《The Gray》 Prologue and Chapter One: Choices of a Man Named Larson Reed Prologue Reflected on the surface of a motionless lake was a large blue and green planet. Known to its inhabitants as Earth, yet to those on the outside, it was known as a breeding ground for greatness. Since the dawn of time, unsuspecting earthlings with potential had been whisked away to beyond the stars where their destiny awaited. Standing on the shore overlooking the lake where a pair of incorporeal figures. One looked to be the embodiment of darkness. While the other the personification of light. The two opposites stood there together in perfect stillness and harmony. ¡°Are you sure about this? Going about things in such a roundabout way... ¡± An ethereal voice asked as it cast its gaze out across the waters. ¡°No need for concern. I¡¯ve been studying them for a while now. There¡¯s a surprising amount of little ones that dream of such things.¡± A deep and raspy voice answered the former. ¡°I have my eyes set on a few that could fill the requirements we¡¯re searching for.¡± ¡°Then let us not waste any more time. Set the plan into motion.¡± The ethereal voice said willing to support its partner''s decision. Casting a glance over the lake once more, the ethereal voice chucked, ¡°I hope you''re prepared for this test, little ones.¡± Then with a flash of gray light the pair vanished and the lake dissolved into nothingness. The Beginning Chapter One: Choices of a Man Named Larson Reed If you had said over a year ago that he¡¯d been spending the rest of his days in a hospital, Larson would''ve laughed in your face. Being in his early twenties and with a love for adventure, he was positive that his life was just beginning. Though he would deny it, he was an attractive man. Nearly six-foot-tall and with an athletic build he looked like something off the cover of Men''s Health magazine. He was nearly always surrounded by friends and known to be the life of the party. Yet that was a far cry from his current state. A drunk driver had stolen all that away from him in the blink of an eye. The birthday party to remember turned into a living hell. Even with the best doctors and medicine money could buy, all they could do was keep him alive. If one would call it that. Being confined to a bed with an uncountable amount of wires and tubes attached to him. With only darkness, the beeping of machines, and his mother¡¯s occasional sobbing to keep him company. After a year of wondering if a life like this was worth it, a second chance arrived. A game company called ¡®Seis Pillars Inc.¡¯ approached the hospital with a proposal. They were looking for people trapped in a paralyzed state to test out a full body immersive experience. The game developers would provide all the needed equipment as well as cover any medical cost afterward. After the hospital informed Larson¡¯s parents of the chance they eagerly jumped at the opportunity. Fast forward a few months and the moment of truth arrived. Blinking to signal that he was ready the anxious crowd in the room waited with baited breath. A technician sent from the company pressed the power button as Larson closed his eyes. The next thing he knew he found himself looking out over a white void. ¡°Welcome Larson Reed, to the Void of Choices.¡± A systematic voice rang out from all around him. Before he had the chance to question the voice, a line of bodies of all shapes and sizes appeared before him. Each body had the name of its race floating above it. As they passed slowly before his eyes the voice from the void spoke out again. ¡°Please choose your race.¡± In shock, he glanced over the line up straight out of a fantasy role player¡¯s dream. As if following his thoughts, the lineup moved before him, slowing down and speeding up when he wished. Everything from the basic dwarfs and elves to races he¡¯d never heard of before. Giants, pixies, lizardmen, beast-men of every shape and size, the list of bodies when on and on. He even took the time to see if he could switch between male and female characters. He could. Thankfully there wasn¡¯t a time limit as he continued to pursue the list. He was just starting to agonize over the sheer number of choices when finally, one caught his attention. Situated between a bear beast-man and a high elf was the body of a man of the Dragonling race. Seeing the Dragon part got him excited as he mentally clicked in the body. The figure floated before him and a list of traits appeared in his mind.
Race: Dragonling Born with the blood of the mighty dragons the Dragonlings are a proud and reclusive race. Though Dragonlings have a humanoid form they, like elves, are a very long-lived race with a low birth rate. Rumored to be able to transform into the mighty beast of legend once they reach maturity many of the other races see them in a fearful light. Unlike the other races the Dragonlings get their elemental affinity from their parents and are born with the blessing of the Elementals. As such they do not need to go through the Awakening Ceremony. Physical Traits: Mostly known for their horns, some Dragonlings have sporadic scales on their bodies. The color of their horns and scales, as well as most of their physical traits, are heavily influenced by their elemental affinity.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. [Stats and race bonuses are decided by elemental affinity.]
After reading over the information Larson was even more excited. Never being one to think too much, he quickly chose this one in his mind. Right on cue, the system voice rang out again. ¡°You choose the Dragonling race? This choice cannot be undone later.¡± Only pausing for a moment, he agreed, the idea of being able to transform into a dragon overriding anything that might come later. With a flash of light, the remaining bodies vanished as the voice rang out again. ¡°Please choose the preferred method of character creation.¡± Then just like with the Dragonling information, another set of information appeared in his mind.
Character creation options: The Transcendent: Travelers from a world unknown they have descended upon this land to carve out a new life. Choosing this option will let you start your adventure with a character molded after your current appearance and physical traits. Allows few customization choices. Will receive a random or race based elemental affinity upon awakening. The Natural Born: Transcendents that lost their bodies during their travels, who by some miracle managed to be born naturally into the world. Choosing this option will make you start your adventure as an infant. Your appearance will be based on the appearance of your parents. However, the parents you receive in the game with be random depending solely on your race. Your elemental affinity will be revealed upon your Awakening Ceremony unless your race dictates differently.
Seeing the choices Larson was stunned. ¡°What kind of game doesn¡¯t let you design your own character?¡± He thought with a hint of bitterness. ¡°To keep your adventure as realistic as possible we believe that, much like in nature, such choices should be left up to chance.¡± The systematic voice rang out as if to answer his thoughts. Sighing to himself he kept the system''s words in mind as he went back to staring at the two options. The Transcendent option sounded like the most preferred choice. Yet the ¡®molded after your current appearance and physical traits¡¯ line, caused him to have a second thought. What if he chose that one only to awake in the world just as paralyzed as in reality? When the system didn¡¯t answer his question like the last time he took it as a silent agreement. Deciding not to risk it, either way, he chose the natural born option without hesitation. ¡°You choose to be Natural Born? This choice cannot be undone later.¡± Facing the confirmation of the system he wholeheartedly agreed. Following that, another flash of light occurred before eight emblems appeared before him. They each had vastly different designs, yet somehow managed to balance each other. Taking a second look he got the feeling that they probably represented the Elementals that he¡¯d seen mentioned a few times so far. ¡°Please choose which territory you wish to begin in.¡± With the systems prompting he gazed at the emblems. White, black, red, blue, green, brown, yellow, and gray. It was easy to figure that what the first seven probably stood for, but the eighth gray emblem left him pondering. Unlike with the races where he had to choose one before he got any info, after a moment of thinking information about each emblem enters his head.
Territories: The Territory of Light, Lumokal: A land blessed by the High Elemental Lumos. A land that¡¯s rich with the element of light, the holy land of Clerics and Knights. The Territory of Dark, Drakus: A land blessed by the High Elemental Drkas. A land that¡¯s rich with the element of Darkness, a gathering place for assassins and necromancers. The Territory of Fire, Flenton: A land blessed by the High Elemental Flamel. A land that¡¯s rich with the element of Fire, where those that are hot blooded and one¡¯s that fear no flame can be found. The Territory of Water, Aquilla: A land blessed by the High Elemental Aqual. A land located under the raging waves and rich with the element of water, those of aquatic descent can be seen throughout. The Territory of Wind, Bezin: A land blessed by the High Elemental Bersus. A land found floating among the clouds rich with the element of wind, known as the safe haven of all winged creatures. The Territory of Earth, Metalton: A land blessed by the High Elemental Metalas. A land rich with the element of earth, known as the paradise of blacksmiths and miners, the mountains here reach the clouds. The Territory of Wood, Natagil: A land blessed by the High Elemental Natulis. A land rich with the wood element, covered with an endless sea of trees, this land is the known home of elves and treants. The Territory of the Forgotten, Zerxon: A land without the blessing of any High Elemental. Throughout its lands, an equal amount of elements can be felt. Known as the world''s mixing pot, it is the largest territory and hosts a variety of creatures. [Please be aware that the territory that you choose may influence your character element affinity.]
Remembering that he¡¯d chosen to be a Dragonling, he quickly scratched both Bezin and Aquilla off the list. Not really wanting to risk being a stereotypical fire dragon either Flenton was also a no go. That left Lumokal, Drakus, Metalton, Natagil, and Zerxon. The thought of being either a dragon cleric or an assassin was very tempting, but so was the idea of being a blacksmith. Even though it didn¡¯t give much information he was sure each territory had its own perks. After about an hours¡¯ worth of going back and forth with himself, he finally made a decision. Steeling his heart he picked one and immediately said yes to the system''s prompt. With a flash of light, the void around him faded into darkness as the systems final words rang in his mind. ¡°Welcome to the World of Waylim.¡± Chapter Two: A Church in the Woods and a Reclusive Old Man Chapter Two: A Church in the Woods and a Reclusive Old Man It was the first month of the cold season. The third snowfall of the year had started the night before. I awoke in the morning and went to sweep off the front walk way, just like every other day. The church was quiet. I never got any visitors up here deep in the woods however, that¡¯s how I preferred it. The local village referred to me as the grouchy priest, not that I can blame them. Not bothering to comb my beard I bundled myself in a nice warm cloak. Walking through the silent sanctuary I paused just short of the door. Turning around I walked back to the broom closet and grabbed my old trusty companion. Making my way back to the large double doors I slowly pulled them open. Basking in the rising winter sun I took a deep breath. Yet imagine my surprise when I discovered a small babe. He was bundled in tattered cloth and covered by a thin layer of fresh snow, lying silently before the door. In a panic, I tossed my broom to the side and scooped the infant into my arms. Rushing back into the church I prayed that he was alright. In my haste to remove the damp and freezing rags, I nearly dropped the poor boy when I saw that he was a dragonling. A Dragonling! I couldn¡¯t remember the last time one of their race had appeared in the forgotten lands. To my amazement, despite how I found him in the snow a few moments prior, the child¡¯s body was healthy and warm. Tiny jet-black horns poked through his pale silver hair and dull gray scales dotted his knees, elbows, and cheeks like freckles. The only concerning thing of note was the vacant look in his stormy gray eyes. Glancing at his back where his Mark of Awakening should be I drew a deep breath. Pulling him to my chest I could feel the need to protect growing. In all my 500 years, I¡¯ve never before felt such a way. Thinking back on it now, that day was the beginning of it all. -Excerpt from ¡®The Diary of a Forgotten Old Elf¡¯
It¡¯d been about three months since Larson had awoken to an amazing new world. After the flash of light in the void, he¡¯d opened his eyes to an early morning snow filled sky. He was stuck in a daze as a variety of sensations overwhelmed his senses. He could actually feel it! The sting of the melting snow as it seeped through the cloth and touch his skin. But even greater was the fact that he could feel his hands and feet. He could even move them! Tears welled up in his eyes as he spent about ten minutes just wiggling in joy. When the ecstasy of being able to move started to fade he realized that something wasn¡¯t right. Tugging his hands out from the cloth that confined them he was speechless. They were so tiny! Too tiny. He knew that he¡¯d chose the ¡®Natural Born¡¯ option earlier¡­ but wasn¡¯t this a bit much? The small fingers before him looked like something of an infant. You can¡¯t be serious¡­ He thought to himself. How did this damn system expect him to play a game in the body of a newborn?! He thought that he¡¯d start the game as a kid, not a baby! Eager to find some sort of expiation he tried to open some type of game menu. Answering his thoughts, a semi transparent box entered his vision.
Character Information: Name: Larson Reed Titles: The First Born Race: Dragonling Main Job: None Secondary Job: None Level: 1 Experience: 0/10 HP: 100/100 MP: 200/200 STR: 20 (+10) INT: 50 (+10) DEX: 30 (+10) WIS: 50 (+10) CON: 20 (+10) CHA: 30 (+10) LUC: 100 (+10) Status: Healthy Element Affinity: Light, Dark, unknown Bounty: 0 Gold
Special Traits: Growth Spurt: As a natural born, to allow for a fun adventuring experience, the growth rate has been raised to 4 times the natural rate until age six. Child of an Archmagus: As the child of an Archmagus you are blessed with a natural talent for magic. As such learning spells are easier. Child of an Assassin: It¡¯s rare for the keepers of the shadows to have children. As such, for you, to of been born is a blessing. With practice, you may inherit your parent¡¯s skills. Blood of the Dragons: Born with the blood of the dragons running through your veins, your body is naturally healthy and strong. Title Bonuses: The First Born: Rewarded to the first person to choose the Natural Born option. ? Bonus 50% to all Experience ?All stats receive +10
¡®Holy shit!¡¯ Were the only words that currently came to mind. Rubbing his eyes, he did a double take. ¡®What kind of overpowered nonsense is this?¡¯ After rereading over all the bonuses, he was still having a hard time wrapping his head around it. Figuring the normal base stats were probably around 10, his stats were ridiculous. ¡®Also, what the hell was up with that luck stat!? Is this a joke? Pity from the system due to my real-life situation?¡¯ Sighing he turned his attention away from the status box and watched the snow fall. Awhile later an old man had appeared in his vision before whisking him into the church. It didn¡¯t take long before he was cleaned up and wrapped up in a cozy and warm blanket. After being taken in by the old grandpa it wasn¡¯t long till he started growing like a weed. The Growth Spurt trait wasn¡¯t a joke. Only a day later and he was already starting to wobble around. The next he was already able to walk. Fast forward and three months later he already looked like a five-year-old kid.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Dashing into the woods that surrounded the church, he darted through the trees like a monkey. Ever since he could run he¡¯s been doing all he could to explore the area around the church. Much to Gramps Hasson¡¯s vexation. The first month was basically a daily game of capture the brat for the poor old man. By the second month, he finally decided to allowed Larson to explore around the edge of the forest. But only if he could learn a protection spell. He figured that he¡¯d be able to use this as a way to keep the kid still. Sadly, the old elf had underestimated the little dragon child. Almost as soon as the boy was shown the incantation for the light spell [Protection] he learned it. On the bright side, the old guy did get a bit of a break, as the kid decided that the church¡¯s library was more interesting than the woods outside. Yet as the third month rolled around, the little punk had already read all the books in the library and back to the forest, he went. ¡°Larson! Boy, if you don¡¯t get back in here and finish your breakfast!¡± An exasperated voice echoed throughout the little church as a silver blur dashed out towards the slowly melting snow. Thinking of the half finished bowl of porridge he¡¯d left on the table Larson shook his head. A childish laugh was the only reply as he vanished into the woods. Pausing beside an old oak tree, he arranged the thoughts in his head. Since he arrived in the game he¡¯d been thrown one surprise after another. For one, he was caught off guard by just how alive the old elf named Hasson was. It made him question if he was a GM in disguise. But seeing the way Hasson treated him like a child made him rethink that opinion. A GM would know about the Natural Birth option right? Or is he just a really really intense Roleplayer? While reading some books in the library, Larson asked Hasson if he was an odd child, just to see how the old man would reply. The result? The old guy hugged him and laughed saying that all dragonlings were weirdos. Something in the back of his mind had him worrying that revealing his ¡°gamer¡± status would have negative effects on the game. Deciding not to test it, he chose to just act like an actual kid. What was a game without a bit of pretending after all? Another thing that intrigued him was the log out function. Whenever he laid down to sleep, as soon as he closed his eyes a menu would appear. It offered the chance to log out or enter sleep mode. Knowing that there was no difference from sleeping in reality and simply sleeping in the game, he always went with the sleep mode. Three months in and he still hadn¡¯t officially logged out. He had to admit, this game was like nothing he¡¯d ever played before. It was more like something one would read about in a fantasy novel. Not that he was complaining. As he was marveling over the depth of the game for the thousandth time, a rustling came from the bushes next to him. Thanks to the practice he¡¯s been doing the last few days he easily entered a battle-ready stance. Poised to strike he stared at the moving shrubbery. Sluggishly a light pink blob rolled out.
