It had been nearly a month since Aurelius had entered the Silver Peak mountain range. Since then, he had been getting more comfortable with his new classes and abilities, testing out his skills against nearby wolves and other predators. Despite a few close calls, Aurelius found that with each successive battle, his confidence grew, and his victories over the wolves became easier.
Over time, Aurelius's movements became more fluid, his strikes more precise, and his instincts sharper. He learned to anticipate the wolves' lunges and exploit their vulnerabilities, utilizing the agility bestowed upon him by the Blade Dancer class. Balancing both his Blade Dancer class and his Chronomage class, Aurelius became a force to be reckoned with. Aurelius looked over his status screen, proud of the progress he had made in a few short weeks.
==========Stat Screen==========
[tr]
Name:Aurelius LusamRace:High ElfAge:18Health:130/130
==========Level==========
Overall Level:5Overall Essence:2,435Attribute Points:0Unassigned Essence:235Next Level Progress:Essence (535/900)
==========Classes==========
Chronomage
Level:5Progress:0/550Description:Harness the power of time and spaceAbility:At level 5, you can teleport yourself 15 feet away for 20 manaAttributes:Each level grants +1 to Intelligence and +1 to Wisdom
Arcane Artificer
Level:0Progress:0/100Description:Carve mystic symbols into objects, granting the objects enhanced abilities and elemental effects.Ability:At level 0, you can expertly carve and empower common-level runes onto objects.Attributes:Each level grants +1 to Constitution and +1 to Perception.
Blade Dancer
Level:5Progress:0/550Description:Develop an innate aptitude for wielding bladed weapons and gain the Blade Dancer’s Intuition, allowing for precise strikes and heightened combat proficiency.Ability:At level 5, bladed weapon strikes possess a 8% chance of landing critical hits, inflicting double damage.Attributes:Each level grants +1 Strength and +1 Agility.
==========Attributes==========
Strength:15Constitution:13Intelligence:16Wisdom:15Agility:16Perception:13Luck:14Charisma:12
==========Mana==========
Mana:160/160Mana Regen:1.5/sec
==========Skills==========
None
Perched high in a tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky, Aurelius let out a content sigh and reveled in the tranquility of his surroundings. The gentle rustle of leaves and the soothing melody of chirping birds filled the air, casting a serene spell upon his senses.
But amidst the serenade of nature's symphony, an unfamiliar sound pierced through the calm. It was a sound Aurelius hadn’t heard since entering the mountain range: voices.
Aurelius’ pointed ears twitched with curiosity, listening to the distant murmur of voices that seemed to be growing steadily nearer with each passing moment. Aurelius’ heart quicked its pace as the voices drew nearer. The only reason that Aurelius didn’t flee the scene was because the voices seemed to have no sense of urgency, but instead one of nonchalance.
With every approaching step, Aurelius' senses heightened, honing in on the voices that wove their way through the air. A cascade of questions flooded Aurelius’ mind. What purpose could drive a group of individuals to venture so deep into the wilderness? Were they on a quest for someone or something, or did they wander aimlessly?
Remaining utterly still on the tree branch, Aurelius listened to the conversation.
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"Hey, ready to head back to Silverleaf, y’all? My feet are killin’ me, and I could really go for a hearty meal and a pint at the tavern," a gruff male voice said.
“Yeah, I'm ready. My stomach has been growling for the past hour. I can practically taste the steak and ale already. And guess what? There's this new bard in town who can actually play," responded a soft-spoken female voice.
“Let's call it a day, shall we? But before we relax, let's not forget the chance to sell these animal hides we've collected. Hopefully, we'll make some good coin," chimed in a younger, laid-back male voice.
The gruff male voice spoke up again, "No doubt. As long as our pelts are in good shape, we shouldn't have any trouble making some decent profits."
"Speaking of profits, remember that merchant we met last time? The one with the flashy robes and the fancy trinkets? He was willing to pay a premium for unique hides. Maybe we can track him down and strike a good deal again," the female voice suggested.
"Exactly what I was thinking. Let's try to find him. But, let's keep a low profile. We're not the only hunters in town, and competition can get fierce. We don't want any trouble," the laid-back male voice cautioned.
"Yeah, you're right. No need to attract unnecessary attention. Once the business is done, we can let loose and enjoy everything Silverleaf has to offer," the gruff male voice agreed.
After they reached the consensus, the group seemed to fall silent, carefully trekking through the mountain range. Listening to their conversation, Aurelius was left with a dilemma. He could try to follow the group and see the town they were talking about, or he could continue his hunt in the mountain range.
Contemplating his options, Aurelius found himself leaning towards the former. Truth be told, he was relieved to come across a group of adventurers. In the past few days, he had grown increasingly concerned that he was lost and had wandered too far into the mountain range. However, their presence and conversation reassured him that he was still within the outskirts of the mountain range.
Aurelius was familiar with Silverleaf town. Nestled on the southern edge of the Silver Peak mountain range, the small settlement derived its name from the mountains that embraced it. From what Aurelius had heard, Silverleaf was a bustling trading hub, where adventurers gathered to barter and sell the treasures they had scavenged in the mountains, much like the group he had overheard.
Having entered the mountain range from a south eastern direction, Aurelius realized that if he was near Silverleaf, he must have been drifting westward for the past couple of weeks.
Curiosity sparked within him, and seeing no harm in at least knowing where the town was, Aurelius decided to follow the group to Silverleaf. Who knew, he mused, perhaps he could also make a bit of coin.
Aurelius, keen on remaining inconspicuous, decided to make use of his Chronomage teleportation abilities to stealthily follow the group towards Silverleaf. With a quick burst of mana, he disappeared from his current location and reappeared a few yards ahead, taking care to remain out of their line of sight.
The teleportation allowed Aurelius to cover ground quickly, bypassing obstacles and maintaining a safe distance. However, as he traversed the mountain range, his lack of experience in stealth, especially in this terrain, became apparent. Twigs snapped beneath his feet, and his movements were not as graceful as he had hoped. The noise caught the attention of the group, causing them to halt and scan their surroundings.
Aurelius's heart raced as he realized he had almost been discovered. He quickly assessed his options and decided to take cover behind a large boulder, using his surroundings to blend in. Holding his breath, he watched as the adventurers exchanged glances, their voices carrying a sense of alertness.
"That was strange," a gruff male voice said, his tone wary. "Did you hear that?"
Another voice, soft-spoken and female, responded, "Yeah, sounded like a twig snapping. Could be an animal, but we should stay cautious."
A third voice, belonging to a younger individual, chimed in, "Maybe it was just the wind. Let's not get too jumpy."
Aurelius silently thanked his luck as the group resumed their journey. He waited a few moments before teleporting again, this time appearing farther ahead on the path, hoping to minimize any further mishaps. However, his lack of finesse continued to plague him, and on a few occasions, he accidentally stepped on loose rocks or dislodged small pebbles, creating subtle noises that raised the adventurers' suspicion.
Each time, Aurelius managed to find a hiding spot just in time, crouching behind foliage or melting into the shadows of the rocky terrain. His heart pounded within his chest, and the adrenaline surged through his veins as he narrowly evaded detection.
Despite the close calls, Aurelius persisted, determined to see where the group was heading. With each teleportation, he grew more cautious, carefully selecting landing spots that minimized noise and maintained his concealment.
Finally, after a series of teleportations and near misses, Aurelius caught sight of the town the adventurers had been discussing. A surge of excitement and relief washed over him as he gazed upon Silverleaf, its buildings and bustling streets coming into his view. Having achieved his goal, Aurelius stopped his stalking of the group, eager to explore the town and see what it held in store for him.