{"id":2317,"date":"2021-11-13T13:43:13","date_gmt":"2021-11-13T20:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2317"},"modified":"2021-11-13T13:43:13","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T20:43:13","slug":"another-quest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/13\/another-quest\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Quest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt:\u00a0Write\u00a0about a character who yearns for something they lost, or never had.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt put the book back on the shelf. Reading it had become a monthly ritual. They especially liked the stories about brave knights rescuing fair damsels. Sometimes Watt was the knight, and other times the damsel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreams of living in the romanticized version of the Middle Ages frequented their slumber. Watt knew, intellectually, that the stories had no relation to reality. Their heart though, or something very like it, still ached for the times and places of the stories they read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt left the library via the basement exit to the tunnels. Once there, they navigated the short distance to their home. It was time to turn in, so they hurried up the stairs to their loft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their loft was a simple space: bed, kitchenette, closet, sink. A shared washroom down the hallway finished out the amenities. Watt lay on the bed, falling to slumber and dreams of castles and dragons immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising refreshed, Watt left to run errands. Fulfilling quests<\/em>, they thought. By the middle of the day, they had downgraded that. Gathering supplies to use on upcoming quests.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week continued in the same vein, until the day Watt found themself with nothing to do. They could go to the library again, but it had only been a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt pulled the edge of the curtain away from the single window in the loft. They could venture outside<\/em>. The thought was frightening, but isn\u2019t that what heroes did? Face their fears and continue undeterred by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The closer Watt came to leaving on an adventure outside, the less they felt like the knight, and the more they felt like the damsel trapped in the tower. Rather than taking part in an adventure, Watt sat on the bed staring at the door for hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Watt\u2019s slumber, they dreamed of a knight in shining armor, rescuing them from their flat. The dream\u2019s happily ever after was in a cottage in the country, surrounded by fields of wheat bordered by magical forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somewhere out there, they thought, may be a damsel waiting for rescue. Determined to be the knight, Watt strode confidently down the stairs, and out the door at ground level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night was damp, a heavy fog clinging to the streets and buildings. Watt maneuvered around the rubble of the ruined buildings and the demolished, rusting hulks of vehicles, long since forgotten. Vines climbed the buildings, grasses and small trees forcing their way up through cracks in the sidewalks and streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the lack of moonlight, Watt found it easy to see. They headed south with no real destination in mind. A rusted signpost would do for a sword. They picked it up and hit it against the side of a building. It made a satisfying clang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an hour of wandering, Watt began to think of returning home. They were about to turn around when they heard a woman\u2019s scream. The damsel!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt raced toward the sound of the scream where they found two men struggling to restrain a woman. They clanged their \u201csword\u201d on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnhand her at once, foul curs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh shit!\u201d One of the men let go of the woman and shot at Watt. The other had let go after the first shot and joined in shooting at Watt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt looked down. Their armor was dented, but not seriously damaged. They raised the \u201csword\u201d over their head and charged. \u201cHave at thee!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two men ran away, but not before Watt struck one with the weapon. They were certain they felt the man\u2019s arm break under the impact, and his high-pitched scream as he ran made that likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt turned to the damsel, currently trying to hide in the shadow of a rusted truck. \u201cIt is safe now, fair lady.\u201d They held out a hand to help her up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She cowered further back in the shadow, shivering in fear. \u201cY\u2014you\u2019re a\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am your knight in shining armor.\u201d Watt looked down again. Their armor wasn\u2019t exactly shining. \u201cWell, your knight in armor, anyhow. Come my lady, these environs are not safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By degrees, Watt earned the woman\u2019s trust and finally led her back their loft. \u201cYou will be safe here, for as long as you choose to stay,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turned on the sink and nothing came out but a faint groan. \u201cHey, you! Your water\u2019s busted. Where can I get some water?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI recently acquired supplies. There is water in the cupboard to the right of the sink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She grabbed a bottle and gulped it down. \u201cWhat do I call you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI apologize, my lady. I should have introduced myself. I am Watt. Today I am the knight, sometimes I am the damsel, and sometimes I can\u2019t determine which.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, that was\u2026a lot. I\u2019m Tara. Please stop calling me lady.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy apologies, again, my la\u2026Tara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tara checked out the loft, looking out the single window to the rubble below. \u201cHow are you still around?