《Star Walker》 The Worst Day of My Life Colin¡¯s life wasn¡¯t special, but it certainly wasn¡¯t bad. He had an okay job that paid the bills and left a little extra for fun. He had friends, an on-again, off-again girlfriend who was his first crush, and a loving family that included his mom, dad, brother, and sister. He even had interesting hobbies that brought him good memories and relaxation. His main pastime was camping and hiking. Colin loved getting out into the tree-filled mountains of the national parks, spending days at a time in a hammock or cabin. He could start a fire, set up a brush shelter, and even do some moderate carving to make rudimentary tools. These skills had been ingrained in him by his father, an avid outdoorsman in his own right. Although Colin had some minor hunting and trapping skills, he never really got into that part of the outdoorsman lifestyle; it just never suited him. The worst day of Colin¡¯s life started pretty normally. He woke up, ate breakfast, drank a cup of coffee, and got ready for his job at the office. His drive through the mountains and valleys of his small town during the fall season was scenic, with vibrant oranges and reds spread out on either side of the road as he made his way into the city. Suddenly, while distracted by a particularly beautiful grove of oaks with vibrant orange foliage, it happened. He felt the impact, heard the crunch of metal, and the shattering of glass, before he found himself staring down at the valley floor far below the mountainside road. His brain barely had time to comprehend what was happening before the vehicle slammed into the ground, and the world around him went black. [System Initializing] [Race detected: Human] [Class: Error, no assigned class] [Please select Class:] [No Sub-classes Currently Available] ¡°Huh? W¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡± Colin felt himself floating in a vast expanse of nothingness. In front of him, he could see nothing but green text imprinted against the black background surrounding him. ¡°A class? Is this a dream? Or¡­?¡± He strained to look left and right but saw nothing. He attempted to lift his hands in front of his face, only to discover that either they didn¡¯t exist or he couldn¡¯t see them in this inky blackness. ¡°Weird. Some sort of lucid dream, I guess.¡± Colin pondered the choices in front of him, reminiscent of the old RPG games he used to play in high school. It had been years since he last played, but he recalled always enjoying stealth-based games. That preference probably stemmed from his introverted personality, but now wasn¡¯t the time to delve into that rabbit hole. ¡°Rogue.¡± [Class chosen: Rogue] [Are you sure?] ¡°Yes.¡± [Class locked: Rogue] If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [Analyzing] [Analyzing] [Human: Colin has been Analyzed] [Stats:] [Analyzing] [Would you like to choose a Profession now?] [Note: Professions may be changed for free once within 24 hours of initiation, as long as you qualify for the profession.] ¡°A profession, huh? That¡¯s new. I never saw that in the games I played¡­ It can¡¯t hurt to at least take a look at the options. Yes.¡± [Profession:] ¡°Oh wow¡­ some of these are just¡­ dark.¡± Colin was shocked by the options presented to him. Surely some were related to his class, while others seemed based on his actual abilities. He quickly dismissed the idea of being an assassin, thief, or bandit. Playing the villain had never been his strong suit; he always tried to find ways to resolve issues without resorting to violence. He found himself torn between two options: Guide and Hunter. They seemed similar on the surface, at least in relation to what he understood about these professions in the real world. ¡°Is there any way to get more info on these?¡± he thought. Just then, two descriptions popped up in front of him. [Guide: You have traversed the wilds and grown close to them. You are as comfortable among a hunting party as you are on a solo search and rescue mission. You often lead people through the harsh wilderness, if the price is right. +2 to Wisdom, +1 to Luck.] [Hunter: You are an apex predator. Nothing escapes your sight in the wild, and your bow has taken the lives of many woodland critters. You¡¯re skilled in tracking and butchering the beasts you hunt, rarely going hungry in nature. +2 to Wisdom, +1 to Dexterity.] Colin blinked, surprised to receive more information than he had anticipated. It seemed to follow a standard RPG format for stat buffs and lines. He could also now infer what the other shortened stat names represented, thanks to these descriptions. If he knew anything, it was that raising Luck was typically challenging. ¡°I¡¯d like to select Guide as my profession.¡± Colin wasn¡¯t sure why he was speaking to the system as though it were a living being, but it just felt¡­ right. [Profession: Guide] [Are you sure?] ¡°Yes.¡± [System Initializing] [Selections confirmed] [Welcome to Kythros, Colin.] Then everything went white¡­ Just a Dream Colin awoke several hours later, a soft breeze washing over him as he lay under a shady tree atop a large hill. As he sat up, he began to take in more of his surroundings. It was a beautiful scene¡ªrolling hills and tall trees stretched out around him, with a simple dirt path about a hundred feet below. In the distance, he could see a village surrounded by tall wooden walls. ¡°Well, I guess now¡¯s as good a time as any to start walking¡­¡± Colin muttered to himself. He stood up and did a quick stretch, allowing himself a moment to adjust to this strange dream world. His mind felt a bit fuzzy, so he shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Something was nagging at him, but he couldn¡¯t quite place it. Pushing the thought aside, he made his way down the hill toward the trail. It was a beautiful day. The trees along the path offered brief spells of shade on the cool, sunlit day. Colin felt the warmth of the sun sink into his skin when the trees gave way. As he walked, he suddenly realized he wasn¡¯t wearing his usual joggers and hoodie. Instead, he had on light linen trousers, a soft woolen tunic, and a pair of supple, yet sturdy, leather boots. ¡°Huh¡­ That¡¯s weird. I guess it fits the vi¡ª¡± A soft rustling from a nearby bush interrupted his thoughts. Colin didn¡¯t feel immediately alarmed, but curiosity got the better of him. He crouched down and silently waited to see what would emerge from the bush. [Stealth skill obtained, level 1] [Passive skill Perception obtained, level 1] Colin barely reacted to the notifications that appeared before him. He had almost forgotten about that part of his dream. But before he could dwell on it, a shadow darted from the bush toward his legs. A sharp, stinging pain radiated from his upper thigh. Wincing, Colin looked down and his eyes widened. A crude, rusted dagger was lodged in his thigh, and blood had already started seeping from the wound, staining his pants. The hand gripping the dagger was strange, green-tinged with only four fingers. As his eyes followed the arm up to its face, he realized just how real this dream felt. Time seemed to slow as he locked eyes with the creature¡ªa goblin. [Identify skill obtained, level 1] [Passive skill Combat Time obtained, level 1] [Identify activated: Target: Goblinoid] [Goblin, level 1. 5/5 hp remaining] Instinct took over as Colin drove his fist into the creature¡¯s face. He felt something give under his knuckles, followed by a sharp crack. His hand throbbed with pain, but there was no time to dwell on it. The goblin rolled backward, landing in a crouch, its bared teeth shining in the sunlight. Its nose was smashed sideways across its face. [Goblin, level 1. 3/5 hp remaining] [Combat skill Unarmed Fighting obtained, level 1] If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. [You have been poisoned by Rusty Dagger, -1 hp per hour until poison is removed] "Wait, I have hit points??? How many do I have?" Colin''s thoughts raced as the sharp pain in his thigh dulled to a throbbing ache. [Colin, level 1. 3/6 hp remaining] Colin¡¯s face paled as he read the notification. He was already at half-health after a single attack. Remembering his father¡¯s advice on treating puncture wounds, he left the rusty dagger in his leg. Removing it could risk further blood loss, and with no treatment, he knew he only had about three hours before the poison killed him. Running wasn¡¯t an option with a knife in his leg, so he decided his only chance was to fight. He tried to sound confident. ¡°Come here, you little freak, let¡¯s do this,¡± he taunted, immediately cringing at his own attempt. He was never good at trash talk. But despite his terrible delivery, it seemed to work. The goblin snarled and charged at him again. [Combat skill Taunt obtained, level 1] There was no time to process the notification as the goblin shot toward his legs again. This time, Colin moved faster than he thought possible, jerking his knee up and out. The goblin, unable to stop its charge, slammed face-first into Colin¡¯s knee. Seizing the moment, Colin used his size to his advantage, tackling the stunned creature to the ground. The goblin didn¡¯t even resist as he pinned its hips beneath him and began raining punches down on its head. [Unarmed combat leveled up, level 2] [Unarmed combat leveled up, level 3] It was over after two more hits. But Colin didn¡¯t stop. His fists kept pounding into the goblin¡¯s face until it was nothing but a bloody, bruised mess. He knelt there, his hands sinking into the dirt on either side of the goblin''s head, panting. His fists ached, his thigh throbbed, and his mind went blank. He had just beaten something to death with his bare hands. His stomach churned, and he vomited his last meal onto what remained of the goblin¡¯s face. Rolling off to the side, he lay on his back in the middle of the path, staring up at the bright blue sky. The thoughts he had pushed aside now came rushing back, and one thing was abundantly clear¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a dream. Colin lay in a daze until a soft ding snapped him back to the present. He focused on the notifications in front of him. He barely remembered the skill level-ups, but other notifications caught his attention. [Goblin defeated. 