《The Orc Elementalist》 Not a chapter, just a world map. Made a map in Inkarnate before I started writing, may as well post it now. Didn''t put in a lot of towns/cities because they''d make the map super cramped. Let the speculations begin! Oh and just a little spoiler here, these lands used to be one giant landmass, BUT WE''LL GET TO THAT AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD. All in all, I''d say I spent maybe ~2 days just messing about until I started getting this the way I wanted it. I still could add more detail, but its good nuff for me, I aint no professional after all.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Chapter 1: Lost in the Void ¡°Hello? Is anyone there?¡± I attempted to cry out as I found myself engulfed in complete, total, darkness. Unfortunately, my voice was completely nonexistent, even opening my mouth took a great deal of effort. My body felt numb, weak, and more than a little damp as I tried to shift myself in an aim to see if there was more than just darkness. Sadly, my efforts proved in vain, as even the slightest movement proved challenging. In short, I was wet, warm, in total darkness, and supremely weak. Not the first time I¡¯ve been in such a situation, but those previous times had been in pleasant company. Here, I was alone and confused. ¡®Just where the hell am I?¡¯ I questioned in my mind as I wracked my brain searching for answers. Even the mere act of thinking caused my head to pound. But as they say in the army, no pain no gain. Doing my best to ignore the increasing strain of my mind I began with the basics. Name? Dylan Harvey. Occupation? Mall Security Guard. Last thing I can remember? Driving home at night after a late shift, looking down to check my phone¡¯s messages, sending a reply to one of them, bright lights hurtling towards me and then¡­nothing. Didn¡¯t take a genius to draw a conclusion from that memory. I just hoped that text message was important. ¡®So¡­this is death huh?¡¯ I pondered to myself. I certainly don¡¯t feel dead. ¡®How is death supposed to feel anyway? Maybe I¡¯m just mostly dead and currently recovering? God I hope so. I don¡¯t want to be dead. Being dead would suck! Unless I¡¯m now a zombie. Always wanted to be the one to kick off a zombie apocalypse.¡¯ Had I the strength, I would have grinned. Pleasant delusions aside, for now I¡¯ll just assume I¡¯m mostly dead and currently recovering. That seems to be the most logical choice, as I don¡¯t believe I would be capable of complex thought if I were dead. Cause I¡¯d be dead. And have a severe hankering for brains and flesh. So I¡¯m mostly dead, restrained in some sort of dark, warm, wet place, and incredibly weak. Obviously what happened was that I was in a car accident, driven to some high class hospital, and put inside one of those healing liquid tanks like they have in Starship Troopers or Star Wars. Not that we actually had that kind of technology. If I could have summoned the strength to sigh at myself, I would have. The throbbing of my head had steadily increased as my mind raced to the point where any attempts at complex thought sent a stab of pain directly into my brain. To summarize all of my thoughts as simply as possible, I had no idea what the hell happened after the crash and not a clue of where I was. I was alive, that¡¯s all that mattered at the moment. For now, the best I could do was close my eyes and get some rest. Hopefully I¡¯d get my answers soon. ¡ª¡ª I don¡¯t know how long I had slept, but it wasn¡¯t long enough. When I awoke I felt just as weak as I had before, but at least the pain in my head had subsided. Oh, and the darkness I was in had begun to shift and move which had knocked me from my restful slumber. Concentrating as best as I could manage, the rhythm of how the darkness moved felt familiar. As the darkness moved, so too did I in a pattern that made me think of footsteps. Every shift that my surroundings made were regular and measured, akin to walking. Which freaked me the hell out. My mind raced at the prospect of the void I found myself in moving. Alas, I could come to no logical conclusions. But I could certainly think up some wild ones, which I had done. My least favorite of the bunch was thinking I was cocooned by some massive spider thing that was currently carrying me to its lair to feed to it¡¯s babies. An overactive imagination is both a blessing and a curse. Future feast or not, my best bet would simply to let sleeping dogs lie and let the answers come to me in time. Exhausted from my brainstorming session, I eagerly went back to sleep. ¡ª¡ª I never truly realized how time passes slowly in total darkness. Unbearably slowly if I¡¯m completely honest. Half of the time I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m actually awake or simply dreaming. In fact, I couldn¡¯t even begin to think how much time had passed since I first came to this place. Days? Weeks? Months? Years? Some days, at least I think they have been days, I have had trouble recalling my name. Very worrying. But I remain sane in this emptiness so that¡¯s a plus in my book. After I wake I send myself into a mantra to remind myself of who I am and why I am here. Wherever here is that is. Sadly, my recovery proceeds slowly as I only feel slightly stronger than when I first awoke in my personal void. Sometimes, if I concentrate really hard, I feel as if I can hear very faint voices from far away. Not the brightest of prospects for my mentality, but at this point I¡¯d settle for being able to talk to an aspect of my consciousness over being alone. But the strangest part of my predicament isn¡¯t the occasional muted voices that may or may not be my mind slowly slipping into madness. No, the fact that I don¡¯t go hungry is quite more pressing. By this point I was sure I¡¯d have gone hungry days ago. But I don¡¯t. And that concerns me. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Captain¡¯s log, day unknown. I find myself attempting to move by any means necessary in order to escape from this hellish void prison I call home. Though my body is weak and my movements sluggish, I am able to perform some variants of kung-fu I had once seen from a movie I remember seeing a lifetime ago. At least, I think I remember seeing it. My heart says that I have, but my mind is unsure. I¡¯ve begun to distrust what my mind tells me. None of my situation makes sense and is causing my once rational mind to break down. Though I do my best to remain calm under my present duress, I well and truly believe that if rescue does not come soon, none may remember the name Dieland Harvard. Not even myself. Signing off. ¡ª¡ª I can¡¯t remember. Who am I? My memories say I am Dayman Hergan¡­but thats wrong! I know thats not my name! Something, somewhere deep down inside me knows thats not my name. But no matter how many times I try to think of who I am, it always comes out wrong. When I try to remember who I am, it hurts inside that I cant. I try again to remember despite knowing that it won¡¯t help. But what frightens me more than forgetting my name is that the void I am in seems to be shrinking. I can now touch the boundary to this expanse with my leg. Just barely. I swear I could have heard excited murmurs when I did. Or perhaps that was simply the madness making me think I heard them. At this point, I don¡¯t care. I just want to get out of here. Dayman¡­no¡­thats not it. Dihand¡­no¡­thats not it. Doland¡­no¡­thats not it either¡­ ¡ª¡ªEnjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Dylan! My name is Dylan! I rocked myself back and forth in delight as I felt relief rush through me. I had given up so many days ago trying to remember. It was a hopeless endeavor. Yet as soon as I awoke I felt a tug at the tip of my tongue. Hours had passed as I tried out variants of the name dieland before stumbling upon Dylan, and the moment I did the memories came rushing back. My face hurt from grinning, yet I didn¡¯t care. My name is Dylan Harvey! Unfortunately, my exuberance was quickly pushed to the wayside by bloodcurdling screaming. The first voice I had truly heard since my imprisonment and it had to be screaming. That was a great sign! Before I could move myself, the void I was contained within began to shift and pull. ¡®What the hell!¡¯ I cried out in my mind as I felt myself being sucked downward in small motions. With no small effort, I began to push myself to get a better view of what was happening. What I saw left me speechless. Not that far away was a small amount of light and a lot of yelling. And I was being sucked towards it. Freedom! With every push towards the light, I did my best to help myself along. My joy soared as I neared the expanding light. Yet some part of me felt very uncomfortable about this whole situation. Some strange feeling of nostalgia was pounding the forefront of my mind, yelling ¡®I know whats happening! Listen to me!¡¯ The closer the light, the more that feeling welled up inside of me. And then it hit me as I heard the latest round of ungodly screaming. I was being born. All of my efforts to move towards the light stopped in an instant while my brain shut down in an attempt to stop itself from short-circuiting. As I lay there in my new mother¡¯s canal, my brain successfully restarted and realization suddenly struck me. ¡®Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.¡¯ Everything that had happened to me since my drive home suddenly made sense under this new light. I died in that car crash and my soul was sent on it¡¯s way towards my current body. My body was weak and my head hurt from thinking so hard because it was still developing, not because I was still injured. I don¡¯t know why I still had all my memories from my life before however. Perhaps my soul had reached it¡¯s zenith and could resist entropy? Granted, I had almost forgotten myself back there in the darkness. The more I think about it, the more it seems to be that I beat entropy by accident. An urgent yell ripped me from my thoughts. Right, being born, gotta get on that. Once more, I helped ease my way towards my inevitable resurgence. ¡®Forgive me mother.¡¯ I begged silently as I closed my eyes before making the big breach. Cool air flowed upon my bald head as I felt myself slip out of my mother¡¯s embrace and into the waiting arms of another. ¡°Kor¡¯unsk nask Ungrush.¡± A gruff, elderly voice murmured in an alien language from directly overhead. Rough, wrinkled skin began to poke and prod over my newly born body. Now I¡¯m no doctor, but I¡¯m pretty sure this was considered malpractice. One does not simply poke and prod a newborn child as far as I¡¯m aware. ¡°Garo shok-ti.¡± The voice spoke assuringly after having thoroughly examined my small frame. ¡°Gabo dun Wyld choko da.¡± A rough, pleased voice spoke from the side. Unceremoniously, I felt myself plucked from the arms of my current caretaker. ¡°Koso da wotek.¡± Slowly, I opened my eyes so as to acclimate them to the light, only for my heart to stop at the sight before me. A large mouth curled into a grin filled with sharp yellow teeth. A pair fangs jutted from his lower jaw that reached just above his upper lip. Deep red eyes burned into my own. Dark green skin covered the man staring at me. Down from his chin hung a short beard braided with small leather strips and decorated with small bones. Three braided strands of hair were spaced evenly between baldness atop his head. The first word to come to my mind was ¡®Orc¡¯. ¡°Hah! Shon bul ga¡¯dresh! Rohlk gra bekku da!¡± The man¡­Orc¡­and theoretically, my father, excitedly exclaimed as he held me up in the air with his heavily muscled arms. From my new position, I could see him from head to toe. The word I¡¯d best use to describe him would be ¡®ripped¡¯. Dude was a muscle monster wearing animal skins for a shirt and pants. ¡°Koloch, tagrek shokar.¡± Came a very tired voice that brokered no argument. The Orc nodded happily as he moved to obey my mother. As we moved, I glanced around quickly, eager to process my surroundings. We were in some sort of hut-like dwelling made of animal skins sloppily stitched together draped over a wooden frame. Various bones, skulls, carvings, and other assorted knick-knacks decorated the dwelling. Light poured inside from a pair of open flaps located on opposing sides of the abode. I, once a human of superior upbringing and education, was the child of technologically-challenged savages. Joy of joys. And judging by my skin tone of a bright green, I was one of them. I¡¯m sure being an educated savage will go along swimmingly. I¡¯d just have to act like a big dumb brute as long as I lived. Maybe I¡¯ll hit my head on a few rocks on purpose to help. Ceremoniously, the Orc handed me over to my ¡°mother¡±. I use that word loosely, because the word mother makes me normally think of a calm, caring, demure woman. Not some glaring, grinning, fanged, muscle monster who looked like she could win in a wrestling match against the male who had held me. My mother growled contentedly as she rocked me lightly in her well-developed arms. I desperately hoped that not all women looked like this. Please let my mother be the exception. But if I knew Orcs, there was no hope for me. ¡°Dabba, goshone ta kolukk?¡± The male asked my mother as she stared into my eyes. ¡°Kog.¡± ¡°Hrmph.¡± The male snorted and rolled his beard between his fingers. ¡°Mograk?¡± ¡°Kog!¡± My mother growled which made the man smile. ¡°Kotek.¡± He responded. My mother eyed the man silently before smiling. ¡°Kotek.¡± Her eyes moved to my own. ¡°Da shon Kotek.¡± ¡®No, my name is Dylan¡¯ I argued in my mind.
Generating Status
¡®What the fuck?¡¯ I stared at the box floating in front of my vision. Just as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared. Leaving me to wonder just how much of my mind had gone in that dark abyss. And then it happened.
Name: Kotek Jir''iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 0 Experience: 0/10
Health: 12/12 Mana: 8/8
Stamina: 11/11 Unspent Points: 0
Strength: 1 Vitality: 1
Dexterity: 1 Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1 Wisdom: 1
Perception: 1 Luck: 1
Abilities
N/A
Traits:
Orcish Might: Confers a 20% bonus to Strength and Vitality
Musclehead: Confers a 20% penalty to Intelligence and Wisdom
¡®Is this a fucking game?¡¯ I despaired in my mind as I looked at what was, apparently, my status screen. An honest to god graphical representation of my current status as an Orc baby. I didn¡¯t know whether to laugh joyfully at my predicament, and fully embrace the madness floating before me, or to cry at whoever was in control of this completely shafting my old name for my new one. In the end, I did as all babies do. I pissed myself. Chapter 2: A Night for Reading I awoke to the sound of crickets chirping, owls hooting, and a pair of dark mounds resting atop a creaking wooden bed snarling like a pair of wildcats fighting. Night had come to my new world, but I don¡¯t remember falling asleep. Searching my groggy mind, I desperately tried to recall what had happened. I remember some blue boxes showing up, me pissing myself, my mother changing me into some woolen diaper thing that itched like hell. And then¡­ ¡®Oh no.¡¯ She tried breastfeeding me. I remembered it all now. Curled up within her massive hulk arms, she had begun to coo at me in attempted baby talk while nestling me closer and closer towards her iron stomach and breasts that were far more muscle than fat. Had I the strength, I would have fought. Had I the power, I¡¯d have run escaped. But that dark green, hairy nipple came ever closer until it had touched the side of my face. From that point on, there was only darkness. For that I am thankful. ¡®Right then¡­¡¯ I moved my head as much as I was able, only to see myself surrounded by large wooden bars like some sort of jail cell. I suppose a crib is certainly a prison of a kind. At least what I was laying on was cushioned and comfortable. A faint, earthy smell wafted around me that made me think of hay. It reminded me of the times I spent at my grandmother¡¯s farm where she would make me shovel horse manure out of the stalls while she went out to ride her horse. Manipulative old witch, but I loved her. ¡®Wait, shit, she outlived me! Thats just not right!¡¯ I groaned in my mind. ¡®Dammit, new goal. Live as long as my grandmother did. Wait, do Orcs live a long time?¡¯ As I lay there in my crib considering my predicament, realization took over. ¡®Maybe that blue screen thing can help. But how does it work¡­¡¯ I had played my fair share of RPGs in my past life. Mostly while I was supposed to be on duty at my job, but nobody tries to break into a mall at night these days. Especially with most of the stores closing in favor of online shopping. ¡®Right then, here goes. Status!¡¯ I commanded in my mind. Just as I had assumed, the blue box appeared showering me with information.
Name: Kotek Jir''iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 0 Experience: 0/10
Health: 12/12 Mana: 8/8
Stamina: 11/11 Unspent Points: 0
Strength: 1 Vitality: 1
Dexterity: 1 Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1 Wisdom: 1
Perception: 1 Luck: 1
Abilities:
N/A
Traits:
Orcish Might: Confers a 20% bonus to Strength and Vitality.
Musclehead: Confers a 20% penalty to Intelligence and Wisdom.
¡®Alright¡­lets see here¡­¡¯ I fixated my eyes upon the ¡®Race: Orc¡¯ section of my status window. ¡®Information!¡¯ I called out in my mind, only to receive nothing. ¡®Information: Orc!¡¯ I tried again, and was rewarded with nothing once more. ¡®Learn More!¡¯ As I cried out this command mentally, a new blue box appeared in my vision.
Orc: Hardy denizens of the world of Alrand, the Orcs live in small, brutish collectives known as Clans. These Clans are lead by the biggest and the strongest of all the Orcs, titled as Chief. The Chief leads-
¡®Blah blah blah, words words word¡­lets see¡­¡¯ I skimmed through the description to get to the juicy bits. ¡®Natural warriors¡­bonus to Strength and Vitality, no shit. Penalty to Intelligence and Wisdom, no shit again. Ah, here we go! An average Orc will live to be about thirty five years old.¡¯ Fuck. ¡®The reason for it being so low is often due to their eagerness for battle. Were they not so driven towards fighting impossible battles, they could live beyond the standard hundred years that a human does.¡¯ After I finished reading the prompt, it disappeared from my sight. In the silence of the night, I lay in my crib processing what I had just read. My thoughts turned grim about my situation. Living a long life was top priority as far as I was concerned. I don¡¯t think I could deal with living in constant darkness for a few months again. ¡®Right then, primary directive is simple. As soon as I¡¯m able, I¡¯m outta here. The last thing I need is to live with a bunch of frothing savages eager to beat the hell out of me.¡¯ Formulation of an exact plan could come later, as of now I just needed the outline. ¡®Next on the agenda, just what the hell is this ¡®Villager¡¯ class?¡¯ Commanding another ¡®Learn More¡¯ while focused on the Villager part of my status screen, a new box appeared.
Villager: The most common class around the world. From farming and mining, to fishing and tanning, these men and women are the workers that keep life spinning. Though they are numerous, they are very weak in actual combat and have no bonuses towards their base stats. When a villager participates in enough successful combat encounters, their levels may reach high enough for them to ascend into one of the four basic combat classes: Fighter, Rogue, Ranger, or Mage.
¡®Great, secondary directive is also simple. Kill stuff to get stronger so I¡¯m not so easily snuffed out. Now which class to aim for¡­¡¯ One would normally think, ¡®Orc is strong! Go Warrior for big smash!¡¯ and normally, I¡¯d agree with this sentiment. But this was my life now, and the last thing I wanted to do was get close to anything that desired ceasing my existence. That would be a surefire way to get sent back into that accursed darkness. ¡®Never again.¡¯ I swore to myself. Close quarters classes were officially out. Anything that allowed me to defend myself from afar was my best bet. ¡®So its down to Ranger or Mage. As if thats even a choice.¡¯ Even with the twenty percent penalty to intelligence and wisdom, magic was too much to pass up. ¡®Now then¡­onto my stats¡­¡¯ One by one, I went over information pertaining to each and every stat. Many were typical, such as Strength making you hit things harder, Vitality giving more health and stamina, Intelligence giving mana, and Wisdom affecting the mana regeneration rate. Due to my bonus from Orcish Might, every point in vitality that would normally give ten health gave twelve. But my penalty to Intelligence and Wisdom turned ten mana per Intelligence into eight, and one mana per minute to eight tenths of a mana per minute.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Others were a little more complex than that. Dexterity directly affected attack speed, while Agility affected both movement speed and stamina. It seemed total stamina was decided by one point of Vitality granting five stamina, and one point of Agility added another five. But due to being an Orc, one Vitality gave an additional one stamina. Perception was the most unique of the lot in that it affected quite an array of things.