Pink Slime Level: 4 HP:50/50 MP: 100/100
Thanks to the Passive skill[Appraisal] he got while reading books in the library, an info box appeared in his head as he stared at the blob. This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d come across a slime. Though seeing a pink one was a first. So far he¡¯d only seen blue and green ones. According to [Appraisal], the pink one was a bit on the tougher side. At least from a slime standpoint. Filtering through the list of spells he¡¯s learned he formed a finger gun with his right hand. Pointing it towards the slime he smirked. ¡°[Void Shot]¡± A surprisingly deep voice left his lips as he channeled the spell. He could feel the flow of mana in his body move towards his finger. After a short build up a black ray of light shot from the tip of his finger. The slime didn¡¯t even try to dodge as the black beam pierced straight into it, slamming right against its core. With a rather nasty sounding gurgle, the slime started to dissolve. One-shot, one kill. Blowing off the tip of his finger like a wannabe cowboy, he smiled triumphantly. Picking up the small crystal that dropped as the slime vanished, Larson darted off further into the wood to find his next victim.
Character Information: Name: Larson Reed Titles: The First Born, Avid Reader Race: Dragonling Main Job: Apprentice Mage Secondary Job: None Level: 5 Experience: 10/50 HP: 500/500 MP: 380/400 STR: 70 (+10) INT: 100 (+10) DEX: 80 (+10) WIS: 100 (+10) CON: 70 (+10) CHA: 80 (+10) LUC: 105 (+10) Status: Healthy Element Affinity: Light, Dark, unknown Bounty: 0 Gold Spells: Light Spells: [Protection] [Holy Shot] [Basic Heal] Dark Spells: [Void Shot] Skills: [Appraisal] (passive) [Light Steps] (passive) [Fast Casting] (passive)
Special Traits: Growth Spurt: As a natural born, to allow for a fun adventuring experience, the growth rate has been raised to 4 times the natural rate until age six. Child of an Archmagus: As the child of an Archmagus you are blessed with a natural talent for magic. As such learning spells are easier. Child of an Assassin: It¡¯s rare for the keepers of the shadows to have children. As such, for you, to of been born is a blessing. With practice, you may inherit your parent¡¯s skills. Blood of the Dragons: Born with the blood of the dragons running through your veins, your body is naturally healthy and strong. Title Bonuses: The First Born: Rewarded to the first person to choose the Natural Born option. ?Bonus 50% to all Experience ?All stats receive +10 Avid Reader: Gained by reading more than a hundred books in a short period of time. ?Improves memory
Chapter Three: To Catch a Tiger by the Tail Chapter Three: To Catch a Tiger by the Tail After weaving his way through the woods, Larson finally came upon his favorite spot. Before him, a small meadow spread out in a near perfect circle. On the far end of the clearing, a collection of boulders dotted the field. After scanning his surroundings, he darted over to the stones and jumped from one to another until he was perched on the tallest of the bunch. ¡°Life-like platforming.¡± He chuckled to himself before he sat down and surveyed the environment again. Seeing that the coast was clear he flopped on to his back and gazed at the sky. He had spent last month ransacking the church library, and he¡¯d learned a lot. There was a treasure trove of old magic tomes and research notes. It wasn¡¯t until he peppered old man Hasson with questions that he learned most of the tomes were simply his private collection. According to Hasson, if one excluded his collection, all the church would have left were nothing but a few basic light spells and an outdated map. However, the star struck look, Larson, had while surrounded by the large assortment quickly faded. He couldn¡¯t learn them. As soon as he picked up a wind element spellbook, an error message had appeared in his mind. His elemental affinity wasn¡¯t correct for this spell. Afterward, the same message had a front row seat in his head as it continued to ring out with every spell book he grabbed. By the time he worked his way through them all there were only four tomes left. And that included the [Protection] spell the old man had insisted he learn in the beginning. The others were; [Holy Shot], [Basic Heal], and [Void Shot]. Which turned out to be the only spells that were actual property of the church. Just like [Protection], both [Holy Shot] and [Basic Heal] were commonly known Light Spells. While [Void Shot] was only in the collection so that people of the church could learn about the feeling of Dark magic. He¡¯d asked the old guy why one would need to know what Dark magic felt like, but Hasson had simply shaken his head and muttered something about suspicious old fogies. However, when he casually told Hasson that he easily learned both the Light and Dark magic, the old man nearly had a heart attack. It wasn¡¯t until he swore not to use [Void Shot] in the presence of others that Hasson eventually calmed down. In the days that followed Hasson continued to remind him, but he never did tell him why it was such a big deal. He figured he probably just needed to look for info himself in the area beyond the woods when his body grew a bit more. Despite all that, after seeing how easily Larson was picking up magic, Hasson had insisted that he consider becoming an apprentice. For the 25-year-old Larson, having to constantly hear an old grandpa gush on and on about how he was such an amazing kid, and how Dragonlings were so lucky to have youngling¡¯s that grow so fast and smart, was almost more than he could handle. He didn¡¯t have very thick skin to start with, so after two months of being bombarded with unending compliments, he¡¯d practically mastered the art of the awkward giggle. Finally caving under the embarrassing onslaught, he and the old man made a deal. Using his slowly expanding ego as an excuse, he promised to become an apprentice mage if Hasson agreed to tone it down with the compliments. By taking an official oath to be Hasson¡¯s student, he automatically received the Apprentice Mage job. Afterward, as a gift, Hasson surprised him with the [Appraisal] skill book. Once Larson had learned it, Hasson made him appraise him as a test. What he saw left him dumbstruck.
Name: Hasson Yugan Titles: Keeper of the Trees Race: High Elf Main Job: ArchmagusUnauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Secondary Job: Wood Priest Level: 62 HP: 7200/7200 MP: 7500/7500 Status: Healthy Apprentice: Larson Reed Bounty: 0 Gold
It was from that day onwards that he started spending more time in the woods. With his main job now being an Apprentice Mage the old guy¡¯s reluctance to allow him to explore was hardly notable. The new job had granted him the [Fast Casting] skill. Having that in combination with both healing and protection spells, Hasson knew there wasn¡¯t anything in the surrounding woods that could fatally harm Larson. At least, not before he could get to him. Spending the day reminiscing, and basking in the early spring sunshine had become an everyday thing as of late. He laughed to himself when he realized that he was basically a sunbathing reptile. While wondering if one day he might start doing the tongue thing, he heard a commotion coming from deeper in the woods. With his curiosity getting the better of him, he lifted himself from the bolder and gave a lazy stretch. Leaping off his warm perch he landed lightly on the ground before rushing towards the source of the sound. Leaving the clearing and slipping past the tree line, he kept himself to the shadows. It was at moments like this that he was thankful for the [Child of an Assassin] trait. Thanks to it, it seemed easier to notice shadows that could effectively hide him. It was also thanks to the trait that, after sneaking through the woods for a month, he had managed to learn the passive skill, [Light Steps]. The skill made him light on his feet and nearly erased the sound of his footsteps. Taking full advantage of his skill, he got closer to where the sound of a struggle was growing louder. Coming to a stop in the shade of a giant pine, he finally saw the source of the noise. In the small clearing before him, a child with his back to a tree was surrounded by a hoard of slimes. Carrying a rusted sword and wearing tattered clothes, he looked like a small beggar. If it wasn¡¯t for the look of deep resentment on his face, and the ease in which he handled his blade, one would think he was merely a pitiful child in a bad situation. Keeping to the gloom of the tree line, Larson slowly observed the situation. Using [Appraisal] he was relieved to see that all the slimes were at the Pink Slimes level or lower. But when he appraised the cornered boy his expression darkened.
Name: (Hidden) Titles: none Race: White Tigerkin Main Job: none Secondary Job: none Level: 3 HP: 120/300 MP: 200/200 Status: Poisoned Bounty: 0 Gold
The bolded, Poisoned, located in the tigerkin¡¯s status box, left him with a bad taste in his mouth. None of the slimes in the hoard had the ability to inflict poison. Which meant the reason the kid was alone in the woods, might somehow be connected to how he got it. It could also be why he had a death glare the likes of which he¡¯d never seen before. Heaving a sigh, Larson decided on a plan. Choosing to ignore the troubles that might come his way from getting involved with the unknown, he slowly circled around in the background. Arriving behind the tigerkin, he entered a battle-ready stance and waited. Seeing the perfect opportunity appear he struck out. Yet instead of using a spell like a proper mage, he had simply reached out and grabbed the tigerkin¡¯s tail. Caught off guard by the sudden attack on his rear the tigerkin jumped up. However, before he could spin around to see his assailant he was yanked back into the protection of the trees. Not waiting for the tigerkin to react, Larson switched places with him. Advancing into the empty space in front of the slimes, he started casting spells. Keeping Hasson¡¯s warning about [Void Shot] in mind, he was choosing to fire off [Holy Shot]. Looking like a one-man light show, laser beams of white light poured from his two tiny finger guns. A smile bloomed on his face as he shot off attacks and watched the mass of slimes dying all around him. Little did he know that the look of pleasure on his face as he wiped the slimes from existence, could be seen. The tigerkin found himself shivering in fear as he stared at that grinning profile. The little-horned child was standing happily before him, killing slimes like they were weeds. Clenching his fist, he had to wonder, had he simply jumped from the pot to land in the fire? Chapter Four: A Dragons Mouth is Dirtier than a Dogs Chapter Four: A Dragon¡¯s Mouth is Dirtier than a Dog''s As the final death gurgle of a doomed slime faded away, the small clearing became dead silent. Satisfied with a job well done, Larson turned around proudly. Yet seeing Larson turn his attention towards him, the poor tigerkin unconsciously stepped back. ¡°Oi, stay still, this won''t hurt a bit.¡± Larson called out as he stepped forward. Hearing the demon child''s words and seeing him raise his finger, the tigerkin felt like his soul was trying to flee his body. Squeezing his eyes shut he waited for the inevitable taste of death. However, the pain never came. Instead, a pleasant cooling sensation spread through him. Opening his eyes in wonder he could see a faint glow lingering around his limbs. Glancing towards the horned child questionably, he couldn¡¯t mask his confusion. After casting [Basic Heal] on the tigerkin, Larson quickly appraised him again. Noting that the healing spell managed to cure the Poison he was relieved. Noticing the lost look plastered on the other¡¯s face Larson smirked, ¡°What? Did ya think I was gonna gut ya or something?¡± The words that came out of the small child¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t fit his tiny stature. It also did nothing to ease the tigerkin¡¯s bafflement. ¡°What, no¡­ Who are you?¡± The tigerkin asked when he eventually found his voice. ¡°Who am I? Why I¡¯m simply your friendly neighborhood knight in shining armor. Except I¡¯m a dragon, and they¡¯re scales¡­ and they¡¯re more of a dull gray instead of shining. But, you may call me Larson.¡± He laughed as he made an exaggerated bow trying to lighten the mood. ¡°The real question though is, who are you? A poor damsel in distress?¡± Catching on to Larson¡¯s teasing tone the tigerkin flushed, ¡°My name¡¯s Galdon, and I¡¯m just as much of a damsel, as you are a knight.¡± Having said his piece, Galdon folded his arms in a huff. The two boys stood there in silence for a moment before they both started to laugh. The stress from the earlier situation finally loosened its hold on Galdon as he laughed with Larson. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d meet a dragon in the forest,¡± Galdon said as he looked Larson up and down, however soon his smile faded again. ¡°I thought I was going to die... I owe you one.¡± Larson waved his hand dismissively, ¡°No worries, I simply have a distaste for slimes. Saving ya was merely an added bonus.¡± Turning his back on Galdon, he started walking around and collecting the fallen small crystals. While he was pocketing his loot, he called over his shoulder, ¡°So how¡¯d ya get in a situation like that anyway?¡± Galdon faltered for a bit at Larson¡¯s sudden question. Instead of answering he made his way into the clearing as well. The silence continued as he started helping Larson collect the scattered cores. It wasn¡¯t until he had a handful that he decided to speak again. ¡°I¡¯m a White Tigerkin.¡± He said before falling quiet. Nearby Larson stayed silent as he waited for him to continue. ¡°Apparently White Tigerkin is a rare mutation¡­ And the bandits near my home figured I would sell for a lot of money¡­¡± Galdon fiddled with the cores in his hands, his voice steadily getting softer as he continued. ¡°They attacked my home¡­ My mom and dad¡­ They told me to run¡­ I could hear them yelling and screaming¡­ I- I ran- I just ran, I...¡± Tears were leaking from his eyes as some crystals slipped from his grasp. Standing in the clearing his shoulders started to shake due to the barely restrained sobs. Larson froze in panic as he listened to the boy¡¯s story. ¡®Whoa, hold the phone! This just got way too real!¡¯ He thought while staring at the now sobbing child. He¡¯d assumed the kid had just eaten a bad mushroom or something. Not really sure what to do, he walked over to Galdon. Standing beside him, he awkwardly reached up and gently patted the boy¡¯s head. Knowing that ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ or ¡®That¡¯s fucked up¡¯ probably weren¡¯t the best things to say at the moment, Larson wisely chose to keep silent. It wasn¡¯t until a chilling breeze passed over them causing Larson to sneeze that the silence was broken. Feeling the wind picking up around them, Larson frowned. A lightbulb went off in his mind as he came up with an idea. ¡°Hey, Galdon, why don¡¯t you come back to the church with me? I¡¯m sure Gramps will welcome ya with open arms.¡± Larson said with a small smile.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Galdon¡¯s brow wrinkled as he wiped his eyes, ¡°Church?¡± ¡°Yeah! I live in the church just through them trees. It¡¯s only me and Gramps, so there¡¯s plenty of room for ya if ya wanna-¡± Before Larson could finish his sentence a loud series of crashes, followed by a bunch of shouting, interrupted him. Just as he was wondering what the hell was going on, he saw Galdon¡¯s ears flatten. A look of complete and utter horror then appearing on his face. Larson felt his stomach drop as he realized who it probably was, heading in their direction. Not bothering to wait around and check, Larson grabbed ahold of Galdon¡¯s arm. Ignoring the remaining crystals around their feet he dashed off towards the church, dragging Galdon behind him. They only managed to make it to the tree line when a group of men rushed into the clearing behind them. Three rough and burly men paused as they suddenly left the forest. Yet the next moment the leader of the trio noticed the pair of kids scurrying away. The leader of the group was a savage looking man. And his eyes seemed to flash as he locked on to the fleeing duo. Alerting the other two with him, he bolted after Larson and Galdon. ¡°FREEZE YOU LITTLE BASTARDS!¡± The leader yelled, his voice carrying a weird feeling to it. As his command landed on Larson and Galdon¡¯s ears the steps of the pair faltered. Larson¡¯s dread was mounting as he discovered that the words had a controlling element to them. As soon as that thought entered his head he knew things were going beyond his control. Making a split-second choice he grit his teeth. Jerking to a stop he yanked Galdon in front of him. Gripping his shoulders and looking him in the eyes, Larson spoke in a low and serious tone. ¡°Galdon, listen to me. Run straight through these trees. Do not stop until you reach the church. Hasson will help you. Now go! GO!¡± Ignoring the pain and reluctance in Galdon¡¯s eyes, he pushed him towards the forest. ¡°I¡¯m the knight in shining armor remember? NOW GO! AND DON¡¯T LOOK BACK!¡± Acting like he didn¡¯t see the tears in Galdon¡¯s eyes, he turned around to face the men closing in on them. As Galdon stared at the small back in front of him and heard the words that sounded so much like the ones his father had spoken, a wave of mixed emotions washed over him. ¡°KNIGHT¡¯S DON¡¯T DIE!¡± He yelled as his tears started streaming down his face. Mustering all the strength in his body, Galdon sprinted in the direction of the church. While watching the three men approach, Larson entered a battle-ready stance. Galdon¡¯s yell rang in his ears as he started to appraise the incoming enemies.