10 EXP gained] [Congratulations! You have leveled up! Please confirm the level-up to proceed] [You have lost 1 HP from blood poisoning] [You have lost 1 HP from blood poisoning] [You are critically low on health] His eyes widened as he realized he had been lying there for at least two hours. He was down to just 1 HP and had no idea how long until the next hour. Panic surged through him. He focused on the level-up notification, willing the confirmation to appear. [Congratulations! You have leveled up! Please confirm the level-up to proceed.] [Note: Leveling up will restore your HP, provide you with a set number of ¡°Free Points,¡± and heal any status conditions. Would you like to proceed? Yes or No.] Colin let out a breath he didn¡¯t realize he had been holding. Relief washed over him. A soft ding pulled his attention again. [Calm Mind skill obtained, level 1] As he read the notification, his mind suddenly cleared. For the first time in hours, he felt in control again. With his thoughts sharpened, Colin considered his options. He could yank the dagger out of his leg, but that was risky. He could level up first, heal, and then remove the dagger before it poisoned him further¡ªa safer bet, though it might cost him some HP. Or he could try something riskier: time his level-up with pulling out the dagger to avoid losing health altogether. He wrapped his hands around the dagger and brought up the level-up confirmation again. He was going to take the risk. With one swift motion, he tore the dagger from his leg while mentally screaming ¡°YES¡± at the confirmation. His health hit zero, and the world around him faded to black. A soft ding echoed in the distance. Wake Up Call Crash. Screech. Shatter. Crunch. Colin woke with a start, vivid images of a car accident flashing through his mind before quickly fading. Darkness surrounded him, though enough light seeped through a vented flap to reveal wooden benches on either side and some crates near the opening. A wagon? It seemed right. The not-so-gentle bumps beneath him helped confirm his suspicions. He could faintly hear voices outside¡ªsome to his left and right, with a pair directly behind him. "Well, at least I''m not dead," he muttered, sighing. "Damn, that goblin put up a good fight." With another sigh, Colin pulled up his status screen. [Congratulations! You¡¯re now Level 2!] [Stat Points Awarded: 7] [You Have Been Fully Restored] "Nice. No more poisoning, then. That''s a relief. Though, I think I''ll try to avoid getting that close to death in the future," he muttered. Might as well parse out these points, he thought, recalling the goblin fight. He decided to split his points between Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality: 3 into Strength, 1 into Dexterity, and 3 into Vitality. Then, he took his free points and divided them equally between Vitality and Strength, 2 to each. [You have chosen to add points to the following stats:] Strength: 5 Vitality: 5 Dexterity: 1 [Please confirm selections] Yeah, I confirm. [Thank you. Current stats:] STR: 10 DEX: 14 VIT: 12 INT: 5 WIS: 4 WIL: 9 LUC: 15 CHA: 6 FRE: 0 He considered staying hidden but dismissed the thought. If someone saved me, they can¡¯t be that bad, right? The wagon had come to a stop while he was checking his status. Just as Colin was about to poke his head through the flap, someone else shoved theirs in. He found himself staring into the eyes of a young woman. "The invalid¡¯s awake!" she called to the others. Colin was momentarily captivated by her golden irises, split by black, cat-like pupils. His gaze dropped to her sharp, pointed teeth¡ªfangs. Startled, he scrambled backward, but she reached in and grabbed him with surprising strength for her size. Colin tumbled out of the wagon, landing flat on his back and staring up at the bright sky in a daze. The sun¡¯s brilliance forced him to squint. When he reopened his eyes, several faces hovered above him. The girl from before was there, along with a short, bearded man, a blue-skinned figure with silvery hair, a lizard-like humanoid, and a purple-skinned woman with bark-like growths on her cheeks. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Too overwhelmed to speak, Colin didn¡¯t need to. The short man extended a hand. "Mornin¡¯, sunshine. Ye¡¯ were out for a mighty long time. We found ye¡¯ on the road, next t¡¯ a smashed-up goblin. Glad ye¡¯ made it through." "Th-thanks," Colin stammered. "It was tougher than I thought. I think I hit my head pretty hard... I¡¯m not really sure where I am. I¡¯m Colin, by the way. Nice to meet you." He rubbed his head, pretending to nurse a headache. The spike-toothed girl spoke first. ¡°We¡¯re right outside the town of Elderglen. I¡¯m Lyra.¡± She gestured to the others in turn: the short man, the blue-skinned figure, the lizard-like humanoid, and the purple-skinned woman. ¡°That¡¯s Bram, Kaelis, Sskarin, and Nectarine. So, what were you doing fighting a goblin at your level? You¡¯re lucky to be alive.¡± "Damn right he is," muttered Kaelis. "I¡¯m more curious how he overpowered the thing. His stats are pitiful, even for a human." "Oh, hush, K. All that matters is he¡¯s alive," Nectarine chimed in, eyeing Colin. "And it looks like he leveled up too. He¡¯s obviously new to the area, but he¡¯s at least somewhat capable as a fighter." "Yeah¡­ leveled up right before I nearly died," Colin said. "Do you mind if I join you the rest of the way to town? Traveling alone seems a bit¡­ dangerous." "Yer welcome t¡¯ join us, lad," Bram said with a hearty laugh. "Don¡¯t want no goblins gettin¡¯ ye again. And when we get to town, ye¡¯re welcome to sup with us."
A few hours later, the group reached the outskirts of Elderglen. Along the way, Colin learned a few things. First, they were in the country of Rykthon. Bram had pulled out a map from his deceptively spacious pouch and explained the lay of the land. Rykthon was the easternmost country on the continent of Kythros, and the second-largest. It was home to a race called the Ryke¡ªwhat Lyra was. Known for their magical prowess, the Ryke were considered some of the most skilled mages in the world. Lyra, however, had chosen to become a bard, focusing on magic through song and illusion. Next, Colin learned he¡¯d been unconscious for over a day, having missed several towns. The group was heading to the largest town nearby to claim a reward. Finally, Colin discovered they were part of Rykthon¡¯s Adventurer¡¯s Guild. His interest piqued at the mention of a guild; it had always fascinated him in stories and games, but the chance to join one had never come up back on Earth. "If ye don¡¯t mind me askin¡¯, Colin, what¡¯s yer class?" Bram asked as they walked. "All I get from Identify is that ye¡¯re a Level 2 human with some¡­ mediocre stats." "I don¡¯t mind telling you since you saved me. I¡¯m a rogue. My profession is Guide, though¡ªit¡¯s supposed to help with navigating the wilds. Not that it¡¯s done me much good so far." Colin chuckled, but it was half-hearted. "Huh. That¡¯s an odd profession. Guides are usually up north, closer t¡¯ the wildlands. Where did ye say ye were from again?" "Uh¡­ I didn¡¯t. I grew up in a small village farther south," Colin lied. [Skill Obtained: Deception Level 1] "Huh. Alright, forget I asked," Bram said, glancing away. Colin felt guilty for the lie, but explaining he wasn¡¯t from this world¡ªor maybe even this universe¡ªseemed impossible. "I¡¯ve got a question about the system," Colin said. "Some notifications popped up during my fight with the goblin. Is there a way to turn those off? They nearly got me killed." "Yeah, kid," Bram replied. "Just think about it with intent, and ye should be able t¡¯ shut off notifications durin¡¯ combat. They¡¯ll only pop up after. That¡¯s somethin¡¯ yer parents shoulda taught ye when ye were a kid." Colin winced due to his stupid question. Bram noticed and looked apologetic. "Sorry if I hit a sore spot. Ye an orphan?" Colin nodded, silent. He took the moment of silence to focus his intent on the system. [Would you like to turn off Combat notifications?] Yes. [Turn off all notifications? OR turn off NON-CRITICAL notifcations] [Non-critical notifications include: HP loss, Level up notifications, experience notifications, and skill notifications.] [Critical notifications include: low health, poisoning and other status effects, and kill notifications] Turn off non-critical notifications. [Non-Critical notifications have been turned off] "A sad and common thing in these parts," Bram said with a sigh. "Monsters everywhere, and not enough adventurers t¡¯ deal with ¡®em. That¡¯s why we do what we do¡ªtryin¡¯ t¡¯ make the world safer. The guild could always use a guide, even one untrained like yerself." "I wouldn¡¯t mind joining, if they¡¯d have me," Colin said. "I¡¯m not exactly trained for adventuring though¡­ I barely survived that goblin fight. Would they even want me?" "Fightin¡¯ ye can learn. Adventurin¡¯s all about spirit. Ye¡¯ve got that in spades. A Level 1 takin¡¯ on a goblin and winnin¡¯? That¡¯s rare." "Thanks, Bram." "We¡¯re here, guys! Get ready for the check-in!" Nectarine shouted from the front of the wagon. Colin looked up and saw a massive pair of metal gates ahead, framed by a stone wall that stretched outward, circling the town. They had arrived in Elderglen. Childhood Dreams Fulfilled The ¡°check-in,¡± as it turned out, was just the guards nodding as the guild members flashed their badges. The only real issue was when it was Colin¡¯s turn. The guards stopped him and asked a simple question. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Colin. I¡¯m¡­ with them?¡± He looked around nervously, worried about breaking some law he didn¡¯t know about. Thankfully, Bram stepped in to save him from further questioning. ¡°We found ¡®im on our adventure. ¡®E got into a knife fight wit¡¯ a goblin. ¡®Nd won. ¡®E¡¯s wit¡¯ us for sure, takin¡¯ ¡®im t¡¯ the guild ¡®nd such.¡± The guards nodded and waved Colin through into a bustling market street. Awestruck, he stood in the middle of the cobbled road as vendors called for his attention from nearby stalls. People flowed around him, narrowly avoiding him as they hurried to their destinations. The party stood nearby, letting him take it all in. Eventually, Nectarine stepped up beside him, gently nudging him with her elbow. ¡°Hey. We gotta get to the guild; you coming with us?¡± Her voice pulled Colin from his trance, and he nodded silently, allowing her to grab his wrist and lead him toward the rest of the group as they continued down the street. They wove through various main and side streets, taking only twenty minutes to go from the loud, lively market to the regal and silent guild hall. The Guild was massive, hundreds of feet wide and at least a hundred feet tall. Majestic golden doors marked the entry to the main hall, covered in intricate scrollwork that would have put most artists in Colin¡¯s world to shame. The building itself appeared to be made of pure marble, with huge, seamless slabs making up much of the exterior walls. Stepping inside felt like walking into a classic fantasy novel. Adventurers filled the hall, their tales ringing through the space. As they passed, Colin caught snippets of conversations, each one almost stopping him in his tracks. ¡°Then the basilisk tore his arm clean off¡ª¡± ¡°I slammed my hammer into the troll¡¯s knee so Karn could strike it right in the¡ª¡± ¡°The dragon burned the town to a crisp, but we managed to¡ª¡± By the time they reached one of the many desks in the hall, Colin¡¯s head was spinning. Bram stepped to the front of the group and began speaking to the clerk. ¡°Dusk Rose, back from patrol. Picked up a straggler along the way,¡± Bram said, motioning to Colin. ¡°Seems ¡®e wants t¡¯ join the guild. Wonderin¡¯ if ¡®e could come along wit¡¯ us fir a few contracts.¡± The clerk looked Colin over, and he took a moment to examine her as well. She appeared to be the same race as Nectarine, with bark-like growths on her cheeks and forearms. Her skin was a bright orange, softening to yellow in certain areas. ¡°You got the fee?¡± she asked Colin pointedly. Colin froze, realizing he had no currency in this world. ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± He started patting his pockets, growing more panicked as the seconds dragged on. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Ye, we got the fee,¡± Bram said, coming to the rescue again. He handed the clerk a small pouch filled with silver and copper pieces. Colin breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you. Sign here, please.¡± The clerk flicked her hand, and a screen appeared in front of Colin. It was a simple contract explaining the guild¡¯s rules and their cut from any contracts he completed. Nothing too restrictive; a person could leave or quit at any time. Colin quickly signed. ¡°Perfect! Here¡¯s your Guild Ring. Please wear this at all times while on contracts.