Elrich Saga Yellow Springs Book One

Chapter 18 Tai Chi Monster Style

Chapter 18 Tai Chi Monster Style

I didn't know what to wear to run in. Normally, if I were to go on a run, unlikely in any case, I knew I was supposed to wear sneakers, shorts, and a t-shirt. The best thing to run around it would probably be the spider silk protection clothes. The shirt wouldn't be much of a problem, but I really didn't want to wear the pants.

I compromised and put on the blue spider silk shirt and a pair of normal black pants. My boots were the only footwear I had and I wasn't planning on running about barefoot any time soon. I made sure to put the rest of the spider silk clothes in my inventory, partially in case Crue insisted on my wearing the pants.

The spider silk clothes being so costly was another reason. While I trusted that the inn would do its best to keep my room secure, you really didn't know about the other guests. However, I didn't want Daisy to think badly of me. She had nicely packed my clothes away for me, so presumably, she would do the same on laundry day. I left a few sets of clothes and underwear in the chest but placed everything else in my inventory.

I wanted it to appear as though I appreciated her efforts, and I did. She had been more than kind to me and was honestly looking out for my well being. Her actions spoke a lot about her dedication to her patrons and I had to admire her for it.

I knew that I shouldn't eat before running but my stomach began to rumble. 'I was awake now, dammit, why aren't you feeding me?' it seemed to say. I drank a glass of water and began to eat an apple as I walked to our meeting place by the temple. I hoped that something as light as an apple would be Ok. I think it would be better than running while your stomach yelled at you and I had a few minutes for it to digest before the running began. Even I knew you just didn't take off running, you were supposed to stretch a bit first.

The air had that chill it got in the morning when fall was just around the corner. Like it had a bit of a bite. Just cold enough to make you wish for a jacket, but you knew that once the sun rose the chill would be replaced with a pleasant warmth. So you would suffer without a jacket because you didn't want to cart it around for the rest of the day. That wouldn't be an issue for me since I had my inventory, but I never even considered the possibility that I could wear my jacket in the chill and store it away. Some stubborn habits were so ingrained you failed to see the other possibilities.

There weren't many people on the streets. Only a handful of bleary-eyed men either going to work for the day or in some cases going home after a night on the town. It was still dark out, but the magic street lamps were being put out one by one by a woman in a long patched dress, a shawl, an apron, and her hair twisted up in a scarf. I witnessed her smacking one of the drunks in the shin with the pole she carried with her.

She'd lift the pole to the top of the light, tap the light, then the light went out. I guessed it was some sort of magic conductor. Not really a magic wand or staff, but something far simpler. It must have been made of sturdy stuff since she was able to wack at drunks without it breaking.

Crue was standing outside the temple. He was wearing spider silk clothes in shades of dark brown. The tight spandex looking clothes actually looked good on him. He wasn't huge like his brother. If his brother was a football player, Crue would be compared to a swimmer or runner. He had a larger chest than most runners, which made me think his body was more like a swimmer.

Him wearing the spider silk didn't bode well for me, and I was right. He had me go into the temple to change into them. It was going to be embarrassing. I didn't know why he made me wear something so tight. At least with the leather armor, some of my gut would be hidden. Without it, I was just like the fat lady wearing a rubber-band.