<u>Chapter Fifty-Three</u>


    The waitress’s name was Elayne Mccoy. Ambrose didn''t get to talk to her for a while, as things picked up in the dining area, and she became busy.


    He could have left and likely pursued the information elsewhere, but he had already promised to wait, and besides that there was the fact that he couldn''t leave.


    There was no getting beyond the western gate without the appropriate badge, apparently. Yes, Ambrose had a portal skill, but he had to have some idea of where he was portaling to for that to work.


    Also, he didn''t want to have to argue with or fight every single authority figure that demanded to see a badge. No, he didn''t want any further obstructions than there had to be.


    Noelle ate her food with ferocity.


    Ambrose blinked.


    “Hungry, eh?”


    She paused to glare at him, an action that was quickly becoming a habit for her.


    “I''m an inanimate object most of the time, thanks to somebody, and that means I don''t get to eat much.”


    He grimaced,


    “Fair point.”


    Hours went by, filled by Ambrose watching, and the occasional conversation with Noelle. She looked uneasy, and he could feel that something was bothering her.


    He asked her about it, and she sighed. Her ears twitched and she poked a fork at her plate. Finally, she put the fork down.


    “I don''t know who I am. That''s what''s wrong.”


    As the hours had passed, Noelle quickly grew more confident with the language, Vivienne really had been a good teacher.


    Ambrose blinked at her words, and leaned back.


    “What do you mean?”


    Her tail curled, swishing in an agitated fashion.


    “Your ears work fine,” she growled.


    She was also becoming very short tempered, he noticed.


    “Yes. They do. But I''d like you to elaborate.”


    She pointed at Ambrose in an accusatory fashion.


    “You have a history. Things you like, things you don''t. An…” She fumbled, searching her mind for a word she may not even know yet.


    “Identity,” she exclaimed finally.


    The finger reversed course, pointing at herself.


    “I was nothing but an item for a long time. I had vague feelings,perception and instinct but that was it. This meal?” She tapped her fork on the plate, “It''s my favourite meal because I''ve never had cooked food before this.” If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He nodded,


    “I understand.”


    Noelle’s answering growl turned a few heads as her eyes bored into his.


    “No. You don''t. How could you? You''ve always had a body, desires, and a consciousness. I look around all the time because everything is new to me. You don''t understand.”


    She sounded defeated at the end.


    Ambrose rubbed his face. He considered his words before he spoke, and selected them with care.


    “You''re right. I don''t understand. More importantly, I am likely to blame. I kept you as a cloak whenever possible because I was afraid of losing you. But you were never a child. Even as a cloak, you had an awareness and I never took that into consideration. How about this-” Ambrose took a breath, “We will find things you like, okay? We can explore who you are together.”


    Noelle’s tail swished again, less agitated and more excited. She nodded, giving him a smile.


    “You''re the best, Ambrose.”


    He shook his head,


    “I don''t know about that. But you''re my closest friend, and I want you to be happy.”


    How touching, Akaroth snorted in his mind.


    He ignored the dragon.


    Elayne was off soon after, settling into the open chair beside them. She had a steaming mug of coffee, which she slurped before speaking,


    “Man, I''m beat. I hope you two understand how hard waitressing is.”


    “Of course. Definitely hard.”


    Elayne stared at him for a moment, trying to determine if he was being sarcastic. Finally, she shrugged,


    “I think I promised you two some answers, eh? So, let''s get to the info dumping. I have a bed callin’ my name.”


    “What does this advancement trial entail?”


    It was looking like he was going to have to compete in it if he wanted to move forward, so he decided to get as much information about it as possible.


    Elayne sipped coffee, the steam curling around her face as she thought about how best to explain it.


    “Well…it changes every year. I can say that much. This year, the rumor is that it''s going to be a free for all capture the flag type thing, with monsters thrown in. Capture an opponents flag and kill a monster, you earn your badge.”


    “Thats all?” Noelle questioned.


    Elayne shrugged,


    “That''s all you gotta do to earn a badge. But there''s also prizes.”


    His eyebrow raised, and Elayne smiled, taking it as a que to go on.


    “I don''t know the point system, they''ll talk about it more tomorrow at the commencement ceremony, which is tenth hour by the way, but every flag is worth some points and every monster kill is worth some. Top three get prizes.”


    She sipped some coffee, eyes bright,


    “I''m hoping for a sword.”


    “You''re taking part then?” Ambrose asked.


    She nodded, a wide grin splitting her face,


    “Sure am. I don''t want to spend my whole life waiting tables, you know? There''s treasure and adventure out there. I wanna experience it. I will experience it.”


    Her eyes shown with determination.


    Ambrose decided to move on,


    “Have you seen another outworlder like me come through? He would look like an academic type, with brown eyes and a snake like presence to him. Maybe he made you uncomfortable.”


    She pursed her lips, and nodded deceively.


    “When you put it that way, yep. I remember a guy like that. He was here for a couple days. Didn''t speak much, mostly watched. Gave me the absolute creeps.”


    She shuddered at the memory.


    So then, Eric had been here. He was getting closer.


    “Is he still in town?”


    He doubted it, but there was hope.


    Which was immediately crushed by a shake of her head,


    “I haven''t seen him. I don''t see how he could have left, but if he''s still in town, I haven''t laid eyes on him in a couple days. A blessing if I ever knew one.”


    He drummed his fingers on the table in thought. Eric would find a way. Something told him Eric had killed the forerunner and ditched town. Probably took the forerunners badge.


    “Is there an inn my companion and I could stay at?”


    Elayne nodded, and told him about the Sleeping Pony.


    “Did you have other questions?”


    He did,


    “Where does the trial take place?”


    She waved a hand in the forests direction,


    “In the forest. An array is erected around it as a barrier, and monsters are unleashed, then the people go in after random groups are drawn and given a five minute start to get some distance. That''s how this kinda trial has been done in the past, anyway.”


    “You never participated before.”


    She twirled a finger in a strand of her hair,


    “No. I didn''t.”


    It didn''t sound like a good idea to push, so he didn''t.


    “Alright. Thanks, Elayne. We''ll be off to the inn, now.”


    She nodded, standing up and smiling at them,


    “Good luck!”


    Ambrose smiled too, before leaving.


    It wouldn''t be luck he needed.