¡± She slid a brass ring across the desk, and Colin slipped it onto his ring finger. ¡°There¡¯s a tracking spell on it, allowing the guild to find you if you go missing on a mission. It also enables telepathic communication with any party you join.¡± ¡°And how do I join a party?¡± Colin asked, confused. Suddenly, a screen popped up in front of his face. Colin read the prompt: [Would you like to join Party: Dusk Rose?] Yes [You have now joined Dusk Rose. Leader: Bram] The woman at the desk smiled as it all took place. Bram grunted something to her before turning and walking away. Colin and the others followed him to an empty table in an area that resembled a tavern. ¡°Glad t¡¯ have ye¡¯ fully aboard, kid. If ye ¡®ave any questions, we¡¯ll be glad t¡¯ answer ¡¯em,¡± Bram said as everyone took their seats. Colin definitely had questions. Several hours and a few ales later, Colin had asked every question he could think of without revealing himself as an ¡°otherworlder.¡± By the end, he felt reasonably confident he could pass as a local. He knew he might slip up occasionally, but he¡¯d figure things out as they came. Hopefully, his cover story about being from a tiny, isolated town would hold up. ¡°I think that¡¯s it for me, guys. Thanks for all the help. I¡¯m just feeling a little overwhelmed by the big city. First time here and all that. Is there anything else I should know?¡± This time, Kae answered. ¡°Don¡¯t go down the side streets at night. Stick to the main roads.¡± Cryptic, but alright. Colin assumed it was just pickpockets or similar types prowling the city at night. He nodded his thanks and moved to stand up. ¡°I can show you to a room if you¡¯d like!¡± Nectarine jumped up, grabbing Colin by the arm and pulling him away from the others. She led him up a couple of flights of stairs and down a long hallway. They passed several doors spaced a few yards apart, and Colin guessed these were the rooms he¡¯d read about. Nectarine stopped in front of one and looked up at him. ¡°Here you go. Just hold your ring in front of the door handle, and it should unlock for you if the room¡¯s empty. Then the ring and door magic will sync, and it¡¯ll be ¡®your room¡¯ until you decide otherwise.¡± Colin did as she instructed and felt the ring vibrate slightly. When it stopped, there was a soft click as the door unlocked. ¡°My room is right across the hall. Kae was right, by the way¡ªavoid the alleys and side streets at night. Honestly, it¡¯d be best if you stayed in your room or out of the city as much as possible after dark.¡± Colin nodded, though he was a little confused. Everyone he¡¯d met here had been incredibly kind, and he hadn¡¯t seen many guards on the way over, so he¡¯d assumed the city was pretty safe. ¡°Can I ask why? This seems like a nice place, not somewhere where you¡¯d really need to worry about anything.¡± ¡°Just¡­ trust us, Colin. This city isn¡¯t somewhere you want to be at night. I¡¯m off to bed, but I can stop by in the morning and take you to breakfast if you¡¯d like?¡± Colin nodded and watched as she crossed the hall to her room. He opened his door, stepping inside and taking a few minutes to look around before heading straight to bed. Lying in the surprisingly comfortable bed, he reflected on the last few days. He still wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d gotten here, but he wasn¡¯t upset about it. Life wasn¡¯t the same, but it wasn¡¯t worse, either. He knew he still had some things to sort out, but overall, he felt good about where he was. Sleep took him quicker than he realized, and before he knew it, it was morning. Learn to Walk Before You Run Colin stretched as he rolled out of bed, surprised by how comfortable the simple cot-like structure was. He didn¡¯t dwell on it, though, quickly dressing before stepping out into the hallway¡ªjust in time to see Nectarine leaving her room. ¡°Oh, Colin! Good morning,¡± she greeted brightly, her usual cheerful smile accompanied by her practical adventuring gear. ¡°I hope you slept well! Ready for breakfast?¡± ¡°Yeah, I slept great,¡± Colin replied with a grin. ¡°And breakfast sounds amazing. I¡¯m starving.¡± They headed toward the dining area, where the rest of the crew was already seated, laughing and chatting over a massive breakfast spread. Bram was the first to spot him. ¡°Ey, Colin!¡± Bram bellowed, waving him over. ¡°Come ¡®ere, lad. ¡®Ave a seat n¡¯ dig in!¡± Colin joined them, grabbing a plate and piling it high with food. He also poured himself a glass of a pinkish liquid that smelled faintly of berries. ¡°Plenty t¡¯ eat, boy,¡± Bram said with a hearty chuckle. ¡°The Guild was generous wit¡¯ our pay this time. We¡¯re headin¡¯ out tonight on another mission¡ªsimple caravan guard. Can we count ye¡¯ in?¡± Colin paused mid-bite, quickly swallowing a mouthful of eggs before nodding. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m in. I need to learn how to defend myself better, and I can¡¯t think of a safer way to do that than with you guys.¡± Kae raised a skeptical eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Colin¡¯s frame. ¡°How¡¯re you gonna defend yourself with no gear? Or do we need to buy your armor and sword for you, too?¡± Before Colin could respond, a heavy thud beside him made him jump. Bram had dropped a large sack onto the floor with a grin. ¡°Already taken care of, Kae,¡± Bram said. ¡° ¡®E killed a goblin on the roadways¡ªGuild paid him handsomely. I took it on m¡¯self to grab ¡®im some gear: armor, shortsword, knife, backpack, bedroll¡ªthe works.¡± Kae¡¯s sneer faltered slightly, though it was clear he still wasn¡¯t thrilled. ¡°Fine. But if he gets himself into trouble, it¡¯s on you. I¡¯m not babysitting.¡± With that, he stood and stalked off, leaving the rest of the group watching Colin expectantly. ¡°Well?¡± Lyra¡¯s feline eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned forward. ¡°Are you gonna try it on, or just sit there blushing like a newlywed?¡± ¡°O-oh, right.¡± Colin fumbled with the sack¡¯s cord, cheeks burning. As the bag opened, his new gear spilled out onto the floor. His eyes widened at the sight: chainmail, a few plated pieces, and two sheathed blades. He picked up the armor first. The system automatically activated as he examined it. [Standard Mail Armor] Protects against most non-magical attacks. Weight: 35 lbs Quality: High Additional Effect: Vitality +1 while wearing. Equip? Yes/No ¡°Yes,¡± Colin thought. The armor shimmered before snapping into place around his body. He marveled at the fit¡ªit was like it had been made just for him. He noticed there was no helmet, which felt odd, but Bram spoke up before he could comment. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Fits ye¡¯ like a glove,¡± Bram said approvingly. ¡°Didn¡¯t know if ye¡¯ wanted a helmet, but I¡¯ve got one if ye¡¯ need it.¡± Colin swung his arms experimentally, testing the armor¡¯s mobility. It didn¡¯t hinder his movements at all, and the lack of a helmet gave him a wide field of vision. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be fine without it for now. Thank you, Bram. You didn¡¯t have to do all this for me.¡± Bram clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. ¡°Yer one o¡¯ us now, lad. It¡¯s what we do.¡± Next, Colin picked up one of the blades¡ªa shortsword. He slid it from its scabbard, revealing a shimmering blue metal speckled with what looked like tiny stars. [Starmetal Shortsword] A blade forged from the rarest of all metals. Legends say it could cut through the stars themselves. Weight: 1.5 lbs Quality: Supreme Additional Effects: Dexterity +3, Willpower +2. Allows wielder to channel magic to blend with surroundings (scales with Stealth). Equip? Yes/No Colin stared, awestruck. This was no ordinary blade¡ªit was extraordinary, even without fully understanding this world¡¯s economy. The gasps from the table confirmed his suspicion. ¡°A gift from an old friend,¡± Bram said quietly. ¡° ¡®E told me t'' pass it on t'' someone who piqued my interest. Ye¡¯ piqued my interest, boy. Treat it well.¡± Colin swallowed hard, sliding the blade back into its scabbard and tying it to his belt. ¡°Thank you, Bram,¡± he said, voice thick with emotion. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I did to deserve all this, but I¡¯ll do my best to make you proud.¡± Bram nodded gruffly, but his eyes betrayed a hint of warmth. The rest of the items were less extraordinary but equally thoughtful: a sturdy backpack, a bedroll, and a knife with a simple yet elegant design. Colin strapped the knife to his back in a comfortable scout carry before slinging the pack over his shoulder. As he finished gearing up, he turned to Bram again. ¡°I hate to ask for more, but¡­ would you or someone else be able to show me some basic sword techniques?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be my ssspecialty,¡± Sskarin hissed, speaking up for the first time. She stood, motioning for Colin to follow. ¡°Let¡¯ss sstart with ssstancess before the missssion.¡± Colin nodded eagerly, trailing after her toward a door at the edge of the dining hall, ready to take his first steps as a true adventurer. ____________________________________________________________________________ Sskarin, as it turned out, was a master swordswoman. She had been trained from a young age to wield a blade¡ªnot just as a weapon, but as an art form. She hailed from a distant land called Eegua (pronounced Ay-Ee-Guah) and referred to herself as a "Rexlan." For hours, she drilled Colin relentlessly. She started with the basics, forcing him to hold specific stances, then meticulously adjusting his posture as she circled him. He hadn¡¯t even touched an actual sword yet; instead, he wielded the mightiest of beginner tools¡ªa stick. ¡°You¡¯re locking your kneesss again,¡± she hissed, tapping his leg with her own stick. ¡°You need to relax your musssclesss and stay limber. Locking up in battle will get you¡ªor your teammatesss¡ªkilled.¡± Colin grunted, shifting his weight and trying to relax his burning muscles. ¡°So, what¡¯s Eegua like?¡± he asked, hoping for a distraction. ¡°Hot. Humid.¡± She slapped the back of his calf, making him flinch and collapse to one knee. ¡°Lotsss of jungle. Beautiful, in my opinion, but many of your people find it oppressssing. You¡¯re putting too much weight on your back leg. Try to ssshoot for a more balanced ssstance. Like thisss.¡± Sskarin moved in front of him and slid smoothly into a stance she had earlier called the ¡°Ox Guard.¡± Her movements were fluid, almost serpentine. She gestured for him to observe. ¡°Now, try and pusssh me.¡± Colin stood, placing his hands on her shoulders, and pushed. To his surprise, she didn¡¯t budge¡ªnot even slightly. Her stance was solid, her posture unyielding, but she neither stumbled nor lost her guard. ¡°Sssee? Balanssse,¡± she said, her tone instructive. ¡°It helps keep your footing and lets you block an opponent¡¯s blade without faltering.¡± And so it went¡ªhours of repetition, adjustments, and sharp smacks from her stick to correct his form. By the time they were done, Colin¡¯s entire body ached. Every muscle burned, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling hopeful. He had learned more about swordsmanship in a single session than he thought possible. His optimism soared even further when Bram stopped by near the end of the lesson, watching them with an approving grin. ¡°Well?