Victor woke up after Serena. Serena was sitting at the end of the bed waiting patiently. She seemed restored if not fully at least mostly. Victor sighed looking at the sun rising and looked back to Serena. He looked at his hands for a moment and brought up the skill again. He noticed an availability option for the skill ticking down with 15:23 remaining on the timer.
Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6
Requirements: Accept Luzuzal’s limited time proposal.
Cursed Innate Skill
After reincarnating for a total of 7 days you will not encounter any challenges you are not equipped to face and defeat. Automatically actives on reincarnation for duration of 24 hours, remaining time may be activated in 24 hour increments at dawn only. If you would encounter an impossible challenge Luzuzal shall warp reality to have them avoid encountering you, fighting you, or becoming enemies. If you seek them out this skill attempts to make the fight winnable but cannot warp reality beyond plausible limits. Luzuzal may restore time to this skill if you greatly impress him. 6 Days remain.
“How many levels do you think we could gain in a single day?” Victor asked her.
“What? On a good day one I think.” Serena replied.
“You said their leader was tier 2. Do you have an idea if he’s closer to level 11 or level 20?” Victor continued his inquiry.
“He’s definitely lower on that end. Very little around here is tier 2 and he would have to be slaughtering things for a really long time to reach level 13 or 14 and according to the guild from the other day he’s not been around here for long.” Serena explained.
“What other monsters exist in the area? Preferably things in the level 4 to 7 range.” Victor continued.
“Wait are you planning to kill things all day to level up and then go after the bandits?” Serena’s jaw dropped.
“After I free you, but I have to decide before I leave this room. If I do try that I want to believe it’s possible before I set out.” Victor shook his head. “It’s probably impossible, but if I don’t at least ask the question I’d never forgive myself.”
“That’s impossible! You’d need to gain 6 or 7 levels in a single day to challenge him!” Serena asked.
“Let’s pretend hypothetically that I had a very limited use skill that allowed me to massively shift the odds in my favor and I won each fight without getting hurt the entire day. Would it be possible then?” Victor leaned forward toward her. “Could I then take on the entire bandit camp?”
“NO! There’s no way you could defeat a tier 2 bandit and at least a couple dozen bandits on your own.”Serena insisted.
“Could I with your help?” Victor looked to her.
She suddenly became very nervous. “I… don’t think so.”
“Don’t worry the first thing we are doing today is going to the guild and registering, then I will immediately take the skill and spend the mana to remove your slave tattoo. Nothing I am asking about will change that.”
“If we hit level 12 it might be possible but you’re only level 4 there is no way we can get 8 levels in a single day.” Serena shook her head. “It’s impossible.”
“Would you like to try? If we don’t both at least reach level 10 we won’t try to track them down the bandits. If you don’t want to join me that is fine too, you’re stronger than me anyway.” Victor frowned at that.
“You really don’t want to let them go.” Serena looked at him.
“They’ll suffer exactly as you suffered. My whole life before arriving here people treated me terribly. I may not have been a slave but I definitely felt like one at times. There are a lot of people in that camp. I’d be truly shocked if they could move them and sell them all before the day ends. By tomorrow they might all be gone. I’m willing to take the risk trying to level as long as it is possible.” Victor nodded. “Do you want to join me?” Victor knew he would let it pass if she didn’t join him. He couldn’t do this alone.
“If by some miracle of the goddess allows us to succeed and we both reach level 12 I will accompany you into the bandit camp to rescue those captives.” Serena nodded. “Besides I wouldn’t want to see you dead. Promise me if things start to look grim we will leave.”
“If we definitely can’t continue we will leave. I will accept this is beyond me and we can try heading toward the boarder. Deal?” Victor extended his hand
“Deal!” She smiled and they both got out of bed. The two of them made their way toward the adventurers guild, currently missing a roof. The stone walls still stood and the red wooden door ironically remained on its hinges and unburned. The two of them walked up to a woman cleaning.
The woman and her child approached Victor. “What can I do for you hero? You saved my life and the life of my kid. Not much left here and definitely no way I can pay the quest rewards for any of the few intact posters but I’ll do whatever I can for you.”
“Can you take my gold to get an adventurer card?” Victor asked.
“Uh sure!” She quickly ran behind the counter and rummaged through a box. “Oh not that one.” She flipped a tool and a couple papers over her back. “Ah there it is.” She handed him a blank card and a small diamond badge completely blank on both sides. “That will be two gold coins.” He handed over the 2 gold leaving him with 109 gold coins. He checked his achievements once again.
Achievement: Novice Adventurer - Join an Adventurers Guild – Gain 1 stat point. [ Claim ]
Achievement: First Blood – Kill your first creature. Gain 1 stat point. Gain 1 luck. [ Claim ]
Achievement: Your Own Kind – Kill a creature of your own race. Gain 1 stat point. Gain 1 luck. [ Claim ]
Victor claimed all three giving him 3 unallocated points. He pulled out Swordie. “Status Sheet.”
