The day began like the last few. The fisherman’s wife would come and look for him and make sure that he woke up properly and was healthy. Then he would walk over to the table and eat. But today for the first time since he was stranded Geo felt powerful enough to restart doing the exercises that he learned so many years ago. So, he left the house, ensuring the fisherman’s wife that he wouldn’t collapse. To go to the field near the house. Then he picked up handful dirt of the ground. The earth around him felt alive and energized. Something that was obvious, since everywhere around him the grass was growing in a full green color. The perfect starting ground to do the dance. But first Geo kept feeling the ground up. Rubbing some dirt in his hand. Trying to get a felling for it. An important safety procedure. Since a mistake can easily hurt him. After a few minutes he was ready. So, he began the dance. First the base stance. Knees aimed at each other and his arms pulled back. Then he did a quick open palm push, returned to the base stance and did the same thing with the other hand. Feeling confident he continued. Almost like fighting against enemies only he could see. After finishing the training moves he took on a steadfast stance and moved his arms upward. This is when an arm long plate of earth ripped itself out of the ground and floated in front of him. Then by swinging a left hook the earth plate flung itself for about 20 meters and then crashed and broke on the ground. Happy with himself Geo repeated some similar movements, ordering the ground around him with every flick of his hand.

  Until he heard a young boy yell: ‘’ Geo what are you doing? ``

  “Just some basic exercises.”

  Geo wasn’t sure how the boy was called. All he knew was that dirt haired kid was also from the village. And that he wasn’t one of the fisherman’s kids.

  “But what was that magic? I haven’t seen someone cast magic like this.”

  Asked the boy surprised. Running at Geo.

  “My father taught me. He was the sheriff from where I was from and in the army, we learned the basics anyways, so he showed me the basics early.”

  “Say kid! Why is that something special? I thought I saw some guys using magic here already.”

  “My name is not kid. I am Martin.”

  He gets angrily answered.

  “Yeah but none of the blackhands move that much when using magic.”

  “Blackhand? I’m not familiar with this term.”

  Geo asked confused.

  “You know people who use magic. Can you show me how you did it? Please.”

  Geo smiled nostalgically.

  “I’d love to, but it takes months to learn even a little. And I am still tired and weak from when I came here. Maybe later. In fact, why are you even here? This is pretty far off from the village.”

  It took a moment for the kid to remember.

  “Sarah asked me to make sure that you are alright. Since you were still weak some days ago.”

  Sarah… oh yeah. That’s the fisherman’s wife. So that was her name. Geo made sure to remember that.

  “Well if Sarah is so worried about me maybe I should return. Are you coming Kid?”

  Back in the village the kid immediately ran to a man in thick brown clothing and a similar dirty hair color.

  “Dad did you know Geo is a blackhand?”

  “Hm, what did you say Martin? What is Geo?”

  “He’s a blackhand. I saw him do magic.”

  The kid said eagerly.

  “Really? We rarely see blackhands around here. Usually they only travel through here if they want to get to Sailport. And even then, only as part of a caravan. What magic do you do?”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Why are you guys making a big deal of this? Where I am from almost everyone can do earth magic. Do you guys not learn magic in the army?”

  “Where the heck are you from?”

  Said the brown clothed man in a confused tone.

  “I’m from the Western Kingdom of Alexia. Why?”

  “Never heard of that place. How far is that from Castel-Safe”

  “No idea. Do you guys have a map around? Maybe we can figure that out.”

  “Geoffrey listen I don’t think that anyone around here has a map that can reach that far out. Castel-Safe is more than 3 weeks from here on foot. It’s more likely that you can find a map like this in Sailport.“

  It took Geo a moment to realize what that meant. Then he started to get loud.

  “Then where in the name of the f’’’ am I here? I thought that I was near Tririver.”

  The man in brown flinched a little from that sudden outburst. Then he answered:

  “Firstly, watch your mouth. Second where is Tririver? I don’t think that that place is in Coastreich.”

