ã€ŠA Unconventional Druidã€‹


 Chapter 1: I must have pissed off a witch.

    Tim relaxed on the soft grass of the pond bank, the cool summer breeze tousling his shaggy brown hair. The bark of his dog, Sandy, drew his attention. She looked up at him, tongue lolling out of her mouth. He took her head in both his hands, scratching the sweet spot behind her ears and pulling her in and pressing his forehead to hers. Another loud bark echoed, and suddenly, Sandy¡¯s entire weight was on him. She pinned him down, attacking him with enthusiastic licks.

    Tim turned his head side to side, trying to escape the relentless assault. ¡°Ok, Ok. I give!¡± He said, hands raised in surrender. The weight lifted from his chest, and he opened his eyes to see a giant green eye staring back at him. The single slit pupil removed any trace of his joy in an instant.

    Shoving whatever wasn¡¯t Sandy off of him. He looked down to find a round alligator head looking up at him with its tongue lolling out.

    ¡°The hell is this?¡± Tim muttered, his skin now matching the floating alligator¡¯s head shade of green.

    The alligator¡¯s eyes crossed and its mouth opened wide releasing a familiar blaring alarm. Tim cringed as he laid his hand on the alligator head, feeling the shape of his phone beneath it. He pressed the button to silence the noise.

    ¡°Fuuuuck¡± Tim groaned as he tossed over on his side, clinging to his pillow. ¡°Why must time pass so fast when I sleep?¡± He quietly asked his comfy bed.

    Reluctantly pushing himself up he sat up taking in his sanctuary¨C bed shoved against the wall, a fan rattling from its perch on the dresser. His computer silently calling to him across from him, the empty soda cans and dinner plate scattered around it.

    Reaching into the laundry basket that holds his unfolded laundry he paused briefly making sure his pale skin hadn''t stayed green from his dream before he slipped into his khakis, sighing as the waistline dug into his own. ¡°The things I put up with for such a small paycheck.¡± he said then realizing he has to work with Tracie as the floor manager today, several excuses flooding his mind before sucking it up and putting on his polo shirt.

    Tim made his way into the kitchen using the remote to the living room turning on the rock channel as he cracked open the fridge removing the regular eggs, bacon, and sausages. Spraying the pan before the sweet sizzling sound graced his ears, and the smell filled the air.

    Hearing the heavy shuffle of his roommate''s feet.

    Tim turned setting two plates filled with the earlier mentioned food with toast on the table. ¡°Morning Simon.¡± Tim said as he sat down.

    Simon adjusted his glasses, before picking up his fork. ¡°Morning.¡± he mumbled as he tried to wake up. His clothes are not any more flattering than Tim¡¯s own.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask what you and the others decide to do with the Volcanic sword?¡± Tim asked before scooping up some eggs.

    ¡°We sold it and added the gold to the guild bank.¡± Simon replied

    ¡°Max finally gave in?¡± Tim asked, surprised.

    ¡°Not about what Max wants.  The sword is nice, but no one in our raid group needs it. Our gear is better, or the ones who could use it, it would just be a spare.¡± Simon said, his voice raising a bit. The joys of being the leader.

    ¡°Well every guild has at least one loot goblin or hoarder.¡± Tim started before putting on voice as an impression. ¡°But what if we need it? something could come up and we will wish we had it.¡± he finished chuckling a bit.

    ¡°And those are the players that have to spend extra gold just to open up more slots in their personal banks cause they never use anything. It is a waste.¡± Simon said quickly composing himself. setting his fork down. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, it was voted we sell it. Tonight we can do the dungeon again and hopefully we will get the wind glaive for Adam, and we can start looking at who else needs gear.¡±

    Tim turned back after putting his dishes in the dishwasher. ¡°Yeah, four percent drop rate is a pain, but we are due for a win, RNG gods will need to smile on us eventually.¡± He said as Simon handed him his plate and fork.

    ¡°I''ll finish getting ready and we can head out.¡± Simon said.

    ¡°I''ll be outside.¡± Tim said after the dishwasher started.

    Walking outside, the breeze carried the promise of a warm day ahead as the bright sun was rising over the trees to the east. The porch groaned beneath his feet, and in the distance, dogs barked. Dust swirled up from the dirt road as people began their day, heading to work. Roosters crowed from all directions, greeting the morning with their loud calls.

    Tim had sat down on the bench they had, closing his eyes to the natural symphony around him. Tim liked the area¨Cit was remote, with no rude neighbors nearby, or at least, the ones there were far enough away not to bother him. The downside? No real work nearby.

    The porch groaned again as Simon stepped out, shutting the door behind him. ¡°Come on, you can sleep on the way.¡± Simon said as his heavy hand jarring Tim¡¯s knee.

    Tim slowly stood making his way toward the old buck century. He crawled into the passenger seat, and with a click, reclined the seat, Simon started fiddling with the radio, searching for something to listen to as they started their drive to work.

    Tap, Tap, Tap.  The pencil sounded as Tim¡¯s college counselor filled out paperwork. Confusion visible on his face.

    ¡°It''s been what? Four years?¡± Tim thought to himself as his gaze focused.

    ¡°Tim, this is your fifth time in my office. Why are you missing so many classes?¡± Mr. Brown asked, his voice calm but firm.

    ¡°I..I don¡¯t know, no motivation I guess.¡± Tim mumbled, his voice meek, just as it had been all those years ago.

    Mr. Brown shook his head. His mustache visibly twitched with the motion as he let out a long weary breath, his bowler hat covering his eyes. ¡°Tim, if you want to stay here and get a good job you can¡¯t just say. ¡®I don¡¯t have motivation.¡¯ Your motivation is the end result. You do good in school, you get a good job, get married, have kids. There are people in this world that wish they had the opportunity you do here and now. Don¡¯t waste it.¡±

    Mr. Brown didn¡¯t know that Tim''s family made too much money to disqualify him from any real financial aid, but didn¡¯t make enough to pay for his college without burdening themselves. The only help he could get were direct loans. At eighteen, he was already twenty thousand dollars in debt after just two semesters. And, just like a broken record, Mr. Brown repeated the same tired advice his parents had forced on him: Get a degree, Get a job, Get married, Have kids, follow the steps, check the boxes.

    Tim¡¯s voice cracked as he finally spoke up, unable to keep it inside any longer. ¡°That¡¯s just it, Mr. Brown. I don¡¯t know what I want to do. I just know I didn¡¯t want to come here. I¡¯m eighteen¡ªhow am I supposed to know what I want to do with the rest of my life. For God¡¯s sake, I¡¯m already twenty thousand dollars in debt! FOR WHAT?! THE BASICS!? I HAD MATH! ENGLISH! SOCIAL STUDIES! HISTORY! I DID ALL THAT IN HIGHSCHOOL!¡±

    TAP, TAP, TAP! The pencil clicked against the paper again, but Tim¡¯s rant was cut off as the room began to shake. Suddenly, Simon¡¯s voice echoed through Mr. Brown¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Wake up Tim, we are here.¡±

    Tim''s eyes snapped open. Simon was shaking him gently by the shoulder. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re here,¡± Simon repeated, his voice pulling Tim out of the dream of his past and back to now.

    Tim stepped out of the car pausing remembering something from his dream. ¡°Wait Mr. Brown never wore a bowler hat.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Simon turned asking.

    Tim shook his head, ¡°Sorry, I was thinking out loud about my dreams. Just plain weird.¡± He said, now walking beside Simon.

    ¡°Not another goblin dream, I hope.¡± Simon said as the automatic doors slid open.

    ¡°No. Though my skin did change to a shade of green in one.¡± Tim replied with an awkward smile.

    ¡°I swear dude, you have way too much sympathy for the green skins.¡± Simon said a bit judgingly.

    ¡°What? They are outcasts, misunderstood, it''s relatable to me.¡± Tim argued.

    Simon laughed. ¡°For good reason, in most fantasies they are known for raping, pillaging, and taking what they want from weak villages.¡± Simon retorted.

    ¡°That is just some depictions. They don¡¯t always have to be bad, it is just easy to write them as evil cannon fodder. If I ever run a game, I will show you how easy it would be to make them redeemable or at least a far bigger threat for you and a party.¡± Tim said confidently as they both checked the batteries for their walkie talkies before putting them on.

    ¡°Well, any race can be a threat if it somehow gets a class and levels. I am not doubting you, I just think somehow you twisted your own idea of goblins from monsters into misunderstood creatures.¡± He said as they walked into the break room.

    The break room was clearly well-used, its worn tiles bearing the marks of countless past spills and mishaps. The leather couch, pushed against the far wall, was cracked and faded, its surface bearing the scars of time. The kitchen area had a few cabinets and a single sink with a dish rack on one side and a coffee maker on the other, the smell of freshly brewed hot coffee filled the air. In the center of the room is an old round table with cardboard under one of the legs, and four worn down plastic chairs circling it. Two of which were filled by two younger women.

    ¡°Maybe, I just like a good underdog story.¡± Tim replied as he started towards the coffee.

    Two young women sat with math books open as one let out a growl of frustration. ¡°Why can¡¯t I get the answer? How am I supposed to make it in college if I can¡¯t pass simple algebra II?¡± she asked the universe.

    ¡°It will be fine, look we can ask Simon he knows this stuff. Hey Simon, could you take a look?¡± She asked with puppy dog eyes. Without looking Tim just shook his head. Amy always tried to act sweet, but Tim knew better.

    Simon walked over quietly, looked at the problem and instantly replied. ¡°The answer is forty two.¡±

    Debbie got even more frustrated. ¡°How do you get this so easily? it is too hard.¡±

    Simon chuckled. ¡°I just had a bit more math classes when I was in college.¡±

    ¡°If you were in college, why are you working at this trash job?¡± Debbie asked.

    Simon frowned a little bit. ¡°Things just don¡¯t always work out the way you want them too.¡±

    Amy started to whisper. ¡°Well at least you tried, unlike your lazy friend over there. He is always getting in trouble not doing all of his work and Tracie having to get on to him about doing a better job.¡±

    Tim could not help but visibly tense at hearing it. ¡®Again, it never fails, one person doesn¡¯t like me and just because they are more sociable than me everyone thinks they know the entire picture.¡¯ Tim thought to himself when images of similar past experiences had happened.

    Simon caught the sight of Tim''s shoulders tensing before looking back down at Amy. ¡°You all just know what you hear from Tracie or the great vine. It¡¯s all fun and games till you become the topic of those things, never good. take everything with a grain of salt and make your own decisions.¡± Simon said, trying to be polite to the younger coworkers.

    The room went quiet, though Tim seemed to relax a little bit. With his coffee in hand he turned towards the table. ¡°I am going to get out on the floor, see if Eric missed anything last night.¡± Tim said with a forced smile before walking out the door.

    He took a drink from his coffee, the life warming liquid running down his throat, that small simple pleasure helping him relax just a bit more. Closing his eyes he just focused on that warmth as he drank some more, his eyes closed as he let out a long slow breath.

    Standing there, his shoulders relaxing more and more, when a far too familiar annoying voice violated that peace and made him snap open his eyes and the tension he was just letting go violently returned.

    ¡°What do you think you are doing?¡± Standing a couple feet ahead of him stood a five foot nothing blond hair woman, her bright blue eye sending daggers at him. ¡°You know you are not supposed to bring drinks out onto the floor.¡± She stated before Tim could respond.

    ¡®Of course, I must have pissed off a witch in my past life or something.¡¯ Tim thought to himself before saying. ¡°I was just finishing it before heading to my area.¡±

    ¡°You should have finished it in the break room.¡± Tracie said not giving him an inch.

    ¡®Honestly wish I would have. I thought I was leaving a bad situation, but all I did was jump from the frying pan into the fire. It will be ok Tim just stay calm and limit the interaction.¡¯ He finished his pep talk to himself before a smile that could not reach his eyes came onto his face. ¡°You are right. My apologies Tracie.¡± His tone said more than he wanted, that he is tired, tired of her shit, tired of rumors, tired of being targeted just because he doesn¡¯t bend to the idea of human hierarchy.

    Tracie narrowed her eyes. ¡°If I am right, what are you going to do about that cup?¡± she asked.

    Tim looked at her, then his cup, lifting the rim met his lips and he began to drink, his head tilting back as the hot liquid ran out of the cup. ¡®This is stupid, your entire power trip is stupid, your mind set is stupid, this is not high school anymore, giving me a hard time for no other reason than because you can.¡¯ every thought that ran through his head, he wanted to tell her to bring her back down to earth.

    The last drop left the cup and Tim lowered his head. His not smile came back to his face as their eyes met his grip crushing the cup. He turned back and opened the door behind him just enough to slip his hand in and drop the cup into the small trash can, turning back to Tracie ¡°problem solved.¡± he said and began to walk back to his department but she stepped right in front of him.

