class to the entire Lance, Brin stopped his horse and turned to face them. All at once, he was again fearful of how they'd all react. Sure, they'd stood up to him in front of Caradawg, but how did they really feel? He couldn't help comparing what he'd done to what Zilly and Davi had done to him. He'd sprung a duel on them out of nowhere, and while the circumstances weren't exactly the same, it was an uncomfortable parallel.

"I'm sorry for springing the Crucible ...

Book 4 - Chapter 41

"Really, Aeron? I thought better of you," said Cid, exasperated.

"Do not seek to order them to surrender, or the Rite of the Crucible is invalid," warned Caradawg.

"I'm not ordering him to surrender, as much as I'd like to," said Cid.

"With my apologies, I just want to know if I can beat him," said Aeron.

"Don't apologize. It wasn't fair of me to put this on you guys," said Brin, though he was starting to worry. Aeron had [Blade Mastery]. He'd be a tough nut to crack, ...

Book 4 - Chapter 40

"Brin, no. Just wait," Cid said in dismay. He held his hand up, as if preventing Brin from charging at Caradawg. "I can get you out of this another way. Stand down, please."

"And why should I agree to abide by the results of a Crucible? We're of different Orders," Caradawg said.

Cid snapped and pointed at Caradawg. "Yes! That's exactly correct, sir Caradawg. You have no standing to detain a member of my Lance. Should you have some complaint against the Order of the Long Sleep, you...

Book 4 - Chapter 39

Brin’s rewards were among the smallest in the Lance. Everyone else gained at least two levels, and the last two holdouts had finally hit [Squire]. Rhun was a level 30 [Protecting Squire], Anwir was a level 25 [Squire of Arrows], Aeron was a level 20 [Squire], Brych was a [Watchful Squire] at level 26, Meredydd was a level 24 [Squire of Arms], Cowl was a level 20 [Squire of Burdens], while Govannon had become a regular [Squire], also at level 20.

Brin asked Cid for a rundown on the Cla...

Book 4 - Chapter 38

Brin's horse Nobility knew without needing to be told that now was the time to put every ounce of strength in his body into running as fast as he could.

Even so, Nobility and the other horses were unable to make any ground against the unnatural speed of the goblin horde.

They drew ever closer. They'd given up on yelling out the three words they knew for the chase, but Brin could still hear their snarls and panting even with his natural ears. They'd catch up any second. He needed t...

Late Chapter notice

I spent the weekend on a family vacation and didn't get any writing done, so today's chapter will be delayed. I'll post it when it's done and we'll still have two chapters this week, but it will be late in the day or tomorrow.

Book 4 - Chapter 37

Looking at your comments, I think I'm going to go back and change how it happened with the [Great Witch] to something that is less likely to stress plausibility. That won't change this chapter, though. Enjoy

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"Lance, spread out and warn everyone! I want every man, woman, and child gathered outside the public house in ten minutes! Also, someone find me the town's best healer, and your Reeve," said Cid.

"It's the same man, with your forgiveness, sir," said the barkeeper. "W...

Book 4 - Chapter 36

"Gather round, men. We have a situation," said Cid.

While everyone moved their horses to huddle up, Brin made a show of looking in every direction with the mostly-fake spyglass. Then he put it away.

"There's a [Witch] in Dustrim, of unknown ability and power. In addition, at least three bands of goblins are converging on this position. We must assume that the [Witch] and goblins are somehow working in concert with the aim of destroying our Lance." Brin looked around to make sure t...

Book 4 - Chapter 35

Brin darted out of bed and ran. He moved more out of panic than any real plan, but still thankfully had the presence of mind to leave a glass copy in his bed, just in case any of the men woke up in the commotion. As soon as he hit the doorway he turned himself invisible and sent three mirror images running in all different directions.

The Lance might get in trouble because Brin was seen running around the fortress, but he'd be in much worse trouble if Lothar caught up with him. He ran, ...

Book 4 - Chapter 34

Cid had them dismount and walk their horses in the hopes that the shorter height and the lack of dust kicked up from the hooves would mean that they'd see the band of goblins before the goblins saw them. They approached slowly with Brych guiding the way. He followed his nose at first, then his other senses as they drew closer to the monsters.

Brin saw them all with his Invisible Eyes from the beginning, of course, but he couldn't tell anyone that, and besides, approaching slowly was the...

Book 4 - Chapter 33

Lucidity came back to Brin slowly, along with pain. His face was aching and throbbing with burns and he couldn't hear or see anything. Without his two primary senses it would be hard to tell that he was even conscious if not for the fact that his magic still responded to his call.

He summoned two Invisible Eyes right on top of his regular eyes, and the world snapped back into focus.

"--you alright?" Cowl was looking down at him.

"Mmf. I'm fine," said Brin. Taking stock, the ...

