Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Chapter 176 - 176 - A glance of the past

I make my way across the ruined settlement well above ground level. More often than not at the level where the walls would have carried a first floor. Those upper floors are just gone in most cases, probably contributing to the field of rubble further out. Some buildings seem to have been spared the worst though. Maybe because they were shielded by other buildings? Or possibly because they were built even sturdier than the rest? I'm leaning towards the latter, as their walls seem to be even thicker. Around those few I usually detour a little. It's not long detours and with very few visible cracks or dislocated stones climbing them would be quite tricky.

For the better part it seems the buildings were rather small, as far as their floor space goes, especially their usable floor space though. Those thick walls eat into the latter. There usually are only one or two rooms at most. Two entrances seem to be standard. What really catches my attention though is that I see no signs of stairwells that would lead to the upper floors.

There are rather narrow openings usually cut into larger stones used in the arching ceilings though. Could it be that these people didn't believe in stairs? That they used ladders or maybe even ropes or rope ladders everywhere? That certainly would have made these buildings, or at least their upper floors very defensible. I'm not sure that's it though. The fact that there is no sign of a wall makes me doubt that these houses were built like this just with defense in mind. It's a riddle and it's giving me a headache.

Another thing that really stands out is that none of these buildings actually stand out. Sure, some are larger others are smaller. A few have thicker walls than others. But none really stand out. If there was a social hierarchy it wasn't expressed through the construction of their homes. Not in any way I can still see today at least. Curiously enough, the realization is enough to make my [Gather Information] skill improve ever so little. Could it be that I'm on to something?

Like this I traverse the city from one end to the other, but at a slight distance from its waterfront at the lake. I don't learn anything else new though. Nothing that seems to be of note anyway. At least my [Balance] skill improves some more. What to do next? Should I head to the waterfront? Head to what might be a keep built into the middle of the little lake? There seems to be something like a bridge connecting it to the shore after all. Or should I try climbing one of the taller ruins first?

In the end I decide for the latter. One of the surviving upper floors might contain hints after all. Clues regarding the fate of the settlement might have survived there. Something, anything really, would be much appreciated. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky? And even if not, the top might provide me with a better view of the ruins at least. That too would count for something.

I just hope I won't break my neck making the attempt. Who knows, I might just have to head out again to find myself a suitable young tree with thick enough branches at the right distance I can turn into a makeshift ladder. I'm not too happy with that idea. It would take considerable time to implement. If it's the only option though, I'll do it. I really hope I can do without an improvised ladder anyway.

I leave my perch atop the walls to find out for sure, taking even more care than usual to not make any sound as I slip into one of the ruined buildings that still retains an intact upper floor. I receive my first surprise upon entering the building already. Unlike with the others where the ceilings usually collapsed as well, this one is still largely intact inside. This expresses itself in one way first and foremost. The walls here aren't bare stone walls! They are covered in plaster and more importantly they are painted in quite colorful ways! The sight leaves me speechless for a moment.

What is painted on the walls suggests the very normal lives of very normal people. Even better, since the ceiling here didn't collapse, the room's contents, including furniture, haven't been squashed flat either. Things aren't undisturbed though. No, quite the opposite. It seems like just about everything that can be smashed has been smashed. Things that can be torn have been torn and so on. Thus I can only guess that this might have been a tailor's workshop at some point. The painted walls, showing people being measured and fitted as well as cloth being cut and sewn are the strongest hint to be honest.

What I can't really tell though is if the place is such a mess because the town found a violent end or because it might have been turned upside down and inside out several times since then. Well, maybe the upper floor can provide a hint or two? I just have to get up there to look for myself. Nothing easier than that, right? Ha! Of course it's not that easy!

The hole in the ceiling, the only apparent access point to the upper floor is not situated by the wall even less so by the corner, which really would be the only spot that would be somewhat climbable. I either need a ladder, or I need to jump. If I manage to jump high enough I might just be able to grab the upper ledge. I have my doubts about the latter option, but I might just as well give it a try.

How should I go about it? A standing high jump? Not optimal at all. I won't achieve much height like that. A running start isn't really an option either given the cramped space, except, maybe for one or two steps? Yes, that might just be it. I need to clear some of the floor of rubble first though.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I take a deep breath, measure my steps in the space I cleared and after a false start I make my first real attempt. I don't reach the upper ledge though. Instead my fingertips brush across the solid stone of the shaft leading upwards. I'm disappointed at first, but then I think better of it. I almost did it. It's really not a lot that's missing. Isn't there any way to tickle a little extra distance out of my jump?

