《Aeternum chronicles: Lineage trials》 Chapter 1 Layla heaved a sigh of relief as she slumped away from the wall. Moving to the far side of her cell and sliding down the wall to hug her knees. The cool stone made her shiver through the thin material of her shirt. Hugging her knees she looked across at the latest star she¡¯d scratched into the concrete, completing Orion''s belt. The wall was littered with constellations. Every star marking another day locked underground, or as close to days as she could figure out since she hadn¡¯t seen the sky even once since she¡¯d been down here. She¡¯d long since covered the other walls in scribblings. Just over two thousand stars, two thousand scratches in the concrete marking almost six years since she¡¯d been kidnapped while backpacking through the Scottish highlands. Cults and doomsday preppers had never even crossed her mind. Those were thi. ngs that existed in the states, not Scotland! She¡¯d been backpacking to save money during the summer break at university. While her friends had all gone on expensive trips around the world or gone home to see family, she had neither the money or the family left to do either of those. So she stayed local, rented a storage unit for everything that wouldn¡¯t fit in her backpack and she set off. Getting out of Glasgow hadn''t taken long, one bus out to a village on the outskirts and a few hours walking, the city a distant memory by the time the sun went down and she had her tent set up. She¡¯d hiked and camped for weeks, visiting random villages, mountains and ruins along the way as she wandered across Scotland. Nothing but wilderness and open sky most of the time. Some days she hadn¡¯t even moved her campsite, simply laying back to stare at the clouds as they drifted across the endless blue. That was the one thing that had always been funny to Layla, yes scotland had a well earned reputation for being extremely wet and grey. But in the height of summer, the skies turned to the brightest blue during the day, and on a clear night the sky would be so filled with stars you could barely tell them apart. Overall it had been the most fun holiday she could remember having since her mother died, that is until she¡¯d found herself in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. It wasn¡¯t on her map, admittedly one that was quite old, and her phone signal had been patchy at best as she¡¯d gone further and further north. It had seemed a normal enough village at first, if extremely remote, with just one gravel track in and out. A few dozen houses, a local store, a handful of warehouses she assumed belonged to farmers, and even a local pub with a room or two to stay in. all in all a very normal village. Until she¡¯d fallen asleep in one of the pub rooms she¡¯d gotten extremely cheap for the night and woke up in her cell, all her belongings gone and left in nothing but her leggings and tee. Now almost six years and two thousand stars later she wondered if she would ever get to see the sky again. Sure they had taken her out of her cell. But always to somewhere else in the underground complex that seemed to stretch beneath the entire village, and never a window in sight. She sighed, wondering why she even bothered to keep track of the days. Clinging to hope in the old stories her mother had told her, keeping time with the knowledge of constellations she¡¯d studied at university the year before. Just then footsteps started to echo down the long corridor, the sound leaking through even the thick steel of the door. She groaned as she realised it was that time of the month again. Marcus, the leader of whatever the hell this was, here to give her another sermon meant to convert her to the cause. Layla worked her jaw, trying to gather enough spit to aim at him when he opened the door. It was petty and surprisingly difficult. They barely gave her enough food and water to keep her alive. She had long lost any remnants of fat or muscle on her frame, the malnutrition keeping her weak, it was probably some technique that was supposed to make her more pliant, more susceptible to Marcus¡¯ ¡°teachings¡± not that it mattered. The man was so greasy just being in the same room made her feel so dirty and disgusting she rarely had the presence of mind to even pretend to listen to him. As the door swung open she leaned her head back, determined to try and leave a mark on one of the expensive suits he was always wearing. As the man strode in confidently, she let fly, managing to land the blob of phlegm right on his left knee. ¡°Was that really necessary?¡± he sighed and looked down at the mark, the moisture quickly spreading to leave a dark patch. Barely concealing the sneer he pulled a tissue from his pocket and dabbed away what he could before looking back at Layla full of exasperation. In response Layla bared her teeth, her already dry throat even more so now that any attempt at a growl would only end up in a coughing fit. A lesson she had learned repeatedly in the early days. Glaring at the man responsible for her imprisonment, the dirty blonde hair in a thick mane down his back, framing a broad square face set with venomous green eyes. His brow creased forward and full lips turned down towards a rather prominent chin. Broad shoulders and thickly muscled arms thoroughly filled his shirt. Though she hated it Layla had long since memorised all of his features in detail, she¡¯d done it with all of the guards and other cult members who visited her with any regularity, whether for maintenance tasks like her meals and showers or those who tried various methods to convince her that accepting Marcus¡¯ teachings was in her best interest. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you insist on being so obstinate. What could you possibly hope to achieve with this defiance?¡± he sighed again, leaning casually against the wall as his eyes drifted across the constellations scrawled over every wall ¡°every month I offer you a chance to see your precious stars again. To stand beneath the open skies. To be a free woman if you would only see reason and agree to join our order. What is stopping you? It¡¯s not as if we are some demonic cult forcing you into orgies and sacrifices. In almost six years here not once has a single one of us laid even a finger on you save in our own defence, and then only because you decide to cause unpleasantness for your carers¡± he shook his head as if in sadness, though layla had endured enough of these conversations now to see through the facade. Not that it had taken much, she¡¯d seen far too many conmen and liars in her years of foster care to be taken in by anything Marcus said. Tuning him out as she often did Layla turned back to her concrete sky, one by one listing off the names of every star she could remember, pausing longer on some to remind herself of the stories attached to them. Seeing the vacant expression on her face and knowing that once again Layla had descended into her own version of reality Marcus turned and walked out of the cell, resigned this time to see her broken to their ways before their next meeting, even if it did mean resorting to the less savoury methods he had long since stopped using, they may have been effective in the beginning, when time was more critical and the community was more vulnerable. But once the village came wholly under his control he prided himself on being able to use more humane methods to convince new members that the community was good for them. That night when her carer came, though that was just Marcus¡¯ name for the guard assigned to her, instead of escorting her to the usual shower room, she was taken to an even darker concrete room than her cell. This one lacking even the flimsy mattress that was the only furniture she had. The floor wasn¡¯t flat either, it sloped gently downwards to a drain against the far wall and when she turned to look back at the doorway there were several nozzles jutting from the wall. Before she even had time to open her mouth to ask what was going on high powered icy jets began to hose her down. The shock and the sheer pressure sending her tumbling to the ground further from the door. Even as she fell the jets didn¡¯t waver, the water unerringly aimed straight at her. In her weakened state she lacked the energy to even try to push against it. Sprawled on the floor she could do nothing more than endure the torment until eventually when she had long lost feeling in her limbs the water relented. ¡°Get up!