Chapter 1

Tasteless Pumpkin, Delicious Pumpkins

I walked up onto the cabin’s wooden porch. It was raised up two steps from the ground and along its edges ran small wooden walls. The two windows flanking the door had their curtains shut and vines grew up them and continued onto the porch’s ceiling. I knocked on the door and awaited a response.

From inside, I heard a yelp accompanied by clanging metal. I took a step back from the door. Right after I did so, the door burst open, and the tip of a black and orange scythe was pressed into the side of my neck. Thankfully, the farming tool was blunted, and was unable to draw blood.

The man in front of me wore orange overalls with a black button-down shirt. He wore orange, oversized gloves and atop his head was a black witch’s hat. His head though… His head was a carved pumpkin, a jack-o-lantern without the lantern. A hollow, raspy voice came from beneath the pumpkin.

“You wretched wanderer, who are you to trespass in my empty abandonment?”

I squinted. “Your what?”

He repeated. “My hollow bastion, my empty forest, why have you disturbed its quietude?”

“Uh, I’m lost. Have you seen anyone by the name of Libby?”

The pumpkin man shook his head. “No, no such named folk of libations have stirred me from my apathy such as you have.” He lowered the scythe.

“If you have no weapon, I have no want of you. Leave these woods and allow me to wallow in my true essence, the apathy of my heart.”

Truly Libby, what a strange world you’ve led me to. “Well sir, I can go, but as I said, I’m lost. Where is the nearest… town? Village? City? I really don’t know where I am, so any help would be appreciated.”

“Hmph, as if I would care about the plight of someone else. Didn’t you hear me? My grandest power is apathy. There’s no way I’d betray that for someone I don’t know.”

“You say that you want me to leave, but won’t help me in the simplest way to do that? Because it would betray yourself???”

He nodded. “Yes, good man. Now begone, I have no further need for distraction from my work. Perhaps if you were to get yourself a weapon, perhaps one from the lake there, I may make an allowance for you, not that it would matter.” He promptly turned back into his home. What little I could make out from inside was a small pot on its side on the ground beside a brick oven.

I myself turned back to the lake and observed the still, black waters. “Skill buddy? You there? Is there a sword in the lake somewhere? I’m not going to have to swim to the bottom of it or something to find whatever weapon this pumpkin guy is going on about?” I could pick a direction and just walk, but I had no idea where anything was. Food, clean water, shelter, I was going to need all that sooner and later and only this pumpkin man could provide it so far.

[Acquire Sword Finding Skill] [Y/N]?

[Y]

[Activating Sword Finding]

[1 Sword Found 50ft away]

[1 Sword Found 25ft away]

[1 Sword Found 5ft away]

Did that mean the sword was getting…? From the depths of the lake a sword broke through the surface. As it rose higher into the air, I saw holding it aloft was a thick green vine that wrapped around its hilt. “How convenient…?” It was still five feet away from me. I tried reaching out but couldn’t without falling into the lake. “C-could you come a little closer?” The vine gradually shimmied its way to the edge of the lake, where I easily took it.

Immediately I heard the door to the cabin slam open. “Hah HA! So it seems a knave has come to disturb my kingdom with which I am bound to protect! You now face the fury of Jack! The pumpkin king! Wahahahaha!” From the porch he left and rocketed towards me. With a simple step I moved to the side and let him fall into the lake.

“Eh!?” Before he hit the water, vines shot up and grabbed him. “Oh, a trickster are we!? I wonder just what kind of heart you have, hmmmmm!?” Jack seemed like an awfully passionate kind of guy. Also, huh? Maybe fighting was a way of greeting in these strange lands?

“It’s been a while since I crossed blades with anyone! Now show me what you can do, if you want any hope of surviving I, the pumpkin king!” Or maybe he was just lonely? I took a couple steps backwards as the vines leisurely lowered him back onto the ground. “That grand weapon is none other than a heart-thorn. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Rejoice because, bladeless one, you now have a grand weapon of your own!”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of it.”

He took a step back and nearly fell into the lake, again. “Oh, well, don’t worry about it. Just swing with all your heart and you’ll make a worthy rival!”

“You should get away from the edge of the lake, you’ll fall in if you’re not careful.” He looked back at the lake, then back to me, then back to the lake again before settling a gaze on me. “Oh ho ho, feeling compassionate for your foe now? Don’t think your petty words can cut through my apathy!” He lunged forward fast as the wind. I meant that literally, with a single leap, gouts of furious winds blew all around me as he somersaulted over me.

“You’ve already been… disarmed…” I couldn’t see him, but I could swear he was doing some sort of pose. A lance of pain went through the sides of both my arms. It wasn’t horrible, more like I had received a shot in both of my biceps. “A battle between heart-thorns is a battle of the soul! Now, let us see, can your heart resist apathy!?” I looked over my shoulder toward the crazy pumpkin man. Whatever he did, it wasn’t enough to even make me drop the sword he gave me.