Name: (Hidden) Titles: none Race: Human Main Job: Bandit Secondary Job: none Level: 24 HP: 2000/2400 MP: 1000/1400 Status: Healthy Bounty: 50 Gold 22 Silvers
Name: (Hidden) Titles: none Race: Golem Main Job: Bandit Secondary Job: none Level: 26 HP: 2720/2800 MP: 1000/1000 Status:Healthy Bounty: 48 Gold 85 Silvers
Name: (Hidden) Titles: Blood Thirsty Race: Human Main Job: Bandit Leader Secondary Job: none Level: 40 HP: 3900/4000 MP: 2500/3000 Status:Healthy Bounty: 101 Gold 10 Silvers
Larson swore under his breath as he saw their levels.¡®What the fuck?! This is the beginner forest for crying out loud! What kind of broken shit is this?¡¯ Even with the couple of levels he¡¯d gotten from killing all the slimes, he knew he stood no chance here. Taking a moment, he pondered where he¡¯d respawn when these bandits inevitably ripped him to shreds. Pushing that thought to the side, Larson quickly shot two [Holy Shot] at the bandits¡¯ feet, hoping to stall for time. The bandit trio was clearly experienced as the easily evaded the incoming magic. Yet Larson had succeeded in getting them to stop. The trio looked at the small child before them stunned. Seeing a kid, that looked no more than five, using magic was unprecedented. Let alone the fact that the boy had fired off two spells in a row. However, the words the child spoke next had them wondering if any of this was even real. ¡°Oi! Who you callin¡¯ a bastard ya ugly ass slimy fuckers!¡± Chapter Five: If a Bandit Falls in the Forest, Will Anyone Hear? Chapter Five: If a Bandit Falls in the Forest, Will Anyone Hear? This was supposed to be an easy score. I personally don¡¯t see the appeal, but there was something about small white haired tigerkin that rich nobles would pay big gold for. After scoping out the house for a few weeks, I knew there wouldn¡¯t be any problems. The kid¡¯s parents were simply a farmer and a seamstress. Neither of them was level 20, so I figured that just the six of us was more than enough. Just as the sky was growing dark, we made our move. Three guys were to come from the rear, meanwhile, me and the other two would attack from the front. Yet we had underestimated the father¡¯s hearing. What they say about how sometimes levels lie, was proven true at this moment. After we managed to get them surrounded I ignored everything else and went for the child. I was about to grab the kid; however, his dad scooped him up and tossed him out of our encirclement. Before I could stop him, the annoying bastard roared at the kid, telling him to run. I barely managed to shoot him with a poison tracking needle before he vanished into the woods. In desperation, the dad managed to get ahold of his sickle, and kill Markus. Finny also took a few hits from the dad before we finally managed to finish him off. I had thought of selling the mother off to the slave market, but that changed when she managed to take Finny¡¯s life with a well-placed knitting-needle. In a rage after seeing Finny die, Nise easily killed the mother. So much for a free lunch, I¡¯d already lost two men. I had Nise deal with cleaning up the mess, as me and the other two went after the kid. I could tell that he knew this forest well. Thanks to the trees and the cover of darkness, he had practically disappeared. If it wasn¡¯t for my tracking needle we might have lost his trail. We were catching up with him, but we were stopped by a dark treant. I got the feeling that the treant was purposely trying to help the kid. Worrying about the retribution of the Keeper of the Trees, we didn''t kill the damn thing. It took us nearly an hour to escape its entanglement. The moon was already starting to sink on the horizon by the time we found the kid¡¯s scent again. By now, come hell or high water, I was going to get my hands on that damn brat. My desire blinded me to the fact that we were heading deeper and deeper into the sea of trees. After chasing him through the night and well into the day, I worried the poison would start to kick in before long. It was then that we heard the yelling. Thinking that the little shit had gotten attacked by some monster, I quickened our pace. I was not letting him get eaten before I got paid. When we arrived at the clearing, I saw our target being dragged away by another brat. In anger, I yelled with my skill [Commanding Voice] to get the kids to stop. However, I was surprised when I noticed that the little-horned child ignored my skill.
¡°Oi! Who you callin¡¯ a bastard ya ugly ass slimy fuckers!¡± Larson¡¯s voice was loud as he snapped at the gawking men. He put on his most intimidating face as he waited to see how they would react. The first to come to was the Bandit Leader. ¡°You¡¯re a Dragonling!¡± The leader said as his eyes went wide. The next moment gold coins could be seen clouding his vision. All the bandit leader¡¯s grief for the earlier wild goose chase instantly evaporated. Staring at the boy, he almost drooled as he thought about how much he could sell this kid for. Larson got goosebumps, as he saw the way that man was looking at him. Thinking about what that creep might have in mind for him, made death sound like a more pleasant option. Wondering what to do he took a glance at his MP bar. Calculating how many magic attacks he had left in him, he mentally cursed. If he only used [Holy Shot] and didn¡¯t care about healing or protecting, he¡¯d be able to get out five more at most. [Void Shot] would get him one extra attack, but that wouldn¡¯t make a difference in the long run. And as slimy as these guys were, they weren¡¯t slimes. They wouldn¡¯t just stand still and wait to get hit. Deciding to take the initiative, Larson quickly fired a spell at the weakest link in the group. The attack from Larson signaled the start of the show. ¡°Catch him alive!¡± The leader bellowed as he rushed forward. Dodging the leader, Larson shot another [Holy Shot]. This time aiming for the leader¡¯s chest. The leader managed to evade the spell, but the golem guy behind him didn''t. Larson¡¯s celebration for his hit was halted when he was caught off guard by the third bandit. As revenge for the earlier spell, the bandit landed a rough kick to Larson¡¯s side. A dull crunching sound came from his ribs as the force of the kick knocked him into the air. Larson groaned as he plummeted to the ground a short distance away. The pain Larson currently felt was so realistic he nearly blacked out. As he laid on the ground trembling due to the pain, he brought up his stat box.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Character Information: Name: Larson Reed Titles: The First Born, Avid Reader Race: Dragonling Main Job: Apprentice Mage Secondary Job: None Level: 7 Experience: 45/70 HP: 466/700 MP: 75/700 STR: 90 (+10) INT: 120 (+10) DEX: 100 (+10) WIS: 120 (+10) CON: 90 (+10) CHA: 100 (+10) LUC: 107 (+10) Status: Internal Bleeding Element Affinity: Light, Dark, unknown Bounty: 0 Gold Spells: Light Spells:
  • [Protection]
  • [Holy Shot]
  • [Basic Heal]
Dark Spells:
  • [Void Shot]
Skills:
  • [Appraisal] (passive)
  • [Light Steps] (passive)
  • [Fast Casting] (passive)
¡®One hit only took a third of my HP, and it hurt that bad!? My car crash was less painful than this!¡¯ Not wanting to tango with such realistic pain ever again, he started frantically calling out to the system. ¡®Shut down? Log out? Just let me out of here!¡¯
Unable to log out during combat situations. Please try again when you''ve reached somewhere safe.
As he saw the system''s words he nearly vomited blood. Stifling the urge to scream Larson resigned himself to his situation and forced himself to his feet. Stars dotted his vision as he glared at the bandits now surrounding him. ¡°What kinda man kicks an innocent kid?¡± He said mockingly before trying to cast another spell. Realizing what he was planning the bandit leader quickly lunged forward. Larson was unable to dodge, and the leader''s hand latched onto his throat, silencing him. Reaching into his pocket, the bandit leader pulled out a sealing bracelet he''d prepared earlier for the tigerkin. Securing it to the boy¡¯s wrist he chuckled, ¡°No more magic out of you, kiddo.¡± No longer having to worry about any magic attacks, the bandit leader roughly tossed Larson to the ground. ¡°Watch this one while I go after the tiger brat. You can rough him up, but don''t kill him. He''s merchandise after all.¡± The bandit leader turned toward the direction Galdon had run off in. Just as he lifted his foot, all at once, the ground started to quake. The surrounding trees appeared to be dancing as a deep laugh riddled with anger shook the forest. ¡°Who has the audacity to lay a hand on my grandson!¡± The forest seemed to part as a figure violently stormed into the clearing. Without pause the figure appeared before Larson, knocking the bandits back. Through his hazy consciousness, Larson could just make out his savior¡¯s form. ¡°Gramps?¡± Hasson bent over and rubbed the boy''s head before reaching over to remove the sealing bracelet. With a loving smile, he whispered, ¡°You did well. So, let this old man handle everything now.¡± Sighing, Hasson cast a sleeping spell on Larson then covered him with a healing one. Straightening his back Hasson turned to face the bandits, his expression frosty. Snapping his fingers, the ground rumbled, and a bunch of roots sprung out. In horror, the bandits tried to flee. Yet the roots wrapped around their ankles, locking their movements. Unable to move, the bandits were soon covered head to toe with thick tree roots. ¡°Tisk, tisk, tisk. I was under the understanding that the Bandit King and I had an agreement. But to think, a group of his underlings would still dare to enter my forest. It looks like I¡¯ll have to make an example out of you gentlemen.¡± He flashed the trio a chilling smile before snapping his fingers again. Screams filled the area as the roots wrapped around them started to constrict. The bandits struggled in vain, screaming and begging for mercy until the roots finally squeezed them to death. With their deed done the roots released the three corpses. Hasson looked at them expressionlessly before he shook his head, ¡°Take them, use them as fertilizer. I have no need for them.¡± The roots trembled with excitement at his words. Like a dog with its favorite treat, the roots wrapped around the bodies once more before disappearing with them below. Acting as if nothing had happened, Hasson kneeled beside Larson. He easily picked him up and cradled him in his arms. With Larson now safely in his embrace, he chuckled fondly, ¡°Natulis have mercy, this kid sure is a hand full.¡± Then like the wind, Hasson vanished into the forest. Chapter Six: Curiosity Killed the Cat, but a Groaning Dragon Brought It Back Chapter Six: Curiosity Killed the Cat, but a Groaning Dragon Brought It Back ¡°You¡¯ll wear a hole in the floor at this rate.¡± An amused old voice rang out from the sanctuary as Galdon paced back and forth in the hallway. Pausing, a look of distress surfaced on his face as Galdon called out in response, ¡°It''s already been a whole day, Mr. Hasson! Why hasn¡¯t he woken up yet?¡± Hearing that question again for the third time that morning, Hasson chuckled, ¡°Larson¡¯s a Dragonling, which makes him quite the oddball. Add in the fact that he¡¯s over level ten now, it¡¯s not too unusual for him to sleep.¡± Galdon frowned as he joined Hasson in the sanctuary. With nothing else to do he took a seat in one of the pews while he waited. ¡°Why is level ten a big deal? I thought before 50, only level 25 mattered.¡± He asked after thinking over Hasson¡¯s words. Looking up from the altar he was cleaning, Hasson smiled, ¡°I told you already, Dragonlings are weird.¡± Seeing the kid¡¯s frown deepened at his half-assed answer he laughed. Yesterday, when the trees had informed him that Larson was in grave danger, he hadn¡¯t noticed the boy. It wasn¡¯t until he was on his way back that he saw the kid running towards the church like his life depended on it. Feeling like there might be some connection between him and what had transpired, he stopped in front of him. The look on the kid¡¯s face when he noticed Hasson carrying the unconscious Larson, had moved the old elf. He was even more impressed when the little tiger ignored his fear, lunged at him, and demanded him to release Larson. Amused by the kid¡¯s antics, he ignored the boy¡¯s protest and lifted him up like a sack of potatoes. Deciding to carry him back to the church as well. Once they had arrived, the kid connected the dots. In disbelief, he blurted out in shock about Hasson being Larson¡¯s gramps. After confirming the little tiger¡¯s thoughts, Hasson put the boy down. Feeling relieved, Galdon¡¯s knees gave out from under him as he broke out in tears. Seeing the little tiger that had been bound and determined to fight him for his friend, suddenly start bawling, Hasson was stupefied. When he eventually calmed him down, Hasson listened as the boy narrated the events of the last few hours. Now knowing the entirety of the story Hasson exhaled deeply, the little dragon he had taken in, really was an intriguing child. While he was taking care of Larson, Hasson made Galdon take a bath and clean up as well as put some food in his stomach. It wasn¡¯t long after that till the exhaustion caught up and Galdon passed out as well. He easily slept through the rest of the evening and through the night. Yet ever since he¡¯d awoken the following morning, he¡¯d been wearing a rut in the floor outside Larson¡¯s room. ¡°Look, for most of the ancient races, level ten is a milestone. For example, high elves experience a change with their bodies at level ten. Since Dragonlings are part of the ancient race, he¡¯s should be dealing with the same. So, there¡¯s no need to worry, he¡¯ll wake up after a while.¡± Hasson patiently explained as he went back to cleaning a statue of the High Elemental Natulis. Galdon nodded in understanding before starting to ask another question that had been gnawing at him. ¡°Um¡­¡± But before he said it, he thought better of it and changed his mind. Hasson looked over at him and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Hmm? What, wondering why an old elf is taking care of a little dragon in the border forest?¡± Galdon¡¯s ears flattened, Hasson had hit the nail on the head. Hasson nodded, ¡°I figured you¡¯d be curious. To put it simply, he was a gift from the Elementals.¡± Glancing at the old man with speculation, Galdon knit his brow, he wasn¡¯t buying it. Just as he was about to press Hasson for the real answer, he was cut off. ¡°Be careful, Galdon. Curiosity killed the cat remember.¡± Hasson wondered if he¡¯d overdone it when he realized just how pale the kid turned at his words. A low groan coming from Larson¡¯s room quickly defused the awkward situation. As fast as lightning, Galdon sprang up and sprinted toward the other room. Behind him, Hasson grinned as he sat his cleaning rag down and followed.