¡± the gruff voice of the guard ordered, ¡°back to your cell. Marcus finally decided that if you¡¯re going to ignore any attempt at civility then you¡¯ll be treated like the animal you insist on being¡± barely able to lift her head Layla tried to glare at the guard, though the numbness made it difficult to know if her facial muscles were doing what she wanted. Growling, the guard stepped forward, seemingly ready to drag her back to the cell if she refused to walk, not that she had much choice since her legs were still numb. Taking hold of her sodden shirt he turned and started to drag her out of the wet room and back down the corridor. Once out of the room the heat of the building began to seep back into her limbs. Not enough for any sort of comfort, just enough for her nerves to start screaming in pain and making her aware of every bump and scrape she received as she was dragged. Getting to her cell she was bodily thrown into the room. Left shivering on her mattress as the door locked shut again. The next morning, exhausted still from the cold and the lack of sleep, Layla barely stirred as the door opened once again. The same guard stood there, scowling down at her ¡°move, time for your next lesson¡± he said, already taking a step forward, clearly ready to drag her again. He got a grip on the collar of her shirt again and started dragging. Layla stirred just enough to see the doorframe as she passed through it, looking back at her stars, her concrete sky. Then everything went black. Chapter 2 Blinking at the sudden change in surroundings Layla glanced around in disbelief. Had the guard hit her too hard in the head? Maybe she had been drugged? That would certainly explain why she was suddenly dry and standing up instead of a cold wet heap on the floor. And why she seemed to be floating in space surrounded by galaxies and nebulae swirling everywhere. ¡°Do try and focus. Time may not run out in this space but my patience certainly will¡± the voice snapped Layla back into focus. Looking directly in front of her there seemed to be a hooded figure, it was completely covered in a cloak as best as she could tell, though the edges were blurry, fading into the starscape around them. ¡°As I was saying, your world has been chosen to join the Aeternum. A world where magic is as real as in any of your earth stories¡± the voice at first seemed normal enough, if somewhat androgynous. But there was something deeper, ignoring whatever drug induced speech it was giving Layla tried to decipher what it was. There was nothing tangible about the voice that she could notice, but nonetheless her instincts were screaming at her, though what her instincts were telling her she couldn¡¯t work out either. ¡°Did I get hit in the head? Or is this a bad trip? Maybe it''s hypothermia. I guess Marcus and his band of loons are finally giving up on their performance¡± Layla trailed off, realising that her voice sounded like it used to, not the scratchy rasp it had become. Startled, it took her a second to realise the figure was laughing. ¡°Child, this is as real as you are. Though I am rapidly learning just how far many of your kind will go to try and rationalise the seemingly impossible events we have put before you. And i must admit, having glanced at your circumstances in the moments leading up to your worlds integration i can see why you, even more than most, would have cause to doubt your senses¡± indignant at being called a child, let alone the rest of the mysterious figures patronising speech Layla stomped her foot, only to then realise she had somehow managed to do so while floating in space. ¡°Look, I have no idea what''s going on here, and I don''t really care either. My life has been messed up enough already without whatever this is going on. So unless you got some proof that i¡¯m not just arguing with my own insanity here how about you let me enjoy seeing the night sky again¡± glancing around she tried to pick out any familiar stars or constellations, only to realise that the entire starscape was completely alien to her. ¡°I will forgive your impertinence this once given the more extreme circumstances you have had, but do not mistake me mortal. On Aeternum my power is absolute¡± at that the many galaxies began to darken and a deep sense of foreboding washed over Layla, the figure before her seeming to grow into some dark behemoth full of power, the kind of power that made it impossible to ignore what the figure was saying and forcing her to consider the possibility of this being real, before receding back into its cloak. ¡°Now, as I said already. Your world has been integrated into my domain. Magic is real here. You have potential far beyond your old human limits, you merely need to unlock it. The power to sunder mountains, live forever, or even to take to the skies and never look back. That is what''s on offer here. If you are willing to fight for it. To craft your lineage and forge your story¡± the figure paused then and Layla had the sense it was looking not at her but through her, even though she couldn''t tell if it had a face under its hood. ¡°In order to give all of you a chance at survival. You will receive a set of gifts. Along with a chance to purchase things that may give you some initial advantage. Firstly is the interface all residents of our world receive¡± as it said this blurry shapes quickly appeared and faded in Layla''s view, vaguely reminiscent of the kind of display she vaguely remembered having on childhood videogames. ¡°You will have time to explore your interface later, suffice to say it will work to track and help guide your progress in your new world. Your other gift is that of language, any language spoken you will be able to use and understand as if you had been speaking it all your life. To better communicate with each other and with the worlds other inhabitants, though many may choose less diplomatic methods of communication¡± there was a hint of warning in that last statement that Layla couldn¡¯t ignore, even as she was shaking her head and rubbing her eyes, trying to affect the shapes still floating at the edges of her vision. ¡°As an extra gift to you specifically, I shall return you to the world in the state you are in now, rather than the condition you were in when you were brought here. You will still be malnourished and likely weaker than many of even the smallest of the new wildlife you will encounter. But you will be cleared of the wet and cold at least¡± finally giving up on trying to affect the floating interface Layla looked back at the figure, about to ask a question when it continued speaking once more ¡°lastly you are offered the chance to purchase advantages before you are returned. Though given your circumstances I doubt you have anything of value to trade¡± the figure began to raise its arm before Layla had a chance to think, scrambling as her mind raced to catch up. She was going to need every advantage she could get if this was real after all. ¡°Wait! There must be something I can offer¡± scrambling for any ideas Layla replayed everything the figure had said searching for any hint at what it may value ¡°you said, we have to craft a lineage and forge a story? So what about stories that already exist. I know many many historical tales, some passed down for many generations. That must be worth something right?