Race Human: Victor Vance Vogal
Class : Mage
Level : 4
Base Health : 50
Stamina : 10
Mana : 12
Vitality : 5
Speed : 6
Strength : 5
Prowess : 11
Endurance : 5
Rigor : 2
Willpower : 12
Flow : 12 (+50%)
Luck : -100
Resistance : None
Skills: Speed Reading Rank 2, Academic Rank 2
Hidden Skills: Memory Retention , Luzuzal’s Delusion Rank 1 , Luzuzal’s Devout Rank 1, Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6
Spells: Barrier shield Rank 1, Jolt Rank 1, Speed Boost Rank 1
Current Exp to Level 5 79.8%
“I guess it doesn’t show available points. Skill Magic Writing.” Victor spoke to the book again anticipating an issue with buying the skill.
Magic Writing Rank 1
Requirements: 10 mana, Cost 3 stat points
Instant Spell
Mana Cost: 10 mana
Allows inscription of magic symbols and removal of magic symbols. To make the symbol take effect a secondary spell is often required.
“Acquire skill.” Victor spoke aloud hoping it would just work
Confirm skill acquisition Magic Writing.
Requirements: 10 mana
Cost 3 stat points.
Acquire Reject
“Sir, did you just pull out a status book and buy a skill from it?” The woman asked.
“Same question.” Serena added.
He pursed his lips and shrugged. “Should I not have done that?”
“Well normally people pay 1 to 5 gold to use the guild book since they are so rare, and unless the guild master assigned to a book touches it they won’t even work. That would mean you either bought one outright for something north of 25,000 gold or you own a guild hall, but you just registered for the guild so…” Serena explained and all three paused for a long time as a wind blew through the roof. “With that we could level up outside of town.”
“I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell anyone?” Victor smiled dumbly and turned to Serena unbuttoning the top button of her shirt.
“Sir! Please! I know you rescued us but get a room!” The woman insisted covering her the eyes of her child.
“Relax I just need to cast a spell.” Victor began running his hands over each line of the tattoo and it melted from his hands draining the mana from his mana pool finally finishing with a single finger at the center of her chest. “All done. You are free.” He dusted off his hands. “Now do you have any missions suitable for adventurers in the 4 to 7 level range?”
“I already told you two I can’t pay you for them; those bandits killed almost all our adventurers and took our gold!” She yelled at him intensely.
“I wasn’t asking for gold. I was asking, where are those monsters located?” Victor leaned forward. “Consider this a freebie. I’m in a bad mood and need to blow off steam.”
“Huh? You just want to work for free? Well in that case there are goblins in a cave north of here on the lower end. To the west is the bandit camp supposedly. The east has a small undead fortress you could be there all day and probably not clear it out. The south is toward the capitol so you probably can’t find too much there.” The woman explained. “The other monsters in the area are all as weak or weaker than the goblins based on reports. We don’t have much around here of great interest around here.”
“How do you feel about undead?” Victor looked to Serena.
“If it’s mostly skeletons we should be okay but I need a hammer or a mace to kill them.” She nodded. “Skeletons tend to lunge then they have melee weapons but die fast after that. Most are in the 2 to 4 level range. Zombies are in the 1 to 3 level range mostly but they are a lot more dangerous in close range. If they hit you with no antidotes you’ll probably succumb to zombie rot and become a zombie.”
“You seem to have a really deep knowledge of monsters Serena.” Victor commented.
“It’s a long story we can talk about it later.” Serena walked forward confidently. “We need to see if any items are left at the general store.” With the mark gone from her chest she ran her fingers across it and buttoned her shirt back up. “Let’s go.” With a surge of confidence and a newfound bounce in her stride she led the way. “I saw the sign on our way in it’s this way.”
Victor followed with a smile on his face. Even if he did nothing else this entire life, even if he died tonight, Victor knew he had done more in one day of this life than in his entire life on earth. At least he had helped someone. As light as Serena’s step remained Victor almost felt as though his very soul filled up with a sense of meaning. ‘Is this what it’s like to do things that actually matter?’ He just smirked and shook his head. ‘There’s no way life feels this good.’ Yet for the moment it felt exactly as good as he thought it did. “Today is a good day.
They came to yet another shop where the ceiling was caved in and had a small chest sign on the ground outside it. “Good morning sir we need some supplies if you happen to have any left.”
A large man of short stature hobbled up to the counter. “Well the bandits got some of my stuff but none of my reserve.” The shopkeeper opened up some boards beneath his feet. “Anything you’re looking for particularly?”
Victor pulled out his book. “Healing potions for sure.”
Healing Potion Rank 1
Single Use Item
Recovers 20 health over 4 seconds.
“I got about a dozen of those 3 gold each, how many are you looking to get?” The shopkeeper asked with a curious eye.
“What do you think Serena just take them all?” He turned to her.
“Wait do you have enough gold to take them all?” She looked at him astonished.