After Gramps had arrived and he blacked out, a text box had appeared in his mind. It informed him that Hasson had cast both a healing and sleeping spell on him. As such, all his injuries were healing and the pain faded away. At first, he was relieved, he figured that he could log out since he was technically asleep. He was wrong. Another little box popped up, as if to be spiteful, and told him he was unable to log out while under the effects of a spell.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. At this point, he was wondering if the system was making these rules up just to keep him here. Not wanting to fall victim to that line of thought he shook his head. Yet as time passed with him floating in the void of darkness, waiting for the sleeping spell to wear off, the thought kept rearing its ugly head. Thankfully when the effects of the spell finally vanished the text box he''d been praying for finally appeared.
Entering Sleep Mode Do you wish to log out? Yes / No
Without a second thought, he clicked on logout. However, when a second box popped up asking him to confirm his choice he hesitated. What would he do after he logged out? Outside the game, he was unable to move or talk, and hardly able to see. Being kept alive by the machines that pumped fluids and nutrients into his body, it was hard to call that living. ¡®Just because of a little pain I''ve decided to return to my hospital bed and just lay there, while slowly waiting to die?¡¯ He argued with himself for a while before he finally let out a frustrated roar and started yelling to himself. ¡°Goddammit! The nurses probably wouldn''t even know I was awake anyway! Screw it, what''s a little pain when you got healing magic!¡± Mentally slamming the cancel button before he could change his mind, he let out a sigh. He felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. After choosing not to log out the sleep mode box appeared before him again. However, this time there was a different option.
Entering Sleep Mode Level Ten has been reached, do you wish to activate [Begining Bloodline Awakening]? Yes/No
Intrigued he clicked the new choice. When he did, a countdown timer appeared before him, informing him that he''d be in a forced sleep mode until it was completed. Not really wanting to see what thoughts would pop up if he sat around in the void and twiddle his thumbs, he started tossing random questions at the system. ¡°Oi, system, what happens when your character dies?¡±
When a player character dies, they will awaken where they last entered sleep mode. Anything collected prior to dying will be lost.
He opened his eyes wide as he saw the replay, this game wasn''t a joke. He was now super glad that old man Hasson managed to arrive in time. Happy that he chose to sleep every night he moved on to another question.¡°How does one contact a GM?¡± This time instead of a text box a little jingle went off next to his ear. Following that, a sunny voice called out to him. ¡°Good afternoon! This is GM N how may I improve your game experience today?¡± Larson was floored when he heard the voice. He hadn''t really expected to talk to an actual person. It wasn''t until the voice called out again with a worried ¡®Hello?¡¯ That he realized he was just floating there dumbly with his mouth open. Clearing his throat, he finally replied, ¡°Um, hello? My names Larson Reed, I was wondering if I could ask a few questions?¡± ¡°Why of course Mr. Reed, it''ll be my pleasure to answer your question to the best of my ability.¡± The cheery GM stated, giving Larson an underpaid retail worker feel. After that Larson asked a few questions like why¡¯s the pain so realistic, was it possible to tone down the pain sensor, and a few others. The answer to all basically boiled down to; it''s to make the game as lifelike as possible! Not really having anything else to ask about at the moment, Larson ended the call. But not before the GM happily reminded him he could call again anytime from the sleep mode menu. By the time the call was over there wasn''t much time left on the timer. With nothing else to do he closed his eyes and eagerly awaited the feeling of awakening.
As Larson awoke he groaned, his whole body ached, especially his lower back. He¡¯d just opened his eyes when he was tackled by something with a fluffy and white head. Blinking, he looked down to see Galdon clinging to him in tears. ¡°Gal, I¡¯m happy to see you too, but it hurts¡­¡± Larson said as he awkwardly returned Galdon¡¯s hug. Realizing what he was doing, Galdon quickly let go of Larson and took a step back. Staring at him with puffy eyes he sniffled, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep so much next time.¡± From the doorway, Hasson smiled as he watched the boys, ¡°Alright, breakfast yesterday was a long time ago. Larson must be starving, how about we all head to the kitchen?¡± As if to show its agreement Larson¡¯s stomach let out a loud grumble. With a laugh, Larson scratched his head in embarrassment. It was then that he finally discovered why his body was so sore. Brushing off the weird looks from Galdon and Hasson, he quickly scrambled out of bed and made his way over to a nearby wall mounted mirror. Beholding his reflection, he was dumbstruck. Chapter Seven: Power can be both a Blessing and a Curse Chapter Seven: Power can be both a Blessing and a Curse Larson spun around in front of the mirror a few times. ¡°Well goodness, look who¡¯s gotten bigger again.¡± Hasson chuckled while watching him spin like a top. Hasson wasn¡¯t kidding, over the course of one night, he¡¯d gone from looking barely a day over five, to looking like a slightly thin ten-year-old. With a thought, he opened his stat menu to check his suspicion.
Character Information: Name: Larson Reed Titles: The First Born, Avid Reader, Big Kid Now Race: Dragonling Main Job: Apprentice Mage Secondary Job: None Level: 12 Experience: 110/120 HP: 1200/1200 MP: 1300/1300 STR: 130 (+10) INT: 160 (+10) DEX: 140 (+10) WIS: 160 (+10) CON: 130 (+10) CHA: 140 (+10) LUC: 112 (+10) Status: Healthy Element Affinity: Light, Dark, Unknown Bounty: 0 Gold Spells: Light Spells:
  • [Protection]
  • [Holy Shot]
  • [Basic Heal]
Dark Spells:
  • [Void Shot]
Skills:
  • [Appraisal] (passive)
  • [Light Steps] (passive)
  • [Fast Casting] (passive)
Special Traits:* Child of an Archmagus: As the child of an Archmagus you are blessed with a natural talent for magic. As such learning spells are easier. Child of an Assassin: It¡¯s rare for the keepers of the shadows to have children. As such, for you, to of been born is a blessing. With practice, you may inherit your parent¡¯s skills. Blood of the Dragons: Born with the blood of the dragons running through your veins, your body is naturally healthy and strong. Title Bonuses: The First Born: Rewarded to the first person to choose the Natural Born option.
  • Bonus 50% to all Experience
  • All stats receive +10
Avid Reader: Gained by reading more than a hundred books in a short period of time.
  • Improves memory
Big Kid Now: A unique title. Rewarded for being a big kid now.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
  • Let¡¯s others know that you¡¯re a big kid now
Noting the asterisk by special traits he clicked on it, before nearly facepalming. This system was a little too much.
Congratulations! You have officially passed through the Early Childhood Phase. Since you have put in the effort to grow up as a normal child in Waylin, you have been awarded the unique title: Big Kid Now
He was pulled from his thoughts by a sudden sharp pain in his back. With a yelp, he turned his head to see a grinning Galdon gripping a long scaled gray tail in his hand. ¡°With that, we can be considered even.¡± Galdon snickered before Larson yanked his newly grown appendage from his grasp. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware it hurt so much¡­¡± Larson grumbled as he released his tail, after which he spent a few moments just wiggling it in wonderment. Even though the added tail and growth spurt where the biggest changes, when he went back to examining himself in the mirror he discovered a few more. Like his frame, his horns had gotten a bit larger. His ears had also grown longer, with scales now covering their tips. Pulling up his shirt he looked at his back in the mirror. With a touch of disappointment, he sighed, ¡°I was kinda wishing for wings, but I guess that cool mark will do for now.¡± ¡°Natulis have mercy. Boy, even Dragonlings blessed by Bersus don¡¯t grow wings on their first bloodline awakening. Besides, you were born under the blessing of Lumos and Drakus, so you should consider yourself lucky.¡± Hasson muttered from the door as he shook his head. Larson looked at Hasson with confusion, but Galdon beat him to the punch, ¡°Is that why Larson¡¯s Blessing Mark is gray?¡± With both boy¡¯s staring at him questionably Hasson smiled bitterly, he¡¯d been trying to avoid this conversation ever since he¡¯d taken Larson in. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this over some food.¡± He finally said reluctantly. As they all gathered around the table in the tiny dining room, the two boys continued to stare eagerly at the old elf. Hasson took a few bites out of his lunch before caving under the pair¡¯s inquisitive gaze. Returning his sandwich to his plate, he rubbed his temples, ¡°As you both probably guessed, the reason Larson¡¯s mark is gray, is because he has a mixed blessing. So, he¡¯s what¡¯s known as an Admixus.¡± His expression grew gloomy as he continued, ¡°Though these days admixus are looked upon with fear. Most people believe admixus'' to be unstable.¡± Yet contrary to his expectations, the two kids across from him seemed completely unfazed by his words. If anything, they looked even more excited than earlier. ¡°Last month on my tenth birthday, when I had my awakening, I was only Blessed by Metalas. My mom said it was fitting since my dad named me Galdon. She always complained that I was cursed to become a piece of gold one day.¡± A hint of grief flashed in his eyes before it vanished and he turned to Larson with a grin. ¡°I think two blessings is so cool!¡± The pure happiness in Galdon¡¯s eyes when he said that nearly made Larson clutch his heart. ¡®Ah, I don¡¯t deserve to be friends with this cinnamon roll.¡¯ Larson thought. Unlike him, who was technically twenty-five years old, Galdon was a legit ten-year-old. As he remembered what Galdon had been through the past few days, he could feel a hint of anger growing in him. The fate of his parents was unknown, and he¡¯d been chased from his home by bandits. Yet, here he was, grinning like an idiot, and telling him how cool he thought two blessings were. Looking at Galdon, he made two silent vows. First, that he would protect this kid, and secondly, that he would wipe every bandit from existence. Getting back to the conversation at hand, Larson turned back to Hasson, ¡°Gramps, if people with mixed blessings are known to be unstable, why did you insist I become an apprentice mage?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s complete poppycock.¡± Hasson stated in aggravation, ¡°Those in power fear the strength an admixus could amass if given the chance, so they started the rumor that they were unstable monsters. It¡¯s one of the reasons I¡¯ve been living alone in the woods for the last three-hundred years.¡± He said as his ears twitched in anger with a look of disgust on his face. Taking a deep breath, he gradually calmed himself down, ¡°However as I said earlier, Larson¡¯s lucky to of been blessed by Lumos and Drakus. Because it was just a mix of them two, his mark is a pure gray. As such he¡¯ll be able to pass off as someone simply blessed by the Forgotten. It¡¯s not much better than being known as an Admixus, but at least he won¡¯t be hunted. Also, since people marked by the Forgotten can use basic spells from every element, as long as he only uses simple magic around other¡¯s, none will be the wiser.¡± Larson sunk into contemplation, he¡¯d noticed the mark on his back before but he¡¯s never put much thought into it. But according to Hasson, it was a big deal. Suddenly his impromptu choice to start his adventure in Zerxon didn¡¯t seem like the wisest one. ¡®Choosing the mixing pot territory makes you mixed too, thanks, system.¡¯ He thought sarcastically.
You''re Welcome!