Book 4 - Chapter 32

I'm sure many of you are aware, but Book 3 is now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Bog-Standard-Isekai-Nightmares-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0DJCKBQMJ
We have paperback, hardcover, and kindle. Audio will be available April 1
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Meredydd’s beautiful enchanted lance was still leaning against Cowl’s oversized backpack on the ground with the other weapons...

Book 4 - Chapter 31

The guards didn’t challenge Galan at the door, or any of the Lance when they followed him in, though one of the guards gave Marksi a hard look before shaking his head, probably deciding that if Galan didn’t care then he didn’t either. Inside, the high level [Blacksmith] in charge just bowed his head and said, “Sir Galan.” It wasn’t Meaty; apparently they had one guy for armor and another for weapons. This was Kartof, a level 50 [Weaponsmith].

Galan nodded to him and indicate...

Book 4 - Chapter 30

The group was pretty ripe when they returned to their bunk room one last time to wash and change for dinner. The smell only got worse as they stripped out of their armor, unleashing smells that had been hiding in wait for three days. The servants couldn't all hide the disgust on their faces as they gathered the clothes to be laundered. It would only get worse from here. This time they'd basically been camping in their front yard, but soon they'd been on the road for weeks or months. He'd need...

Book 4 - Chapter 29

The next morning, the Lance exited the tents with such a quick intensity that Brin was sure most of them had already been awake before the trumpets.

This time, there was no fumbling around looking for supplies and no worrying about who would do what. Meredydd had agreed to do the armor for the three members of the Lance who'd been called out on doing a bad job, and Cowl had been convinced to relent and let the Lance use his sharpening stones as needed, without supervision, with Brin pro...

Book 4 - Chapter 28

Apparently the Order had no plans to let Brin and the Lance stay in their comfortable bunk room while the rest of the Lances were spread out in tents, because right after dinner a page entered their rooms and announced, "Order Of the Long Sleep Fifty-First Lance, you are hereby directed to assume battle posture in preparation for the joint activities on the morrow. Report to Commander Delwin for your camp location." The boy left again before anyone could question it, no doubt to go tell anoth...

Book 4 - Chapter 27

Brin’s coin purse jingled in time with his steps as he ran ahead of the Lance. They’d woken the Lance up right at dawn, just to punish anyone who’d gone too far with their drinking last night. After Brin and Sion had absolutely fleeced the Lance in their gambling game the day before, Sion had purposely lost the final round after going all in, meaning that the entire winnings of the day were now in a small sack on Brin’s belt.

Some of the men had chosen to drink their woes away,...

Book 4 - Chapter 26

The small town of Talra was only a half hour walk from the Order's castle, and since Brin actually walked, he was the last to arrive. He'd only been cooped up in that castle for a couple weeks, and he'd only been officially enlisted for a few days. The other guys had gone months without a day of freedom, so they were a fair bit more eager. 

Brin didn't know what they were so excited for. Talra was tiny. About two dozen small homes in a ring around a mostly empty town square. The on...

Book 4 - Chapter 25

The next morning Brin and the rest of the Lance left the keep together to go find the Order’s stables. The stables were an oddly far distance away, nearly a quarter mile. After all, wouldn’t you want your horses to be close in case you needed to go somewhere in a hurry? But the ground near the keep was treacherous; odd stones popped up everywhere, and what looked like soft earth might have a sharp stone just under the surface.

The stable wasn’t hard to recognize, either. It was a ...

Book 4 - Chapter 24

I decided to post early this week. Next chapter Thursday. (It'll be pretty late in the afternoon, I have a lot of meetings on Thursdays)

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The sparring grounds were somewhat crowded, and two from Brin’s Lance were already there, Aeron and Meredydd. At first he was impressed that they were already back here and practicing after their extremely difficult day, but they weren’t sparring. They seemed more interested in chatting with the other [Knights] than actually getting any ...

Book 4 - Chapter 23

Cid stood staring at him, arms crossed, tapping his fingers against his bicep. Brin waited for him to start.

When the silence started to get awkward, Brin said, “Lay it on me, I’m a big boy.”

“You have no idea how to be a second,” said Cid.

Brin shrugged. “True.”

So far, Cid had mostly maintained a bit of aloofness, a cautious calm as he watched everyone and thought things through, but Brin succeeded in actually getting Cid to open his mouth in shock. He ...

Book 4 - Chapter 22

It took a surprisingly long time for Hedrek to get back up the hill. That single use of [Knights Charge] had completely exhausted him to the point that he’d barely been able to stand in his armor, much less climb a steep slope.

Cid told Govannon, “Go tell Hedrek I’ve decided to rest here for a bit. He can rejoin us when we’re ready to depart.” 

Brin got the feeling that he didn’t want anyone to see how exhausted the senior [Knight] was, and the unsaid was the fact...