My final 4 days with the Swiftfoot clan were spent honing the skills I’ve begun to to train in. I dedicated a day to fighting with a mace, acquiring all the way to Basic Mace Fighting 4; another day spent improving Basic Shield Training and Basic Pain Tolerance to 4 each as well; the third day spent acquiring Basic Light Magic and Basic Healing Magic at level 1 each, as well as improving all my magic techniques to level 2; the final day was spent cooking another lavish meal I thought up - deep fried meat. It was an extensive expenditure of oil, but everyone loved it. I managed to raise my Basic Cooking to level 7.

One outstanding thing happened while training my magic, though. After acquiring both skills, I acquired a new technique without practicing it called Healing Radiance. It allowed healing at a distance using magical light. I brought it too to level 2.

A second outstanding thing that happened is that I managed to raise all of my attributes, apart from Luck, by 1 point. They, in turn, raised my reserves by 10 points each, apart from Providence.

In total, between everything, I had gained a whole lot of points, getting to nearly 200. It was high time to do some spending.

———————————————————

I gave myself a budget of 141 points, feeling as though leaving an emergency buffer of 50 would serve me well. I did have to figure out what to get now. Masteries were the most effective investment right now, granting my much for little expenditure. Might read up on what I already have and how it will improve if I were to upgrade instead of making new purchases.

My ability to comprehend the social cues of the ratlings had deteriorated over the week I spent with them, the mounting mental fatigue doing its worst to complicate things. The thought of making social interaction easier came to mind.

I might need to consult my instructors, so I went and did, during my last day before heading to the hovel.

I didn’t tell Kiril about my powers since he didn’t need to take that burden. Trying to dress it up as something else didn’t work, and Kiril was mostly confused. His sole helpful idea was saying “If I could pick up any kind of skill, I’d learn to dress my own carcasses. Can’t be relying on the hunters too much.”

Bozhidar believed learning more kinds of magic was equal parts useful and dangerous. Being spread too thin is not good, and neither is being known to have a great number of magic types available to me. Further techniques, though, were probably a good idea. He also stressed that being able to mundanely do what my magic did will be a good bet.

Borko’s advice was straight forward — go for more and stronger, make sure I can manage whatever challenge is thrown at me. He was impressed with the quality of learning and implementation, though that was probably more up to whatever is making skills work than it is to my own effort. He also insisted that master of a few weapons is better than average at many.

As I returned to the hovel that evening, I saw all the ratlings begin to pack camp, leaving themselves the minimum to do the next day to head off. Many tents were packed up, equipment stowed, things like that. They ended up sleeping in large piles in what few tents remained.

Back at the hovel I sat down to read. New techniques were mostly in the single digits for my magic types, so I could get several without issue. I briefly considered offensive magic, but that was too risky to practice without a teacher.

Kiril’s advice came in handy and I picked up Basic Hunting 1 for 10 points, to cover hunting and dressing carcasses.

Bozhidar’s thoughts about mundane methods to do what my magic did led me to another two skills: Basic Healing 1 and Basic Camping 1, for treating wounds and making light, respectively.

With Borko’s advice I decided to just raise the skills I had already gained, to be that master of few he talked about. Each raise cost to a Basic skill cost 10 points flat. Intermediate skills, from the one I had, followed a different method since it wasn’t just 10. I raised Basic Mace Fighting, Basic Pain Tolerance and Basic Shield Training all to level 6, at the cost of 60 points total.

Left with 51 points, I decided to take a look at what I already had before: increasing any mastery would probably be a good call, but they all cost at least 20 points. That would shred right through my remaining budget. I could also invest in a new System, but I don’t know which. I felt like I knew who I should consult.

“Rep, could I get your thoughts, please?

It took a few moments for Rep’s presence to emerge, but it did relatively quickly.

*Thoughts on what, Sebastian?*

“I’m looking to spend 51 points and thinking of what of my options remain. I did just remember I wanted some more techniques, so let’s say it’s actually 30 points. Give me a moment.” I said and began picking up techniques I noted down before. For Basic Shield Training, I picked up Shield Bash 1 and Swift Block 1. For Basic Mace Fighting, I picked up Power Strike 1 and Knockout Blow 1. The 4 of these cost me the 21 points I told Rep I won’t be needing a use for. “I’m done. What do you think are my good options?”

*Very well. I’ll offer some immediately useful options:

*The Compass system costs a grand total of 10 points and is most likely invaluable.

*Raising Conversation History to level 1 at 20 points is probably a worthwhile investment.

*Another level of Self-Awareness, expensive as it is at 20 points, will pay itself back rapidly.

*Improving your language mastery is just 5 points and, I think, worth it.

*You could increase attributes, which don’t cost a lot to increase at all.