When that random text box flashed in his mind it caught him off guard, causing him to choke on his food. A startled Galdon quickly pat him on the back while reminding him to eat slower. Similar to how Larson had decided to protect Galdon, the little tiger had come to his own decision as well. As far as Galdon knew, Larson was just a weird little dragon with more power than most. And after being saved by him twice, in his heart, he already considered Larson as an important family member. Hearing Hasson say that there would be people out there willing to hunt Larson down, he was furious. His father had always said that a tigerkin must be proud and strong to protect his family. Even though he knew that he was currently weak, he vowed to change that. As he watched the two kids eating and joking with each other, Hasson smiled warmly. Relieved that Larson had managed to make such a good friend, he figured now was as good a time as any. Snapping his fingers, he brought their attention back to him. ¡°Alright, now that you both know the meaning of a gray mark, what do you wish to do?¡± ¡°Wish to do?¡± They both echoed in unison, not really understanding the question. ¡°I mean exactly as I said. Surely you both don¡¯t intend to spend the rest of your days here in the border forest with a boring old man.¡± Hasson said with a laugh. Thinking it over for a moment, Larson was the first to speak, ¡°I kinda wanna visit a town. What about you, Gal?¡± Galdon nodded, ¡°Isn¡¯t the village Duio close by? Can we visit it? I¡¯d like to see if I can hear anything about my parents.¡± Sadness could be heard in his voice as he finished his sentence. ¡°Yeah let¡¯s do that! Gramps, we wanna go to Duio. Let¡¯s go right now!¡± Larson exclaimed as he hopped up from his seat, his food long since finished. ¡°Alright, alright, calm down. We can head to Duio. But it¡¯ll probably take a couple days to get there. And since Larson''salready over level ten, we can hunt a few slimes along the way to level Galdon up some too. So, Larson, go pack some clothes for Galdon and yourself, while I lock everything up, then we¡¯ll head out.¡± Chapter Eight: Kids are bad for an Old Elf鈥檚 Health Chapter Eight: Kids are bad for an Old Elf¡¯s Health ¡°Way to go Gal! Skewer that jelly! Show them who¡¯s boss!¡± In the background, Larson was jumping up and down on the balls of his feet while yelling friendly advice. They''d already been in the forest a few hours now, and this was the third slime they''d come across. Unlike with the first two they¡¯d encountered, where Galdon had only gotten in one hit before Larson obliterated them, Hasson insisted that this time Galdon defeat it by himself. ¡°I know!¡± Galdon snapped in frustration while swinging out at the slime before him again. Hasson had gifted him with a steel short sword, when compared to the rusted blade he¡¯d used back when he first entered the forest, the difference was like night and day. But no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn¡¯t hit the core. Galdon¡¯s dad may have only been a simple farmer, but he¡¯d made sure Galdon got the chance to learn basic sword swings. Though he¡¯d never reached the level of becoming a Sword Apprentice, he originally had some confidence in his ability. When surrounded by that hoard of slimes, he¡¯d told himself repeatedly, that his rusted sword was the reason he couldn¡¯t win. Now, however, he was having to face the truth. With a low yell, he channeled his aggravation for his lack of skills into his blade. Slashing the blade forward, it sank deep into the slime''s body. The slime gave off an angry gurgle as it tried to remove the sword by wiggling violently. Galdon¡¯s arms trembled as he grit his teeth and tried to wrench his sword from the slime¡¯s body. By a stroke of luck, the slime accidentally nicked its core during its desperate struggle. Seeing his chance, Galdon twisted his blade back and forth. The movement managed to repeatedly chip the slime¡¯s core until finally, with an indignant gurgle, the slime started to dissolve. Breathing heavily Galdon stood there trembling slightly as he watched the slime disappear. ¡°Ah¡­ Ha.... Haha¡­ Hahahaha! I- I did it! I really did it!!¡± Galdon roared towards the sky in excitement. Spinning around his face was covered in complete jubilation. Hasson and Larson both clapped encouragingly as Galdon looked at them and did a victory pose. He didn¡¯t care that it was thanks to luck that he managed to win, a win was a win, that was all that mattered. Picking up the fallen crystal Galdon trotted over to the other two. He was about to hand the core over to Larson when Hasson put his hand up to stop him. ¡°Those are the spoils of your battle, so keep it and be proud.¡± Galdon nodded at Hasson¡¯s words, pride shining in his eyes as he put the core into his item pouch. ¡°So, ya ready to fight ya next one?¡± Larson said with a teasing smirk. ¡°Wipe that smug look off your face. If you didn''t have magic, then you¡¯d be worse off than him, you know?¡± Hasson rebuked, throwing water on Larson¡¯s parade. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault my gramps is an Archmage and not a swordsman.¡± Larson stuck his tongue out at the old guy before darting off into the woods to find their next victim. Hasson shook his head and sighed as he watched how easily the boy vanished into the gloom of the forest. The day that he had taken Larson in, Hasson had done a complete appraisal on him with a rare appraisal stone. Unlike with the skill, an appraisal stone could reveal everything about one¡¯s stats. From elemental affinity to special traits, it was all viewable, the only thing that managed to stay hidden was title bonus information. As such, Hasson had known about Larson¡¯s Growth Spurt trait, though he never questioned the boy about it. He also didn¡¯t know what a Natural Born was, but he figured that it had something to do with his unusually high level of intelligence. He assumed it was also why sometimes he would catch the child staring into the distance with the eyes of a person beyond his years. It was also thanks to the full appraisal that he¡¯d learned about Larson being the child of both an Archmagus and an Assassin. This knowledge was partially why he decided to take him in as an apprentice. Glancing again at where the boy¡¯s figure had vanished, he shuddered. If he was able to find a way for Larson to get the Assassin class, the waves it would cause in the underworld¡­ Shaking his head he cleared his thoughts as he heard Larson¡¯s whistle come through the trees, letting both him and Galdon know he¡¯d spotted an enemy.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°We better hurry along, otherwise he¡¯ll kill it before we can even get there,¡± Hasson stated before starting to make his way through the trees. Galdon silently agreed before closely following Hasson towards Larson¡¯s location. ¡°It¡¯s ¡®bout time ya¡¯ll got here!¡± Larson called out when he saw the pair exit the trees close to him. He was currently jogging around in a large circle with three slimes jumping and rolling behind him. Galdon busted out laughing as he saw the situation. ¡°All around the mulberry bush the dragon chased the slimes~¡± Larson sang as he started to skip, completely unfazed by the slimes on his heels. Galdon abruptly stopped laughing and put on a deadpan face, ¡°It looks more like the slimes chased the dragon.¡± However, he quickly became unable to hold it in and started laughing again. ¡°Alright you two, stop playing around and get serious. Being careless, even when fighting slimes, can be dangerous. So, Galdon, go ahead and draw the aggro of one of them. Larson, once Galdon has drawn aggro, go ahead and finish the other two off.¡± Hasson scolded before starting to issue out orders. Knowing he was right, the two boys quickly did as they were told. When Galdon had managed to aggro the weaker of the three, Larson stopped running and quickly fired off a [Holy Shot] followed closely by a [Void Shot]. He and Hasson had already informed Galdon about his ability to use Dark magic, so now there was no reason to avoid using it. Hurriedly scooping up the two crystal cores left in the wake of utter slime destruction, he then turned his attention to Galdon¡¯s fight. Now that he was level 12, slimes began to barely give him exp. He¡¯d already killed four since they had entered the forest, but he was still just short of hitting level 13. And that was even with his 50% exp bonus. But for Galdon, it was a different story. Including the exp he¡¯d gotten just by simply hitting the first two slimes once, the exp he received from his first solo kill had already bumped him up to level five. When they¡¯d first met, he¡¯d simply been level three. He¡¯d gotten to level four thanks to the exp he received from the slime hoard Larson had annihilated. Yet the fact that he¡¯d only leveled up once was proof about just how tiny the amount of exp gained from merely participating in battle was compared to exp gained for landing the finishing blow. ¡°Galdon! Lower your center of gravity! Slimes are slow and only move when you start too! So, take your time!¡± Larson couldn¡¯t help himself from calling out as he watched Galdon merely hacking at the slime with reckless abandon. Except for cheering Galdon on, Larson had stayed mostly silent during Gal¡¯s first fight. He had wanted to see how Galdon would handle himself. By now though, he knew that the skills he''d thought the other had had back at their first meeting were simply a matter of luck, extreme hopelessness, and anger. Hasson raised an eyebrow as he listened to the tips Larson gave Galdon. But instead of stopping him he stayed silent and waited. Larson continued to give Galdon tips throughout the fight, and after a bit of trial and error, Galdon defeated the slime. After landing the killing blow, Galdon froze a look of amazement in his eyes. ¡°Larson, Mr. Hasson! I just got a new skill!¡± Both Hasson and Larson looked at each other, then back towards him in disbelief. Larson was the first to snap out of it as he started clapping, his face full of praise. ¡°That¡¯s great, Gal! What skill was it?¡± ¡°[Protecting Slash],¡± Galdon said after a moment of contemplation. ¡°WHAT?!¡± Hasson suddenly screeched, causing both kids to jump in fright. Seeing how he startled both boys, Hasson scratched his nose as his ears twitch in embarrassment. ¡°Sorry about that, but anyway, Galdon, are you sure the skill is called [Protecting Slash]?¡± Galdon nodded his head in agreement as Hasson continued to stare at him, wonderment slowly growing in his gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Leaning back against a tree, Hasson sighed. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡± Larson asked while lazily lacing his fingers behind his head, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just some kinda sword skill?¡± ¡°Bah, what do you know you little brat,¡± Hasson muttered snappishly. ¡°[Protecting Slash] is a knight¡¯s skill! Even high-level knights have a hard time achieving that skill. I can¡¯t even fathom how Galdon, who¡¯s not even an apprentice knight, managed to learn it just by beating a slime.¡± He rubbed his temples, a look of defeat on his face. He¡¯d thought Galdon would be a normal kid he could use to teach Larson what common sense was. But now it looked like the young tiger was simply a little weirdo too. Chapter Nine: Angry Slime Crashes a Slumber Party Chapter Nine: Angry Slime Crashes a Slumber Party Time slowly passed as the slime population in the forest greatly decreased. After their latest kill, the group noticed that evening was setting in. Deciding it was a good idea to set up camp soon, Hasson led the boys to a clearing nearby. After getting them to take a step back, he snapped his fingers and a bunch of roots sprang up from the ground. With a mind of their own, the roots weaved together making an impromptu shelter. ¡°This will do for the night.¡± He said with a nod. ¡°Oh whoa! How''d ya do that, gramps?¡± Larson asked in amazement as his gaze flickered between Hasson and the newly grown lean-to. Larson wasn¡¯t ashamed to admit that seeing such a magical sight brought out his inner child. In his opinion, it just made it easier to be the ten-year-old others would think he was. ¡°What kind of mysterious old elf in the woods would I be if I didn''t have a few tricks up my sleeve?¡± Hasson stuck out his chest in pride. Nothing like a child''s honest praise to boost one¡¯s ego. While Larson was bombarding Hasson with more questions about his magic, Galdon¡¯s stomach decided to voice its opinion. ¡°I guess that means it''s dinner time.¡± Hasson chuckled before looking around the small clearing. ¡°Well then let¡¯s see, since Galdon did most of the fighting today let''s let him catch a break and focus on collecting firewood. And since you seem to have tons of excess energy, Larson, you can go try and hunt something for dinner.¡± The two boys quickly agreed to their respective task before dashing off to complete them. Larson weaved his way through the sea of tree trunks, looking for anything that could qualify as dinner. He halted as the faint sound of rustling reached his ears. Not being able to see anything due to the underbrush, he quickly scampered into the tree closest to him. Now with a higher vantage point, he could see a type of deer standing lazily in the distance. It was slightly bigger than your average deer with an impressive set of horns, and for some reason, it was a rich green color. As he stared at it, he began to wonder if it was even edible. Feeling a hint of trepidation, he decided to appraise the creature before taking any action.
Fern Deer Level: 8 HP: 80/80 MP: 50/50
Figuring he might as well just go for it, he soon discovered a problem. So far, he¡¯d been one-shotting nothing but slimes, only to have them dissolve into nothingness. If he killed the fern deer would it simply vanish after death too? As he pondered how to deal with the situation, the deer continued to graze, blissfully unaware of its impending doom. Lowering himself from the tree, he crept slowly closer. As he closed in, he noticed all the small rocks littering the forest floor. His eyes seemed to brighten as a lightbulb went off in his head. Picking up a few he stored them in his item pouch before making his way back to the earlier tree. He¡¯d gotten the pouch from Hasson back when he first started adventuring in the forest. According to him, they were common items nearly everyone used. They had a set amount of space where almost anything could be stored. With a good deal of stones in his arsenal, he positioned himself on a branch with a clear view of his target. ¡®Alright system, any assassin worth his salt has some sorta throwing skill. I¡¯m counting on ya to hook me up.¡¯ He prayed in his head as he aimed the rock in his hand. Using all his strength he hurled it towards the deer''s head. Sadly, it missed by a hair''s breadth, instead, it hurtled past the deer¡¯s head and shattering against the tree beside it. ¡°Shit!¡± He quietly exclaimed as he rapidly prepared another stone. The fern deer was aware of his presence now and was staring at him, ready to bolt at any second. However, the system didn¡¯t let him down. Just as he pulled his arm back, with a happy ping, a system alert box appeared in his mind.
Congratulations! You managed to tap into some of the heritageleft to you by your parents. As such you''ve managed to learn the Assassin''s Skill[Lethal Throwing]. [Lethal Throwing] is a passive skill that''s activated upon receiving. With this skill, you''ll be able to note the best way to throw any projectile in the most lethal way possible.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Happy Hunting!
Taking back all the curses he''d previously tossed at the system before, he now mentally sang its praises. Afterwards, he took a deep breath and calmed his mind. Thanks to the added support of the new skill, he could now see and feel the best way to throw the rock. Mustering all his strength again, he slung the stone with an almost audible snap. The pebble made a high-pitched whistling noise as it whizzed through the air. Sensing the incoming danger, the deer tried to run, but the rock was faster. With a sickening smack, the stone collided with the deer¡¯s temple. After staggering for a moment, the fern deer collapsed to the ground, the life fading from its eyes. True to its name, that shot to the head was lethal. Cheering loudly, he fist-bumped the air before climbing down the tree to collect his first successful hunt. Returning to the clearing as night descended with his prize hung over his shoulder, Larson couldn¡¯t hide the smug look on his face. ¡°Took you long enough, I was starting to think I¡¯d die of old age before you returned.¡± Hasson joked from his seat next to a roaring fire. ¡°Behold, I bring meat!¡± ¡°Is that a fern deer?¡± Galdon asked as he licked his lips in excitement. He¡¯d only had fern deer a few times, but he would never forget its taste. ¡°Sure is, hunted by yours truly.¡± He said while mimicking the way Hasson had puffed his chest out earlier. ¡°Alright, stop bragging, brat. Bring it over to the edge of the clearing and I¡¯ll teach you how to do a proper field dressing.¡± After a few gag moments, and about four teasing ¡®weak stomach¡¯ jokes from Hasson, they were able to finish dressing the deer. Leaving Hasson to finish preparing for dinner, Larson returned to the fireside. He sat down next to Galdon, a good bit paler now than before. ¡°I never would have thought blood would affect you so badly.¡± Galdon ribbed. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯ve only handle slimes so far in my life.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with it?¡± ¡°Slimes don¡¯t bleed,¡± Larson stated plainly. Hearing that Galdon nodded in agreement while Larson flopped backward onto the ground, signaling that he was more than done with the current conversation. The rest of the evening passed uneventfully as they ate a filling dinner of herb roasted deer meat. As the fire began to die down, the boys crawled into the lean-to, yawning in the process. Meanwhile, Hasson took a seat near the outer edge of the shelter. With another snap of his fingers, a cluster of smaller roots created a makeshift door. Cozily enclosed in their root igloo, they all settled in for the rest of the night.