“Should I not?” He asked confused.
“No we will definitely take them all. Do you have any antidotes or resistance potions?” She asked.
“No resistance potions they raided those but I have 2 antidotes left, they are 2 gold each.” He looked to Serena clearly making the choices in the group.
“Both of those.” She nodded.
Antidote Rank 1
Single Use Item
Removes low rank poisons and diseases.
“That’s how much? 40 gold if my math is right.” Victor noted pulling out coin after coins. “We need bandoleers preferably with 6 slots to hold our potions, and any blunt weapon like a hammer or mace.”
“I have a mace that is somewhat old but it’s not rotten, 6 gold for it. Two bandoleers with 5 slots each is 1 gold since they are 5 silver each. In all that’ll come to 46 gold.” He smiled very happy with the two of them.
“Here you go.” He looked into his bag 63 gold coins remaining along with some silver and coppers. “Is there anything else we need Serena?”
“No. Wow that was easier than I thought it would be.” The two of them exited the broken shop. “Are you sure you aren’t some long lost noble?”
“No hah this is my life savings. I’ve spent really nothing from it.” Victor laughed.
“You are spending your life savings on consumable items to save other people? How can you possibly think that is normal?” Serena asked.
Swordie still in hand wrote on the page ‘You are ordinary.’
“Seriously Swordie?” Victor groaned.
‘You are also earnest’ Swordie added.
“Swordie?” Serena asked. “Who is Swordie?”
“The book, he’s just sassing me again.” Victor complained.
“Do you mind if I ask him something?” She held out her hand to hold him.
“Sure.” Victor handed her the book and she asked. “Do you think Victor likes me?”
‘He definitely does.’ The book answered.
Victor turned red and quickly snatched Swordie back. “That wasn’t what I thought you were going to ask!”
She smiled. “Relax I’m thinking a lot more clearly than yesterday. I don’t know much about you but you saved my life. I also know you’d risk your life for people you don’t even know, and you’re more of a gentleman than any man I’ve met in the past three years.”
“I’ve always been me. I just never had the ability to act on what I believe before.” He looked down to the ground. “I’ve always had people telling me what to do, where to go, and how I can live. Now I don’t” He began to think ‘Is that true? Did I lack the ability to leave the situation or just the will?’ Victor began to ponder his past life. He could have just left eaten the cost and abandoned his mother. He took that job because he was told it would be the right thing to do. He walked because he knew a car would be to expensive. He ate two meals a day to save money. Everything he did for no reason aside from other people encouraging him. ‘Is what I’m doing now the same?’ He delved deep into thought. ‘No one is forcing me to do this. I already failed Luzuzal’s quest, and Serena seems actively against it. This is all me, right or wrong it’s me.’ He took a deep breath. “I’ve always read about heroes in story books and thought it could be me. I’m not like them, but I really want to be.”
She slapped his back with a bright smile. “You’re a hero to me. Let’s go get those undead.”
Victor smiled and nodded as the two of them started to leave the ruins of the town. They passed by the corpses to the exit and began walking through the forest on the open dirt road. Victor opened Swordie again and started asking questions. “Skeleton information”
Common Skeleton skills
Lunge Rank 1
Requirements: Speed 10, Strength 6, Cost 2 stat points
Instant Skill
Stamina Cost: 8
Allows a long range dash with a strong strike at the end, damage is based on speed.
Piercing Shot Rank 1
Requirements: Speed 10, Stamina 12, Cost 2 stat points
Instant skill
Stamina Cost: 12
Pull back and hold your arrow for 3 seconds before unleashing a piercing shot that penetrates armor more effectively than normal shots.
Reformation Rank 1
Requirements: Bodily Anatomy capable of reformation
Conditional Skill
If dead this creature reforms after sometime, this skill is inoperable if sufficient parts of the creature are destroyed.
Victor nodded and asked Serena “Interesting, how much stamina do most skeletons have?”
“I’m not sure exactly but the books I read on it when I was younger skeletons usually about 10 to 12 stamina.” Serena nodded. “We’ll have to destroy the heads after we kill them. Skeletons take hours or even days to reform so don’t worry too much about that it’s something I will cover. The main thing you need to watch for is their lunge. It’s sudden and if it hits you they will really hurt you. Given your magic I am going to ask you to stay back and try to shoot the skeletons with a bow. They aren’t too dangerous if you take them down before they use their skill but their skill can’t be blocked by most armor so it’s important to be quick.”
“Understood.” Victor nodded.
“I can’t believe I’m volunteering to be in the front.” She put her hand on her face with a smile and pulled it down. “They forced me to check for traps and I suffered every single injustice without a single potion barely surviving each time.”
“What would you rather be doing?” Victor asked.
“When I was younger I trained with daggers but also with a bow. I preferred the bow but arrows are too expensive for a slave.” Serena noted.
