Aiden closed his eyes, reaching out to recapture the connection he had felt. But, he used his new understanding of Verdant Dominion. He could feel the skills and spell activate. He controlled the energies cautiously, sending tendrils of his will out to the area around the entrance to the interlink chamber. He pictured brush, ferns, and vines covering the tunnel entrance. The connection was there, and he opened his eyes, keeping the magic flowing.
The thick mess of vines shrank like snakes pulling back. Ferns, brush, moss, and smaller vines grew in. Soon the strange mess from his first few attempts was gone and untouched virgin old growth forest obscured the entrance. It was even more hidden than when he had found it.
"Bing: Verdant Dominion is level 3."
He turned his attention to the path leading to the entrance from their prior campsite. He used even less vitality and magic. With a soft rustle, the earth shifted, and the undergrowth crept forward, obeying his command with startling speed. Within minutes, the path had been restored to a pristine state without any trace of his or Bram''s passing.
"Bing: Verdant Dominion is level 4."
Aiden stopped the spell and smiled, as his legs gave out and he folded into a seated position on the ground. He looked at Gigi and Ria, letting out a long breath. He felt like he''d just finished a hard day of smithing. Sweat beaded down his bare back and chest.
“Better,” Gigi barked.
Ria whistled. "Definitely. I can''t believe you''ve been a Seeker for only a few hours."
He took some long deep breaths and enjoyed the feeling of the cooling wind on his sweaty torso.
"Bing: Nature''s Meditation is level 4."
As Ria and Gigi inspected his work, Aiden focused on staying present while using Nature’s Meditation. In the short time it took them to circle the area, examining both the entrance and the trail, he already felt fully refreshed. Stretching as he stood, he asked, “If we follow this path and clean up the campsite, will it be enough to keep Cassian away from the interlink chamber?”
"Skeed, this would fool me," Gigi finally declared.
"Then we can head for the village. You said the soldiers won''t be here for at least a day or two. So we have until then to get everyone still alive away."
"Hang on pup!" Gigi snorted. "I said the soldiers with Cassian won''t be here for at least a day. But, there are still soldiers in and around your village and searching the forest."
"The ones in the forest are not getting closer, they are moving away."
"For now," Gigi growled.
Aiden took a few careful steps, trying not to leave any indication he''d been there.
"Bing: Wilderness Stealth is level 5."
Aiden froze, then grinned at the unexpected skill. The rush of leveling up was intoxicating, but he pushed the exhilaration down, focusing on what needed to be done.
"Bing!"
[M] -------------------- [X]
New Skill Unlocked: Steady Mind (Uncommon)
TL;DR: Congratulations, you’ve figured out how to think without getting distracted by shiny objects. Truly groundbreaking.
Your mind is now a calm, unyielding force against the petty distractions of the world. You can maintain focus on a single task for longer periods, resist minor mental interference, and ignore that one annoying person trying to break your concentration. Higher levels may grant resistance to the temptation to check irrelevant nonsense at the worst possible moments.
--------------------
The new skill pulled irresistibly at his curiosity, breaking the focus he''d just achieved. A thought hit him. “Wait… why was Wilderness Stealth already level five? This is the first time I’ve seen it.”
Ria fluffed her feathers and let out a sharp clicking trill. “You already had it, feather-brain. Life doesn’t hand you skills out of nowhere — just levels. The logs show only one level up. You were at four, now you’re at five. Simple.”
Aiden blinked. “Oh.” He supposed that made sense.
Still, the idea that he''d already had the skill, buried in his experiences, was… unsettling. What else had he been walking around with this whole time?
Aiden frowned. “You and Gigi keep mentioning ‘logs.’ What does cut tree wood have to do with leveling up?”
Gigi let out a low huff, shaking her head. “Not that kind of log, pup. It means a record—a history of actions and changes tracked by the system.”
Ria gave an exaggerated sigh, fluttering onto his shoulder. “You really are new to this.” She tapped his temple with her beak. “Think about your Seeker logs. Picture a record of everything you’ve done since getting linked to the system.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes, focusing on the thought. A second later, new text shimmered into his vision.
He closed the logs list and looked at the immense list of skills again. He groaned, rubbing his face. “I have so many skills, I completely missed this one. And it actually seems… useful.”
Ria cackled. “No surprise there! Your skill list is a mess—cluttered with nonsense like ‘Pigeon Shooing’ and ‘Sock Alignment.’”
Gigi snorted, tail flicking. “You need to organize it, pup. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck digging through useless skills when you actually need something.”
Aiden frowned. “And how do I do that?”
“Settings,” Ria said smugly. “Like before. Just think about organizing your skills.”
Aiden focused, and—sure enough—a new settings menu appeared:
[M] -------------------- [X]
Skill Management Options:
Default List (All Skills - Chaotic Nightmare Mode?) (Currently Selected)
Combat Skills (Only battle-relevant skills shown)
Knowledge Skills (Theory, crafting, and research-related skills shown)
Activity Skills (General skills like survival, cooking, or, apparently, Pigeon Shooing)
Essential Skills View (Shows only frequently used or critical skills)
--------------------
Aiden blinked. “Okay this looks useful.”
