《The Game World: Fight For Survival》
Chapter 1
My name is Ambrose Valier, eighteen years old and supposed to be starting university the following year. Note the phrase ''supposed to be'', right now I''m nothing more than dead. It was my first time driving after getting my license, and everything was going well until a car skidded down the road while speeding and crashed into several other cars. Mine was the first to be hit and after a moment of noise and hazy vision everything went pitch black.
I guess I was expecting... well something other than this when I could finally see again!
Looking around I can see nothing but white. My first thought was ''Is this heaven?''. But if this is heaven then heaven is pretty lackluster. I mean, it¡¯s small for one thing, about the size of my bedroom. The white comes from the painted walls, but they aren''t glowing or anything. Just ordinary paint as far as I can tell. A far cry from the fluffy white clouds and serene angels that are often pictured.
As a matter of fact, the only thing apart from me is a small box, once again white in color. It''s right in the center of the room. Strange though, there isn''t even a shadow, from both me and the box. Am I a ghost? That would explain that... But aren''t ghosts supposed to haunt the place where they died or the person responsible for their death?
Not that I want to be stuck by a road for the rest of my life, I don''t want to be some kind of phantom stalker either. But it would be marginally more interesting than being stuck in a white room with nothing but a white box for the rest of my life. Un-lifelike as it were. This sucks, I''m already bored.
Even in life I always had a hatred for the mundane stuff. Forget studying, I''d much rather be reading a fantasy novel, or better yet playing a computer game - when I was allowed on, that is. My parents were kind of distant, but the one thing that did matter to them a bit were grades.
Which is why I actually got into university, my desktop was held hostage if I got anything less than a C. Like I said, they only cared a bit, either for the sake of their reputation or simply to make sure that I had to leave home at some point when I got accepted to some third rate university. Well, that did leave me with more time to play computer games so I wasn''t too bothered.
Ah, I wish I could play something...
"Wish granted."
Uh, what? Is there someone actually here? Maybe it''s a robot or android, because I just know that something was off with that tone. It wasn¡¯t like any human one that comes to mind. Even the weirder accents I''ve heard, or even the weirder attempts at an accent didn''t resemble it.
¡°Proceed to the terminal for ability allocation."
The box promptly lights up, while somehow managing to change shape into a fully functional desktop computer. There''s a keyboard, mouse and a monitor as well, none of which are branded. Does heaven have its own technology brands? Or maybe this place isn''t heaven... Well, might as well see what is going on over there, it''ll be something to do at least. If only there was a nice cushy chair to sink into while using it...
What? No wish granted this time? Well, that''s great, I get a free wish and waste it on a pc. Not that computers are bad, but if I could wish for anything I''d definitely have gotten my dream one instead of this old thing. Beggars can''t be choosers though; I guess I''ll make do with what I''ve got. Wait! Why is there a picture of me on the screen? And the words... I''m hallucinating, must be hallucinating!
Okay, okay, breathe... in and out... in and out... I''d say what the hell is going on - but since there is still a chance, however small, that this is heaven I''ll refrain for now. Though the afterlife being one big video game seems slightly off?
Ambrose Valier: Age 18: Points: 18
Level 0: EXP 0
Job: N/A: Title: N/A
Race:
Stats:
Strength 10: Vitality 10: Stamina 10
Flexibility 10: Coordination 10: Speed 10
Intelligence 10: Perception 10: Charisma 10
Magic 10: Control 10: Luck 10
Skills:
None
Perks:
Unique Perk: Gamer: Allows at will interface usage and activates questing system
Flaws:
None
¡
When I mouse over a section an explanatory paragraph appears, though it only tells me the basics of what this-and-that does, and so on. And I already guessed what was what with a high accuracy, well, it is a pretty normal interface after all. So yeah, points can be used to raise any stat, gain/upgrade skills and perks. Lastly it can remove flaws, not that I actually have any in the first place! Though if I choose to get a Flaw I receive points rather than get them deducted. The opposite is true for perks, all of them save for unique ones can be removed in exchange for points.
Out of curiosity I looked at the list of potential flaws, the very, very, very long list. Talk about information overload... and since I don''t know how much of a hindrance any of them would be I''ll pass for now. Anyway, I''ve got 18 points to start off with, I hope that''s a decent number. Probably not - it equals one point per year of my rather laid back life, anyone older than me, or who really trains hard could beat me. If my hypothesis is true, that is...
Working downwards from the top, I am currently pathetic. No job, no title, level 0! Absolutely nothing there to recommend me. I''m curious about the buttons next to race though, and what options there could possibly be. Tentatively, I give it a click, instead of it now says . At exactly the same time, not only the image of me changes to an absolutely hideous figure, my Stats, Skills, Perks and Flaws are altered to match.
Ambrose Valier: Age 18: Points: 18
Level 0: EXP 0
Job: N/A: Title: N/A
Race:
Stats:
Strength 20: Vitality 25: Stamina 20
Flexibility 8: Coordination 7: Speed 10
Intelligence 8: Perception 10: Charisma 3
Magic 5: Control 5: Luck 10
Skills:
Language Comprehension [Orcish] (8/10), [] (1/10)
Perks:
Unique Perk: Gamer: Allows at will interface usage and activates questing system
Racial Perk: Tough Skin: Reduces damage taken, stackable with armour
Racial Perk: Keen Sense of Smell: Odours are easier to detect, trace and recogniseUnauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Flaws:
Racial Flaw: Uncontrolled Emotions: A skill check is required when acting contrary to your current feelings
Racial Flaw: Bulky: Actions requiring stealth are trickier, as is dodging in combat
¡
No, no, no, no, no! No way am I being an orc. Aside from the almost inevitable placement as one of the bad guys, just look at those stats! Those flaws! And me! I was already unpopular before, so I am not going to go into a new world looking like a... well... an orc. The measly charisma of 3 doesn''t exactly hint at a good social life either.
Hurriedly I press the arrow button and move onto the next race, which is a troll. Appearance changes again, but somehow remains equally repulsive, click again. Goblin... smaller and slightly more humanoid looking, but still a no, click! Half-orc and half-troll? Ugh, a charisma of 2, and the looks to match. Click, click, click, are they really going to make me see myself as every type of vaguely bipedal species with sentience? Not to mention the hybrids of said species, which so far make up the majority of my clicks.
I hope this is just a list of every species, and not a representative sample of the population of this world. And the latter possibility is a seriously scary thought! Click, click, ah, an imp, that''s new, click, and click. Well, I suppose being a dwarf is better than being a troll, still don¡¯t particularly fancy it though. Back to the monstrous category with lizardmen and dragonewts. All those scales, although they did have better stats than some of the previous races. Where is the human race anyway?
My fingers are tired as anything, but I still keep up a steady stream of clicks. Dwarf is the best option so far, with a kobold being in second place. Wait? I don''t look like I normally do in this race''s picture - I look better! Which one is this? As long as the stats aren''t terrible I think I''ve made my choice.
Ambrose Valier: Age 18: Points: 18
Level 0: EXP 0
Job: N/A: Title: N/A
Race: :
Stats:
Strength 4: Vitality 5: Stamina: 6
Flexibility 10: Coordination 15: Speed 10
Intelligence 11: Perception 11: Charisma 12
Magic 10: Control 14: Luck 10
Skills:
Language Comprehension [Elvish] (7/10), [Chantish] (7/10)
Perks:
Unique Perk: Gamer: Allows at will interface usage and activates questing system
Racial Perk: Night Vision: In absence of a light source, you can still see clearly
Racial Perk: Adaptable: Half the normal penalties apply when in unfamiliar terrain or situations
Flaws:
Racial Flaw: Fragile Bones: Weaker bones are easier to break and take longer to heal
Racial Flaw: Dual Heritage: No social bonuses apply when talking to others of related races
¡
Well the main physical stats are horrid. Strength isn''t even half of what I would guess is standard! But other than that they don''t seem to be so bad. As for the languages, I know what Elvish must be, and the description given for Chantish says that it¡¯s the most commonly spoken language among humans. So right in line with being a half-elf then. The question is if the lack of decent physical stats outweighs the positives. Of which there are admittedly many. One I''m not a troll, two I''m not an orc, three... well let¡¯s just put ''reasonably good looking by human standards'' as one big plus. I don''t want to recall the many racial variations. Ugh, just thinking about some of them is enough to make me shudder.
There''s also the fact that they have a higher than average control, intelligence and perception - in my mind at least those are more important than being able to lift heavy weights for a long time. I''m still going to see what other options there are, simply for my peace of mind. If I don''t do this now I won¡¯t be able to stop wondering what if...? Because you never know, some even better race could be right at the end, waiting to be discovered.
On and on I click and click and click some more, oddly enough so far I haven''t seen head or hair of the human race. They have to exist though, since they have shown up as half of several hybrids parentage. Maybe they aren''t playable? Because I''ve just reached after what has to be at least an hours¡¯ worth of clicking, indicating that I''ve gone the full circle. Hmm... There were several other options that were worth a second look, but half-elf still appeals the most. Not just because of the prospect of being better looking, although that is a consideration, I will admit.
In reality, can I say that now? Well, in whatever warped mimicry of reality I''m currently in, I feel more at ease with that particular race. They could pass for human save for some slightly pointed ears, which is more than can be said for the various demi-human species. Ears and a tail can be cute on a cute girl, but on me? No, just no. And they are far too stamina orientated, which would be useful in prolonged fights or manual labour, but neither of which I have any intention of doing. Since I can rationalize my decision (barely), I will go with my gut instinct and choose half-elf. Whew, finally sorting that out is a relief.
...And another tough choice comes along to stress me out. What should I spend my points on? Some sort of skill, one like alchemy or healing which would be sufficiently rare to ensure an income would be great. The only problem is my number of points, or more specifically, my low number of them. Unlocking a new skill comes at a cost of 5 points, unless I manually learn it - which is clearly not an option at the moment. And even then the skill won''t be usable, to do that it has to have a level. Getting it to [Level 1] costs 1 point, [Level 2] costs 2 points and so on... I could only get a single skill to [Level 4] at best!
Alternatively, I could get one skill to [Level 1] and another to [Level 3], or two skills to [Level 2]. It would be safer to have a backup skill, in case of either one of them being ineffective in this new world. I just don''t know, and that is before I''ve seen the available Perks, or thought about increasing my stats via points. In a situation like this I could use some extra luck. What to pick?
Healing Magic seems to be a safe option, not only can I treat myself if I get injured accidentally, it could provide a steady income. Yeah, I''ll go with Healing Magic to [Level 2]. And almost half of all my points are gone just like that... kind of scary come to think of it. Those points were most likely equivalent to 8 entire years of life experience. It''s final though, under Skills I can see the new additions.