¡± Bram asked, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorway. ¡°Acceptable,¡± Sskarin said with a nod. ¡°We can make a sswordssman out of him yet, Bram.¡± Colin straightened, suppressing a groan as he adjusted his sore limbs. Despite the exhaustion, he smiled. For the first time, he felt like he was genuinely on the path to becoming a capable adventurer. Innocent Until Proven Guilty There wasn¡¯t much time to rest. After Bram¡¯s arrival, the group packed up their belongings and set out toward the city gates. The sun dipped behind the hills to the west, painting the sky in stunning hues of orange, pink, red, and blue. Colin couldn¡¯t help but admire the shifting colors, a rare moment of peace before their journey began. Up ahead, Kae and Lyra exchanged lighthearted chatter while Bram led the group with his steady, confident gait. Nectarine and Sskarin walked silently behind Colin, their presence calm but reassuring. Colin¡¯s heart raced with anticipation¡ªhis first mission had come quicker than he anticipated. For the first time, he felt part of a team, surrounded by people he could (mostly) call friends. Excitement buzzed through him, mingling with a hint of fear. He still didn¡¯t fully understand how he had ended up in this world, but he wasn¡¯t complaining. The thought of his previous life was hazy at best¡ªa blurry wall of memories blocking his attempts to recall anything. He vaguely remembered heading to work... but nothing beyond that. Lost in thought, Colin accidentally bumped into Lyra, jolting himself back to the present. ¡°Oh! Sorry, Lyra. Really, I¡¯m super sorry,¡± he stammered, blushing as she turned to him with an exaggeratedly grumpy expression. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I guess. But you owe me now,¡± she teased, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. She couldn¡¯t hold the act for long and burst into a giggle. ¡°Just kidding. You okay?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Colin replied, scratching the back of his head. ¡°I was just thinking about how I got here and how fast everything¡¯s been happening.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure it all feels like a whirlwind for a country bumpkin like you,¡± she quipped with a mock salute. ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªwe¡¯ll take care of you.¡± Turning back, she rejoined the conversation with the caravan leader. Colin shook off his embarrassment and decided to pay attention to the man addressing the group. ¡°My name¡¯s Grayne,¡± the caravan leader began. He was tall and broad, with dark skin and equally dark hair, but his striking orange eyes immediately drew Colin¡¯s attention. They had cat-like slits, much like Lyra¡¯s, and his pointed ears hinted at something otherworldly. ¡°This is my caravan,¡± Grayne continued, his voice commanding. ¡°And you¡¯ll follow my rules. We travel by night and rest during the day in shifts. No one looks in the wagons without my permission. If you understand and still want to get paid, we leave in ten minutes. If not, stay here.¡± Short and to the point. Colin couldn¡¯t help but feel the man was a bit on edge, but he set the thought aside as he moved toward Bram, who was muttering to Kae. ¡°-ght. ¡®E¡¯s beggin¡¯ t¡¯ get raided, Kae. This¡¯ll be a dangerous trip,¡± Bram finished, his tone gruff. Kae noticed Colin approaching and gave him a hard stare before walking off to speak with Grayne. ¡°Hey, Bram,¡± Colin began hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯m new to this whole adventuring thing, but... those rules don¡¯t sound normal for a caravan mission.¡± ¡°Ye¡¯d be right, boy,¡± Bram replied, stroking his braided beard thoughtfully. The rings and beads adorning it caught the quickly fading sunlight, briefly distracting Colin. ¡°Night¡¯s a dangerous time on these roads. Mercs, thieves, beasties, ghoulies¡ªyou name it. Not t¡¯ mention whatever else lurks in the dark.¡± Bram sighed, his expression heavy. ¡°T¡¯ be honest wit¡¯ ya, boy, I¡¯m not sure I trust this Grayne feller much. Stick close t¡¯ the group and don¡¯t wander too far. Sskarin says ye¡¯ve got potential as a warrior, but ye¡¯ll have t¡¯ stay alive t¡¯ see that future.¡± Colin swallowed hard as Bram slapped his back reassuringly. Despite Bram¡¯s larger-than-life personality, Colin was reminded of how short the man actually was¡ªbarely reaching Colin¡¯s chest. ¡°Don¡¯tcha worry, lad,¡± Bram said with a wink. ¡°We¡¯ll keep ye¡¯ safe. Even Kae, despite how he¡¯s been actin¡¯. He¡¯s wary o¡¯ newcomers¡ªcomes with the blue skin, I reckon.¡± Bram chuckled before continuing. ¡°I¡¯m off t¡¯ tell Grayne we¡¯re on board. Can¡¯t miss out on a payday, eh?¡± As Bram walked away, Colin mulled over his words. ¡°Comes with the blue skin.¡± He had figured Kae wasn¡¯t human¡ªor at least not a typical one¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t given it much thought until now. ¡°Whatcha thinkin¡¯ about, Colin?¡± Lyra¡¯s voice startled him. She was suddenly beside him, peering up with curiosity. ¡°Oh, uh...¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°What race is Kae, exactly? I mean, he¡¯s blue. We don¡¯t have... blue people where I¡¯m from. Bram said something that made me think his attitude¡¯s tied to his, uh, blue-ness.¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s a Frosk,¡± Lyra explained casually. ¡°They¡¯re northerners. Live in the snow, good with ice magic, train Drakes¡ªstuff like that. They¡¯re grumpy, though. Solitude for the last 400 years¡¯ll do that to a people.¡± Frosk. Got it, Colin thought. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Drakes, huh? Do you think Kae ever¡ª¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Lyra interrupted. ¡°Only elites get to do that stuff. Kae¡¯s... kind of an outcast. That¡¯s why he¡¯s here. He told me he wasn¡¯t allow¡ª¡± She was cut off by a blue hand clamping over her mouth. Kae had appeared behind her, scowling. ¡°I¡¯d thank you to stop talking about me to the newbie,¡± Kae growled. ¡°If I thought it was important for him to know, I¡¯d tell him myself.¡± Lyra mumbled something into his hand. Kae¡¯s expression shifted to disgust as he quickly pulled his hand away. ¡°Did... Did you just lick me?¡± he demanded. ¡°Yep,¡± Lyra replied smugly. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t want your hand on my face anymore.¡± Kae stared at her, dumbfounded, before muttering, ¡°...Fair enough. But stop telling him about me.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she said with a grin, entirely unapologetic. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The first night passed quickly. Not long after the incident between Kae and Lyra, Grayne barked out orders, which the group obeyed promptly. They set out along the road, heading southwest to Colin''s best approximation. To pass the time, Colin chatted with Nectarine and Lyra. Both were surprisingly talkative despite the tense atmosphere. Their conversations meandered between the fabricated life Colin had concocted for himself and the local goings-on in the city, making vague plans for what they might do after the mission. In his story, Colin was from a poor farming community. His family had used their last savings to send him away in hopes of finding success. But before he left, a raid destroyed the village, leaving no survivors. It was a cover story he hoped would hold up¡ªhard to confirm, but just as hard to disprove, given the lack of witnesses. He clung to the tale until his memories of his old life returned. ¡°¡ªbest chicken. You have to try it, Colin!¡± Lyra exclaimed, her excitement breaking his train of thought. ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah, definitely! My treat when we get back,¡± Colin replied with a grin. It had been a long time since he felt this kind of camaraderie. The closest he could remember were the survival hikes he went on back in the scouts. ¡°Treating us to dinner, eh? When did you get so polite?¡± Lyra teased, smirking. ¡°Oh, stop it, Lyra. It¡¯s only been a couple of days since we found him, and he¡¯s done a swell job of being a decent person,¡± Nectarine chimed in with a grin. Colin felt his cheeks flush and silently thanked the darkness for concealing his embarrassment. ¡°Life¡¯s been pretty hectic recently,¡± he admitted. ¡°But this walk¡¯s been... kind of nice.¡± The group pressed on until dawn, when the sun finally crested the eastern treetops. Grayne gave the signal to stop. ¡°Set up camp,¡± he ordered, his tone curt. ¡°Away from the caravan if you can. Rest up. We head out at dusk.¡± Colin followed Lyra and Nectarine toward the trees, meeting up with the rest of the crew. The others had experienced an uneventful night, and conversation was sparse as they busied themselves setting up camp and starting a fire to cook their meal. Finding a spot between two sturdy trees, Colin set up his makeshift shelter. He stretched a tarp into an A-frame, tying quick knots to secure it, then unrolled his bedroll beneath it. The bedroll was a marvel to him¡ªheavy canvas filled with something soft, like down, but without the pesky feathers poking through. It even had a pocket that could hold a thin mattress or leaf litter for extra cushioning, though it hardly needed it. Compared to his old sleeping bag back on Earth, this was luxury. Satisfied with his setup, he wandered back to the fire, where Kae was preparing a meal. The others were still occupied with their own tasks, so Colin decided to use the moment to try breaking through Kae¡¯s icy demeanor. ¡°Sorry about the city,¡± Colin began hesitantly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to intru¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault Lyra has a big mouth,¡± Kae interrupted, his attention fixed on the food. ¡°Being a bard will do that to a girl.¡± Colin chuckled nervously. ¡°So... Frosk, huh? I¡¯ve, uh, never heard of that before.¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve been a real backwater village you came from,¡± Kae shot back. ¡°Do you even know what a wagon is?¡± The rhetorical jab stung, and Colin felt heat rise in his face. Frustration boiled over before he could stop himself. ¡°What¡¯s your problem with me, anyway? Everyone else has been kind, but you¡ªyou¡¯re just a jerk! What did I do to make you hate me so much?¡± Kae finally looked up, locking eyes with Colin. His gaze was sharp, calculating. ¡°I don¡¯t like you,¡± Kae said plainly. ¡°Why? Because something¡¯s off about you. Your backstory is flimsy at best. You somehow killed a goblin unarmed despite having zero combat experience. You know strange things but are clueless about normal things. It doesn¡¯t add up, and I don¡¯t like that¡ªor you.¡± Kae turned back to the fire, his voice calm and matter-of-fact as he continued. ¡°But the others trust you, and that¡¯s enough for me not to kill you outright. So, I¡¯ll keep watching you. I¡¯ll scrutinize every word and every action. And if I ever think you¡¯re a threat to this group, I¡¯ll end you.¡± A chill ran down Colin¡¯s spine. The coldness in Kae¡¯s tone was unmistakable. He wasn¡¯t bluffing¡ªKae meant every word. Before Colin could respond, Bram approached, his booming voice breaking the tension. ¡°Girlies! Kae¡¯s got food ready! Git over here so we can eat and get some sleep!