“If a battle of heart-thorns is a battle of souls…” I turned fully around and raised the blade. “Then your ‘soul’ seems anything but apathetic.” I rebuked him. The thing in my hands was just a broadsword. A regular, plain, metal broadsword. If there was anything apathetic here, it was the sword, it was nothing more than a hunk of cold metal. Clearly, he wanted me to show him some flashy power or ability, but I could do no such thing.

[Acquire Swordsmanship Skill] [Y/N]?

Alright text buddy, if I can’t give a magic show, I can at least give him a show of martial prowess.

[Swordsmanship Unlocked!]

[Swordsman: Level 5]

Hm, seems some hobbies do pay off after all?

Time seemed to slow ever so slightly, and that vintage look showed itself on the world again. Lines flowed from Jack’s body, overlayed with percentages, and text described what he would do.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

[20% Strike Left Arm]

[30% Strike Left Leg]

[49% Strike Chest]

[1% ???]

The forecast wasn’t too bad, but the ‘???’ was foreboding.

Jack raised back his scythe and brought it down towards my chest.

“Of all the places…” I parried the scythe and followed through with a horizontal slash to his chest.

“So you’re faster now! Are you the kind of guy that likes to end things quickly?” I hadn’t been harmed by his blade, nor had my blade harmed him.

“Hardly.” I hefted the heart-thorn onto my shoulder. “You claim to be one way but act the other, all while trying to figure me out.”

The pumpkin mask’s jagged mouth contorted into a smile. “Definitely quick on the uptake, at the very least.”

I shook my head. In truth, such a prospect was very much tantalizing, so very sweet, so desirable, but…

“You can’t get the measure of a man with a couple words or ideas. You wish to be ‘apathetic’ but you clearly have an affinity for plants, and that is the power of your scythe. Attempting to grow is a good and noble goal, but trying to grow into something that is irrevocably harmful to yourself is foolish. You are clearly more than a pumpkin man, you are not an empty vegetable.”

He tilted his head, and almost looked disgusted. “Aw come on, why so serious? You’re boring me now! Take this!”

[100% Strike Left Arm, Right Arm, Chest] Jack swirled with his scythe and orange, vinelike lines flowed from its shaft onto its blade, where three fiery pumpkins appeared.

“Pumpkin Blitz!” They flew towards me. “And a follow up!”

[Fire Ball]!

I ducked and placed the sword behind my back to act as a makeshift shield. The pumpkins exploded and I felt heat wash over me. Unexpectedly, the sword remained cool in my hand, and I remained unharmed. Jack’s hand flashed and he chucked a pumpkin shaped ball of fire the size of basketball at me. Before it could connect with me, I dodged to the side, rolling onto my back to avoid having my chest hit the ground. Once I saw that no more fiery balls of death were headed my way, I rose up, standing tall.

“I’ve had enough of this game Jack. If you want a show, you won’t get it by goading me to fight.” This was clearly a game to him, and I didn’t have the luxury of playing right now. Not when it meant my chest would be exposed to harm.

“Hmph.” Jack lowered his scythe. “You’re a real buzz kill, but alright.” The air of sophistication and playfulness left his voice. All that was left in his words were disappointment.

“Come inside, I’ll tell you about a small tale for indulging me.” We entered into his cabin, and I was greeted by the smell of grilled meat and pumpkin pie. “Wow, are you a chef?” The main room of the cottage had a table and some chairs on one side, and on the other a stone fireplace with a pot and countertops beside it. On the table, placed neatly on a plate, was a collection of small pumpkins carved open at the top, filled with meats, vegetables, and desserts.

“That seems to be one of my main talents now-a-days, unfortunately.”

“Why’s that?” Not only being able to cook, but seemingly cooking well was a respectable skill. Why would anyone look down on it?

“You see, boring, clueless stranger, who I assume has been living under a rock somewhere, the entirety of the Coastlands and all the States are bound to collapse and return to the Wildlands. Now sit down and enjoy some of the food, don’t be surprised if my tale leaves a bitter taste by the end though.”

The two of us sat and ate as Jack explained to me the situation of this world, or at least this part of it. “You and I live here in the Coastlands. Before the thirteen states were setup, this place was a monster filled death land called the Wildlands. The original settlers here fought to establish basic foundations, and then created an order of warriors, adventurers, and even would-be-heroes called the Trailblazers. Any of this ring a bell?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “No, sorry, I really seem to know nothing.” Jack put his head into his hands. “What is wrong with people these days… can’t even get their history right…”

“Well, listen well then! I’m sick of these ignorant idiots that don’t understand how good we have it! I’m doubly sick of boring, bland weaklings that refuse to fight for what’s right!” He shoved his harshly pointed finger into my face.