Healing Magic: (2/10): Techniques: [Diagnose] [Sterilize] [Small Heal] [Dress Wound]
Information doesn''t exactly come flooding into my mind, but there is a definite sense of stuff having shifted slightly to make way for the newly ingrained knowledge. It''s not that I deduced what each technique does, I just know, though the names are obvious enough. Also I can automatically recall the chant needed for the magic to work. A bit disappointing that I actually have to say it out loud, no simple hand wave here, but I''ll live. A state secret it is not.
Now what should choice number two be? Survival might be a good one, if I end up some distance from a settlement. Got to eat and drink in order to live after all. Then again some kind of attack magic sounds good to me, now that I come to think of it there might be brigands preying on lone travelers. So even if I don''t intend to fight I might end up forced to in self-defense. Wind Magic [Level 2] nips that potential problem in the bud.
Wind Magic: (2/10): Techniques: [Wind Whispers] [Wind Arrow] [Divert Projectile] [Breeze Blast]
Four techniques for this type of magic as well, I wonder if all of them follow the same pattern of two per level? Never mind, what matters is that I now have a defense against long range physical attacks, in addition to two potential combat techniques. [Wind Arrow] is designed to pierce, while [Breeze Blast] is a non-lethal gust of wind with many uses, from providing wind for a becalmed ship to knocking back an enemy.
Two points are all that''s left now, not enough to buy a perk with, or remove a flaw. Clicking on the small box in the corner however, leads to a very long list of tangible items I can buy with points. Some items have a ''Legendary'' rank placed alongside an astronomical figure. 1000 points!? How can anyone accumulate that many? Before my brain explodes I check the box in the on-screen filter, confirming that I only want to see items that are currently affordable. It sucks being poor.
There''s a problem with that as well though. I can see stuff I really, really want. Like a ring which granted the bearer +20 Luck, but which on further inspection required 20 near death experiences in order to equip. Not only is that near unattainable, there is no way I''d take such a huge risk. You only get one life... or two or infinite if reincarnation is actually real. Stop confusing me brain and get back to work! I guess I''ll filter the available selection a tad more, now it only lists currently affordable as well as useable items. Not good, there''s only one item left for me to investigate. So why show me all the awesome stuff earlier, huh?
New Player Pack [2 Points]: A collection of essentials for the beginning gamer
Contains:
Adventurers Outfit x1
Basic Short Sword x1
ID card x1
10 Bey Coins x10
Daily Rations x5
Local Map x1
Water Flask x1
¡
This is an absolute must-have, which sucks. What happened to getting starting kit for free or as a default option? That is a staple of video games! Well not the food or water, but getting clothes and a weapon should be standard. And to think that I almost missed this out completely. Whose idea was it to hide such important and potentially life-saving equipment in this section? If I hadn''t been so thorough I could have ended up penniless and naked in a foreign world! Just what I need, to get a second chance at being popular and ending up with a reputation as a nudist!
Well, that would be the case unless the world is currently in the prehistoric stages of development. Man, I hope it''s not, I like my modern conveniences thank you very much. Don''t fancy existing as a caveman of some sort either. Additionally, being naked could very well get me arrested, or worse, killed. There''s got to be a law of some kind against indecent exposure. Again, please let that be the case... But anyway, poverty and jail time do not frequently lead to a comfortable life, even a primary school kid could tell you that. Click!
No Points Remaining: Finish Character Creation?
What the - the message this time catches me completely by surprise. Not because of the content, it''s hardly a shocking statement. No, the reason I jumped backwards was because the screen physically manifested in front of me! In solid form - as I discover when I press the button confirming I''m done. I would speculate more on the how and why of it, but the world is spinning around me at record speed. Roller coasters can''t compare with this level of motion sickness-inducing speed. And I never liked going to theme parks anyway. Fingers crossed I won''t throw up as I enter this other world.
Chapter 2
At first there was nothing to see or feel, except for dizziness. But gradually the plain white blur surrounding me developed a slight tint of grey. Simultaneously a light, but continuous, gust of air blows through my hair. When I close my eyes I can pretend it''s a blustery day on earth. A minute or so passes before I open them again, and here and there faint blotches of green or brown are appearing in my immediate surroundings. I could only describe it as being like adding paint to water and watching the color slowly spread. Well, I''m not the artistic sort, but my breath involuntarily catches in awe as an entire world comes to life around me.
The gentle breeze has also increased in intensity, just a little, but enough that when sounds finally enter my ears, I can identify the rustling of windswept leaves among them. Seeing them carried on the wind is only going to be a matter of time, the out of focus surroundings are getting clearer and clearer. And I''m mostly right, the leaves on the trees are being blown about. It''s just that they are the green of summer not the red-gold of autumn that I had thought.
I''m standing on what seems to be a path meandering through the dense forest, leaves sparkling slightly with morning dew. A musky, earthy scent saturates the air, and not a single living thing is within sight. Or within earshot for that matter, I can''t hear a trace of birdsong. Though I can hear my heart loudly beating away. The new world''s silence is actually quite intimidating, so I wrap my cloak around me for comfort. Wait, since when did I have a cloak?
Looking down all of my clothes are different! A long sleeved tunic with belt, trousers, cloak and boots now cover my body. A quick check reveals different underwear and socks, which quite frankly are nowhere near as comfortable as they could be. The fabric is sturdy enough to serve its purpose as an adventurer''s outfit, but a tad coarse. Jeans, I never appreciated you properly until now...
Taking a few steps forwards is awkward. Not only is this body taller than my below average previous height, there''s a scabbard attached to my belt that I swear was not there a moment ago. Argh... my balance is completely off now. Great, just great. Uncomfortable clothes, a sword doubling as a serious trip hazard, a body I''m unused to and- Where is the other stuff? There was definitely more than this on the list.
I should be equipped with money, ID, water flask, food and a map, and yet all of them are nowhere to be seen. There is a small leather pouch next to the sheathed sword on my belt, but it''s completely empty. Okay, calm down, turn around and you''ll probably find it behind you. Hah! So far I can see trees and grass, notable because they are subtly different from earth''s fauna, but other than that nothing. After making a 360-degree rotation there is still no sign of what I spent 2 points on in order to stand a better chance at surviving. Ab-so-lute-ly great. Just what I wanted. Unless...?
"Inventory"
Congratulations: Inventory System Unlocked
Yes! Well done me, immediate problem solved with a perfect 100%! The screen in front of me is, unsurprisingly, titled Inventory. Wonder why they didn''t tell me that I had what is effectively a portable dimension available for storage? Now that''s been mentioned I wonder... is this the same as the game thing hiding the New Players Pack in a mountain of other stuff? Because the two are highly similar in principle. Eh, I''ll have to be on my guard for stuff like this from now on. Now that that''s dealt with I can''t help trembling with excitement as I say the next command.
After a cursory glance confirms that, yes, everything else is indeed stored in the inventory, I withdraw the map. Blast it, this is the second time I''ve fallen backwards due to an utterly unexpected pop-up. What piece of paper suddenly flashes like that before disappearing? If I hadn''t squeezed my eyes shut at the start of the light I would have been completely dazzled at best, temporarily blinded at worst. As it is my eyes ache.
Congratulations: Mini-Map Unlocked
I suppose I''ll admit it worked out for the best. If I had known that the New Players Pack came with such useful skills I wouldn''t have complained at all. As it is now: completely worth the 2 points expenditure. Finally, I''ll be able to tell which way I need to go to find civilization. Technically both directions of the path must lead to somewhere, but one way will be closer than another. Please let there be a town, or even a village that I can walk to before nightfall - even though I don''t personally hold out much hope.
The path is little more than a dirt track, not a road by any stretch of the imagination. If it was used on a daily basis wouldn''t it be a bit more... worn? Zooming out the mini-map reveals that I am in the center of what is called the Wilowen Woods, and I am nearest to a village called Cerister in actual distance. Unfortunately getting there would still take multiple days in addition to requiring me to strike out across country. No. No way. Even if I can''t detect any signs of animal life here there could be wolves or bandits in the woods. Or worse.
If this really was a game I might have taken the chance, confident that if something bad happened I could load my last save. Having my life on the line, rather than my avatars life changes that perspective dramatically. I got a second chance once, and am in no particular hurry to find out if it really is ''third time lucky''. So... currently I have two feasible options, the town of Yarrow or another village, this one named Mogez. Yarrow is a days¡¯ worth of extra walking away, but there is an advantage. The line on the mini-map representing the path gets wider and wider as Yarrow gets nearer. It even joins up with some similar paths and branches off to create new ones.
In short, half of the distance will be me travelling on a main road, probably alongside merchants and other travelers. That strikes me as safer compared to a dense forest path which has who knows what lying in wait. Luckily the map marker showing me my location also has an arrow showing which direction I''m walking in. Turning around until the arrow is pointing towards the destination, I clench my fists. I will do this. I can do this. Okay, let''s get walking!
Impossible. I''ve been walking for three measly hours and only covered 8 measly miles of ground! Only another hundred to go! The dot that is me has barely moved on the map. And when I said my clothes were uncomfortable, well that slight irritation is nothing compared to the pain from the blisters the boots have given me on my feet! Why didn''t I pick a demi-human race, I take all the comments about being too focused on stamina back. But I did the calculations, and promptly realized that I have no choice but to keep up this, for me, exhausting pace.
Considering what I''ve already eaten, I have four days¡¯ worth of herb flatbreads. At least water isn''t a problem, I refilled my flask an hour ago when I reached that rickety wooden bridge over a stream. Anything to delay crossing that health and safety nightmare. It wasn''t that high up, but the waters flow was way too strong for the me with no stamina and little swimming skill. I ended up using a stick to test each plank - good job I did too, one of them was rotten and gave way!
I''ll reach another running water source tomorrow, if I can maintain a semi-decent number of miles per day, I''ll get some more water then. I''m still hungry and slightly thirsty, but it is not at the level that it can''t be endured. The pain from a burst blister is more of an issue, because it''s directly hindering my ability to walk. Last but most certainly not least is the rather prominent problem of shelter. Where am I supposed to spend the night in relative safety and comfort?
I checked the mini-map, but there aren''t any nearby inns marked on it, whereas there are several scattered along the main road. As expected, I guess I''ll have to keep walking while being on the lookout for a place to spend the night. It''s not like I have a candle or lantern so I should search while it''s still daytime.
Now that I think about it I probably should have specified to myself exactly what I wanted. There was a large tree a mile or so back which had leaves to match, it would have shielded me from the rain if nothing else. Where I am right now there''s only young trees which wouldn''t shelter me a bit. Is it even correct to look to the woods for a place to camp out in? I know it''s risky to go under a tree in a thunderstorm... something about lightning striking tall things first... but since all the better options are unavailable I''ll have to make do.
Yes! My luck is good today! Never thought that I''d see the day that coming across an old shed would be considered a blessing, but there you go. The door''s not locked either, hardly surprising given the barren interior. A few pieces of sackcloth form a ragged heap in a corner, and a couple more are tucked into various cracks in the walls or leaks in the roof. It''s windowless and dark to boot, but who cares? Not me, I have somewhere dry to sleep, just in time as well - there are grey clouds gathering in the darkening sky.