“We could have bought one if you want it. I have 63 gold left.” Victor noted. “Actually you know what.” Victor pulled out 3 gold coins and all his silver and copper putting it in a separate pouch. “Here you definitely need at least some money.”
She took the pouch. “You really are a strange man.”
“Well I mean if you are traveling with me we split the gold evenly but this gold and resources were mine from before I found you so I don’t feel like I should need to split it.” Victor noted.
She literally burst out laughing and threw her head back before gripping her gut. “Do you actually believe that?”
“Why wouldn’t it be split evenly?” Victor asked.
“The group leader usually takes a double share and is also usually the highest level so the group often just accepts that and goes along with it. That’s what is normal. The leader also usually has first pick of items a group finds so they tend to become the most powerful member of the party and are usually unable to be beaten except by much stronger groups or other party leaders.” Serena explained.
“Is every country like this?” Victor raised an eyebrow.
“Well maybe not every country…” She drifted off. “Definitely most countries though.”
“Life’s going to be interesting this time around.” Victor chuckled.
“This time around? What are you talking about?” Serena asked.
‘Oh shit I said that out loud.’ Victor thought to himself and pulled out the book. “Am I allowed to tell her about” his voice suddenly went to static.
Yes, however this is not recommended until you are absolutely sure they will not tell others.
Victor thought for a moment and started to try and explain only to hear his words turn to static. When she started speaking he heard a foreign language he couldn’t understand. His HUD disappeared as though Luzuzal’s Delusion stopped working. Victor expected Luzuzal to appear but waited only to keep walking before Serena stopped unable to speak to him in a language he could understand. ‘This is a huge problem.’ Luzuzal’s voice echoed in his head. ‘Do not reveal your reincarnated status, or my skills. If you do I will withdraw my blessings.’
‘Fine, restore your blessings. I am sorry!’ Victor insisted as his HUD restored. “Apparently I literally cannot tell you.”
“Are you cursed?” She stopped him from walking and tilted her head. “You have to tell me if you are cursed.”
Victor thought of the skill descriptions and realized all three of the skills had the cursed tag. “I am, I cannot disclose anything about them apparently.”
“We can find a way to remove them.” She nodded with a smile. “I promise I won’t leave your side until we remove it.” Serena’s resolve could be felt by her aggressive shirt grab pulling him closer. “Sorry, I’m really angry that someone like you got cursed.”
“Do many people get cursed?” Victor asked.
“Demons, devils, spirits, Void Lords, Undead, and a few others can curse you but most of the beings that use curses are often pretty significant problems for people. Cultists sometimes curse themselves for power, particularly Kokoxol and Gizixil. You definitely aren’t a cultist though so I’m not sure what cursed you. You don’t need to say anything but my guess is a devil cursed you for doing something to help someone else. If I am right say nothing.” Serena explained.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
‘I could just ask the book but if I ask Swordie but if I do then I won’t know what people in this world think of curses. There are already significant departures in the perception of this world and the actual rules in the book.’ Victor said nothing, not knowing what he would do if he stopped being able to communicate.
“Yeah that makes sense. Demons are savage and always hungry. Devils are sadistic and probably cursed you after you helped someone escape it instead of killing you. Don’t worry after we flee this country we can try and find a shrine to the Golden Goddess and remove your curses.”
Victor said nothing for a few moments before asking. “What about the zombies?”
“Understood you can’t confirm I’m right but I will proceed as though that is what happened unless you correct me. Zombies are largely easy to deal with unless you get into a direct close quarters encounter. They are physically strong and if they bite you ever they require an antidote as soon as possible.” Serena added. “Their disease isn’t something you’ll need to worry about today. If I get bit just make sure I get an antidote. If I get bite again and we run out of antidotes we leave. Am I clear?” She turned to him and pointed to him with one finger.
“Yes, I get it. I don’t want you to die. If you feel like we should leave I will respect that but I’d really like to continue at least until we run out of consumable items.” Victor nodded as the two of them reached a cross roads. To the left the trees started to look gnarled and in the far distance the tops of a building could be seen just barely above the trees. Victor thought it would be about three or four stories tall. “That looks like it might be it.” He pointed at the black stone poking out from above the trees probably a mile away slightly downhill.
“It fits the description.” Serena added.
“Do undead usually setup ambushes or forward guards?” Victor asked.
“No, undead usually stay around where they are created. They aren’t very smart. Unless they are being controlled by a lich, vampire, or some other high level undead they won’t be on the road. If they ambush us we leave immediately. Understand?” Serena turned to him.
“Understood, lead the way.” Victor outstretched his hands as to say ‘after you.’
The two of them started down the road. At first the trees reached high and almost completely covered the road lush and verdant even more so than before the crossroads. As they walked closer the trees seemed to lose their leaves. Slowly becoming bare and the morning light crept through them. A line of crows cawed as they walked toward it. The crows seemed to be watching them intently hopping from tree to tree following them. “Don’t mind them. They are probably just waiting for a meal. They won’t get one from us.” The crows continued to follow them and one seemed to caw almost mockingly at them.