Perception: Perception allows the user to identify things such as hidden rooms, traps, and magical items. Perception also helps the user identify threats during combat, such as the trajectory of incoming attacks and identifying a target¡¯s weak points.
In other words, it¡¯d be a good stat for spelunking. A part of me grew excited by the prospect of dungeon delving, as dungeon crawlers were among my favorite games back in the old world. But just because the stat made me think that it¡¯d be good for dungeons, didn¡¯t necessarily mean there were dungeons in this world. ¡®Lets see if we can find out if there are, this status thing seems to be full of information¡­¡¯ As I finagled about trying different requests for information, finally my efforts bore fruit.
Dungeons: Dungeons are naturally occurring lairs filled with monsters. At the heart of every dungeon is a crystal infused with the essence of Falarond, the Dark God. It is from those crystals that monsters spawn. After spawning, they will wander from their lairs to spread ruin and destruction in their wake.
¡®This keeps getting better and better.¡¯ As for the Luck stat, well¡­it was the same as usual. The same vague ¡®Affects everything you do in a small way! Teehee!¡¯ description that tells you absolutely nothing. But anyone who says Luck is a bad stat has never played a full Luck build in any game ever. With max Luck, enemies would fall over one another and let you kill them. Gold and Princesses would fall into you lap like a waterfall, all your hits would be crits, etcetera, etcetera. The only hard part was getting to that point where Luck snowballs into an unstoppable force. Until one got to that point, your life was in the hands of the flip of the coin. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t think saving and reloading was a thing in this world. Not that I would do such a thing. Save-scummers aren¡¯t people as far as I¡¯m concerned. Unless its Xcom. I completely understand save-scumming in that game. As time passed, I made myself busy with these various pop-up windows. This system was a proverbial fountain of information pertaining to subjects I never thought I¡¯d ever encounter. From the various Races that populated this world to a Bestiary of the various deadly beasts that lurked the wilds and from within the dungeons. Unfortunately, the information provided was very broad, and any attempts to get into specifics resulted in no results. But as far as I was concerned, all knowledge was good knowledge. Slight rays of sunlight peeked through the various holes inside our hut. Morning had officially come to the world of Alrand. My first night in a new world and I spent it reading. I¡¯m sure my school teachers would have been proud. Unfortunately, my reading frenzy had come at a cost. My stomach had begun to growl restlessly in an effort to grab my attention. Hunger had beckoned, and I was forced to comply. Against every fiber in my being, I did the one thing babies could do when they wanted food. I cried really really loud. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The sound of wailing pierced the early morning air, causing Dabba¡¯s orange eyes to shoot open. In an instant, she was on her feet with her fists at the ready, only to realize that it was her baby that was crying. With a calming breath, she walked over to the makeshift crib that had been a birth-gift from the clan¡¯s woodsman. It was a sturdy contraption with thick oak bars that not even the strongest of Orc children could break. ¡°Kotek hungers.¡± Her husband, Koloch, spoke as he arose from the bed. ¡°Yes.¡± She responded with a gruff voice as her husband began to dress himself. With a smile, she approached her child¡¯s crib. Slowly, so as to not scare her child, she reached down to pick up her young warrior. With careful hands, she gently took her child from his position in the crib, cooing happily as she did. Carefully, she brought her child closer towards her bosom. ¡°Feed, young one. Feed and grow strong.¡± A sense of motherly pride overcame her as she watched her child close his eyes as he back to suckle her breast. A moment later, her mate stood next to her. Unlike the night before, he now wore armor made from Drake leather and scales. Dabba looked at him questioningly to which he merely grinned in return. ¡°Be well.¡± Koloch spoke to her with a hand upon her shoulder. ¡°And to you little warrior.¡± Pride filled his face as he gently patted Kotek¡¯s head. ¡°I will return tonight.¡± ¡°The forest?¡± Dabba asked. ¡°Mmmm. Goblins. I¡¯m to take the younglings to be blooded.¡± ¡°May Grefane¡¯s fury be your own.¡± Dabba grunted. ¡°And Kirkotek¡¯s grace be your own.¡± He bowed his head to her respectfully before picking up his warhammer laying near the hut¡¯s entrance and striding from the hut. After he had left, Dabba sighed as she held her child to her chest. ¡°May you grow to be twice as strong as your father.¡± She murmured to herself. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It was strange hearing an alien language, Orcs especially so. Theirs was a throaty language full of grunts and growls that was unlike anything I had ever heard. I was certainly not looking forward to learning this language in the least. Hell, I had barely passed Spanish in my past life, and now I had to learn something entirely new and different? That was going to be interesting. And by interesting I mean I hated it already. ¡®My reincarnation for some good old fashioned English.¡¯ After¡­consuming¡­my fill, I ceased any and all contact with my mother¡¯s rock hard body. Once more, she began to coo and speak weird alien babble at me before placing me back down in my crib. I could only lay there and stare at the ceiling of our hut while the sounds of my mother dressing filled our home. Once she had finished, she walked back to my crib and lifted me once more. Strangely, a small blue box had hovered over her head. Squinting my eyes, I focused on the box and gasped at the result.
Dabba Jir''iroc
Level 12 Tracker
¡®Tracker? Whats a Tracker?¡¯ As soon as the question entered my mind, a new blue box appeared in my vision.
Tracker: A Tracker is an advancement of Rangers, focused on stalking their prey. They excel in combat using ranged weaponry, but are also quite capable in melee should the need arise. Their natural perception growth leads them to becoming great additions to parties for being able to spot hidden alcoves in dungeons and hunting prey for eating out in the wild.
¡®An advanced class? Interesting.¡¯ If Tracker was an advancement of Ranger, then I couldn¡¯t wait to see what I could become after Mage. I could only drool at the possibilities withing my hands. With a careful hand, my mother wiped the drool from my mouth. ¡®Thanks mom.¡¯ Rocking me gently and speaking softly, she proceeded to head towards the exit flap to our hut. Bright light filled my vision as we exited our home. An early-morning sun burned the sky an orange hue for untold miles in the distance. Only a few white clouds dotted the vast horizon. Flocks of strange birds flew through the skies to destinations unknown. Grassland stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction. And sitting upon those grasslands were hundreds upon hundreds of huts nearly identical to our own. ¡®The status lied¡­this isn¡¯t a ¡®small clan¡¯¡­This isn¡¯t a small clan at all! In what way is this small?!¡¯ My eyes widened as I watched hundreds and hundreds of Orcs in the distance leave their hovels and begin their daily lives. ¡®This isn¡¯t a clan¡­this is a freakin¡¯ city!¡¯ I cried out in my mind. My heart chilled at the prospect of being surrounded by thousands of battle-hungry savages all eager to attack one another. ¡®This complicates things a great deal...¡¯ I groaned mentally. With a smile upon her face, my mother began to stride through the jungle of huts, carrying me along with her. I guess it was time to meet the neighbors. I desperately hoped that they were friendly. Chapter 3: Badass Mom Held firm in my mother¡¯s muscular embrace, we headed out into the expansive Orc city. Though the morning was just beginning, hundreds upon hundreds of Orcs marched around to perform various tasks. As we traveled, my mother would speak to me with a soft voice. Were I able to understand her, I bet she¡¯d be explaining the various functions of the buildings that we passed. Upon further inspection, many buildings were made of more than just timber and animal hide. Many included stone in their construction, such as one of the larger buildings crafted from carefully cut stone blocks patched together with what looked to be some form of cement. The massive chimney from where smoke constantly billowed and the loud banging of metals clearly marked this as some type of blacksmith. One of many judging by the multiple blooms of smoke flying into the air. My mother made small talk with others that carried babies of their own as we passed through the city. I paid them little mind however, as I was far more interested in the tanners that laid out hides to dry in the warming sun for the day, the stalls that gave away food and drink to any who approached, and innumerable homes from which denizens constantly emerged. This was beyond anything I had ever imagined such a savage society could ever achieve. In fact, this went far beyond savage society. These Orcs were civilized! We had been walking for over ten minutes and I hadn¡¯t seen a single street brawl. I felt quite unsettled by my assumptions proving incorrect, it called into question my very thin grasp of fantasy stereotypes. Whats next, Elves that aren¡¯t stupid and actually rule the world? ¡®Perhaps I missed something important in my skimming¡­¡¯ I sighed in my mind as I prepared to do the one thing I hated most, reading. ¡®Learn more, Orcs.¡¯
Orc: Hardy denizens of the world of Alrand, the Orcs live in small, brutish collectives known as Clans. These Clans are led by the biggest and the strongest of all the Orcs, titled as Chief. The Chief leads the Orcs in all things from scrounging for food and their tribal rituals, to raids and war. Native to the heavily-wooded marshes of the Mire, they are used to rough terrain and are natural hunters and ambushers. Some Orcs are said to have the ability to commune with spirits of their ancestors in order to guide them to areas that are bountiful with animals to hunt. These Orcs are given the title Shaman and are the second most important member of a Clan and are capable of some small amount of spell-casting. While they are inhumanly strong and able to withstand the most grievous of wounds, they are among the most impotent spell-casters. Not that there are many Orcish Mages, as their martial society promotes physical strength over that of arcane advancement. An average Orc will live to about thirty-five years old. The reason for it being so low is often due to their eagerness for battle. Were they not so driven towards fighting impossible battles, they could live beyond the standard hundred years that a human does. Their natural division between clans leads them to not being considered a threat to the more civilized nations of Alrand.
¡®Orcepedia, your information is either wrong or seriously outdated.¡¯ I grumbled in my mind as I looked out to the horizon to see farms being tended to by my green-skinned brethren. ¡®Orc farmers, just what has this world come to?¡¯ Had I the ability, I¡¯d laugh at the sheer strangeness of such a sight. Yet all I could do at the moment was stare, drool, and make a light ¡®goo¡¯ sound. Almost everything about that information was wrong. This was no small Clan, we weren¡¯t living in swampland, and I swear that I saw old Orcs walking around with canes to support their frail bodies. The only parts about that entry that were correct was that they were a martial society, as every Orc that I glanced at had the Warrior or Ranger class below their names. Some even had new ones I hadn¡¯t yet seen, such as lightly armored Orcs wielding pairs of wicked-looking axes being Berserkers. Another type were the ones wielding bows or javelins with some form of animal, such as feral-looking dogs that I assumed to be wolves, orsome type of large cat, following them being Hunters. I chose not to examine them though, their roles were pretty self explanatory. Besides, if the Orc entry was mostly wrong, how much more of the information that I would read would be incorrect as well? Could I even trust these systems? Sadly, without another frame of reference, there was no way for me to tell what was correct or incorrect. I¡¯d be forced to take everything I read with a grain of salt and temper it with experience. ¡®So much for an easy cheat sheet.¡¯ I griped. ¡°Mugo¡¯grok Zakka dan Kotek Zaban.¡± My mother spoke as she held me out to an elderly stranger wearing light colored robes. The old man, possibly woman, I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not an Orcologist, bowed their head and accepted me into their wrinkled hands. Another Orc mother passed her own baby to the elder holding me speaking her own Orcish lingo. With practiced motions, the elder held both of us babies without looking the least bit uncomfortable. After handing the two of us off, my mother and her companion strode off. ¡®So what, is this Orc considered the designated Daycare Orc?¡¯ I pondered as I looked up at my new acquaintance. A kind smile greeted me as they noticed my attention. Yup she was a female as her tusks weren¡¯t as pronounced as a male¡¯s. But most striking was her class.
Zakka Jir¡¯iroc
Lvl 18 Shaman
¡®Learn More, Shaman.¡¯ I commanded in my mind.
Shaman Orc Exclusive Shamans are Orcish ritualists who beseech the spirits of their ancestors for aide. While many Magi doubt the validity of such claims, the spellcraft that Shamans bring to bare are not to be questioned. From healing magics to destructive spells, the Shaman is a versatile opponent and one must always be wary when engaged in battle with one. The Shaman classification appears to be inherited, as the only observed way of creating more Shamans is through long apprenticeships to an already established Shaman. Thankfully, due to the Orcs¡¯ natural developments, one possessing the qualifications to ascend to Shaman-hood is very rare. At most, a Clan will only contain two to three Shaman.
¡®Strange¡­this description looks like it was written more like a report than an assessment of the class¡­what the hell?¡¯ Things just kept getting stranger and stranger in this world. I¡¯d have to keep these thoughts to myself for now, not that I had a choice. There would be a time for answers, and I would seek them out as soon as I could. First though, I had other matters to attend to, like why my mother left me with this old woman.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Looking around curiously, I discovered that my mother had brought me to a clearing within the city. Various logs and stools, many of which that were already occupied, surrounded a large ring filled with what appeared to be sand. Within the ring were two young Orc children with the Villager class. They wore only their loincloths as they punched and kicked at one another with frenzied motions. Their faces scrunched with concentration as they traded blow after blow. While I¡¯m no professional fighter, it was obvious even to me that they were making a lot of mistakes. Overextension being the main offender among both of them. Not to toot my own horn, but I could have taken them¡­if I were the same age as them that is. ¡®No don¡¯t block that! Grab his arm dammit! Argh, you¡¯re useless!¡¯ I cried out in my mind as I watched the fight unfold. Before long, the two were exhausted, but one got a lucky punch in and knocked the other flat on their ass. As the young Orc raised his arms in victory and roared into the sky, a peculiar sight caught my eye. The status below his name had changed from ¡®Villager Level 2¡¯ to ¡®Villager Level 3¡¯. ¡®Interesting¡­very interesting. So fighting others can get you experience¡­¡¯ The gears in my mind began to turn as I considered my options. ¡®Perhaps staying in this city wont be so bad¡­¡¯ the thought of power-leveling off other Orc children made me smile with glee. ¡®And it won¡¯t even be considered child abuse! Child protective services have no power here!¡¯ ¡°Thung ol¡¯tor kon Kotek.¡± The elderly Orc spoke to me softly as she gently moved me to a better position. ¡°Dabba sol kon.¡± Her words were clear as soon as I saw the next two challengers to enter the ring. Flexing her muscles, my mother stepped into the ring facing her acquaintance that she had left with. With a guttural bark, the two moved at each other with fury. ¡®Kick her ass, mom!¡¯ I cheered in my mind as a yawn escaped my mouth. ¡®Kick¡­her¡­ass¡­¡¯ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The sound of flesh colliding with flesh cracked across the dueling ring as Dabba and Hokka fought against one another in a brutal frenzy. Kicks and punches flew at one another in unbridled fury as the two did their best to land successful attacks against one another. Compared to the match that had taken place before, the audience watching were all at the edge of their seats. It was one thing to see younglings fight one another for practice, it was another to see two accomplished warriors of the Clan duel. The rivalry between Dabba and Hokka was well known, and many a Orc had shown up when the two were seen walking towards the dueling ring. ¡°Your moves are sluggish.¡± Hokka taunted as she blocked a series of Dabba¡¯s attacks. ¡°Perhaps you should rest longer after giving us a child.¡± Dabbad growled in response. ¡°I could birth five children and still crush you.¡± Hokka roared at Dabba and rushed forward with a series of punches. Dabba watched her opponent closely as she blocked strike after strike. An instant later, her patience paid off. Hokka had left her chest open to attack. Seizing the opportunity, Dabba struck like lightning, only to feel a sharp crack of pain run up her leg as Hokka spun away from the attack and into a kick. Dabba clenched her fists and focused her mind as she danced backwards from Hokka. The faint sting of pain throbbed on her left calf from the kick she had taken. ¡®Stupid.¡¯ She scolded herself and growled. Hokka had left her center exposed, only to strike like a wicked serpent the moment Dabba sought to land a blow. Dabba felt her blood boil as she circled her friend, eager to pounce like Grefane, Lord of the Mire. ¡°Rah!¡± Dabba cried out as she rushed forward in an explosion of energy. A series of rapid punches and kicks thrashed against one another as the two women fought. With a quick hand, Dabba grabbed Hokka by the arm mid-punch and pulled her forward with all her strength. With wide eyes, Hokka fell forwards right into Dabba¡¯s waiting fist. Fist met flesh as Dabba¡¯s fist cracked solidly against Hokka¡¯s cheek. A cry of rage echoed through the town as the audience cheered the solid blow. With a snarl, Hokka pushed back against Dabba, freeing herself, before launching a series of kicks towards her opponent. With the grace of a predator on the hunt, Dabba dodged backwards from the assault. As soon as Hokka¡¯s attacking foot touched the sand, Dabba rushed forward with a series of hard jabs aimed at Hokka¡¯s torso. Once more, Hokka found herself on the defensive as she desperately blocked punch after punch. A grunt of pain escaped her lips as a powerful blow landed directly into her stomach. Desperation began to fill Hokka¡¯s eyes as she gnashed her teeth together. She had to win. She was the first to birth her child, she was the more successful huntress, she had caught the eye of the stronger male. But despite all her success, fighting and beating Dabba was never a clear affair. She had lost as often as she had won, and loathed the thought that they were equal. Fury boiled her blood as she roared her defiance. ¡°I claim victory this day!¡± She yelled as her fists flew. Once yellow eyes now glowed dark red with fury as the strength and speed of her attacks grew. Dabba grimaced as she dodged and blocked, Hokka had harnessed the power of her Bloodrage. It was a technique that only the strongest of Orc warriors could unleash. The Shamans often spoke of the Bloodrage being a gift from Grefane himself, and Dabba believed it. Were she a regular Orc, she would have fallen easily. But as it was, she managed to dodge what attacks she could, and blocked the rest. Hokka¡¯s barrage left no openings for counters. Blow after blow rained upon Dabba¡¯s arms as she did all she could to avoid exposing herself to a direct hit. She knew from experience that Hokka only needed to land one good hit to finish this duel. Dabba could not let that happen, not in front of her newborn child. To do so would bring her shame she had never known before. ¡®Kirkotek, grant me guidance!¡¯ Dabba desperately prayed to the Mistress of the Skies. Her heart thrummed inside her chest as she watched Hokka¡¯s movements closely. Her foe¡¯s face twisted in glee at Dabba¡¯s inability to strike back. A cool chill ran down her spine as she watched her opponents movements begin to slow ever so slightly. All sound became muted and distant. ¡®This is!¡¯ Dabba gasped as she felt everything around her slow even further. What was once an unending barrage of bone-shattering attacks became little more than the regular strikes the two of them had traded earlier. And Dabba effortlessly blocked each attack. Hokka¡¯s face shifted slowly from raging glee to uncertainty, the red glow of her eyes dissipating entirely. ¡®Now!¡¯ Dabba cried out in her mind. A roar surged from within as she put all of her strength into her next attack. Pain erupted in her right shoulder as one of Hokka¡¯s punches collided with her, but she paid it no mind. With everything she had, her fist flew straight into Hokka¡¯s stomach. The moment her attack connected, the world returned to it¡¯s normal pace. Hokka gaped wordlessly as she fell to her knees, clutching her chest. Her surprise worn clearly for all to see. Silence engulfed the duel ring as the audience gaped at the two fighters. Dabba¡¯s labored breathing the only sound anyone could hear. A moment later, Hokka fell face-first into the sands. Elders rushed forward to heal the fallen warrior, already chanting their incantations to request aide from the spirits. Exhausted, Dabba began walking from the ring towards Zakka. Despite the sweat dripping off of her darkened skin, she couldn¡¯t wait to hold her child once more in her arms and revel in her victory. Slowly, the adrenalin subsided and her breathing calmed as she reached Zakka, only the smile in bemusement at the sight. There, nestled in Zakka¡¯s arm was her child, sleeping peacefully. ¡°The boy fell asleep the moment the match started.¡± Zakka whispered as she gently handed over the baby. With careful hands, Dabba gratefully took her child from the aged Shaman. ¡°A shame.¡± Dabba sighed happily as she cradled him close to her chest. ¡°Dabba!¡± A ragged voice called out from behind. Dabba turned to see Hokka walk towards her as if the fight had never happened. ¡°A good fight.¡± ¡°May we have many more.¡± Dabba inclined her head to her opponent. ¡°And we shall.¡± Hokka grinned as she noted the sleeping child. ¡°Missed the duel?¡± Dabba grunted in response. ¡°A shame. Children learn by example, the teaching must begin young.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Dabba nodded and watched Hokka take back her own child which slept just as peacefully. ¡°It seems our children shared the same exhaustion.¡± Hokka grumbled. ¡°Until next time.¡± ¡°Until next time.