Also a lucky thing is that it''s evening, or at least sunset now. No wasting valuable travelling time here that I need in order to reach Yarrow before I run out of supplies. Spreading out the rather tattered cloth over the floor, I place my sword within arm¡¯s reach of it. A neat precaution if I''m attacked while asleep. That being done I lie down on my improvised bedding and try to get some sleep. The day must have been more exhausting than I was aware of, because despite the discomfort I fell asleep within a few minutes.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Awakening at sunrise with a yawn and a stretch, I stifled a groan. I ache all over, not just my blistered feet and tired legs, my entire body is sore as anything. But hey, I''m alive, swords still in its place so nothing was stolen overnight. Now, breakfast time! Pulling out an herbal flatbread from the inventory, I break it in two, returning half. Definitely not going to eat my entire allocation of food for the day this very second. Even if that leaves me with a slightly empty feeling in my stomach after consuming it.
Washing the slightly floury aftertaste from my mouth with water, I step outside, door closing with a final creak. Time to walk off the stiffness in my joints! It''s only after an hour or so of walking at a slow pace that I notice it. There''s a slight glow coming from a dark hollow in a tree trunk. And one thing I am certain of is that is different from the other sparkles - that are coming from the light hitting the morning dewdrops on the grass.
Waiting and observing quietly for a while, nothing seems to be moving. Hmm, I know I said that I wouldn''t try and travel through the Wilowen Woods, but investigating something only a few meters away from the road surely couldn''t hurt. A nagging voice in my head does chime in to say that that must be what every horror story protagonist thought at the beginning. But if there is something out there watching me, what better attack than an ambush from behind? Can I really afford to just leave it unsearched?
Okay, I''m done scrambling for excuses why I need to check it out. Let''s face the facts. I am so, so, so very curious that I am going to throw caution to the wind for now. Though if I''m going to explore then I know for sure that I''ll be doing it on my terms only.
"Anybody here?"
I call out several times, getting louder with each repetition. A slight echo is the only response I receive. Since there is nobody around willing to show themselves I have very few qualms about what I am planning to do next. Walking forwards and giving my very best not to show any particular interest in the glows direction, while at the same time paying it attention, is understandably hard. Honestly, anyone with any skill would have figured me out ages ago. Well, here goes nothing.
"Magic merge with wind and meld unto. Arc over the skies [Wind Arrow]!"
Very, very embarrassing to say, I couldn''t even keep the cringe out of my voice. But no sooner than my exclamation of the spells name left my lips, a cool but intense blast had me closing my eyes. Opening them quickly I can see the translucent white bolt shoot in the general direction of the mysterious hollow, and crash straight into a nearby tree. A cloud of sawdust spreads out, unfortunately my mouth was gaping slightly in awe as I leaned in to get a better look, meaning that I also got a mouthful of the stuff.
"Ack!"
Spitting out the scratchy substance which insisted on sticking to my tongue, I put some distance between me and the hollow. I am such an idiot. One use of magic and I get all excited and full of myself. I utterly neglected the fact that I could have gotten myself killed in the moment I was completely off guard. Way to go me. Now, focus!
One foot in front of the other, or more accurately one toe, I inch towards the sparks origin. Now that the sawdust has finally settled over the forest floor I can see that there really is something strange hidden there, a small white orb? No, not an orb, more likely a flower bud, some species of rose perhaps? Should I touch it? If I had an identification skill I¡¯d be in a much better position now, knowledge is power and all that. On one hand it could be a rare herb. On the other hand, it could be poisonous to even touch. Some frogs can kill in a second with the poison on their skin...
Why am I even thinking about frogs? This is a flower for goodness'' sake! Though humans do share a good percentage of DNA with a daffodil, same as with all living things. Gah! Get back on task! Biology lessons aren''t exactly going to help you now, botany maybe, but they don''t exactly offer that elective in senior school. Not my school anyway. Focus! Focus, focus, focus, hocus pocus and that rhymes don''t you know and what is going on with my head?! This. Is. Not. NORMAL!
The sensation of my feet being locked into place acts as a catalyst for my return to lucid thought. Rather than look down in panic and waste precious milliseconds I fumble to draw my sword. It''s taking more than a few seconds despite my haste, I''ve never exactly practiced. Then I am completely unbalanced as the, what I can now tell to be, plant tendrils wrapped around my boots yank sharply, pulling me to the hollow where the flower bud sits, still glowing innocuously. Hah! I am 100% certain that it''s involved.
No time to think though, does that count as a thought? No! I lash out with my sword which has at long last been unsheathed. Pretty randomly, all I actually know is that there are tendrils coiled around my feet and stabbing them means stabbing myself in the foot. Still I have to try - and oh-no-this-cannot-be-happening! There''s a huge green leaf, it''s got to be bigger than me, heading towards me from one side, the opposite direction from which the tendrils are pulling me to. Got to do something, and quick.
Only a single idea comes to mind. So I act on it. I plunge the sword towards the ground with all my weight behind the blade. The aim of this being to anchor myself to the ground in order to buy some time. My strength is far from impressive, but I only need a short time to launch another spell. A short time that I haven''t actually managed to secure. My only physical weapon penetrated the tongue-like leaf halfway through before stopping. The strike wasn''t powerful enough?
"Arghhhhhhhhhhh!"
I can''t help it. The sigh of relief I was about to give when the tendrils detached from my feet, turns into a garbled scream. No sooner had they withdrawn than the leaf I had stabbed began to thrash wildly. Did I wound it? Is that why it''s almost about to send me flying - due to the pain? Well I''m in pain too, my body is bruised and jarred from being flung this way and that. Thank goodness my luck is sufficient that I am able to keep my grip on the blades hilt. Then a sharper pain lances through my thigh, I''ve somehow managed to contort my body mid-flight sufficiently enough to cut myself on my own blade.
"Magic merge with wind and meld u-ggh!"
A slam into what feels like a tree trunk deprives me of my breath long enough to thoroughly interrupt my attempt at magic. And I''m losing blood, not exactly rapidly, but faster than it''s healthy for sure. I can''t tell if my increased dizziness is because of this, or because of all the spinning my head has endured so far. Taking a chance by looking down, all I can tell is that the situation is getting worse still. Where the tendrils were before, where my feet were before, a large hole has opened. Hole? More like a gaping maw! And are those fangs protruding from the sides.
The reason behind the thrashing around is crystal clear now. It''s not gone mad with pain; this monster plant is trying to dislodge me into that fanged mouth in order to eat me. Now, I don''t particularly want to be flung off the plant, with that level of power I could be sent flying off into the sky. But that is preferable to becoming dinner for carnivorous foliage. Letting go of the sword comes naturally, all I have to do is relax my grip when the leaf-tongue hybrid is throwing me backwards, and voila. I am sent skidding along the ground, hearing the ripping sound as my clothes tear. That much was expected though, and loss of clothes is preferable to loss of limb or life.
The plant knows something has happened, because it promptly stops its frenzied movements. Instead it is very still. Almost as if it was searching for something... for me. Too late you stupid Venus fly-trap knock-off. I will win this now!
"Magic merge with wind and meld unto. Arc over the skies [Wind Arrow]!"
Once again I feel the backlash of the arrows launch in the form of a cool breeze. Along with a sense of exhaustion, is two beginner level spells really my limit? Unlike last time however I make certain to not get distracted or close my eyes, it is vital that I watch what follows. The arrow hurtles through the clearing, getting closer to the ground with each fraction of a second. I watch with baited breath, will it hit its target? This is only my second time casting magic after all. The plant seems to have realized exactly what I was aiming for, it''s fanged hole in the earth which passes for a mouth starts to shrink in size, retreating rapidly.
Such a shame - for it - that it is way too late. The wind arrow plunges straight into that very same hole, drilling through what I assume is the creatures throat. A recoil from the plant is both visible and audible, every part of it stiffens then withdraws, curling in on itself. It is that that creates the noise, a creaking sound that reminds me of old floorboards, oddly enough.
In a final attack, probably meant to finish me off alongside it, the leaf which I had semi-impaled came shooting in my direction. Not exactly dangerous, I felt, except upon considering the fact I could not currently move quickly and given that the edge of the blade was brought along with the leaf, I think I am justified in raising the threat level. The sword is currently at throat height as well, and could end up cutting it with some good luck on the plants end and some bad luck on mine.
"Magic compress and control the air currents. Unleash [Breeze Blast]!"
Nothing good comes of my panicked attempt to get-that-sharp-pointy-thing, and for that matter, carnivorous-plant-appendage away from me. More accurate would be to say that nothing happens at all. I can feel the spell drawing on my reserves, and then I can feel the completely drained sensation as they completely empty halfway through. Needless to say the spell is a failure, I''ll have to rely on my much abused body to make it through this alive.
Bracing one hand in front of me I prepare for what is probably the most suicidal thing I''ve ever done. Except for investigating this, but how could I have known what was lying in wait? So the most suicidal thing I have ever knowingly decided to do while being fully aware of the risks. That should do the trick. And just as the sword is sent hurtling in my direction I push my body to take a step forwards, though it''s more of a stumble in actuality. Reach, just a little bit further. Other hand come up and... Yes! I manage to barely snag the weapon out of the air and with my last reserves of stamina reverse its trajectory. This time the sword, aided by my entire body weight behind it, cleanly cuts through the leaf.
While I am still in shock that somehow my hastily thought up plan B actually succeeded, I can''t help a mental cheer. Kind of a well done, let''s celebrate being alive kind of thing. Thanks to you, half-elf race, your higher than average perception and excellent coordination have saved the day! Now to slump against a tree and wait for enough magic power to recover for me to heal myself. Phew.
Chapter 3
Okay, I don''t feel drained of every last drop of energy anymore, I''d guess my MP''s recovered about halfway? I can''t be sure though, my status doesn''t actually have a score for it so I''m relying on my gut feeling here. Still, it''s been quite quick to come back, which is most likely due to being a Level 1 character with MP reserves to match. Two spells! Two basic spells and I am completely spent. How can this be? I know that half-elves don''t get any bonus raw magical power, but shouldn''t the largish boost to control make casting more efficient
Unless control affects complexity of the spells I can cast? I don''t know, but it''s kind of a scary thought - that if I had less control I might have only been able to cast a single spell before insufficient MP struck and rendered me helpless. I would definitely be dead by now, had that been the case. Still, since I have enough MP to use healing magic I''ll do that for now. My thigh is covered with dried blood from the wound, and while it''s not infected yet the pain is keeping a constant presence at the back of my mind.
