I had started sucking air as soon as we hit the main cavern.It didn’t get better with each step after that. The cart’s wheels seemed to actively work against me.Their resistance increased as I sped up.This world needed to invent ball bearings.All my muscles burned. I would hurt tomorrow.This exceeded any exercise I had done before, including high-intensity interval training classes.However, I didn’t dare slow down.I carried half of Dorian’s load.He might not care, but those Ættir probably would.Who knew where they had eyes?

It took the world starting to become fuzzy before I remembered to slow down my breathing.Almost miraculously, after a few steady breaths, the cart began to roll far easier, almost unnaturally so for wooden wheels and axles. Did some grease magically make its way onto the axle?

I would have let out a laugh at the fact that that could actually be a possibility if I wasn’t sucking wind. Instead, I just shook my head and focused on pulling. More likely I had rubbed down whatever friction point was causing the problem.

Dorian tossed another look back.I had lost track of the number of times he had checked on me as we pulled the carts, but this time, he did a double take.Did I look that bad?

Didn’t care.He hadn’t slowed down, and I wouldn’t.

It took every ounce of my concentration to keep my breath at my current rhythm. I didn’t dare let it slip. Every time I did, the cart became heavy, the drag increased. However, I could keep up—as long as he didn’t speed up.

Our path from the entrance to the cave took us towards a section of the camp near the gate.It sat on top of a small mound, not quite as high as the hill the healer’s lodge’s but enough of an incline that Dorian started to open a gap. Worse, for whatever reason, my breathing technique’s effectiveness had started to wane.With each step I took away from the cave, my ability to keep pace diminished.

Why was this place so far away from the cave’s entrance?Shouldn’t it be near the production site?

Soon my nose told me why.It reflexively crinkled in disgust.Even breathing through my mouth provided no relief.I wouldn’t want this place near anything, especially not my living quarters.I punched through the wall of the foul odor, not daring to slow.If I did, I would retch and never be able to start moving again.

I collapsed to the ground when I made it next to Dorian’s hand cart, not caring a wit about getting dirt on my clothes. Thankfully, he didn’t see me. He had gone around to the front to enter the building. I didn’t make any effort to follow. With my legs like jello, I wouldn’t have made it far. Instead, I rested my head against the rough wood of my cart, taking in the cloudless, crystal-blue sky as I tried to catch my breath using the same technique I used when I was pulling the cart.

It took a bit for me to realize it, but something was different about my recovery.It differed from the few times I had overdone it during a workout.I could barely lift my arms and legs, but they didn’t hurt. I had pushed myself to the brink, but my muscles didn’t burn.I felt better now than I did when I had just started pulling that cart. Even more strange, my recovery felt right around the corner, like I needed minutes, not days, to recover.

I mulled it over while sitting and taking in the view of the camp from a different angle than the Healers’ Hut. After this morning’s adventure, those tall walls ringing the cleared space took on a new meaning. They may lock me into indentured servitude, but they also kept the world back. I wouldn’t complain if they added a few more feet the next time they constructed one. It was a gross understatement to say this world was more dangerous than home.

I tilted my head back, blinking at the sun that had finally crested the mountain.I relished its warmth.The shadow covering the camp had retreated, the edge of the long shadow splitting the camp into light and dark.Soon that edge would disappear, leaving the entire camp basking in the sun. The sun always moved faster than you’d think—or at least it did back home.

“You didn’t come in.” I turned to find Dorian coming around the corner of the largest building in this area. “I can’t imagine it was to enjoy the surroundings.“

I laughed. “I wanted to take in the camp.Plus, it is pungent here. I can’t imagine what it is like over there.”

A slight frown flickered across his face, but he didn’t push me about my obvious omission.Sure, I had needed some time to recover, but it was more than that.I didn’t need to meet someone new while still panting.I had already had one too many poor introductions.Plus, I had wanted to see the camp, and while the smell had improved with time, this place still reeked.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“It actually does smell better. The trick is to stay close to the source of [Suppress Smell].”

“Wait? Suppress—oh, another skill. Like your [Suppress Dust]?”

“Yes, but its effect drops off far more quickly than mine. It is an early skill for [Tanners], but most [Leatherworkers] will pick it up. In most cases, high-leveled crafters will save a bit of coin by processing their own low-tiered materials. It’s just hard to manage that and having a shop in a town if you can’t control the smell.”

“I bet.”I nodded to the building.“So, this is a tannery?”

It didn’t look like it, but what did I know?Like the Healers’ Hut, it sat in a cluster with a few other buildings.At first glance, it rivaled the size of the General Supply, though it didn’t have the same polish.The construction was still crude, but it was more than stacked logs.Cut planks formed the walls, but someone had built it with care.I didn’t find a single gap between the boards.