    ¡°You need to lose the attitude, be more friendly with customers, give an actual smile not whatever.¡± She gestured to his face, ¡°That is.¡± Her eyes filled with disgust as she looked him up and down. Her hands went to her hips as she turned her head as if she couldn¡¯t bare to look at him anymore. ¡°I am getting way too many complaints from customers that you are not friendly to them as you help them.¡±

    Tim continued to smile without it reaching his eyes. ¡°I will do better to not cause you anymore trouble Tracie.¡±

    She turned her head back to him. ¡°You better I will be keeping my eyes on you, and if you don¡¯t shape up you might as well start looking for a new job.¡± She said with a tone as if she has been wanting to say this for a very long time.

    Tim¡¯s eyes flashed its first emotion. Anger. Their radios buzzed to life. ¡°Tracie I need you in my office please.¡± The store owner Mr. Moore called.

    Quickly Tracie grabbed her radio with a perfect princess smile and customer service voice. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± She put the radio back on her hip and the smile left her face. ¡°You are lucky Tim, I could tell you was about to do something stupid. But if you want, please go ahead.¡±

    The smile that could not reach his eyes came back. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean Tracie, I will be doing my utmost to represent you and the job I am so lucky to have.¡± He said.

    She narrowed her eyes again before looking him up and down again. her lip rising on one side before tsking, ¡°straighten that uniform before you go to your floor.¡± she said before abruptly turning and leaving.

    The anger reached Tim¡¯s eyes again, his teeth and fists clenching. ¡®All of this because of one stupid comment, because I was too relaxed and your little lackey ran and told you what I said, probably told you far worse than what I actually said.¡¯ Tim¡¯s thoughts were abruptly cut off as a wide hand landed on his right shoulder giving it a tight squeeze.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Time to breathe, and unclench, your anger is going to cause you to have an aneurysm, man.¡± Simon said, trying to ease the tension in the air with some humor.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to always save me politically Simon.¡± Tim said not looking at him.

    ¡°Obviously you do, people suck we both know that, but you don¡¯t hide your emotions very well. Everyone knows what you really want to say or do at all times.¡± Simon replied.

    Tim did not say anything, he knew he was right. Tim just wasn¡¯t good with people unless they had similar interests and/or mindsets.

    ¡°Come on let''s get to our areas, once we get busy the day will go by faster.¡± Simon said, walking in front of Tim.

    ¡°Yeah, got to the bathroom first, splash some water on my face, and straighten up my uniform.¡± He said doing air quotes, before turning away and heading to the restroom without really looking at Simon.

    Simon watched him go. ¡®Damn brother, you can¡¯t let these stupid people get to you like that. as long as you do you will always have someone under your skin.¡¯ he thought to himself wanting to say it, but knowing Tim and his anger the words just would not reach him right now.

    Tim made his way into the restroom, a decently sized and clean one for a retail electronic store. He stopped at the middle sink mumbling to himself. ¡°I am so sick of this shit. Doesn¡¯t matter what I do it is wrong and if it isn¡¯t something I do it is simply the fact I am here.¡± He slammed his palm into the counter. his head dropping forward as he remembered the disgusted look she gave him.

    ¡®I know I am not a ten, or even a six. but you don¡¯t have to look at me as if I am that repulsive. I AM HUMAN!¡¯ He thought to himself, moving his hand under the faucet to get the water running, cupping brought the water to his face, a shiver running down his spine, as he had to take a sharp breath. He repeated this two more times.

    Reaching out with his left hand he grabbed paper towels to dry his face, straightening up, he got a good look at himself in the mirror for the first time since he arrived at work. his hair was more disheveled then he thought, his shirt untucked on the right side, and spreading to the left.

    Getting more water he started fixing his hair the best he could, then straightened his shirt re-tucking it. ¡®I don¡¯t know why I bother, it is just going to pull itself out once I get down to the lower rows on the isles for anything.¡¯ he thought to himself but he knew why, rather he wanted to admit it to himself, he wanted to be accepted. It¡¯s why he tries so hard even though he knows it¡¯s a losing battle.

    Standing there feeling like he put himself back together a bit better, he headed out the door and onto the floor. Walking past the tech help area, he overheard two of the techs talking about one of their games. ¡°Everyone died, it was me versus three others. I hid behind the box at C. when they showed themselves. BLAM Blam blam¡± Tim heard till he was out of ear shot.

    Next, he approached the phone section, and a wave of dread washed over him as he passed. Three young women huddled at the counter, giggling. As he came into view, their laughter faltered, replaced by whispered conversations.

    ¡°I heard, he already got told off by Tracie before the store even opened.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Amy and I heard it through the break room door. I think it¡¯s only a matter of time before he¡¯s fired.¡±

    Tim kept going, now at the appliances, where Tony sat typing away at his computer, doing his morning price changes. Tony paused, gave a small wave, and returned to his task. No words, no judgment¨Cjust Tony, counting down the days until retirement, escaping to a beach somewhere.

    Finally Tim made it to his area, it wasn¡¯t paradise, but it was nice. Video games, controllers, consoles, pre¨Cbuilt gaming PCs¡ªeverything he loved and rarely grew tired of being around. Sure, it was work, but at least it was a job where he got to talk about the things that brought him joy.

    The store doors opened, and customers trickled in. By ten, the building was bustling, radios crackling with questions about prices and stock. It wasn¡¯t long before the inevitable ¡°Karen¡± or ¡°Richard¡± showed up, demanding attention. Time seemed to fly during those hours.

    Around noon things start to slow down. Customers shifted their focus from electronics to food.

    ¡°Thank you for shopping with us, and have a great day ma¡¯am¡± Tim said smiling to a mother and her child as she just bought a game he recommended. She smiled and they left.

    Tim moved to the accessory section, which was a mess. He dropped to one knee, pulling out items that had been hidden in the back.

    ¡°Why are you over here? There are still customers in your department,¡± came Tracie''s voice from behind him.

    Tim jerked his head up, smacking it against the shelf above him. ¡°Ouch! You need a frickin bell on you.¡± He mumbled, rubbing his head as he stood up and faced her.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Tracie¡¯s tone was sharp.

    Tim took a deep breath, keeping his composure. ¡°Those customers have been here since we opened. They said they don¡¯t need help, so I thought it''d be a good time to tidy up the area so things are easier to find.¡± He explained himself.

    Tracie bent her knee, propped her right hand on her hip and quirked an eyebrow. Her favorite stance. ¡°You typically don¡¯t take initiative.¡± Her eyes moved as if scanning him before snapping back up to his face. ¡°Empty your pockets.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Tim asked, incredulous.

    She stood straight. eyes narrowing. ¡°I said, empty your pockets.¡±

    Tim¡¯s confusion turned to frustration. ¡°Wh¡­ why?¡± he stuttered.

    ¡°Stop stalling, I know you have been taking things.¡± She snapped, her voice dripping with accusation.

    Tim¡¯s temper flared. He wasn¡¯t a thief¨Che never was. but the sting of her words lit a fire inside him. His eyes narrowed. ¡°I am no thief.¡±

    ¡°Yes you are. Now show me what''s in your pocket!¡± she demanded, moving toward him.

    Without thinking, Tim slapped her hand away. ¡°You will not touch me,¡± he yelled, his voice thick with anger. ¡°And I¡¯m sick of your hate, and abuse of power, just cause you don¡¯t like me!¡±

    ¡°Tim, Tracie! To my office. Now!¡± The store owner¡¯s voice boomed over the radio.

    Tracie lowered her head, clutching her wrist where Tim had slapped her, a malicious smile tugging at her lips as she turned to leave for Mr. Moore¡¯s office.

    A heavy weight settled in Tim¡¯s chest. His stomach sank like a rock, and the gravity in the air made his knees weak. The fear of what came next began to crawl under his skin. ¡®Why did I do that? Am I going to lose my job?¡¯

    His mind raced as he walked to Mr. Moore¡¯s office, sweat beginning to form on his brow. Each step felt like a countdown to some inevitable end.

    As he passed the others, their gazes added to the crushing pressure. Tony frowned, looking away. The gossip corner, usually buzzing, fell silent. Two of the three girls smiled. Amy quickly muttered, ¡°Finally. Maybe his replacement will be better,¡± her voice tinged with smug satisfaction. Tim barely heard it as he reached the door to Mr. Moore¡¯s office.

    Tim¡¯s hand Trembled as he reached for the doorknob, feeling the cold metal beneath his fingers. His heart thundered in his chest. The silence around him seemed to echo the chaos inside. Amy¡¯s words stung, but somehow, they felt like the truth.

    He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and pushed the door open. Mr. Moore¡¯s office was sterile, over-lit, and intimidating. The door clicked shut behind him, sealing him in. Mr. Moore sat behind his desk, looking far too composed for the chaos Tim felt inside. The desk was neat¡ªtoo neat, papers perfectly stacked, pens arranged just so. It was like a museum of order in the middle of a storm, and Tim was the storm.

    Mr. Moore¡¯s ice-blue eyes met Tim¡¯s, calm and steady, peering over the rims of his glasses. For a moment, Tim wondered if the man could actually see past his skin, straight into the mess of his mind. Tim wasn¡¯t sure if he could even see straight right now. His hands felt like they belonged to someone else, his thoughts darting around in circles. The room was too quiet, too still. It pressed on him from all sides.

    ¡°Have a seat, Tim,¡± Mr. Moore¡¯s voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, like it was carefully contained. The words felt heavy, loaded.

    Tim hesitated. His legs felt like lead, but he forced himself forward, sitting down in the small chair in front of the desk. The wood groaned under his weight, a sound that seemed to amplify the tension in the room. ¡®This is it. This is the moment. What am I doing here?¡¯ His stomach churned. The weight of the room felt unbearable. ¡®There is no way out of this.¡¯

    Off to the side of the desk, Tracie stood with her arms crossed, her mascara running down her face. She wasn¡¯t even looking at him. She didn¡¯t need to; her presence was enough. She had the look of someone who knew something was about to go down. Someone who knew she had already won.

    Tim swallowed hard. His mouth was dry, his mind still a haze.

    ¡°You know why you are here.¡± Mr. Moore¡¯s voice sliced through the silence, sharp and direct. Leaning forward slightly, his icy gaze never wavering. ¡°Did you not think slapping a hand away, refusing to cooperate, would lead to consequences?¡±

    ¡®Consequences?¡¯ The word felt like a punch in the gut. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything,¡± Tim said quickly, the words coming out almost too fast, like he was trying to convince himself as much as anyone else.

    Mr. Moore didn¡¯t flinch. He sat back, his fingers steepled in front of him as if he were observing a bug under a microscope. ¡°It¡¯s not about whether you stole, Tim. It¡¯s about your actions. You didn¡¯t handle this situation the right way. You didn¡¯t take responsibility.¡±

    Tim''s pulse quickened. ¡®Take responsibility?¡¯ He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong! His mind raced, the frustration bubbling to the surface. ¡®Why is he siding with her? ¡®Why does it always feel like it¡¯s my fault?¡¯ But he couldn¡¯t say any of it. Not yet. He had to keep it together.                    ¡°Now we have to figure out what led you to doing something so rash as hitting a coworker.¡± Mr. Moore¡¯s voice was sharp but not unkind.

    Tim¡¯s thoughts scattered. He wanted to say something, anything, but his mouth would not move, his thoughts racing through every time Tracie pressured him. He had come to work that morning with every intention of getting through the day. But now, it felt like everything had gone wrong from the moment he stepped foot into the break room.

    ¡°I thought I could fix it,¡± Tim said finally, though it didn¡¯t sound like the truth, even to him. ¡®Couldn¡¯t fix it?¡¯ It was more than that. He had never felt more trapped. Tracie was always looking for a reason to bring him down, always testing him, pushing him to the edge. And today, it broke him. He couldn¡¯t pretend anymore.

    Mr. Moore didn¡¯t speak for a long moment, just sat there watching him, waiting for something more. Tim¡¯s heart pounded louder in his ears. ¡®Why am I even here?¡¯ He wasn¡¯t a thief, he was pushed and pushed till he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He was just tired¡ªtired of the constant pressure, tired of being scrutinized for things that weren¡¯t his fault.

    ¡°I¡¯m under a lot of pressure,¡± Tim blurted out before he could stop himself. ¡°Every day it¡¯s something else. You don¡¯t see it, Mr. Moore. You don¡¯t see how she treats me, how she¡¯s always breathing down my neck. It¡¯s not fair.¡±

    Mr. Moore¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Fairness is subjective, Tim. It¡¯s not about what¡¯s fair. It¡¯s about how you handle yourself, how you represent the company. You¡¯re a reflection of this store, and right now, you¡¯re not showing me the man I thought you were.¡±

    ¡®The man I thought you were¡­¡¯ The words stung. What did Mr. Moore even know about him? About how he felt every single day walking into this place, knowing that Tracie was just waiting for him to slip up, just waiting for a reason to tear him down? Tim had always been the one to carry the weight of all the bad things happening in the store.