¡± Dinner was simple but hearty¡ªmeat, vegetables, and a mix of spices Colin couldn¡¯t identify but thoroughly enjoyed. He ate in silence, responding to questions with brief nods or murmurs, his mind too preoccupied with Kae¡¯s words. As soon as the meal was finished, Colin excused himself, retreating to his bedroll. Lying on his back, he stared at the tarp above, lost in thought. How did I get here? Why am I here? Why does this world feel so strangely familiar¡ªand yet so alien? One question spiraled into the next as exhaustion crept over him. His eyelids grew heavy, and eventually, the weariness of the long night took hold. His vision blurred, and he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep. Fight or Flight? Skreeeeeeee¡ªSMASH! CRASH! SHATTER. Remember¡­ Colin bolted upright in his bedroll, sweat trickling down his face and back. The remnants of a dream¡ªor was it a memory?¡ªwere already fading, leaving behind only a gnawing sense of dread. Something bad had happened. Not here, not now, but somewhere. He took a shaky breath and glanced around. The sun was high, signaling midday. The forest was peaceful, the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, and a cool breeze swept through the camp. Most of the others were already awake, many of them packing up for their departure at dusk. Only Sskarin and Kae still had their tarps and bedrolls set up. Sskarin stood apart from the main group, holding a pair of sticks. Her sharp, reptilian eyes locked onto Colin¡¯s, and she gave him a toothy smirk, motioning toward the sticks. Colin sighed, resigned, and walked over. He knew what this meant¡ªanother afternoon of training. The hours flew by as they ran through stances. Unlike before, Sskarin¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t on hitting him but rather on his weapon. Thwack after thwack echoed through the clearing as her stick struck his. When his stance was correct, the stick held firm. Most of the time, though, Colin felt the painful sting of his weapon being slapped into him¡ªon his shoulders, his legs, his abdomen, even his head. His body ached from the repeated reminders of his mistakes. ¡°A valuable lesssson isss learned today, Colin,¡± Sskarin said, her voice softer than usual, though her sharp eyes held no leniency. ¡°Your sssstances are improving. I¡¯m impressssed.¡± Just as she spoke, a familiar notification appeared before Colin. [Ding] [You have leveled up! You are now Level 3!] [Free points allotted: 7] Colin froze, momentarily stunned. He hadn¡¯t seen a system notification since his conversation with Bram. Opening his menu, he felt another jolt of surprise at the changes. ____________________________________________________________________________ [STATS] STR: 10 DEX: 17 VIT: 13 INT: 5 WIS: 4 WIL: 11 LUC: 15 CHA: 6 FRE: 7 [SKILLS]
His stats had increased since the last time he checked, likely boosted by the gear Bram had given him. Now, faced with seven free points to distribute, Colin pondered his next move. His first instinct was to balance out his stats. The disparity between his physical and intellectual attributes nagged at him¡ªsomething that always bothered him when playing games back on Earth. After a moment¡¯s deliberation, he decided to allocate four points to Charisma and three to Strength.
[Free points assigned:] 4 points - Charisma 3 points - Strength Is this correct? Y/N ¡°Yes,¡± Colin thought.
[Points assigned. Please review:] STR: 13 DEX: 17 VIT: 13 INT: 5 WIS: 4 WIL: 11 If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. LUC: 15 CHA: 10 FRE: 0
Just as he finished assigning his points¡ªTHWACK!¡ªa sharp blow struck his ribs, and the air rushed out of his lungs. Colin dropped to one knee, clutching his side, and looked up at Sskarin. She grinned, clearly pleased with herself. ¡°Congratsss on the level up,¡± she hissed, her tone amused. ¡°But don¡¯t let it disssstract you.¡± She extended a hand, and Colin grasped it, using her support to stand. His arm stayed wrapped protectively around his midsection, but he managed a strained smile. ¡°Thanks. It¡¯s nice to see progress,¡± he said, still catching his breath. ¡°I¡¯m glad this system doesn¡¯t rely solely on fighting to level up. That seems... dangerous.¡± From a nearby tree, Kae scoffed but remained silent. Sskarin gave him a hard look. ¡°Your level upsss will aid you in combat too. You¡¯ll get sssstronger and fassster asss you grow.¡± She held out her hand again, and Colin obediently returned the practice stick. ¡°Now, go pack up. We leave for the caravan after thisss meal.¡± ____________________________________________________________________________ The group packed up quickly, and within fifteen minutes, they were gathered beside the caravan as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the road. Grayne stood at the front, addressing them with his usual stern composure. He outlined the plan for the night, warning them they¡¯d be traveling through territory known for bandits and Goblins. At the mention of Goblins, Colin couldn¡¯t suppress a shudder. The memory of his first encounter with one still felt raw¡ªits feral eyes, the gnashing teeth. His hand drifted to his thigh, where he¡¯d been wounded during that desperate fight. Bram noticed the movement and gave Colin a reassuring nudge with his elbow. ¡°Don¡¯tcha worry, lad. We¡¯ll gut any beasties that dare show themselves. Goblins are a cowardly bunch. Ye¡¯ only got attacked ¡®cause ye¡¯ were alone. No way anything less than a warband would dare hit this caravan¡ªand even they¡¯d think twice ¡®bout it.¡± Colin managed a weak smile but couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that Bram hadn¡¯t said the same about bandits. Grayne finished his briefing and strode toward the front of the caravan, leaving the group to take their positions. Colin moved to the wagon his crew was assigned to guard, settling between Nectarine and Lyra as usual. ¡°There he is! Grumps McGee himself,¡± Lyra teased, though her voice carried a note of concern. ¡°What happened last night? You were super quiet and went to bed early. That¡¯s not like you.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Nectarine chimed in, leaning closer. ¡°You seemed tense. Did something happen?¡± ¡°Just a spat with Kae,¡± Colin replied with a shrug, keeping his tone casual. ¡°Nothing crazy.¡± He began stretching to loosen up for the long walk ahead. As he bent to touch his toes, a sharp thunk echoed above his head. Colin tensed in confusion, spotting the crossbow bolt embedded in the wagon wall where his head had just been. Time seemed to freeze. Before he could fully process what had happened, a searing pain shot through his shoulder, spinning him sideways. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground and rolling under the wagon. As Colin lay there staring at the underside of the caravan, his thoughts scrambled, chaos erupted around him. Shouts, the clash of steel, and the unmistakable sound of arrows whizzing through the air filled the night. All hell had broken loose. ____________________________________________________________________________ Skreeeeeeee¡ªSMASH! CRASH! SHATTER. The memories hit Colin like a truck. He remembered everything: the morning drive, losing control, the helpless slide off the road. The plummet. The bone-rattling impact as his car slammed into the ground below. And the pain. The unbearable, all-encompassing pain as every bone in his body shattered. Blood poured from his wounds, pooling around him, warm at first, then chilling. He remembered the cool embrace of death, stealing his last breath. Colin had died. The realization sent a fresh wave of shock coursing through him. His chest tightened. His breathing turned shallow and ragged. He was hyperventilating, barely aware of the blood-soaked dirt beneath him or the muffled chaos rising around the wagon. Thud. Thud. Thud. Arrows slammed into the wooden sides of the wagon, dull impacts barely registering over the ringing in his ears. Movement flickered in his peripheral vision¡ªshapes darting, clashing. His friends were fighting, maybe even dying, but Colin couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t think. Panic pinned him to the earth like a weight. A hand clamped onto his arm, yanking him from his stupor. Kae. He hauled Colin to his feet, yelling something Colin couldn¡¯t hear. His mouth moved, sharp and commanding, but the words were drowned by the cacophony of battle and the pounding in Colin¡¯s skull. Kae turned sharply, his blade flashing. The thin, curved edge sliced through a bandit¡¯s neck. The man crumpled to the ground, blood spurting as his life spilled away. Colin¡¯s eyes locked onto the body, watching the light fade from the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Fight, you imbecile. FIGHT!¡± Kae¡¯s voice cut through the haze, snapping Colin back just as Kae darted off toward Bram. Bram was locked in combat with three bandits. He seemed¡­. diminished, his strength waning as blood streamed from cuts on his face and arms. The attackers circled him, pressing their advantage. Kae burst into the fray like a storm. His blade slashed across one bandit¡¯s back, causing the man to stumble forward. Without missing a beat, Kae vaulted off the man¡¯s back, launching himself at another bandit. He drove his pommel and fists into the attacker¡¯s face in a brutal flurry, leaving the man crumpled and motionless. Two attackers down in seconds. Kae moved with lethal precision, an unstoppable force in the chaos. And Colin? He was frozen. Watching. Helpless. His hand trembled as it reached for the sword at his belt. The metal felt foreign and heavy in his grasp. He tightened his grip, his knuckles white, but the world still felt distant, unreal. A piercing scream cut through the night from behind him¡ªa girl¡¯s scream. Colin¡¯s blood ran cold. Who Died? Colin pulled the blade from its sheath, the weight of it pressing heavily in his grip¡ªnot just steel, but the gravity of what he was about to do. He took a shaky breath and moved, instincts kicking in as he rounded the wagon to find the source of the scream. The first thing he saw was a group of ruffians standing in a circle, their boots striking at something¡ªno, someone. Colin¡¯s blood turned to fire. He didn¡¯t think, didn¡¯t hesitate. His legs carried him forward, and the sword arced through the air. His panic sharpened his senses, driving his body into the practiced stances Sskarin had drilled into him. They weren¡¯t perfect¡ªshe¡¯d have torn them apart¡ªbut they were enough. The bandit he targeted didn¡¯t even know Colin was there. The blade bit into his neck, grinding through bone, and the man crumpled in a heap, blood spraying in a wide arc. The others froze, momentarily distracted by the sight of their comrade¡¯s headless body. Colin¡¯s eyes flicked down to the figure on the ground¡ªLyra. Bloodied and unconscious, her body lay limp and bruised in the mud. Rage erupted in Colin¡¯s chest, hot and all-consuming. The fear evaporated, replaced by a wild, desperate fury. He swung his blade with reckless abandon. The first strike caught a woman in the chest, sending her sprawling as blood gushed from the wound. The next cleaved through a man¡¯s abdomen, eviscerating him as his scream cut short, collapsing into a heap. The remaining two bandits recovered quickly, moving to counterattack. One went high, swinging an axe, while the other lunged low with a dagger. Colin barely managed to block the axe, the clash of steel jarring his arms. The dagger struck his gut¡ªbut stopped short, caught by his armor. Gritting his teeth, Colin slammed his elbow into the dagger-wielding bandit¡¯s back, knocking him off balance. The momentary opening was enough. Colin turned on the axeman, charging him with a frenzied overhand strike. Steel met wood¡ªthe axe haft¡ªthen kept going. Colin¡¯s blade sheared clean through, continuing into the man¡¯s skull. The blade stopped halfway down, and Colin was forced to kick the man off his blood-slicked sword. The body landed with a dull thump. Colin turned to the final bandit. A boy, barely older than himself, stared back in terror. The sharp scent of urine hit Colin¡¯s nostrils. The boy had pissed himself. Colin¡¯s arms trembled. His fury ebbed, replaced by exhaustion and something colder¡ªguilt. ¡°Get out of here,¡± Colin said, his voice hoarse. The boy scrambled to his feet, tripping over himself as he fled into the woods. Colin let out a shuddering breath and knelt beside Lyra. Two fingers pressed to her neck found a faint, fluttering pulse. Relief surged through him. ¡°Still alive,¡± he murmured. Gently, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the wagon¡¯s front seat. She looked bad, but alive was good enough for now. But where had Nectarine gone... Colin¡¯s gaze caught on drag marks in the mud leading toward the trees. His stomach turned. ¡°Oh no. Nectarine.