“After the Trailblazers carved a literal path of monster corpses and whatever else horrid nature held in store, thirteen states were split up amongst the strongest, smartest, most suitable members of the Trailblazers! They were the Statesmen! It was and is still the duty of the Statesmen to oversee and protect the states and people of the Thirteen states.” He slammed his hand onto the table. “But that damned king ruined it all! He sold the land we settled to other countries to use as a dumping ground for EVEN MORE MONSTERS!”

He took a swig of something orange from a metal mug. “Then, to make matters worse, he sends his red cloaks to ‘keep the peace’. It’s despicable.”

“Did these red cloaks not ‘keep the peace’?”

“They did much more than that!” Jack rose to his feet and began pacing about the room. “They threatened the statesmen! All of them! Demanding them to give up their authority!”

“Do the statesmen answer to this king?”

“Yes, but that’s not the point!” Jack howled with a vitriolic, passionate rage. “We had numbers and power on our side, those cloaks would have had no power over us, and they knew it! So you know what those cowards do?”

I shook my head. “No, what did they do?”

“They threatened the civilians! Regular people who just want to live day by day! They gave the statesmen an ultimatum! Die or leave, or the common people would get the wrath of the king! The monsters! Now they’re the ones calling the shots, and their calling is shit!”

“Well, certainly they can’t be that bad, can they?” Jack stopped dead in his tracks.

“You’d think that, wouldn’t you? King sends his men to get rid of the people who actually know how to a run this place, you’d believe they would be the cream of the crop, the best of the best, but no, oh no, of course not.” Jack returned to his chair and sunk his head to the table.

“The red cloaks, there’s seven of them, plus their soldiers, the red capes, and that means that each one has authority over two states.”

“So they’re spread too thin?”

“For any good and honest person, that would be the case. No, the problem is that they’re too heavily concentrated. The cloaks don’t care what happens to the people, they’re only interested in keeping power. They keep a large portion of the capes in one state, and a smaller portion in the state where a cloak resides, usually the capital of the state.”

“I assume that there’s other towns and villages to defend from the king’s monsters?”

“Exactly.”

“So who defends them?”

Jack chuckled. “Well, the now leaderless trailblazers, of course. More and more monsters appear by the day, it’s getting almost as bad as back when everything was still the Wildlands. The trailblazers for each state are constantly having to go on the offense to take out monsters that threaten everyone, the exiled statesmen included. They receive little to no help from the cloaks or the capes, unless it directly benefits them.”

Jack sighed, it was slow, drawn out, and filled with exhaustion.

“If the trailblazers do nothing, monsters will overrun the towns and villages. If the trailblazers try fighting back, it’ll result in the capes and cloaks slaughtering civilians. So, for now, they just spend their days fighting wave after wave of monsters, too busy to really change anything, and the cloaks laugh it up as they sit in their cozy mansions leeching off whatever wealth the statesmen accrued, and whatever else they can exploit from the people they’ve turned into hostages.”

That was a lot to take in. “Huh.”

Jack shot me a sharp glare. “That’s it? Aren’t you upset; aren’t you absolutely enraged!?”

“I guess would be too, I just had no idea. I’m looking for my friend, and I’m even more concerned if things are as bad as you say they are.”

Jack’s shoulders slumped in dejection. “I guess I can’t blame you, if changing things were that easy, one of the statesmen would have done it by now. Looking out for friends is a respectable thing, especially if they’re as lost as you are.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I guess I’m pretty lost, aren’t I?” [But the Truth Was]

“I’ll let you sleep here. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Fall Valley and I’ll help you look for your friend there.”

I smiled. “You’re a real good guy, Jack.” He shook his head. “Think nothing of it. I’ve been stuck here doing cleanup work for the last few weeks now, and I want to smuggle some food into the city.” [So Long as I Continued Forward]

That was interesting. “Oh, is there an embargo or famine of some kind?” Jack let out a devilish chuckle. “Oh no no no, I just want to stick it to the Capes stationed there. They’ve been hiking up taxes more and more on food there, to the point where the people that sell it get next to nothing. Giving out free food means they can’t take a cut.”

I frowned. “What about bakers and butchers, won’t that mean they won’t have any money at all to buy other necessities?”

He waved his hand in dismissal. “If you sold a loaf of bread for ten copper coins, the normal tax would normally mean taking a coin or two out. With what the capes have been doing, they expect the usual one or two coins, but then tack on an extra seven coins as tax for their ‘protection.’ Most people have nearly no active income now, and jacking up the prices doesn’t work either since nobody can afford it.” [I Would…]

That was… stupid. In no way was that sustainable. “I usually try to smuggle food a few times a month, but I’ve been tied up with clearing out the monsters around here. The end of the month is soon, so the capes will be more lively than usual, if they try to give us trouble somehow, let me handle it.”

[Find You]