‘I wonder if I can speak crow with Luzuzal’s Delusion .’ Victor wondered. “Hi.” He waved at them.
“What is this? You speak corvid ?” The one mocking them practically laughed. “You’ll be a meal soon once the bones finish with you.”
“What are you doing?” Serena asked. “Can you understand them?”
“I can understand them. Does your flock serve the undead?” Victor asked.
The collective cawing reminded them of mocking laughter. “I am Cawthorn the leader of our flock and the two of you are lunch, or if you are strong dinner.” The entire flock roared mocking them.
“Do they serve the undead?” Serena asked.
“Doesn’t seem like it, they are just hungry.” Victor turned to her. “I don’t think they are intelligent enough to know what is going on ahead we can ignore them.”
“INSOLENT FOOL YOU DARE QUESTION MY KNOWLEDGE!” Cawthorn angrily raged at them silencing the other crows. “I KNOW ALL AND YET THE TWO OF YOU MOCK ME! I SHALL ENJOY RIPPING OUT YOUR TONGUE FROM YOUR CORPSE!”
“Oh yeah? Prove it. You don’t know anything about what is up ahead. You’re just angry that I made you look incompetent in front of your flock.” Victor put his hands on his hips. “I bet you couldn’t get anyone out of there alive.”
“FOOLS I COULD SINGLEHANDEDLY KEEP BOTH OF YOU ALIVE THROUGH ANYTHING DESPITE YOUR INCOMPETENCE!” Cawthorn insisted.
“Prove it coward.” Victor smiled and shifted his hips.
“FLOCK I SHALL KEEP THEM ALIVE AND ONCE THE SKELETAL MAGE IS DEAD WE SHALL FEAST ON ALL THE CARRION WITHIN THE KEEP IS DEAD!” Cawthorn flew down to Victor’s shoulder and landed on his shoulder. “You shall follow my direction and we will defeat the skeletal mage and take his orb far from here so that the forest recovers and births more tasty meals for my flock.”
“So is that crow joining us?” Serena rose an eyebrow asking.
“His name is Cawthorn and he says he is all knowing. His flock wants the carrion around the building after we clear it out.” Victor explained.
“I AM ALL KNOWING.” Cawthorn screeched into his ears.
“Do you know how to speak common?” Victor asked.
“I AM MOSTLY KNOWING!” Cawthorn corrected himself.
Victor restrained blatant laughter. “Do you mind if I relay your words to my traveling companion?”
“Your wife may know the words of the great Cawthorn. I encourage you to relay them faithfully to her.” Cawthorn nodded.
“My wife?!” Victor asked. Serena spit and turned to him with a blank stunned impression. “She’s not my wife!”
“SHE SHALL BE SOON! THE GREAT CAWTHORN DECREES IT! I CAN SENSE YOUR MUTUAL ATTRACTION!” Cawthorn insisted.
“What is he saying?” Serena asked.
“YOU SHALL TELL HER MY WORDS!” Cawthorn insisted.
“He says he can sense our mutual attraction and you will soon be my wife.” He held up his fingers to do air quotes. “The great Cawthorn decrees it.”
Serena doubled over laughing so hard she started crying. “Tears of joy are often a response to great love and good news.” Cawthorn noted.
Serena wiped off her tears. “Okay let’s keep going and see if he can help us.”
‘I wonder if this is Luzuzal’s way of helping. It’s got to be right?’ Victor started to think to himself and remembered it had to be activated at dawn and lasted until the next dawn. ‘I bet the later in the day the more extreme the scales will tilt toward me while this skill is active.’ Victor decided to feed his crow “Cawthorn we are extremely grateful for your kind assistance proving that even weaklings like us can survive with the right direction.”
The crow laughed strangely this time. “Caw caw hah my directions shall save you from your own incompetence.”
“You mentioned something about a skeletal mage can you tell me about that.” Victor turned to the large black crow on his shoulder the size of his head.
“Did you say skeletal mage?” Serena asked. “There’s no way we can fight a skeletal mage that monster is sometimes even tier 2 and usually level 8 or 9. It could do to us what you did to the two adventurers enslaving me. We wouldn’t stand a chance!”
“How sure are you about the mage? We are probably too weak to defeat it.” Victor asked Cawthorn.
“THEN YOU SHALL NOT ENCOUNTER IT! I SHALL ASSESS YOUR ABILITIES AS YOU ENTER THIS PLACE BEHOLD!” He flung open his wings as four skeletons came into view. “YOUR FIRST TEST OF STRENGTH, SHOW ME WHAT YOU CAN DO!”
“He says we won’t have to fight it if we listen to him.” Four skeletons clad in chain shirts and metal helmets stood before them about a hundred feet away. “Are you ready Serena?”
“I am. If you can hit one or two of them before we get close this will be easy.” She nodded.