For that reason, I''ll try diagnosing my injuries first - I''ve gathered so many that I don''t know where to start. Sterilizing to prevent infection? Binding up the wound - and if so which one? Healing a bruise - or could the bone be broken? No, I need to know what I''m facing in order to decide the best course of action. After all there is the ever pressing problem of limited food supplies, I cannot afford to dawdle. Water as well, if the mini-map is accurate, which it has proven to be so far, the nearest source is a few hours brisk walking away. And my condition is hardly good enough to manage a slow limp, much less anything vaguely resembling brisk.
"Magic of the mind, filter through. Behold, body [Diagnose]!"
The feeling is... odd... like being submersed in cold custard, though I''ve never experienced such a strange thing personally that is the image my imagination conjures up. Stupid over-active imagination. Let''s pay attention to more important things, things like the diagnostic screen that has popped up in front of me. With a massive wall of text to read through. Thank goodness there is a filter at the top or I just know I would have struggled to sift the major overload of information to get to the actual important bits. Like the fact that I almost severed an artery in my thigh and should not aggravate it or I will bleed to death in short order.
Other than that I have a badly sprained ankle, bruised rib cage, slightly sprained wrist and so many cuts and scrapes and miscellaneous aches that I gave up halfway through. Since it was ranked by severity of injury I doubt that something that comes after ''minor earache'' is worth a mention. Not moving my leg while waiting yet again for replenished MP makes for a pretty dull day. So... Very... Boring...
Finally, I was facing the supremely hard choice of death by boredom or death by movement. Well, the situation wasn''t quite that dire, I didn''t have a death wish especially after all of the trouble I''ve been through in order to keep this life of mine! Which I should be prolonging right now with my only healing magic that actually heals. I know, I know, the others provide essential aid for wounds which [Small Heal] can''t deal with in one go, but I have already acknowledged the probability that one casting will not be enough. Then it will be back to waiting. Oh joy.
"Vitality and vigor, gather, bend and nurture. Magic restoration [Small Heal]!"
A small glow manifests, giving off a gentle warmth before splitting into sparks which gather all over my body, but particularly at my thigh, chest and ankle. So the case is that the serious stuff is treated first. Good to know, though for now I''m simply content to revel in the absence of the majority of the pain - the sparks having a numbing effect. My breathing is somewhat relaxed now, though it is gradually getting more labored.
As the specks of healing magic exhaust their energy they begin to wink out of existence one by one. And as they vanish so does the painkilling aura they exuded. So, yes, I am still in pain. Less pain than I was experiencing pre-healing, but it still seems pretty bad after a half-minute or so reprieve. Only one thing seems somewhat off- using healing magic was less draining than using wind magic. Not that I''m complaining! Based on the level of magical fatigue I have gained; I''ll be facing a half hour before I can repeat the chant. Though that is a slight over-estimate, I want a bit of a safety net just to err on the right side of caution.
And... done! Fully healed except for some minor bruises, and to be honest, I''ve had worse back home. It still took some time, nothing if compared to natural recuperation, but a good couple of hours¡¯ worth of heal and wait and heal and wait and so on. Halfway through the process I noticed that the vines that had curled in on themselves were glowing slightly. It was unnerving, I was in a pretty bad state and all I could think was that there was some kind of resurrection thing going on.
There wasn''t, I''d hardly be alive now if that was the case. But that glow was driving me up the wall, all the having to wait on top of all the really weird stuff and you have a recipe for impatience. I want to know! Well, now I can find out for myself, so I walk over, sword at the ready. Just because one creature is dead doesn''t mean another won''t come along. Heck, a predator might even be attracted by the dead body! Or the glow for that matter, it''s kind of conspicuous. Hesitantly I reach out and try to touch the object, but as soon as I''ve decided on that course of action the air itself seems to shimmer and before I can fully process this, the remnants have completely vanished.
"What the-?"
Although upon further investigation it seems that something has been left behind. A lump of some wobbly substance the size of my fist. Is it jelly? No, it''s too tough for that, it doesn''t really have much give either when I test it. Maybe rubber then? I think I read something about rubber being harvested from vines in the olden days. That means this is the equivalent of a monster drop item, I wonder how much it''ll fetch. It was a pretty tough battle, though that could be purely down to my inexperience in fighting, in addition to my low level. Now, what''s that alert flashing up in the corner of my eye? Have I levelled up! At long last!
Log Updated: Scroll Down for Further Information
So no level up. Great, I just defeated a seriously tricky opponent, most likely equivalent to several times my meagre level 1, and I don''t get anything out of it. I could have done with more points too. I''d really like to get some sort of appraisal skill. Then maybe I wouldn''t be walking blindly into life-threatening situations. So what did I get, apart from a fistful of rubber.
Toltec Rubber Vine: Level 1: Defeated
You have gained [Low Quality Tough Rubber] x1
You have gained 20XP
You have gained 0.01 Character Points
I get character points from defeating monsters? Okay, so right now calling it that is misleading. Revised mental exclamation: I get miniscule fractions of character points from defeating monsters, and if I live long enough I might just get to accumulate a sufficient quantity of them to form a whole one? Yeah, that sounds a lot more realistic. Depositing the rubber inside my inventory, I pressed yes when the option came up to add the newly named Toltec Rubber Vine to my Bestiary. No new information added, just a lot of question marks, oh, and the fact that Low Quality Tough Rubber was one of its many drops. A pity it''s probably not worth a lot, it is a common item according to this.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
I did pick up the white flower bud, and put it in an inventory slot. All I got was a long line of gibberish. I guess I''ll keep it for now, it can''t harm me if it¡¯s in an alternate dimension. Maybe I can get it appraised when I reach Yarrow? And, speaking of which, I really need to set off on the next leg of my journey, my water gourd is drained dry of every last drop. Going without food for a day is barely tolerable, but I would take that over a day without water any time. So let''s get to that stream.
Ah, so refreshing, I even got to rinse the dirt off my face as well as gulp sweet, sweet water to my heart¡¯s content. It was a sunny day so it really was too hot to be travelling without water. The upside is that since my clothes will dry quickly under the sun''s rays I can give them a wash as well. Maybe then the smell of constant wear will decrease a bit. Can''t help the creasing though, I''d air them as a substitute for ironing, but they are all I have to cover myself with - I only rinsed them briefly downstream under cover of some trees in order to minimize chance of discovery.
No-one came along, which is sort of strange after all this time. Even if this is really out of the way shouldn''t there have been a merchant, or peddler, or even a fellow traveler to cross paths with? I mean, it''s good that there''s no bandits but, I don''t know, something about this doesn''t sit right with me. Erm... I think I''ve gone and jinxed myself. Just as I seriously think about the prospect of some hidden danger - guess what? Danger, that''s what. Improving my Luck stats score has just jumped up the priority list. Because I do not see how yet another vine shooting tendrils at me out of nowhere is in any way ''lucky''.
Carefully noting the location of the heavily fanged hole that was waiting to swallow me, I jumped backwards, and not a second too late. There was a pile of something at the bottom that I really did not want to join. As it was I gained a thin cut on my cheek from a vine which was covered in thorns. I would have sworn that the previous vine was lacking that particular nasty addition. So a partially unknown opponent then, perfect.
Duck, then dodge to the right, bend over backwards as if doing the limbo and yes, I have managed to keep my head on my shoulders, barely. Though said head is pounding, either from sheer adrenaline or from dizziness, hopefully the former. And please oh please don''t let it be the mind affecting substance that played havoc with my brain in the previous fight. No, calm down, I can manage a coherent thought without getting distracted right now, so I am doing better in that respect. And, maybe because I have some battle experience against a similar opponent I''m actually settling into a defensive rhythm of a sort. And so I am able to say a key phrase in between gasps for air.
The wind arrow lands a successful hit, but due to some difficulties in multitasking casting and parrying it ends up only destroying half of the mouth. The other half remains untouched. Hence why I''m being attacked much more now, I know that it''s simply a matter of time until the withering tendrils completely lose strength and the monster dies, but my enemy knows that as well. Hence the lack of caution as it slashes at me again and again.
"¡"
I can''t help wincing as a stinging pain hits my shoulder hard, that it is my left shoulder is a small mercy. If it had been my right one I would have lost the ability to wield my sword, and poor as I am at swordsmanship I would be a hundred times worse when using my non-dominant hand to hold the blade. Though instead of relief, I''m confused as anything. There was no way a tendril could have attacked me from that angle, I''ve been meticulous about keeping track of the thorn-covered vines and... oh... no. A twist to the side neatly avoids a large black needle that shoots past me to embed itself deep within a tree trunk. A needle larger than, but otherwise utterly identical to the one that is sticking out of my left shoulder.
Ranged attacks are bad, very bad. I immediately go even further on the defensive. While before I was trying to conserve my limited stamina, now I cannot afford even that small luxury. The only good news in this bleak situation is that each vine can only shoot one needle before it loses energy for a while. And that results in a crucial opening! Taking a deep breath, I rush a huddle of exhausted tendrils and behead them with two swipes.
It was relatively easy to cut through the width of the vines, but that was not the oddest occurrence. The question I should be asking is why was it so easy to take that many out of the equation, without any opposition. The answer; it was a trap. When I craned my head I could see every last tendril preparing to send a storm of needles at me. That was when I released the breath I had been holding in a jumble of words - not of panic, but of magic.
"Magic might, infuse the air and dance deliverance [Divert Projectile]!"
The air around me feels like its adhered to my skin, running a constant stream of wind in the opposite direction. Then it curves around me and I can hear the soft thud of the large needles, though to be honest they are better suited to represent dagger blades than an innocuous sewing tool, as they drop in a circle just a half meter away from my feet.
"What an obvious trap!"
I taunt the monster slightly, but it doesn''t respond in anyway. Well that much is good, I''d be worried if it came down to killing a fully sentient being. I do take into account the fact that it could just be unable to move after such an all-out attack. But it''s unlikely, the mouth is still full of bared fangs. It''s wary, ready to bite down, and yet I would be a complete and utter fool if I did not take advantage of the temporary lull in attack to finish it off. I''m not going to get another chance like this, where I have a total reprieve from the giant needles.
I don''t have sufficient magic left to use wind arrow, so cold hard steel will have to do. Upon my approach something resembling drool drips from the fangs, only to be quickly shaken off when I swipe at it. I was over confident, or so it seems. Beheading the vines was not hard, simply aim for the gaps between the thorns and they were within the bounds of an ordinary person to chop. But while they are of identical thickness to each other, the fangs seem to be made out of a much harder material. My sword wasn''t stuck, but it took a whole lot of pressure to sever one fang. Using both hands for the blow could have let me hack straight through, but my left shoulder''s still injured to the point that the pain would be a major distraction should I use it.
I''m fighting with my last reserves of energy now, fatigue has well and truly settled in. But if I rest now, if the plant monster recovers in that time then I am doomed. Since my life is now equivalent to a role playing game it is probably accurate to compare my current actions to a player spamming their avatars attack button. No finesse, no particular accuracy, just hacking and slashing any undamaged part of the plant I can reach. It''s working, repetitive blows from a sharp sword will chip steadily at an unarmored enemy¡¯s health, but it seems like an age before the same glow appears around the remains.