¡± Stumbling forward, he followed the marks into the underbrush. Muffled screams and grunts reached his ears, chilling him to the core. He burst through the bushes and found two men struggling to subdue Nectarine. One had his knee pressed to her back, pinning her face into the mud while tying her hands. The other was fumbling with his belt. ¡°Let her go, scumbags,¡± Colin growled, raising his sword. The bandit with the belt turned, drawing a dagger as he charged. Colin¡¯s arms ached, especially the one still pierced by a crossbow bolt, but he forced himself into a defensive stance. The dagger struck at him. Colin barely managed to parry, stepping aside and kicking forward with all his strength. His boot connected, driving into the man¡¯s groin. The bandit collapsed with a strangled cry. Colin didn¡¯t hesitate. He drove his blade down, piercing the man¡¯s back and burying itself into the mud below. The body shuddered, then went still. Colin pulled the sword up and out of the corpse, leveling it at the final enemy. The other bandit stared in stunned silence, his grip on Nectarine loosening. She seized the moment, her hand glowing with an eerie green light as it plunged into the mud. Vines erupted around them, thick and thorned, wrapping around the bandit. He screamed as they tightened, lifting him off Nectarine. ¡°Rend,¡± she hissed, her voice like steel. The vines twisted violently, thorns tearing into flesh. Blood sprayed in all directions, pooling beneath him as the bandit was shredded apart. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Nectarine collapsed to her knees, clutching her head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t breathe with that idiot on my back,¡± she muttered, looking up at Colin. ¡°Thank you... for saving me.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Colin said, his voice soft. ¡°You¡¯d have done the same for me. Let¡¯s get back.¡± Wrapping an arm around her waist, he helped her to her feet. Together, they staggered back to the wagons. The battle had waned. Guards were tending to the wounded and counting the dead. Bram and Kae stood near their wagon, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. Sskarin spotted them first, her toothy grin breaking the tension. ¡°Bram, Kae! They¡¯re alive. And in one piece!¡± The two turned to face them, visibly relaxing at the sight of them. ¡°Good to see ye, lad,¡± Bram said with a tired smile. ¡°And ye brought the lass. The caravan took a mighty blow tonight¡ªlost a dozen guards at least. But none of ours, thanks to ye.¡± Colin glanced toward Lyra, now cleaned and bandaged. She looked stable. A sigh of relief escaped him. As the adrenaline drained, Colin¡¯s injuries screamed for attention. His arm throbbed, his gut ached, and exhaustion weighed him down like lead. He slumped beside the wagon, allowing Bram to check his wounds as Kae tended to Nectarine. The battle was over, but its scars would linger. ____________________________________________________________________________ Removing the bolt had hurt, as expected. The sharp agony burned through Colin¡¯s arm, but Bram¡¯s healing touch worked quickly, dulling the pain. Magic flowed through him, knitting bone, muscle, and skin. It wasn¡¯t seamless¡ªmore like patchwork¡ªbut it held. Lyra had regained consciousness but wasn¡¯t her usual, talkative self. She sat quietly with Kae by her side, the two locked in a shared, wordless silence. Nectarine and Sskarin appeared unharmed, though the shadow of what had almost happened to Nectarine lingered in Colin¡¯s mind. For her part, Sskarin was cheerfully boasting about her kill count, much to Nectarine¡¯s visible discomfort. Colin¡¯s gaze shifted across the group¡ªhis team. The word stuck in his mind, strange and heavy with meaning. These were his people now. When his eyes finally settled on Bram, a shiver ran through him. The dwarf hadn¡¯t yet healed himself. Cuts and bruises crisscrossed his stocky frame, evidence of the fight he¡¯d endured. ¡°Ye¡¯ alright, lad?¡± Bram asked, his gruff voice tinged with concern. ¡°Heard ye¡¯ helped Nectarine out of a tough spot.¡± ¡°I died.¡± The words tumbled out of Colin¡¯s mouth before he could stop them. He blinked, stunned at his own admission. ¡°Bram, I died.¡± The dwarf frowned. ¡°Did ye¡¯ take a hit to the noggin¡¯, boy? Yer alive and well¡ªleast as far as I can tell.¡± He leaned closer, scanning Colin¡¯s head for signs of trauma. ¡°Not here, Bram.¡± Colin¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, hurried and urgent. ¡°I¡¯m not from here. Not from this world. I died and somehow ended up¡ª¡± Bram¡¯s hand clamped over Colin¡¯s mouth, cutting him off mid-sentence. ¡°Boy, yer talkin¡¯ nonsense,¡± Bram hissed, his eyes darting around as if afraid someone might overhear. But there was no hiding the sudden tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders squared. His voice dropped to a harsh whisper. ¡°IF what ye¡¯ say is true, that¡¯d make ye¡¯ one of four known Otherworlders. And IF that¡¯s the case, the guild would have to report ye¡¯ to the citylord. Some folk might find a way to make ye¡¯... disappear.¡± The words hung in the air like a blade poised over Colin¡¯s head. Slowly, Bram removed his hand and pressed something into Colin¡¯s palm¡ªa slip of paper. ¡°Nothin¡¯ but a head injury,¡± Bram said loudly, with forced casualness. ¡°Not a big deal, lad. Ye¡¯ll be up an¡¯ about soon enough.¡± Colin felt the final pulse of healing magic course through him as he glanced down at the note. Scrawled in quick, heavy strokes were the words: Not here. Talk at camp. Before he could reread it, the paper disintegrated, crumbling into ash that scattered across his lap. Bram rose with a grunt, brushing his hands off as he made his way to Kae and Lyra. He knelt to check on Lyra¡¯s injuries, his broad frame casting a shadow over her pale face. Colin didn¡¯t move. His gaze drifted to the treeline in the distance, the dense woods swaying gently in the evening breeze. Exhaustion weighed him down, but his mind was clear now. The adrenaline had drained away, leaving behind an unsettling stillness. At the bottom left of his vision, an exclamation mark pulsed faintly¡ªa notification from the system. He ignored it. Whatever it was, it could wait. For the first time, Colin let himself think. Not about the fight, or the team, or even the strange system that governed this world, but about what had happened to him. He had died. The realization hit him like a wave, cold and unrelenting. He could still feel the panic, raw and visceral, but now it was mingled with something else: disbelief. It wasn¡¯t real¡ªnot until he¡¯d spoken the words aloud. The panic? Real. The fear? Real. But the situation itself? Impossible. How could he have died? His mind churned with questions, but no answers came. He couldn¡¯t process it, not fully. The only thing he could do was accept it. Somehow, Colin had died¡ªand here he was. What did that mean? Heaven? Hell? Neither seemed to fit. The world he found himself in wasn¡¯t divine or infernal¡ªit was something else entirely. A new universe? That made more sense. But why did it feel so much like a game? The integrated system, the notifications¡ªit was all too structured, too artificial. He needed answers. Colin glanced toward Bram. The dwarf¡¯s words echoed in his mind. Not here. Talk at camp. That conversation would be the first step. Whatever this was¡ªwhatever had happened to him¡ªit wasn¡¯t something he could face alone. And the steps ahead? They¡¯d be massive. Aftermath Due to the raid, the caravan had halted its movement for the night. Though they had managed to travel a few more miles toward their destination, they had settled down earlier than planned. The wounded were tended to, and the dead were buried. For all intents and purposes, they were now an entire night behind schedule. Grayne was livid¡ªnot at those who had defended the wagons, but at those who had attacked them. He convened the remaining leaders of the guild crews, and together they concluded that something had gone horribly wrong. A traitor had to be among them, planted to sabotage the mission. While no one had proof, the suspicion loomed large. Bram relayed all of this grim news over breakfast as dawn broke. He suggested the caravan adjust its route¡ªchoosing a slightly longer but more random path to avoid ambushes. Grayne agreed. Their group had been among the lucky few to avoid fatalities. By the time breakfast was underway, Lyra had regained some of her usual spunky demeanor. ¡°Oh, they got me good, all right,¡± she said with a lopsided grin. ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯ll get my vengeance¡­ but someone took care of that for me already.¡± She nudged Colin with her elbow, a playful smile spreading across her surprisingly unblemished face. Her voice lowered as she continued, hitching slightly as she fought back tears. ¡°Thank you, Colin¡­ for saving my life.¡± The words came out as a whisper, her tone heavy with gratitude. But just as quickly as Colin caught the sadness in her voice, it vanished. ¡°How about a song, folks?¡± Lyra announced, her usual enthusiasm returning. ¡°We kicked some serious butt out there today!¡± Kae muttered under his breath, ¡°Some more than others¡­¡± before nodding toward Colin in quiet respect. Colin felt his face flush at the attention but accepted the acknowledgments graciously. Lyra pulled out her lute and began plucking at the strings, the notes forming a soothing melody. Her voice, strong and rich with warmth, rose above the crackling of the campfire. She sang:
The birds soar high, so high in the sky, Circling the field where the fallen lie. Men fight and die, for glory, they strive, Chasing the honor that keeps hope alive. The birds soar higher, in silence, they fly, Watching the battles where echoes still cry. The men, they plead, for mercy, they yearn, But the wheel of war will never turn. The birds drift higher, through clouds they ascend, Witnessing truths that the soldiers pretend. The men, they deny, their deeds and their shame, Hiding the weight of the battlefield''s flame. The birds dive low, o¡¯er the earth they glide, Silent observers where memories reside. The men have gone, their war left behind, Victory claimed, though peace they won¡¯t find. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