It was deep in the night when all at once the roots making up the shelter started to quiver with excitement. The next instant a deafening howl came from deep within the woods. Hasson¡¯s eyes snapped open immediately as he awoke from his meditation. Next to him Galdon groggily opened his eyes as well. The only one unaffected was Larson, who was dead to the world thanks to sleep mode. Reaching over, Galdon tried to wake him up but to no avail. ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying,¡± Hasson said as he continued to stare towards the distance. ¡°He becomes dead to the world every time he sleeps. Even cold water won¡¯t wake him.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that kind of bad?¡± Galdon asked in concern. ¡°No use worrying about it at the moment.¡± The roots covering the entrance parted and Hasson stuck his head out, gazing out into the night. A deep roar full of anger rang out again, closer this time. He frowned as the branches of the trees around them began to sway. A slight breeze that seemed to be carrying the secrets of the forest swept past his ears, causing them to twitch. His frown deepened as he hurriedly got to his feet. ¡°Galdon, if I tell you to run, you must grab Larson and flee towards the church. Do you understand?¡± His voice was grim as he started to draw a rune in the air with his fingers. Galdon¡¯s stomach sunk as he heard Hasson¡¯s words. Flashes of the previous times he¡¯d been told to flee echoing in his mind. He felt like he was on pins and needles as an intense wave of terror washed over him. His breath quickened as his face went pale and his body began to shake. Not hearing a reply from him, Hasson looked over his shoulder. Seeing the child on the verge of having a panic attack, he stopped working on the rune and quickly turned around. Kneeling before the boy he pulled him into a hug, gently rubbing his back. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Galdon. Breathe. It¡¯s going to be alright.¡± While keeping his ears tuned to the state of the forest, he steadily reminded Galdon to breathe, trying to calm the young boy. It wasn¡¯t until his breathing began to even out that Hasson released him from his embrace. Still on his knees, he looked him in the eye and rubbed his head before speaking in a soft voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to frighten you. The reason I asked you to be ready, was because if the oncoming fight manages to get out of hand, you both could get injured as collateral damage. So, if the need arises, I want you to carry Larson, and the both of you retreat to the safety of the woods. I apologize for not explaining it better earlier. But there¡¯s no need to fear.¡± He continued to reassure Galdon until a breath of wind filtered past his ears again. Not wanting to panic the boy again, Hasson kept his movement slow and steady as he stood back up. Ruffling the kid''s hair, he turned back towards the unfinished rune still floating in the air. With his voice still soft and assuring he began to give Galdon a run-down as to what was coming towards them. ¡°The trees have informed me that a King Slime has been born. After thinking about all the slimes that we¡¯ve been killed lately, I¡¯m not too surprised. According to the forest, it¡¯s currently rampaging and heading in our direction. As a Keeper of the Trees, it¡¯s my duty to put an end to it. As such I¡¯m placing a protection rune here to keep both of you safe. I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be needed, but better to be safe than sorry.¡± With a dim flash of yellow, the rune sunk into the earth and a pale barrier surrounded them. ¡°That should do it,¡± Hasson said with a satisfied nod before turning to face Galdon once more. ¡°Like I said earlier, if I say run, or if this barrier vanishes, run into the woods towards the church.¡± Galdon nodded, his fear from a moment ago having faded, determination taking its place. Chapter Ten: Taking the term Rock Candy way too Literally Chapter Ten: Taking the term Rock Candy way too Literally Standing within the barrier, Galdon was carrying the sleeping Larson on his back, ready to run at a moment''s notice. In his head, he was repeating Hasson¡¯s reassuring words in his mind like a mantra. Hasson had already left the safety of the yellow glow and was standing further away at the other end of the clearing. As Hasson faced the direction of the approaching slime, he rolled his shoulders. If he wanted to end this quickly he¡¯d probably have to use an advanced spell. He just hoped the thing wouldn¡¯t be too high leveled. As he was thinking about which spell to use, the King Slime broke through the tree line. Almost instantly Hasson activated his appraisal skill.
King Slime Level: 50 HP: 5000/5000 MP: 5500/5500
Spreading his arms wide, Hasson started to channel his mana. Normally, thanks to his job class and his connection to the forest, he didn¡¯t need to chant. However, for an enemy of this level, even he needed to exert a bit of effort. Not waiting for Hasson to start the battle, the king slime started to vibrate its body. Causing the ground to begin to quake. With a tsk, Hasson jumped back while snapping his fingers. From the ground, a wave of roots sprouted. They wrapped around the king slime restricting its movements. A guttural roar reverberated from it as it continued to struggle. The entire forest seemed to come alive as Hasson''s mana continued to build up. The trees started to sway in excitement, eager for what was to come. The King Slime had a horrible sense of foreboding. A fear began to bloom within it as it started to struggle with an increased urgency. Hasson¡¯s voice sounded like the calling of death as he finally began to chant. ¡°Oh Natulis, Keeper of the Forest, grant me thy power to eradicate thine foes. [Grand Forest Burial]!¡± As soon as the spell left his lips, his mana erupted from his body, in amounts so large it was nearly visible to the naked eye. It then sunk into the ground and spread along the forest floor. The surrounding trees started to quiver thanks to the magical stimulant. Afterward, accompanying an earth shattering boom, twelve ancient roots, giving off an aura of absolute power, exploded from the ground. Chunks of dirt and topsoil were thrown into the air by the force of the explosion. Seconds later it rained down, pelting the earth like hail stones. Amidst the rain of dirt, the ancient roots mixed with the others that were already containing the king slime. As the roots combined they began to admit a pale-yellow glow. Following which, the glowing root ball quickly began to shrink. The king slime roared in defiance, as it was slowly being squeezed to death. After about thirty seconds the king slime gave one last mournful groan. It''s life ending before it could even really start. With their deed done, the glow of the roots faded and they slowly made their way back into the ground. Once they returned to the earth, the fast dissolving remains were revealed. A heavy thud rang out as the last of the king slime vanished, and a giant crystal fell to the ground in its place. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Galdon said as he watched on in amazement. With the way Hasson had spoken, he¡¯d thought the battle would be long and drawn out. Yet with a mere snap of the fingers, and one spell later, the slime had met its demise. ¡°Ah, there''s nothing quite like the enjoyment one gets from squeezing their enemies to death,¡± Hasson said to himself, as he turned towards Galdon and snapped his fingers once more. With a smug grin, he dusted the dirt off his shoulders as he watched the barrier around the boys dissipate. Walking up to the still gawking Galdon, Hasson pointed over his shoulder at the King Slimes core crystal. ¡°Go eat it.¡± He said, in a matter of fact sort of way. ¡°¡­What?¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°You heard me, kid. Go eat that King Slime crystal.¡± Galdon looked at the old elf like he had lost his mind. Glancing at the core at the other end of the clearing then back at Hasson, he arched his eyebrow. Seeing the skeptic look on his face, Hasson frowned, ¡°Stop looking at me like I¡¯m off my rocker, and go start eating the darn thing. If you don¡¯t start soon you won¡¯t be able to finish by morning.¡± ¡°How¡­?¡± ¡°How? Well, how else, you bite and chew. Come on, boy, I know you¡¯re smarter than this.¡± ¡°Just bite and chew, he says,¡± Galdon mumbled while rolling his eyes. ¡°Mr. Hasson, just what do you think my teeth are made of?¡± Hearing that, Hasson paused as he stared at the kid. After a moment he finally spoke, ¡°Has no one ever taught you about the perks of being blessed by Metalas?¡± Galdon¡¯s ears drooped as he remained quiet. Recalling that Galdon had only just turned ten and been separated from his parents soon after, Hasson sighed. Patting the boy¡¯s head understandingly he explained, ¡°People blessed by Metalas can eat all kinds of rocks, crystals, minerals, and so on. Doing so gives them a power boost, or experience boost if it¡¯s a monster crystal that¡¯s eaten.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that kind of unfair?¡± Galdon asked, still not really buying Hasson¡¯s words. ¡°Not really. Each blessing has its own perks. But that¡¯s a lesson for another time. Now go eat that rock.¡± Even though he still had a bit of reservation, Galdon walked over to the King Slime crystal. Standing next to the wrecking ball sized core, he looked minuscule. Sending up a prayer, he leaned forward and open his mouth as he closed his eyes. With a crisp crunch, he managed to bite off a hunk. His eyes sprang open wide as he chewed, stunned by the flavor flooding his taste buds. It had an addictingly good sweet fruity taste. Quickly finishing off his first bite, he eagerly went back for more. Watching Galdon now eating the core in a frenzy, Hasson shook his head. He¡¯d have to warn the boy about the addiction that came from eating cores later. The next morning, like always, Larson woke up right on schedule. Rubbing his eyes, he stood and started to stretch his stiff body. While limbering up he looked at the scene around him. Hasson was seated in meditation beside him, but for some reason, the root igloo was gone and so was Galdon. Scanning the clearing further, he noticed that there was a large increase of dirt all around him. And off in the distance, he could just make out Galdon¡¯s figure lying prone on the ground, his stomach extended in an almost comical fashion. At a loss he poked Hasson, ¡°Oi, gramps, what¡¯d I miss?¡± With Larson¡¯s question drawing him out of his rest Hasson yawned, ¡°Simply an epic fight with a giant slime, and Galdon¡¯s new found love for eating rocks.¡± He said as he stood up and began to stretch. ¡°Come, we need to go wake the kid up. He¡¯s going to have a bunch of energy to work off.¡± Not really knowing just how much of what he¡¯d just heard was a joke, Larson quietly followed Hasson over to the sleeping tiger. Galdon was currently in what seemed to be a food induced coma. He had a stupid grin on his face and his cheeks were covered in a slight blush. Looking down at his slightly bloated friend, the term blissful drunkard was all that came to mind. Taking the initiative, Larson bent over and started to shake Galdon, ¡°Oi! Gal! Wake up!¡± Galdon¡¯s eyes groggily opened thanks to Larson¡¯s insistent shaking. ¡°Ah! Lars, you''re awake!¡± As soon as he saw that it was Larson that was trying to wake him as if struck by lightning, he hurriedly tried to get up. Yet his body couldn¡¯t keep up with his brain as he stumbled. Reaching out to catch the staggering guy, Larson questioned him in concern, ¡°Gal, are you okay?¡± ¡°I''m great, I''m terrific!¡± As he supported the grinning tiger in his arms he was stumped. The last time he¡¯d saw someone act this way was after an all-night binge drinking party in college. ¡°Oh oh! Lars your gramps is so awesome! He fought a giant slime and it was all like BOOM and BANG BANG and the slime was all like AGGGGURRRGA-¡± As Galdon continued to prattle on and on, Larson glanced back at Hasson, catching him trying to suppress his laughter. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with him?¡¯ Larson mouthed to the trembling Hasson. ¡®He¡¯s power drunk.¡¯ Hasson answered honestly before starting to laugh. Larson shook his head, if getting a full night''s sleep meant waking up to this sort of fiasco, he¡¯d have to start limiting his sleeping hours. With Hasson¡¯s urging, Larson supported the drunk Galdon as they made their way into the forest again. Thanks to an extreme lack of slimes, the rest of the trip was fast and smooth going. As they got closer and closer to the village, Hasson reminded the boys to behave. Along the way, Galdon¡¯s energy high had worn off and he passed out again. When Hasson had informed him about how Galdon had to carry him during the slime battle, Larson decided to carry him to return the favor. Thanks to his high strength stat he didn¡¯t have a problem with the weight, but since Galdon was taller than him, he was struggling not to let the other¡¯s feet drag. Chapter Eleven: Knock Knock, Little pig Little pig, Let Me In Chapter Eleven: Knock Knock, Little pig Little pig, Let Me In After a day of uneventful walking, the trio finally cleared the forest. A vast grassland now spread out before them, the sudden contrast being a bit jarring. Other than the occasional clearing in the woods, Larson had spent his entire time in the game so far surrounded by trees. Shielding his eyes from the increase of light, he took a deep breath, the excitement growing in his heart. Half a day had passed and Galdon still hadn¡¯t woken up. With Larson swearing he was getting heavier and heavier with each step. Luckily Hasson noticed the boy¡¯s suffering and offered to carry Galdon instead. ¡°I guess what they say about cats liking to sleep, rings true,¡± Larson said while glancing at the sleeping Galdon currently on Hasson¡¯s back. ¡°You have no right to comment about the sleeping patterns of others.¡± Failing to think of a comeback, Larson just nodded in defeat. Quickly bouncing back, he ran forward and spread out his arms, ¡°It''s so much emptier than I had expected.¡± Larson said while twirling around in circles a few times. When Galdon and Hasson had spoken about Duio village, he was thinking something along the lines of small grass huts with more cows than people. However, that thought was not reflected by the sight in front of him. In the distance, a towering wall could be seen protecting the lives of the citizens behind it. The land surrounding the wall was dotted with small farms and the occasional herd of cattle. Smoke from many chimneys could be seen filling the air. Even though from their current location he couldn¡¯t hear the hustle and bustle, Larson was sure that over those walls was a lively town. ¡°I thought ya¡¯ll said this was a village?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a border village to be exact,¡± Hasson replied as they continued to make their way forward. ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°Border villages are located next to the edge of a territory and usually slightly larger.¡± Larson nodded along to Hasson¡¯s words. ¡®If this is how big a village is, I can¡¯t wait to see a town or city.¡¯ He thought as they drew closer to a dirt road worn down by years of wagon and foot traffic. After inquiring with Hasson, he learned that the road ran parallel to the forest, connecting most of the villages along its rim. ¡°Now that I think about it, why are there no roads leading to or from the church?¡± Larson asked as he thought back. He¡¯d explored all around the area of the church, and even though there were plenty of trails, there weren¡¯t any actual roads. ¡°Most of Natagil is like that actually. No one really knows why, but anything bigger than a hunter''s trail doesn¡¯t last long there. Most believe that it has something to do with Natulis¡¯ blessing. Since this border forest is technically in Zerxon, roads will last a bit longer within it, but not by much. There used to be a nice road leading through the trees to the church, but it was reclaimed by the forest long ago.¡± Hasson continued his explanation all the way up until they arrived in the shadow of the wall of the village. Craning his head back, Larson figured it to be towering about fifteen feet in height. From a distance, he¡¯d also thought that it was tall, but being up so close to it really put it into perspective. With the setting sun making the wall cast an impressive shadow, it felt more like a fortress than a village. ¡°I''ve already told you, no one is allowed entry into the village again till morning.¡± An aggravated voice rang out from the direction of the entrance. Drawing his attention from the wall looming over him, Larson jogged over to the voice with Hasson quietly following. Next to a towering wooden door was a simple guard post. It was from there that the annoyed voice continued to shout. A small group of people with short stature wearing angry expressions were currently being yelled at by a plump man in fancy armor.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°It¡¯s not yet dark, there¡¯s no reason for you to keep us out of the village!¡± An older man amidst the group refuted. Besides the older man was a pair of ruddy looking twins. Both of which were gripping hammers and struggling to hold themselves back from beating the guard black and blue. Out of curiosity, Larson started to appraise the group.