¡± Dabba responded. Without another word, the two went their separate ways. Chapter 4: Rivalry Morning light peeked into the family dwelling, signaling the start of another summer day. I groaned aloud at the light shining directly into my eyes. Not wanting to deal with my father¡¯s way of dealing with ¡®lazy pups¡¯, I slid out of my bed and onto the dirt floor of our hut. The impact of the floor helped shock me awake from my groggy mind, and in an instant I stood up, alert and ready. With quick hands, I grasped the bundle of clothing sitting atop the oaken chest sitting at the foot of my bed. In a single, practiced motion, I slipped into my stitched pig-leather pants. While they fit quite snugly, I still looped a hemp rope around them and tied it tight at my waist as a poor-man¡¯s belt. Pants and belt done, I then spun into my simple wolf-hide vest. Not that I needed to wear the vest on summer days, I just liked the look of it. Made me feel like a savage Fonzie. A tinge of regret filled me as I remembered the fact that I never got to wear a leather jacket in my old life. Or got to ride a motorcycle. With a sigh, I knelt down to tie my leather shoes tight. They were beginning to feel a little too tight, it was nearly time for a new pair. Such is the fate of a growing child of seven years old; new clothes would be needed on a regular basis. Clothes and shoes all set, I rushed from the hut as my parents still slumbered on their large bed. A responsible child would wake their parents when it was breakfast time. But Orc children were anything but responsible, and I had a part to play. ¡°Sorry Mom ¡®n Pops, its every Orc for themselves.¡± I chuckled as I raced through the dirt streets towards the nearest food stall. As I ran, more and more children around my age raced from their huts to join me in our mad dash. A grunt was all the warning I had before I felt someone push into me in an attempt to make me stumble. No dice though, I always did have a good ability to manage my center of gravity. I didn¡¯t even need to look to know who it was that pushed me. ¡°You¡¯re too weak Mah¡¯ra.¡± I grinned, keeping my head forward as the sound of footsteps alongside my own entered my ears. ¡°You¡¯re too fat Kotek.¡± Mah¡¯ra grumbled as the two of us raced to a stall that was already swamped with children. ¡°Not fat. Dense.¡± I responded which made her laugh. Despite our mothers being bitter rivals, we had become good friends over the past few months. Never thought I¡¯d have a friendship that started with a fistfight though. Orc life is strange. We didn¡¯t have to wait long to get our portion of breakfast, as we had pushed our way through most of the crowd. And those we couldn¡¯t push through we knocked over. The stall manager made no move to stop the competition in his line and said very little as he handed out slices of yellow melon to those closest to the counter. After we had received our pair of slices each, the two of us retreated from the line, warily eying those around us in case they tried to take our food. Once we were a safe distance away, we sat upon a stump on the side of the road and dug into our breakfast. Tangy juice flowed into my mouth as I bit into the soft flesh of the melon called Sun Melon. Sun because it was yellow, same as the sun in the sky. Melon because it was a melon. Orcs are very deep and intricate people that only a few are capable of understanding. As I enjoyed the refreshing taste of melon, I drifted back to the times before I could go outside on my own. Ever since I could walk, my mother and father had been adamant over their educational curriculum. Meaning they made me walk every moment I could as a way to train my body. As the months dragged on, more involved training was forced upon my developing body. For example, my father would bring home various rocks of increasing weight for me to pick up and move. Eventually language came into play and that took a long while. The hardest part of Orcish language isn¡¯t the strange pronunciation, but the phlegm. Working the correct amount of snot into every word was an exercise in futility for the longest time. I¡¯m ashamed to admit that my peers had gripped the language far more readily than I. As I had grown over the years, so too did my stats. Based upon my observations, the stat growth was both directly proportional to body development and also increased through hard work and training. While lifting stones, a notification would pop up about my Strength and Dexterity increasing. Walking, and eventually running, helped increase my Vitality and Agility. Sadly, compared to my other stats, Intelligence and Wisdom were beginning to fall behind. The only way I had found to raise them up outside of natural growth was thinking really hard, which I did everyday. They had only improved once, sadly. I¡¯d give my left arm for a few books, as I¡¯m sure reading would have helped them improve a bit. Sadly, Orcs aren¡¯t the most literate of races. Perception was another stat left behind, only raised by my body¡¯s natural development. As for Luck¡­well¡­
Name: Kotek Jir''iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 0 Experience: 0/10
Health: 72/72 Mana: 40/40
Stamina: 66/66 Unspent Points: 0
Strength: 6 Vitality: 6
Dexterity: 5 Agility: 6
Intelligence: 5 Wisdom: 5
Perception: 4 Luck: 1
Still at an amazing one. Not that that mattered, a real man makes his own luck. ¡°You got that look again.¡± Mah¡¯ra spoke from my side, giving me a considering look. ¡°Thinking.¡± I responded simply. She grinned, ¡°About the duel today? Galog has no chance!¡± ¡°Yes he does!¡± I countered, ¡°Krog¡¯mu is the one who will taste defeat!¡± ¡°We will see!¡± Mah¡¯ra laughed as we finished our meal and scuttled off the stump. ¡°Remember! The eastern ring at mid-sky!¡± Mah¡¯ra spoke as she raced off back home. I sighed as she ran off, ¡®I hate speaking like an idiot. These people need a heaping dose of vocabulary.¡¯ With a few hours to kill before the duel between two upcoming Orc warriors, I began to jog back home. I grunted words of acknowledgment to familiar faces as they passed by. Compared to the mad dash for breakfast, my current pace was quite relaxed to the point where none of my stamina would drain from exertion. There were certainly benefits to the Orcish lifestyle, in my past life I would never be able to jog so much without having to take a break every few minutes. Us mall cops ain¡¯t the most physically capable of people, that¡¯s why they give us scooters. It didn¡¯t take long for me to return to my home, only to find my mother wearing her hunting gear. A large, unstrung blood-wood bow hung from her shoulder. Head to toe was covered in her timber-wolf hide clothing that would help her blend into the forest. Strapped to her waist was a quiver filled with bronze-tipped arrows. ¡°Going hunting. Back tonight.¡± She spoke simply as she moved towards the exit to the hut. ¡°Tozokalli guide your arrows.¡± I responded, which made my mother smile. ¡°Train well, Kotek.¡± She patted my head with a firm hand before stepping outside. ¡°Perfect.¡± I smiled as she left. She¡¯d be gone for the day, and my father would be busy training another set of unblooded younglings. I would be free to do any training I wanted. ¡°Magic time.¡± I grinned as I sat in the center of the hut, away from anything that could be damaged.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Not that what I was going to do could actually damage anything. With an outstretched hand, I grinned and enforced my will upon the empty air just above my palm. Warm tingling rushed from all throughout my body, sending goosebumps surging to the surface of my skin. Slowly, I felt energy draining from within me as a small globe of water began to pulse and grow above my palm. Picturing a sphere the size of a baseball, I forced more of my mana into the pea-sized droplet of water. Slowly, the sphere grew in size as more and more of my energy was taken. Within a few seconds, my ball of water was complete and hovered above my hand. ¡°Not bad.¡± I admired the small ball hovering over my hands. A quick glance at my status screen showed that I had used twenty points of Mana. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be so bad if I didn¡¯t have this penalty.¡± I grumbled to myself, detesting the eight Mana gained per point of Intelligence. ¡°Abilities!¡± I commanded, summoning the information of the spells I had learned over the past year.
Abilities:
Aqua Sphere Mana Cost: 10+ Conjures a ball of water from the user¡¯s Mana. The more Mana invested into the spell increases the volume of the amount of water conjured. When thrown the Mana-infused water condenses, enabling the user to deal a small amount of physical damage to their target. A basic spell taught to many children upon discovery of their Mana.
Stone Spike Mana Cost: 20+ Conjures a spike of sharpened earth from the user¡¯s Mana. The more Mana invested into the spell increases the size of the spike. When successfully cast, a spear of earth shoots forth from the ground, piercing the caster¡¯s target and dealing physical damage. A handy spell to use against typical foes, though it has proved quite ineffective against those of the flying variety.
Fireball Mana Cost: 20+ Conjures a ball of flame from the user¡¯s Mana. The more Mana invested into the spell increases the size, the heat, and the explosive power of the spell. When thrown, the spell will detonate upon colliding with whatever it hits. A popular spell among Magi, as it is very cost effective for the amount of damage it can deal. Rampant misuse of this spell has seared many a Magi¡¯s robes however, and caution is always urged when utilizing this spell.
Gust Mana Cost: 5+ Conjures a gust of wind from the user¡¯s Mana. The more Mana invested into the spell increases the power of the wind originating from the Magi¡¯s hand. With enough Mana, one would be able to push even the most hardy Dwarf over, though the spell is more often used for more nefarious purposes.
Revert Mana Gained: 1+ Reverts the spell currently conjured back into the Magi¡¯s Mana pool. The Mana returned is based upon the Mana used in the conjuration of the spell. Full Mana is not restored however, as a fair bit of Mana is lost in the process of energy conversion. A staple spell known by all Magi, as the ability to return one¡¯s Mana to use in an alternate spell is often key in battle.
I tossed the ball from hand to hand as if I were juggling. Despite the sudden motions, none of the water had escaped the ball form. It was as if it were perfectly contained within an invisible sphere. I grinned as I continued my juggling for a minute or two before Reverting the Aqua Sphere back into myself. Using water had been my first choice for a spell, as it would have been far easier to explain how things got wet should the worst happen, rather than explaining how the hut had burned down. Honestly, anyone who chooses fire as their first element to utilize is an absolute idiot. I mean, I understand why they would, Fireballs and Meteors are cool as shit, but goddamn people, think about your surroundings! Only you can prevent forest fires. Not that I was successful my first few attempts at spell-casting. I felt the warmth of embarrassment upon my cheeks as I remembered the times I tried using incantations and various hand-gestures to use my Mana. Nobody¡¯s perfect, we all make mistakes after all. A quick readup on Mana in the system interface put those mistakes quickly to rest, and I had kicked myself in the ass for not doing so sooner. ¡°Conjuring a spell involves enforcing your will upon your own internal Mana.¡± I quoted from the rather large entry that I had read so many months ago. It had taken me quite a few Aqua Spheres to be able to learn how to successfully Revert. Once I had learned how to successfully recycle my Mana, I instantly went to working on that Fireball spell. At twenty Mana, a Fireball was no better than a typical firecracker. One would have to invest a substantial amount of Mana in order to get the real bang for your buck. Sadly, my abilities were rather limited, as I had to hide in this hut in order to practice. Attempts to sneak out at night wound up waking my mother no matter how quiet I was. ¡®Honestly, that woman¡¯s Perception is too damn high.¡¯ I grumbled as I conjured a small ball of fire in my hand using all forty of my Mana. Scorching flames danced over my hands as the light sent shadows flicking upon the walls of the hut. Curiously, while the flames were certainly hot, to me it felt no more than a faint warm sensation. At one point I had pondered exactly why a scorching Fireball would only affect me so little. Hell, for the glory of science I had once even stuck my finger into the Fireball. I learned that fire is indeed hot. When conjuring a fire spell, a thin layer of Mana is created between the hands and the spell itself, nullifying most of the heat. Unfortunately, since I only used one hand in the conjuration, my other hand was devoid of the protective layer. I had to blame the warm coals of a pit-fire and childlike curiosity as the reason why my finger had been burnt so badly. Thankfully Zakka was more than able to fix me right up. Wyld bless that old Shaman. After absorbing the Fireball back into my Mana pool, I ducked my head outside to check the time. ¡°Mmmm, another two hours.¡± I grumbled as I walked back into the hut to continue practicing my spells. ¡°Hopefully this helps raise my Intelligence or Wisdom.¡± I mused while alternating between Aqua Spheres and Fireballs. I avoided using Earth Spike and Gust simply due to the fact that once cast, an Earth Spike would leave evidence behind that would need to be covered up. Namely, crushing the spike itself and grinding it back into dirt. Gust would just knock things around and potentially break fragile things that fell down. I didn¡¯t want to get another stern talking to for breaking a valuable tooth, skull, or something, so I didn¡¯t use it indoors. Time passed pretty quickly as I conjured and reverted spell after spell, resting every few minutes to let my Mana recover. I began thinking of how to potentially spend my stat points when leveling up. If I went with Intelligence, I could pour more Mana into my spells to make them stronger. But if I put a bunch into Wisdom I¡¯d be able to fire off spell after spell without needing to wait a long time between casts. ¡®I wonder how many stat points I¡¯ll get per level¡­¡¯ I pondered as I absorbed a Fireball and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll be allowed into the Dueling Ring next year. But that¡¯s so far away¡­¡± I growled as I walked among the dirt roads through the city towards the eastern Dueling Ring. It was almost time for the anticipated duel between Krog¡¯mu and Galog. Despite the distance, I still made it to the ring well before the start of the match. A few minutes of looking around later, I found and sat beside Mah¡¯ra. The two of us talked smack to one another until the start of the match. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Ugh! Krog¡¯mu should have won!¡± Mah¡¯ra grumbled as she ripped into a piece of smoked hog meat. ¡°Galog was simply too strong.¡± I grinned while chewing my own slice of hog. To me, the match was just a matter of numbers. Galog had been a level fourteen Berserker while his opponent, Krog¡¯mu, was only a level nine Warrior. I¡¯m not sure if there were others who could see people¡¯s status like I could, but asking about it would certainly get me labeled as crazy. ¡°Hrmph.¡± Mah¡¯ra growled as she chewed. ¡°In four days Hagron¡¯ka is fighting Mag¡¯do.¡± ¡°A close match.¡± I noted thinking of those two. They were both the same level and both Warriors. ¡°Yeah! It¡¯ll be great!¡± she jumped up and thrust a fist into the air. ¡°And one day it¡¯ll be us in there!¡± ¡°A shame I¡¯ll win all our matches.¡± I chuckled. ¡°As if!¡± Mah¡¯ra spoke with hands upon her hips. ¡°If anyone is going to win between us, it¡¯ll be me!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t win our first fight.¡± I goaded. ¡°That was before! I¡¯m much stronger now, you wait!¡± she grinned viciously. ¡°And so am I.¡± I laughed, ¡°And I¡¯m getting even stronger!¡± ¡°Grrr.¡± Mah¡¯ra growled as she wolfed down the last bits of her food. ¡°I¡¯ll show you Kotek! Hurry and finish your food so we can race!¡± Not one to back down from a challenge, I tore into my food with reckless abandon. After finishing the delicious meat, and a few burps later, I was ready. With tense muscles, the two of us dug our feet into the dirt, aiming to race to the usual spot, a small farm a few minutes from the city proper. ¡°Go!¡± Mah¡¯ra called and the two of us sprinted with all our might into the distance. Chapter 5: Hunting The bright rays of a new day crept through the holes of our hut, once more beaming directly into my eyes. A groan escaped me as I slid out of bed and went through the motions of getting dressed. My body felt sore from all of yesterday¡¯s exercise. Mah¡¯ra had won our race and gloated nonstop the whole way back to the city. Then I was forced into joining her for lifting heavy rocks as an after-race workout. For an Orc, she goes above and beyond Orcish from the massive rocks she was lifting. I¡¯d rate her Strength at an eight, easily. My masculinity had taken a big hit yesterday, but I can live without a bit of pride. So long as I got to cast spells, I¡¯d come out the winner. As I devoured my dinner last night I had thought of different ways to level up my Intelligence and Wisdom stats. But the only way I could see them being raised regularly would be through leveling up. That in itself would prove to be challenging, as young pups such as myself were warned against leaving the city. Many predators lurked within the wilds, all of which would find a young Orc very easy prey. As I walked through the dirt streets to claim my breakfast, I rubbed my chin in thought as I weighed my options. Far to the east were the Kirkotek Mountains, named after the massive Red Dragon that lived there and served as our local deity. Not that anyone has ever seen the Dragon. For all I knew, it was merely a legend spoken of by our Clan¡¯s Shamans. But mythical Dragons aside, the mountains housed dangers of their own. Kobolds, Basilisks, Harpies, Rock Trolls, and Salamanders made their homes there. Those I knew were real, as many homes were decorated with their skulls, feathers, and other assorted bits and bobs. To the north beyond the Sagrokk River that flowed from the mountains to the shore far to the west was the Greenwhelp Forest. Here lurked the innumerable Goblins, feral wolves, bears, panthers, and poisonous creatures ranging from spiders to snakes. Shaman say that the forest is guarded by many different Fae, such as Dryads and Fairies, who observe intruders from afar. My father says those are just stories however, as he hasn¡¯t seen a single Fae in all his time in the forest training younglings. Everywhere else beyond the city are the vast plains of our people. Various predators roam the plains from wild dogs and large cats, to giant mammoth-like beasts with gigantic tusks. Small herds of warring Centaurs roam the plains, eager to do battle against one another and anyone else who gets in their way. Small packs of Kobolds dig their burrows into the earth, forming dens that range from a small pack to a large clan. ¡®Well the mountains are a no-go for sure. For one they¡¯re too far, and the creatures living there too powerful. That leaves the plains or the forest¡­¡¯ ¡°Kotek!¡± A loud voice shouted in my ear, shocking me from my thoughts. A devilish grin coming from a familiar child stood inches from my face. Mah¡¯ra. ¡°Morning Mah¡¯ra.¡± I spoke with a nod while rooting around in my ear with my pinky. ¡°Bout time you noticed! I was wondering why you weren¡¯t running like the rest of us!¡± She rolled her eyes, ¡°but you were busy thinking again.¡± I laughed, ¡°You should start thinking more often Mah¡¯ra.¡± ¡°I only need to think about getting stronger!¡± She beat her chest with her fist proudly. ¡°Thats exactly what I was thinking about.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just better at thinking than you. Its why I¡¯m stronger.¡± She gloated. I couldn¡¯t hold back the laughter within me. ¡°If only we could all be as intelligent as you Mah¡¯ra.¡± She swelled with pride at my words. After our morning breakfast the two of us split up for the day. The same as any other day, we¡¯d be off to train on our own before competing later on. But instead of sitting in the hut and training the normal way, I was going out to kill some monsters. It was time for some good old fashioned grinding. Upon returning home mother said she would be hunting in the forest again today, so my choice was made for me. ¡®Guess I¡¯ll be hunting in the plains.¡¯ I grinned as I wished her luck. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Mah¡¯ra jogged through the city at a relaxed pace. Her mother had said that she was going out hunting again today, which would leave her training alone again. ¡®But training alone is boring!¡¯ she grunted as she passed by a group of elders. ¡®Kotek is getting too weak, I¡¯ll help him get stronger.¡¯ She grinned at the thought of fighting him in the duel ring when they were older. She was sure she would win, but it¡¯d be a good fight! Upon reaching Kotek¡¯s family¡¯s hut, she skidded to a halt. ¡®Where is he going?¡¯ she wondered as she sighted Kotek jogging away from the city and towards the farms. ¡®Does he train at a farm?¡¯ her mind raced thinking of ways she could get stronger working on a farm, but all the methods she could think of weren¡¯t very appealing. ¡®Is he intentionally making himself weak? Why would he do that?¡¯ With a grunt, she followed behind him, making sure to stay out of sight. Even if it meant skipping a day of training, she would get to the bottom of this. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª I didn¡¯t find my first target until about an hour or so before noon. The grassy plains stood vast in all directions with the occasional group of trees sprouting from the earth. Just a few feet ahead, sliding through the grass was a bundle of mucus-y liquid formed around a small stone. A Slime. An honest to god Slime! ¡°Hopefully this little guy doesn¡¯t have an uncanny ability to dodge my attacks and absurdly high defense.¡± I smiled as I thought about the best way to approach this foe. Fireball was my first choice, but the flames would easily catch the grass on fire from a lack of rain these past few weeks. Aqua Sphere was Aqua Sphere, it wouldn¡¯t deal much damage to a slime in general, and Gust was the same. Stone Spike would be my only option, but if I kept killing things with it I would be leaving behind evidence that something was afoot. ¡°I need a new spell¡­¡± I mumbled to myself as I watched the Slime slither around. ¡°I could try lightning¡­no. That¡¯d cause a fire as well¡­hmmm.¡± And then it hit me. ¡°Ice! I¡¯ll make an ice spell!¡± I rubbed my hands together with glee as I began planning out the specifics of my new spell. ¡®Right then. Show time!¡¯ I held out my right hand and began to will my Mana to form. The familiar tingle of energy running down my arm and into my hand, sending goosebumps all over my body as my Mana drained. A moment later, a small icicle floated over my palm, slowly growing in size as I fed the spell more and more Mana. Upon using twenty five Mana, I ended the conjuration and admired the arrow-like icicle that I had created.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Standing at a decent length of four inches of pointed death, my new spell had materialized.