“Got it.” Victor put up his hand and visualized where his jolt would land revealing an impact location for where he currently was aiming on his HUD. “Jolt!” Lightning leapt from his hands connecting with the skeletons head as it shambled toward them exploding it in a single hit.
“You are really good at shooting them in the head if you keep that up we’ll have no problem.” She smiled.
“Jolt!” Victor hit another before they came close. Having closed only half the distance the remaining two lunged at them with incredible force. Serena easily dodged it and the creature ran face first into the mace cracking its head into little more than bone fragments. Victor couldn’t dodge in time and with it not even an outstretched arm away he shouted “BARRIER SHIELD!” The sword pierced it reaching him.
-21 health
Bleeding: 3 minutes, 11 damage for each minute of movement.
‘I’m dead’ He could only think as his barrier spell disappeared and the skeleton withdrew its sword from his guts. He fell backward.
Serena enraged screamed hitting the skeleton in the ribs cracking several and knocking it to the ground. She put her boot on the skeletons face and smashed its hand holding its blade aggressively over and over and over before finally screaming and caving in its skull. She walked up to Victor knelt down on one knee and grabbed a potion from his bandoleer. “Drink.” Victor winced in pain. She forced open his mouth pulled the cap off with her teeth and dumped the potion down his throat. “You’re in shock you need to be able to drink a potion immediately when you get hurt.
Victor watched the messages go by.
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regenerated 5 health
Regeneration has removed bleeding.
He paused for a moment and looked upward on the messages list and noticed his experience before smiling at the woman before him so deeply worried about his safety
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 7.9%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 8.2%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 1.3%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 2.9%
LEVEL 5 Reached!
Serena paused still kneeling over his chest breathing hard. “Are you okay?” She panted.
“I’m doing better now. I appreciate the help.” He started to his feet and Serena quickly helped him.
“I just leveled up.” Victor told her.
“Wait how can you tell?” Serena asked. “You didn’t even check your guild card.”
“Oh uh, I just know when I get stronger.” Victor pulled out Swordie.
Cawthorn watched quizzically as Victor pulled out the book. “The shine of an important artifact… You must be a wealthy man.”
Victor spoke “Status sheet.”
Race Human: Victor Vance Vogal
Class : Mage
Level : 5
Base Health : 50
Stamina : 10
Mana : 10/13
Vitality : 5
Speed : 6
Strength : 5
Prowess : 12
Endurance : 5
Rigor : 2
Willpower : 13
Flow : 13 (+50%)
Luck : -98
Resistance : None
Skills: Speed Reading Rank 2, Academic Rank 2
Hidden Skills: Memory Retention , Luzuzal’s Delusion Rank 1 , Luzuzal’s Devout Rank 1, Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6
Spells: Barrier shield Rank 1, Jolt Rank 1, Speed Boost Rank 1, Magic Writing Rank 1
Current Exp to Level 6 .1
Victor nodded. “It looks like as a mage my prowess, willpower and flow increase by 1 every level.
“YOU HAVE HIDDEN SKILLS CAW!” Cawthorn cawed. “WHAT ARE THEY?”
“What are you talking about?” Victor asked
“THIS GAP!” Cawthorn tapped the book between skills and spells. “WHAT ARE YOUR HIDDEN SKILLS?!”
“Wait how can you see that?” Victor asked.
“MY EAGLE EYE SKILL SEES ALL!” Cawthorn shouted. “YOURS IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY I MUST KNOW!”
“Aren’t you a crow? Why do you have a skill called Eagle Eye?” Victor asked.
“EAGLES ARE FULL OF THEMSELVES! THEY CLAIM EYESIGHT EXCEEDING MINE LONG BEFORE MY BIRTH AND SO MORTALS DUBBED THE SKILL EAGLE EYE! I HATE EAGLES!” Cawthorn replied. “NOW REVEAL YOUR SKILLS!”
“They are curses I am literally unable to tell you about. I’m impressed you can see them, or at least the absence of them.” Victor commented.
“Information my eyes cannot see. You are an interesting human. I MUST STUDY YOU! Your skills are lacking in the survival area. IMPROVE THEM!” Cawthorn insisted.
“He can see your curses?” Serena asked.
“They are there and he can see they are there but not what they are.” Victor wanted to wipe his brow off as Luzuzal would be angry if those skills were revealed. “Well Cawthorn you seem to have an opinion on what I should increase. Please elaborate.”
Cawthorn seemed to calm at this clear deference to his wisdom. “Vitality and prowess. Increase both.”
“How many in each?” Victor asked.
“4 points in vitality and 1 point in prowess to balance out your willpower and flow, the balance between the three is what I’ve seen most people with.” Cawthorn added.
Victor knew eventually he would put points into all of those stats so he simply agreed. Considering he nearly died from a blocked hit having more health definitely seemed like a wise choice. He followed instructions and updated his sheet.