Directly after casting the healing spell on my shoulder I sprawl out on the grass bordering the dirt track, body somewhat on edge, my heart rate still accelerated. But mentally I feel languid, peaceful and above all satisfied that I am safe for now. Gesturing towards the glow, and mentally noting to pick up the dropped item in a minute or so, it comes as something of a surprise when the mass of limp vines vanishes revealing a small spool of white thread. It works just on thought? That''s good... though it doesn''t automatically enter my inventory. That, I have to do manually. Since I''m not in the mood to play a guessing game about the threads identity I bring up the log.
Thornstorm Rubber Vine: Level 1: Defeated
You have gained [Normal Quality Elastic] x1
You have gained 20XP
You have gained 0.01 Character Points
Pretty much the same as last time, eh? Only 98 more monsters to defeat in order to get a character point. Just... don''t let me encounter anymore until after I''ve acclimated to this world better. There''s only so much I can take. Like how I am studiously avoiding the fact that common Level 1 monsters are this strong. Somehow I doubt I''ll be seeing a passer-by soon. Unless they''re a battle addict, in which case I''m better off steering clear of them.
Let¡¯s think of happier thoughts. Like setting off on the journey again and the prospect of a warm meal and bath, and a soft bed for the night. It''s only two days until the nearest Inn! Though I don''t think only is the right word. Gah, it was supposed to build morale, not make me depressed. Okay, no more thinking about this, get going and... I don¡¯t suppose I could wait a bit and use healing magic on my blisters? I''d forgotten how sore they can be after bursting.
Chapter 4
I used to get so annoyed, being woken up at the crack of dawn by the incessant high-pitched chirping of various feathered creatures. Made a good alarm clock, but mostly just disturbed my morning lie-in. Now, imagine this. I am able to sleep through birds chirping, dogs barking and cats meowing, yet in their absence I am unable to catch a short nap without feeling that the silence is oppressive. Part of it is just the suddenness of the change, the sort you adapt to quickly enough, I can cope with that. What concerns me greatly to the point of not being able to sleep for an entire night is that I don''t know what threats are out there.
Yesterday taught me a lesson; unlike the first battle which I foolishly threw myself into, the second one was an unprovoked attack. Well, there might have been territory issues, predators often do, but after piecing together the fragmented memories of the initial engagements I can only come to one conclusion. Both those vines were hunting, albeit in alternate ways.
The Toltec Rubber Vine located itself near a plant it knew affected people¡¯s minds, and waited patiently for its prey to weaken and effectively deliver themselves right into an eager mouth. The Thornstorm Rubber Vine though, was seeking out its next meal in an active manner. That or it was watching that particular stretch of path hoping to catch the unwary traveler. The overall conclusion? Staying out of troubles way won''t cut it if I am to survive the next two days until the Inn. Because trouble will come and find me; I''ll have to be extra cautious. But that in itself is near impossible while forcing myself to stay awake through willpower alone.
And what about the future supposing I manage to reach the Inn? It''s not like everything will suddenly be perfect, and my funds are as limited as my rations. I should probably be thinking up a plan, but knowing so little my current train of thought involves becoming an adventurer. Pretty typical, I know. Defeat the monsters and selling the drops gathered is the modus operandi of quite a few of the novels I''ve read, I''m just not sure how it will pan out when I am the one putting myself in danger day after day.
Healing is out of the question, at least until I can drastically improve MP consumption/reserves and my overall repertoire. I mean I''ll ask about the prices charged by healers, but it took an age to cure the relatively deep cut on my thigh - small heal having to be cast countless times. Unless healing is seriously rare and lucrative I won''t be able to eke out a living. And even then I don''t want to be living day to day! I like financial security thank you very much, and some degree of comfort in my daily life. Like a soft bed... I want a soft bed I can curl up and sleep in. So tired...
Fighting back the urge to close my eyes - that patch of grass looked so soft and inviting - I continue to walk. And come to the conclusion that no mini-map is complete without the ability to show enemies positions on it. That''s right, as if a monster a day isn''t enough combat, two monsters appear at once. At least this time I had advance warning, I could hear their heavier than normal footsteps some distance off. Though this could be bad - if they are that heavy then, well I''d say I''m in trouble but quite frankly I''ve told myself that so many times it''s lost some of its effect.
Spin around, draw sword without fumbling, and succeed in positioning myself defensively. Or at least semi-defensively, since all of my knowledge is largely theoretical. I know from fight scenes that I need to ''keep my guard up'' and ''not leave any openings'', but fantasy books don''t exactly provide step by step instructions on how to fight. No, they focus on the thrilling bits, leaving me with general tips which I have absolutely no knowledge on how to implement. But standing with my legs apart for better balance and holding the sword in the stance I saw in a movie is better than nothing. Even if it is the opposite of good, and is actually detrimental to my chances of survival, at least I feel more confident, not to mention secure having a sword between me and them.
Speaking of which I can see them clearly now. The good news; the attackers are both normal human sized, the heavy footsteps were clumsiness. The bad news; they are terrifying. Ragged black tatters are insufficient to cover their straw and wood frame. Scarecrows. Mobile scarecrows with pumpkin heads and a fire burning within, causing their eyes to glow. Scary... I really don''t want to know whether they can breathe fire. The first priority is, however, to not get within reach of the enormous scythes they carry.
But how can I defeat them? Not with the sword, that much is guaranteed. With the scythes handle being over two meters long I cannot get within hitting difference without risking a blow. They come as a pair as well, even if they aren''t faking and their approach really is slow due to low maneuverability, I can''t hold out. Wind magic it is, though why have they paused as soon as I begin my chant? I get the feeling this is vital information, but if I stop now I''ll have wasted a good chunk of MP. Please, please, please don''t let this be a trap I won''t be able to escape.
"Magic merge with wind and meld unto. Arc over the skies [Wind Arrow]!"
At exactly the same time a fireball launches from the cut out mouth of one while the other shuffles towards me, scythe swaying back and forth due to the uneven gait. Remembering a trick used in the middle ages I swing my sword, not at the pumpkin headed monster, but at the handle of the scythe. Clang! The sound of metal hitting metal resonates, and I take a step backwards, arm throbbing with pain. It was supposed to have a wooden handle, one that I could cut through! That attack was going to have removed the mid-range threat from one of them at least, not leave me with my arm, my dominant arm which I use to wield the sword at that, out of commission.
Taking a few hastier steps in order to complete my retreat, I can at least rest assured that the fireball launching one is in no position to attack. When our spells collided midair the momentum of mine must have been greater, that or the power. Because from what I can deduce the fireball was blown backwards such a way away that it wound up reversing its path and striking its own caster. Pumpkin head number two is flopping miserably on the path, by this point all of its body is ablaze.
I would take a moment to gloat, but pumpkin head number one is heading straight for me. Dodging the strike is not exactly simple, but I''ve endured worse. What matters is that the giant blade is almost halfway embedded into the ground, and its dry sunbaked mud, much harder than the turf on the side. So high strength, fire magic attacks and low speed. A ratio of two bad things to one good thing. Not really my cup of tea at all. Or kettle of fish for that matter. Stupid sayings.
Another direct physical attack would be impossible; magic will have to take its place in this round. And there is a perfect opening right now which will maximize the damage done. Since the scythe blade has gotten stuck - due to how deep it managed to bury itself in the earth, pumpkin one is slowly but surely pulling it out. A wind arrow is produced on my command, and drills right through the orange head, exploding it. Collapsing in a heap, that telltale glow indicated that this particular enemy is permanently taken care of.
Despite this I don''t feel relieved in the slightest. I guess I''ve learnt the hard way about not letting my guard down even when supposedly safe. And that is nothing compared to letting my guard down when there is still an alive enemy to face. Gripping my sword awkwardly with my left hand, I maneuver so I can attack the smoldering pumpkin from behind. If it spits out fireballs through its mouth it could very well have prepared one in order to take me down with it. I''ve experienced that once already, and I know what is said about falling for the same trick twice.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
A few clumsy hacks and two aching arms in place of one later, it has finally perished. These things are oddly resilient, because even accounting for the use of my non-dominant hand it still took me an inordinate amount of time before I could kill it. Is the head a weak spot? Or maybe it''s especially vulnerable to wind magic? I can¡¯t tell without testing the theory in another battle. Okay, hopefully that is not something that is going to happen!
2 Hallowcrows: Level 1: Defeated
You have gained [Ordinary Pumpkin] x1
You have gained [Small Pumpkin] x1
You have gained 30 XP
You have gained 0.01 Character Points
Well, that''s annoying, they were only worth half of the vines value in terms of character points. But at least I won''t be starving anytime soon now that there''s two pumpkins in my inventory. Blegh, pumpkin. Tastes horrid but is literally better than nothing. Speaking of nothing, why is there no progress in my level! Level 0! That''s what it still says next to the experience count! And the status is working, because it shows I have 70 XP... maybe I have to get to 100 XP in order to level?
I simply don''t know what to do. On one hand levelling up could give me an advantage not only on the road, but when I reach Yarrow. On the other I''ve had my fill of excitement - read danger - for now and could do with a trouble free finish for my journey. Actually I do know what to do, neither of those options. I''ll continue travelling and if I encounter a monster, its fighting time regardless of what I wish. Simply don''t go looking for trouble in order to level up faster. Knowing my luck trouble will come sooner or later in any case.
Finally, my arm is healed and pain free, I managed to walk the required distance today and best of all, I got to see a change in scenery! Not in the trees, though there might be some minor distinction in the various species that I haven''t noticed, nor in the path, which is the same old dirt track it was at the beginning. What stands out as different from before is the presence of another dirt track which merges with my current one, increasing its width. Before a single car would be the only vehicle that could pass with any semblance of ease. The combined road, now large enough to be called as such, can accommodate two lanes of traffic. I''m guessing that it''s one going each way but since there aren''t any lines it could be that I''m in the wrong.
After another hour of walking I notice something, or rather two somethings. The first is that my feet aren''t hurting quite so much, and have less blisters than on the first day, thank goodness. The second is the first sign of human life that I have seen with my own eyes. If you discount the mini-maps labels that is, which I for one do. A dot on a map is hardly comparable to actually being in a town amid the hustle and bustle of daily life. That is why the sight of wheel marks on the dampened ground of the river bank are a refreshing thing to note down. Upon closer inspection there are hoof prints as well.
I''m hardly going to catch up with a horse drawn cart or carriage, my legs can only carry me so far and I have limited stamina to consider as well. But the tracks are fresh so there might be another one coming along. Is hitch-hiking a common enough practice to chance trying to get a lift? Not really, stranger danger and all that is big enough in the modern world, let alone some fantasy one. I''d probably be mistaken for a highwayman, if what I recall of history lessons are correct. Didn''t they use to stand in the middle of the road to get carriages to stop? Just the possibility of that misunderstanding is setting off my extreme risk radar like anything.