Spell learned: Ice Shard Mana Cost: 15+ Conjures a sharp icicle from the user¡¯s Mana. The more Mana invested into the spell increases the size of the icicle and the amount conjured. Considered an intermediate spell by many, as combining Water and Wind magic to form Ice is an advanced technique. Many Magi swear by the Ice Shards as a staple offensive spell.
¡°Oh baby, now we¡¯re cookin¡¯ with gas.¡± I grinned. A Mage¡¯s greatest joy is learning new spells, and I had been given one heck of a toy. With more Mana, I could summon a bunch of these puppies and do some real damage. ¡°Sorry Slime, but science demands answers.¡± With a closed eye, I took aim at the slow-moving target¡¯s core and pointed my finger. ¡°Booyah.¡± In an instant, the Ice Shard shot straight towards the Slime¡¯s core, blasting through the outer membrane and shattering against the core. As soon as the shard shattered, the Slime began to lose its consistency, and looked as if to melt around its core.
You have slain a Level 1 Slime! Gained 5 Experience!
¡°Aw yeah!¡± I fist pumped into the air with a shout. ¡°Wooooooow!¡± A cold chill ran down my spine as I heard a familiar voice shout from behind me. Rushing from a patch of tall grass was Mah¡¯ra. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The near midday sun beat down upon Mah¡¯ra as she skulked through the plains far behind Kotek. Contrary to what she had originally assumed, he had not stopped at a farm for his secret training. Much more surprising was that he had kept jogging towards the plains beyond the settlement. ¡®Is he trying to die?¡¯ Mah¡¯ra wondered sadly as she followed. ¡®Mother says we¡¯re too young to go into the plains to hunt yet. So why is he out here?¡¯ Mah¡¯ra had to give Kotek credit where it was due, every now and again he would look back as if he were watching for followers. Luckily, her mother was a great huntress who had taught her how to hide herself when stalking prey. It had helped her many times already when avoiding older boys who wanted to pick a fight with her. Were she of equal strength, she¡¯d have gladly put them in their place. Unfortunately, they were much bigger than her despite only being a few years older. She trained everyday, looking forward to putting their smug smiles into the dirt. But that wouldn¡¯t be for some time, for now she had to get stronger. Unfortunately, today looked as if it were going to be a wasted day. ¡®Hrmph. Kotek better explain this.¡¯ She grumbled as she raced to another patch of grass, keeping her eye on Kotek. ¡®He doesn¡¯t even have a weapon to fight animals with, ugh. He needs to think better.¡¯ Minutes passed slowly as she stalked Kotek through the grass until he suddenly stopped. Curious, Mah¡¯ra rushed off to the side to get a better look. His mumbling only faintly reached her ears as she saw what he had seen, a Slime. ¡®Mmmm, what¡¯s he going to do, punch it? He should know they burn your skin if you touch them. His mother should have taught him that at least. Stupid. Everyone knows to not fight Slimes. Too much trouble for no reward. You cant even eat them!¡¯ In silence, she continued to observe Kotek as he rubbed his chin in a familiar gesture. ¡®He¡¯s trying to think it to death.¡¯ Mah¡¯ra chuckled lightly. Without wanting to waste anymore time, she began to rise from her hiding spot. But a unbelievable sight made her freeze in place. Her eyes locked upon Kotek¡¯s out-stretched hand. Clear stone began to form and grown just above his palm. ¡®What is that¡­¡¯ Mah¡¯ra gasped as she watched her friend began speaking strange words and pointed towards the Slime with a single finger. He spoke another unusual word and the clear-colored rock shot from his hand like an arrow from a bow. ¡°Wha-¡± was all she could manage to say before the rock sunk into the Slime and shattered into multiple pieces after hitting the Slime¡¯s core. A moment later, the Slime melted. ¡°Woooooooooooooow!¡± Mah¡¯ra exclaimed as she raced towards her friend. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°What was that strange rock? How did you control it? Can you teach me? That was amazing!¡± Question after question after exclamations assaulted my ears as Mah¡¯ra poked and prodded at the newly deceased Slime with a few stalks of grass weaved together like a stick. After a few moments of ponderous prodding, she used her finger to touch the Slime. ¡°It feels weird.¡± I however, was still in the process of kicking myself in the ass mentally for not noticing her presence. I desperately needed to increase my Perception stat. My mind raced with various methods on how to deal with this situation. I could tell the truth and say it was magic, but that could lead to unfortunate consequences. I could lie and pretend to be a Shaman, saying it was the Spirits aiding me, but one question to any of the Clan¡¯s Shaman would cause that lie to crumble. Killing her to keep my secret was not an option, as I was not a psychopath. Though she did look like she¡¯d be worth a bucket-load of exp. There was only one choice I could make. ¡°You¡¯re thinking again.¡± Mah¡¯ra grumbled as she poked me with her grass stick. ¡°Mah¡¯ra, I¡¯ll tell you what I did.¡± Excitement was writ clear within her eyes as she grinned wildly. ¡°But I¡¯ll need you to swear to never tell another about it.¡± ¡°I swear!¡± she giddily exclaimed. ¡°Under a Blood Oath.¡± I stated with an uncompromising tone. In an instant, the joy left Mah¡¯ra¡¯s face in understanding of how serious I was taking this. Without a word, she nodded. A Blood Oath was a sacred bond forged between Orcs, one that if broken, would force the offender to leave the Clan and be titled as an Oathbreaker. In an instant, I conjured a small Ice Shard to use for the ritual. Mah¡¯ra held out her open palm, her face serious as I used the shard to cut into it. Upon finishing, I did the same to myself and Reverted my spell. We pressed our palms together, causing small droplets of blood to fall to the dirt beneath us. ¡°Do you swear to tell none of this event?¡± I asked Mah¡¯ra with grave seriousness. ¡°I swear.¡± She responded, equally serious. As our blood mixed with one another¡¯s, I told her the truth. ¡°I can use magic.¡± I stated firmly, which made her gasp and grin and laugh. ¡°Amazing!¡± she whooped, taking her hand away from mine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Kotek, I¡¯ll not tell a soul! On my honor!¡± ¡°Good.¡± I smiled. ¡°Now how about we find another Slime to kill?¡± ¡°Yes! We hunt!¡± She exclaimed as the two of us set out into the plains, looking for another of the acidic blobs. We didn¡¯t have to search for long before we found our quarry. Off in the grass gurgled another small level one Slime. Mah¡¯ra pointed at it excitedly as she told me to use the rock-thing again. I had even explained what ice was to her, but she still insisted on calling it ¡®rock-thing¡¯. With a sigh, I decided to humor her, I¡¯d use the ¡®rock-thing¡¯. The familiar tingling of Mana coursed through my arm as I pointed my hand towards the slow-moving blob of liquid. More and more Mana gathered until I felt I had enough. With thirty Mana, I unleashed my attack. ¡°Stone Spike!¡± I called out, more for her sake than mine. In an instant, a sharp spear of earth and stone shot up from below the Slime, piercing it entirely and striking the core. Just as the other Slime had upon having it¡¯s core hit, it melted.
You have slain a Level 1 Slime! Gained 5 Experience! You have leveled up! Status points gained from leveling up: 3 Status points automatically assigned: 2 You have gained +1 Strength You have gained +1 Vitality You have 1 unassigned status point.
I stared blankly at the pop-up before me. First in disbelief, then in rage. ¡°Noooooooooooooooo!¡± I cried out, causing Mah¡¯ra to jump back and look at me strangely. ¡°Stupid system automatically assigning my stats for me! I needed those points dammit! Argh! This isn¡¯t fair! I''m not a musclehead!¡± In this moment, I truly hated the world. Chapter 6: To Hell We Grind Firm dirt crunched underfoot as Mah¡¯ra and I walked through the plains searching for more Slimes to kill. While we marched I added my free stat point into Intelligence for more Mana that I desperately needed. Regardless of the stat points unfairly stolen from me, I¡¯d still need to grind to level up. Even if I was only given one stat point per level, I¡¯d still become much stronger after enough levels. It would just take far longer than I originally expected is all. I sighed, ¡®One free stat per level sucks.¡¯
Name: Kotek Jir''iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 1 Experience: 0/20
Health: 84/84 Mana: 48/48
Stamina: 72/72 Unspent Points: 0
Strength: 7 Vitality: 7
Dexterity: 5 Agility: 6
Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 5
Perception: 4 Luck: 1
¡°At least the experience needed to level didn¡¯t increase too much¡­¡± I mused while rubbing my chin as I looked over my character sheet. ¡°You¡¯re mumbling again.¡± Mah¡¯ra grunted from beside me. ¡®I don¡¯t know why the Orcs don¡¯t kill the Slimes¡­they¡¯re easy experience. Perhaps its because they¡¯re too weak to be considered a threat? Do Orcs even know about experience and levels?¡¯ I looked over at Mah¡¯ra curiously, who was still a level zero Villager. Her eyes scanned the horizon for easy prey, paying me little mind. ¡°Hey, Mah¡¯ra.¡± I began, trying to think of how to best phrase my thoughts. ¡°Mmmm?¡± She didn¡¯t even look at me as I spoke to her. Manners were not an Orc¡¯s strong suit. ¡°Strange question, but if you look over my head do you see anything?¡± ¡°Stranger than you crying for as long as you did earlier?¡± She turned her head towards me with a wicked grin. ¡°That wasn¡¯t crying!¡± I growled, ¡°That was frustration.¡± ¡°Never seen someone cry over being frustrated.¡± She laughed. ¡°Just answer the question.¡± I grumbled. Silently, she stared at me for a moment before responding. ¡°I see nothing Kotek. Should I?¡± ¡°No blue boxes or anything?¡± ¡°You are strange.¡± I sighed, ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± One mystery solved. I was the only one who could see such things. But why? ¡°There¡¯s a Slime ahead.¡± Mah¡¯ra announced. Sure enough, when I looked to where she was pointing I saw one of the blue bodied bastards gurgling towards us at a snail¡¯s pace. ¡°Right then, throw your rock at it.¡± I ordered as I conjured an Ice Shard with my right hand. ¡°Are you sure this will work?¡± Mah¡¯ra asked with a curious expression as she rolled a rock around in her hand. ¡°Not really.¡± I shrugged, ¡°We won¡¯t know until we¡¯ve killed at least two of these things. But theres only one way to find out. If it works, you¡¯ll become stronger much faster than simply training.¡± Though grinding mobs was training in of itself, but explaining to her what grinding was would just make her think me mad. Not that my outburst earlier hadn¡¯t helped things. ¡°Hrmph. And how is this supposed to make me stronger?¡± She asked with a raised brow. ¡°I guess the best explanation would be you¡¯re absorbing some of the monster¡¯s spirit to strengthen your body.¡± I shrugged. Explaining video game mechanics to a technologically stunted race would be akin to just saying ¡®Magic¡¯. Which I could totally say. And I probably should have honestly. ¡°You use too many big words.¡± She grunted and stared at the Slime burbling slowly along the ground. ¡°You eat the monster¡¯s spirit.¡± I deadpanned. Her laughter shot through the plains as she readied the rock in her hand. With a nod, Mah¡¯ra wound up her throw and whipped her rock towards the mass of mucus. Upon colliding with the beast, a muted splashing sound squished from the Slime. The rock had collided with the membrane and was slowly sucked inside the Slime itself. An instant later, I shot my Ice Shard directly into the core of the Slime, killing it instantly.
You have slain a level 1 Slime! Gained 5 experience!
¡°I don¡¯t feel any stronger.¡± Mah¡¯ra grumbled as she picked up another clean stone. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t! I said it would take at least two Slimes to see any results!¡± ¡°You speak too much. I stop listening sometimes.¡± Mah¡¯ra grinned. I rolled my eyes, ¡°Lets find the next target.¡± ¡°Now you speak sense.¡± Mah¡¯ra chuckled as the two of us set out once more. Thankfully, we didn¡¯t have to travel for long until we found our quarry. ¡°Ready?¡± Mah¡¯ra asked with her arm wound back for her toss. ¡°Always ready.¡± I nodded as I conjured a new Ice Shard. Once more, the sound of the rock smacking into the Slime¡¯s membrane made a squelching sound. The next moment, my Shard obliterated the Slime¡¯s core.
You have slain a level 1 Slime! Gained 5 experience!
¡°I feel¡­tingly¡­¡± Mah¡¯ra spoke in wonder as she rubbed her arms in an attempt to remove the goosebumps from her flesh. I grinned as I stared at her. She had leveled up. ¡®Theory proved. So long as one takes part in combat, they will receive equal experience. Strange that the experience shared isn¡¯t divided between us, but I¡¯m willing to accept that.¡¯ ¡°That would be your body becoming stronger.¡± I stated as question after question poured into my mind. Did her stats advance the same as mine did? What about the unassigned points to someone who couldn¡¯t see their status screen? Was it automatically assigned? If that was so, how was it assigned? By race? Vocation? Randomly? Unfortunately, I doubt I¡¯d ever be able to find out. But at least I knew experience would be granted to others so long as they took part in combat. If I became strong enough, I could sell myself as a power-leveling service. ¡°You¡¯re acting strange.¡± Mah¡¯ra spoke, knocking me from my dreams of glorious cash. ¡°Thinking.¡± I stated, to which she snorted. ¡°Lets kill more. I want to become even stronger!¡± Mah¡¯ra laughed as she flexed her arms before taking off without me. ¡°Musclehead.¡± I rolled my eyes and rushed to follow. Together, the two of us marched through the plains as the sun began to reach it¡¯s zenith. We had only been hunting together for about an hour and we had made decent progress. We kept relatively close to the city, as a safety measure against running across stuff too strong for us. Unfortunately, this meant we would only find the occasional Slime. After killing an additional two of the marauding mucuses, I had leveled up once more.