Race Human: Victor Vance Vogal
Class : Mage
Level : 5
Base Health : 90
Stamina : 10
Mana : 10/13
Vitality : 9
Speed : 6
Strength : 5
Prowess : 13
Endurance : 5
Rigor : 2
Willpower : 13
Flow : 13 (+50%)
Luck : -100
Resistance : None
Skills: Speed Reading Rank 2, Academic Rank 2
Hidden Skills: Memory Retention , Luzuzal’s Delusion Rank 1 , Luzuzal’s Devout Rank 1, Luzuzal’s Promise Rank 6,
Spells: Barrier shield Rank 1, Jolt Rank 1, Speed Boost Rank 1, Magic Writing Rank 1
Are you sure you want to make these changes?
Yes No
Victor clicked yes and asked Serena. “Can you check your card to see if you leveled up? I did and I wonder if you did too.”
“I highly doubt some basic skeletons leveled me up.” Serena pulled out the card incredulous at the idea. “Yeah they gave me about 4% between the four of them. I told you leveling up is hard.”
“I got more than 20% of a level from that. Does that mean fighting things far above or below you gives you nearly no experience?” Victor asked.
“Of course they do. Experience comes from overcoming things that are difficult, dangerous, or downright confusing to most. I bet you got more experience from the two you killed than the two I killed as well right?” Serena asked.
“Two of the skeletons did provide less experience.” Victor noted.
“Landing the killing blow or providing life saving aid tends to provide the most experience in battle.” Serena noted.
Cawthorn tapped his head with his beak. “HOW CAN AN ACADEMIC SUCH AS YOURSELF NOT KNOW SUCH BASIC TRUTHS?”
“Ow! Sorry I don’t know the exact mechanics of such things yet.” Victor insisted. Noting to himself to look it up later.
Serena immediately took up her mace and looked at Cawthorn. “Tell him if he does that again he will learn to fly without wings.”
“I think she doesn’t want you to peck me again.” Victor noted.
“OF COURSE YOUR FUTURE WIFE DOES NOT WISH YOU TO BE HARMED BUT IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOUR GROWTH!” Cawthorn insisted.
“He says it’s necessary to teach me.” Victor added.
“Then it’s necessary for him to learn to fly without wings.” She glared at him.
“I don’t think she’ll tolerate that.” Victor turned to him.
“SO BE IT! MY INSTRUCTION SHALL BE LESS EFFECTIVE!” Cawthorn opened his wings proclaiming this.
“We have to continue if we want to get 5 more levels today.” Victor took a deep breath.
“Are you sure you don’t want to turn back?” Serena seemed worried.
“If we don’t at least try I couldn’t live with myself.” Let’s go.
“Couldn’t live with yourself?” Cawthorn asked suddenly calm.
“I need to be level 10 at least by the end of the day or I won’t be able to save several Jocal villagers who were kidnapped.” Victor turned to him.
“What is your relationship to those people? Are they your children? Your friends? Family?” Cawthorn tilted his head.
“I don’t know who they are just that they have been kidnapped. They might be sold by tomorrow but if I rescue them tonight then they all go free.” Victor smiled. “That’s why I’m here trying to force my way though enough levels to save them.”
“CAW CAW HAH 5 LEVELS IN A DAY?” He fell off his shoulder laughing only to loop back around to his shoulder. “You won’t get 5 levels in a day. 1, possibly 2 levels in a day is possible with aggressive and dangerous adventuring but you’ll never get that.”
“What did he say?” Serena asked.
“He told me it’s impossible and to give up.” Victor noted.
“He might actually be smart.” She started walking to the door. “I will open the door if anything is behind it blast it with a jolt.”
Victor nodded and she walked up to the double doors twice their height and grabbed the massive stone knocker on the wooden door. She pulled as hard as she could barely able to reach it and the door creaked open. A single skeleton began hobbling toward Victor only to eat a “Jolt” to the head.
“You really are a crack shot.” Serena added.
“Your accuracy is mysterious, especially for a lightning spell. IT IS YOUR HIDDEN SKILLS!” Cawthorn shouted again. “I will learn your hidden skills.”
Victor knew the bird was right and hoped that he never would learn those skills. 9 mana remaining for the moment as Victor hadn’t recovered any yet. “So do we go inside or lure them out?” Victor asked.
“You announce yourself at the door with your barrier spell and then run back. Kill them as they leave the keep.” Cawthorn instructed.
“Cawthorn says lure them out.” Victor told her.
“Are we really going to listen to a bird? Normally you quietly traverse an undead stronghold room to room eliminating them as quietly as possible.” Serena noted.
Victor walked up to the opening and held up his arm “Barrier shield. COME AND GET ME BONEHEADS!” He quickly backed up as instructed. “Three incoming.” As he backed up. “I was wrong! Six coming!”
“This is why you back up. CAW CAW HAH!” Cawthorn laughed.