So after a quick wash and refilling my water skin I continue walking until a gentle thudding makes itself known. Squinting into the distance reveals that something is approaching me from the opposite direction, too soon to tell what though. Apart from moving to the side of the road to avoid getting run over I do nothing else. As much as I would feel better having a sword in my hand and ready to fend off potentially hostile parties I also need certain bits of information. Like, is the language I gained comprehension in actually spoken here. And an idea of prices for various goods from a neutral perspective would always come in handy. Otherwise I could end up being scammed out of everything.
The distant object is getting closer, no dust cloud so it''s not travelling too fast. Well, now I can see the reason for that, the wagon isn''t overloaded but with only a single donkey pulling the entire weight... No, there is no way that is a donkey! The stocky build generally resembles a small horse, enough that I made the initial connection. But when it whinnies, long and lethal looking canines are revealed from a mouth which common sense says should not be able to open that wide.
Calm down, calm down, and take a deep breath. I¡¯ve endured worse. Though¡ at least then I was expecting something different, something strange. Giving me a familiar animal and it turning out to be most likely a carnivore, from the drool dripping off of each fang is not playing fair. The driver is eying me now, the suspicious person walking casually along the road in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully it seems to be more of a vigilant look than a hostile one, and if he doesn¡¯t initiate an attack I won¡¯t either.
Their speed might be a total of 3-4 miles per hour by my standards, enough for me to outrun them temporarily. Then a picture of rhinoceros¡¯ pops into my head, those things can charge much faster than you¡¯d think. So nope, I¡¯m not starting a fight anytime soon. It¡¯s just I wonder, what''s in those sacks? There has to be a few dozens of them. Not going to ask, that would be a very bandit like thing to do in order to confirm a prey¡¯s cargo, but I¡¯ll admit it, I would really like to speak to another human being right now. Plus, a travel time estimate from a local would be great.
Ugh, stupid sense of loneliness, it''s overriding my common sense. Just¡ Timing, it''s all in the timing. And attitude, can''t forget the manner of speaking. It''s now or never, they¡¯ll pass me in a bit, so while still a fair distance away I call out to the wagons driver.
"How far is it to Yarrow?"
"¡"
The ensuing silence is awkward, until I realize that the man has slowed the donkey-thing''s pace to a crawl in order to answer.
"Three days on foot from here. Any monsters on the road?"
Ah, a trade of sorts. Good thing I remember the monster¡¯s names.
"Encountered some Rubber Vines and Hallowcrows, but I took care of them."
His expression doesn''t change. Good news or bad?
"Safe travels."
"The same to you."
And with that serving as a goodbye he prods the beast to plod along at its normal pace, clearly reluctant to linger. I''m satisfied though, the information he gave me about travel time matches the distance shown on the mini-map. Best of all is the fact that I had an understandable conversation with a local, so what if it was only a few words and sounded exactly like English to me? I can communicate! Wish it was this easy to learn French at school... not that my mangling of the accent that drove the teacher to despair matters here.
Though French did have one particular advantage I may not have here - the same alphabet. Which would be troublesome in the extreme, but not something to worry about now since it''s not something I can deal with prior to reaching my destination. Time is passing by pretty slowly while walking. So boring. I didn''t realize how much I needed to talk to someone until a short while ago, but because even that matter of fact exchange is a breath of fresh air, it''s definitely the case. I''ve never gone so long without communication, even when holed up playing video games I had internet access and email/chat as a result. That''s without including the wonderful invention called a mobile phone, which I''m guessing don''t exist here if they are using horse, or donkey, or whatever-that-was-called power to get around.
The sky is getting dark now, another inconvenience from not having modern technology. No lampposts. I''d try to start a fire, I''m pretty sure I could by rubbing the sticks together. Then again fire safety in my school consisted on how to use the fire extinguisher and get away safely. Not once was how to make a safe fire in a forest that would not end up setting all the trees ablaze mentioned. So I''ll have to make do without a light or a heat source. Except for the moon, which is full and somewhat luminous. But it''s full too, and isn''t that great! All those horror movies about werewolves spring to mind, and the shadows are starting to look decidedly sinister.
Flinching at what turns out to be another tree branch waving in the wind, I try to sleep. If a solo traveler can drive his wagon down the road alone then he''s probably sleeping outside as well. He could not be, now that I give the matter some serious thought his pace is a lot faster than mine, and he could be headed down the other path, the one I originally found myself standing on. Hindsight - how I hate you! And my aching body, I promise that this will be my last time sleeping under the stars for now, tomorrow I will have food and a bed, and a lack of worry due to being in an actual building!
Wait? What was that?
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Since I am not an owl and thus cannot turn my head in a near 360-degree rotation, I have to settle for shuffling around on my bottom while craning my neck to its limit. And I feel like an idiot doing so, not just because of the stupid looking actions, though that''s bad enough on its own. The real problem is not that, nor is it embarrassment at being the ''scared one'', the coward. As a matter of fact, I feel incredibly foolish for not immediately getting my back against a tree and drawing that sword of mine. There is something big out there! If it does happen to be a werewolf I am reevaluating my luck stat. It shouldn''t be possible or permissible to think of a particular monster and have one appear! That''s horror movie logic at its finest!
Every sound is a potential threat, even when it''s created by me. The snapping of a twig as I get to my feet results in chills down my spine. So scary... The night breeze ruffles through my hair, surprisingly, unnaturally warm? Throwing myself back to the ground there is a visible snap from overhead, a glimpse of fangs glinting off the moonlight revealing the monster¡¯s presence. Keep moving, I have to keep moving!
I roll my body in the general direction of ''away from monster which wants to eat me'', which succeeds, rather well actually. I know that as soon as the second lunge takes place, and claw and fang crash down on where I had lain, where I would still be lying now if not for my quick reaction. As it is the force of the clawed foot, paw, whatever it''s got claws, is more than sufficient to cause a vibration which I can feel travel through the ground.
A second gleam of reflected moonlight brings bad news, highlighting the fact that sharp claws are now clamped over my only weapon. The weapon that I had been sleeping next to in case of a situation like this, and which I had completely forgotten about when the time came for that course of action. I just had to, didn''t I? The clawed appendage strikes repeatedly, making getting to my feet hard enough, that the idea of sword recovery is very quickly buried under the large pile of mental screams and pleas of help. Basically all the useless thoughts that are not going to aid me in the slightest.
Cat and mouse is what''s going on right now, and it is one of the most nerve wracking experiences ever. Normally I would be the one scooping up the cat, removing mouse from mouth of said cat and letting the traumatized rodent get to safety while giving said cat some water to remove mouse breath. The role that matches my part in all this is that of the mouse the cat caught earlier, and left wounded outside as a snack for later, on the off chance that the cruel human would confiscate its main meal. Or in other words, and not using an extended metaphor, I''m toast!
The next awkward shuffle backwards sees my head collide with something hard and rough. Thank goodness it''s a tree, because I don''t know what I''d do if I felt scales instead of bark. Panic? Or be too dead to panic? At least going around the tree has given me a moments break, enough for me to get to my feet and open the mini-map. Running in a forest, in a race against a creature adapted to the darkness sounds pretty bad. But if I can circle around and get to my sword, or even get some space to catch a breather or chant a spell. I''d even settle simply for a clear line of vision to my attacker, so that I could see just what I''m up against.
While moving, I do my best to have my ears filter out the noise I know I am responsible for. All the better to focus on the unknown factor that the enemy presents. Footsteps are heavy, maybe it''s strength based? Big too, it is slower in the trees than out in the open. If I squint at the shadows moving back and forth it''s hard to distinguish what is simply a low hanging branch and what is not ¨Cthey are so closely packed that even my Night Vision is struggling to locate the beast.
Then the constant thud of its feet stops, I lunge to the left immediately. The snapping sound of jaws closing on thin air follows. Well if it had stopped moving it had either given up or was preparing another sudden attack, and I am not so stupid as to believe the former. As I am now, looking my enemy in the eyes, slatted pupils narrow further until a fine line is all that remains, focused in my direction. And yet somehow the eyes seem to be getting bigger, or rather closer. Though this time I do manage to keep my balance when beating a hasty retreat.
It really is hideous, a stocky scaled body and a long snake-like neck. Seriously, that thing could rival a giraffe. Only giraffes aren''t carnivorous. Another lunge, another dodge and the neck coils into something resembling a spring. It really is like a snake has been attached to a crocodile. At least all the dodging hasn''t been wasted as I have been able to retrieve my sword. That one moment of inaction is almost my undoing; I should have expected that it would launch another strike to the still me who must seem like the perfect target.
After evading the lightning fast lunge, the head of the creature pauses slightly, swiveling in my direction. Then it retracts back towards the main body, which begins to plod closer. Why am I still alive? I was less than a meter away from those yellowed fangs, and the neck clearly hadn''t quite extended itself fully. And given that, observing its actions just now I have finally figured out the weakness that is present in the beasts every move.
Speed, and the flexibility of the main body. It possesses neither of those. Even if it was perusing me through the forest, that was due to the length of its neck. Even if it had stamped down with its claws, it was only able to get that close due to my complete inattention and its stealth. From what I can tell its feet are only a few steps away from the position it stood at when it issued the first strike, indicative of slow movement. And as for just now? And the time before? Whenever its neck has been fully stretched it has halted the attack and retracted it. So if I could sprint to the main body when the monster has reached the limit of how much it can bend its neck, there will be an opening.
And it is now or never. I only have a score of six in stamina, and as a result am running purely on adrenaline. Keeping this going longer? Impossible. I¡¯ll collapse from exhaustion. So I run towards it, ignoring internal screams to ¡®run the other direction you fool!¡¯. The instinctual course of action can be drastically different at times from the intelligent course of action. Just keep going, just keep going. I reach the carnivorous snake-necked giraffe before it can recover, and chant as quickly as I can while keeping my words audible.
"Magic merge with wind and meld unto. Arc over the skies [Wind Arrow]!"
A bit garbled, and I think it weakened the spell, because it only fractured a chunk of the hardened skin off the back of said monsters neck. Bad? I guess not since a loud roar just sounded out, and it seemed distinctly pained. Better yet, the pain caused the neck to extend involuntarily, buying me what might seem like a meager few seconds, but that¡¯s enough, more than enough.
Right in front of me is the currently unprotected mass of flesh and muscle, within which lies the spinal cord. So I stab it, aiming for the center. Not that I know that¡¯s where it¡¯ll do the worst damage, but I¡¯m aiming to paralyze the thing. Thinking logically, if I can¡¯t kill a Hallowcrow with a single blow, I¡¯m hardly going to kill something much bigger with one. Especially something armored.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
A thick gelatinous substance spurts out as I push the blade in with all my might, and I am covered in it, in this creature¡¯s blood. I don¡¯t even need my night vision to confirm this, the stuff is luminous red! Disgusting¡ Forcing the sword to penetrate further, only leads to more bloody spurts. Eventually though, it hits something solid, and a strangled scream once again rips through the dark. A good sign.
