I wasn't sure how long unconsciousness had graced me with its presence. Warmth was emanating from my right side, pinching my eyes open to a crackling fire that lay a few feet away. Night still prevailed over the land. Though the rays of the sun had begun to creep over the eastern forest we had originated from. I almost closed my eyes again, expecting pain to shoot into my head. Being knocked unconscious so frequently was aggregating enough. Let alone having it happen so often I'd begun to grow experienced in its intricacies. To my surprise, instead of pain, my whole body felt, incredible.

Ever since I was young there was a prevailing shoulder pain that I'd lived with from a climbing accident. The dull ache I felt, always appeared after any sort of physical exercise. Fighting to the death against a literal monster included. Somehow, that chronic pain was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, there was still a problem with my body it seemed. I reeked worse than a sewerage drain sat to cook in the sun and then left to fester over a dead animal. In other words, I smelled horrifically bad. My nose was assailed with so much force that my eyes watered. I sprang off the make-shift sleeping pad of spruce limbs with surprising speed.

Turns out those around me had seen fit to remove what little clothing I had on before. Leaving me standing in the pair of boxers that had accompanied me along the journey so far.

At least I wasn't commando I guess. Small blessings.

Looking around, I spotted the rest of our traveling band sitting around another fire a few yards away. The aftermath of the battle had already vanished, with none of the corpses present. I had a sneaking suspicion that the reason for two different fires was related to my wonderful scent.

Why DO I smell so bad?

Checking myself over I noticed a strange black oily substance that sat across every inch of my skin. The texture was a vile feeling, second only to the smell.

Where the fuck did this come from!

It seemed the other group had noticed my rise from slumber and one of them had begun walking over to me. Holding a small cloth over their mouths as they got close enough to converse.

"Welcome to the waking world. You had me worried young man! Thank god it seems you're alright. though your... musk still leaves much to be desired. The Northmen say you are a danger to everyone and must rinse down at the stream before we continue our journey!" Robert's raspy voice rang out. Muffled by the cloth he comically held over his orifices. He accentuated his point with a physical one, in the direction of a small trail off into the woods.

"I noticed. Any idea why I smell like roadkill by chance? Also, my clothing situation has much to be desired, as you can see." I pointed down to my current state of undress. He let out a small chuckle at my expense before tossing a small sack I hadn't noticed until now. I caught it with surprising ease. My eyes tracked the bag and snagged it out of the air without effort. The movement was smoother and faster than I'd ever been capable of. Even Robert's eyebrows rose at the speed of it. Though the cause might have been the smell hitting him again to be fair.

"Norahi, the Northwoman, put together a few items for you. Soap is the most important, Clothes as well. As for the reason behind the smell, they seemed closed off about the subject. Nothing new I'm sure you know. We can discuss it in depth when you've lost the... " He capitulated, waving me off towards the forest before retreating towards the group. I got the message loud and clear. No talking until I don't smell like shit anymore.

Not bothering to check the contents of the bag I began my cautious trek into the forest. The sun had fully elapsed over the horizon and was sending its warming rays through the branches. It was still quite cold in the early morning, but the chill that would usually prevail didn't seem to affect me. I felt the cold against my skin, but it didn't pernitrate the same way it had been during our journey.

And I'm pretty much naked! How strange. Not only that, but my gait feels so, effortless.

The mysteries were piling up once again. However, I won't complain about things becoming easier, that was asking for trouble. Licking a gift horse and all that. I heard the stream before I saw it. The movement of running water truing into a peaceful gurgle as I glided over the roots and bushes to its edge.

This is going to be cold.

I knew letting it drag on would only make it worse. I hopped down into a two feet deep section of the water having removed my last bit of clothing. I debated burying the pair of boxers, but that felt overzealous at the moment. To my surprise, instead of biting cold that sucked the air out of my lungs, I experienced a pleasant warmth. Not too dissimilar from the campfire's touch.

Now that can't be right.

Shaking my head I tried to center myself. All this didn't add up. Somehow, the action of sucking up the energy from the dead Carcal had drastically changed my body. Looking down at my physic the changes were not overly visual. Having never been built like some of the gym fanatics you'd run into. Yet, with a flex of my arm the waiting potential there was different.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Potential is a good word for it. Like it's waiting.

It was difficult to explain the exact feeling, but I liked it. It wasn't only my musculature that felt this way. Every sense of my being rang crisper in my mind, sight, smell, hearing, and touch felt enhanced. Ready for action in ways I'd never known were possible.

If this is what happens after one Carcal. What would happen after five?

My heart sped up at the thought. This was huge. I hadn't forgotten what Clay had told me. The words had meant very little before. A spout of nonsense that a dying ghost had given me before evaporating. How was I supposed to take it? Now that had changed. This... energy. I could use it. Perhaps this was the path to becoming an... Awakened. The painful experience last night was not something I was excited to revisit, but it meant I could grow stronger in such an obvious way. Then the benefits far outweighed the negatives. Especially with the predicament the earth had found itself in.