    Tim felt a surge of heat in his chest, and for a split second, the anger took over. ¡®This isn¡¯t me. I¡¯m not a thief, I¡¯m not lazy, and I¡¯m damn sure not going to keep letting her control my life.¡¯

    ¡°Do you understand, Tim?¡± Mr. Moore''s voice broke through the haze.

    Tim opened his mouth to respond, but the words never came. ¡®I can¡¯t do this anymore.¡¯

    For a moment, it all clicked into place. The frustration, the constant stress, the way he felt like he was suffocating in this job. He could feel the truth creeping up on him, thick and undeniable. ¡®I don¡¯t belong here. I don¡¯t need this anymore.¡¯

    Before Tim could second guess himself, the words tumbled out of his mouth, louder than he expected.

    ¡°I quit,¡± he said, his voice steady and firm despite the chaos inside. ¡°I¡¯m done. This¡­ this isn¡¯t for me.¡±

    Mr. Moore¡¯s eyes widened, just slightly, but Tim didn¡¯t care. Tracie¡¯s eyes shot up from where she had been staring at her shoes. There was a flicker of something in her gaze¡ªsurprise, disbelief, maybe even a touch of satisfaction.

    You¡­ what?¡± Mr. Moore¡¯s voice was softer now, like he hadn¡¯t expected this.

    ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± Tim repeated, standing up, setting his radio on the desk, the words feeling right now, more right than anything he¡¯d ever said. ¡°I¡¯m not going to stay here and let her abuse her power when you are not around.¡±

    Tim turned toward the door, his legs almost trembling beneath him, but there was a strange strength in him now. He didn¡¯t look back. He didn¡¯t need to.

    As he reached the door, he heard Mr. Moore spoke, but the words didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    ¡°Good luck, Tim,¡± Mr. Moore said, his voice distant, almost resigned.

    Tim stepped out onto the floor, his decision was still echoing in his mind, but this time, it felt right. There was no lingering doubt. He had made his choice, and it had been a long time coming. The weight on his shoulders was gone. For the first time in what felt like forever, he could breathe.

    As he approached the front podium, Simon spotted him immediately. His brow furrowed with concern, but there was a flicker of curiosity too.

    ¡°You okay, Tim?¡± Simon asked, his voice soft, as if testing the waters.

    Tim met Simon¡¯s gaze without hesitation, his stance more solid than he¡¯d felt in a long time. He smiled slightly.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Tim replied, his voice clear, steady. ¡°I just quit.¡±

    Simon blinked, taken aback for a moment. ¡°Wait, what? You quit?¡±

    Tim nodded, the finality of the words still feeling satisfying. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m done.¡±

    Simon paused, searching Tim¡¯s face for any sign of uncertainty, but there was none. Tim wasn¡¯t nervous. He wasn¡¯t second-guessing himself. He had been pushed to his limit, and now he had taken control.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s... a big move.¡± Simon leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice, sensing there was more to the story. ¡°What happened? Did something go down in there?¡±

    Tim¡¯s expression tightened, but not with fear¡ªmore like the resolve of someone who had made peace with their decision. ¡°It¡¯s been building up for a while, you know? Tracie¡¯s been on my case for months. Always trying to find something wrong with what I do, just waiting for a reason to get me in trouble. Today... today was the last straw.¡± He shook his head, almost laughing at how ridiculous it all seemed now. ¡°I got accused of stealing. And I couldn¡¯t just sit there and take it anymore. Not after everything that¡¯s happened.¡±

    Simon looked at him, his brow furrowing, but his expression softened when he saw how calm Tim was. ¡°Accused of stealing? I knew she was trying a lot but that was a sale. But, are you sure about this? You¡¯re really done with it all?¡±

    Tim squared his shoulders, the fire in his chest still burning but now focused, like a sharp edge. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m done.¡± His voice was firm, unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna keep letting her¡ªor anyone¡ªwalk all over me. I¡¯ve been tiptoeing around here, trying to keep my head down, but no more. I¡¯ve had enough of being treated like crap. This job doesn¡¯t define me, and I¡¯m not going to waste another minute in a place where I¡¯m not respected.¡±

    Simon opened his mouth, but the words seemed to catch, like he wasn¡¯t sure what to say next. There was a long beat of silence between them.

    Finally, Simon sighed, but it wasn¡¯t a sigh of concern¡ªmore like a sigh of admiration. ¡°Well, damn. I¡¯ve never seen you so... sure about something.¡± He chuckled, a small, approving grin tugging at his lips. ¡°I can¡¯t say I blame you though. If anyone deserves a little peace of mind, it¡¯s you.¡±

    Tim met Simon¡¯s eyes, his confidence unshaken. ¡°I¡¯m tired of pretending. This place wasn¡¯t making me happy anymore, and I¡¯m done trying to make it work. There are plenty of other jobs. I¡¯m not gonna let this job keep me stuck.¡±

    Simon nodded. ¡°I get it. But... you know there¡¯s a lot more to it than just walking out, right? What now? Rent, bills... you know the drill.¡±

    Tim felt a calm wash over him. He hadn¡¯t worked everything out yet, but he wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s not like everything¡¯s gonna be perfect now, but I¡¯ll figure it out. I¡¯ve got some money saved up while I look, I know how to work hard. And I¡¯m done being afraid of what comes next.¡± He paused for a second, giving Simon a steady look.

    Simon seemed to take that in, eyes widening slightly as he absorbed Tim¡¯s words. He gave Tim a nod of approval. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, man. I really am.¡± His voice had softened, but there was no mistaking the sincerity in it. ¡°You¡¯re not backing down. I like this version of you.¡±

    Tim smiled, feeling the weight of his decision shift from a burden to a newfound strength. ¡°Thanks, Simon. Honestly, it feels good. I¡¯m not afraid of the next step anymore.¡±

    Simon dug into his pocket and handed Tim the keys to the car. ¡°There is a shirt in the trunk, change out of that, grab something to eat and come pick me up in four hours ok?¡± he said, gesturing to the work shirt.

    Tim nodded gratefully and with his new freedom walked out the front doors.

 Chapter 2: Hello, invited participant!

    The Trunk popped open with the shirt¡¯s hanger coming up with the door. Tim¡¯s smile was one of nostalgia. ¡®Not a bad one Simon¡¯ he thought as he slipped into the black shirt adorned with a familiar Spartan from one of the first multiplayer online games.

    With the rock music blaring, he drove through the town, passing signs looking for workers. He stopped at two clothing stores, two electronics shops, and three fast-food chains. At McD¡¯s, after chatting with a manager, he grabbed a meal and headed to his favorite park.

    Three people were walking the track, and four others were engaged in various activities with their dogs. Tim found a quiet bench off to the side. His confidence from earlier was fading, and as he sat down with a heavy sigh, he pulled out his burger. The grease was apparent, the sandwich a sloppy, ugly mess. But he bit into it anyway.

    As the burger started to disappear, Tim¡¯s mind wandered through the events of the day. ¡®Oh we forgot to remove the hiring sign.¡¯ ¡®Are we still hiring? I thought we filled all the available positions.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re only hiring part-time workers.¡¯ and the best one. ¡®Yeah, we¡¯re looking for a janitor but I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be a good fit. Thanks for coming by, though.¡¯

    Tim leaned back, looking up at the nearly clear sky, a single lazy cloud drifting by. The forgotten burger hung loosely in his grip. ¡®What the hell am I going to do?¡¯ He closed his eyes. ¡®Not a good fit for a janitor position.¡¯

    Tap, Tap, tap.

    Tim jerked his head up. An old man flinched at Tim¡¯s sudden movement.

    ¡°My apologies, young man. I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you.¡± He said

    The man wore a bowler hat, and held a wooden cane in his right hand, dressed in a two-piece pinstripe suit. His outfit, and accent, seemed out of place. Tim immediately wondered if he had fallen asleep again.

    ¡°I say, are you alright?¡± The man asked, breaking Tim¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°Huh, yeah I am good. Can I help you with something?¡± Tim asked as a cold droplet hit his knuckle. He saw a schnauzer eyeing his half-eaten burger, its facial hair almost identical to the man¡¯s. ¡®Talk about dogs looking like their owners.¡¯ Tim thought.

    ¡°I asked if you¡¯d mind if I sat down,¡± the man repeated.

    ¡°Oh, of course.¡± he replied, gesturing to the spot beside him. He scooted over to give them both some room.

    The dog sniffed at the burger, sneezed and turned up its nose, walking back to its master. ''Damn dog doesn¡¯t even want the burger.¡¯ Tim thought

    The man looked down at the dog, then at the burger. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound rude, but those things are horrible for you.¡±

    Tim''s mouth curled up in a tired smile. ¡°Yeah, sadly. I¡¯m just trying to be frugal. A five-dollar cheese burger doesn''t hurt the wallet so much. Though I did it to myself.¡±

    The older gentleman nodded thoughtfully. ¡°And how is that?¡± he asked, encouraging Tim to continue.

    Tim tossed the half-eaten burger in the trash, his appetite gone. The schnauzer nudged his now empty hand and without thinking, Tim started petting her, staring at a spot on the ground.

    ¡°I quit my job,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°What led to that?¡± the man asked softly, letting Tim speak.

    ¡°A manager who wouldn¡¯t get off my case.¡± Tim said, pausing. ¡°Though, part of it is my fault. I said to a coworker the job¡¯s no better than high school. I mean, it¡¯s like that because she won¡¯t let it go. but you know how it is. He probably told her something worse than what I actually said, which led to her riding me all the time¡ªquestioning me, trying to catch me making mistakes. Until today, when she accused me of stealing.¡±

    Tim wasn¡¯t sure why he was being so open with the man; it just felt right.

    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± the man said with a nod. ¡°People love their drama. It entertains them in the mundane. When you¡¯re under constant pressure, or micromanaged, many people react with anger. And if someone¡¯s aggressive towards you, it¡¯s only human to lash out, even if it¡¯s a minor thing like slapping their hand away. Though, of course, that¡¯s not always acceptable.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Tim said, his words slowing. ¡®I didn¡¯t tell him I slapped her.¡¯

    The older man continued. ¡°Tim, throughout my life, I¡¯ve noticed that people often react more emotionally than they mean to when they¡¯re unhappy or dissatisfied¡ªphysically and mentally. You may never be happy where you are. You¡¯re a leader who just hasn¡¯t had the chance to take the reins yet.¡±

    Tim chuckled, despite himself. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m probably one of the furthest things from a leader. I can¡¯t even lead a raid group right.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s simply because you lack experience,¡± the man said, smiling kindly. ¡°But you¡¯re on the right track. You see what you don¡¯t like about others in positions of power.¡±

    Tim listened, still skeptical. ¡®Yeah, but I suck with people, I usually make things worse with my words.¡¯

    ¡°Leaders come in all shapes and sizes,¡± the man continued. ¡°Yes, being good with people helps, but it¡¯s not the only way. Some inspire by action.¡±

    Tim blinked, surprised. ¡®Hold up, that¡¯s twice now you¡¯ve known things I haven¡¯t said. And you just read my thoughts. Elephant in a tutu! Pineapple on pizza is amazing! Are you reading my mind old man?¡¯

    The older man grinned knowingly. ¡°Exactly! You don¡¯t have to be good with people to be a good leader. A true leader makes the tough choices no one else wants to make. They surround themselves with quality people who understand them, not just yes-men. They find people who compliment their weaknesses. Sometimes, a leader is just an idea.¡±

    ¡°So basically a figurehead?¡± Tim asked.

    ¡°No, no.¡± The man laughed. ¡°We¡¯re talking about True leaders. Someone who sees what¡¯s

    wrong and works with others to fix it.¡±

    The man paused, his eyes locking with Tim¡¯s. ¡°But here¡¯s the important part. When you settle for something that doesn¡¯t feel right, your body will tell you. Over time, your emotions will react¡ªanger, frustration. Eventually, you¡¯ll find it hard to get out of bed, and you won¡¯t know why. You¡¯ll ignore the signs until it¡¯s too much to bear.¡±

    Tim blinked. ¡°I think you¡¯re reading into it too much. I¡¯ve just always had a temper. But¡­ why does it make sense?¡±

    The older man nodded. "You''re not living up to your potential, Tim. Your body is telling you that.¡±

    Tim stared at the ground, unsure. ¡°Maybe. But with the way things are, you have to work or end up homeless. And only get promoted if you brown¨Cnose those above you. That¡¯s not me.¡±

    ¡°Precisely,¡± the man said, his eyes lighting up. ¡°You see the flaw in the system. You want more, but you want it on merit, not just because you¡¯ve kissed someone¡¯s ass. That¡¯s leadership.¡±

    Tim furrowed his brow. ¡°how do you figure?¡±

    The man¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Because I see it in you. Now, let me ask you something. If you were sitting at home, doing nothing, and started feeling uneasy, what would you do?¡±

    ¡°Probably get up, and do something, or leave the house,¡± Tim answered.