You have slain a Level 1 Slime! Gained 5 Experience! You have leveled up! Status points gained from leveling up: 3 If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.Status points automatically assigned: 2 You have gained +1 Dexterity You have gained +1 Agility You have 1 unassigned status point.
¡°Hmmmm¡­¡± I stared at the popup before my eyes. It was the same as last time, but instead of Strength and Vitality, it was Dexterity and Agility. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I mumbled to myself trying to think of why this was happening. ¡°Am I getting fucked over? Or is the system developing me in a balanced manner?¡± ¡°Kotek! Stop thinking!¡± Mah¡¯ra yelled as she began to rush off without me once more. As I began to run, a slight shift in the grass off to Mah¡¯ra¡¯s side caught my eye. A cold shiver shot throughout my body when a single thought struck forth in my mind. ¡®There is no wind.¡¯ ¡°Run!¡± I yelled at the top of my lungs. Mah¡¯ra turned towards me, confused. An instant later, a large tan lion-like cat leaped from within the grass upon Mah¡¯ra. Her yell rang loud over the plains, chilling my blood.
You have gained +1 Perception
Without thinking, my body moved of it¡¯s own accord. Lungs burned as I yelled as loud as I could in an attempt to draw the lion from it¡¯s prey. Mana coalesced within my hands as I rushed forward. With everything I had, I launched my spell. ¡°Get off her!¡± I roared. The ground shattered as a massive spike of stone blasted directly into the side of the lion that was currently whipping it¡¯s head back and forth, tearing flesh with a sickening sound. Dense stone met weak flesh as the lion was forcibly thrown away from Mah¡¯ra in two pieces. I gaped as it had been ripped in half by the force of my spell.
You have slain a Level 5 Plains-Stalker Gained 55 Experience! You have leveled up! Status points gained from leveling up: 3 Status points automatically assigned: 2 You have gained +1 Intelligence You have gained +1 Wisdom You have 1 unassigned status point.
I dismissed the window clouding my vision and rushed to Mah¡¯ra¡¯s side. Blood flowed freely from her shoulder, which was a complete mess, barely resembling a shoulder at all. The beast¡¯s teeth had done its work quickly. I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn¡¯t her neck that had been torn into. She¡¯d still die if not tended to, but at least I had a chance. My mind warred with itself on what I should do. ¡®Do I attempt to get her to a Shaman? With the city so far away, would I make it in time? Do I attempt healing myself? Would I even know what to do? Or how to do it? Do I even have enough Mana to try?¡¯ My mind shifted back and forth between attempting the possible vs rushing to the sure thing. A quick glance at my status gave me my answer, no Mana. Even if I wanted to try healing, I couldn¡¯t. ¡°Killed it?¡± Mah¡¯ra grunted through gritted teeth and closed eyes. ¡°Yeah.¡± I nodded. Mah¡¯ra¡¯s face contorted into a feral, pained grin as she opened her eyes and regarded the massive, bloody spike that stood over her, ¡°Good.¡± With practiced motions, I shrugged off my vest. Using the spike of earth that had killed the Plains-Stalker, I tore off a large patch and pressed it firmly upon her wounded shoulder. She hissed in pain from the pressure. ¡°Hold this to your wounds tight. No matter what, don¡¯t let it go.¡± Grunting in confirmation, she reached over with her good arm and held the cloth firm. After she had done so, I lifted her up in my arms and raced towards the city. Warm blood dripped regularly from her wounded shoulder despite her attempts to stifle to flow. I ran like I had never run before. My feet met dry earth and with all the strength I could muster, launched me into a bounding pace that I hadn¡¯t thought possible. Heart pounding, I focused on the faint buildings in the distance as I ran, desperately hoping that I could make it in time. Doubt tried to worm it¡¯s way into me, but I forced it away. There was no time for doubt, only action. ¡®Faster! I need to go faster!¡¯ I cried out in my mind. Wind whipped around us as I sprinted for all I was worth towards the city. My heart thump in my chest from exertion. But only the goal of getting Mah¡¯ra to a healer was paramount in my mind. ¡°You¡¯re¡­thinking¡­too much¡­again¡­¡± Mah¡¯ra uttered tiredly from my arms. ¡°Mmmm.¡± I grunted as the buildings loomed ever closer, yet so far away. My legs burned from exertion, yet still I ran. ¡°Should never¡­lost the race¡­¡± Her words became no more than mumbles as I raced into the town. Surprised faces gaped openly, but I paid them no mind. Getting Mah¡¯ra to Zakka was all I could think of. Zakka would fix her easily. I felt wet warmth run down my chest as I turned a corner. Once more, doubt began to burn inside me, but I pushed it aside. I wasn¡¯t trained to doubt, only to act. ¡®Do what you can, when you can.¡¯ I repeated in my mind. An old mantra from a lifetime ago. A familiar hut entered my view as I turned yet another corner. Zakka¡¯s hut, decorated with an unnecessary amount of bones and skulls. A home that screams ¡®Witch Doctor¡¯ or ¡®Shaman¡¯ in our case. I slowed my pace as I approached, but still rushed inside the hut. ¡°Zakka!¡± I cried out, my voice hoarse to my ears. In the center of the hut sat Zakka upon a pile of woven sheets as she stirred a pot of something that smelled rather disgusting. She turned towards me slowly as if what I had to say could wait. But when her eyes affixed upon Mah¡¯ra she dropped all pretense of frailty. ¡°What happened?¡± She asked sternly as she took Mah¡¯ra from me. ¡°Plains-Stalker.¡± I gasped for breath as my exhaustion caught up with me. ¡°Foolish.¡± Zakka scolded as she placed her patient upon her bed. Mah¡¯ra¡¯s blood slowly flowing from her wounds. I glanced down at my chest to see her blood all over me. ¡®Dropped my vest.¡¯ I noted as I stared at her uncovered wound. Bright energy formed from Zakka¡¯s hands as she placed them upon Mah¡¯ra¡¯s shoulder. With eyes closed, Zakka began to chant silently. The Shaman¡¯s way of communicating with the spirits. Mah¡¯ra was now in good hands and I could breath a sigh of relief. Exhausted, I sat upon the floor and closed my eyes. ¡°Mission accomplished.¡± I mumbled as exhaustion clouded my mind. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª A muted ¡®thump¡¯ sounded through the hut. Zakka glanced to the source of the sound only to see Kotek passed out on the floor. His blood-covered chest rising and falling in regular rhythm. Zakka worried not of his ghastly sight, as the blood was clearly not his own. Returning her focus to the matter at hand, she hummed as her way of focusing the Ancient¡¯s powers upon the poor girl before her. Glowing hands mended flesh, muscle, and bone as the girl slept, her once ragged breathing now a steady beat of in and out. She would have smiled at a job well done had it not been for the vicious whispering within her ears. Kotek, the young fool, had been dabbling in magic, a power that had shattered their world once before. A power that ruined one of the most powerful nations known to all. A power that demanded entire generations of her people sent to die on distant shores just to hold back the tides of evil. With a sigh, Zakka began to commune with the spirits, once more feeling the familiar sense of tingling flow through her ancient body. ¡°You are sure?¡± She asked in a wispy voice only the ancestors could hear. ¡°His body glows from magical overload.¡± An elderly voice croaked beside Zakka. ¡°He has used much more power than his body should allow. It is surprising he has not burned himself out.¡± ¡°We have watched his devilry through the plains, his foul magic practiced upon Slimes.¡± Another voice spoke from her opposite side, this one rough and angry. ¡°With every one slain, his powers grew. He could bring end to you all.¡± ¡°But he used his strength to assist the girl without a second thought! Should merit not be given where it is due?¡± A kindly voice asked the others. ¡°Can there not be an exception just once?¡± ¡°These Oaths were made for a reason!¡± The angry voice shouted. ¡°He has used what has been strictly forbidden for over a century!¡± ¡°The Oaths must be followed.¡± The Elderly voice stated sadly. ¡°Though it pains me to admit in this case. The boy has a good heart, but good hearts have wrought ruin before.¡± ¡°And what of the boy¡¯s family? Those that sired him? Are they to be put to death as well?¡± The kindly voice growled at the others. ¡°The Oaths must be followed.¡± The elderly voice grimly stated. ¡°There must be another way.¡± Zakka mumbled hoping to sway the Ancients. ¡°There is none!¡± The angry voice shouted. ¡°We must delay no longer. Judgment must be passed upon the Oathbreaker.¡± ¡°And what do the spirits decree?¡± Zakka sighed, knowing their answers already. ¡°Death!¡± The angry voice immediately roared. ¡°Death.¡± The elderly voice echoed sorrowfully. ¡°Death.¡± The kindly voice sighed in defeat. ¡°Death.¡± A final voice quaked, sending rumbles through Zakka¡¯s hut. Zakka¡¯s body trembled at the final voice. ¡°By the Ancient¡¯s decree.¡± She stared at the sleeping boy with sorrowful eyes. ¡°Kotek Jir¡¯iroc and his family shall be put to death at sundown.¡± Chapter 7: Judgment A jolt of cold wetness shocked me from peaceful slumber into a groggy, yet very alert, state. My heart pounded rapidly from the rude awakening. Dumping water on people should only be used as a last resort, and I had no special appointments planned! The least people could do is leave a voice-mail. With groggy motions, I rubbed my eyes to clear them of the water and gunk. Standing overhead with an empty bucket of water was Zakka with a very serious look upon her face. ¡°Where¡¯s Mah¡¯ra?¡± I asked as I glanced around the hut. Last I remember, she was lying on the best being healed. Judging by the light entering the hut, sunset was just starting. ¡°She is home. Resting.¡± Zakka spoke, her face relaxing for a brief moment accompanied by a light smile. ¡°Thank you for saving her.¡± ¡°I only did what anyone else would.¡± I shrugged. Zakka stared at me for a long time, almost as if she were in regret. ¡°Come.¡± She spoke with sigh. ¡°Your judgment awaits.¡± ¡°Judgment?¡± I asked as I arose and brushed the dirt off my chest and clothes. ¡°For using magic, you are to be sentenced to death for Oathbreaking.¡± My heart froze at her words. Hell, my blood froze throughout my body in an instant. My throat felt as if someone was gripping it, and breathing became hard. How did they know I used magic? I didn¡¯t leave any evidence that I was using it. Ice Shard would shatter and melt from the sun. ¡®Oh.¡¯ I wanted to slap myself for being such an idiot. Of course they would find the Stone Spike I had used to save Mah¡¯ra. ¡°If you are thinking of running, it will do you no good.¡± Zakka stated with a sour expression. ¡°Your family has already been taken to face judgment as well.¡± ¡°My family? Why are they-¡± ¡°For siring one who is capable of magic, those responsible for the birth are killed as well. They carry the taint responsible for your powers.¡± She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°We will suffer no magical corruption in our Clan.¡± Her face then twisted as if she were eating something sour. ¡°Thus it has always been, decreed by the Ancients themselves.¡± Rage burned within my blood as I listened to her. Killing my family and I simply because I can use magic? It was beyond stupid! That would be like jailing an entire family because their kid was caught shoplifting! It was beyond asinine¡­it was stupidity incarnate. I could feel my mind slipping from the rage consuming me. With practiced, calming breaths, I reigned in my anger for the moment. I couldn¡¯t do anything rash, rash action leads to terrible results. ¡°Come.¡± Zakka spoke as she shuffled towards the exit to her hut. With a deep breath, I followed. First things first, I couldn¡¯t abandon my family. One should never abandon family no matter the hardships. Even in the face of death. Not that I planned on simply letting my family be killed. Not if I had anything to say about it. As we exited, a pair of Warriors, both level twenty-four, clad in armor made of red Salamander scales. Each carried a hefty steel battle-axe strapped to their backs as they regarded me with contempt. Before I could react, they grabbed my arms and bent them forcefully behind my back. ¡°What are you-¡± I tried to speak just as pain erupted on the side of my face, knocking my head sideways. One of the fuckers backhanded me! I growled as I attempted to pry my arms free from their iron grips. Unfortunately, I am but a child in the hands of trained killers. ¡°Be at ease, Kotek.¡± Zakka spoke, ¡°Do not struggle.¡± Like hell I wasn¡¯t! I¡¯d bite, kick and scratch to obtain my freedom. Just not at this moment. Family comes first. Reluctantly, I swallowed my pride and allowed myself to be restrained. Thick rope was then wrapped around my wrists and bound together behind my back. I couldn¡¯t help but smirk. The ropes were tight, but I¡¯d be able to slip out of them within a minute. Wouldn¡¯t be the first time I pulled a Harry Houdini. After my hands were ¡°secured¡± Zakka stepped behind me and urged me forward. To the guards¡¯ credit, they said nothing as they fell in behind us, making sure that I wouldn¡¯t attempt to escape. Based on stats alone, I doubt I could manage an escape. But stats weren¡¯t everything. If I were to use a little Mana and cause a flash of lightning in front of their eyes, I could blind them for a few moments. Would it be enough time? Maybe. But that was just one option among many in my mind. My original mother always said I had a good imagination. ¡®Status.¡¯ I commanded mentally as Zakka and I trudged through unnaturally empty streets.
Name: Kotek Jir¡¯iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 3 Experience: 25/40
Health: 75/84 Mana: 64/64
Stamina: 77/77 Unspent Points: 1
Strength: 7 Vitality: 7
Dexterity: 6 Agility: 7
Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 6
Perception: 5 Luck: 1
Without even blinking, I tossed my free point into Intelligence. But what caught my attention was that my health wasn¡¯t at maximum. I don¡¯t remember getting hit by anything. I glanced over my abilities only to stop at two new additions I hadn¡¯t seen before.
Windrush Mana + Stamina Cost: 1 per second Summons the power of the Wind to increase the user¡¯s movement speed for the duration they maintain the ability. The amount increased is based entirely on the user¡¯s physical capabilities. A Warrior using this ability during a sprint will be much faster than a Mage, simply due to the fact that their bodies are better conditioned physically. Due to this, many Magi who learn this ability begin physical training in order to make better use of the ability itself.
Overload: Health Cost: 10+ Drain¡¯s the user¡¯s life force to empower their next ability. The more of the user¡¯s life force they use, the stronger the effect. Often used as a last resort, A Magi will use this ability to turn the tides against the forces against them. More often than not, the Magi will perish after unleashing their ability often due to the desperation of the situations they find themselves in.
¡®Windrush? Overload? When did I learn these?¡¯ The only explanation I could come up with was when I was carrying Mah¡¯ra. I must have dismissed thenotifications as they popped up, as I was so focused on getting Mah¡¯ra to Zakka. ¡®Perhaps using Windrush was what gave me away.¡¯ I sighed, causing Zakka to glance at me for a second before returning to leading the way. For a brief moment, I had considered that maybe I shouldn¡¯t have saved her. But that was a selfish thought, one I dismissed faster than it came to mind. ¡®I must have used Overload on Windrush. That must be how I got to Zakka¡¯s hut so quickly.¡¯ My mind began to wander at the potential of these new abilities. ¡°Ready yourself.¡± Zakka stated as she urged me forward towards a massive crowd of Orcs standing in a large circle around what would be the eastern Dueling Ring. Our guards upped their pace and walked on both sides of me, brandishing their axes. The crowd ahead noticed us with an unruly cry of rage and hatred. Though they parted to let us pass, they did so with great reluctance. Judging by how they were acting, I wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if they tore me limb from limb were it not for my the guards at my side. With a deep breath and rapid heartbeats, I walked through the path that had been cleared for us. ¡°Tainted!¡± ¡°Evil!¡± ¡°Oathbreaker!¡± Voices fused together into a chaotic cacophony as insults and accusations were hurtled my way. If only that was all that was thrown at me. The sting of sharp rocks cut into my skin as the offenders blended into the crowd. Globs of spit and snot smacked right into my face. More than once, one of my fellow Clansmen tore at the hair upon my head or sent a punch towards me. My guards attempted to stifle the more physical of the bunch, but there was always a few who got through. By the time we had made it through the crowd, my face was a bloody mess of green skin, greener snot, and darker green bruises. A ring of guards covered the inside of the Duel Ring, preventing the crowd from approaching the two figures kneeling upon the sands. Their arms bound behind their backs, their clothes torn, their bodies a mess of bruises and cuts. Even from as far as I was, I could feel their stares upon me. In the center of the ring stood the largest Orc in our Clan. His skin was almost as black as obsidian, with piercing orange eyes. Eyes that currently were watching me with interest. Unlike the guards, he didn¡¯t wear scale armor. Instead, he wore regular stitched-hide clothing adorned with the teeth of various predators. His right hand rested upon the haft of a massive maul made from the bones of one of the Mammoths that roam the plains.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. I had never met him before, but he needed no introduction. Standing before me was Hokrog Jir¡¯iroc, the Clan Chief. My eyes widened as I looked at the status below his name.