*Finally, for the biggest investment, you could put all 30 down on Analyze 1 in systems and start having some tangible information about this world.*

I considered Rep’s offers. Analyze sounds amazing, but also like a breach of the privacy of the world. Not sure I’m comfortable with that. I don’t feel like Conversation History is important enough right now. Not sure I want to touch Self-Awareness… I definitely want Compass, though, so down to 20. With more language mastery, I’d be down to 15. Invest that into attributes? Sure.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

I opened up the Shop again, got Compass 1 and the language mastery, and fiddled with my attributes. I read up on how this works and each point I invest this way is another 10% increase on the base value. It has diminishing returns. I decided to bring up my Luck by 3 points and the rest by 4 points each. Based on how my totals looked like afterwards, it rounded to the nearest whole.

I quickly gave Compass a test and found I can conjure a physical compass, as well as view directions on the Sheet’s display at any screen.

With that, my total points were 50 and now my emergency fund. “Thanks, Rep, for the help. It saved me some time making decisions.”

*Gladly, Sebastian.*

“I’m fine now, so I think we should finish speaking. Good night, Rep.”

*Good night, Sebastian.*

And with that, Rep left, and I gave my Character, now that my week was done, a once over and hit the hay.

Sebastian Harris

Reserves

Health: 140/140

Focus: 170/170

Mana: 170/170

Providence: 18/18

Attributes

Body 10 [+40%=14]

Mind 12 [+40%=16.8=17]

Magic 12 [+40%=16.8=17]

Luck 14 [+30%=18.2=18]

Masteries

Central Continent Common 2

Melee Combat 1

Self-Awareness 1

Spell-casting 1

Skills

Basic Camping 1

Basic Cooking 7

Basic Healing 1

Basic Healing Magic 2

Basic Honesty 4

Basic Hunting 1

Basic Light Magic 2

Basic Mace Fighting 6

Basic Mechanic 7

Basic Money Management 3

Basic Pain Tolerance 6

Basic Shield Training 6

Basic Stealth 5

Intermediate Quarterstaff Fighting 1

Techniques

Beam of Light 2

Cleanse Wounds 2

Cure Wounds 2

Healing Radiance 2

Knockout Blow 1

Leg Sweep 3

Light Orb 2

Power Strike 1

Powerful Jab 6

Shield Bash 1

Swift Block 1

Systems

Character 1

Compass 1

Conversation History 0

Guide Book 1

Notifications 1

Personal Light 1

Shop 1

Points: 50

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I woke up to Bozhidar and Borko outside my hovel, a wooden chest place between them. They both bowed as I exited the building. “Sebastian, we present to you our final gift before we depart.” Bozhidar opened and Borko then continued, “Inside this chest is a collection of things made for you to have an easier time in this world.” He opened the chest and started going over the contents.

I had some reinforced leather armor, a mace and a shield. There was a backpack, bigger than what either of them was wearing, a water skin and some dried rations. The bottom was padded with a thick blanket and a few sets of clothing. Finally, a single pouch that seemed heavy with its content. It looked like everything inside could fit on my person and in the backpack, the chest merely a formality.

“We’ve made the effort to ensure you are protected and capable of protecting yourself out there. We made sure you have local money; made through some trading we did during this week. We hope these serve you well during this time of beginnings.” Bozhidar explained.

Borko came up to me and shook my hand. “I have one final thing to give you myself: information. If you head north,” and he pointed in a direction, “for roughly half a day, you’ll reach a road. Another day on that road will bring you to the closest human town. It’s called Flebrook and it even has an adventurer’s guild. Getting there should get you started well.”

“Thank you, Borko, Bozhidar. I don’t know what I would have done, waking up in an unknown world entirely on my own. Thank you.” I responded, feeling a bit emotional.

“And thank you, Sebastian, for letting us fulfill are divinely given duty.” Bozhidar thanked me right back. I will miss him. “You may use your hovel as a base or home for as long as you need. We must go now, Sebastian. I hope we may one day meet again.”

With that, both ratlings went to join the rest of their packed-up clan and began walking westwards.

———————————————————

I moved the chest inside the hovel, a task easier than I thought it would be before I remembered my improved Body score and put it at the foot of the bed. I took everything out and put it together, the Basic Camping skill loosely guiding me. By the time I was done, I had a pouch and mace on my belt, a kitted backpack on my back, and a shield strapped to it. I was ready to go and I don’t think I was coming back any time soon.

I went out, the outside still a crisp morning, and went north. Moving through the woods was disorienting, and the Compass I recently purchased already proved its worth. After an uneventful half day, I managed to find the road Borko mentioned. I saw no one around and proceeded to take it north.

After a few hours more, darkness came, and I set up camp. Foraging for some kindle and firewood was simple and setting up the fire took but a moment. The Camping skill is really pulling its weight. The night outside was a bit nippy, but my blanket kept me warm on the grassy earth. The woods had become thinner here but were still woods. I hoped my fire kept me safe.

The next day, I woke to the sound of hoof beats.