“No.” He thumbed towards the large building in front of us. “This is where the final products go. The tannery and other buildings involved with harvesting tasks are behind it.”

“So, you do more than make leather here?”

“Of course! We can’t afford to let anything go to waste. While I feel for non-[tanners] and [leatherworkers], it helps to keep it all contained in one spot. Even cleaned, all the parts tend to attract unwanted attention.“

Once he said it, I noticed that I had missed the difference in height of this portion of the wall. It rose noticeably higher and had a higher density of guard posts than the rest.

“Are we safe?”

“As safe as we can be here.”

“Not reassuring.”

He shook his head. “What did you except in the Wilds?”

What did I expect? How about walking through a well-lit cave with the greatest risk being a chance for a fall or, at worst, catching rabies from a bat?

How quickly I forgot my mantra. This isn’t Earth.

I faked a smile. “Yeah. Easy to forget. I just need some time to adjust. This wasn’t what…” I stopped when I caught sight of Dorian’s expectant look. Too eager. I shook my head. “Regardless, I would never have considered terrorvoles easy to manage.”

“Oh, I can imagine. Ones this size require quite the Aether density to survive. Still, they are nothing more than pests in the grand scheme of things. They are only good for getting into your supplies or, out in places with higher Aether, drawing in stronger beasts. Unless you want the latter, a good rule is to always try to eliminate any nest you find because no matter what you do, a new one always pops up.”

“Sounds dangerous.”

“Nah, they are easy to exterminate as long as you don’t walk into a horde unprepared—at least for those of us with some levels under our belts.”

“I am not sure I would find it easy even with a few more levels.”

“Oh come on. You had to have seen some high-tiered, non-combat classes fight. They can be just as deadly as low-tiered combat classes.”

I just nodded, hiding my ignorance.

Then he smirked. “Now, did you have enough of a break?”

“I…” My voice trailed off as I took a second to actually take stock of my body. I found none of the expected discomfort, even when tensing my legs and arms. I stood, not jumped up, but even then, I didn’t need to cry out as I rose from the ground. “Yeah, I guess I am.” I did a test squat. “And I probably can do this again—as long as we keep the same pace.”

He laughed and clamped me on the back. “Good. Because we have at least one more trip to go.”

I pointed to one of our carts filled with dead terrorvoles. “We still haven’t delivered these.Is the drop off spot in the back?”The only entrance on the two visible sides of the rectangular building was a small door that looked like a shed.It was too small for anything but tools.

“There will be a spot in the area between the buildings.I had to check if they had room for them first. Terrorvole hide is flimsy, but Auren Lædermakær, our master [Leatherworker], can make it work for patch work or belts. However, sometimes they get too much at once, and he will give the [Shamans] a portion.Lucky for us,” pointing in the direction of the Healers’ Hut, “we don’t have to go there. [Shamans] will get their entrails, but they will have to wait.”

“They don’t have to come over here?”

“Have you met the elder [Shaman]?”

Realization dawned. “Right…stupid question.”

“Yeah. Healers of her caliber are rare, and she knows it. The less of her time wasted, the better for the camp. Just as important, bringing her supplies soothes her ego. She is one of the few people here that you want to be on their good side.”

I frowned. I had no chance of that. “And the others?”

“I will tell you later. Know that you impressed one of them.” The direction of his gaze towards the direction of the General Supply was enough to confirm my suspicion. “Now let’s…” I looked up to find his eyes still lingering on the large building and his hand relaxing from a clenched fist. “Actually, I’ll bring these back so the apprentices can unload everything. You should head back and start loading up the next carts. I will meet you there, but I need to talk with a few other people.” I shot him a questioning look, but he didn’t care to explain. “Just head down and grab the rest of the terrorvoles. If I’m not back by the time you’ve filled the carts up, just bring the next cart here. I’ll find you. And don’t worry. They aren’t going to crack open any more passages today. It will be safe. ”

Good to know, but that didn’t worry me as much as the reason he was leaving. I could come up with other reasons, but odds favored it being related to our last conversation with the Verndari.There was bad blood there, and my presence hadn’t helped.Was he going to complain about the Verndari or me?At least one of those would turn out poorly.The Quartermaster didn’t strike me as a woman who wanted to be involved with petty conflicts.If it was about me...?Well, I liked Dorian, but losing a friendship before it could begin seemed the norm for me in this world.

I just nodded, keeping my concerns to myself. “I will head to the mine. I will try to have it wrapped up before you are done.”