    The man continued to smile. ¡°That¡¯s your body speaking to you. Now if you¡¯re stuck doing something over and over, and nothing changes, what¡¯s the next logical step?¡±

    Tim paused, considering it. ¡°Try something else?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± the man said. ¡°your body has tried to tell you¨Cworking for someone else isn¡¯t where you belong. But you didn¡¯t listen to the discomfort, so it turned into anger. And now, you can¡¯t ignore it anymore.¡±

    Tim sat there, deep in thought. ¡®Is he right? Or is he just reading too much into this?¡¯

    ¡°You need something different, Tim,¡± the man said gently.

    Tim finally looked at the man again. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Glean,¡± he said, gesturing to the schnauzer. ¡°And this is Fey.¡±

    ¡°Fey¡¯s a lovely name.¡± Tim said, smiling as he continued to pet her. ¡°Sadly, Glean, with how things are, I have to start somewhere, I only know working for someone¡ªeither in a store or on a farm. School never worked out for me.¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°Everything starts with a choice, Tim. I have an option for you.¡± He said pulling a blank envelope off his lap, one Tim hadn¡¯t noticed beforehand. Glean stood up, handing off the envelope. ¡°In it is an invitation. Whatever you decide, I believe you¡¯re a good choice. I hope to hear your answer soon.¡± He tipped his hat and started to turn away.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Tim said, holding up the envelope. ¡°Is your number in here, so I can respond?¡±

    Glean smiled without turning back. ¡°You can say that.¡± His cane clicked on the pavement as they left.

    Tap, Tap, Tap

    Tim stared at the blank envelope in his hand. He looked back the way Glean and Fey left already out of sight. The park was eerily quiet compared to a minute ago. staring back at the envelope. ¡®What¡¯s one more strange thing to deal with.¡¯

    With a sigh, he ripped open the envelope, half-expecting some kind of prank or gotcha letter, but instead, a single folded piece of paper slipped out.

    HELLO, INVITED PARTICIPANT,

    You have been invited by one of our recruiters to join in an upcoming adventure. We seek strong-willed individuals who have grown tired of the mundane life, the everyday grind, and the world that demands you either kiss up to get ahead or be born into wealth.

    Our adventure will be like no other. You will blaze a trail through uncharted territory, building yourself and others you choose up from nothing. No one to tell you what is right or wrong¡ªno more systems designed to keep you in line. If you encounter those in power, you will have the right to challenge them however you see fit. We believe you should have the freedom to fight against what you believe is wrong in the world, and together you and others can build your ideal.

    It will not be easy. There will be obstacles that most people would back down from, but those who press on, Who leave their mark, will be rewarded with riches and power beyond anything you can imagine. So participants¡ªwill you accept this invitation? If so, press your thumb below.

    Tim frowned as he read. It sounded too good to be true, the kind of pitch desperate people fell for. ¡®pyramid schemes, pay-now-to-get-rich scams, all of them¡¯ His gut twisted with suspicion. ¡°All they want is a huh? Not a signature, not personal info¡­ just me pressing my thumb?¡± He mentally shrugged, a little laugh escaping him. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m overthinking this.¡±

    He glanced around the park, the people who were here earlier had left. ¡®No harm in trying it right?¡¯

    He pressed his thumb to the paper¡ªjust as a gust of wind swept across the park, lifting the corner of the paper and catching him off guard. It sliced his thumb, sending a sharp sting up his hand. Tim yanked it back instinctively, hissing through his teeth. ¡°Damn thing bit me!¡±

    He sucked on his thumb, glancing down at the new blood stained thumbprint on the paper.

    Then the paper began to slightly glow, his eyes widened as the paper rippled like water disturbed by a stone, before it faded out of existence entirely. One second, it was there, the next¡­ nothing.

    Tim sat frozen, staring at the empty air where the paper had been. ¡®What the hell?¡¯ He twisted his body to check under the bench, then peered into the trash bin, his mind racing for any logical explanation. His heart hammered in his chest as he scanned every corner of the park. but the paper was gone.

    His throat went dry. ¡°Am I¡­ losing it?¡± he muttered, disbelief creeping into his voice. He took a step back, looking around like a man in the middle of a dream¡ªor a nightmare. ¡®I¡¯m just stressed. Yeah, just stress. Maybe it¡¯s just my mind playing tricks on me after everything today. Overthinking. Probably not enough sleep. I¡¯m just tired.¡¯

    Starting to walk to his car, ¡°there has to be a reasonable explanation. Maybe it was some sort of weird trick with the paper or a prank. Yeah, it¡¯s a prank. someone¡¯s messing with me.¡¯ He nodded to himself, as if convincing his own brain that this was all just a fluke.

    But then he heard it.

    WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE RECIEVED YOUR LETTER EXPRESSING YOUR DESIRE TO JOIN OUR ADVENTURE. HOWEVER THERE IS ONE REQUIREMENT YOUR RECRUITER PUT ON THE INVITATION, YOUR PARTNER MUST ALSO ACCEPT. WE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF THEIR RESPONSE AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE IT. NONETHELESS, WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR ADVENTURE!!!

    The voice echoed in the empty parking lot, clear and deliberate, as if coming from all directions at once. Tim froze for a moment, his fist clenched. His heart skipped a beat. The voice¡­ Where is it coming from?

    He looked around already knowing in his gut he would find no one. Not a soul. The parking lot was as empty as an abandoned mall. He glanced at his phone, just to be sure, but there was nothing¡ªno new notifications, just Tim and an empty parking lot.

    Tim exhaled slowly, shaking his head. ¡®It¡¯s fine.¡¯ he thought as his mind treated him to an image of him sitting at a coffee table with everything burning around him. ¡®Just stressed and tired. It¡¯s fine.¡¯

    Getting in the car, he turned the key as the nagging feeling lingered. ¡®But what if.¡¯ as he drove off.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Tim to return to his old job to pick up Simon, so he ended up sitting in the parking lot, waiting for him to finish. The music played softly in the car, ¡°I tried so hard and got so far.¡± Tim sang in another world when a tap on the window cut him off.

    He turned, expecting Simon, but was surprised to see Glen. He waved and motioned for Tim to step out of the car. Tim¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but despite the unease, he slowly opened the door and stepped out..

    ¡°Hello again, Timothy,¡± Glean said with a bright smile, Fey sitting quietly beside him, though Tim felt as though she was smiling up at him. ¡°I¡¯m glad you accepted my invitation. I¡¯m sure Simon will join us once he hears you¡¯ve signed up.¡±

    ¡°You mean Simon will be my partner if he agrees?¡± Tim asked, hopeful, he relaxed for a moment. ¡°Wait, you talked to me briefly, then went and found Simon? How did you know where to look for him?¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Oh, I know everything about you,¡± Glen replied casually. ¡°Once you accept the invitation, you become a representative under my care. All your information is made available to me. It helps me understand you better, to accommodate you, all to make sure you have the best start without crossing any lines when you arrive into the new world.¡±

    Tim raised an eyebrow. ¡°New world?¡± .

    ¡°Yes, a new world, I will make sure you Simon and yourself arrive safely, should he agree,¡± Glean confirmed.

    Tim stood in stunned silence, trying to process the conversation as Glean treated it as if it were an ordinary chat about the weather.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re taking this so well. Some of my previous representatives didn¡¯t handle things so... calmly. Some even tried to run away from me, and one went so far as to take his own life,¡± Glean off handley commented, his tone strangely detached.

    Fey barked, drawing his attention. ¡°Oh, was I being insensitive again?¡±

    Tim blinked. ¡°You... You¡¯re completely serious.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± the man said, his voice unwavering. ¡°Once you signed up, you gave me full control and permission to remove you from this world and take you to one of the other worlds of Gaia.¡±

    ¡°Gaia? You mean Earth?¡±

    Glean shook his head. ¡°No, this is a mere shadow of the real Gaia, created to foster life and see what grows here. Timothy, if you wouldn¡¯t mind, could we wait for Simon before continuing? I find repeating myself tedious, and I suspect he¡¯ll have questions, many the same as you.¡±

    Tim instinctively nodded at Fey before leaning back against the car, trying to piece everything together. Fey walked up to him, nudging her head under his hand. He absentmindedly started petting her, the action oddly soothing.

    After about ten minutes, Simon finally walked out, changing course when he saw the three of them.

    ¡°Tim, I see you met Glean,¡± Simon said casually, though Tim could tell he was on edge.

    ¡°Yeah, he visited with you?¡± Tim asked.

    ¡°Yeah, he came into the store earlier. We had a brief chat before he gave me this and left.¡± Simon held up a familiar looking envelope.

    ¡°Have you read it yet?¡± Tim asked.

    ¡°I did. I assume Glean gave you one too?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Tim replied. ¡°But this whole thing is... insane.¡±

    Glean smiled. ¡°Timothy has already read and responded to my invitation, but I am sure you both have questions, so I suggest we discuss them over a meal. Timothy¡¯s favorite place in town is Billy¡¯s Steakhouse. Would that work for you, Simon?¡±

    Simon looked a bit surprised. ¡°Uh, sure. Their steaks are some of the best, but they¡¯re expensive.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry about the price,¡± Glean said smoothly. ¡°Consider it my treat. Let¡¯s head there in your car so we can beat the dinner rush.¡±

    Simon glanced at Tim, who shrugged. ¡°Can¡¯t beat a free meal.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Glean, is it alright if you and Fey ride in the back? You¡¯re a bit shorter than us.¡±

    Glean grinned. ¡°Not a problem.¡± He headed for the passenger side.

    Tim nodded to Fey. ¡°Her name¡¯s Fey, by the way.¡±

    Fey gave a grateful nudge to Tim as Simon acknowledged her.

    Simon opened the rear driver¡¯s side door for Fey. ¡°After you.¡±

    Fey gave a polite bow and hopped in. Tim moved to the passenger side but was stopped by a clearing throat. He turned to see Glean waiting at the door.

    Tim looked at him for a moment before Glean cleared his throat a second. Tim realized and opened the door for Glean.

    Glean stepped in with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Timothy.¡±

    ¡°Welcome,¡± Tim replied, before shutting the door. ¡°I better not be a butler in the new world.¡± He muttered.

    On the drive to Billy¡¯s, the car was silent, with Glean and Fey sitting upright in the back, maintaining perfect posture, as though they were taught to always sit properly.

    Simon broke the silence. ¡°Glean, I guess I¡¯ll start with the questions. Why us?¡±

    Glean looked at Simon with a gleam in his eye. ¡°You and Timothy are perfect candidates. You both complement each other well. Simon, you have a gift with people, a charm that allows you to maintain composure even under pressure. You¡¯re able to diffuse situations with words. Timothy, on the other hand, is more at ease with animals, he struggles with people. He¡¯s quick to anger. But he is loyal, and stubborn to achieve a goal.¡±

    Tim wasn¡¯t sure whether to take that as a compliment, but Glean¡¯s words seemed sincere.

    Soon, they arrived at the steakhouse. After entering, the hostess greeted them but hesitated when she saw Fey.

    ¡°I apologize sir. But we have a no pets rule.¡± she said apologetically.

    ¡°She¡¯s a service animal,¡± Glean explained motioning back to Fey who now wore a red vest that said Do Not Pet Service Animal. I am working.

    The hostess looked confused at first before smiling. ¡°My apologies. I don¡¯t know how I missed the vest. Let me take you to a booth.¡± She led them to an area cut off from the primary dining area that had a few booths and tables.

    As they sat down, Glean asked, ¡°Timothy, what would you recommend here?¡±

    Tim didn¡¯t need to look at the menu. ¡°I usually get medium-rare sirloin with broccoli and a side salad. If I¡¯m really hungry, I¡¯ll swap the salad for a baked potato.¡±

    ¡°That does sound good.¡± Glean said, setting down the menu. ¡°Are you one who thinks well-done steak is a crime?¡±

    Tim and Simon both visibly cringed at the thought. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just wrong,¡± Tim said.

    Glean laughed. ¡°I agree. Simon, what will you have?¡±

    ¡°I usually get the same, but I take fries instead of broccoli,¡± Simon replied.

    Their waitress came over. ¡°Hello folks, my name is Janet, what can I get you to drink while you look over the menu?¡±

    ¡°Water.¡± Glean said.

    ¡°Pink lemonade for us.¡± Simon said already knowing what Tim wanted.

    ¡°Ok, and would you like any appetizers?¡± Janet asked.

    ¡°Fried pickles,¡± Tim excitedly ordered.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll get that going and your drinks. Be back in jiffy.¡± she said as she left.