Hokrag Jir¡¯iroc Level 45 Warlord
My mouth went dry. My body shook in fear as his yellow teeth curled into a grin. I should have run away sooner. There was no way I was going to escape this! This was no Orc, this was a monster! My heart pounded as he beckoned me forward. A hard shove from Zakka made me fall upon my knees as they buckled in fear. Ragged laughter echoed throughout the crowd as one of my escorts pulled me up and forced me to stand beside my family. ¡°And here comes the tainted one.¡± Hokrag¡¯s voice rumbled like thunder as his eyes appraised me from head to toe. Silence gripped the crowd the moment he began to speak. ¡°A shame. You look to have been raised well enough. Perhaps after a few years, you may have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Oathpact.¡± He turned to regard my father. ¡°Your son could have been very strong indeed.¡± ¡°I have no son.¡± My father spoke with venom as he spat towards me. Emptiness filled me as I processed what he had just said. ¡°Hear that, Oathbreaker? Your father has forsaken you.¡± He grunted. ¡°As should all parents that nurture one of the Tainted. But it makes no difference, his life shall end before the sun sets. As will your mother¡¯s. As will yours.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done nothing wrong.¡± I managed after pushing out of my mind what my father had said. I should have known better than for an Orc to have strong family bonds. I was an idiot. I should have just left them. ¡°Though you are Tainted, I must give credit where it is due. Your actions saved your fellow Clansmen. For that, I give you my thanks.¡± Hokrog bowed his head towards me in respect. ¡°If you want to thank me, spare my family. They¡¯ve done no wrong.¡± I spoke in defiance of my father¡¯s betrayal. You just don¡¯t throw family under the bus like that. ¡°Would that I could. But our Oaths are what make us who we are.¡± Hokrag spoke as he gestured towards my father. ¡°Koloch has led younglings in their training far longer than you have been alive. Likewise, Dabba is one of the Clan¡¯s great hunters. Losing them will be hard upon us as a people, but the Taint must be severed at the source.¡± With the greatest of ease, Hokrag lifted his massive maul and stood before my father. ¡°Koloch Jir¡¯iroc, any last words?¡± ¡°Honor me as the Warrior I was, and may the Wyld grant me glory in the afterlife.¡± My father grunted before turning towards me and spitting. ¡°You will be honored, old friend.¡± Hokrag spoke softly as he raised the his maul high. A moment later, my father¡¯s head was no more than smashed bits upon the sand below. I felt my stomach churn at the sight of brain and bile. Any attempts at looking away only brought forth the image burned into my mind. Acidic burning filled my throat as I heaved and upchucked upon the sands. Mocking laughter filled the crowd as I heaved more of whatever was in my stomach upon the sand below. I had to get out of here. I had to escape. I would not go back into the darkness. I wouldn¡¯t! ¡°Dabba Jir¡¯iroc, any last words?¡± Hokrag asked my mother as he did my father. ¡°Golgo-ko.¡± My mother demanded in an angry voice. Silence returned to the crowd. ¡°I accept.¡± Hokrag spoke without hesitation and walked back into the middle of the ring. Zakka¡¯s hands grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back towards the edge of the Duel Ring. I watched as a guard approached my mother, undid her bindings, helped her to her feet, and handed her his battle-axe. Meanwhile, another guard cleared the ring of what he could of my father¡¯s remains. ¡°What¡­¡± I uttered as a new wave of nausea tightened in my guts. ¡°Golgo-ko.¡± Zakka responded in a whisper. ¡°Blood Duel. All have a right to demand one from the Chief. In this, they are stripped of all honor and must face an appointed champion in a duel to the death. If they are victorious, they are exiled from the clan. No matter how serious the crime.¡± She had emphasized her last words and gripped my shoulder tightly. Was this my way out? Kill the Champion appointed by the Chief? Could I even manage such a thing? ¡°Due to the nature of these crimes, I will be the Champion.¡± Hokrag spoke in a booming voice for all to hear. ¡°Are you ready Dabba?¡± My mother nodded in response. ¡°Then we begin!¡± Hokrag charged towards my mother with his maul held high. Sand kicked up in small clouds with every step he took. My mother held her ground as she watched the Chief closely, her battle-axe held up defensively. With a roar, Hokrag slammed his weapon down towards my mother with blinding speed. With a quick jump, my mother avoided the swing and countered with one of her own. Steel smashed against bone, as Hokrag blocked the strike with the haft of his weapon. ¡°Hrmph!¡± Hokrag grunted as he pushed the axe away effortlessly. The sound of the maul whipping through the air haunted my ears as my mother attempted to block the sudden strike, only to be knocked off her feet. Without giving my mother a moment¡¯s rest, Hokrag rushed forward swinging his maul with reckless abandon. ¡®I have to help! But if I do the guards will kill me! I can¡¯t go back! I won¡¯t go back!¡¯ My heart beat rapidly as I scanned the surroundings. ¡®Orcs, Orcs, Orcs, how do I get through a wall of Orcs? I can¡¯t help my mother. I don¡¯t think I can even help myself.¡¯ My eyes moved frantically from the duel, to my surroundings, and back to the duel. My mother was holding, but for how long? ¡°Rah!¡± My mother yelled as her eyes began to glow. Instantly, her movements became impossible for me to track as clash after clash rung out in the night. I was shocked by the sudden increase in her movement and attacks. Hokrag himself gritted his teeth as he was forced onto the defensive, doing all he could to block my mother¡¯s strikes. ¡®She must be using an ability.¡¯ With rapt attention, I focused upon the battle, hoping desperately for my mother to land a killing blow. ¡®Go mom, kick his ass!¡¯ Little by little, Hokrag was pushed back as more and more shallow cuts showed upon his arms and legs. My mother had gone all out in her attack as she roared with rage. Yet, Hokrag barely seemed bothered by his wounds. Even more chilling was the fact that he was smiling. A smile that quickly turned into a grin. ¡®I have to help now! No! I need to save my Mana for myself!¡¯I clenched my teeth as I warred with myself on what to do. If I used my Mana now, my guards would attack without a second thought. But if I didn¡¯t do anything my mother was going to die! Steeling myself, I began to channel my Mana, consequences be damned! ¡°Argh!¡± My mother cried out, breaking my concentration. With a hard pull, I was dragged to the side as my mother flew back towards Zakka and I. I watched my mother sail through the air, her eyes and teeth clenched in pain. Her left arm flailing limply through the air. Another cry escaped her lips as she slammed down upon the ground a few feet away. ¡°No¡­¡± I gaped as I watched my mother lay still upon the sands. Her chest rose and fell in small, weak, bursts. Secure in his victory, Hokrag stayed where he was, sweat and blood dripping from all over his body. A feral grin etched upon his face. ¡°By the Wyld, what a fight! Almost had me a few times there Dabba. You would have won much glory on the front lines.¡± He sighed as he hefted his maul onto his shoulder. ¡°Wyld knows we need more warriors worth their steel there.¡± Weakly, my mother pushed herself up with her good arm. Murmurs filled with respect surrounded us as the crowd regarded my mother with awe. Hokrag watched and waited as my mother bent down to pick up her fallen battle-axe. Ragged breaths escape her as she managed to lift it just barely. ¡°I will respect your wish to die on your feet.¡± Hokrag closed his eyes and bowed his head to her. The moment his eyes closed my mother turned to me, her own eyes glowing yellow. Within a heart¡¯s beat, she closed the distance between us. ¡°Run.¡± Her words filled my ears as she decapitated the guard standing behind me. ¡°Run.¡± She repeated as the other guard fell to her axe. Hokrag roared with rage as he began to rush towards us. My hands felt light as the ropes that once bound them were cut. ¡°Run!¡± My mother shouted as she rushed back towards Hokrag with blazing eyes. Her yell knocked me from my numb state. ¡°Forgive me.¡± I whispered as I closed my eyes and channeled a load of Mana and my own life force into a spell I had been planning. The familiar tingle of Mana being gathered was accompanied by a feeling of being lightheaded. An instant later, a loud explosion of sound and a blinding flash of light filled the ring.
Spell learned: Flashbang Mana Cost: 20+ Conjures the powers of Fire and Wind creating a bright flash of lightning for an instant, blinding and deafening friend and foe alike should they be close enough to the blast. A useful spell that many a Magi overlook for their repertoire. Capable of both blinding and deafening foes, this handy spell can allow a Magi to disrupt their foes quite handily.
My ears rung as I looked around while channeling Mana for my next spell. Orcs shouted soundless cries of despair as they scrubbed at their eyes with their hands. A quick glance at my mother showed her unaffected by the blinding portion of the spell, as I had cast it¡¯s origin point a bit behind her. Hokrag however, was very much affected. His soundless roar of rage was met with the bite of my mother¡¯s axe. I wished her luck as I cast Windwalk and felt my body become far lighter. Like a bolt of lightning, I rushed towards the crowd of blinded Orcs and weaved between them. In the time it took to breath, I had already broken away from them as I rushed to make my escape out of the city and into the coming night. The question foremost in my mind was now which way to go. After a brief thought, I had made my decision. The forest would be the obvious choice, as a lot of cover would aid my attempts at hiding away. But that was a no-go, as even the most brutish of thugs would think to look there. That forest would be fully explored within a day or two. Likewise, the plains were a no-go as well. Too little cover to hide effectively and unless I used Windwalk every moment I could, I would be caught and killed. With a deep breath, I changed my course. Towards the Kirkotek mountains far to the east that housed the god that was my namesake. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Hokrag grunted as he pushed away the Shaman tending to his wounds. With a sneer, he spat down upon the corpse of Dabba. She had struck him while he was blinded, a cowardly tactic. But one that had enabled him to kill her. With only one good arm, she couldn¡¯t use her full strength, which was his only saving grace in that brief moment. After she had struck however, she had given away her position. And like a serpent, Hokrag¡¯s arm had thrust out and grasped her by the neck. One quick jerk and twist of the hand, and she had fallen lifeless. ¡°Wyld be praised.¡± He murmured as he rubbed the scar where the axe had bit deep into his neck. Many would have died had they taken the same blow, and so would he given enough time. But the Shamans were quick to heal his wound that had spat out his blood like a melon it¡¯s juice. Once more, Hokrag looked down to spit upon Dabba¡¯s corpse. Annoyance filled him to the brim as he regarded her motionless body. ¡°Why do you smile so?¡± He mused, ¡°You are dead, you have won nothing. Your son will be found and killed within days if the wilds don¡¯t take him first. So why do you smile still?¡± his questions burned into rage as he kicked her corpse. ¡°Chief, All the hunters are gathered.¡± A guard in red-scale armor approached and knelt before him. ¡°Good. Send them to scour the forest and the plains. Leave no stone unturned in your search.¡± ¡°By your will.¡± The guard nodded and rushed off into the coming night. With a sigh, Hokrag turned to Dabba¡¯s corpse once more. This time he did not spit, nor kick it. He merely stared at it as his thoughts rushed through his mind. ¡°For how long have you been hiding your corruption Dabba? Those eyes were not natural.¡± He mumbled to himself as he rubbed his new scar. Chapter 8: Small Game Hunter Cracks of sunlight appeared over the wall of mountains as I lay in the grassy hills before them. Running in the pitch black of night was a exercise in agony from all the times I had tripped over small rocks. I¡¯d have been covered in scrapes, bruises, and cuts were it not for knowing how to take a fall gracefully. As it was, I was only covered in bruises and some scrapes. As the mountains began to rise in the night, blocking the starlight to the east, I had slowed my pace until I had found a comfortable spot at the top of a nice hill. Windrush had earned its keep last night, though I couldn¡¯t keep it active constantly. I had to keep enough Mana at the ready should any predators show themselves. Thankfully, I didn¡¯t encounter any¡­at least, I don¡¯t think I did. It was possible that I was sprinting too fast for them and they gave up in search of easier prey. With a sigh, I arose from my brief respite and gazed up at the towering mountains before me. Smatterings of trees and vast stretches of grass and other greenery formed upon the base portions of the mountains, while the peaks rose to the sky in all their steep glory. And I had no choice but to go through them to whatever lay on the other side. There was no more home for me to return to. Chief Hokrag had seen to that. ¡°One day I will return.¡± I growled as I looked back in the direction of the city. Only vast plains and hills to be seen for miles and miles. ¡°Hokrag will pay.¡± I vowed in my heart as I marched towards the mountains. For now, all I could do is run. But one day¡­oh one day. I chuckled darkly as I conjured a small Fireball before Reverting it. It felt good to flex what strength I did have, little though it was. ¡°One step at a time.¡± I told myself as I hurtled an Ice Shard towards a Slime that I had seen from the corner of my vision.
You have slain a level 2 Slime! Gained 5 experience!
I grinned wickedly as I checked my status, I was now only ten experience from level four. Two more of those and I would be one step closer to vengeance. With my purpose held firm in my heart, I searched for more targets. My trek through the mountains could wait a few more minutes. Gaining power was paramount to my survival now and I would need every ounce of it imaginable. ¡°No one will ever threaten me again.¡± I vowed as I launched another Ice Shard at a new Slime. One spell, one kill, another small bit of experience, and one step closer to power. Another spell, another kill, and a new level gained.
You have slain a level 2 Slime! Gained 5 experience! You have leveled up! Status points gained from leveling up: 3 Status points automatically assigned: 2 You have gained +1 Perception You have gained +1 Luck You have 1 unassigned status point.
I smiled as I dumped my free point into Intelligence, bringing me to an even ten with eighty Mana at my disposal. It was time to stop putting off the inevitable. Though I¡¯d love to stay and grind, it would only be a matter of time before the Orcs wizened up and discovered where I had gone. They may be dumb, but even brutes can figure out a puzzle given enough time, like monkeys writing Shakespeare. I just hoped that it would take them a long while before they realized the truth. After a few minutes into my journey, my stomach began to rumble. ¡°Right, breakfast.¡± I sighed and looked around. Wildlife was pretty scarce, though I¡¯d bet money that that was because I was tromping around like a brute. Animals tend to scurry away when other creatures come wandering their way. I¡¯d never been hunting before, but how hard could it be? ¡°I¡¯m an idiot.¡± I grumbled to myself as I sat within a rough clearing upon one of the many hills I had to cross to reach the mountains proper. Fire crackled and popped from the rather poor campfire I had constructed from fallen leaves, grass, and twigs torn from a nearby tree. Silently, I regarded the small bits of meat skewered over a sharpened stick that I held in one hand. I had never before appreciated the smoked meats that were once provided for me free of charge that I do now. Roughly two hours of skulking about through the wild, careful to avoid making as much noise as possible had passed without me making a single catch. I had certainly seen my fare share of small creatures in my quest for food¡­the problem was they saw and smelled me first. Small rabbits and squirrels would scamper away the instant they caught wind of me. I had racked my brain trying to think of how I could help stop this from happening, when it hit me. I was a dumbass. Animals obviously had superior senses of smell compared to humans. Not too sure about Orcs, but I couldn¡¯t smell anything other than my own body odor. Which had made me slap myself in frustration. After removing my ragged hide pants, I had begun to use Aqua Sphere to cleanse myself of my sweaty smell. In a stroke of brilliance, I then promptly began to scrub myself down with dirt. My train of thought was, if animals were surrounded by dirt and they smelled it constantly, if I smelled like dirt they wouldn¡¯t think that anything was wrong until it was too late. After another hour of tiring skulking, I had earned my first kill on the hunt. A small brown rabbit. It was a clean kill, a weak Ice Shard no larger than my finger shot right into it¡¯s side, granting me what would have been decent amount of meat. Far more than what was currently cooking over my fire. I sighed at the memory of my first attempt at skinning an animal. With no utensils to speak of, I had to improvise with my Mana. At first I had tried using an Ice Shard like a knife, and that cut pretty well, but it would shatter under any amount of stress. Reluctantly, I then conjured up a small knife made of stone. Not the most sanitary of tools, but my raging stomach didn¡¯t care if there was a little dirt in my meal. What should have been a clean, simple affair had turned into a proverbial bloodbath at the hands of my not-so-sharp knife. In the end, nothing remained of that poor animal that even closely resembled what it once was. At least I had gained a point in dexterity for my fumbling efforts.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Right then. Bottoms up.¡± I grunted, not wanting to dwell on the past any longer. The scent of freshly cooked meat was like music to my nose as I pulled the skewer from the fire. My roaring stomach cried out in despair at my small delay as I enjoyed my first attempt at cooking in years. Crispy flesh met salivating mouth as I tore into my meager meal. I was so hungry, I didn¡¯t even care that the meat scorched the inside of my mouth. I had successfully caught, skinned, and cooked my first wild animal! I felt more of a man than I ever did before. Bear Grylls, eat your heart out. I laughed with a mouthful of meat as I conjured another Aqua Sphere to help wash down my meal and cool my burning mouth. ¡°At least I won¡¯t have to go as far as he did in some of his shows.¡± It was good to be a Mage, even if I wasn¡¯t officially one yet. With a flick of the hand, I tossed an Aqua Sphere onto my small fire to put it out. It was time to continue my journey into the mountains, though I¡¯d keep an eye out for more animals to turn into food for later. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Eagle-like white eyes watched the young Orc from a concealed vantage point as he cautiously moved through the winding hills. Sun-kissed skin glistened in the sun from the sweat of the morning¡¯s flight. Black feathered wings shifted about restlessly at the sides of a humanoid body where arms would normally be located. Thin legs ended in strong talons that gripped the branch upon which the harpy was perched. An unnaturally angular face followed her target¡¯s movement with great interest. Every instinct of hers demanded that she strike now, to attack while the young one¡¯s back was turned. But she did not. Instead, she merely watched with great interest. Not many of the Green-skinned chose to roam this close to the mountains. Those that did, always came in a pack. Never before had one so young come alone, and never alone. ¡®For good reason.¡¯ The harpy thought as she fluttered her wings uneasily. She would have to relocate to a new vantage point soon, and she would have to do so quickly and silently. Gaining her target¡¯s attention too quickly would be bad, doubly so that he could use magic. ¡®He will be a fine prize among the roost.¡¯ She thought with a wicked grin as she licked her lips hungrily. ¡®Not yet, Koo¡¯irli. But soon. Very soon.¡¯ With great effort to restrain her instincts, she pushed off from the tree-branch and zipped towards a rocky outcropping atop a steeper hill not far from his position. She hissed upon reaching her new hiding place. ¡°Foolish boy.¡± She cawed in despair, her target was currently walking towards a Kobold den. Conflict raged within her. If she revealed herself too early, he would most likely attack her without a second thought, as his kind were known to do. But if she waited too long, those flightless lizards would kill him. She would have to time this just right. If she wound up saving his life, he would likely be more friendly towards her. And friendly men were far more appreciated than the usual angry brutes that were brought to the roost. With her muscles tensed, she watched and waited. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª My muscles tensed as I stood a few yards from the burrow that had been dug into the hillside. The entrance was too small for a fully grown Orc to walk straight through, but still large enough for them were they to bend forward. For me, I¡¯d have no trouble at all with my small stature. Lucky me, I didn¡¯t have to guess what the purpose of this small cavern was, as the system had notified me that I had encountered a ''Minor Kobold Den''. ¡°I¡¯m glad for the information, but it kind of kills the excitement of discovery.¡± I sighed as I stared into the darkness beyond the entrance. Half the fun of spelunking is not knowing what you¡¯ll encounter until you actually do encounter it. And now that I knew what I was going to encounter, it was a quick command to bring up the Kobold section of my system.
Kobold A cold-blooded type of monster often found in warm climates and burrowed deep within mountains. They are a hardy race of lizard-like beings that are both cunning and aggressive. Rarely does a Kobold leave it¡¯s den, and when it does, it never does so alone. Though many consider them to be a nuisance with no real strength, many an adventurer has been lead to their death in overconfidence. Multiple Magi have agreed that they Kobold race has an innate resistance to Fire-type magical damage due to their lineage to their Dragon ancestors. However, unlike Dragons who are resistant to all types of magic, Kobolds have a distinct weakness to Cold-type magic. Their hard scales are another advantage they have, as many a rookie Adventurer tend to strike them in battle. When this happens, the Kobold will retaliate with vicious counters, eager to take advantage of the Adventurer¡¯s recoiling attack. Should one engage them in close quarters, one must always strike for the weak scales upon the beast¡¯s belly. Stronger variants of Kobolds have been known to wear poorly-crafted leather armor to make up for this weakness. In addition some may even gain the ability to use magic, turning an annoying foe into one even experienced Adventurers are forced to take seriously. Due to the hardiness of their scales, Adventurers tend to harvest said scales off slain Kobolds and bring them to an accomplished Blacksmith to craft armor compareable to solid iron. With an added resistance to Fire magic, of course.