Victor immediately started casting “Jolt!” He hit one dead center of its chest passing through to the one behind it staggering it back and knocking two down. He cast again still moving back “Jolt!” It sailed through another rib cage and knocked another skeleton down. It’s hand went through the ribs of the first two intertwining them into a boney mess. Victor stopped running and fired off three in a row. “Jolt! Jolt! Jolt!” His blasts standing still landed firmly on the heads of the three still running at him. The last one being blasted to bits mid lunge toward him. He fell to the ground in the shower of bone and Cawthorn flew up into the air landing on him after he fell to the ground.
Serena had an easy time finishing off the other 3 skeletons trying frantically to get up still tangled in each other’s bodies. She gracefully smashed the skulls of each skeleton with ease with her stance firmly swinging completely through them with 3 quick strokes. “Are you out of mana?” She asked him.
Victor looked at his mana, down to only 4 mana he knew continuing on would be risky. His mana should have regenerated at least a little bit. “Yeah I have very little mana left. We can wait a few minutes if that works for you.”
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 8.4%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 7.9%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 6.1%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 0.9%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 1.1%
Skeleton 3: Experience Increase: 1.3%
Current Exp to Level 6 25.8%
“That was really smart. I haven’t seen skeletons react that way before. Tell Cawthorn he’s a smart crow.” She reached out two fingers and stroked the back of Cawthorn’s head.
“This pleases me.” Cawthorn closed his eyes greatly enjoying the head pets.
“She says you are a very smart crow. He says that pleases him.” Victor mediated.
“Tell him if he keeps helping us there is plenty more to come.” Serena added.
“She says there’s more where that came from if you help us.” Victor noted.
“WE WILL FEAST AND ENJOY YOUR FUTURE WIFE TOGETHER!” Cawthorn shouted.
“What did he say?” Serena asked.
“Don’t worry about it. Do we have food?” Victor asked. “I just realized I forgot to buy some.”
“I have a small pack, I stole it off Lenny.” She opened a pack around her waist. She handed him a piece of jerky and a slice of bread. “I also filled the water skin.” The two sat down and began eating. Victor took a small piece of the jerky and bread and gave it to Cawthorn.
“Your gift is appreciated.” Cawthorn immediately choked down the food.
“Do you know how long mana regeneration usually takes?” Victor asked.
“How much mana do you have?” Serena asked.
“Well I have 13 total and 4 left.” Victor answered.
“Well how much flow do you have?” Serena continued.
“13.” He omitted the 50% next to his stat from Luzuzal to avoid any confusion.
“I’m not a mage and I don’t cast spells but I’ve been told that having 1 flow regenerates about 1 mana every 100 minutes. So with 10 I’d guess its 1 per 10 minutes.” Serena answered
“So somewhere about 8 or 9 minutes per mana at 9 mana so an hour and a half!?” Victor asked angry at himself.
“Most cannot adventure all day.” Cawthorn noted. “You aren’t going to do anything without mana as a mage.”
“Are there any mana potions?” He asked.
Serena looked at him funny. “Well yeah they exist but the last one I saw was selling for something like 1,000 gold. They are absurdly expensive and way harder to make.”
“Same with stamina potions?” He asked.
“Yeah those are more expensive but closer to like 100 gold but still outrageously expensive.” Serena added.
“Can we go on?” He asked as the first point of mana returned leaving him with 5.
“No, I refuse.” Serena shook her head.
“You won’t go until I finish recovering?” Victor sighed.
“No, I refuse to let you go until you have more mana.” She put her hand on his chest and looked up to him. “If you want to keep going level up your flow next time you level up. That said at higher levels from what I know combats take a lot longer. People are a lot tougher and despite improving their damage hitting people in the head rarely kills them in a single blow if they are Tier 2 or 3. A lot of people don’t level up much past level 10 or so their entire life. Trying to reach 10 in a single day is insane and impossible. You should temper your expectations and expect to fail.”
For this he pretended he didn’t have his hidden skill. “We have to succeed. I believe this will work out. If we succeed and encounter only skeletons at approximately 4% each with us each killing half for me to reach my next level I would need to participate in killing 19 skeletons. If it takes a little less than 10 minutes per skeleton reaching my next level would take about 3 hours with no significant failures assuming I can kill each skeleton in a single hit. If I level up flow to 18 just approximating it to 20 that would mean 1 per 5 minutes approximately, which means I can recover all 13 in about 75 minutes at that point.” He started to ponder to himself. ‘If I did get to effectively 27 make me full on mana in a little more than an hour, or my knowledge of mana regeneration is incomplete.’
“You are ambitious for a human.” Cawthorn hops up on his head and curves down to eye level. “Is your determination out of a desire to impress her?”
“I just don’t like the idea of someone having slaves. People should be able to make their own choices.” Victor replies.
“They aren’t even going to be killed and yet you risk your life for them?” Cawthorn asked. “Isn’t risking your life for someone else’s wellbeing foolish?”
“I always considered myself a reasonable person but when you say it like that…” Victor hung his head for a while. The three of them waited patiently for Victor to finish regenerating mana quietly for a long time before anyone spoke again.