    As she was out of ear shot Glean began. ¡°To answer your question earlier Tim, Yes. You and Simon will both be taken to a new world if he accepts.¡±

    Simon looked at him, skepticism in his eyes. ¡°You mean the letter is real?¡±

    ¡°Oh, absolutely,¡± Glean confirmed. ¡°Once you two decide, I will take you to another Gaia. You¡¯ll be given new bodies that match your strengths and abilities, and you¡¯ll begin your journey. Think of it like one of the fantasy games you both enjoy¡ªonly this time, it¡¯s real.¡±

    ¡°Another Gaia?¡± Simon asked.

    ¡°You see what I meant about earlier Tim? similar questions.¡± He said. ¡°Yes, there are many worlds made by the goddess Gaia, many like this one spawning life.¡±

    Before they could ask another question Janet arrived setting down their drinks and fried pickles. ¡°Alright, are we ready to order?¡± Glean repeated everyone''s order and Janet quickly left.

    ¡°Tim, did you actually sign that thing?¡± Simon asked as he was reaching for a pickle.

    ¡°Yeah I mean it asks you to press your thumb to it so I thought it was a joke and next thing I knew it took my thumb print and vanished.¡± Tim replied feeling dumb for not taking it more seriously.

    Simon eyed him, easily seeing Tim say screw it and press his thumb to it.

    ¡°Is there a way for him to back out?¡± Simon asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.

    Glean paused for a moment looking between them both, his expression becoming serious. ¡°Timothy willingly signed. Once a contract is accepted it is solid. Timothy will be coming with me, with or without you Simon, I will just have to find someone else to take your place.¡±

    Simon silently stared back taking that in before asking. ¡°From your early statement that we should think of it like a video game, will we be able to see our stats? Cast spells? You know, all that stuff?¡±

    Glean nodded as he enjoyed a bite of pickle. ¡°Once you accept you can access the display before we even leave, Timothy should be able to see his right now if he wanted to.¡± He said taking another pickle. ¡°These are excellent. Good choice Timothy. Now if you want to see what I am talking about just will your stats to appear.¡±

    Tim looked over at Simon, then focused. To his surprise, a translucent character sheet appeared before him, like something out of a fantasy role-playing game.

    Timothy Sawyer

    Age:22

    Strength: 13

    Dexterity: 10

    Constitution:14

    Intelligence: 13

    Wisdom: 15

    Charisma: 10

    Due to past experiences Timothy gets a +4 to handle animals.

    Due to past experiences Timothy gets a -2 with charisma checks with others unless it involves  common interests.

    Tim read aloud, awestruck. ¡°Welp, that happened.¡±

    ¡°You mean we can choose before we go?!¡± Simon asked.

    Nodding glean said. ¡°Yes, you should have three choices.¡±

    Tim allowed hope to take hold, Simon was seriously considering joining, even though Tim agreed without information.

    ¡°What else do you have Tim?¡± Simon asked, very curious. Tim noted a explanation point in the bottom right corner, mentally clicking it, a new page opened.

    Recommended starting paths

    Barbarian: A warrior who relies on his own strength, and powers. Team work, and spells are for the weak. If you cannot stand on your own two feet you have no right to continue to move forward.

    Strategist: A tactician, who mainly sits behind others giving orders, choosing the best formation to win the fight. Although some choose to lead from the front lines, commanding his men before hand, giving them stat boots then leading them into hell and back if needed.

    Gaia''s Warrior: A warrior for the planet, friend to the forest and beasts alike, this path allows you to cast spells of nature and use equipment modified from the earth, as well as allows you to improve your own capabilities from stats of animals, and have animals assist you later in levels.

    Tim¡¯s eyes lit up as he read Gaia''s Warrior. It sounded like a dream of his. Being able to cast spells as well as fight like a fighter in the front lines, he instantly knew what he wanted. The path lit green and a female voice echoed in his head.

    ¡°Welcome, Warrior. I am proud to call you one of mine. I am positive you will grow and bring light on what it truly means to be a Warrior of Gaia.¡±

    Tim¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Who was that?!¡± he blurted.

    ¡°That was Gaia.¡± Glean replied, his tone knowing. ¡°I had a feeling you¡¯d choose that path. She¡¯s pleased to have you as one of her champions.¡±

    ¡°You good bro?¡± Simon asked, a bit of worry in his voice.

    ¡°Yeah. This is actually getting exciting.¡± Tim said, enthusiastically picking up a pickle.

    Glean¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯ve let go of uncertainty. By choosing a path, you¡¯ve taken your first step toward growing stronger.¡±

    Tim felt a nudge coming from beside Glean. ¡°Mentally accept it.¡± Glean said before Tim could ask.

    He did as prompted as a new voice echoed in his head. ¡°Hello, Timothy. It¡¯s me, Fey.¡±

    Tim stared towards her in shock. ¡°What?¡±

    Glean laughed. ¡°Earlier you and Fay made a bond, without your abilities you could only sense her feelings now you can hear her thoughts. It¡¯s no surprise with your path and handle animal skill so high.¡±

    Tim blinked. ¡°Can I just think to you, or do I need to speak out loud?¡±

    ¡°This is fine.¡± Fey replied. ¡°This is way better than speaking out loud. Could you tell Simon thank you for opening the door earlier for me?¡± She asked tail wagging.

    Tim turned to Simon. ¡°Uh, Fay says thanks for opening the door for her earlier.¡±

    He looked at Fey. ¡°You are welcome, Fey. Only being courteous.¡±

    Fay¡¯s tail seemed to wag with joy. ¡°Thank you, Timothy. I knew you would choose Gaia¡¯s path! I¡¯m so happy for you!¡±

    ¡°Really? What made you so sure?¡±

    ¡°You could call it multiple things, woman''s intuition. Or the fact that you are so kind even when we couldn¡¯t communicate.¡±

    Tim smiled but got uneasy as a thought crossed his mind, his eyes glancing at Glean.

    Fey catching the uneasiness from Tim, ¡°Oh don''t worry you don''t have a link with him, so he can¡¯t hear your thoughts yet. Unless you open one willingly you''ll know if he forces one.¡±

    Glean straightened up, smiling warmly. ¡°Please, I¡¯m not the kind to violate anyone¡¯s privacy like that.¡± He reached for another pickle. Noticing it was the last one he looked back up¡°I¡¯ve clearly been enjoying these too much. I¡¯m sorry, you two barely had any!¡± He gestured for one of them to take it.

    ¡°I''ll pass, thank you.¡± Tim said, focusing back at Fay.

    ¡°I don''t like pickles.¡± Simon said simply and gestured for him to have it.

    ¡°Thank you boys.¡± Glean said and took the final one with glee.

    ¡°So how bad is this going to be for me?¡± Tim thought to Fay.

    ¡°Bad? Oh, you¡¯ll be fine,¡± she replied, her voice reassuring. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a shock at first. The world you¡¯re going to is less civilized¡ªthink fantasy books, with plenty of nature and fewer cities. You¡¯ll likely end up in an area full of unclaimed land where you and Simon can grow. If you¡¯re lucky the area will have lots of goodies for you two to take advantage of like great items to empower you, or a high power creature to partner with or even A DUNGEON CORE!¡± she said till her excitement erupted.

    Glean smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s not get too excited about rare finds. But I have faith in both of you. I think you¡¯ll surprise us.¡±

    ¡°Now Fay don''t get ahead of yourself, those items are rare but I have faith in our two boys here to surprise all of us.¡± he said and Tim noticed a gleam in his eye as Simon moved.

    Just then, Simon winced. ¡°Ouch! Son of a¡ª!¡± he muttered, sucking his thumb as the paper in his hand vanished.

    Tim¡¯s jaw dropped.

    Simon caught him looking ¡°What, I couldn¡¯t let you have all the fun,¡± Simon said nonchalantly. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t want to be stuck here alone. If we¡¯re doing this, we¡¯re doing it together.¡±

    ¡°Aww you do love me!¡± Tim teased, jokingly exaggerating an anime girl impression.

    Simon groaned. ¡°Stop that!¡± pushing Tim away

    Glean and Fay both laughed and a message appeared in Tim¡¯s view.

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOUR PARTNER HAS ACCEPTED THE INVITATION AS WELL, YOUR PARTNER WILL BE SIMON DIPPER YOU TWO HAVE GREAT PROMISE WITH SUCH A DEEP BOND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT AMAZING THINGS YOU HAVE TO BRING TO OUR ADVENTURE!

    Tim took a deep breath as he processed the message, then turned back to Glean. ¡°What exactly are you? And what did you mean by giving us new bodies suited to our abilities?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an ascended, I was chosen many centuries ago just like you, you are going to influence a world and if you grow strong enough, you may even claim it as your own. As for your bodies¡ªthey¡¯re not quite up to the task. So when I send you to Gaia, you¡¯ll be given new forms suited to your paths. I¡¯ve already selected one for you, Timothy. Once Simon chooses his path, I¡¯ll pick one for him. But don¡¯t ask for details¡ªit¡¯s best left as a surprise.¡±

    ¡°Now if you don''t mind, I suggest you enjoy this meal Janet is bringing our way, It will be a good while before you get another good meal like this one so enjoy it and savor it.¡± He said as she arrived, setting down the plates.

    Tim looked over at Simon. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. You heard the man dig in.¡±

    The table was silent but the clinging of knife and forks, the occasional ¡°mmmm so good.¡± from Fey when Glean gave her a piece of steak.

    It was a really good dinner. ¡°Thank you for the food, Glean¡± Tim said and Simon also thanked him.

    ¡°No need to thank me boys. This is all just a stepping stone. I will be providing you both with starting gear, and have you put in a decent spawn point. Now Simon you have been very quiet after accepting. Have you decided your starting path?¡± He asked his hand moving as he finished talking.

    ¡°I believe I have.¡± He said, closing his eyes.

    Glean smiled ¡°Ah I did choose two good ones, you surprised me a little Simon. Ok boys I need you both to choose new names, preferably something you would use for one of your fantasy characters.¡± He said

    A new screen popped up asking for their names. Tim took in a breath then exhaled, putting in a name he tended to favor. ¡°With that, we must leave. Boys until we meet again.¡± He smiled and shook Simon''s hand then Tim¡¯s, as he let go of Tim¡¯s hand everything went black.

 Chapter 3: None At This Time!

    Tim let out a low groan sitting up, feeling like the tail end of a hangover, moving his hands instinctively to his head. His eyes shot open. looking around, suddenly aware that he was surrounded by trees.

    He quickly assessed himself, turning his gaze down. His familiar stomach was missing, now more lean, his khakis were now worn leather, and his shirt was now loosely fit cotton linen shirt.

    Pressing a hand to his stomach, he noticed it was surprisingly firm. But the oddity didn¡¯t stop there. His arm, which was still resting on his stomach, had a strange green tint to it. He quickly looked at his other arm¡ªit was the same.

    ¡®Did I get a bad body? Am I sick? Is my mind or soul not adjusting well to this new body?¡¯ his mind raced. Till unfamiliar voice came from behind him.

    ¡°Ah you are awake.¡±

    Tim turned toward the voice and seeing a ebony skinned elf. The elf smiled warmly at him

    ¡°A bit surreal isn¡¯t it?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Simon?¡± Tim asked and Simon nodded back. ¡°Yeah, we could have probably sat with Glean for days asking questions, don¡¯t think it would have prepared me for this.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. If he didn¡¯t mention the body change, I''d be freaking out a little. I woke up a bit ago near you. I was a bit shocked by the body too, but I tried opening the character page like Glean told us. Everything became clear after that. I thought you were the body next to me, I tried to wake you, you snored at me, so I let you be.¡± Simon explained.

    ¡°Well he said new bodies but I guess race didn¡¯t click in my head.¡± Tim said, eyeing his hairy green tinted arms.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Simon nodded. ¡°I am what this world calls a moon elf¨Ca sub-race of dark elves. Apparently some of them left the underworld to make a life on the surface. Over the years evolved a bit differently. I don¡¯t have full dark visio, but I¡¯ve got night vision. I can handle the sun, too. It¡¯s kinda cool.¡± He paused. ¡°My stats changed, too. You should take a moment to look yours over.¡±

    Tim took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air. He looked around¡ªtall trees, calf-high grass, birds chirping¡ªand, for some reason, he felt more at home here than he ever had on Earth. Maybe it was his new body, or maybe it was the realization that he had a second chance at life. Whatever it was, it felt right. Following Simon¡¯s advice, Tim opened his interface.

    Name: Cromus

    Age:22

    Level: 1

    Exp: 0/400

    Health: 120/120

    Mana: 100/100

    Stamina: 100/100

    Stats

    Strength: 12

    Dexterity: 10

    Constitution: 12

    Intelligence: 10

    Wisdom: 12

    Charisma: 8

    Race: Half-Orc: A race of an orc and human mix. Seen as a descendant of a violent race, other races shy away from you, you will receive a negative two percent to any charisma checks with other races. Though there is not only bad news with this race, thanks to your orc heritage you are more sturdy than most other races, able to face terrors others wouldn''t dare, and able to stomach things that would sicken most. You have night vision, in areas of low light you are able to see normally.