As Lyra sang, the mood grew somber. The weight of the recent battle settled over the group. For many, the pain of taking lives¡ªand losing friends¡ªwas fresh. Colin sat in silence, staring into the fire. Today was his first time killing another person. He had hunted animals before, back when he and his father went hunting together. But this... this was different. Strangely, he felt no guilt. He supposed it was because he¡¯d acted in a kill-or-be-killed situation. Yet the absence of guilt left him uneasy, as if something were still wrong. He replayed the battle in his mind again and again, searching for clarity. He had done the right thing, hadn¡¯t he? Killing those people had been the right choice. So why couldn¡¯t he shake the feeling that it was all so very wrong? Dragging his gaze from the flickering flames, he found Bram already looking his way. The dwarf nodded. It was time to find out what Bram had been talking about. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Colin followed as Bram stood, the two walking silently away from the campfire. They offered murmured excuses to their companions when asked where they were headed. They walked until they reached a small clearing in the woodland. Bram paused, bowing his head briefly in what appeared to be a prayer. As he finished, Colin noticed a faint shimmer in the air around them. ¡°Just a simple spell t¡¯ keep any curious ears at bay,¡± Bram assured him. ¡°So we can talk freely ¡®bout yer issue.¡± ¡°Issue?¡± Colin asked, tilting his head. ¡°What issue?¡± ¡°The fact you¡¯re not from here, lad,¡± Bram replied gravely. ¡°Not just this country, but this world. Should that become common knowledge, it¡¯d be a serious issue fer you.¡± Colin blinked, his stomach sinking. ¡°Yer kind is highly prized by the monarchs,¡± Bram continued. ¡°No one knows exactly what they do wit¡¯ ¡®em, but once yer presence is known, ye disappear shortly after gainin¡¯ renown.¡± Colin¡¯s voice wavered as he responded. ¡°So... what can I do? I just want to go home, Bram.¡± The dwarf¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°I know ye do, laddie. I know ye do. I wish I could send ye back meself, but I can¡¯t.¡± He sighed heavily. ¡°But I might know someone who can.¡± Colin¡¯s posture straightened, his interest piqued by the hope Bram¡¯s words offered. ¡°There¡¯s a man. A Ryke,¡± Bram said, his tone reverent. ¡°A servant o¡¯ my god, though he doesn¡¯t know it yet. His name is Graves. Once a world-renowned necromancer, he¡¯s since turned his attention to dabblin¡¯ in time magics. It¡¯s said he can control time and space like playthings in his hands.¡± ¡°Where is he? How do I find him?¡± Colin blurted, his words tumbling out in excitement. ¡°Relax, lad,¡± Bram said, raising a hand to calm him. ¡°That¡¯s the catch. I don¡¯t know where he is. No one does. Graves is a proper legend. I¡¯ve asked me god fer help, but I haven¡¯t gotten a clear answer.¡± Bram glanced around again, as if scanning for unseen threats despite the magical barrier. He leaned closer to Colin, his voice lowering. ¡°Kaelwyn¡¯ll guide ye,¡± he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. ¡°He¡¯s assured me o¡¯ that much. That¡¯s all I can give ye fer now, but I¡¯ll do everything I can t¡¯ help ye find where ye need t¡¯ go.¡± The dwarf reached out, clasping Colin¡¯s hands firmly in his own. In that moment, Colin felt a deep connection with Bram¡ªa bond akin to that of a father and son. He sensed the dwarf¡¯s sincerity, felt it resonate deep within his soul. And then, he felt something else. A light touch on his innermost self, like a cool breeze carrying whispers of infinite wisdom and immense knowledge. The sensation left him unsure how to react. Instead, he simply hugged the dwarf, his emotions spilling over. ¡°Thank you,¡± Colin whispered, his voice cracking. ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you.¡± Tears flowed freely as the emotional wall Colin had been holding up since his arrival shattered. For the next half-hour, the only sound within the magical barrier was the quiet sobbing of a young man finally unburdening his soul. When it was over, the pair returned to the campfire in silence. Nothing had physically changed in their absence, but Colin walked with a lighter step, as if he¡¯d shed a great weight. The rest of the night passed in quiet gratitude among the team. Clarity The next morning, Colin couldn¡¯t move. Not for lack of trying¡ªhe just¡­ couldn¡¯t. A heavy weight pressed down on his chest, and his vision was black. Why was his vision black? A surge of panic and adrenaline shot through him. He could hear. He could smell. But he couldn¡¯t see, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t move. He focused on wiggling his toes¡ªnothing. Then, suddenly, the world turned white. A sack had been yanked from his head, and it took a few moments for his eyes to adjust. Directly above him stood a man he didn¡¯t recognize. But off to the side, he saw Grayne¡ªthe leader of the caravan. ¡°Easy now, Colin. We don¡¯t want any trouble,¡± Grayne said, his voice calm but distant. ¡°You¡¯re new to the guild, yeah?¡± Colin nodded slowly. Grayne made a noise in his throat, one Colin couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°We thought as much. This is my sworn man, Crel.¡± Grayne gestured toward the man looming over him. ¡°Crel is here to make sure you¡¯re not lying to me. If you do, he¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t do it again. Understand?¡± Colin swallowed hard and nodded again, his face draining of color. Crel smiled down at him, wickedly. ¡°Good.¡± Grayne spoke as if this kind of thing happened every day. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you three questions. You will answer them honestly, and if I¡¯m satisfied, you¡¯ll be free to rejoin your group.¡± Colin¡¯s mind was still foggy from being abruptly woken, struggling to process what was happening. ¡°First question. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Colin,¡± he answered immediately. Crel gave a slight nod, and Grayne made that noise again. ¡°Good. Starting off with honesty¡ªI like that in a man. Next question. Where are you from?¡± Colin froze. He couldn¡¯t say he was from Elderglen¡ªthat would be a lie. And if Bram was right, lying was a bad idea. But telling them the truth¡ªthat he was from an entirely different world¡ªseemed even worse. ¡°Uh¡­ Originally, I was born in a land called Colorado, far from here. More recently, I hailed from Elderglen. At least, that was the nearest city when Bram and his guildmates found me.¡± He hoped that answer would be enough, but the way Grayne and Crel exchanged glances made his stomach twist. ¡°Okay then¡­ never heard of Colorado,¡± Grayne muttered. ¡°But the rest lines up with what Bram told me.¡± He exhaled, crossing his arms. ¡°Last question. Are you a spy or a traitor to this caravan, Colin?¡± ¡°What? No! I barely knew anything about this caravan until we left! Bram and his crew found me after I nearly got killed by a goblin¡ªI¡¯m just tagging along with them.¡± Crel nodded again, and Grayne let out a breath Colin only now realized he¡¯d been holding. ¡°Good. Let him up, Crel.¡± The pressure on Colin¡¯s chest vanished, and he pushed himself up. Grayne extended a hand, and after a brief hesitation, Colin took it, allowing the caravan leader to pull him to his feet. ¡°Sorry about the theatrics,¡± Grayne said, brushing off his tunic. ¡°Bram already vouched for you, but in situations like this, we can¡¯t be too careful. You were the most suspicious member of your party, but you¡¯re cleared¡ªthough I do have some questions about your homeland.¡± Colin forced a smirk. ¡°Maybe over a drink at a tavern? As recompense for waking me up so¡­ roughly?¡± Grayne let out a short, sharp chuckle. ¡°Maybe, Colin. Maybe.¡± He clapped the younger man on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re free to go, but keep an eye out. If you see anything suspicious, report it immediately.¡± ____________________________________________________________________________ Colin left the makeshift command tent and made his way back to camp. As he arrived, Bram handed him a plate of food with a knowing grin. ¡°I see ye passed the test. Congrats, boy. Hope it wasn¡¯t too bad.¡± Colin took the plate and nodded his thanks. ¡°Nothing terrible, just unexpected. I had to stretch the truth a bit, but I never lied.¡± Bram chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t go worryin¡¯ about it, lad. I spoke to Grayne before he took ya, and he knows you¡¯re still new ¡®round these parts. He¡¯s a trustworthy enough man.¡± He clapped Colin on the back and handed him his pack. ¡°Thanks, Bram. For packing my things¡­ and for everything else.¡± Colin hesitated before adding, ¡°It¡¯s been nice not having to constantly wonder who¡¯s got my back while I adjust.¡± Bram simply nodded. ¡°Not a problem.¡± He turned and started heading back toward the caravan, and the others naturally fell into place behind him. Before Colin knew it, they had returned to their positions around the wagon they were tasked with protecting. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Lyra stood in front of him, looking hesitant, as if she had something to say but couldn¡¯t quite bring herself to say it. She opened her mouth a few times, only to close it again¡ªreminding Colin of a fish. ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me, Lyra,¡± he said, smiling as he patted her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re okay. Did you at least get some rest?¡± Lyra looked away, her cheeks tinged pink. ¡°Y-Yeah. It was alright. A couple of nightmares¡­ but thankfully, Nectar was there.¡± She nodded over her shoulder toward the woman. ¡°I¡¯m glad she¡¯s okay too. I was worried for both of you.¡± Colin exhaled, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Hopefully, today is a little less exciting. I¡¯d kill for a day of easy traveling.¡± Lyra let out a sharp laugh. ¡°If only we could be so lucky. We¡¯ve got to cover three wagons today. Some people died in the attack, and others decided it wasn¡¯t worth the risk and left during the night.¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s not good.¡± Colin frowned. ¡°I guess I should at least check my stats, huh? Pretty sure I leveled up¡­¡±
[Ding] [You have leveled up! You are now Level 4.] [You have leveled up! You are now Level 5!] [Free points allotted: 14] [Points assigned. Please review:] [SKILLS]
Colin paused as his eyes landed on a particular skill. Cold Rage. Was that what had happened to him? He had assumed it was just his fight-or-flight instincts kicking in, but this¡­ this made more sense. He had been enraged during that fight. His mind had fixated on only one thing¡ªkilling the next enemy. A chill ran through him. He was pulled from his thoughts by Lyra¡¯s voice. ¡°Get anything good?¡± Her curiosity was infectious, and before he knew it, Colin was rattling off his new skills. ¡°Woah. Cold Rage has got to be rare. I¡¯ve never heard of it before.¡± She crossed her arms, thinking. ¡°Combat Time sounds neat too, but how do you even train that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m assuming through real fights,¡± Colin mused. ¡°I doubt it¡¯ll activate in training. The only time it ever kicked in was when I was about to die fighting that goblin.¡± His gaze shifted back to his stats. His physical attributes were solid, but his intelligence stats were sorely lacking. Maybe it was time to fix that.