¡± the figure paused, considering her for a moment. Layla watched, forcing herself to release the breath she hadn¡¯t realised she was holding. If she was less anxious she might have still been doubting this was real. But she was closer to breaking point than she liked to admit, and the thought of going back to yet more torture was beyond terrifying. If there was even the slimmest chance of her getting her freedom back she needed it. ¡°An unusual bargain, but you are correct. The magic of Aeternum draws from the old to fuel the new. Having more to draw from will have some impact towards allowing me to better anticipate and guide this integration. Very well, tell your stories. We will see what they may be worth when you are done¡± the relief washed through Layla like a wave, there was no knowing what she might bargain for, or if it would even be useful. But she¡¯d be going back with something, anything, to help her escape Marcus clutches. The weight of the bargain settled on her shoulders, taking a trembling breath she began to speak. Slowly at first, the starscape around them began to change, glimmering motes arranging themselves into familiar patterns, then shifting further as they began to mirror the stories as she spoke. Tales of glory and romance, comedy and tragedy played out around them, strangely silent but for her voice commanding them. She didn¡¯t know how long she spoke for, or even how many stories she told. Eventually though the last of the starlight figures faded away and utter silence returned. The figure still unmoving opposite her, though once again Layla had the unsettling feeling that it was looking through her. ¡°A great many tales, far more than I expected and more valuable as well. Already I can sense the echoes of what you have told me weaving themselves into the very fabric of Aeternum. You have certainly offered great worth to our bargain. In exchange I will offer you a weapon. While your tales are certainly worthy of me granting you spells or other powers you lack the familiarity with them to truly make any difference. Most likely you would only damage yourself more than your captors. Instead, a weapon bound to you so that no other may use it or take it from you, a weapon capable of growing in power as you do. So mortal, name your weapon¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. At first Layla was filled with disbelief and anger, though the memory of the behemoth hidden beneath the cloak kept her from showing it. As she took slow steadying breaths the explanation began to sink in, and annoyingly made a lot of sense. A weapon was what she needed most right now. What weapon could she use though? Layla had never practised any martial arts or ways to fight, so nothing that took too much skill. At that she thought of a club, but she was weak and malnourished, there was no way she had the strength to use a club to so much as leave a bruise, let alone knock someone out while she escaped. Looking over at the figure there was now an orb floating between them, vague images of weapons flickering within. Watching it as she tried to think an image of an axe appeared, only to vanish again a moment later, but it stuck in her head. She didn¡¯t need to be precise swinging an axe, and even in her weakened state the blade would still be effective. Imagining herself fighting her way out of the commune with an axe she then realised another benefit, even after she escaped, she was still in the middle of nowhere. An axe was as good a survival tool as a weapon. ¡°An axe. I want an axe¡± she spoke quickly, making the choice before doubt could creep in. The moment she said it the images in the orb slowed down, becoming more solid but still changing, now shifting between different axes. ¡°Something small and light enough that i can use immediately, but big enough that it will still do some damage even while i¡¯m weak and probably not very accurate¡± as she continued speaking the images continued to slow, becoming more in line with what she described but still not settling. Seeing that there was still room to be more specific she forged on, ignoring the voice in her head telling her not to be too demanding ¡°i need it to be a tool as well as a weapon, something to survive the environment as well as whatever people and I¡¯m assuming monsters that will be out there¡± just as she ran out of requirements the image settled. A hatchet with a slightly longer wooden handle wrapped in what looked like leather and a metal cap on the end, a slightly curved blade on the front with a flat metal back, useful as a blunt weapon and a hammer if needed. The bubble popped and the axe drifted into her hand, fitting perfectly, though the weight surprised her. ¡°It is done, good luck mortal¡± it raised its arms and with that the starscape vanished once more. ¡­ Dizziness hit hard as Layla found herself getting dragged through the corridor again. Except she wasn''t getting dragged, the guard standing frozen above her shaking his head, likely feeling the same dizziness she did. Before he had a chance to get his bearings she tightened her grip on the axe that was somehow in her right hand and swung it upward with what little strength she could muster. A wet thunk and a scream told her she''d hit. Then her head hit the floor as the guard dropped her, his hands moving to try and grab the axe buried in his back. Rolling onto her front and trying to climb to her knees Layla was hit with the second wave of dizziness in as many moments. For once thankful that there was nothing in her stomach she waited for the room and her insides to stop spinning before getting herself to her feet. Staggering a few steps away from the still flailing guard. Leaning heavily on the wall she waited for the guard to stop flailing. Although she was probably short on time if the guard managed to grab her or land a hit she''d be in serious trouble. Taking the time to catch her breath Layla glanced around, the corridor was empty, pale blue walls and blank concrete flooring interspersed with heavy steel doors, no sign of any more guards fortunately, unfortunately no sign of an exit either. Steeling herself to try and get her axe back she pushed off the wall, ready to lunge when a bone chilling wail started echoing through the hall. Ethereal chains began appearing through some of the doors, oddly silent as they crept towards the still yelling guard. The guard fell silent as one of the chains snared his ankle, tripping him. The impact with the floor driving the axe the rest of the way through his back. Lurching forward Layla dropped to her knees, shoving at the still twitching body, trying to flip it over. The voice in the back of her head trying to yell about respecting the dead being drowned out by the tide of adrenaline and fear brought on by the knowledge that she was likely to become the target of the chains very soon. Black necrosis spread from the chains still creeping up the body''s leg, rotting at a visible rate. Just as it reached his thigh the leg seemed to just collapse into pulp. The now much lighter corpse shifted suddenly, leaving Layla sprawled over its back, the handle of her axe digging into her ribs. Rolling to the floor and pushing herself to her knees she reached over, wrenching at the handle to try and get the axe free. It shifted, but stayed firmly stuck, making a scraping noise as the blade dragged over the jagged ends of the broken ribs. Getting more desperate as the chains kept writhing closer, she hauled again and again. The blade finally tore free with a wet squelch. Panting Layla climbed back to her feet, staring in disbelief as the corpse continued to rot at a visible speed. Another wail cut through the corridor, the subtle blue glow the chains gave off deepening as ghosts draped in yet more chains floated through the cell doors and walls. Their faces looked smoothed over and flattened, like badly made mannequins devoid of detail. The only exception being their mouths, smaller chains threading between their lips. Almost as one the faces turned toward her. ¡°Well that¡¯s not good¡± another screech echoed as Layla turned to run in the other direction. Not caring if it was towards the exit or deeper into the complex, just that it was away from the spirits. Stumbling from wall to wall she staggered down the corridor, just barely ahead of the chains that had started floating after her. Her body not capable of truly running anymore, having been locked up for so long she needed to relearn even that basic movement. She got to the corner and glanced back, the ghosts still pursuing steadily when a box flashed up in her vision.
Eternally chained- Tier 1
Incorporeal malevolent spirits born from a pervasive aura of imprisonment and binding. Forever wrapped in chains they seek to bind the living into undeath alongside them. The cruelty of the eternally chained is immense as they are known to taunt and play with their prey. They are unusual, with slow weak bodies but chains that are extremely strong and fast.