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure what you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re really messed up, aren\u2019t you?\u201d She stepped closer and began to inspect Watt. It made them feel self-conscious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you doing? You\u2019re making me nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tara laughed. \u201cYeah, you\u2019re messed up bad. How long have you been here? Living in this flat, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlways.\u201d Watt felt uneasy. \u201cI can\u2019t remember ever not<\/em> living here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tara looked at the bed and nodded. \u201cI thought so. I\u2019ll be back in a little bit; going to check out the facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt nodded. They were feeling extra tired and lay down on the bed. The dreams came right away. Watt saving Tara from a dragon, Tara saving Watt from an evil sorcerer, and more. They all ended with the two of them living on a farm surrounded by magical forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt awoke to Tara sitting in the middle of the floor, drinking another bottle of water and eating one of the rations they had gathered. She nodded at them and continued to eat in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she had finished, she stood. \u201cCome on, Watt, I want to show you something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt followed her to the end of the hallway where she opened the door to the shared washroom. She led them to a large mirror on the wall and stood next to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook at our reflection and tell me what you see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt looked. Tara, although her clothes were torn and stained, and a large bruise adorned her cheek, looked like the ultimate damsel from their fantasy. Beside her, Watt stood taller; dark grey armor with a full face-mask helm protecting their head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA damsel and a knight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou still don\u2019t get it, do you?\u201d Tara pursed her lips in thought. \u201cIs there somewhere that has old newspapers or magazines nearby?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh yes!\u201d Watt brightened. \u201cWe can go to the library. We don\u2019t even have to go outside to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLead the way, then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once in the library, Watt went straight to their favorite book and removed it from the shelf. Tara, meanwhile, was elsewhere, using a flashlight she\u2019d been carrying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt petted the cover of the book, trying to decide whether they would re-read it now, or wait until the next month. Tara approached from the rear, holding a newspaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She laid it on the desk beside them and pointed her flashlight at it. \u201cWhat do you see?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2026it looks like my armor. A knight like me?\u201d They studied the image. \u201cAnd the fires behind; it is there to rescue damsels?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a story book. Read the headline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAI army lays waste to Chicago in latest fighting.\u201d Watt was confused. \u201cWas Chicago evil? The home of a dragon or evil sorcerer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. It was a city of nearly three million civilians.\u201d Tara wore concern openly on her face. \u201cDo you really not remember anything of the war?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt shook their head. \u201cNo. There has been no war that I know of, except for the ones in here.\u201d They gingerly held the book out to Tara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Children\u2019s Book of Tales,\u201d she read. \u201cYou really are a child, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am knight or damsel\u2026or maybe both. Not a child.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve always lived in the loft, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watt nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She handed the book back to them. \u201cHow did you find this book?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I woke up in the loft on the first morning, it was there. I read it, and returned it, since it said it belonged here.\u201d Watt hummed. \u201cIt was my first quest; find the library and return the book to its proper home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow long do you remember living in the loft?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEight-hundred-sixty-two days.\u201d They shrugged. \u201cI can remember by counting the number of times I\u2019ve dreamed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou dream? Interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. In my last dreams, I saved you from a dragon, then you saved me from an evil sorcerer, then we lived happily ever after in a farm cottage surrounded by magical forests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat would be nice,\u201d she said. \u201cWe just have to find a farm cottage with its own reactor in the basement, like your building.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy does it need a reactor?\u201d Watt asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour bed\u2026it\u2019s a recharging station.\u201d Tara laid a hand on Watt\u2019s cold, metal arm. \u201cIt would be like me trying to live somewhere without food and water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I have food and water. I make sure to keep well supplied, and make sure the food has not spoiled. I could do that on a farm, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you could,\u201d she said. \u201cIf we can figure out a way to take a reactor with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnother quest?\u201d Watt asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnother quest,\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAm I the knight or the damsel this time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake your pick, Watt. I\u2019ll play along.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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