Name: (Hidden) Titles: None Race: Human Main Job: City Guard Secondary Job: Gate Keeper Level: 25 HP: 2200/2200 MP: 2000/2000 Status: Healthy Bounty: 0 Gold
Name: (Hidden) Titles: Master Smith Race: Mountian Dwarf Main Job: Blacksmith Secondary Job: Miner Level: 49 HP: 5100/5100 MP: 3900/3900 Status: Healthy Apprentice: Mitle Orzus, Rimus Orzus Bounty: 0 Gold
However, he only managed to appraise two before Hasson whacked him. With a grunt, he covered the back of his head and looked towards him with an accusatory glare. ¡°I already warned you about appraising others without their permission outside of combat.¡± ¡°... I forgot¡­¡± Larson said with a pout, still rubbing where Hasson had whacked him. Hasson¡¯s and Larson¡¯s interaction caught the attention of the guard. Assuming that they were backup for the group in front of him he scowled. The group''s leader noticed the guards change and followed his line of sight. Seeing the new trio heading towards him he was secretly excited. With this many people, if they caused a big enough scene they''d have a better chance of getting into the village before nightfall. ¡°Good evening everyone, what seems to be the problem?¡± Hasson asked with a smile as he stepped in front of Larson, giving off the feeling of a harmless old man. ¡°Evenin¡¯, this guard is making a fuss with some nonsense about us being a group of bandits. Using it as some excuse to keep us out the village.¡± The leader of the small group said as he stepped forward. ¡°My names Pladers, a blacksmith from Figsbrieer.¡± ¡°Is that so? To travel all the way from Figsbrieer, you must be here for the resin stone found in the forest.¡± ¡°Correct, we arrived yesterday and spent today searching in the forest. We''d just decided to call it a day and return to the inn, little did we know we''d be stopped at the gate.¡± Turning towards the guard, Hasson put on a contemplative look, ¡°I was under the impression that the gates of the village weren''t supposed to be closed until the day''s final light.¡± ¡°As a guard of the village, I have the right to close the gate at any time if it''s to keep suspicious characters out.¡± ¡°Then explain why you''re trying to charge us five gold to enter, huh! You only ordered the gate closed after we refused to pay your ridiculous fee!¡± One of the twins bellowed, the grip on his hammer tightening. ¡°Five gold?¡± Hasson asked in bewilderment. ¡°Yeah! This bastard is clearly just trying to extort our money from us! Yet he dares to call us bandits!¡± ¡°One gold coin a head is a fair price.¡± The guard sneered, ¡°Not even able to pay a simple entrance fee. Nothing but a bunch of suspicious no good dwarfs in my book.¡± ¡°I was unaware that the village leader had implemented an entrance fee.¡± ¡°What''s it to you, you damn elf? Why don''t you take your sick cat and demon back to the trees where you belong.¡± The guard said while shooing away the trio with obvious disgust. ¡°Oi! I dare ya to say something like that again ya fat pig!¡± Larson snarled as he moved to lunge at the man, yet he was stopped by Hasson. Gripping the raging dragon by the shoulder, Hasson pulled him back. He still had a harmless smile on his face as he then pulled an emerald medallion out of his robe. As soon as the guard saw the medallion Hasson was holding, he froze. The new string of insults he was about to say got stuck in his throat. ¡°Now then, tell me again good sir, why is it that you won''t allow us inside the village?¡± Chapter Twelve: Finally Entering the Starter Village Chapter Twelve: Finally Entering the Starter Village At Hasson¡¯s words, the entire scene became silent enough to hear a pin drop. Even the previously raging Larson started to calm. As he did, he was struck by a thought, ¡®Why am I so angry in the first place?¡¯ The more he reflected on his anger, the more confused he became. He knew he could be impulsive, but this was a bit much even for him. When he tried to pinpoint just what triggered his sudden outburst, the way the guard had insulted Hasson and Galdon came to mind. As he recalled it, he could feel his ire rising again. The more he tried to wrap his head around it, the less he could understand. Wondering if it might have been caused by a status ailment, he decided to seek the aid of the system. ¡®Hey, system, can you give me an explanation?¡¯ Then, with its telltale ding, the system answered his call.
Congratulations on discovering your Reverse Scale! When a dragon''s Reverse Scale is touched, they fly into an uncontrollable rage. The trigger for each dragon is different. Most dragons discover their trigger at a young age thanks to their lack of emotional control and unabashed desires. By discovering your Reverse Scale you have unlocked the [Raging Dragon]passive state. [Raging Dragon]is triggered when one''s Reverse Scale is attacked. While in the[Raging Dragon] state all stats are boosted by 50%, however, rationality is greatly reduced as a result.
Once Larson skimmed through all the information before him, he was struck speechless, ¡®Does this mean my emotions really are affected by this game?!¡¯ He knew he was having an easier time pretending to be a child, but he¡¯d been telling himself it was all thanks to his acting ability. Raking his hands through his hair, his thoughts started to race, ¡®So because I chose to become a dragonling, I¡¯m becoming more emotional and prone to anger? And the fact that this body is that of a child¡¯s is affecting me as well? Does this mean the longer I play this game the more it might affect my personality?¡¯ He took a deep breath, trying to settle his emotions. Making jokes about becoming an overgrown lizard was one thing, but being affected to the point that he wanted to bite a guy''s head off over a mere insult was another. Right as he was beginning to panic, a hand gently gripped his shoulder. With a startled jump, he turned his head to see Hasson gazing down at him with concern. Noticing Larson¡¯s state, Hasson had grown worried. He wasn¡¯t a dragonling expert by any means, but the small amount of information he did possess lead him to believe something in Larson had just awoken. If one ignored all the weird things about the child, he was still only a kid that was growing just a tad too fast. While weighing the possibility of Larson¡¯s emotions being used against him someday, Hasson glanced up to see the gate before them beginning to open. A guard in sleek silver armor came striding out from the opening. He had a strict expression on his face as he approached the gate guard, his eyes sweep questioningly over the surrounding group. ¡°C-Captain Theodore?!¡± The gate guard snapped to attention in trepidation. ¡°Private Shane, why did you issue for the gate to be closed before sundown?¡± In the face of Captain Theodore¡¯s question, Private Shane lamented his bad luck. He¡¯d forgotten that the Captain oversaw gate inspection today. The Captain continued to stare frostily at the gate guard. Private Shane was notorious for using his position to extort coin out of people trying to enter the village. Captain Theodore had been trying for a long time to kick the scum to the curve, yet the Private had a strong backing in the village¡¯s higher ups and always managed to get off the hook. ¡°Captain, I can explain.¡± Private Shane said as he hurried to think of an excuse. ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t wait to hear this,¡± the old dwarf Pladers muttered. Yet before the Private could start spinning a tale, Hasson stepped forward again, ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but the night will be setting in soon. Might we continue this within the safety of the village?¡± He completely ignored the gate guard and stared at the Captain, twirling the medallion around his fingers as he did.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The Captain scrutinized the medallion dancing around Hasson¡¯s fingers, his brow furrowing, his expression growing severe. Glancing between Hasson and the Private, the Captain nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s move this discussion to the guard post just beyond the gate.¡± ¡°That would be much appreciated,¡± Hasson said, a small smile playing on his lips. After a moment, he had an idea and pulled Larson closer to him, ¡°Larson, here. I need you to carry Galdon for a while.¡± Larson looked at him questionably but took Galdon onto his back all the same. Seeing him loaded down with Galdon¡¯s weight, Hasson mentally sighed. Now that Larson had Galdon to take care of, Hasson knew that it would be less likely for him to flare up if the pending conversation got heated. With the Captain leading the way through the gate, Private Shane followed closely behind, the trio of dwarfs staring daggers into his back along the way. As they passed under the wall, the village stretched out before them. Cobblestone roads weaved through a sea of stone buildings. Vibrant signs of life drifted in the air. On the side of the road, a simple guard station silently stood, keeping a quiet eye over the entrance. Two guards wearing armor similar to Private Shane¡¯s stood at attention outside the station''s door. As the Captain approached them he quickly returned their salute, ¡°At ease, gentlemen.¡± Pointing towards one of them he ordered, ¡°Go stand guard at the outer station until last light.¡± ¡°At once sir!¡± Saluting the Captain once more the guard then scurried off to his new post. After watching the other guard head off, the remaining one opened the door for the Captain and company before stepping to the side. Walking inside, Captain Theodore led the group to a room in the back. As they all filled in he took a seat in a chair behind a large mahogany desk. He could feel a headache coming on as he observed the group before him again. Three enraged dwarves, an uncommon horned child carrying a tigerkin, and an old elf with a Keeper¡¯s medallion. Rubbing his temples, he sighed. Even without them explaining, he could guess that Private Shane¡¯s bandit like ways had finally come back to bite him in the ass. ¡°Now, will someone enlighten me as to what¡¯s transpired?¡± ¡°I should start I believe,¡± Pladers¡¯ said as he stepped forward. ¡°My two apprentices and I were returning to the village after a day in the forest. When the gate guard stopped us.¡± ¡°He demanded that we pay three gold coins if we wanted to enter!¡± The twin, Rimus, blurted out, still indignant about the whole situation. ¡°Like my apprentice said, he wanted to charge us for entry. However, when we refused to pay he signaled for the gates to close. Claiming that we were suspicious people, just because we wouldn¡¯t pay some ridiculous entrance fee.¡± Pausing his words, he pointed over at Hasson, ¡°It was then that this gentleman with these two youngsters appeared.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s due to living in recluse in the forest, but I was unaware that they had invoked an entrance toll. But moving the issue of fees to the side, to think that a respected guardsman would throw such vulgar insults at me and my grandchildren. It seems like, unfortunately, Lord Jermes¡¯ standard is dropping.¡± Hasson said as he shook his head in dismay, playing with the medallion in his hand again. When the Captain heard all this, he turned towards Private Shane with a harsh stare. Feeling the Captain¡¯s probing gaze, Private Shane felt like he¡¯d been doused in cold water. The emerald Keeper¡¯s medallion that was dancing in the old elf¡¯s hand continued to mock him. He had a belly full of regret as he realized that even his grandfather wouldn¡¯t be able to shelter him this time. With the Private not offering any words in his defense, the Captain sighed, ¡°Please forgive my subordinate¡¯s rude behavior. I wasn¡¯t aware that someone under my supervision was stooping to such methods. Please rest assured, I will make sure he¡¯s punished to the fullest extent of the law.¡± The guard Captain gave Hasson a deep bow, his face showing an unmasked respect. Larson rolled his eyes, not buying that one bit. Yet after a warning glare from Hasson, he kept his thoughts to himself. ¡°I will trust the Captain to see that justice is served,¡± Hasson said slowly, placing emphasis on each word. ¡°Now then, I would rather not drag this out any further. I have one child here in much need of a bed and another in need of a good meal, I also believe our dwarven friends here wish to be on their way as well.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. Since this is your first time to the village in a while, would you like for me to arrange for a guide?¡± The Captain said, an almost fawning look on his face. ¡°No thank you, I¡¯d prefer to not draw any more unneeded attention.¡± Hasson flat out rejected the offer, ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse us then.¡± Having said his piece, he turned to leave. Larson followed behind him, not forgetting to flash a gloating smirk at Private Shane as they passed by. ¡°Since the Captain says he¡¯ll handle everything, we¡¯ll be taking our leave as well,¡± Pladers then gave the Captain a small bow before following Hasson out the door. Outside the guard post, Hasson slowed his steps, allowing the old dwarf and the younger duo to catch up. ¡°I owe you one,¡± Pladers said. He knew the only reason everything was resolved so fast was thanks to the fear that green medallion had invoked. ¡°No need, no need. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.¡± Hasson chuckled as he walked beside the old dwarf. ¡°Haha did ya see the terrified look on that fat pigs face when Gramps pulled out his medallion? Priceless.¡¯¡¯ ¡°Right! It was so satisfying to see him get caught in a trap of his own making.¡± The apprentice Mitle laughed loudly, Private Shane¡¯s horrified face replaying in his mind. Larson and the twins continued to share a laugh until Pladers cleared his throat. ¡°Alright, since those three seem to be getting on so well, why don¡¯t you three come to the inn the boy and I are staying at? I¡¯ll pay for your room and treat you to dinner as thanks for earlier.¡± Chapter Thirteen: The Loose Goose Chapter Thirteen: The Loose Goose Larson eagerly took in the sights around him. Not long after they¡¯d left the guard post Hasson had taken Galdon back from him. With him freed from the extra load, the two apprentices- Mitle and Rimus- took the opportunity to drag him ahead with them. Even though he wasn¡¯t a stranger to big cities, thanks to being born in the 21st century, the current sights and sounds around him left him in awe. The cobblestone streets and lattice lined houses made him feel like he¡¯d been tossed back in time to the middle ages. The call of hawkers trying to make the days final sale, the laughter of children as the rushed home for dinner, and the ring of great bell in a distance tower, really drove home the feeling of this being a different world. However the sudden overwhelming increase in activity around him started to take its toll. For over a year he¡¯d spent his life locked away in basic darkness, and for the last three months he¡¯d spent his days in the quiet forest. Even though he had been so excited to finally get back into a lively setting, now he was starting to think maybe it wasn¡¯t such a good idea. ¡°Hey kid are you alright?¡± Rimus asked, ¡°You¡¯re looking around like some kind of bumpkin.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be rude!¡± Mitle chided as he elbowed Rimus in the ribs. ¡°I¡¯ve actually never left the forest before¡­ So everything¡¯s kinda new...¡± Larson said after a pause, still dazed while trying to process his surroundings. The twins shared a bewildered glance, not to sure how to respond. From behind the Hasson and Pladers had heard the whole conversation as they quietly followed. ¡°He¡¯s a Forgotten, isn¡¯t he?¡± Pladers asked, ¡°My daughter¡¯s a Forgotten. I know the feeling, but you can¡¯t hide him from the world you know.¡± A look of understanding and grief flashed across his eyes as he stared at the little back before him. A long pause followed his words. ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention.¡± Hasson sighed. Knowing that Pladers meant well, he chose not to snap at him for being a busybody. After all, it wasn¡¯t like he could just tell anyone the truth. Who would believe that Larson was just a babe a few months ago? That aside he knew he¡¯d be lying if he claimed that the thought of keeping Larson away from the world didn¡¯t cross his mind. He¡¯d seen just how cruel the would could be. No one wanted their love ones to experience that kind of pain. He had planned to contact a couple of old friends. Get a collection of light and/or dark magic tomes, just enough to let Larson raise his Class from apprentice to full fledge mage. If that didn¡¯t work, he even considered trying to track down one of the old Shadows. That way Larson could learn one of their melee classes as a cover. He wouldn¡¯t be able to use higher level magic around others without drawing unwanted attention after all. Yet the untimely arrival of Galdon had put a kink in his plans. He knew that Galdon would probably bring tales and information about outside; and after recalling how the boy had basically ran off to explore as soon as he could walk, he figured it wouldn¡¯t be long before Larson would start begging to go out of the woods himself. So he decided to take the initiative.