“No skeed,” Gigi grumbled. “Pick the Essential Skills setting, then tweak it later.”
Aiden selected Essential Skills, and suddenly, the overwhelming flood of minor abilities vanished, leaving only the most relevant ones visible. His interface looked cleaner, sharper, and way less headache-inducing.
Ria nodded approvingly. “Now, you won’t have to dig through a hundred useless skills to find what matters. You can swap views whenever you want.”
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Aiden exhaled, relieved. “Finally. No more getting distracted by skills I’ll never use.”
Ria tilted her head. “Except ‘Handling Difficult People.’ You’ll be using that one a lot.”
Gigi let out a low chuckle.
Aiden laughed at Gigi''s comment, but a setting popped up allowing him to move Handling Difficult People into the essential list. He did and then examined his cleaned up list of skills.
[M] -------------------- [X]
[Skills]
Animal Psychology (Rare): level 3
Animal Trapping (Common): level 5
Arcane Channeling (Rare): level 3
Avian Handling (Uncommon): level 4
Blacksmithing (Rare): level 8
Conflict Diffusion (Rare): level 3
Crowd Navigation (Common): level 5
Enchantment Basics (Rare): level 3
Fast Hands (Uncommon): level 3
Forest Husbandry (Rare): level 7
Forge Control (Uncommon): level 6
Handling Difficult People (Rare): level 4
Instinctual Translation (Unique): level 3
Inventory Management (Common)
Leatherworking (Common): level 8
Mana Control (Rare): level 2
Metalworking (Rare): level 8
Nature’s Meditation (Rare): level 5
Predator Awareness (Uncommon): level 4
Riding - Horse (Common)
Rune Comprehension (Exotic): level 3
Situational Awareness (Uncommon): level 5
Steady Mind (Rare)
Tool Crafting (Rare): level 8
Tradesman (Uncommon): level 4
Urban Stealth (Common): level 4
Weapon Forging (Rare): level 7
Weapon Maintenance (Common): level 8
Wilderness Stealth (Uncommon): level 5
--------------------
Aiden dismissed the notification after glancing over the details using the skill to focus his thoughts.
"We can consider go over all my skills and Seeker details later. We need to first conceal the remaining trail and campsite."
"Bing: Steady Mind is level 2."
Aiden leaned against the tree. His body may have been healed, but the events of the past few days and weeks were catching up to him. If they were going to get the trail and campsite done, he needed to conserve his energy. An almost guilty thought popped instantly into his mind.
“Gigi?”
“Yes, pup?”
“I can’t exactly run through the forest, cleaning up our tracks. Can I… maybe I can ride on your back?” He tried to keep his voice neutral, but excitement bubbled up. Riding a Shadow Wolf? It was the stuff of legends.
Sharp chirping laughter burst from Ria.
Gigi’s ears flattened against her head and growled. “Absolutely not. I am a shadow guardian, not some… some fair pony ride!”
Aiden pushed off the tree, suddenly feeling foolish. Of course, she was right. Gigi was an intelligent being who was powerful and proud. The thought of riding her, while exhilarating, had been presumptuous.
Ria fluttered her wings in agitation. "Oh, don''t be such a prissy tail, Gigi! Aiden should ride you."
Gigi''s hackles raised. "I''m not an urding horse for a human to bounce on!"
"You''re the one who can move without leaving tracks, you overgrown furball!" Ria squawked.
"Watch it, feather duster," Gigi growled. "Or I''ll use you as a chew toy."
Aiden stepped forward holding his hands up, "Look, we need to clean up our trail and get to the village. I can do that on foot. It will just take longer."
Ria hopped onto Gigi''s snout, glaring directly into her eyes. "Listen here, you mangy mutt. Either you let Aiden ride, or I''ll peck your eyes out while you sleep."
Gigi snapped her teeth, barely missing Ria as she fluttered away. "You wouldn''t dare, you pint-sized pigeon!" She hissed spitting out a couple of small red feathers.
"Try me, fleabag," Ria chirped defiantly.
Aiden sighed, "It''s okay, Gigi. Sorry I even asked."
Gigi''s ears flattened against her head. She glared at Ria, then at Aiden. Finally, with a dramatic huff, she lowered herself to the ground. "Fine! But if you pull my fur, I''m dumping you in the nearest thorn bush."
Startled at the invitation, Aiden just stared.
"Get on pup, before I change my mind," Gigi growled.
Aiden wasted no more time climbing onto her back.
"Just don''t get used to it," Gigi grumbled. "I''m not a mount."
Gigi began walking towards Aiden''s and Bram''s campsite. Ria perched on Gigi''s back, muttering, "Stubborn, pig-headed wolf. You let me ride you all the time."
Gigi''s ear twitched. "Shut it, you flying rat."
Ria twisted to look at Aiden and winked, but thankfully, she didn''t say anything more.
Gigi twisted and took a few tentative steps. Then moved a little faster.
