14 The Veteran

The pet's suggestion appealed to the summoner. Pete wanted to see the old soldier.

"You can show me the way to the Museum of the Disabled. Let's go to the museum," the young man suggested.

He walked along the streets and listened to the pet's advice. Trank offered to say little. Asking for little. Get little and leave the old man alone. There is no use for the old veteran. The summoner doesn't want to be a warrior. That's right. No need to be distracted from learning magic.

Soon Pete stopped at the familiar door to the museum.

"Old Man Roy is in the museum. I can smell it. Knock," dracat murmured.

The summoner shook his head and followed his assistant's advice. The door opened and Old Man Roy immediately made the customary statement,

"It costs one gold to look over the exhibits. Glad to be of service."

After his words, the old man cleared the doorway and waited for the visitor's reaction. Pete walked in and closed the door.

"Greetings, old soldier. You didn't recognize me. I've been through enough of the exhibits. I need gold myself. You won't get any gold from me. I have two questions for you. I believe I helped you. My help was accidental, but that doesn't change the fact. I helped you. The first question is, "Do you consider it your duty to help me?" The second question has to do with the kind of help. You are an old soldier. You're a veteran. I don't need help in mastering your skill. I need help with initial body development. In my world, there is a body muscle care routine before exercise. Warming up and stretching the muscles of the body. "Will you give me a lesson in body warm-up and stretching?" is the second and final question."

The old man changed his facial expression several times during the summoner's speech. It did not affect the young man. Pete stood and looked at the veteran calmly.

"You are a changed wanderer. Changed for the better. I didn't recognize you. You look like a decent citizen now. Can I help you with your body development? I can do that. The question of who owes what to who is unclear to me. But I hear you. I'm ready to show you some moves. Let's go to the hall."

"I was planning to exercise in my room. In the guild room. I have a very small room. There's enough place in this room for a lesson."

"Then take off your cloak and boots," grinned Roy.

Pete went to the corner of the room and took off his cloak. He did this so that the pet could hide unnoticed under the cloak. The question of dracat's presence was a painful one for the veteran. The summoner stripped off his shoes and approached the trainer.

"I heard that you managed to escape death. So you're a pretty dexterous man. But your body is not used to the strain. I know the exercises. I show you, you repeat after me. Pay attention. Repetition is not my business."

And the veteran began the lesson. Pete Harrison listened carefully and tried to repeat the exercises exactly. Rotation of arms and hands. Rotation of the legs. He bent and unbent. Pete was sure that his ability to remember information had increased. Trank became a kind of computer for inner use. A very useful and handy tool. Not powerful. But the pet is still a child. They have everything ahead of them.

After an hour, Roy stopped the lesson.

"That's enough for a beginner. Keep me company. I want to give you a cup of tea. We can talk while I make the drink. Why are you giving up your skill as a warrior? Have you decided to begin the path of a mage?"

"Right. You see right through me. I want to become a mage. It will take a lot of time and effort. I have a pet. You have the right attitude toward summoners. I support their desire to rely on the power of their pet in case of danger. Magic is many-sided. I will be able to enhance the pet and be able to do damage and stay away from the enemy."

"Some are born to be warriors, others are born to be mages. There are no easy paths for anyone. I see your point," the old man turned to his visitor and asked quietly. "Did you bring him with you?"

There was no fear in the soldier's voice. It was the voice of a skilled scout who had discovered the lair of a dangerous enemy and was ready for a surprise attack.

Pete looked toward the cloak before nodding his head silently. The old man sighed,

"Thank you. I'm not ready to see that monster. Even while he's small he's a big influence on me. The two little bastards have managed to do what my granddaughter and most of my old friends couldn't!"

"I'm a good helper," murmured Trank.

"Keep quiet, Roy might start to worry. War is scary, I'm not ready for war. I don't feel comfortable touching the wounds of war participants," thought Pete.

The old man turned away again to the small table by the wall. There was a strange household artifact on the table. Pete had seen one at the guild before. A magical stove for heating and cooking. A flat object no bigger than a medium-sized book. The old man was boiling water in a small kettle. The veteran did not invite the young man to the table. Pete stood where he did his exercises. At other times he might have been stressed and uncomfortable. Today he stood quietly waiting for his cup of tea.

The old man took out two cups and poured powder from a jar into each. Then he filled the cups with boiling water and invited his guest to the table.

"Let the drink steep. Answer me, what do you think of my granddaughter today?"

"Shine is well done! She is incredible and strong. I like her very much. But I'm weak for her. I need time to become a worthy partner," Pete answered honestly.

The old man laughed,

"She's good. Don't worry. She's not thinking about you. She's flying like she's on wings now. I've been delivering worries to my loved ones."

The old man looked at the young man and smiled. The boy could make a really powerful magician. The summoner is destiny. With one such acquaintance, he could be tolerated.

"What about Elvira?"

"A sudden and deadly lady. I could not understand anything. The swordsman attacked me and I had to run and dodge. Elvira appeared suddenly, quickly killed three enemies, and disappeared. Amazing woman."

"Two enemies. She killed two warriors from the Plas. The mage managed to escape," the veteran corrected. "And you buried the enemy's artifacts in the ground! Fool."

"I like the old man," agreed dracat.

"Now I have longer to collect gold to settle my affairs. Eleven thousand gold coins," sighed Pete. "I'll be donating blood."

"You can deal with vampires," Roy agreed. "The main thing is not to make close contact with them. The captain's right. Vampires aren't part of Ark. They are part of the world. The vampires' influence has to be kept under control."

"Order and control. Those are golden words! I know them and I agree with them," the young man took a cup and tasted the drink.

The townspeople called it tea. Pete Harrison immediately realized that it was not tea in the usual sense of the word. He found that he was able to understand Ark's speech. The meaning of the words did not always correspond to the content and essence of the subjects discussed. This tea was not like the tea he was used to. On the other hand, Pete had not tasted every kind of tea, nor had he drunk teas of every kind of preparation.

They finished their tea and the old man asked his guest to leave,

"You'd better go, Pete. Shine will be here soon. It was nice to see you again. I hope to see you again. But not here. I'm leaving this post. The Captain has wanted to see me in the Silver Rose for a long time. My old bones are fit to be a mannequin for young fools with swords in their hands. Old Roy will be training warriors."

"That's great news. Thanks for the lesson and the welcoming. I won't forget you."

Pete stood up and bowed to the veteran. Then he walked out of the museum.

"I wish Shine had forgotten you," the veteran whispered.