[Free points assigned:] 7 points ¡ú Intelligence 7 points ¡ú Wisdom Confirm? Y/N Yes. [Points Assigned. Please review:]
As the changes took effect, Colin felt like a fog had lifted from his mind. Thoughts that had once seemed hazy or confusing now felt obvious. A shudder ran through him as he processed his newfound clarity. He had never been stupid, but he had never been particularly sharp either. Now, everything felt different. Smoother. More logical. The battle. The killing. Before, the emotions surrounding it had been a tangled mess. Now, he saw it for what it was¡ªthere had only ever been two choices. Kill or be killed. It still unsettled him, but his newfound logic didn¡¯t erase his moral compass. If anything, it reinforced the idea that killing was wrong¡ªexcept when it was necessary. He let out a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d been holding. Lyra studied him curiously. ¡°You just did something. What was it?¡± ¡°Oh, I leveled up my intelligence and wisdom,¡± he said. ¡°Felt like they were lagging behind my physical stats. Things feel¡­ better now.¡± Lyra squinted at him. ¡°Your eyes are different. Clearer. Sharper. More intelligent-looking.¡± She smirked. ¡°Before, you kind of just looked like a lost puppy.¡± Colin chuckled. ¡°I was a lost puppy. To some extent, anyway. If it weren¡¯t for you guys, I probably wouldn¡¯t have made it this far.¡± The words came easily¡ªand they were true. He had been lost. But not anymore. He would find a way through this world. And somehow, he would find a way home. A Ryke and a Hike The day was long and grueling. The sun burned hotter than Colin thought it should, and their march through the hills and valleys was thick with a quiet tension. During breaks, he and Lyra passed the time with idle chit-chat and an impromptu game of I Spy. ¡°I spy with my little eye¡­ something hairy,¡± Lyra said with a smirk. ¡°Bram. Too easy.¡± Colin chuckled. Lyra burst into laughter and slid closer to walk beside him. ¡°Man, you¡¯re way too good at this game. Where¡¯d you learn it? I¡¯ve never played before.¡± Colin smiled, though the warmth of it faded as quickly as it came. ¡°Ah¡­ Just a game my dad taught me growing up.¡± A lump formed in his throat, and for a moment, he struggled to swallow past it. Lyra didn¡¯t seem to notice his shift in mood. ¡°You caught on fast, though. Quick learner, you Rykes, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s basically all we ever do. Learn, learn, and then learn some more. I¡¯ve probably forgotten more about music than most bards will ever know.¡± She gave a casual shrug. ¡°Thankfully, we have magic to help us keep track of things.¡± Colin raised a brow. ¡°You are a wonderful bard. That ballad from last night brought tears to my eyes. How long have you been working on that one?¡± ¡°That? Oh, that¡¯s an old war song. I learned it from an Elvish bard over a decade ago. It¡¯s pretty simple if you¡¯ve heard it sung to you and know the language. Still hits hard, though, eh?¡± Colin nearly tripped over his own feet. A decade? He had figured Lyra was in her late teens¡ªmaybe her early twenties at most. She definitely seemed younger than him. ¡°A decade? That¡¯s a long time to remember something. How old are you, anyway? I thought you were the youngest in your adventuring group.¡± Lyra snorted. ¡°Youngest? No way. That title actually goes to Sskarin. She¡¯s nineteen¡ªwhich is older for a Rexlan. Me? I¡¯m twenty-nine.¡± Colin gawked. ¡°You¡¯re older than me?!¡± She grinned, clearly enjoying his shock. ¡°Yeah, that tracks. You humans have such short lifespans. The only people I know with shorter ones are the Rexlan. They might live to sixty if they¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Damn¡­ That¡¯s insane. So you¡¯ve been a bard for, what, fifteen years?¡± ¡°Twenty, actually. I started as a kid. My parents always said: If you can walk and talk, you can strum and sing. It¡¯s the family tradition, so it wasn¡¯t exactly unexpected.¡± She smiled, glancing up at the sky. ¡°I¡¯m just glad it lets me live freely. Some careers don¡¯t offer that.¡± A thought struck Colin. ¡°Wait. Do you know a Ryke named Graves?¡± Lyra¡¯s expression shifted, her eyes darting around almost conspiratorially. ¡°Everyone does.¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°He was a prodigy¡ªscared some of the elders, even. He started with necromancy. Not too uncommon. Most healers have at least some necromantic magic in their arsenal to help stave off death. But Graves? He took it way further than most.¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Necromancy?¡± Colin frowned. ¡°I figured that would be, like¡­ illegal.¡± ¡°Oh, it is in some places,¡± she admitted. ¡°But most of Kythros understands it¡¯s necessary sometimes. People can sign away the use of their bodies for research. It usually pays a hefty sum to their loved ones, so it¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s being taken advantage of. Unsanctioned necromancy, though? That¡¯s punishable by death.¡± ¡°So what did Graves do? What made him a legend instead of some creepy necromancer dude?¡± Lyra exhaled, a spark of admiration in her eyes. ¡°He mastered two schools of magic.¡± Colin blinked. ¡°That¡¯s rare?¡± She nodded. ¡°Extremely. Most Rykes pick a single school and focus on pushing it forward¡ªadvancing magic for everyone. It¡¯s every Ryke¡¯s goal to create a new spell that changes the field they¡¯ve dedicated their life to.¡± Her voice took on a rhythm as she spoke, like she was reciting a history she¡¯d long since memorized. Colin found himself captivated, hanging on to every word. And as their march stretched on, he listened. ____________________________________________________________________________ Some twenty miles away, a man sat upon a throne of steel and bone, his fingers drumming lazily against the armrest as he listened to the report. The surviving members of the force that had attacked the caravan knelt before him, their heads bowed in shame or fear¡ªor both. He sifted through the information, plucking out the details that interested him most, and dismissed the rest. ¡°The Dusk-Rose,¡± he mused, his voice low and contemplative. ¡°Once again, you¡¯ve landed on my radar. A pity. I had hoped you would prove more useful to me than as a mere example.¡± His eyes flicked to a trembling servant standing at the edge of the room, his presence barely worth acknowledging. The man pointed at him with a single, deliberate movement. ¡°You,¡± he said, his tone sharp enough to cut. ¡°Send word to our contact. The head of the Dusk-Rose must be removed as soon as possible. If they fail, the Bloom will wither.¡± The servant flinched and scuttled away, moving as quickly as his limp would allow. Veyfeyst¡¯s lip curled in disdain. Weakness. He would need to correct that. Turning his attention back to the written report, his slitted pupils narrowed. The Dusk-Rose had gained a new member. Young, untested¡ªan unknown. Not even a name had been attached to the report. No matter. Songbird would reach out soon with a full update. Spies were always such a hassle. Were it up to him, he would have handled this with a more direct approach¡ªchallenged Bram to single combat, split his skull open, and left his corpse for the vultures. But no. This mission required patience. Tact. He took a slow breath, schooling himself against the irritation bubbling in his gut. He WOULD succeed. He WOULD find that necromancer. The tent village sprawled before him as he stepped outside, a miserable pit of mud and canvas. He had barely taken two steps before something collided with his leg. A small boy¡ªscrawny, underfed¡ªstared up at him in horror before scrambling to gather the papers he had dropped. ¡°S-Sorry, sir,¡± the boy stammered, keeping his eyes on the ground. ¡°Please forgive my thoughtlessness and clumsiness.¡± Veyfeyst didn¡¯t even pause. His boot lashed out, catching the boy square in the gut. The child crumpled, tumbling backward into a wooden support beam, papers fluttering into the dirt. A sharp cough rattled from his throat as he curled in on himself, but Veyfeyst had already moved on. The weak did not deserve his attention. At the barracks, the guard at the entrance snapped to attention, stepping aside without a word. Inside, the so-called ¡®elites¡¯ were already waiting. They stood rigid, faces schooled into impassivity. Only their leader had the nerve to speak. ¡°Lord Veyfeyst, sir! We are ready to move on your command.¡± Veyfeyst smiled. It was not a pleasant expression. His sallow features stretched with effort, and the gesture carried no warmth, no kindness¡ªonly scorn. It was a reminder, silent but absolute, that he was better than them. He exhaled slowly. ¡°Let¡¯s go ransack a caravan.¡± ____________________________________________________________________________ Back at the caravan, Colin felt a shudder run through him. They had finally stopped for the evening but something was nagging at him. A feeling of impending doom. He shook it off as Lyra came and dragged him towards the fire Bram had built. He wouldn¡¯t let his negative thoughts take away from the joys of comradery that night.