"You're blind!" Ranma said with all his vaunted tact.
"Really? I hadn't noticed," said the old man with enough sarcasm in his voice to register with Ranma.
Ranma looked over the guy, seeing the way the guy moved as if he was fragile or something. The guy was old - not old in the way of Cologne or Happosai - but the more common frail old that was seen among non-martial arts masters.
He had a few wisps of hair around the sides of his skull, which were partially obscured by the white linen bandages that went around his head at the level of his eyes. Sturdy looking clothes that had been patched a lot over the decades. He had a brass-handled walking stick in one hand and seemed to be examining Ranma as much as Ranma was examining him.
"Well, Ranma Saotome of Earth, what are you going to do? Are you going to splash yourself with cold water and try to escape that way?"
Ranma jumped. "How did you know my name?"
"My name is Nimodes, formerly of Helsford. I was what is called a hedge wizard. I got involved in many adventures and did a fair number of things in my day. One of which made me blind to the physical world, though I still see some things. One of which is that if you go back out there in your girl form, you'll end up getting caught and dragged back across the finish line. There are many looking for you who are familiar with shapechangers."
Ranma winced as that had been his plan.
The old man seemed to focus his gaze on something right over Ranma's head. "I see destiny calling you, Ranma Saotome. Your world of origin is closed to you, and this world is now your home."
"So what are you getting at, and what do you get out of it, old man?" Ranma huffed as he tried to figure out what the old guy was looking at.
"To answer your second question first - it is the last task I have foreseen for myself. I would meet another person with your very name and give him the chance to start a new life where he had chances of fulfillment and glory denied him in his past. I am old, Ranma Saotome. A half-elf normally lives two centuries, and the same adventure that blinded me made me eternal until I have spoken to you. As for the first part, I am here to tell you of things that will impact your existence quite thoroughly now that you are here." The old man made his way to a comfortable looking chair and eased himself into it with a sigh.
"Yeah," said Ranma, listening to shouts outside and the sounds of people running past. "So talk already."
Nimodes nodded. "First, know this. You have a clean break with the karma of the past. Your actions, your thoughts, your own words - within the next two weeks these will shape your future more thoroughly than you will be prepared for. Steal anything in the next few days and you may be unable to escape being a thief and fleeing the law. This is due to something called the Rules. Think of it as a magic spell that everyone and everything is under, which is vastly oversimplifying it but should give you a basic idea."
"So I do something 'bad' and the universe is gonna slap me down, eh?" Ranma thought about it but the clean slate sounded like a good deal. "What else?"
"I have some things for you to take with you on your journey, Ranma Saotome, they came from adventuring friends I once knew and who have long passed beyond these shores." Nimodes made a gesture and the dark elfgirl went to a closet and pulled out a package.
"Huh?" Ranma said as he opened it and the first thing was a small leather pouch with a drawstring.
"A purse," said Nimodes. "It contains a few dozen coins of local currency, enough to get you passage on an airship and a few nights lodging at inns. Depending on where you choose to go, of course."
"Money, huh?" Ranma hefted the heavy handful. He could try living off the land but he could get some decent meals with this at least.
"Local clothing, because sometimes standing out from the crowd is not a good choice," said Nimodes at the rustle of Ranma going over the next bundle.
"Hmph," said Ranma. He'd take the clothes. Didn't know he'd ever wear 'em, but not standing out at the moment sounded good.
"Then there's that," said Nimodes as Ranma unpacked the remaining items.
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(Posted Wed, 11 Feb 2004 11:58)
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