Since my strength is unable to stab through the bony obstruction, and since the energy is fading from my limbs, I lock my legs in place so they don¡¯t collapse on me. Then I begin to rotate my now sickly scarlet weapon, drilling as deep as I can. No noise this time. Just a spasm rippling through the monster¡¯s body, limbs twitching slightly before they buckle.
I just have enough power to throw myself backwards and out of the way. No more. Thank goodness that my opponent is similarly devoid of the ability to move. Okay, breath in and out, in and out, keep it steady ¨C regaining enough air to speak is the current priority. After all, I have only used a single spell so far, I should have enough magic for another casting.
The wind arrow is launched at the spot I had been targeting before, setting off one last spray of red, which slowly peters out. This time that wonderful, wonderful screen comes up, proclaiming my victory and the monster¡¯s death. I¡¯m alive! I¡¯m so exhausted I¡¯m going to have to crawl over in a few minutes, so I can actually get to whatever drop I got. But that¡¯s then. For now, I¡¯m alive!
I would indulge in the beauty of this, but it would be stupid to stay in a dark and hostile forest while covered in a sparkling substance that makes me glow. Aka monster blood. So yeah, plan of action now involves checking the screen first, resting until able to move second, and getting the hell out of this place third.
1 Giraffon: Level 3: Defeated
You have gained [Small Scale Bottle] x1
You have gained 60 XP
You have gained 0.04 Character Points
Alright, I am 7% of the way to getting a Character Point. But¡ the fact that I have lost count of the number of near death experiences that I have been through in this life is disturbing to say the least. I mean, I probably could count them up one by one if I put my mind to it¡ Not really any point though, keeping a tally would almost be tempting fate.
And yes, the creature was a Giraffon, or giraffe-griffin hybrid I suppose, and so not a werewolf. My luck is apparently not quite that bad yet. Still, I must acknowledge the existence of the supernatural in whatever this world is known as, magic is kind of a giveaway. Until I have researched further whether fate/luck will actively interfere in my life I will not be suggesting specific monsters appear in the vicinity.
Now, onwards to greater things, or at least non-blood-soaked clothes. I scrape off of my body, and gather up from the ground, as much blood as I can fit in my latest drop ¨C a translucent bottle the size of my fist. Once filled to maximum capacity, and stoppered to avoid spillage, it gives off a mild light. It is hardly as strong as a torch, and is even lacking brightness compared to a few minutes ago, but that hardly matters. What is relevant is that I have a lantern, albeit of the heavily improvised sort.
Just a few finishing touches remain to be seen to. After some foraging I come across the exact object I was looking for. A straight stick a little bit longer than my arm. So, anybody probably could have found one, but at least not everybody can do this! Ripping a thin strip of cloth from the bottom of my tunic yields a makeshift cord long enough to tie the top of the bottle and the end of the stick together. Not much length leftover after finishing the knots, just barely enough for the bottle to dangle from when I raise the stick into a comfortable carrying position.
So not only do I now have a lantern to illuminate the way, it is also ahead of my body. Hopefully any surprise attacks by -monsters attracted to the light will be directed over there instead of at me. Well, I would rather not encounter any monsters at all, but preparing for the worst is probably par for the course in this world¡ Let¡¯s just get out of here.
As I walk further and further away from the scene of the battle, the glimmer of the remaining blood on me gets fainter with each passing minute. The good news is that my lantern remains functional. Maybe the blood reacts with air and loses its glow that way. Or the fading could be explained simply by the fact that it has dried out. I don¡¯t know. I never was particularly talented at science back on earth, so a different universe¡¯s alchemy is beyond my capabilities.
Walking alone in the dark is creepy. Particularly when there are far too many bugs attracted to the light. Like moths to a flame, or in this case, like giant mosquito monsters attracted to the lantern and deciding to stay for a meal of preferably fresh blood. The first time I saw one I did not gape at the bug which was the size of a wine bottle, but that was only due to a traumatic childhood incident involving a mosquito flying into my mouth. Lesson learnt the hard way.
So, I smashed it against the nearest tree. And the whole time it was buzzing and buzzing and twisting around to try and suck my blood. Yuck. The outer shell was oily as well, but slightly soft. Which was another yuck, as the greasiness transferred to my palms. It would not be an understatement to say that I much preferred being coated with glow in the dark blood, at least that stuff improved with time, losing the luminosity and flaking off. The sliminess of the grease does no such thing. Rather it builds up layer by layer, congealing on my hand to the extent that rubbing my hands repeatedly on the grass only met with slight improvement.
All of this made the killing of them an exhausting task to do at first, but that was because I didn¡¯t know where to target to give maximum damage. Turns out that the eyes pop like balloons once enough pressure is put on them. They sound like a deflating balloon too, with a sad but painfully high pitched whine. Once I knew that, I could minimize the time spent holding the giant mosquitos. I just wish the grease disappeared along with the corpses.
But the most annoying thing? They keep on coming and just do not know when to stop. The second most irritating factor now, by the way, is the measly 1XP per bug. In this case, it seems like my enemies are favoring quantity over quality, though I would honestly prefer neither! It was only when the tenth bug had finally died, and vanished, not even having the courtesy to leave an item drop ¨C this appeared.
10 Blood Pestilences: Level 0: Defeated
You have gained 0.01 Character Points
I suppose that makes the chore more palatable. I might grumble about that oh-so-annoying greasiness, but if it is a toss-up between getting Character Points through risking my life, and getting them by squishing slightly disgusting though far less lethal bugs¡ I know which one will be chosen. I mean ten bugs are equal to two Hallowcrows. Bring it on bugs! Only nine hundred and twenty more until my first full character point!
¡That¡¯s going to take ages. I¡¯ll have reached Yarrow before then. Why can¡¯t I just get some points through levelling up? And why haven¡¯t I levelled up? I¡¯ve gained over 100XP by quite a margin, so that cannot be the benchmark for a level. But does that mean that I must hit 1000XP for Level 1? That is quite the task. I wonder, does everyone in this world take so long to improve? Though they might not get the same video game experience that I do. For all I know they might not even get item drops. There¡¯s so much I am clueless about¡
As I approach the main road the number of bugs, or Blood Pestilences as they are officially dubbed, get fewer and fewer. I''ve killed another ten and that''s it. Though whether this is because the sun is rising or because I am less than a mile away from the main road is uncertain. Still, with a lack of threats I might as well get a couple of hours¡¯ sleep. I haven¡¯t rested since the encounter with the Giraffon, haven¡¯t felt safe enough. But I really will collapse if I keep on pushing myself, and if I camp by the side of the main road I could get robbed. Even if I put everything of value in my inventory, a passing robber won¡¯t know that and could try and attack me in my sleep.
So yeah, going to rest. After eating another of the herb flatbreads, and washing it down with some water I feel somewhat satisfied. Then settling down on a mossy section of the grass, I cover myself with my cloak and shut my eyes. So tired¡ tonight let¡¯s try to reach a inn¡ with a bed¡ and a hot meal¡ and a bed.
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The town of Yarrow looks very different to a modern town, nothing like what I was expecting. For one thing, there are no suburban areas. All the buildings are enclosed behind a wall which is around 6 feet thick, and 20 feet high. The entrance is a guarded gate, though I am not quite sure why the guards are there. Are they there to keep watch for monster attacks, check the ID of people entering or collect an entry fee? Or you never know, it might even be all three.
Seriously though, I need to check my ID card. It should be valid, but if it contains details I don¡¯t know about then that is a warning sign for any guard. Like when my previous classmates tried to purchase alcohol with a forged driving license and couldn¡¯t remember their supposed date of birth when the shopkeeper asked. And the penalty here is probably more stringent than on Earth. I mean, when you think of fantasy, you think medieval, right? And weren¡¯t punishments back then something along the lines of ¡®steal and get hand chopped off¡¯, and other similar forms of justice.
Hmm¡ let me see¡. Aha!
Ambrose Valier: Title (None)
Job (None): Level (0)
Crimes (None)
Well, it shows less than I expected, but it should be authentic. Even if it was created by this game system thing, so far everything I¡¯ve purchased in that way has been proven viable. I have the clothes, food and money from the store to start out with, and the magic is also real. So why can¡¯t something that powerful forge an ID? Especially since the tech level here seems pretty low, so unless they use magic in some way for verification I¡¯m good. And even if magic is involved, can a gatekeeper¡¯s magic overcome the power of whatever it is which brought me here¡
¡°Oi, kid! Are you going to enter or just loiter around all day?¡±
Ah! A cursory look around reveals another lone traveler, but he looks elderly enough that calling him ¡®kid¡¯ simply wouldn¡¯t make any sense.
¡°Sorry, it was a long journey and I¡¯m a bit tired. I¡¯d like to enter the town please¡¡±
The guard¡¯s shoulders relax slightly and the tense aura dissipates somewhat.
¡°Oh, this wouldn¡¯t be your first time in the area lad?¡±
I nod in agreement, it¡¯s hardly a secret when anyone who knows anything about the area could ask me a couple of questions and come to the same conclusion.
¡°Then you¡¯ll have to pay the 10 Bey fee for the exit and entry pass, as well as provide valid ID.¡±
That seems to be standard. The coins I have in my inventory are worth 10 Bey each, and the couple entering a few minutes ago, had handed over two of the same. So it¡¯s a legitimate fee, and not a scam.
¡°Here¡¯s the money, and as for ID, will this do?¡±
I handed the relevant items to the guard on the left. Though I asked whether the ID would be suitable, it really was just supposed to be a polite nothing which would affirm my status as a harmless traveler. That being the case, the response I received from the guard on the right came as a surprise.
¡°Well the general identification card is a bit¡ The situation being what it is, we can only issue a restricted pass based on that alone.¡±
He then got smacked on the arm by the guard who received the ID, and a whispered conversation ensued.
¡°For goodness sake! The kid¡¯s still a Level 0, how can he possibly be eligible for a guild card?¡±
¡°Well sorry for not being able to read your mind! You received the card, how could I have known he¡¯s a Level 0? At his age as well¡ Is he some sort of minor nobility?¡±
¡°Of course not, look at his clothes. Even the lowest noble wouldn¡¯t turn up looking like that and without an entourage to boot!¡±
Is this world in the renaissance era? I mean, historically speaking, that era was when guilds were at their peak ¨C though since that was Europe and this is somewhere else entirely the technology levels and social demographics are not necessarily going to match up. Especially when magic is added into the mix. But the guilds must be at least somewhat important despite any inconsistencies, otherwise their ID wouldn¡¯t be accepted by a gate guard. Oh, and what was up with a restricted pass¡
¡°Erm, I¡¯m sorry but that is my only identification.¡±
The guard on the left shot an ¡®I-told-you-so¡¯ look at his partner.