    Path: Gaia''s Warrior: A warrior for the planet, friend to the forest and beasts alike, this path allows you to cast spells of nature and use equipment modified from the earth, as well as allows you to improve your own capabilities from stats of animals, and have animals assist you later in levels. Gain bonuses when interacting with animals.

    Abilities

    Animal Link: Once a day you are able to choose an animal who is neutral towards you and create a telepathic link with the chosen animal for twenty four hours or until you sever the link.

    Identify (inferior): The basic ability that most intelligent being, can be used to identify items, creatures, and other humanoids.

    Spells

    Heal (inferior): You are able to spend Ten mana to heal you or a willing target for ten hit points.

    Nature''s Assistant: You can spend four mana to help a plant grow a stage in its growth or remove any harmful effect it may have. The bigger the growth or larger effect consumes more mana.

    Animal Affinity: You are able to spend fifty mana to manifest one animal body part on your body for ten minutes.

    Skills

    Universal Translate: No worrying about language barrier, anything spoken, or read will be translated to a language you understand.

    Animal Empathy: From a easy glance you are able to determine an animal''s demeanor to you, as well as having a better understanding of how to improve the demeanor.

    Tim closed his character sheet, his brow furrowed. ¡°Looks like my stats have dropped. Some of them took a hit.¡±

    ¡°I honestly thought the same thing but then I started to think, what if this is because these bodies are new, and we just received the base stats and our race stats? My stats got a boost in intelligence, and charisma, but I took a huge hit in constitution. I had a fourteen constitution back home, here it¡¯s an eight, it¡¯s not so great.¡± Simon replied standing back up from his bag.

    ¡°Yeah, that makes sense,¡± Tim said, looking around. He noticed another bag lay nearby.

    ¡°Well, I guess I can¡¯t complain too much,¡± Simon continued. ¡°I had a feeling something like this would happen. Race and class definitely play a role in shaping things.¡±

    Tim picked up his bag. ¡°That''s right you got to hear what I chose but I never got to know what you chose.¡±

    Simon¡¯s grin widened. ¡°I had three choices, just like you.¡± He held up his fingers. ¡°First, rogue, which seemed cool but a bit limiting¡ªsneaking around and picking people off is nice, but I like having more options. Second, cleric, which could be great, but I wasn¡¯t sure if that meant I¡¯d have to serve some almighty being. Didn¡¯t want to risk losing abilities if I upset something I didn¡¯t understand.¡±

    He held up his final finger. ¡°Third, and my choice¡­¡± He paused for dramatic effect. ¡°Clockwork Summoner.¡±

    Tim blinked. ¡°Clockwork Summoner? I know what a summoner is, but clockworks?¡± He awkwardly lifted his arm moving around with clunking noises.

    Simon chuckled. ¡°Yeah, it was a bit vague at first, but I took the gamble, and boy, did it pay off. I got the summoner abilities, plus clockwork crafting. At some point, I should be able to build guns, grappling hooks, flamethrowers¡ªstuff like that!¡±

    ¡°Guns in a world like this? That could be overpowered,¡± Tim mused.

    ¡°That''s not even the best part!¡± Simon¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°My spells all seem to be support, or a summoning of some kind. Summon familiar, Summon clockwork defender, haste, enhance strength, clocked and heal inferior. It¡¯s perfect! I was hoping to find ways to boost us and summon some help, and it worked out!¡±

    Tim grinned, digging through his bag. Inside, he found the typical adventuring gear: rope, a canteen ¡®fresh water, thank goodness¡¯, three clear containers of red liquid, three more with blue liquid, and three with green. There were also torches, food that looked like beef jerky and crackers, a longbow with arrows, and a scimitar.

    ¡°Hey, what did you get in your bag?¡± Tim asked, glancing over at Simon.

    Simon listed off similar items, with one difference: ¡°I got a crossbow instead of a longbow.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°Huh, interesting,¡± Tim said. ¡°I wonder why that is.¡±

    Simon shrugged. They both looked around at the dense woods. ¡°We should probably find a civilization,¡± Tim suggested.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Simon replied. ¡°But being out here in the middle of nowhere could be a boon. Who knows? We might find something no one¡¯s discovered yet, or even a rare race we can befriend and progress faster.¡±

    Tim chuckled. ¡°True. And if you learn guns, that¡¯d be a game-changer in itself. Plus, those spells sound useful.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Simon said, standing up. ¡°Let¡¯s test our spells before we do anything else. We need to know how they work in case we run into trouble.¡±

    Tim smiled. ¡®Well, looks like Simon beat me to that idea.¡¯ ¡°Aye, aye, Captain,¡± he said with a mock salute.

    Simon rolled his eyes. ¡°Hey, you could¡¯ve said, ¡®Great minds think alike, Simon. Let¡¯s get to it!¡¯ You catch more flies with honey.¡±

    Tim beamed. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m the crazy animal guy. You¡¯re the smooth talker.¡±

    Simon laughed. ¡°True. You¡¯ve got the charisma of a brick wall, so good luck with that.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Tim considered his spells, there wasn''t anything to heal. So two of his spells were a no go. Animal Affinity it is. Tim concentrated on his right arm and willed it to turn into a grizzly bear¡¯s foreleg. Tim felt something leave his body, his hand blurred under a light brown glow, around it was a grizzly bear''s forearm. It was fuzzy to see through but Tim could see his hand and arm inside it.

    Tim stretched the bear¡¯s fingers, marveling as they mimicked his movements, then gave a wide smile. ¡°Holy shit, this is unreal!¡± He showed it to Simon.

    Simon reached out, feeling the fur. ¡°Yeah, definitely surreal.¡±

    Tim walked over to the nearest tree and lashed out with the bear claws, four deep claw marks leaked sap in his wake.

    Tim reached out with his left hand, placing his palm on the fresh scars he had just created, and closed his eyes in concentration. He focused on willing the spell into existence. As expected, he felt his energy drain again. When he opened his eyes, his hand was glowing a soft green, the light spreading over the claw marks. He started to realize that the feeling of something leaving his body was probably his mana. Less than a minute later, the tree was fully restored.

    Opening his character information, he saw his mana was at 40 out of 100. Healing the tree had cost him 10 mana instead of 4¡ª4 for the initial effort and 6 more to finish it. Not bad, he thought.

    For healing damage to nature, your mana regeneration is going to double for twenty minutes. regenerating at twenty percent per minute instead of the regular ten percent per minute.

    ¡°Thank you my warrior for healing the tree.¡±

    Tim blinked in surprise. He had healed the tree, and Gaia had granted him a boon. ¡°Guess that¡¯s the reward for my class choice.¡± he thought, turning back to Simon, who was watching him intently.

    "So, that was two of your spells? How much mana do you have left?" Simon asked as Tim walked toward him.

    "Fourty out of one hundred," Tim replied. "But because I healed the damage, my mana regeneration doubled. I should be back to full in about five minutes."

    Simon raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, if you have a base mana of one hundred, what¡¯s your intelligence modifier?¡±

    ¡°Ten.¡± Tim replied.

    ¡°Alright that means, every point in intelligence ups your mana by ten points. Cause I have twelve intelligence giving me a one hundred and twenty mana pool.¡± Simon said

    ¡°Makes sense. My constitution is twelve, so I have a health pool of one hundred twenty, too.¡± Tim replied before his brow forward, as the thought of Simons eight in con came to mind.

    "Tim," Simon said, his voice firm. "I know that look. You''re already thinking of protecting me. Not happening. I¡¯ve got some solid spells to help me stay out of combat, and help you too. I¡¯m not some helpless damsel, alright?"

    Tim frowned, but before he could respond, Simon focused, and a tear in the air appeared. It revealed an industrial landscape of gears and cogs. From the rift stepped a faceless, humanoid clockwork golem, its mechanical limbs clanking as it emerged..

    The portal closed, and the golem¨Clike stood before Tim, a shield as its left arm and a blade as its right. Its body was bronze, solid, with gears only visible on its sides and under its arms. It looked strong, though it clearly wasn¡¯t built for delicate tasks.

    ¡°Well how long will this thing last and what did it cost you?¡± Tim asked

    "It''ll stay until it¡¯s either defeated or dismissed. It cost me thirty mana, which is a lot, but it¡¯ll help in a pinch." Simon replied.

    Before Tim could respond, a piercing screech filled the air, forcing them both to flinch. When Tim recovered, his eyes locked onto the source¡ªa monstrous creature.

    Its head resembled a predatory bird, but it walked on four legs. Its eyes were blood-red, with white pupils, and its face was covered in white feathers. Above each eye, dark lines ran down toward a massive black beak. As it opened its mouth, Tim saw razor-sharp teeth. Its body was a blend of white feathers and dark brown fur, with the size and build of a bear¡ªexcept it was twice the size of any bear Tim had seen. It moved toward them, its front feet ending in talons, its back feet like bear paws. Black feathers adorned the backs of its legs.

    Tim¡¯s vision flashed with information.

    Bearded vulture bear

    Temperament: Hatred

    Ways to improve temperament: None at this time.

    ¡®NONE AT THIS TIME!?¡¯ Tim thought back to it.

    ¡°Uh Tim? Your Gaia''s warrior, go on play nice with it.¡± Simon said, sounding nervous.

    ¡°That¡¯s not an option," Tim replied, his eyes scanning for his scimitar. "We need to fight it. It hates us. Grab your crossbow, and I¡¯ll grab my weapon."

    Without a word, Simon sent his clockwork defender forward. The Vulture Bear charged at it. Tim dove for his scimitar, rolling to his feet and immediately rushing behind the clockwork defender..

    Simon quickly grabbed his crossbow, taking aim at the creature.

    The Vulture Bear collided with the defender. The defender¡¯s shield absorbed the first strike, but it was forced back, giving the beast a chance to turn its back to Tim. Seizing the opportunity, Tim slashed at the creature¡¯s knee, but the blow barely nicked it. The Vulture Bear¡¯s fur and hide were far thicker than he had anticipated. It growled but didn¡¯t flinch. Tim lunged again, using his bear claws to tear at its knee. This time, the claws sank deep, drawing blood. He followed up with a quick slash from his scimitar, but the Vulture Bear shifted, and Tim¡¯s blade only grazed the wound.

    The beast screeched, spinning faster than Tim expected. Its talons slashed under Tim¡¯s left arm, tearing through skin and muscle. He was thrown back, landing hard on the ground. His senses dulled with the pain, and he couldn¡¯t even scream, just feeling the shock of the hit.

    You have been savaged!!!

    You have taken seventy damage from the Bearded Vulture Bear¡¯s talons.

    You are bleeding!!!

    The attack has caused a bleed effect. You will lose three hit points every second for ten seconds or until you are healed.

    Tim¡¯s eyes went wide as the effects appeared. He had gone from one hundred and twenty health to fifty in one hit, ¡°This would be a lot easier to multitask if I had bars or something,¡± he thought desperately.

    In the corner of his vision three bars appeared: Health (50/120), Mana (55/100), Stamina (75/100). A red droplet next to his health bar, marking the bleeding effect. Tim placed his hand on his wound and willed Minor Heal to activate. His mana dropped from 55 to 45, but his health rose to 60. The bleeding effect faded. He cast it again, restoring more health, leaving him with only 35 mana but now at 70 health.

    ¡°TIM! Can you hear me? TIM!¡± Simon yelled, firing another bolt at the beast.

    Tim heard the Vulture bear screech again, and he heard a sound of metal hitting ground, he could only assume was the defender getting knocked to the ground. He got up, slowly turning around to see the defender on the ground but hearing more crashing.

    Taking in the sight, it would appear the defender was beaten up pretty badly, it is now in two, cut in half its legs lay useless away from its top, It appeared to tim that when the Vulture bear attacked the defender as a last ditch effort it stabbed its sword arm threw the things front left leg.

    Tim turned, seeing the defender on the ground, badly damaged. It was split in half, its limbs useless. The Vulture Bear was stepping on the golem¡¯s torso while snapping at its remaining parts. Tim¡¯s expression hardened, and he saw the creature was still bleeding from three crossbow bolts¡ªone even lodged in its eye socket.

    You have activated your hidden racial trait: Boiling Blood.

    Thanks to your Orc ancestry, you gain a temporary boost to stamina and strength.

    Tim¡¯s body started to heat up, the blood surging through his veins. A primal cry tore from his throat as he charged forward. ¡°I¡¯M GOING TO MAKE KFC OUT OF YOUR ASS!¡±

    The Vulture Bear turned to him, slashing with its talons, Simon finished his cast, The Vulture Bear''s movements slowed, allowing Tim to slide under the attack, now behind it. He struck quickly, slashing at its side with both claw and scimitar.

    The beast screeched in pain, staggering back. Tim didn¡¯t stop. He struck again, again, and again¡ªsix times in total¡ªhis confidence growing with each hit. But just as he thought he had the upper hand, the creature reared up on its hind legs, and Tim¡¯s strength suddenly drained.