¡°Huh, guess that''s part of the weird interface¡± blinking away the box just in time to see a new spirit rise from the pile of rot that was the old guard, adding to the swarm of chains filling the corridor. Yelping as she realised they¡¯d continued to creep closer while she¡¯d been distracted. Shoving off the wall she continued down the corridor, searching desperately for a way out, at this point she¡¯d even be glad to see Marcus, if only to use him as a distraction for the chained. The whole complex shuddered, sending her careening even harder against the walls. Dust fell from the ceiling and cracks appeared all over the place. Sadly the Chained weren¡¯t affected, apparently being incorporeal did that. Gritting her teeth Layla pushed on, searching ever more desperately for an exit. Corridor after corridor with the chains still creeping ever closer. Her muscles burned as she pushed her body harder than she had in years. Occasional booms were accompanied at first by more dust and shaking but soon larger chunks of debris were falling and more crashing and screeching metal rang out. Turning a final corner finally brought what looked like an exit into view, the broken steel door hanging off its hinges leaving a dim stairway open. Not bothering to so much as glance back at the progress of the chains she scrambled up the stairs, more falling than walking up them. Thankfully the door at the top of the stairs had been left open. Layla staggered through it, breathing a sigh of relief as the sun hit her face. Chapter 3 After so long underground with nothing but dim lamps even the overcast grey sun of the Scottish spring was too much for Layla¡¯s eyes, leaving her blinded. While her vision took time to adjust her hearing had no such problems, screams and roars filled the air, punctuated by the occasional sound crashing metal and stone. Not wanting to wait for the spirits, cult members or whatever else was out there to catch her she picked a direction that seemed to be away from the worst of the noise and carried on moving. Blood started to run down her hands and legs as she tripped over rubble and debris every few feet. Still half blind and weak she scrambled through narrow alleyways and streets clogged with dust, always trying to head away from the loudest fighting. No sooner had she rounded a corner than she heard the Chaineds wail cutting through the rest of the battlefield noise. Everything seemed to go silent as both sides processed the arrival of another enemy. It only lasted a moment though as an answering roar from somewhere else in the commune restarted the violence with renewed fervour, whereas before there had been a dull roar of noise now it was a raging cacophony. Blinking furiously to try and help her eyes adjust since the new volume made it almost impossible to figure out which directions to avoid. Layla cursed under her breath as she realised she¡¯d frozen just like everyone else, only for her to stay frozen after they all started fighting again. Finally as her vision settled at least well enough to make out blurry outlines she continued on. Her legs and lungs kept screaming at her, but if she stopped now everything was for nothing, in the middle of the commune with at least two groups of monsters around if she stopped she was dead, or worse, imprisoned again. Marcus had been bad enough before when his only powers were money and something resembling charisma, now with actual magical powers at his disposal she didn¡¯t dare think about it. Clutching the axe tighter in her right hand she kept moving, trying to move from building to building, staying hidden now that she wasn''t just blindly fumbling. She scurried further through the maze of buildings, what had six years ago seemed to be a remote yet prosperous farming village had since grown into a sprawling town, though it was more reminiscent of a fortress than anything else. High narrow windows and unadorned concrete seemed to be the prevailing style, at least in this area. Reaching a wider road between the buildings she glanced around, to her left seemed to be the centre of the compound, a large castle-like manor stood, the old pub and some of the shops visible around the edges of the square in front of it, she could just make out figures on its roof fighting, what appeared to be winged lions. Though in the street between her and the manor there were more than a few fights and brawls between people, rather than against monsters. The dull grey clothing they all wore suggesting they were cult members settling grudges, Layla smiled, it was good to know that even Marcus¡¯ iron grip wasn''t enough to make everyone blindly get along. In the other direction things seemed more clear, there was an outer wall now that hadn''t existed six years ago, though large portions of it had been turned to rubble during the fighting. Decision made she dashed to the right, aiming loosely for one of the larger falls in the wall and just hoping everyone was too distracted to pay attention to a single figure running through the chaos. One of the lions tumbled across the street ahead of her but quickly disappeared down another one, not so much as glancing her way. ¡°Looks like the little stargazer escaped her cell¡± shivers ran up Layla''s spine as she heard the sneering voice, looking ahead she saw Jade striding out of the alley the lion had tumbled out of. None of Layla¡¯s visitors during her captivity had been pleasant, though most were simply irritating and obnoxious. Jade however had been by far the worst. She was all the malice and vitriol of her uncle without the restraint and sophistication created by the polished veneer Marcus used. Short red hair ending just below her chin, her face subtly lined from the permanent scowl she wore. Her thin lips and small chin another contrast to her uncle, alongside her slender build and short stature, she looked almost the complete opposite of her uncle. The only familial resemblance between them was the same venomous green eyes. Eyes that immediately stood out as they now seemed to be glowing. Layla shakily raised her axe as Jade brandished a long wicked looking serrated dagger, dripping with green fluid the same shade as her eyes. ¡°That axe of yours won¡¯t help and we both know it. You can barely lift the thing¡± Jade smirked as Layla ignored the taunt, mind racing as she searched for another escape route. ¡°Worked well enough against the guard, before the ghosts finished him off, wouldn¡¯t want to see that again'''' the shudder that ran up Layla¡¯s spine at the memory was entirely real and unpleasant, but she forced a grin as she continued ¡°though i¡¯ll gladly make an exception where you¡¯re concerned Jade. I¡¯d pay to see your face melting into black sludge¡± she gripped the axe tighter and dashed backwards, the taunt having given her an idea. Retracing her route as Jade swore and began running after her, Layla was for once thankful for how weak she was, now she wasn¡¯t constantly trying to hide the route back to the dungeon door was relatively short. A blue glow from the corner told her she was close enough just as she heard Jade catch up to her. Not stopping to think she hit the floor, rolling to the side. Jade''s dagger plunged forward right into where her spine would have been, only to bounce off the Eternally Chaineds metal wrapped torso. Though the blade itself didn¡¯t do any visible damage, the green liquid seemed to latch onto the spectral figure and began to spread into its body, tinting its previously blue glow. It screeched and threw itself at Jade who started to desperately fend off the slashing chains. Throwing caution to the wind Layla ran for it, back up the alleway again, the route becoming annoyingly familiar as she seemed to be constantly pinballing back and forth. ¡°Two steps forward one step back¡± she gasped to herself as she ran. The axe dangling from numb fingers now as her arm added itself to the list of limbs aching from overuse. Blissfully empty of any more cultists or monsters the street passed by quickly. The heaped ruins of the wall proved a new challenge though. A new set of cuts and a wrenched shoulder made it clear after one attempt that climbing wasn¡¯t an option. Picking randomly Layla turned right to follow it, keeping her axe, as heavy and hanging at her side as it may be, between her and the rest of the commune. The roars of the lions gradually weakened and slowed, putting more pressure on the escape timer. Although the Eternally Chained were still roaming loose, she couldn¡¯t count on them alone being enough to keep everyone distracted, especially considering Jade knew she had escaped. Her