¡°Thank goodness they''re the good kind of Kobolds." I sighed in relief, at least this world had one thing going right for it. "Right, no Fireballs, use Ice Shard, and stab em in the chest. Got it.¡± With a grin, I walked towards the entrance to the den. It was time to farm some experience. "Hopefully that screeching bird is gone by the time I get out." I grumbled as the screeching intensified in the distance. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°No! Foolish!¡± Koo¡¯irli screeched from her position as she flapped her wings in outrage. That foolish Green-skin was walking into the den! Did the boy have a death wish? Was he addled in the head? ¡°Raaaagh!¡± She screeched her frustration once more as the boy summoned a small flame at his side before entering. She should have taken him much earlier! It would have been a struggle, but she could have overpowered him easily. ¡°Koo¡¯irli is the fool.¡± She cursed herself. ¡°Koo¡¯irli should have known better than to wait. Koo¡¯irli now lost potential mate of great value.¡± A sad coo escaped her as she began to bite her lower lip in worry. Deep inside her heart, she knew her target was a goner. The chance of a lifetime gone in an instant. ¡°Koo¡¯irli feel sick.¡± Even if she wanted to, she couldn¡¯t retrieve the boy now. She was a creature of the sky and had no place in small caves such as those made by the accursed lizards. ¡°Koo¡¯irli a disgrace to her roost.¡± She banged her head against a rock in frustration as she cawed and chirped angrily. ¡°Koo¡¯irli have no choice. Koo¡¯irli have to wait now.¡± She sighed and re-perched herself upon the rocky outcropping from where she had watched the young boy. Even if the boy had no chance, she would wait until night came before returning to the roost. Even a slight chance that he survived would be worth waiting that long. ¡°Idiot boy.¡± She cawed once more as she watched the cave with poorly-concealed anger. Chapter 9: Overloaded My flames sent shadows dancing around the cavern like phantoms upon the dirt and the rock of the walls that looked to have been dug out by hand. Cautiously, I walked forwards as my eyes strained to see into the darkness beyond what my fire illuminated. There wasn¡¯t much to speak of from just the entrance to the den alone, as there were no twists nor turns. No, all that I could see was just darkness leading further into the hillside. Unlit torches looked to have been thrust into the walls in an uneven pattern. With a flick of the hand, one torch burst into flames from the fire I had summoned, lighting up my surroundings far better than the small flame I had previously conjured. With a new source of light, I dismissed my flames and pulled the torch from the wall to hold in my left hand while my right was free to cast spells should I encounter any threats. My ears strained to hear anything other than the crunching of the dirt beneath my feet and the crackling of the flames of the torch. But other than the blowing of wind, my efforts proved fruitless. As I tread further into the darkness, lighting further torches to guide my way back, the tunnel had split into three separate passages. I squinted in an attempt to see anything other than darkness down each passage, yet I could see nothing. ¡®Now which one do I take¡­¡¯ I shifted my eyes between each passage as I thought about the choice before me. No matter what tunnel I chose, the chance of being surrounded was very high. I hadn¡¯t seen any Kobolds thus far into the cavern, but that didn¡¯t mean that they hadn¡¯t seen me. In a normal dungeon, there¡¯d have been at least two or three at the entrance alone, so why was this different? ¡°Really not liking feeling uneasy like this.¡± I grumbled as I considered my options. I had to choose a tunnel, but that didn¡¯t mean I didn¡¯t have to cover my ass. ¡°Right then, lets see¡­¡± With my mind cranking into gear, I set about thinking up a spell I could use in case my worst case scenario of being attacked from behind came to pass. ¡°Right, no fire spells due to resistance, so something cold¡­¡± I mused while rubbing my chin. ¡°Ah! I¡¯ve got it.¡± A wicked grin crept upon my face as I visualized my spell. A proximity frost-mine. The tingle of gathering Mana flowed through my veins as I formed a clear image of what I wanted in my mind. More and more Mana gathered within my hands without any sign of ending. Worry began to take root in my mind, what if the spell I want to cast costs more Mana than I have? Will it fizzle out? Magical backlash? Briefly, I considered halting the gathering of my Mana until a calmness washed over me. My Mana had finally stopped accumulating after draining a whole fifty points! ¡°Worst case scenario, I can always Revert it.¡± I grinned, ¡°Lets let this puppy fly!¡± With a laugh, I unleashed the collected energy at the center of the intersection. A bright flash of light briefly illuminated the darkness further than my torchlight could reach, revealing faint boxes of information that quickly were obscured by the darkness¡¯ swift return. I hadn¡¯t caught what the boxes had said, but they made me gave credit to my assumption that the Kobolds were planning an ambush. Regardless, my spell was a success! Within the very center of the intersection was now a rune of faint white light.
Spell Learned: Frost Rune Mana Cost: 50+ Conjures the powers of Water and Wind condensed into a highly volatile rune of power that will detonate in the presence of a hostile foe. An often under-looked spell by novice Magi, the Frost Rune provides ample defensive power for any dungeoneering party. The ability to cover a party¡¯s rear from ambushes from rear and side passages will often elevate a Magi¡¯s value in a party beyond their usual spell-work.
¡°I was more aiming for a land-mine, but that works too I suppose.¡± I grinned. A shame the spell took up so much of my Mana for just a baseline cast, but that just meant the spell itself would be powerful. ¡°But with that logic in mind¡­Revert.¡± In an instant, the Rune disappeared and forty Mana was returned to me. ¡®Lets see how they like this.¡¯ I devious grin covered my face as I activated Overload and began to gather the Mana for another Frost Rune at base Mana. When the spell was ready, I added twenty points of my health into the spell. Once more, the bright flash of light shot through the tunnels, revealing multiple boxes of level five Kobolds hidden in alcoves unevenly burrowed down each passage. I didn¡¯t get an exact head-count from the boxes, but there were a lot. At least twenty down each passageway. In my current, nearly Mana-less state, they could kill me easily. But I had decided that I wasn¡¯t going to go down any of the passages. I was merely going to turn around and walk away as audibly and obviously as possible. Compared to the previous rune I had conjured, this one had a faint shudder in the light only apparent if you looked closely. It certainly gave off the feeling that it would be far more deadly than before, and thats exactly what I wanted. Though I would have liked to dump more Mana and Health into my spell, I¡¯d rather not put all my eggs in one basket. I hadn¡¯t even seen the results of what the first Frost Rune was capable of. ¡°Time for science.¡± I cackled as loud as I could and turned around to walk back towards the entrance. A shrill cry deep in the tunnels was quickly taken up by others. A quick glance back showed hundreds of glowing red eyes rushing towards me from the darkness. Far, far more than I had originally anticipated. ¡°Oh shit.¡± I managed to utter as I felt my rear end clench at the amount of boxes filled my vision. More out of reaction than rational thought, I tossed my torch towards them like a throwing-axe. Without any other course of action, I ran, and prayed my Frost Rune did its job. Cold sweat ran down my face as I pumped my legs for all that they were worth. Light from the torches illuminated my path back towards the outside world that seemed to be an eternity away. A quarter of the way to the entrance, the sound of shattering glass filled my ears in an unholy cacophony. The ground quaked underfoot nearly tossing me from my feet. Bright light filled the cavern from behind me, casting my shadow all the way to the entrance to the den far away. Whatever had happened behind me, it was bright, deafening, and amazing enough to fill my vision with spam notifications.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
You have slain a Level 5 Kobold! Gained 20 Experience!
You have slain a Level 5 Kobold! Gained 20 Experience!
You have slain a Level 5 Kobold! Gained 20 Experience!
You have slain a Level 5 Kobold! Gained 20 Experience!
You have slain a Level 5 Kobold! Gained 20 Experience!
You have slain a Level 5 Kobold! Gained 20 Experience!
The message kept repeating over and over as more and more notifications popped up all over. My vision was completely spammed by kills, experience gains, level ups, and stat assignments. Any attempts at wiping them away only resulted in my vision being filled once more. ¡°Fucking alerts, stop! Argh!¡± Unable to see where I was going from the unending notifications, I tripped and fell onto the ground as the world began to collapse around me. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Koo¡¯irli cooed sadly as she stared at the Kobold¡¯s den with regret. Her chance at improving her position within the roost had slipped through her talons. There would be others that came to the mountains, but they were few and far between. ¡°Roo¡­Koo¡¯irli have better luck on human side.¡± She mumbled with a sigh. The boy was surely dead by now. Not even a fully grown male of the green-skinned would enter a Kobold Den alone. It was beyond rational thought! Yet Koo¡¯irli could only blame herself for her inaction. ¡°Stupid! Stupid! Stu-whoa!¡± she cried out as the ground began to shake under her talons, causing her to fall to her rump. Wincing from the pain of a sharp rock that jabbed into her bare bottom, Koo¡¯irli slowly rose to her feet, only to gape at the sight of the Den where the boy had gone. A part of the hill had collapsed in on itself from a newly-formed hole located not that far from the entrance. ¡°Did the boy¡­?¡± Koo¡¯irli wondered. Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she took flight towards the cavern, hoping desperately that this was the chance she had been waiting for. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Ugh.¡± I groaned as I rubbed at my head, which felt light and clouded. Dirt and stone rolled off from me as I began to shift and groan. A slight sticky feeling spread onto my hand as I rubbed a particularly painful spot. ¡°Ah fuck.¡± I¡¯m no doctor, but wet head after falling onto the ground could only mean one thing. The light of the few torches that remained lit revealed what I had suspected. Blood. ¡°Oh boy.¡± I groaned while slowly forcing myself to rise to my feet. Pain stabbed all throughout my body where large rocks and debris had fallen onto me. Already bruises were showing their ugly faces upon my green skin. I turned to regard what had become of where I placed my Frost Rune, only to gape in shock at what I saw. ¡°No fuckin¡¯ way.¡± I uttered at the massive collapse that filled the entrance to the three tunnels leading deeper into the Kobold den. Even more disturbing was the fact that I had almost been caught in the collapse myself! Of the Kobolds, there was no sign. ¡°Probably buried under that mountain of rocks and dirt.¡± I mumbled to myself as I tried to focus my thoughts. It was getting harder and harder to think as time passed. ¡°Right¡­¡± I mumbled, ¡°Gotta see the results¡­Status.¡±
Name: Kotek Jir¡¯iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 10 Experience: MAX
Health: 15/96 Mana: 28/88
Stamina: 88/88 Unspent Points: 10
Strength: 8 Vitality: 8
Dexterity: 8 Agility: 8
Intelligence: 11 Wisdom: 7
Perception: 7 Luck: 3
¡°Level¡­ten? Max experience?¡± A smile forced it¡¯s way onto my face as I began to laugh. ¡°I can¡­I can¡­¡± What could I do again? I could do¡­something. I winced as thoughts became harder and harder to form in my mind. Whatever my mind was trying to tell me beyond the clouds filling my thoughts was really important. But I just wanted to sleep. ¡°I¡­I think I¡¯ll just¡­lay dow-¡± A sharp pain struck me in the back of my head. Once more, the dirt arose from the ground to meet me with a hard embrace as I fell face first into it. Chirps and excited squawking filled my ears as if from far away. With the little strength that remained in my body, I dragged my head on the ground to see what had hit me. ¡°Birds¡­aren¡¯t that tall.¡± Was all I could mumble as darkness overtook me. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Koo¡¯irli did it! Koo¡¯irli will be much rewarded!¡± Koo¡¯irli chirped and fluttered her wings in excitement as she gazed down at the fallen green-skinned child. Though the boy was clearly injured and in no shape to resist her, she still had butted his head with her own in an effort to knock him out. An effort that had paid off tremendously, as now the boy wasn¡¯t moving other than his breathing. Now she could transport him without the usual struggle and fighting that many males do. ¡°You wait idiot boy, Koo¡¯irli will take you to nice place!¡± She chirped as she gripped his arm in a talon and began to drag him back towards the entrance. ¡°We fix you. We make you happy. Then you make us many babies! Then we all happy!¡± she grunted between each statement as she dragged the boy ever closer towards the light of the outside world. ¡°You cause Koo¡¯irli much grief. You make it up to Koo¡¯irli!¡± She panted from her efforts of bringing him outside the nearly collapsed cavern. ¡°You give Koo¡¯irli many powerful magic babies. Then Koo¡¯irli forgive you.¡± She sighed wistfully at the thought of having a clutch of hatchlings of her own. With both of her talons wrapped around the boy, she began to flap her wings with great gusto. ¡°Come young green-skinned. You will love the roost! All men-things do¡­eventually!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Visions faded in and out as I slipped in and out of consciousness. Dreams and reality meshed together in a strange series of events during my brief moments of lucidity. A lion-like cat leapt from a bush I hadn¡¯t seen, sinking it¡¯s teeth into my neck. My body shivered from the cold fangs that pierced into my flesh. Then I was in the duel ring back home as Hokrag brandished his maul. All I could do was stand still as the massive weapon came hurtling towards my head. Then I was behind some sort of wheel. Strange lights flew past at high speeds as I fumbled in my pocket for some boxy contraption. I read something that made me laugh, and I had to respond. Then there was blackness. Roaring valleys spanned vast distances below me as I flew through the sky. Looking around revealed a pair of massive talons gripping me by the arms. Said talons were connected to a lightly tanned almost-human woman with bird-like arms that flapped furiously as we flew through the air. She chirped and cooed speaking in some alien tongue without looking at me. ¡®Probably having a conversation with herself. I do that a lot.¡¯ I grinned to myself as I stared at her. Though I could not see her face, I could see her body. And damn, it was nice. She had an athletic build that was very appealing, far less muscular than the she-orcs I had been around for most of my new life. But that wasn¡¯t even the best part! She wasn¡¯t wearing any clothes! But I didn¡¯t care. After admiring the view for a good long while, I closed my eyes with a smile. I had finally reached heaven. Chapter 10: Mage in the Roost The sounds of loud squawking, chirping, and wrestling roused me from my previously peaceful slumber. ¡°Fuck!¡± I cried out from a sudden shock of pain shooting through my head. The constant pounding in my head kept my eyes and teeth clenched in pain. Unfortunately, the loud noises not far from where I was currently wincing in pain only seemed to intensify, which made me irritable. ¡°Would you kindly shut the hell up!¡± I roared at the offending creatures that, by the sound of them, weren¡¯t very far away. In an instant, the sounds of struggling and screeching had ceased entirely. With a breath of relief, I rubbed my temples in an attempt to calm my quaking mind, only to feel a thin piece of cloth wrapped securely around my head. ¡°Right¡­I was bleeding before¡­¡± I winced as I attempted to remember what had happened to me. Something about a Frost Rune¡­a ton of Kobolds¡­and a cave in that I was almost caught in. I sighed as my head ached from attempting to think further. With a curious eye, I looked over my body, finding many healed cuts and faded bruises all over my torso. As for my legs, my pants were quite ripped and torn and stained with dried blood from healed minor cuts in various areas. Slowly, I took in my surroundings, which were far different than I remember first passing out in. Twigs, sticks, and other assorted wooden bits had been constructed into a massive, and rather sturdy-looking nest in which I currently sat. Piles and piles of bedding made from hay, leaves, and a large assortment of grass formed the bed upon which I had previously lain. Clear blue skies stretched far into the horizon and rocky mountaintops stretched higher into the sky. Though still well below cloud level. Other nests like the one I was currently in dotted the mountains as naked women with wings for arms and talons for feet flew between the nests. Some were carrying people in their talons that they set down into the nests. ¡°Harpies¡­¡± I mumbled. As I turned around, a curious sight greeted me. Two nearby Harpies were currently frozen in the act of strangling one another with said talons as they stared at me. Both had lightly tanned skin and athletic bodies. The one currently being strangled had black feathers that ran from her forehead down her backside and ending in a short tail. The other, who looked to be winning the now-frozen struggle, had reddish feathers. Their bird-like eyes stared at me unblinking, their jaws hung open, though the one on the bottom had begun to turn purple from the talons wrapped around her neck. Their levels were twenty and twenty-one respectively. ¡°Think she needs to breath there.¡± I pointed towards the black-feathered level twenty girl who¡¯s white eyes started to roll up into her head as her struggles began to weaken. The offending Harpy regarded her companion with surprised green eyes and quickly retracted her talons from her fellow¡¯s throat. In a flutter of her wings, she glided over towards me. ¡°Apology! Koo¡¯irli is brain-dumb!¡± The bird woman spoke apologetically with a high-pitched voice in poor Orcish that did horrible things to my splitting skull. She gestured to her gasping companion, ignoring the discomfort that I knew was clear upon my face. ¡°Koo¡¯irli steal young Green-skinned! Not Vay¡¯ar fault!¡± ¡°Right. And you are Vay¡¯ar?¡± I gritted my teeth and rubbed my head as she thumped her flat chest with her red-feathered wing and nodded. The moment Vay¡¯ar had nodded, the blue box over her head modified itself and displayed her name properly. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± I mumbled to which she cocked her head in confusion. Guess Harpies had sharp hearing, good to know. ¡°So¡­where am I?