    He was exhausted, his stamina nearly depleted. The Vulture Bear''s neck extended as it towered over him. In his final moments, Tim thought, ¡®I came to this world to fight, but it¡¯s all going to end here.¡¯

    Just as the beast prepared to strike, blood poured from its wounds, and it choked on its own life force. It fell backward with a gargled screech, crashing to the ground.

    "TIM! Are you okay?" Simon yelled, rushing to his side.

    Tim struggled to catch his breath, his vision blurry. "Yeah... I''m... just tired." He sighed, feeling himself slip into unconsciousness.

 Minty Fresh!

    Tim felt himself being healed, with his eyes closed he could still see his bars in the corner of his vision he caught his health bar tick up from one nineteen to one twenty. Opening his eyes he saw Simon healing him up.

    ¡°Hey bud. How are you holding up?¡± Tim asked

    Simon paused, a dry chuckle escaping him. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you that?¡± He sighs. ¡°I¡¯m better after I realized you were stable.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You got me topped off. You didn''t get hurt?¡± Tim asked, concern in his voice as he sat up.

    Simon shook his head. ¡°Nope, the defender kept most of the attention, and with you it never had time to focus me. But  I¡¯m just glad the defender took most of the hits. I don¡¯t think you could have taken a second attack.¡±

    Tim winced. ¡°Yeah, that one attack dropped me down to fifty HP. I think we were definitely punching above our weight class.¡±

    He noticed several notifications, focusing on them they opened.

    You are exhausted!!!

    Your stamina will drain twice as fast and you are slowed till this condition is removed.

    ¡®Guess that explains why I collapsed.¡¯ Tim thought. ¡®At least it hit after the fight ended. If it had gone on longer, they would¡¯ve been in real trouble.¡¯ Moving to the next notification, a smile grew on his face.

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    You have defeated the level five Bearded Vulture Bear and in return, you and your party have earned five hundred experience points.

    !!!DING!!!

    You¡¯ve reached level 2!!!

    You now have ten points to improve stats.

    You¡¯ve Improved one-handed fighting

    You now have improved your abilities with one-handed weapons. Your aim is more precise, and your attacks deal full damage. No longer suffering from penalties.

    You¡¯ve discovered hidden racial power.

    Boiling blood: Thanks to your Orc heritage,  you possess a hidden bestial rage that temporarily boosts your stamina and strength. You gain 2% to all strength-based skills, abilities, and attacks. As well as slows down stamina consumption.

    ¡°Well we definitely fought out of our weight class.¡± Simon said, looking over his notifications

    Tim nodded, ¡°But hey, we¡¯re level two now and can improve our stats.¡±

    ¡°Right? and I¡¯m excited about the possibilities ahead,¡± Simon said, his eyes lighting up.

    Tim Opened his character page and began reviewing his stats, feeling the weight of each decision. The biggest issue was his low Charisma stat. In a world where alliances would be crucial, he couldn¡¯t afford to ignore it. He decided to boost Charisma by two or three points.

    Due to your low Charisma, you face a penalty when increasing this stat. For stats 10-19, the cost is 1 point per increase. For 20-29, it costs 2 points per increase. With a negative stat all upgrades cost 1 extra point.

    ¡°Uh Simon, have you tried to improve your Constitution yet?¡± Tim asked

    ¡°Yeah. I guess you got the same warning with Charisma,¡± Simon replied

    ¡°Seems like we won¡¯t be switching roles any time soon.¡± Tim chuckled sadly.

    ¡°Well, things definitely won''t be easy now,¡± Simon said, throwing his hands up in mock despair. ¡°My grand vision of us becoming unstoppable heroes is completely shattered!¡± He dramatically clutched his chest as if struck by a mortal wound.

    Tim rolled his eyes a bit, smiling. ¡°You poor min-maxer, whatever shall we do? But at least this way there is a balance of some kind, no one else can min-max without sacrifice.¡±

    ¡°Yeah just,¡± Simon stopped himself. ¡°You are right, no need to dwell on what could have been, I suggest we focus on our strong stats and just bring up our weak stats to 10 for now.¡±

    ¡°I think I am going to pass on Charisma this go around, and focus on my Constitution, over it.¡± Tim said.

    ¡°Just don¡¯t put everything into Constitution,¡± Simon warned, ¡°If you get incapacitated, health won¡¯t mean shit.¡±

    ¡°Naw just the two points I would have into Charisma.¡± He said as his eyes caught the sun passed its peak of the day. ¡°Might want to wrap this up, scout the area before nightfall.¡±

    Simon nodded and they finished distributing.

    You are about to accept where and what you spent your points on. Once accepted you cannot take back your choices, Are you sure you are happy with what you have chosen? Yes, or No?

    Tim mentally clicked yes, a new character sheet filled his vision, as he felt his body shift. Muscles tightened, then relaxed, aches and pains he did notice flared then faded away.

    His smile grew for what seemed like the Umptenth time today. ¡°This is awesome!¡± Tim said with the joy of his youth.

    Name: Cromus

    Age:22

    Level: 2

    Exp: 500/900

    Health: 160/160

    Mana: 100/100

    Stamina: 140/140

    Stats

    Strength: 14

    Dexterity: 14

    Constitution: 16

    Intelligence: 10

    Wisdom: 12

    Charisma: 8

    Race: Half-Orc: A race of an orc and human mix.  Seen as a descendant of a violent race, other races shy away from you, you will receive a negative two percent to any charisma checks with other races. Though there is not only bad news with this race, thanks to your orc heritage you are more sturdy than most other races, able to face terrors others wouldn''t dare, and able to stomach things that would sicken most. You have night vision, in areas of low light you are able to see normally.

    Path: Gaia''s Warrior: A warrior for the planet, friend to the forest and beasts alike, this path allows you to cast spells of nature and use equipment modified from the earth, as well as allows you to improve your own capabilities from stats of animals, and have animals assist you later in levels. Gain bonuses when interacting with animals.

    Boiling blood: Thanks to your Orc ancestors you have a hidden bestial rage within you, which improves your stamina slowing down how much you consume, and strength for a small duration. You gain a plus one to all strength based skill, abilities and attack.

    Abilities

    Animal Empathy: From a easy glance you are able to determine an animal''s demeanor to you, as well as having a better understanding of how to improve the demeanor.

    Animal Link: Once a day you are able to choose an animal who is neutral with you and create a telepathic link with the chosen animal for twenty four hours or until you sever the link.

    Identify (inferior): The basic ability that most intelligent being, can be used to identify items, creatures, and other humanoids.

    Spells

    Heal (inferior): You are able to spend Ten mana to heal you or a willing target for ten hit points.

    Nature''s Assistant: You can spend four mana to help a plant grow a stage in its growth or remove any harmful effect it may have. The bigger the growth or larger effect consumes more mana.

    Animal Affinity: You are able to spend fifty mana to manifest one animal body part on your body for ten minutes.

    Skills

    Universal Translate: No worrying about language barrier, anything spoken, or read will be translated to a language you understand.

    Animal Empathy: From a easy glance you are able to determine an animal''s demeanor to you, as well as having a better understanding of how to improve the demeanor.

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    You¡¯ve taken the first step in your journey of self-improvement. In this world, both your mind and body will be constantly tested. Consider this a word of caution, noble adventurer: focusing too heavily on a single "stat" may leave you vulnerable when faced with challenges, potentially leading to irreversible consequences.

    Many adventurers choose to prioritize strength and power, but this can bind them, creating limitations. Similarly, wizards and scholars devote themselves to knowledge, yet their pursuit can become a prison, trapping them in a single mindset.

    That¡¯s why we urge you to seek the strength of others. Surround yourself with companions who can complement your weaknesses, push you to learn, and help you grow in ways that go beyond mere stats. Together, you can enhance your journey and achieve greatness.

    STAND TALL. KEEP MOVING FORWARD. BREAK THROUGH YOUR LIMITS AND GROW STRONGER!

    Tim heard a noise beside him and turned to see Simon staring at him. "What?" he asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely strange," Simon replied, still watching Tim closely. "Your body just morphed a little right in front of me. It wasn¡¯t a huge change, but if you weren¡¯t paying attention, anyone could have missed it. Still, it was interesting to watch."

    Tim glanced at his arms. He could definitely see more muscle tone than before¡ªnot a huge difference, but noticeable. "Well, you saw mine. Let''s see yours," he said, looking at Simon.

    Simon nodded and focused. It didn¡¯t take long before Tim noticed a subtle change. His muscles, while smaller than Tim¡¯s, became more defined. Simon¡¯s lean build was becoming more apparent, and Tim guessed he''d boosted his Dexterity. Simon¡¯s skin also seemed to improve, with some minor imperfections vanishing. His hair had a subtle shine, as if kissed by the sun, but without actually being in direct light. In essence, Simon¡¯s moon elf form was becoming more attractive.

    "So, did you notice anything?" Simon asked.

    Tim took another look. Simon seemed a bit more filled out, his cheeks fuller. He hadn¡¯t realized it before, but now he could see the difference. "Yeah, you filled out and toned up a bit¡ªnot like you added muscle, but more like you¡¯ve trained them. You¡¯ve got more definition. And your skin¡¯s clearer. Your hair is shinier, too."

    Simon grinned. "Makes sense. The definition probably came from the dexterity boost. The fuller look is from me raising my constitution to ten. I also increased my intelligence, but I don¡¯t know what would show that. Thank God my head didn¡¯t expand." He chuckled. "As for looks, that¡¯s from raising my charisma."

    Tim nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, so what are your stats now?"

    Simon paused, then recited his numbers. "Ten Strength, fourteen Dexterity, ten Constitution, sixteen Intelligence, ten Wisdom, and fourteen Charisma. I think my path leans toward magic, so increasing intelligence and my mana pool seems like the best route. What about you?"

    Tim quickly checked his own stats. "Same order: fourteen Strength, fourteen Dexterity, sixteen Constitution, ten Intelligence, twelve Wisdom, and eight Charisma."

    ¡°Well if the vulture bear is one of the worst things in this area, we are better prepared and have a grasp of things.¡± Simon said

    "I think we should share our character names," Tim added. "We¡¯ll need them when we meet new people. Glean made us pick names for a reason. My guess is that names have power, and some magic requires actual names to work."

    ¡°I¡¯d have to agree with that conclusion. Ok.¡± he paused for dramatic effect, smirking. ¡°My name is Sais.¡±

    Tim blinked, confused. "Says? Like, S-A-Y-S?"

    Smions grinned persisted. ¡°I spelled it S-A-I-S. It sounds like ¡®says,¡¯ but more like a name.¡±

    Tim quirked an eyebrow. ¡°You named yourself Sais, and that¡¯s funny?¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°You''re missing the bigger picture. My name was Simon and now it is Sais put them together you get Simon Sais.¡± Not able to contain his laughter anymore letting it out.

    Tim chuckled a bit in return. ¡°You made your name a meme.¡±

    ¡°Well think about it, if I get like a hold person spell or something similar, I can yell. I SAY FREEZE!¡± Sais replied, still grinning ear to ear.

    Tim laughed. "Okay, I can¡¯t deny that¡¯s clever."

    Simon leaned back, clearly proud. "Alright, Mr. Original. What¡¯s your name?"

    ¡°I went with an oldie but a goody. Cromus!¡± Tim replied, with a hint of pride in his voice.

    Sais gave Cromus a flat look. "Cromus? Seriously? You¡¯re judging me for my name, and you went with that?"

    Tim defensively crossed his arms. "What? It¡¯s a strong name. It feels powerful."

    A devilish grin spread across Simon¡¯s face. "Have you ever Googled that name?"

    Tim felt a sinking feeling. "No... why?"

    Simon burst out laughing. "It¡¯s a brand of toothpaste in a foreign country. You¡¯re basically named after minty fresh toothpaste!"

    Tim¡¯s jaw dropped. "What?!"

    "Yup. Minty fresh," Simon teased.

    Tim groaned. "Fine. Fine. I won¡¯t make fun of your name if you promise never to remind me of this again."

    "Deal." Simon smirked. "Let¡¯s get moving. We¡¯ve got work to do."

    As they stood up, Cromus felt lighter than he had before. He bounced on his heels, then jumped¡ªa solid four feet. "Whoa! What¡¯s the deal?" Sais asked, eyes wide.

    Cromus landed smoothly, feeling no strain. "Sorry, I just wanted to see how high I could jump from a standing position. My body feels so light."

    Sais chuckled. ¡°Compared to our past selves, yeah that is a miracle.¡±

    "I¡¯m guessing running¡¯s going to be an experience too," Cromus said as he grabbed his bag. "Ready to move out?"

    Sais nodded, slinging his bag over his shoulder and grabbing his crossbow. "Let¡¯s go. Maybe we can find a cave or something. Shelter sounds good."