A worn down but brightly lit three story building stood impressively on a tucked away street corner. A hand carved wooden goose hung loosely above the door. In flowing letters was, ¡®The Loose Goose Tavern & Inn¡¯. The age of the place could be imaged just by looking at the piling paint on the weather worn sign. Even from outside in the street, the noisy chatter and rukus inside could be clearly heard. As they approached the entrance way a figure came dashing out, making a b-line from Pladers. A high pitched ¡®Dad!¡¯ rang out as the person pounced. Nobody had the chance to react before Pladers was already in the ground. A moment passed before the twins seemed to recognise the assilent. With weary smiles they walked over to assist the old dwarf. Pinning Pladers to the ground was a young dwarven woman. She had frizzy brown hair piled into a bun on her head. Her stormy gray eyes were full of tears as she glared at Pladers. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°What took you so long!¡± She was fuming as the twins managed to pull her off of the poor old man. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault, darlin¡¯, honest.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d been swallowed by the trees.¡± The woman said as she threw her arms around him. Nearly sending them both toppling back to the ground again. ¡°Vina, you¡¯re making a scene.¡± A sigh escaped the lips of a stout young dwarven man that¡¯d followed the woman from the inn. He had an impressive bushy beard that nearly covered his deep yellow eyes. ¡°Put a cork in it, Caster.¡± The woman snapped back, ¡°You know good and well how I feel about that damn forest.¡± Caster shook his head with a sigh, ¡°Sorry about all this.¡± He said towards Hasson and Larson, ¡°I¡¯m Caster Mutton, and the one currently attacking her father is my wife, Vina.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Hasson nodded. ¡°I¡¯m Hasson Yugan, this is my grandson Larson, and the sleeping one is his friend, Galdon.¡± Meanwhile from Hasson¡¯s side, Larson watched the whole fassco silently. Normally seeing an old guy get jump tackled would of had him laughing out loud. But for some reason, as he watched the touching family scene, he was flooded by a waves of yearning as loss. An nearly uncontrollable urge to go hug his mom attacked his consciousness. He almost logged out on the spot, till he remembered he wouldn¡¯t be able to even if he did. That thought was the final nail in the coffin. He had previous moments where negative thoughts threatened to pull him under before, yet he had always managed to ward them off. This time however, he wasn¡¯t so lucky. The piled up emotions quickly snowballed. Fear, pain, anger, aggravation, loss, confusion, sadness, and so many more, gripped his heart like a vice. The kicker was that he logically knew that it was the influence of the system making him feel this way. Thanks to the event with the [Dragon¡¯s Rage], he knew that these feelings weren¡¯t all his own. Yet the scary thing was that, even knowing that, it didn¡¯t make the emotions feel any less real. He knew this was all just in his head. He knew! But the tightness in his chest, the shortness of breath, and the tears welling up in his eyes begged to differ. Unconsciously, like a drowning man he reached out, desperate for something, anything, to cling to. Feeling a trembling hand latching onto his sleeve, Hasson looked down. Seeing Larson in tears and shaking from head to toe left him startled. Quickly as he could he adjusted Gladon so he could free up an arm. Without pausing he then knelt down, before pulling the distraught boy into his embrace. Like he¡¯d done previously when Gladon had a panic attack, he began consoling Larson. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re not alone.¡± Keeping his voice as reassuring as possible he reminding him he was there for him. All the while keeping his own confusion at bay. Awhile passed before Larson finally started to calm. However it was clear to Hasson from Larson¡¯s empty expression that the root of the issue would need a lot more time to settle. From his kneeling position he turned to Pladers, ¡°How about we head inside. I think we¡¯re all a bit worn out from today¡¯s adventures.¡± Pladers who¡¯d been silently observing from the side nodded in agreement. Inside rowdy adventures and haggard travelers were scattered around the lobby. Groups of three and four were sitting at small clusters of tables. Most nursing half empty glasses of mead. The noisy only sightly wavered when the group entered, no one casting a second glance at the new arrivals. From behind a large counter a older woman with the head of a goat, stepped out. Her droopy ears were loaded down with hoops of silver and gold. Her barmaid styled outfit made her look like she¡¯d fit right in on a pirate ship. But the shrewd light in her eyes, showed that she was a cunning businesswoman not to be trifled with. ¡°Well well well, look at what the cat dragged in,¡± The woman said. ¡°Merciful Aqual, Pladers. I thought you said you were going mine. These don¡¯t look anything like rocks.¡± She joked while motioning towards Larson¡¯s trio. ¡°Make all the jokes you want, Sena. But at least I¡¯m bringing you business.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± She said before rolling her eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t find them in the forest did you?¡± At Sena¡¯s question the whole tavern sank into an uneasy silence. ¡°No you suspicious ol¡¯ goat. We met at the city entrance.¡± Pladers said with a huff, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for them, me and the boys would probably be sleeping out in the wild tonight.¡± Even after hearing Pladers reassurance, she squinted at Hasson with a suspecting gaze. Any local business person worth their salt knew that if an elf showed up at your business, they could only come from one place. Those accursed trees. And the old elf standing in front of her now, with two questionable kids, made her instincts scream trouble. ¡°Fine, I got one room with two beds that you all can use. But I¡¯m warning you now. Any funny business, any at all, and it¡¯ll be out on the curb with ya faster than you can say barley bread.¡± Chapter Fourteen: One Should Always Remember to Listen to their Elders Chapter Fourteen: One Should Always Remember to Listen to their Elders Deep in the night, just out of reach of the forest¡¯s shadow. The border village of Duio could been seen resting silently. All except for one manor. Standing proudly within the center of town, the Lord¡¯s residence was bustling with activity. Servants dashed back and forth through the halls, carrying reports in their arms. Guards made their rounds around the manor, keeping a vigilant eye. While the other weary inhabitants huddled themselves away safely in their quarters. Each praying hurriedly for the morning to come. Each face tended to carry the same expression of fear and nervousness. Occasionally they¡¯d cast a glance towards the distance woods. As if a formidable enemy was out there, looming patiently, just waiting for a chance to strike. Beneath the manor a meeting of grave importance was being held. A craven sloped downward to a large reinforced door. Through the door a was a magic lined hallway leading to a small domed room. In the middle of the room a large black marble table rested upon an elevated platform. Around the table say a group of men. Each of them radiating the aura of an expert. Their mere presence filled the room with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. All of there were staring coldly at a figure kneeling on the floor before them. The one shivering and sniveling on his knees was none other than Private Shane. The five figures where the Village Lord and the four Village Elders. They¡¯d gathered here after receiving a report about the arrival of a Keeper in the village. The report had stated that the the Keeper had been insulted by the kneeling man before them. And now here they were, each wondering how they could possibly salvage the situation. Village Lord Jermes was inwardly sighing as he pondered how many treasured he¡¯d have to dish out this time to appease that old recluse. Meanwhile Private Shane was sweating profusely. The gazes of the Lord and Elders were like knives ruthlessly slicing into him. His grandfather had dragged him here and commanded him to kneel an hour ago. Yet the men present still had yet to speak a word. Earlier that day, after the Captain¡¯s reprimand, he had scurried home. As soon as he arrived he locked himself away, forbidding any of the house servants from disturbing him. Pulling his hair he paced his room in distress. The image of that emerald medallion was clear as day on his mind. And just as clear was a decrepit old voice mocking him. ¡®Beware the children of the Trees, foolish child of man. For they are favored by the Great Elemental. Keeping an ever-watchful eye over Natulis¡¯ Green Ocean, the blood of the forest runs strong through their veins. Like a beautiful and alluring flower, they will call to you. But do not be fooled, child. For they are not peaceful flowers simply waiting to be picked. No, they are vindictive, vile, and deceitful beings. Any poor fool to fall prey to their ways will be claimed by the trees they so happily protect. Dragged by the roots into the depths, to be devoured and kept for all eternity. So, watch yourself young child, and pay heed to what I say. Or mark my words, for its been foretold, you¡¯ll lose your life one day.¡¯ As a child, he¡¯d once tried to kick an old beggar that dared to block his way. But the old thing has easily grabbed his foot. Cackling like a madman he¡¯d shouted those words at him, before vanishing right before his eyes. Making him wonder if it was nothing but an illusion. Like a curse, the words haunted him. Over time he manages to convince himself that it was nothing more than dream. And like most children he eventually forgot.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. However now the words resurfaced in outstanding vividness in his head. The smirking eyes of that vile old elf. The emerald medallion that¡¯d danced tauntingly in his hands. Both were a silent promise of retaliation yet to come. Just like predicted. He knew he was doomed. And he was afraid. Afraid of the death warrant his words had brought down upon him.
Blissfully unaware of the events unraveling in the center of the village, Larson lay facedown on a comfy twin-sized feather bed. On the bed across from lay Galdon, still sleeping peacefully. In the corner of the room, on a big blue chair, sat Hasson. A faint green glow wrapping around his figure as he meditated. The only movement coming from the occasional twitch of Larson¡¯s tail. When they¡¯d just enter the room, Hasson had tried to get him to talk. But not knowing where to start, or even how to explain, Larson decided to stay quiet. The sleep mode prompt popping up continuously as he just lay there. Time passed steadily as the thoughts in his head got no closer to being settled. At his wits end and not wanting to fall pray to another beak down, he lifted his weary body from bed. With a sigh he stretched and made his way over to the in-room bathroom. Stepping into the tiled room he silently shut the door behind him. Squinting in the darkness, he reached and ran his hands over the walls. There, to his left near the door, he managed to find a small diamond shaped protrusion. With a push, a soft buzz sounded as a large pearl on the ceiling lit up. Looking up at the gentle glow above him he was slightly surprised. He¡¯d been just tying his luck a second ago. He hadn¡¯t really expected for this worn out in to have magic lights just like the church. But he was glad to have something he was used to. Breathing out a breath of relief he turned his attention back to the other parts of the bathroom. A hot shower was just what the doctor ordered on a night like tonight. Near scalding water cascades out of an overhead faucet. Water droplets hit the scales on his shoulders, causing a twinkling sounds, just like sound of raindrops on a tin roof. It was calming. Closing his eyes, he let the water wash over him, letting his body fully relax. All the days worries flowing with the water away and down the drain. Exiting the shower he stretched again, officially cleansed of all unnecessary thoughts. Enjoying the warming currently trapped in the bathroom, he decided to air dry a bit and check his stat box.
Character Information: Name: Larson Reed Titles: The First Born, Avid Reader, Big Kid Now Race: Dragonling Main Job: Apprentice Mage Secondary Job: None Level: 13 Experience: 20/130 HP: 1300/1300 MP: 1400/1400 STR: 140 (+10) INT: 170 (+10) DEX: 150 (+10) WIS: 170 (+10) CON: 140 (+10) CHA: 150 (+10) LUC: 113 (+10) Status: Healthy Element Affinity: Light, Dark, Unknown Bounty: 0 Gold Spells: Light Spells: [Protection] [Holy Shot] [Basic Heal] Dark Spells: [Void Shot] Skills: [Appraisal] (passive) [Light Steps] (passive) [Fast Casting] (passive) [Accurate Throwing] (passive)
Noticing that nothing had really changed he shook his head, deciding to try another angle. ¡°Hey system, is there a way to keep my emotions in check?¡±
Growth.
¡°... Something not so cryptic please.¡±
Since your body is still maturing, it has yet to get used to complicated emotions. Thus is easily overwhelmed. Like all children you¡¯ll have to learn to managed them over time.
¡°But I¡¯m not a child!?¡±
Big Kid Now: A unique title. Rewarded for being a big kid now.
¡°WTF! That¡¯s not fair!¡±
Life¡¯s not fair.
¡°Damnit!¡± Cursing he mentally slammed the menu closed. While spitting out a few more choice words at the system in his mind, he lost all interest in remaining in the bathroom. Quickly drying himself off he then put on a clean set of clothes. Turning off the light he made his way back into the room. Muttering a couple more insults towards the system, he crawled back into bed. With his body refreshed he snuggled into his blanket, before falling into a peaceful sleep. Not noticing that he didn¡¯t even use the systems aid.