Mid-day, clear sky and the sun is shining bright. I leave the Inn and begin following a wide stone road, surrounded by a blooming and noisy forest that is full of life. The wind in the trees calm down my nerves, and my body uplifts as my mind becomes clear.

Every few minutes or so I encounter different people, some of them are humans while others are orcs and elves. Most are travellers and local townsfolk, looking for lodging or going to work at the Inn as it is not too far away.

I carry on walking until I reach a crossroad with a wooden sign in the middle showing the directions. To get to the city I have to take the right road but for a town a left road. Without taking too much time I begin walking on the left, heading for town. I notice how the road quality does not change but rather improves the longer I walk. Something that I did not expect.

Few dozen minutes later, still surrounded by a forest, my eyes noticed a large town in the distance. Wrapped in huge stone walls with a wide-open gate, allowing traders and travels to enter and leave the town without problems.

(That must be the town. It's way larger up close, almost like a city.) I thought to myself as I approached the town closer, while the forest around me slowly began disappearing with each step I took.

Moments later I saw a person travelling with a carriage. I could tell that he is a trader as his carriage is loaded with goods while his clothes are of a simple look.

(A trader, perfect.)

As soon as we were in the speakable distance, I asked the man a question.

“Excuse me, are you travelling from that town?” I said while pointing my finger at the town behind him

He gave his horse a signal and the carriage stopped. He lifted his hat, as it was covering his eyes, and looked at me.

“Why yes I am mate” A croaky voice replied

“If you don’t mind me asking, are there any taverns in the town?”

“Of course mate. There is a large tavern in the middle of the town called The Armed Orc.”

“Assuming you new to the city I advise you to watch yourself, the town is not as safe as it looks, especially at night.

“Well thank you for the warning, I'll be careful” I said with a smile

“Take care mate” The carriage began moving once again while I carried on walking to the town, the forest around me is now nowhere to be seen.

(Hmm) I look down at my clothes (I might want to change, these look expensive and brand new, I don’t want to draw any attention)

I soon find myself near the town's gates. I notice how many people are on the outside, waiting to be allowed in the town. Most of them are traders that’s why a bigger line is formed on the right, while a shorter line of travellers and the town's citizens is formed on the left. Multiple guards are stationed at the entrance, checking the goods and registering the visitors.

I decided to stand in the left line and await my turn to be let into the city.

(From the hill this town looked way smaller. I will have to ask a city guard for directions. I know the tavern is in the central part of the town but I have no idea where it is exactl-)

My line of thought broke as I hear a female scream and a sound of someone falling behind me. I turn around and see a female elf on the ground, apples are scattered around her while her hand is rubbing her lower back.

“Ouch” She said as her hand is trying to soothe the pain

Blonde, long layered hair almost fully covers a long and cheerful face, while her clear violet eyes will leave anyone mesmerized with its beauty. There's something charming about her, perhaps it's her cheerful and innocent face or perhaps because she an elf.

I lean down and reach out my hand to help her stand up, as soon as she sees my hand she grabs a hold of it and pulls herself up.

“Are you all right?” I ask while I crouch down and pick up all the apples, immediately joined by her.

“Yes, thank you very much” A shy and quiet voice replied.

I notice that her small and thin pouch is torn due to the weight of the apples. I look down at the ground where she fell.

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(How did she manage to fall? The ground is dry and there is nothing there)

“Umm, do you need help carrying these?” I lift arms full of apples

“O-oh no no, there is no need. I w-would not want to take more of your time than I already have.”

“Erina!” A voice from called out from behind her

Another female elf came out running, her hair is short and blond while her hand is holding onto a leather pouch that is filled with apples. Both of the elves appearances are very similar with only one noticeable distinction being the difference in hair.

“I told you to wait up.” She said as she jogged towards us

“But I wanted to hold a line in the queue, you know how long they are”

“Wait, what happened? Why is your pouch torn and why are you holding the apples?”

“I ran too fast and the pouch broke. The apples fell at my feet and I tripped”

“You are so clumsy”

She then averted her attention to me

“And who is this? Your boyfriend?”

Erina blushed and puffed her cheeks “Ayla!”

“I am only joking” Ayla laughed

“Hello, I am Ayla, nice to meet you” She said as she reached out her hand towards me

“Marcus, likewise” We both shook hands before she started speaking again

“Your accent is different, you're not from around here?”

“No I am a traveller”

“That explains it”

“Ayla can you take the apples from him?” Erina pointed out

“Oh, I didn’t even notice” She laughed

I hand her the apples, all of them fit into a different leather pouch strapped to her waist

“You are collecting apples?” I asked in curiosity.

“Yep, we have some in the city but they are not as juicy as the ones that grow in the forest. We often leave and collect some.”

“They must be worth it”

She holds and lifts up one of the apples “They really are. These apples in particular are fused with mana, while it may not be a mana potion it provides unique and sweet taste”

“Now I must go and get some” I chuckled

“Be careful when you visit the forest though, all kind of nasty things live in it”

I turn around and see that the line to enter the town is almost finished. I am next.

“All right I have to go but would you happen to know if there is a tailor store in the town?”

“Yeah sure, there is one in the centre of the town, next to a blacksmith if I remember right”

“Got it, much thanks”

“Take care Marcus”

I walked over to a guard that is standing with a clipboard, recording all visitors.

