<b>Chapter 27: Serenity</b>


    The wood elf explained in exacting detail the way out of the Evervale. <i>‘Once you reach the birch bough bent like a longbow, follow the footpath that winds round the elder tree heavy with lichen on its north-facing side. Cross the whispering brook–not the babbling stream–that has five smooth stones sunk in its center, and continue on in the direction of the setting sun. If you reach the bed of plentiful ferns, you have detoured too far south…’</i>


    It should go without saying that Chastity and Charlie got lost several times. However, they finally reached the boundary of the great primal forest, setting their eyes on the snow laden flatlands once again. At least they had been accosted by no plant life during their extended egress. Yr had been true to his word, and his long speeches to the trees apparently had their intended effect.


    As a parting gift, Yr ?rsmíe bequeathed Chastity with a modified quiver, long enough to hold her javelins upon her back. Although it appeared leather at first glance, it was intricately woven of hearty plant fibers as was the wood elf fashion. No longer would she need to carry the javelin bundle by hand.


    For her part, Chastity had again encouraged Yr to seek out Goldenberry Village when his solemn task was complete. The elf remained noncommittal, but they parted on good terms. And now the two travelers took up their journey in reverse, at least one of them a little wiser than before.


    As they walked, Chastity’s thoughts turned to the Professor.


    <i>Much time has passed since I arrived in this world. With the mortal danger the Professor was in when I left, I have all but despaired for his safety. No matter what happened, I feel utterly helpless. I am trapped here–powerless to save him!</i>


    Chastity took a deep breath. She focused inwardly, recalling an invocation–the Serenity Prayer composed by Reinhold Niebuhr nearly a hundred years ago. She quietly exhaled some of these words now.


    “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…”


    <i>That’s right,</i> she realized. <i>I can’t change whatever has befallen the Professor. I can only hope for the best, remember him in my prayers, and take action with what lies before me. But there are bigger things at play here. Why was that… passage, or portal… even in the Professor’s office? Did he know about this place, this fantastical world? What is his connection? </i>


    <i>Yr said that I was summoned for a purpose. Could that be true, even though the experience of coming here felt so frightful and slapdash? If there is a grand design at work, I have to trust that the Professor’s well being is part of that.</i>


    “Character Record,” she said, no longer caring what her halfling companion thought of her talking to herself.


    The large, translucent text box appeared before her eyes.


    <table><tbody><tr><td>


    <b>[</b><b>CHARACTER RECORD]</b>


    <b>NAME: </b>Chastity Morningstar


    <b>RACE: </b>Human


    <b>HERITAGE: </b>Realmwalker


    <b>LANGUAGE: </b>Common Speech


    <b>CLASS: </b>Paladin


    <b>OATH: </b>NONE


    <b>TITLES: </b>NONE


    <b>LEVEL: </b>3


    <b>LIFE POINTS: </b>40


    <b>FOCUS POINTS: </b>20


    <b>BOONS:</b><b>


    </b>Javelin Proficiency


    Heavy Armor Proficiency


    Holy Weapon Proficiency


    +5% Ability Leveling


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Knowledge (Religion)


    <b>ABILITIES:</b><b>


    </b>Recall Knowledge


    Identify II


    Detect Evil


    Smite Evil


    <b>EQUIPMENT:</b>


    3x Medium Javelins


    Javelin Quiver


    Chain Mail (Heavy Armor)


    Cloak of Erudition


    Holy Symbol of Kr?sning


    <b>INVENTORY:</b><b>


    </b>Scroll of Scholasticism


    Paladin Codex


    <b>PRIMARY QUESTS:</b>


    The Quest of Prudence


    The Quest of Justice


    The Quest of Temperance


    The Quest of Fortitude


    The Quest of Faith


    The Quest of Hope


    The Quest of Charity


    <b>SECONDARY QUESTS:</b>


    Obtain a Legendary Holy Sword


    Obtain a Legendary Set of Holy Armor


    Obtain a Legendary Stead


    Pursue a Sacred Oath


    Ascend to a Higher Class


    </td></tr></tbody></table>


    Chastity scanned the list of seven primary quests. If she were to fulfill her purpose as a Paladin summoned into this world, this seemed like her best roadmap. But how exactly does one go about, say, achieving the impossible (Quest #5)?


