VALIANT FORGE IS SHAPING UP TO BE A MEMORABLE CHARACTER
Posted on March 28, 2018
Book 3 of Irving Wishbutton is coming along nicely. I wrote 4,000 words today and will try to get another 1,000 before I stop at 5:00. I needed a scene that was a little reflective and having Irving talk with Val, short for Valiant Forge, turned out to be a perfect addition. Here's part of the chapter titled: A Friendship Forged.
I got up around 7:00 am to finish my paper on Heroic Karma for Professor Infinite. His class wasn't until three o'clock, but―with me uncertain how long my meeting with Harmstrike would be and fearing he might exact a punishment I'd have to perform immediately―I thought it best to have the paper completed.
Val delivered a stack of pancakes to my room shortly after I woke up.
He barged in, holding the plate in his oversized cybernetic right arm. His full name was Valiant Forge, and he'd been a good friend to me, even following my lead and refusing to leave Smudge Hall as well. Having the rugged bruiser by my side to face down the dean's fuming about our stand was comforting. The big guy had a relaxed vibe, but also didn't mess around either. His narrative was vastly different than mine, but was still a quest. Something about being a Revolutionary soldier snatched from his time period and sent on a time-travelling quest to gather up some powerful artifacts. As to what he was supposed to do with the items and the identity of his villain, Val rarely shared; he would rather listen, preferring to be a sounding board. In that sense, he was a perfect supporting character for me.
He handed me the plate and placed the syrup and silverware on my desk. I hopped off my bed and scooted over to sit in the wooden chair, knowing my bed could withstand the man's mass better than the rickety desk chair.
The bed creaked as he sat down. "You know, the others might insist on room service if they get wind I brought your breakfast up to you."
I drizzled the syrup on the top pancake. "Well, I didn't ask you to."
He kicked the door shut with a boot. "I know, just givin' you a hard time. That smudge the room next to yours filled me in on what happened at the theater last night."
"The guy with a shark head?"
"Nope, more like a whale head. He was fully formed this morning and opted to move out after his first class. Won't stay for a celebratory dinner." Val leaned in. "Didn't even want to visit the special room to get a good look at himself."
There were two perks to becoming fully formed. First, those who left Smudge Hall had a special meal prepared for them. The other ritual was a chance to view what we looked like in a mysterious locked room off the kitchen. It held a large mirror, one that had given off a magical vibe when I'd gone in the room to check out my finalized appearance. It seemed a lifetime ago when I had been a smudge.
"I don't like that Harmstrike called me into his office today."