¡°But I would like to enter Yarrow regardless, since I¡¯ve been travelling a fair while - so some properly cooked food would be nice.¡±
Guard on the right nods.
¡°Alright, but just so you know, the residency permit is for one week maximum when you have a restricted card. Also, you aren¡¯t allowed to buy weapons, armor, magic items, medicines or potions, and any other non-food item purchases will have an additional 20% tax on top of the normal price.¡±
His eyes stray to the sword at my waist briefly.
¡°You can use personal possessions bought elsewhere, they can be repaired as well. But attempting to purchase a restricted item will result in a jail term at best.¡±
If that is the case I won¡¯t be able to make my way as an adventurer. Not without risking my life by going out with only the clothes on my back and a simple blade. That doesn¡¯t seem very fair, but I am hardly able to complain. All I can do is mentally make a note to get more official ID as soon as possible. The question is how? Ah, maybe if I¡
¡°Are there any guilds in Yarrow which I could apply for membership with?¡±
¡°A fair few, but they all cost a silver to even be assessed as a potential member.¡±
The guard on the left interjects with a scoff.
¡°Can you imagine ¨C a whole hundred Bey just for a chance at membership?! Count me out. Besides, I¡¯ve never heard of a Level 0 ever getting accepted.¡±
Damn, after paying the entrance fee I have 90 Bey left, talk about insufficient.
¡°Then, is there any way at all to make a living?¡±
¡°There¡¯s always the odd-jobs board, I suppose¡ But the pay¡¯s usually not that good. Bit of a risky source of income.¡±
After a few more words are exchanged my permit is finally finished, and I can enter. It¡¯s getting dark, so for now I¡¯ll find an Inn. I passed by a few on the main road, but since I wanted to save on travel expenses I wound up camping. The weather was decent so it wasn¡¯t that bad an experience. It¡¯s just that a bath and hot food would be amazing.
Wandering down the street I come across a large square with a tiled pool in the middle. Clean enough, but the lack of a fountain makes me wonder what purpose it serves... Decoration? Watering animals? Hopefully not a public toilet! On the outskirts there are a couple of stall-holders closing down for the night, though they are a minority. Most continue to hawk their wares. Quite a few of the snacks look tempting, as do a few of the items on display, but since I don¡¯t know the market price I¡¯ll pass. I did ask some travelers along the way what the cost of a room as a decent Inn would cost though. 10 Bey, per night and including three meals.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Though I do wonder why ten of the least valuable coins are enough to live on for a day in relative comfort. Is there some sort of barter system? Or do people buy in bulk? I don¡¯t know, it just seems dreadfully illogical for a currency to be so high value. Well, I guess I¡¯m lucky to have enough for an inn then, even if I can only stay and eat for 9 days with my current funds. Under other, more expected, circumstances I would have invested some of that in equipment to level up quicker. But no, I can buy nothing of any practical use. In combat, that is.
Would it be possible to buy a knife under the guise of needing kitchen utensils? No, too much of a risk. I could fall foul of the law. I really should ask someone about that... but who? I¡¯m certainly not catching a random passer-by and quizzing them about the legality of knives while in a dark street. I¡¯d call the police, or here it would be guards I guess, if someone did that to me. Just an automatic response, really, to a suspicious situation. Inn first. Ask later.
So, there are a total of three inns down this road. Full Flagon¡¯s Five is the first one. It lives up to its name right now as well, the sound of drunken carousing is more than slightly audible from the doorway. So I¡¯ll pass on that one. The fancy one¡¯s name I don¡¯t know, the sign which should let me know it is written with such an elaborate lettering that it¡¯s a challenge to decipher it. The third one, Carp Inn looks a bit old, but in a comfortably worn-out style, not a dangerously derelict one. Doesn¡¯t look dangerous at all, actually. A middle-aged woman is serving meals to a few remaining customers, with a man of similar age at the counter. At least I won¡¯t feel as awkward asking for a room here. I¡¯d feel pretty out of place at an inn full of wealthy people. I hate being on a budget to this extent.
Speaking to the innkeeper I find that there¡¯s the choice of a shared room or a solo one, and with the shared one being basically half the price of the solo, it¡¯s tempting to choose it. Then again stranger danger and all that. Not that I¡¯m worried about pickpockets, the Inventory is probably one of the best anti-theft measures ever. Just what with all the paranoia on the journey here it has been hard to get a good night¡¯s sleep. Being in a crowded room is likely to be counter-productive towards that goal. So at least for now I¡¯ll go with the pricier option, I can always downgrade tomorrow if it really isn¡¯t worth the extra.
A night¡¯s stay in a private room with breakfast, lunch and dinner comes to 9 Bey. A bucket of warm water to wash in is an extra 1 Bey, or you can go to the bathhouse around the corner and have a hot shower for 6 Bey. But since it¡¯s closed for the night, a bucket of hot water it is.
Hmm, the room itself is better than I expected. There¡¯s a bed with blankets, table and chair set, and a lockable chest for valuables. The windows have shutters on the outside, no glass panes, though thick woolen curtains on the inside help keep the cold out. Oh, and there is a half of a candle in a holder. Though by the time I finish a quick wash to get the worst of the dirt off it is almost completely gone. Then, after taking my shoes off at long last, I force myself to stay awake long enough to store them and my sword safely away in the Inventory. Then my eyes begin to close, and my last thought before sleep is that it is so nice to have a warm bed¡ so very cozy.
Waking up the next morning is a chore. A thin mattress lacking modern technology may not be luxurious on earth, but when literal earth has been your bed for the past few days¡ yeah it is a definite improvement. Now, choices, choices. Do I go and have a proper bath? Or do I check out the odd jobs board first? No, first things first, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And while gulping down a bowl of rather bland, but piping hot, porridge the Landlady comes up to me.
¡°Good morning, sorry to bother but will you be requiring a packed lunch for your noon meal? And do you wish to reserve the room for the following night?¡±
She says it fairly briskly, though she smiles when giving me the small copper coin in change when I do pay to keep my current room. That just leaves the matter of the lunch?
¡°I was thinking of trying my hand at some of the odd jobs today, would you recommend a packed one?¡±
Her lips purse in thought.
¡°Well depends, if you¡¯re going out of town then most will take lunch with them, saves going back and forth and wasting time. On the other hand, if you¡¯re working within the town walls you might want to take advantage of the hot lunch we serve. Both options are good quality though.¡±
As if she cannot emphasize the standard of meals enough, there is a firm nod at the end of the sentence.
¡°Erm, I think I¡¯ll go with a packed lunch today. And would you mind giving me directions to the odd jobs board? I only arrived here yesterday.¡±
¡°Take a right turn when you exit the inn, first left and then straight ahead to the tiled square. The boards by the statue of a gryphon. It¡¯s big and ugly, can¡¯t really miss it. Packed lunches can be picked up from the kitchen for the next hour. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me I have other customers to attend to.¡±
And just like that she bustles off, brisk manner once again on. Time to find the kitchens then. Which is fairly simple, since it¡¯s has a sign on the door with an image of a saucepan. I can¡¯t read the words under it though. Well, I assume they are words, they could have been an attempt at abstract art or the worst handwritten English that ever existed, but I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re this world''s words. Which are not English and which I therefore do not understand. Guess language comprehension doesn¡¯t cover literacy. Joy.
Still, I picked up my lunch, some sort of wrap containing meat and salad, and headed out. The street was quite crowded, with people flocking in and out of shops, gathering around stalls and occasionally sitting on a bench to chat. It was easy to get through. Don''t underestimate the crowd navigating skills of a regular user of the London Underground! This place was nowhere near as jam packed. Though Yarrow is a town, not a city, so maybe I am being a bit unfair in my gloating.
Taking the left turn revealed several huge statues, one at each corner of the square. A unicorn, a phoenix, some sort of fish monster which has so many teeth that it is kind of freaking me out, and yes, a gryphon. Surrounded by an even denser crowd than on the street. Challenge accepted! Although... once I get to the odd jobs board there is an issue. How am I supposed to know what is being asked without being able to read and write. Is it going to be that big of a hindrance? I had thought, given how just about every shop I passed by had a image indicating their wares in addition to writing, that literacy was quite low.
But then... I don''t get it? I was able to read my ID card after all. Granted, it didn¡¯t say much, but since the guards at the gate understood. Maybe because it came from the system thing and so the Gamer Perk was applicable? Maybe...
Oops, almost lost my place in the crowd. It seems like everyone is fighting for the best jobs. It''s a bit of a push to get forward and reach the center, and my low physical stats don''t help in the slightest. But I made it. And I must say, ''Odd-Jobs Board'' really is a bit of an understatement. There are several boards, presumably with different types of jobs, and once you have accepted a slip you go to a ring of desks to have your job confirmed. Isn''t this just like an unofficial adventurers guild? Well I think that is what''s going on. I reach out for a slip on one of the less crowded boards, just to take a look. At least I meant to just take a look.
Quest: Collect 5 Fire Drake Heartstrings
Location: Ruben Sands
Reward: 100 Bey per Heartstring
Do You Wish To Accept This Quest?
No thanks! And the prompt goes away... well, promptly. Bad puns aside, it seems like I don''t have to worry quite so much about literacy if this Questing System will tell me what the task is. Though I think I''ll choose a less difficult task, Fire Drakes sound tough. Probably why so few people are gathered at this end. Safety first is a really good mantra. Anyway, in the end I accept a job which is somewhat safe.
Quest: Collect Shasha Grass (Minimum 10) (Minimum Quality: Normal)
Location: Goblin Forest 4
Reward: 1 Bey per Normal Quality, 2 Bey per Good Quality, 3 Bey per High Quality
Do You Wish To Accept This Quest?
Just in case the paper slip vanishes I do not accept the quest until after it is stamped at the desk. The man behind the counter then gestures impatiently.
"The temporary transfer gate is that way."
"Temporary transfer?"
"Well how else do you expect to get to... err... Goblin Forest 4? That place is over 40 miles away!"
"So I teleport there? How do I get back?"
"Rookie. That''s why it''s called temporary. You''ll be called back automatically after 6 hours over there, no matter what."
"Does it cost a lot?"
"Is today the day for idiots or something? Since it will deplete your mana to work there is no cost. Now move along and let me process the next person."
Scary face. And he was almost growling that last sentence. Hence why I am already in the queue to enter what looks like an old gate. Guess it can''t be that ordinary if everyone vanishes someplace else after stepping through. While waiting and wondering how it actually works, I accept the quest. Almost forgot about it. It shines in response and a mini-map appears. Not in the corner of my eye, nor in front of me, my vision is unimpeded. But it is somehow not distracting me at all, even though I know it is showing where I am, along with an arrow pointing to my objective.
Now for the teleport itself...