  “Well that is where my ship was going to. And the day the Storm happened the Captain was saying that Tririver was only a few days away. So, I thought that I wasn’t too far away. What am I going to do now?”

  Geo left his head hanging.

  “Well guess that you have to discuss this with Ernest and Sarah. Since you are staying with them right now, so I assume that they would like to know that too.”

  Clearly let down Geo mumbled:

  “Yeah guess that is the right thing to do… If you don’t mind I would like some time alone. I… need to think some things trough.”

  With an understanding nod the brown clothed guy let Geo go. And Geo went back to his chamber to lie onto his bed and think for a while until he fell asleep.

  Late evening the same day

  The fisherman and his oldest son came back from fishing. As was tradition in the house Sarah the fisherman’s wife and their daughter joined then for a late dinner. So, when Geo sat to them no one payed much attention.

  “I want to start this by saying that I am really grateful for the hospitality that you gave me the last few days and that I am happy for saving me obviously, but I need to start to think of what to do from here. And since I don’t know the area to well I wanted to discuss this with you.”

  The fisherman made himself more comfortable on this wooden chair and spoke.

  “I guess that it is time for that. Do you want to stay in this village? I heard from Will that you can do some earth magic. I am sure that we can find an occupation for you with that talent. Or do you want to leave and go back to… Alexia? Was that how that land was called?”

  “Yes, it was the Western Kingdom of Alexia. And to be honest I don’t know how to return. I talked with…. What was his name again... ?hm…?”

  Sarah helped Geo out.

  “Will the father of Martin. Right? We know. After you went to your room he came and told us.”

  “Yes him. Well anyways after talking to him I realized that I have no idea where I am. But apparently in some place called Sailport they have maps big enough for me to find that out. So, I was thinking if it was possible that I could journey there and maybe go further from there.”

  The fisherman thought about that for a moment. Then he said.

  “Are you sure you want this? Not many people around here know how to get there. And to be honest we can’t afford to send you on a journey that long. You would have to find a way to finance yourself. Believe me I know how hard it is to be far from your family for so long but are you sure that you can do this. We will help you anyway we can.”

  “To be honest you guys have already done so much for me. I want to do this myself. I… “

  Sarah clearly offended by Geo’s statement started to become more and more exited and loud.

  “Stop! That isn’t even up to debate. Do you really expect us to just leave you alone after all you’ve been through? Are you trying to insult us? If something like this would happen to one of us, we would pray that someone would help them. If…”

  “Honey please! You are scaring the kids.”

  The fisherman tried to calm her down by putting his hand on hers.

  “But my wife is right. We are a village of fishermen. We more than everyone else know the dangers of the sea. And we wake up every day knowing that one day the sea can and most likely will take one of ours. It has happened so many times to us and our friends and family before. So please let us help you in any way we can.”

  Impressed from that sudden outburst Geo tried to find the right words.

  “It’s not that I don’t want your help, but that I had already taken so much from you. Which is why I propose this: I wouldn’t find the way to Sailport alone anyway. So, want to join the next caravan that comes through here. I was a soldier at the army and I am an experienced warrior. I can probably make a deal with the caravan and work for my travel costs. Until then I would like to help out in the village.”

  The fisherman sat back into his chair and proposed:

  “Then I would like you to talk to Eric the carpenter. He is a good friend of the caravan leader. Every time the caravan comes here he and their leader get wasted together. So, I am sure that he can help you out. And he is responsible to organize lookout duty in this village since there have been reports of pirates not too far of Nord. Since you have military experience and can use magic I am sure that you use that as a selling point to join the caravan. Until then I propose that you try to help out in the village. You are young and fit. I am sure that you can make at least a little money that way for your travels. Well guess that’s that is there anything else that you wanted to discuss?”

  “No thank you, that was all.”

  Happy that everything went so smooth. Well except for that one thing the fisherman’s wife said. Geo excused himself and went back to bed.