eyes roamed ahead, searching the wall for a gap or break easy enough to get through. The dread and desperation grew as time ticked on, minutes passed from the last roar she¡¯d heard, yet still no viable option presented itself even as a glance towards the mountain she¡¯d been using as a guide let her guess she¡¯d gone almost a quarter of the way around the edge of the compound. ¡°Just one more bit of luck. That''s all I need. God or whatever your name is, if you¡¯re listening. Just give me a way past this wall. Even if it''s straight into a river or the mouth of some other monster, let me die completely free, please¡± she¡¯d never been overly religious growing up, and definitely not in recent years. Thinking about it Layla couldn¡¯t even remember a time in her life she had voluntarily prayed before. But after meeting that figure in the starscape and being this close to freedom she offered up her desperate plea without a second thought. So close to her freedom she could taste it but she could practically feel the shackles closing around her wrists again as she went longer and longer without an exit. ¡°That''s it. Next break, no matter how difficult it looks, I¡¯m taking it¡± shaking her head and squaring her shoulders she forged on, just because she had met something like a god didn¡¯t mean she could rely on it after all. Rounding a corner brought her stumbling into the biggest mound of rubble yet. Ready to curse at yet another obstacle the words died in her throat. The pile reached all the way up to the broken top of the wall. Scrambling up it on all fours Layla considered dropping the axe as it was more hindrance than help at this point. Remembering her prayer from moments before and imagining some other monster waiting on the other side quickly banished that thought though. Just as she reached the top screams and shouts started to ring out again in the distance, followed by the screeching wails of the Chained. Chuckling to herself at getting not one but two bits of luck she looked down at the far side of the wall and grimaced, realising she might have been as lucky as she thought. It was a sheer drop, whatever had broken this section of wall had forced all the rubble inwards to make the pile she had climbed, leaving nothing but a long drop on the other side. ¡°Well, here goes nothing i guess¡± Layla threw her axe a short way from the wall, not wanting to risk cutting her own limbs off by jumping with it. Kneeling precariously on the edge she turned, gripping the edge and trying to slowly lower herself down to reduce the fall. She''d gotten her legs over and lowered herself to her waist when her arms gave out. Dropping the twelve feet to the ground was surprisingly pain free. Some instinct to roll combined with the wet ground cushioning the impact remarkably well. Groaning, she pulled herself up and looked around for the axe again. ¡°Really gotta stop ending up on the floor, it''s getting harder to stand up every time¡± on the edge of the treeline she found her weapon, almost sure that an instinct had guided her to where it had fallen amongst the shrubbery. Looking back at the commune she grinned, giving the whole commune a one fingered salute before disappearing into the trees. A few hours later, just as the sun started to set Layla felt a wave of energy wash through her. Leaving her refreshed and energised. Before she had time to wonder what had happened her new interface made itself known for the first time since she''d returned from the starscape. Startled, she waved her hands around for a few seconds before she remembered the figure had said something about an interface. ¡°ok so I''m seeing things now but apparently that''s normal and I''m not going crazy. Well, crazier I guess. Even though I''ve started talking to myself¡­¡± trailing off she focused back on the various things that were overlaid on her vision. ¡°Let''s see, green bar that''s missing a big chunk, I''m gonna take a wild guess and say that''s some kinda health bar. Little icons above it with food and water that are flashing. Let''s say dehydration and hunger, probably more severe than just plain hunger though since it''s flashing¡± dizziness washed over her then, her body choosing that moment to run out of adrenaline and bring the rest of her body''s complaints crashing forward. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Clinging to a nearby tree she groaned ¡°ok ok. I get it. Food and water, weird menus later¡± willing all the icons away they thankfully faded to almost total transparency, still there if she looked but no longer overwhelming her view. Wracking her brain for memories of six years ago she tried to remember any rivers or lochs she''d seen near the coming commune. When she remembered that she had arrived over the mountain she swore, the mountain that was on the opposite side of where she''d exited the commune. ¡°Well I''m not going back that way. So that leaves forward and hoping for the best¡± With a direction decided she straightened up and started walking again. Through the night she walked, blind luck probably keeping her from encountering anything living in the forest. Like a zombie shuffling forward, doggedly refusing to give up she walked, too exhausted to even notice the cold and her feet had long ago gone numb by the time dawn began to peek through the trees. In the end she didn''t find food or water, it found her when she walked into it face first. Stunned and knocked off her feet, again, she looked up at the little stone hut she''d walked into. A bothy, one of many overnight waystations scattered across Scotland. She''d stayed in a handful back when she''d been hiking her way around for the summer. They were about as basic as a building could get, abandoned cottages or barns fixed up just enough to be weatherproof, little more than four walls and a door, the only luxury being a fireplace and a stack of dry logs providing the last occupant had replaced whatever they burnt. Bleary eyed and head spinning she tried to bring everything into focus. Vaguely, like background noise, she heard a door creak open and footsteps approaching from around the old building. A dark figure, features just as blurry as everything else, loomed over her. Feebly she tried to stand but her body wouldn¡¯t cooperate, now that she had stopped moving the sheer willpower she had been using as fuel wasn¡¯t enough to make her limbs so much as twitch. Strong arms wrapped around her, making her flinch and try to grip her axe tighter, only to realise she¡¯d dropped it at some point in the night. A feeble whine was all she managed, though even that was scratchy and raw, as she realised she hadn¡¯t eaten or drank anything in almost two days, save the icy mouthfuls of water that she¡¯d managed from the pressure washing she had endured the night before her escape. By the time she finished her wandering thoughts she found herself laying on top of an old sleeping bag inside the bothy, the figure digging through a backpack and muttering quietly to themself as they picked out various items. Her head still spinning she tried to speak, only for her still blurry helper to turn and press a bottle to her lips, water trickling into her mouth, she drank greedily, only to find the water drying up and the bottle taken away all too soon. ¡°Slow now, with how thirsty and starved you look I¡¯d wager you¡¯ve not seen any food or water in days, drink too much or too fast and you¡¯ll bring it back up faster than you got it down¡± the stranger said, his deep voice matching the arms she¡¯d felt carrying her earlier. Before she could protest or argue she felt him press a small rectangle into her hands ¡°it''s only a cereal bar but i doubt you¡¯d manage more than that at the moment anyway. You take your time with that and I''ll see how far I can stretch my first aid kit over all these cuts and scrapes¡± as Layla looked down at the food clutched in her hand she noticed her clothes, or what was left of them. Torn, ragged and stained with blood they were little more than rags and from what she could see through the mud and dust her skin didn¡¯t look much better. With little else to do and her limbs still refusing to do much more than twitch she resigned herself to the care of the stranger, slowly moving her arm up so she could eat. As she nibbled on the cereal bar her mind started to wander again. A blinking light at the bottom of her vision drew her attention as she remembered the interface she had dismissed the night before. Mentally clicking on the blinking notification her vision exploded with colour as a shining screen of red, gold and blue appeared in her vision.