I'm already looking around, for a way to build myself a little pedestal, my mind even wanders to the option of dragging in a solid flat stone from elsewhere as a steppingstone of sorts, when my mind grinds to a sudden halt.

Of course I didn't reach the upper ledge. I'm too damn short in this shape I'm wearing! I don't have to be the Viviona everyone knows for this. Especially as there is no one around who will see or know for that matter. Damn, I feel so stupid once more. It's almost enough to make me wish the ground would just swallow me.

Well, now that I have come to think of it, whose shape should I assume for this? Obviously not Matylda, the dwarf is even shorter than me. Maybe Sylwia or Justyna? Neither are all that much taller either though. Just thinking about assuming Lady Izolda's shape sends a shiver down my spine. The slaver guard I briefly imitated a while ago? She was taller for sure. All these lines of thought grind to a stop again as I think of another option.

I changed just my hairs a little while ago after all and I already contemplated changing just my feet to better fit new shoes. What if I just change my current shape a little? Legs that are a little longer? Fingers and arms too for that matter. That shouldn't be too hard, right? No major changes, just a little extra here and there.

I lick my lips and run my fingers through my hair as I ponder the idea. Finally I make up my mind. Yes, that's what I'll try. I have no way of telling if it'll work out, but I might as well try anyway. It's about time I test the limits of my special trump card anyway. And what better place and time than here and now, where no one else will ever know.

I check to make sure that I'm really unobserved, then I retreat into a corner of the room, where I loosen my clothes a little, just in case. Then I'm ready and focus on my shape changing skill and the effect I want to achieve. It takes a moment to achieve the necessary clarity of my mental image, but eventually some of my Mana drains from my reserves to fuel the change. My [Change Shape] skill improves a little as the change washes over me. And this one feels weird, especially as I can watch as I grow more than just a tiny bit and my perspective changes somewhat as a result.

It's a good thing that I loosened my clothes beforehand. I still almost stumble as I take my first step after wards anyway. My balance is seriously off. Goodness gracious, this feels weird! I'll change back as soon as I'm up through that hole in the ceiling! The sooner I'm back to my usual self, the better.

I pace about a little in an attempt to get a better picture for the indirect changes caused by my skill use. Especially I'm remeasuring my steps. I end up clearing a little more space down here too as a result. My steps are longer now after all. Then it's time. No more excuses. Either this will work or I can forget that the attempt was made and go back to normal.

Before I can come up with another reason to stall I take my two step running start and jump off. And this this time I really manage to grab the upper ledge and as I pull myself up I'm rewarded with not one but two skills, my [Jumping] skill and my [Climbing] skill, improving ever so slightly.

I barely look around long enough to make sure there is nothing waiting here to eat my face before slumping heavily at the edge of the opening leading back down, my legs still danging down as I sit there. I focus on my [Change Shape] skill once more and revert the changes I made before, to return to my usual self. It costs me more of my precious Mana, but at least the skill improves some more. Once my body is done changing I sigh in relief and get up to readjust my clothing again.

I almost regret my choice as I realize that there is another ceiling hatch here leading to the ruined building's rooftop. The moment quickly passes though as I spot the still intact ladder here. The room looks remarkably intact beyond that too. The walls are painted like downstairs, except here the scenes painted on the plaster are ones from domestic life. There is food being prepared and eaten. Children are playing and so on. Together with the intact furniture it paints the picture of peaceful family life, except of course for the absence of any actual life. At least though there are no bodies or the likes disturbing the impression.

Everything is old and age worn even if it isn't outright broken, thus I don't even start to rummage through the scattered things. I take note of how they are scattered though. It seems the people living here left in quite a hurry. At least there are windows here, narrow ones similar to the hidden tower I discovered first.

With slightly heavy heart I leave these little testaments of normal daily life behind to check the ladder. It's working in my favor now that my build is rather slight and delicate. The thing may not be broken, but it's old. If I were built any heavier than I am, it probably would give under my weight. As it is I can climb it, with careful movements, to reach the rooftop. I still grab the upper ledge of that hatch too as soon as I can to take most of my weight off the ladder anyway.

The rooftop is flat and empty. No big surprise there. Of course any force strong enough to knock down most of the upper floors of the other buildings would have torn away anything less solid constructed up here too. I can still see post holes for something like a sunshade or an awning of some sort.

I immediately start to feel rather exposed as I'm standing out in the open now. My gaze wanders skywards for a moment to check for large flying predators, like wyverns. As I don't spot any I relax a little. Still, there is little reason to stay up here any longer than necessary. And what's necessary is to get a better overview of the town's layout. That's why I even climbed all the way up here. Thus I move to the edge, first on one side, and then on the others too, to get a better look at the ruined town from above.