    <i>No pressure, right? </i>Chastity thought, her boots trudging over the cobblestone path.


    Maybe trying to connect with the remnant of the Holy Order of Paladins in Crown City would be the next logical move, although she had no idea how great of a journey that may be. For now, her duty was to return Charlie Cucumber to his home in one piece. More words of the Serenity Prayer echoed in her mind.


    <i>Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.</i>


    That evening, bone-deep tiredness finally settling upon them, they made camp in the chantry ruins once more. All the atmosphere of foreboding was now gone, and the ruins gave Chastity an almost idyllic sense in the fading light. Nevertheless, they took watches by the fire through the night. Combing through the ruins offered no further discoveries save for fragments of a prayer rope and an old hymnal rendered unreadable by the elements.


    The next morning, they continued north and passed through the farmlands of Charlie’s upbringing. Chastity was lost in thought, reflecting on the apparently literal three-tiered cosmology of this world–a Celestial Kingdom above, this middle land they now trod upon, and a Realm of Black Fire below–when Charlie spoke up.


    “Scuse me, Chastity. I was wondering something.” he asked.


    “Sure, what is it?”


    Charlie scratched his chin. The jars in his overstuffed pack continued their rhythmic clinking with each step.


    “I was wondering… from the parts of the elf’s story I was awake for… he mentioned the Dark One was once a Celestial? Dwelling in the Celestial Kingdom?”


    “That’s what he said,” she confirmed.


    “But how could… I mean to say, if you were there–really there in the presence of the Great Divine and all the glorious Celestials–if you were living daily in the midst of that wonder and splendor… how could you turn aside from it? How could you turn evil when all you know is good and proper and lovely?”


    Chastity chewed her lip, memories of countless philosophical debates resurfacing.


    “I’ve thought a lot about that over the years,” she confessed. “Not specifically about the Dark One, of course, who I didn’t know existed until a few days ago. I think the best explanation is free will.”


    “Free who?”


    “Freedom of the will. Let’s do a little thought experiment, Charlie. If you had… say… two pickles…”


    “Ooh! I like where this is going!”


    “You have two pickles… and somebody else gives you two more pickles. How many pickles do you have?”


    “Well that’s easy, isn’t it? I’d have four pickles, and I’d be a pretty happy halfling!”


    “That’s right. Two plus two equals four. A simple mathematical fact. Undeniable, really. It is true no matter who you are or what universe you live in. But the thing is… you could have answered ‘three’ or even ‘five.’ Nothing was preventing you from giving the wrong answer. You, in essence, had the ability or freedom to give the incorrect response.”


    “But why would I want to do that?”


    “Hmmmm. Well, you might think that five pickles are better than four. Aren’t they?”


    “Oh, most certainly!”


    “Anyway, we’re getting slightly off the subject. You could give the wrong answer perhaps by accident. Again, you would not be constrained from making a simple mistake. But it is possible that someone might start to actually believe, in their heart, that two plus two really equals five, despite all reason and immutable proof to the contrary. They could even willfully choose to believe this! And worst of all, someone might try to convince others of this inherently untrue thing.”


    Charlie lapsed into silence for a spell, processing all of this information. Chastity could almost see the wheels turning.


    “So you’re saying… the definition of evil… is believing that two pickles plus two pickles equals five pickles, and teaching others the same!”


    Chastity chuckled and shook her head.


    “You know, there are some people that don’t believe free will even exists.”


    Charlie had a shocked expression on his round face.


    “No freedom!?” he cried.


    “From that perspective, we are more like characters in a story. Our thoughts, our motivations, and even our actions are written out for us!”


    “Well if that’s the case, I hope that big fancy writer adds in some more delicious pickles. And the story better end with a happily-ever-after!”


    The two laughed heartily as they walked side by side.