“Purpose of visit?” The guard said as soon as he saw me approach

“Visiting”

“Duration of the visit?”

“A couple of days”

The guard recorded my detail on a list and took out a shining blue stamp.

“Please roll up your sleeve”

I roll up my sleeve and a blue stamp is pressed against my arm, printing a glowing magical symbol on my skin

“What is this?”

“This is to know where visitors are located, just in case of an emergency.

(In case of an emergency? Why would you need to know their location?)

“All right, seems fair. I can now proceed to the town?”

“Yes. Enjoy your stay” The guard smiled and moved aside. Letting me through. I walked past him and stood at the town’s entrance, the bright sunlight allowed me to inspect the town in detail.

Set on the end of woodland, the town of Thornvale is home to multiple races and beings, ranging from humans to elves and orcs

The town itself looks grandiose. With its ash wood rooftops, elm wood walls and oak trees alongside the roads. Thornvale has a delightful atmosphere, as joyful sounds of children playing could be heard throughout the town. While local traders are trying their best to sell their latest goods, boosting the atmosphere to the fullest. Thornvale has a booming economy, which is mainly supported by its agriculture, ale brewing and blacksmithing.

“Beautiful.” I let my thoughts slip

(All right, first of all get to the tailor store.)

I walked forward and approached a public map, it showed my location as an arrow and where are the key locations of the town are. I placed my finger on the arrow and began tracing it to the centre of the city, where the tailor store should be located.

(Got it. So, I pretty much just got to head north. The main road should lead me to the town centre but if I get lost I will ask the guards)

I began walking down the bustling main street, all of the shops are open with traders shouting over each other, all offering better deals than their competitors. I am surrounded by a mass number of people, some are buying food and goods, others are busy running their own errands, while some are gossiping about the latest rumours. The children could also be seen and heard running around, playing games of tag and hide and seek.

(That’s a lot of people) I think to myself as I notice how cheerful everyone is.

“Excuse me sir!” A young boy ran up to me, his face is red while tears are flowing down his cheeks.

“M-my friend is in trouble, h-h-his leg got stuck by a metal plank, and I don’t know what to do. Please help!” The young boy began crying, his dirty hands trying their best to wipe the tears.

“Let me call the guards” I said in panic

“There is no time, please I need someone to help right now or he will die. Please!”

I hesitated for a moment

“All right, lead the way”

“Thank you sir” The child sniffed and began running down the alley next to the main road. I follow him through what looks like to be a maze of streets and alleys.

“Come on, we are nearly there” The little boy said to me before we reached a dead end of the dark alley

“Good one Michael” A voice came from behind me

I turn around and see three men standing, their hands are equipped with daggers and maces The boy that was behind me ran to them and began standing behind them.

(Oh, I see)

“This can be quick and easy, or long and hard. Your choice brother”

“I have no money, if that’s what you are looking for”

“Come on we all know that’s bullshit. Clothes say a lot about a person, especially if they are rich or not”

“So give us your money and you will go unharmed” A different man began speaking

“As I said I don’t have any”

The man in the middle sighs

“Let's get him boys”

The three men slowly began approaching me, two from the sides and one in the middle. Although the situation is new to my mind; my body does not seem to react. As though this is normal and happens often. I take a defensive position and ready my fists.

In unison the three thugs attacked, but something seemed off. For whatever reason they are very slow and I can see their movement very clearly. The guy on my left was the first one to reach me. As he swung his dagger, I moved back with incredible speed and kicked him right in the stomach. His body was sent flying into the wall behind him.

The other two thugs stopped as soon as they saw what I've done and tried to run, unfortunately for them I was too quick and managed to get myself in front of the only exit. I punched one of them in the face with less strength, knocking him out cold.

The other man slowly began walking back, with every step forward, he took two back until his spine was pressing against the brick wall. I punched through the wall next to his head and looked straight at him. His face sweating, his lip is shacking and his pants are wet from his own piss.

“I could kill you right here right now, but I want you to give out a message. If anyone dares to mess with me again, I will give them the first-class ticket to the afterlife. Got it?”

“Y-Y-Yes sir, sorry sir” The man whimpered.

I leaned over to his ear and whispered

“Now run, before I change my mind”

He quickly ducked and ran past me, not testing my patience.

Suddenly writing appeared at the side of my eye

Experience + 0

(The fuck was that!? Experience points?)

…

(I am so confused. Ahh fuck it I’ll deal with it later.)

I approached the first man that I kicked in the stomach. I placed two of my fingers under his neck to check for a pulse.

(Dead huh? Looks like I overdid it. What about the other guy?)

I approach the second man that I punched and check his pulse as well

(Alive. Good)

I stand up and look at my hand.

(Where did that power come from? I knew what to do and how to act in that situation, even though I don’t remember a single time fighting. Muscle memory perhaps?) I look at the dead body (I just killed a man and I don’t feel any remorse. Strange.)

I turn around and see the little boy standing. His face and body still from fear.

“Why didn’t you run?” I asked him

“I don’t know sir, I thought you would kill me if I was to move”

“Don’t worry, I will not harm a child. But I have to ask you to do something”

"What do i need to do sir?"

“Call the guards and bring them here, tell them you don’t know what happened and you found those guys like this. Do not mention me, got it?”

“Yes sir”

“Go”

The boy swiftly began running away.

(What a mess) I scratched my head

I looked around the alley (Now where the hell is the main road)