Titles acquired: Frontrunner Unbroken Thinner than water
Confused, she blinked the screen away. Not wanting to linger on the fate of the guard. What looked like a character sheet appeared to replace the notification, bringing with it a whole new level of confusion. Name: Layla Blake Race: Pangean Class: N/A Rank; N/A Bloodline: N/A Heritage: N/A Legacy: N/A Combat: N/A Craft: N/A Lore: N/A Staring at the sheet was more than a little disheartening, though on some level she knew it made sense, after everything from the escape the fact her sheet showed that she was as basic as could be was a little hard to swallow. Sighing softly she started skimming through the various other menus available to her, trying to get to grips with this new interface. The first thing that caught her attention was her new titles, and interestingly enough they actually came with some tangible benefits.
Frontrunner Life on Aeternum is hard and violence is always waiting, you adapted to this reality faster than any other. Claiming the first kill of your entire race. Provides a rarity upgrade to each of your first three lineages
Unbroken Having faced circumstances that have broken many lesser beings, you not only survived but managed to achieve a legendary feat and execute your escape. Provides resistance to all suppression and negative mental effects so long as you remain independent
Thinner than water The new world is harsh but few would turn so readily on their own race. Not only did you make the first kill in your new reality but faced with both a monster and a fellow human you chose to kill your own race Provides greater damage output and improves chances of success when working against other Pangeans
Stunned Layla just stared at the screen, that was a lot to take in. The benefits were at best abstract concepts for now, but the wording of the descriptions was more than a little unsettling. While her actions might not have been entirely under her control, she couldn¡¯t deny that she had killed the guard. For a moment emotion threatened to overwhelm her and she felt herself begin to tremble, only to feel a blanket getting draped around her as the stranger seemed finished treating her wounds. He was young, medium length messy brown hair and the scraggly beginnings of a beard made her wonder if he was a student, hiking around for the summer. If things had gone differently she wondered if he would have ended up in a cell beside her, instead of helping her recover from her escape. ¡°You never told me your name, or if you did it was while I was still dazed from walking into the wall¡± ¡°Jacob. That''s my name, I did say so before I carried you in here, but like you said, you weren¡¯t in a great state¡± he said, sitting back against the wall. ¡°What happened to you? I know the world has gone a little crazy but that hardly seems like enough to end up in that state¡± he gestured vaguely at her heavily bandaged and emaciated form. Pushing herself up against the opposite wall to sit facing him, Layla couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. Now that she was a little less desperate and delirious, though still exhausted, she couldn¡¯t help but worry. Alone and vulnerable she was at Jacobs mercy, without even her axe for protection. Some bound item that was, nobody could take it from her but easily dropped in the woods. As she thought it though she felt the sleeping bag shift under her, the feeling of a handle now under her leg, reaching down slowly she felt for it, feeling the wooden haft and leather wrappings of the handle she had to fight to keep her surprise hidden. The weapon returning to her definitely made her feel more secure, but the fear and paranoia urged her to keep it hidden. Just in case. Jacob stood up then, seeming to take her silence for an answer as he moved to the corner to pick up a bucket. ¡°There was a cult or commune or something, whatever you want to call it. I was a prisoner, had been for years¡± the words came out scratchy and slow, memories flashing through her mind''s eye as she spoke. ¡°Then it all happened, when I met the merchant I was desperate, the introduction he gave made it seem like stories were valuable in this new world. So I told him stories, every one i could remember. In return he provided me an opportunity to escape, though as you can see it didn¡¯t go entirely smoothly¡± she shrugged weakly, hoping he wouldn¡¯t question the vague story. Her heart sank as he hesitated, seemingly to ask a question before simply shrugging and picking up the bucket. ¡°I¡¯ll go grab some more water from the stream, you can clean up with it once I get back. Help avoid any infections and might make you feel a bit better. It''s not a shower or a hot bath by any means, but it''s better than you taking a dunk in the river¡± as he disappeared out of the doorway again Layla reached under the sleeping bag and grabbed her axe again. Pulling it out she felt a measure of reassurance at its presence, glad it wasn¡¯t so easy to lose as she had thought. Not knowing how long she had before Jacob got back, she looked around the room for a hiding place. The room was bare though, with no furniture beyond the low platform that served as a bedding area and the fireplace. Rushing to the fireplace she slid the axe behind the pile of firewood that was ready next to it. She just got herself sat back against the wall when Jacob walked back in. He put the now full bucket of water on the floor and dug out a shirt from his bag. ¡°You can use that. It''s an old one anyway. I''m gonna go see if I can find some more firewood, back in a bit¡± with that he disappeared again, leaving Layla alone again. Looking down at herself she realised getting cleaned up really was the best idea. The mud and blood was caked on her pretty thickly and definitely didn''t feel great. Looking at the door she moved Jacobs rucksack in front of it, wedging the straps into the gap under the door as best as she could to block it. Once she was as secure as she thought she could get she sighed and settled down to get herself cleaned up. Chapter 4 Layla woke to a loud crash, still half asleep she rolled over confused, seeing Jacob sprawled on the floor she jumped, realising she must have forgotten to take his bag out from where she¡¯d wedged its straps under the door after she¡¯d finished cleaning up. She¡¯d been so tired that she barely even managed to pull her damp clothes back on after rinsing them as best as she could in the bucket and climbed into the sleeping bag. About to make an apology for accidentally locking him out she noticed something wrong, instead of a bundle of firewood in his arms Jacob was holding a metal stick with some strange shape on the end of it. Confused, her apology switched to a question but before it could pass her lips the expression on his face chilled her to the core. Gone was the friendly smile and helpful cheer, replaced with dark greed and malice, an expression she knew all too well, one she¡¯d given everything to escape from. Kicking frantically at the sleeping bag to try and get herself free she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Jacob as he climbed to his feet, his eyes locked on hers. He muttered a strange word but it was like her ears refused to hear it, she saw his lips move and there was some kind of noise, but her mind just couldn¡¯t comprehend it. Finally getting her legs free she scrambled back against the wall, eyes going wide in terror as the strange shape at the end of the stick began to glow, making her realise it was a branding iron. She glanced at the woodpile where she¡¯d hidden the axe, itching to dive for it. But she didn¡¯t know what that brand would do. It was magical, that much was obvious from the noise Jacob had made to activate it and the unnatural glow it now had. Deciding that she needed to avoid it touching her at all costs she tried to think of any way to get to her axe. Thankfully not content with whatever plan he had for her Jacob began to speak. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, see I didn¡¯t really believe all that magic stuff, limitless power and whatever. Sure I¡¯ve dreamed about it, who doesn¡¯t dream of getting magic powers. But I just figured it was a bad dream, and when I woke up here the same as before there was nothing to prove otherwise. Just some really weird dream brought on by too much drink or some bad food. But then you came along. Appearing out of nowhere cut to pieces and then you manage to heal yourself before my very eyes. So I took it a bit more seriously, as soon as I thought about it that interface thing turned on. All my stats, all that power waiting to be unlocked, but it¡¯s not like I''ve got a magic key lying around in my pocket is it?¡± As he was talking Layla slowly pushed herself to her feet, back still against the wall, she carefully nudged her foot under the empty sleeping bag as she kept her eyes on Jacob, who had stopped at the edge of the raised platform, eyes looking almost through her as he talked. ¡°So without a key I had to find one. Obviously. So I started having a more thorough look through that interface we get. There are so many options. The Merchant wasn¡¯t kidding. It¡¯s literally limitless. That¡¯s the name of that figure who we met when this all started, the Merchant. That¡¯s where I got this beauty. Slaving brand¡± Jacob waved the brand casually towards her, making Layla flinch. Tensing up she braced her hands against the wall, ready to launch. ¡°See, thing is. It¡¯s true, the saying. Nice guys do finish last. Years I spent being polite and kind, supportive. Always the gentleman. And where did it get me? Alone in the mountains. Alone because girls like you. Girls like you don¡¯t care about the nice guy. We¡¯re not good enough. Not exciting enough. Not handsome enough. Well now. Now I don¡¯t have to be good enough. Now I¡¯m going to be powerful enough¡± As he finished his speech Layla kicked up, launching the sleeping bag at his face and tangling up his arms. As soon as her foot hit the floor again she pushed off the wall. Diving across the room to the wood pile. Grabbing blindly at the back of the pile she felt her fingers close on the handle and shoved herself to her feet. Whirling around to find Jacob snarling as he ripped himself free of the fabric. Not giving him the chance to try and use the brand she stepped forward and swung, the axe burying itself into his skull with a wet thud. A second later another thud as Jacob¡¯s body hit the floor. Stunned Layla stared at the body, blood slowly spreading in a pool. Although she¡¯d killed the guard this felt more real, more personal, before the Chained had really been responsible, they¡¯d tripped him, made him fall onto the weapon. That¡¯s what she had told herself in the quiet moments. Now though, Jacob was laying with her axe in his skull purely because she had put it there. She stared at the body, feeling herself trembling. ¡°He deserved it, he was going to make me a slave. He was going to take my freedom¡± she spoke quietly to herself, repeating it over and over as she stood there. In a daze she walked over and picked up the sleeping bag from where it had been thrown against the wall. Putting it on the platform she then grabbed Jacobs backpack and the few supplies that were left lying around. Packing up the bag she found more food and water, a camping stove, a tent, matches and a small knife. She glanced at the body but couldn¡¯t see anything useful sticking out of the pockets. Maybe a phone but she didn¡¯t know if it would even work after everything that had happened. The only other thing was the brand, still clutched in his right hand. Grimacing, she pulled it free from his grip. The thing felt evil, determined to get rid of it as quickly as possible she strapped it to the side of the bag. Lastly she picked the bag up, putting it on. She turned and gripped her axe, closing her eyes as she pulled it free. Walking out the door and not looking back. Following the sound of the river she quickly walked to the water''s edge, kneeling to dunk the axe in the river, letting the water rinse away the gore before pulling it back out. Looking up at the glimmering starlight overhead she realised she must have slept through the entire day. Searching the skyline above the trees at the edge of the clearing she eventually found what looked like the mountain she had used as a guide the day before. Putting that behind her she took a deep breath of fresh air and set off following the river downstream. As she wandered through the night she constantly looked up at the stars. The old constellation''s she knew were gone, replaced now by strange alien ones across the night sky. She smiled then as a thought hit her. She would remember those old stars, as a reminder of her suffering. But these new stars, they would be a symbol of her freedom. She stopped and stared up at them fully. Vowing there and then. ¡°I will never be a prisoner, I will never lose my skies and I will never lose my stars. Never again¡± finding some peace in her new resolution she sat down to take a drink and refill the water in the stream. The icy liquid refreshing and crisp as she thought back over the last few days, there hadn¡¯t been any moments before to really stop and relax. She didn¡¯t count the wash in the bothy, she¡¯d been too exhausted to even think about what she was doing, more concerned with finishing quickly and crawling into bed. Now though she had time to really stop and think. The biggest question she had was what to do next. Even if she could find them all her old friends probably thought she was long dead. She had no family worth finding and no home to try and get back to. Even her old storage locker had probably been sold off long ago. So what to do next? She needed power, that much was obvious. Marcus had already proved how quickly people would be turning on each other with even the tiniest measure of power. If she was going to keep her promise to herself she needed the power to back it up. Reopening her status sheet she considered the blank empty slots again. Thinking about the fact she was alone in the wilderness and would probably be running into various monsters at some point soon it was clear her biggest weakness was literally how weak she was. With barely any fitness or endurance worth mentioning anything bigger than an angry squirrel could probably take her out without much difficulty. Revisiting the other sections of her sheet didn¡¯t provide any new answers either. The lineage section didn¡¯t make much sense to her beyond the fact they fell into three basic categories of mind, body and soul. But what they actually did remained a mystery. And how they linked into any of the other aspects of her sheet were just as much of a mystery. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Once more at a loss she closed out the menus, resigned to the fact that even more than her wretched physical state she was utterly without enough information to make any real decisions. She leant back against her pack, only to sit up again as the handle of the brand poked her in the shoulder. Remembering where Jacob said he had gotten it, she reopened her menus, quickly finding the option for the merchant. Hesitant to encounter the cloaked figure again she reluctantly grabbed hold of the brand and mentally clicked on the option to visit the Merchant. With a blink she was back amongst the vibrant, colourful nebulae of the Merchants domain. As before the mysterious fixture was sealed completely beneath a cloak and despite the lack of any visible features Layla had the distinct feeling that the figure was seeing more than just her outward appearance. ¡°You have returned mortal. And I see your circumstances have had a marked improvement. What is it you seek from me? And what do you bring to bargain with¡± the Merchant spoke with an amused tone, making it clear that it already knew both of the answers. Layla held out the brand in front of her, where a bubble encapsulated it, lifting it to float between them. ¡°A brand. Magical as best as I can tell. Though I''m told you''re the one who supplied it so you should know the details anyway¡± Layla couldn''t keep the resentment and impatience out of her voice, despite the deep fear she held towards the Merchant. The memory of her glimpse beneath the cloak still made her shudder. ¡°As for what I need, that''s a long list. My first priority though is protection, some kind of armour would probably be best?¡± She said shrugging, ¡°I''m guessing here since I have no idea what''s available or even possible in this new world you''ve brought us into¡± ¡°Watch your tone mortal, I have great patience for bargains and haggling, it is in my nature after all, but very little for insults and contempt. Do not mistake my previous assistance for any sort of fondness, it was but a passing amusement at your surprising creativity in bargaining. That is all¡± the voice was thick with malice and threat, but Layla found it strangely refreshing. For the first time in a long time she was being threatened for something she actually did rather than just existing. Taking a moment to force down anger she considered her options. ¡°I apologise, it¡¯s been a stressful few days. What do you have available to trade for the brand?¡± ¡°Back to business then, you are correct in assuming it is a magical tool, since it remains unused I¡¯ll consider it¡¯s worth equal to when I first sold it. You said you wanted armour, depending on the type you want I have several options available within the price range of the brand¡± as the Merchant spoke several orbs like the one which produced her axe appeared above, though instead of flickering between options these remained stable. In some there were single items, a chest piece or a pair of braces. In others there were entire outfits. The difference seemed to be in material. The most extensive options seemed to be mostly made of cloth whereas the singular items were almost all metal. ¡°These are your primary options. There is some small room for customisation, though how much will depend on the expense of your initial selection¡± Though Layla knew very little about the practicalities of armour she had a passing familiarity with it. Most of the heroes in her old stories wore it after all. The metal armour may offer better protection but it was heavy and she was far from strong enough to wear it. Maybe eventually she would be able to walk around in armour like that, but so far she''d spent more time running and dodging hits than standing and taking them. Thinking back to get last visit here she remembered making a selection that would have multiple uses. With that in mind she spoke. ¡°None of the metal pieces, as much as I need the protection I need to still be able to move in it more. Something light enough for me to use in my current condition¡± at which all of the single piece options disappeared, and several of the smaller set options that looked to be made of heavier leather. ¡°preferably something that will offer protection from the elements as well as any monsters or weapons that come my way¡± several more of the bulky options disappeared, leaving only the comprehensive fabric sets that would cover her entire body, thankfully a few of them still seemed to have some reinforced sections rather than simply thick fabric. ¡°I must admit to being impressed. In both of your visits to me you have been both decisive in what you need and also considerate of more than simply a single requirement. My dealings with you mortals would be far more interesting if they all thought as you do¡± Layla smiled at the praise but her eyes remained focused on the half dozen options still in front of her. Could she narrow her needs further? What could she only get in the primary selection and what could she deal with later during the customising? ¡°Thank you for the compliment. Though I think I''ve run out of decisiveness. I don''t know enough about armour or about what I''m going to need when I leave here. Perhaps you''d be willing to offer a suggestion?¡± Trying to project as much earnestness and flattery into her voice as possible Layla finally looked away from the choices to the Merchant standing below them. A low chuckle rang out from the hooded figure, taken aback by the unexpected noise Layla blinked, only to find a single orb remaining in front of her. ¡°This would be my recommendation. Battle robes of the wanderer. Highly durable, reinforced leather panels across the torso, and thinner strips along forearms and shins, minor enchantments for climate control, cleaning and self repair. It is however at the very limit of the value of the brand so unless you have something else to bargain there will be no adjustments you can make¡± looking over the armour as she listened to the description Layla couldn''t argue with the choice, it sounded perfect for her needs. But even without making any adjustments she felt uncomfortable leaving with only the battle robes. While they had been her primary goal in coming to make a deal she still had plenty of other needs. Though she this time had supplies and possessions they were too important to bargain away. The Merchant had seemed to be amused by her last bargain, so maybe she could think outside the box again? ¡°I''ll take the robes as they are. In exchange for the brand. But I''d like to offer you another deal. It''s not anything tangible, and it''s not knowledge or culture this time. I''ll bargain my potential¡± deathly silence followed the statement. Even as the magic of the place completed the first deal. The brand disappearing into the Merchants cloak and the armour manifesting itself around her. ¡°A bold suggestion. Though a vague one. What exactly are you offering?¡± The Merchant spoke cautiously, but filled with caution and more than a hint of amusement. ¡°My title, the bonus I get from Frontrunner¡± she kept her voice firm, swallowing nervously. Only for the Merchant to laugh even louder. ¡°Bolder than I thought. I haven''t had someone try to trade their potential for millennia. Especially from that particular title. Few who earn it find themselves in such dire straits as yourself. What would you seek in return mortal?¡± ¡°I need knowledge. Knowledge of my new world, the things that inhabit it and how it works. I also need knowledge of my axe, I don''t have a tutor available so I must teach myself to use it properly¡± she stated her needs bluntly, she knew it wasn''t exactly a smart negotiating tactic but she''d never been a salesman and being blunt about her needs had worked out well for her so far. ¡°A simple enough trade. Though both what you offer and what you request are more valuable than you realise.¡±