¡± ¡°The Roost!¡± She chirped in response. ¡°Ah. Right. Of course.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°And¡­where is the ¡®Roost¡¯ located?¡± ¡°High in the mountains!¡± She beamed and gestured towards the peaks in the distance. Oh boy. I was getting places with this girl. How did the saying go? Lights are on but nobodies home? Yeah, that described my situation perfectly. Of course, the fact that she was speaking some bit of Orcish showed that she had some bit of intellect. Maybe I should give her the benefit of the doubt. Who knows? Maybe in her regular squawking and chirping she¡¯s quite eloquent. ¡°And¡­how did I get here?¡± I asked slowly. ¡°Koo¡¯irli take young Green-skinned!¡± She answered while gesturing her head towards the black-feathered harpy who had regained her breath but stayed away from the two of us. ¡°Steal Green-skinned for mating, but not know Green-skinned too young for mate!¡± At this, the other Harpy, Koo¡¯irli huffed indignantly. ¡°Koo¡¯irli raise young Green-skinned to be good mate!¡± she answered back in broken Orcish as well. ¡°That be many years!¡± Vay¡¯ar replied sharply. ¡°Now Roost must feed and shelter young Green-skinned and get no mating for many years! Not good!¡± ¡°Mating?¡± I mumbled to myself. ¡°You make babies with us!¡± Koo¡¯irli chirped in response. Apparently these Harpies had sharp hearing. ¡°Oh!¡± I slapped my head, ¡°Ow.¡± Right, head injury. I¡¯m a dumbass. ¡°Sorry ladies, but I¡¯m nobody¡¯s baby-maker.¡± The two of them smiled at me with the same crazed look in their eyes that sent chills down my spine. ¡°All men say no at first.¡± Vay¡¯ar spoke in a foreboding tone. ¡°But they all happy in the end!¡± Koo¡¯irli flapped her wings and began to slowly fly towards me. ¡°You make good strong magic babies when older!¡± Great, I was stuck in a nest with a pair of rapists. ¡°Must wait long time for that though.¡± Vay¡¯ar cooed sadly. ¡°Vay¡¯ar hate waiting.¡± ¡°Sorry for being too young for you.¡± I sarcastically stated. ¡°Is not your fault!¡± Vay¡¯ar shook her head, ¡°Is way of life!¡± Koo¡¯irli nodded along with her. ¡°Right.¡± I rolled my eyes at the two smiling at me. ¡°And how are you two related?¡± ¡°We nest-mates!¡± Koo¡¯irli chirped happily. ¡°Nest-mates?¡± ¡°Yes! Every nest is group of us.¡± Vay¡¯ar nodded. ¡®So they¡¯re like roomies. Got it.¡¯ I rubbed my chin as I regarded the large nest. ¡°Seems a little big for just you two.¡± ¡°Is three other nest-mates!¡± Koo¡¯irli chirped. ¡°What.¡± ¡°Yes! Is five nest-mates together.¡± Vay¡¯ar spoke enthusiastically. ¡°You meet them soon!¡± ¡°Look, look!¡± Koo¡¯irli fluttered about enthusiastically, emphasizing the sky to the west. ¡°Rah¡¯liol come back with fixxer!¡± Sure enough, a new harpy was flying directly towards our nest, carrying a very unenthusiastic human in her talons like some sort of toy. Unlike the other two, her skin was pale and as she closed the distance I could make out the grey of her feathers. The moment she hovered over the nest, she released the human from her clutches. Judging by the appearance of his clothes, he was probably a commoner that had been abducted against his will by these creatures. His expression spoke volumes, this wasn¡¯t the first time he had been carried around like a puppet. Whoever this man was, he had been in the Roost for a long time. ¡°Nai waya lok tomon.¡± The light-skinned man bowed his head to the new harpy who was staring at me with appraising blue eyes. ¡°Bolko¡¯m.¡± She responded simply which seemed to please the man as he looked over towards me. ¡°Hah. Wyl oh¡¯an mutu tark.¡± The man laughed as he approached me. ¡°He say you strong for being up already.¡± Vay¡¯ar translated for me. ¡°Joho nok lahel ton tabu?¡± He asked Vay¡¯ar. ¡°He asks for ability to check you.¡± She translated once more. I nodded. The man then began to gently place his hands upon my head where the bandages were. I winced as he applied pressure to several parts of my head. The man mumbled something in his language as he finished his inspection. I¡¯m no doctor, but I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re not supposed to poke and prod a head injury. Regardless, the man began to unwrap my bandaged head and began his inspection once more. Once he was finished, the man clasped me upon the shoulder with a smile. ¡°Wak-tn oh¡¯an kanro to.¡± ¡°He says don¡¯t hit your head anymore.¡± The grey feathered Harpy spoke passively. ¡°I¡¯ll try not to.¡± I rolled my eyes which made the man laugh. ¡°Yatan ko Rah¡¯liol.¡± He spoke to the Harpy who nodded, flew up, and latched onto his arms before carrying him off to nests unknown. ¡°Who was that?¡± I asked as I watched the man be carried off. ¡°She is Rah¡¯liol! She is nice¡­most times.¡± Koo¡¯irli chirped. ¡°Not her. The man.¡± ¡°He is Hogen. He knows a little of healing. We call him fixxer.¡± Vay¡¯ar spoke informatively. ¡°He not very good.¡± Koo¡¯irli mumbled. ¡°He best we got!¡± Vay¡¯ar chastised. I couldn¡¯t stop the smirk from forcing its way onto my face. I¡¯d have to side with Koo¡¯irli on this one, he didn¡¯t exactly strike me as a medical man. But my opinions were skewed due to my past life. At least he didn¡¯t beat me with a crow attached to a stick like the plague-doctors of olde. Or drain my blood with leeches¡­though that was making a comeback, so maybe they did something right in the old times. ¡°So where are the other two of you then?¡± I asked as Rah¡¯liol and Hogen disappeared behind a nearby mountain. ¡°Mmmm. Fik¡¯ik is meeting with Matron. Hoo¡¯ra is hunting.¡± Vay¡¯ar spoke as she shuffled about and sat in the nest. ¡°Matron? Is she your leader?¡± ¡°No! Is mother to all Harpy!¡± Koo¡¯irli jumped about emphatically. ¡°Is leader too.¡± Vay¡¯ar shot Koo¡¯irli a sharp look. ¡°She not order like leader.¡± Koo¡¯irli shot back which made Vay¡¯ar sigh, ¡°Fik¡¯ik is meeting Matron to talk about you.¡± ¡°Really? Why me?¡± ¡°Too young for mating!¡± Koo¡¯irli cried out, ¡°But Koo¡¯irli want to keep you!¡± ¡°If you too young for mating, we bring you back to Green-skinned.¡± A dark chill stabbed down my back. ¡°I¡¯d¡­rather avoid that.¡± I spoke hesitantly. ¡°You want stay?¡± The both of them spoke in unison. Vay¡¯ar with a confused look upon her face and Koo¡¯irli with unabated joy. ¡°I¡¯d rather keep going east.¡± ¡°No. Is too dangerous.¡± Vay¡¯ar shook her head firmly. ¡°But boy did kill nest of lizard things.¡± Koo¡¯irli spoke with a tone of awe. ¡°And he almost die! It been days since brought here!¡± ¡°Wait what?¡± Koo¡¯irli shifted her eyes uncomfortably. ¡°You sleep for three days. It no bad! You fine now! Fixxer say so! Hoo¡¯ra hunting for meat to feed! Soon you eat lots and grow fast!¡± Koo¡¯irli stated happily before shifting her attention away. ¡°Grow fast so mate soon.¡± ¡°If Matron let us keep.¡± Vay¡¯ar grumbled. ¡°Don¡¯t I get a say on if I stay or go?¡± ¡°No!¡± the two responded in tandem. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡± I sighed. A comfortable silence fell upon us as I sat back down upon the bedding in the nest. From the scouting I could do from our position, it didn¡¯t look like I¡¯d be able to climb down the mountain without some form of grappling equipment. Which I most definitely lacked. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn¡¯t. With no more pressing matters, I called up my status screen.
Name: Kotek Jir¡¯iroc Race: Orc
Class: Villager Title: N/A
Level: 10 Experience: MAX
Health: 82/96 Mana: 88/88
Stamina: 88/88 Unspent Points: 10
Strength: 8 Vitality: 8
Dexterity: 8 Agility: 8
Intelligence: 11 Wisdom: 7
Perception: 7 Luck: 3
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.¡®Last I remember, I was level four. Every level used up two of the three stat points I gained, so why do I have ten free ones right now?¡¯ My stat points had all raised by one if I distributed them the same way they automatically did from levels one through four, but they didn¡¯t rise any more past level eight. ¡®Did I receive all three stat points for levels nine and ten? The math checks out in that instance¡­¡¯ My head began to ache from running through numbers over and over. ¡®Bah, whatever. I¡¯ve got ten points to spend. Now lets see¡­¡¯ ¡®If I want to min-max, it¡¯d be best to put all the points I have into Intelligence and Wisdom. More Mana and Mana regeneration is key for a caster like me. But more health would be good so what happened to me doesn¡¯t happen again¡­¡¯ With that in mind, I put four points into Intelligence, four into Wisdom, and the remaining two into Vitality. ¡®More health means more Overload as well, so thats a bonus.¡¯ I grinned but quickly wiped it from my face as Koo¡¯irli and Vay¡¯ar started shooting strange looks my way.
Status Points assigned, you may now select a Class: Fighter Rogue Ranger Mage
Without a second thought, I picked Mage. As soon as I did, I could feel power coursing through my veins. My previously aching head had disappeared completely. From my head to my toes, my body tingled as if it were gathering Mana to use for a spell. Just as quickly as the feeling surged through me, it disappeared and a blue box appeared in front of me.
Mage Class Received! Gained 10 Health! Gained 30 Mana! Gained 2 Mana Regeneration per minute! Gained Ability: Mana Sight! Gained Title: Prodigy!
¡®Prodigy? Mana Sight? What the hell?¡¯ With a mental flick, I called up their information.
Mana Sight Passive Grants Magi the ability to see Mana as it is used. Not all Magi who ascend to Mage-hood are granted the ability to see Mana itself. Our records show that out of every hundred Magi, only three will be given this ability. At first such claims were not given much credit within the Circle. However, in more recent years, many respectable Magi have come forward with claims of having this ability. After many tests, we have come to the conclusion that these Magi speak true and are not, in fact, crazy. A Magi that can see Mana can tell what type of spells are being used by those around them. A useful skill to have in combat, as it allows the Magi to counter said spells with their own very handily.
Prodigy For having learned more than five spells before ascending to Mage status, the owner gains an additional 10% damage when casting their spells.
¡°Hmmm.¡± I mumbled aloud as I read the prompts. ¡°Yes?¡± Vay¡¯ar asked as she gazed towards me. ¡°Nothing. Just thinking.¡± I responded. ¡°Right!¡± Once more, I called up my status page and smiled at the changes that had taken place.
Name: Kotek Jir¡¯iroc Race: Orc
Class: Mage Title: Prodigy
Level: 1 Experience: 0/500
Health: 99/130 Mana: 102/150
Stamina: 100/100 Unspent Points: 0
Strength: 8 Vitality: 10
Dexterity: 8 Agility: 8
Intelligence: 15 Wisdom: 11
Perception: 7 Luck: 3
¡®I need a lot more experience to level up now¡­¡¯ I sighed, but that was how these things went. Far more power had been granted to me and I still felt I would need a lot more before being able to face my mother¡¯s killer. ¡®Just you wait Hokrag. I will avenge her.¡¯ Loud chirping and cawing shot out towards our nest as a new Harpy began to fly directly at us. Brown wings flapped furiously as the pale girl landed in the center of the nest, kicking up bedding and snapping twigs and branches. She began to chirp and squawk at the other two whose mouths hung open at her words. She would also randomly gesture towards me and stamp her feet in the nest. Worry was written clearly upon her face as she looked towards me with big brown eyes. ¡°Whats going on?¡± I asked Vay¡¯ar who recovered quickest. ¡°Matron wants to meet you.¡± She spoke nervously. ¡°As soon as awake.¡± ¡°Is this bad?¡± I really didn¡¯t like the looks on their faces as they stared at me. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Well then, lets go.¡± I grunted as I stood and wiped the bedding off of my pants. ¡°No point in wasting time.¡± Before I could react, Koo¡¯irli slammed into me in a storm of feathers. ¡°No! You no go! You become mate!¡± she cried. ¡°Koo¡¯irli work hard to bring you here!¡± ¡°We not know if he go or not.¡± Vay¡¯ar spoke as she grasped Koo¡¯irli with her talons and pulled her away with the heavy beating of her wings. ¡°Fik¡¯ik, carry¡­¡± A sligth look of embarrassment crossed her face. ¡°What you name?¡± ¡°Oh! Right. I never introduced myself. I¡¯m Kotek.¡± ¡°Kotek.¡± The three spoke in unison as they tried out my name. ¡°Fik¡¯ik, carry Kotek. We follow.¡± In response, Fik¡¯ik chirped happily before flying over me and grasping my arms just below my armpits in her talons. With the heavy beating of her wings, I began to fly. Strangely, as the girl beat her wings, I could see a sort of green wind flowing around her. ¡®Is this Mana Sight?¡¯ I wondered as I looked to the others. Sure enough, the same green swirling wind was around them as well as they flew. ¡®Are they using Mana without realizing it?¡¯ A part of me wanted to burst out laughing. They wanted me so their children could use magic, yet they were using it themselves without knowing! With a great amount of will, I held in my laughter while enjoying the feeling of the wind upon my body as I was carried through the sky. Together, the four of us flew through the skies towards a large cavern near the peak of a mountain not very far from the nest. Upon landing inside, Fik¡¯ik dropped me onto the stone floor, which I was not ready for. With the grace of a paraplegic ballerina, I fell upon the floor with grace and beauty. And more than a few choice words for my flight-assistant. ¡°Sorry!¡± She chirped apologetically as she attempted to help me up to my feet. ¡°Just give me some warning before you drop me next time.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± she nodded seriously. ¡°Will give warning!¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± I brushed myself off from my unintended fall. Curious, I looked around the entrance to the cave in which we stood. Massive stalactites hung from the ceiling like teeth of stone. Rows upon rows of large eggs lined the walls leading further into the dark, damp cave. ¡°Could make a hell of a breakfast with one those babies.¡± I mumbled to myself as I stared at the eggs. ¡°My children are not for eating, little Orc.¡± A powerful voice reverberated through the cave, shaking both the eggs and the stalactites. In an instant, the three Harpies with me threw themselves to the ground in respect. The thumping steps of a massive beast came from just beyond the darkness. Within the span of a few heartbeats, the head of a large lizard with fierce orange eyes and red scales emerged. Massive wings folded upon it¡¯s back as the rest of the impossibly large body emerged. Muscular legs bared the weight of the monster before me, which didn¡¯t seem physically possible. As a man of modern science, I knew that those legs would never be able to support the weight they carried. If this was my old world, they¡¯d have snapped off long ago. But I shrugged at the thought. With a world full of magic, anything is possible. Even dragons that should collapse under their own weight. Besides, the dragon was level one hundred and fifty five. At that level anything is possible. ¡°You three may leave.¡± The dragon commanded of the Harpies prostrating themselves. ¡°But!¡± Koo¡¯irli began, but was cut off by a fierce glare. Reluctantly, the three of them looked towards me before taking off. Not wanting to be impolite, I waved them goodbye. Only Koo¡¯irli returned the wave with her wing. Just as quickly as they had arrived, they were gone. Now it was just me and a big red dragon. ¡°Kotek Jir¡¯iroc.¡± The dragon¡¯s voice rumbled, ¡°I assume you know who I am.¡± ¡°Kirkotek, Mistress of the Skies.¡± I responded. She nodded, ¡°Indeed. That is what your people call me.¡± ¡°And what does a deity want with me?¡± A small pair of flames shot out from her nose as she snorted. ¡°I am no deity. That title belongs to another.¡± Slowly, she closed her eyes as if in thought. ¡°You are the first Orc Magi in all of history that I can recall.¡± ¡°If Chief Hokrag had his way, I wouldn¡¯t be alive right now.¡± I mumbled as I imagined roasting that bastard alive. ¡°Such as it is throughout the land.¡± The dragon sighed, ¡°Nearly all who are found to practice magic are put to the sword.¡± ¡°Why? I can understand Orcs being taboo about magic. They¡¯re a bunch of big dumb brutes.¡± The dragon snorted, ¡°And you do not consider yourself one of your people?¡± I kept my mouth shut as I wordlessly cursed myself for that slip of the tongue. ¡°Interesting. Regardless, improper use of magic once tore these lands asunder. Such devastation often leaves scars that run deep within the minds of all living beings.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about improper use of magic with me.¡± I gave the dragon my best smile. ¡°I¡¯m a very responsible person.¡± ¡°Yes, as you responsibly brought down the Kobold Den on top of you.¡± The Dragon snorted in bemused fashion. ¡°Magic is dangerous, Kotek Jir¡¯iroc. And you are already among the most dangerous of it¡¯s practitioners.¡± ¡°You flatter me. I¡¯m just a beginner.¡± ¡°No beginner could bring down a Den as you did.¡± She spoke sharply. ¡°Maybe I got lucky.¡± I responded with a raised brow. ¡°Do you desire revenge Kotek?¡± Kirkotek asked which took me by surprise. ¡°I¡­yes.¡± She nodded, ¡°What if I were to tell you that your vengeance will never be yours to obtain?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silently, I considered my next words. ¡°I would still do everything I could to make him pay.¡± Once more, Kirkotek closed her eyes in thought. Respectfully, I waited in silence. ¡°I will give you two choices Kotek.¡± She spoke after a few minutes of consideration. ¡°And my choices are?¡± ¡°You stay here in the Roost where I can keep a close eye over you.¡± Yeah, I didn¡¯t like that option much. ¡°Or?¡± ¡°Or I can take you far to the west to the land of Isamal, the home of the Watchers. You will undergo their training and become one of their members.¡± ¡°Watchers? Who are they?¡± I hadn¡¯t heard of that name before. ¡°They are a group dedicated to stopping the resurrection of Falarond, the Dark God.¡± ¡°And if I choose neither?¡± ¡°Then I shall end your life here and now.¡± She spoke without a single breath of hesitation. Shivers erupted all over my body at her words. She had meant every one. Either I stay here and eventually become a Harpy fucktoy, or I join some group I¡¯ve never heard of. Or I could die. As if it were much of a decision. ¡°I¡¯m not allowed any other options at all?¡± ¡°None.¡± I sighed, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go join those Washers or whatever their name is.¡± ¡°As I knew you would.¡± Kirkotek grunted. ¡°Though you may be reluctant, know that this is the best path you could take.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± I sighed. I was still going to kill Hokrag, but it was looking like it would take some time before I could do so. ¡°So when do we leave?¡± Like an arrow shot from a bow, the dragon sprung forth and grasped me within her claws. Wings unfurled in an explosion of sound was we soared into the sky beyond the cavern. I¡¯m sure the view from up here was great, but all I could see were the light yellow scales of Kirkotek¡¯s underbelly. ¡°I can see this is going to be a great trip.¡± I sighed as she ignored me and kept beating her wings as we flew westward.