That woman, Norahi, had also been absorbing the energy last night, though much less and much slower. What does that mean for me?

As if summoned by my thoughts I heard the slight crunch of pine needles from the direction of our camp. Categorizing the ability to hear such a small sound as another data point for my overnight improvement. Soon, Norahi emerged from the dense foliage not trying to mask her approach. I'd already lowered my hands over my more sensitive bits in preparation. I faced her with as much dignity as I could given the situation.

"We plan to move out soon if we wish to spend the night in safety. I came to check your progress with the... odor." She spoke smoothly, not bothered by my state of undress. It was quite emasculating, but I wasn't much to look at in my current state.

"Copy that, I shouldn't be much longer." The temptation to ask her about the source of the odor was there. My current embarrassment was the only thing from stopping me from elongating the conversation. That and the need to begin washing. I had been so caught up in my newly improved body that I'd been standing in the stream inactive with the soap in my hand.

She may also be making sure I don't try to run off. The idea did cross my mind. The lack of supplies and ample monsters in the woods were my main problems.

"After what occurred last night. I must thank you for your help. We would have lost more if you had not acted." She spoke unmoving from her spot at the edge of the stream next to the sack that held my new set of clothes. Her eyes peered into mine with more intensity than I was expecting.

"I... I didn't want anyone else to die. I'm sorry for those you lost." The image of the Northman bodies flashing into my mind made me wince. If I had been proactive in the fight earlier on, the loss of life could have been prevented. However, it wasn't lost on me that these people had taken me prisoner to be a slave. But no one deserved a death so painful.

"A worthy cause. Many thanks for your words. They will be embraced by the Ancestors warmly for their bravery no doubt." She spoke quieter than before. Still making no move to leave the shore. I was all for heartfelt thanks, but it was making it impossible to continue washing.

"I'm sure they will. I suppose I'll get back to... it." The awkwardness pervaded into my words as I held up the soap. She glanced at the soap for a moment before glancing back at me with a quirked eyebrow. Which was becoming her signature move.

"Do that. We have more to discuss after. Regarding the Carcal corpse found at your feet, along with the stench." I picked up a note of amusement from her voice. Something I'd not heard before. The chance to get some answers about last night preceding's was a welcome surprise. Yet, she still stood rooted to the spot, which was quite bothersome, to say the least.

She thinks it's funny! Watching me squirm!

"Well, I can meet you back at the camp to talk after I've finished up." I punctuated with a shooing motion with my soap hand. Growing tired of the teasing this woman, Norahi, seemed to be enjoying putting me through.

"What if I would prefer to stay?" Her words sent tingles up my body, but I knew the quirk of the eyebrow as a tell-tale sign at this point.

I'm not a teenager you can tease for god's sake!

"I would prefer if you didn't if it's all the same," I spoke while turning my back to her and starting to scrub at my arms with the course soap at my disposal.

"Careful of wandering beasts then." She spoke to my back before hearing the noise of her departure moments later. I held myself in place, knowing she wanted me to worry enough to stare paranoid into the woods.

This bitch.

I scrubbed passionately at my skin until all signs of the oily black substance were gone. Soon enough I emerged from the stream feeling refreshed. I'd taken off a decent layer of skin all across my body, but being able to feel clean was well worth the effort. I scanned the forest one more time with a little trepidation. Her teasing had worked better than I'd like to admit. In my defense, it was the logical thing to do when bathing in an unknown forest!

Retrieving the sack I'd brought, I found a pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Both are spun out of yarn-like material though differing in coloration. The pants were a mixture of tans and browns with the shirt a shade of grey. Both stay true to their natural pigmentation if I were to guess. They were much softer and thicker than my previous potato sack tunic. That had disappeared before I'd woken up, for which I was thankful. I also noticed the lack of undergarments'. There was no way in hell I was putting back on my old boxers so going commando was in my foreseeable future.

It's pretty comfy. It's very medieval stylistically, but hey. Prisoners can't be choosers.

I then spotted something magical sitting next to the spot where Norahi had been standing. A pair of leather boots. The worn brown exterior spoke of a previous owner, but I didn't spend time ruminating on that fact. I had noticed the thick woolen socks they had provided in the sack but hadn't put them on due to my lack of footwear. Remedying that fact I found myself Sliding them on with excitement. They fit far better than I'd expected leaving only a small amount of extra space near my toes.

I guess she came out here for a good reason at least. Besides teasing my ass.

I stood back up after that thought and gave myself a once over. Double checking that my sack of goodies had no other sweet surprises for me. I returned the soap to its rightful place before slinging it over my shoulder. I set myself towards the trail leading back. The thought of running crept into my mind once more. I clenched my fists and set my jaw, chasing the idea away.

Fuck that. Let's go get some answers.