Aiden, perched precariously on Gigi''s back, gripped her thick fur as she moved with a silent grace that belied her size. The forest floor seemed to ripple beneath her paws, the undergrowth parting before them as if guided by an unseen hand.
Gigi slowed at the next patch of Bram''s and Aiden''s path between the camp and the interlink chamber. Aiden held on to Gigi''s fur, but activated Steady Mind, Forest Kinship, and finally cast Verdant Dominion with as little magic as he sensed the spell needed. Again the plants and forest responded to his call and direction. In the span of a couple of minutes, there was no trace of their path.
Gigi grunted and moved on to the next section as Aiden used the travel time to recover using Nature''s Meditation.
* * *
An hour later, they had repeated the process again and again, slowly working their way toward Aiden and Bram’s campsite. Somewhere along the way, Aiden had felt the now-familiar pulse of progress, though he barely had the energy to acknowledge it.
With each casting, the effort weighed heavier on him. At first, it had just been a dull ache at the base of his skull, but as the hour stretched on, it grew into a throbbing headache, pressing behind his eyes. His limbs felt sluggish, and his grip on Gigi’s fur less certain. Verdant Dominion became harder to control, the once-fluid flow of magic turning choppy and erratic.
By the time the campsite finally came into view, Aiden was fighting to keep focus, the spell demanding more from him than it had at the start. Relief flooded through him, though it did little to push back the growing exhaustion dragging at his thoughts.
“Good,” Gigi rumbled, her voice vibrating against his legs. “You’ve got the hang of it now.”
A bell tolled in his mind. But, the sound didn’t just ring — it resonated, sending a shiver down his spine. For a brief moment, the throbbing in his head faded, replaced by a strange, creeping stillness, as if the world had momentarily held its breath.
Then came the system’s voice — not neutral, not cold, but… pleased.
Aiden swallowed. This couldn’t be good.
"BING!"
[M] -------------------- [X]
New Skill Unlocked: Giant Wolf Riding (Epic)
TL;DR: Congrats! You tricked a lethal predator into being your personal transport. Let’s see how long that lasts.
Details: Somehow, against all common sense, you’ve managed to convince a massive, flesh-rending apex predator to tolerate you on its back. This skill provides:
Basic Stability: You can stay mounted most of the time — unless your ride decides otherwise.
Instinctive Bracing: Your body adapts slightly to the wolf’s movements, reducing fall damage when (not if) you get tossed. Improving the wolf''s ability to move naturally.
Higher levels may improve balance, grant better control, and possibly (big maybe) reduce your mount’s desire to buck you into a tree. However, considering you just single-handedly tanked this predator''s level, your biggest challenge isn’t balance — it’s survival. If you ever unlock Wolf Rider’s Bond, it won’t be to control her movements… it’ll be to stop her from "accidentally" launching you into a tree.
--------------------
And the moment the system stopped mocking him, Aiden heard the same bell chime and voice again — only this time, it was distant, muffled, like a warning heard through a fog.
The reason for the distortion became horrifyingly clear when Gigi went completely, murderously stiff beneath him. The air around them dropped a degree, her fur bristling as a low, guttural growl rumbled from deep within her chest.
[M] -------------------- [X]
System Notification:
New Skill Unlocked: Mount (Basic)
Oh, Gigi… this is a momentous occasion! Against every primal instinct screaming at you, against your towering sense of self-respect, you have begrudgingly accepted the unthinkable: a rider. This skill allows you to tolerate one lesser being clinging to your glorious form — just barely — without immediately flinging them into the nearest tree.
With time, great patience (and probably copious bribery), you may even unlock the Pack Mule skill. Imagine the honor! The prestige! The absolute humiliation of being an overgrown luggage carrier! But hey, keep telling yourself this is a strategic choice and not a catastrophic blow to your dignity.
--------------------
Aiden gulped.
Gigi’s growl deepened, vibrating through his ribs. He swore he could feel the system message burning itself into her very soul, a cosmic insult she would never, ever forget.
"Uh, Gigi?" His voice barely cracked past his throat. "I didn’t — I mean, I — look, we can talk about this!"
Then, from behind them, Ria let out a single, choked snort before collapsing into full-blown hysterics. Her wings twitching, her laughter shaking her entire frame until — whoop — she slid right off Gigi’s back, landing in a heap on the dirt, kicking her feet in the air.
"Oh — oh gods," she wheezed between shrieks of laughter. "Shadow Wolf Guardian, Mount," another breathless cackle, "and a skill path to Pack Mule! I can''t — I can’t breathe!"
Aiden would’ve been concerned for her health, but at the moment, his focus was more on not dying.
He could feel Gigi’s fury through their bond.
"Bing! Shadow Wolf Guardian Bond is level 2."
"Okay," he tried, his voice barely above a squeak. "I, uh… I formally apologize for everything. Please, please don’t kill me."
The growl paused, just for a second. Then, with terrifying precision, Gigi twitched — just enough to send him flying straight off her back.
Aiden yelped, flailed — then met the ground with an undignified thud.
Ria, still gasping on the ground, only laughed harder.