    ¡°Alright maybe we can head the way the vulture bear came from and maybe find a den.¡± Cromus said.

    "Yeah, but what if we find a mate of that vulture bear?" Sais asked.

    Cromus frowned. "True. But I doubt that¡¯s the case. If it¡¯s like regular bears, they only mate and leave. It¡¯s rare for them to stay together."

    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it, nature boy.¡± Sais replied.

    As they walked, Cromus couldn¡¯t help but notice the destruction around them. The path the vulture bear had left was a mess¡ªbroken branches, flattened bushes, and more.

    A prompt appeared in Cromus¡¯s vision.

    Congratulations!!! You have improved the Survivor skill. As a novice, you can now track living things, have a natural sense of direction, and will rarely get lost in later levels, as you grow tracking will become much easier, You will be able to notice smaller prints, broken paths and understand how long prints have been left for, in the span of eight hours.

    ''That definitely will come in handy.¡¯ Cromus thought to himself. He then noticed a rabbit laying dead not far from the path, he bent down and picked it up.

    Sais gave him a look. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°All we have in our bags are small rations, we can practice cleaning and cooking it.  Worst comes to worse; it is used for some experience and skill training.¡± He explained as a new prompt appeared:

    Skill unlocked: Looting

    Would you like to loot a young rabbit? Yes/no

    Pausing not taking his eyes off the prompt. ¡°Sais, did you by chance touch the vulture bear?¡± He asked not looking back.

    ¡°No. I was too focused on making sure my friend wasn¡¯t going to die. Wh..?¡± He started to ask then stopped himself. ¡°You just got a prompt to loot the Rabbit.¡±

    In response Cromus mentally clicked yes. the rabbit dissolved into the air, leaving two pieces of meat and a neatly folded pelt.

    Grabbing the meat and the pelt, he turned with Sais and they hurried back to the dead vulture bear.

    Only hesitating for a second, Sais reached out and touched the Vulture Bear.

    Skill unlocked: Looting

    Would you like to loot Bearded Vulture Bear? Yes/No

    Sais mentally clicked yes and the body started to dissolve.  All the items were laid out neatly, the hide was folded nicely, the talon¡¯s laying on top of it, the core next to them, followed by twelve pieces of meat, which were not small pieces each was around the size of half a rotisserie chicken.

    Sais picked up the core, which felt lighter than it looked. Inside, mist swirled red, black, brown and purple. watching the swirl he used identify.

    Corrupted Bearded Vulture Bear Core: This core has been tainted, once the foreign energy has been removed the core can be used for crafting, rituals, and even to improve oneself.  Using it before the removal of the foreign energy could have severe consequences.

    ¡°Hey Cromus heads up.¡± Sais said, grabbing Cromus¡¯s attention before throwing the core to him.

    Cromus caught it and looked at it, getting the same info Sais did. ¡°So someone or something affected the Bearded Vulture Bear?¡±

    ¡°That is what I am thinking.¡± Sais replied.

    A prompt appeared in both their visions.

    Quest: Discover what corrupted the Bearded Vulture Bear. Reward: 150 XP and a choice of a Bearded Vulture Bear Quiver or Pendant. Do you accept? Yes/No

    Without a word, both accepted the quest.

    "How do you want to divide the loot?" Sais asked, surveying the items.

    "Let¡¯s wait," Cromus replied. "We don¡¯t even know what we can use these materials for yet. We might want to sell them, depending on where we end up."

    "I agree," Sais said. "The hide might make good armor, and these talons could be crafted into weapons. But we¡¯ll hold onto everything for now."

    They packed up and continued down the vulture bear¡¯s path. Soon, they noticed even more destruction: dead squirrels, torn trees, and the aftermath of a beast in a blind rage. Cromus uneased by the sight, went to every animal he saw.

    ¡°You are a good person Cromus. My past choices would take far longer to understand this easy lesson. I am pleased with Glean''s choice. You are quickly becoming one of my favorites. I respect the cycle predator vs prey, or even predator vs predator for territory or even treasure, but senseless murder, and waste of resources is not right. Know I am always watching you, and always with you.¡±

    ¡®Gaia?¡¯ Cromus thought, hoping for a reply.

    A warm sensation lingered in his chest, but no words came. Maybe one day, he could communicate more directly.

    They walked for what felt like hours, coming upon another scene of destruction. Cromus had three pieces of rabbit meat, while Sais had five. They¡¯d spotted a buck, but it was decided that leaving it would be the wisest choice. They were starting to run out of ways to carry things, and who knew how long the meat would last.

    Cromus noticed some old wolf tracks¡ªtoo old for him to identify¡ªbut they were numerous, going back and forth. He was sure the wolves would find the dead buck soon and take advantage of a free meal.

    ¡°Hey we could possibly learn some fishing too if we find shelter nearby.¡± Cromus said

    ¡°Definitely. Fish will not be as gamy as rodent meat.¡± Sais replied

    Cromus¡¯s stomach growled loudly. After the fight and the long walk, he felt a growing hunger. It wouldn¡¯t take much to convince him to sit down and eat.

    As time passed, the forest around them started to come to life. Birds chirped, and Cromus caught sight of a few squirrels on the opposite riverbank. He felt a warmth in his chest, realizing how tense he¡¯d been until now. Without realizing it, he relaxed, letting the forest sounds wash over him.

    The river soon veered right, while the vulture bear''s tracks led left. Cromus was about to ask Sais which direction he preferred when he felt an inexplicable pull toward the left. He followed the tracks, trusting his instinct.

    The tracks, now older and harder to follow, were marked by broken branches and scratched trees, which made it easier. They came to a thick patch of bushes, and as Cromus moved to push them aside, he felt that same pull again. He parted the bushes and, sure enough, behind them, partially hidden by branches, was a tall earth mound with a cave entrance. It seemed like the perfect place to camp¡ªwell-hidden and offering decent shelter.

    ¡°Well, I think we found our campsite,¡± he said, smiling at Sais.

    Sais approached. "I wonder if it has just one entrance, or if there''s more inside."

    Cromus peered into the cave, using the setting sun¡¯s light. He could see a significant portion of it, but the back was hidden. There was no clear sign of a second entrance, but he did spot a small nest made of grass, likely used by the vulture bear. Just as he was about to step inside, he felt his shirt tugged, and Sais¡¯s eyes met his.

    ¡°Slowly, and quietly,¡± Sais whispered, setting down his bag and drawing his crossbow.

    Though Cromus was still sure the vulture bear was a solitary creature, the battle they¡¯d fought earlier had made him cautious. He set down his own bag, drew his scimitar with his left hand, and entered.

    Inside, the cave was dark¡ªan eerie kind of dark. The nest was about ten feet ahead, on the right. Twelve feet across, the cave¡¯s size felt imposing. As Cromus moved forward, his foot crunched down on something brittle. Looking down, he saw animal bones, possibly from a deer, but also a humanoid skull. He froze, noticing that the teeth were sharp, with the back teeth suggesting the creature had a diet that included harder materials.

    They moved further in. Another twenty feet brought them to the back of the cave. It was empty, with no other entrances or exits.

    "Well, it''s a nice little hideaway," Sais said.

    "Or a trap if something else comes in and blocks our exit," Cromus replied.

    "True. But given your theory about the vulture bear being solitary, I don¡¯t think we have to worry. Nothing¡¯s likely to wander into its territory until it¡¯s gone."

    "Yeah, even the wolf tracks we saw seemed to avoid the area we were traveling."

    "Exactly. And with the river nearby, full of fish and plenty of squirrels, we have options for food and experience."

    "Right. But we don¡¯t have any ventilation in here, so we¡¯ll need to set up a fire outside. The ceiling¡¯s only about nine feet high."

    Sais nodded. "Fair enough. Let''s start gathering wood."

    Cromus found enough branches quickly, and they used rocks from the river to form a circle for the fire. Sais took over the fire-making, using dried grass and bark, and soon had a small flame going, adding the wood Cromus had gathered.

    While Sais managed the fire, Cromus skewered some of the meat and roasted it on sticks. "It''s not the prettiest, but it¡¯ll do," he said, holding up the skewered meat.

    By the time the sun had set, they decided the food was ready. Cromus took a bite of the vulture bear meat, his face contorting. It wasn¡¯t the worst thing he¡¯d ever tasted, but it was close. "Ugh," he said, scraping his tongue against his teeth. "That¡¯s rough."

    Sais chuckled.

    "You wait, bud," Cromus grinned. "We weren¡¯t exactly trained campfire chefs."

    "Oh, I figured. But come on, we both knew those awesome steaks we had back with Glean and Fey were going to be our last good meal for a while." Sais responded.

    "Yeah. I got too used to all the fatty, sugary foods back home. I miss those."

    "This world might not even know what salt is. It could be a rare commodity."

    Cromus took another bite. "We could change that and make a fortune. But for now, we¡¯ll have to make do."

    Sais smirked and tried the meat himself. His reaction was almost identical to Cromus¡¯s. "Okay, you''re right. We¡¯re not great cooks," he said, laughing.

    Cromus chuckled too. They ate in silence, the warmth from the fire and the sounds of the forest filling the air. He couldn¡¯t help but relax, staring up at the stars as they began to appear. He could hear an owl in the distance, probably waking up for its nightly hunt, and wolves howling southward, likely feasting on the deer.

    "To think," Cromus mused, "our first day here, we fought one of the scariest things in this forest, leveled up, saw this beautiful untouched forest and river, and now we''re relaxing by a campfire in a cave, preparing for sleep."

    "Yep," Sais agreed. "But I''ve got one last trick I want to try before we crash."

    Before Cromus could ask what he meant, another portal opened in front of them. This one was much smaller¡ªabout thirty inches wide. A little ball of iron with blades for wings flapped out, landing on Sais¡¯s shoulder as the portal closed behind it.

    Cromus¡¯s eyes widened. It looked like an owl, but with clear mechanical parts¡ªgears and metal plates covering its body. Its eyes were large, covered by glass, the edge of the glass circled by a gear. The little creature hooted at Cromus before turning to hoot at Sais.

    His eyes widened a bit,  ¡°Yes I am Sais, and this is Cromus.¡± it hooted again.

    ¡°Henry says hello.¡± Sais said to Cromus this time.

    ¡°Henry? I did not expect that to be its name.¡± Cromus replied.

    Henry¡¯s gears speed up and body Puffed up expanding. ¡°He is not an it Cromus¡± Sais scolded.

    ¡°I''m sorry Henry, I meant no offense.¡± Cromus apologized, a little embarrassed.

    Henry deflated a bit and hooted a couple more times. ¡°Clockworks with high intelligence tend to choose a name, and wish to be acknowledged as beings which they rightfully are.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough, again Henry I apologize. This is all very new to us. Happy to have you here as long as you can stay.¡±

    ¡°Henry is my familiar, and he will be with us till this form is destroyed or I dismiss him.¡±

    Cromus grinned. "Looking forward to working with you, Henry. I still can''t get over all this... it¡¯s badass." He laughed. "Ignoring the part where I almost died, of course."

    Sais grinned as well. "I''m excited too. Just summoning him got me a couple of notifications. I can cast spells through him and even see through his eyes."

    "That¡¯ll definitely come in handy for scouting," Cromus said.

    Before Sais could reply, Henry hooted and flapped his wings.

    "Looks like Henry¡¯s excited," Cromus said with a smirk.

    "He is," Sais replied. "He says he¡¯s glad he was summoned by a polite summoner... and a polite... friend." Sais forced a smile, glancing at Henry, who seemed to puff up in satisfaction.

    "Hold on," Cromus said, narrowing his eyes. "You almost slipped up there."

    Sais shot Henry a look. "It¡¯s nothing. Just a misunderstanding, like calling Henry an ''it.'' He¡¯s used to creatures with less intelligence serving those with higher intellect."

    Cromus narrowed his eyes. ¡°Careful clocky, this dumb servant might mistake you for food.¡±

    Henry puffed up again and hooted loudly, flying off Sais¡¯s shoulder and approaching Cromus, making an intimidating display causing Cromus to defend himself with his half eaten food on a stick, Henry hooted before circling back landing back on Sais¡¯s other shoulder as he laughed.

    ¡°What? What did he say?¡± Cromus asked, frowning.

    Taking a minute to calm his laughter. ¡°If you had an intelligence over a common field rat you would know doing that would just make this form vanish from the damage instead of getting any actual food out of it. shut your tusk mouth, pay attention and maybe you can learn something from the master.¡± Henry gave another Hoot lifting his beak to the sky.

    Cromus groaned. "Looks like it''s going to be one of those relationships," he said, looking up at the sky.

    He closed his eyes, listening to the still-alive sounds of the forest¡ªthe wind rustling through the leaves, and the steady hum of insects. Despite being more of a homebody back on the farm, he felt oddly at peace here. The grass was soft, the air fresh. Before long, he was fast asleep.