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Chapter 12: The Old Man
Sethlzaar let himself into a free fall. He dropped through the remaining distance and hit the ground harder than he planned but did not let it hinder him. He rolled away from the voice on impact and came to his feet immediately, leveled into one of the few variations of the knife stance Yggdra had taught them.
He reached for his knife, and his hand met nothing.
Where is it? he panicked. The bear. The realization clawed at him.
Panic grew to terror. Truth damn it all.
He was left with only a few choices. Not finding himself with the strength to run, nor the mood for it, he turned to the source of the voice.
An old man sat in the dirt. His back rested against a tree as he seemed to mull over his own question. "Of course not," he concluded. "You don't look the kind. Well, that way," he pointed to his right, "will find you in a cloud of fog, annoying thing
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"What are you doing here?""I could ask you the same thing, but I fear the answer would only sadden me." The old man smiled. "So, rather, I would ask: why are you sleeping in this blizzard without a fire?"Sethlzaar frowned. "I already told you. The wood was wet.""Oh well, it's a good thing I ran into you then. I've been told luck tends to favor me."Sethlzaar doubted luck had any hand in it.The man took out a piece of dried meat from his cloak and offered it casually. "Are you hungry?"Sethlzaar's stomach growled at the invitation. But his brain, understanding there was a reason it was called a test, and why it was done individually, shook his head.The man shook his head too. "Just like last time," he said blandly. "Still pulling crazy stunts. First, a misty forest. Now, a raging blizzard." He cocked his head to the side questioningly
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