The road passes pleasantly as I stroll through this beautiful sunny day—or at least that's what I keep telling myself while nervously watching the forest around me, expecting an attack at any moment.
Yeah.
I need to focus on something else and stop darting my eyes around nervously.
Caution, yes. A bundle of nerves, definitely not.
As if by salvation, my thoughts turn toward the status window.
NAME: ERYK
RACE: HUMAN
RANK: NONE
BODY: (LESSER)
MIND: (LESSER)
SPIRIT: (LESSER)
SKILLS:
Still no skills, but my attention rests on the remaining attributes.
Body and Mind seem fairly clear. Body likely represents physical characteristics, while Mind accounts for the ability to think clearly, react quickly, and make swift decisions.
Hmm.
So, what does Spirit represent? Mana? Essence? Or some other source of power enabling the use of skills?
Yes, I definitely like this theory. It aligns with what I know about similar systems and worlds. Though I should be cautious not to rely too much on my assumptions about this world.
After all, the surrounding reality might be entirely different.
Hmm, race is clear but then what does Rank mean? Or rather, what levels are associated with it? And isn't the system too bare-bones? I expected a bit more. No hints, no hidden information, no superpowers...
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...the life of an ordinary adventurer is indeed a hard one.
The day passes, broken only by short meals, though calling dried meat and water a meal is quite a stretch.
sigh... What I wouldn't give for some burger with fries right now.
Dusk is slowly approaching.
I realize I need to find a place to sleep soon.
Searching for a suitable spot, I leave the main road and head into the forest. I’d rather avoid running into hostile travelers, though I understand that sleeping in the woods isn't the best option.
But what other choice do I have?
About 15 minutes off the road, I find a decent spot. Far enough that a "lost" traveler won’t slit my throat in the night, yet not so far that I can’t quickly return to the path.
Maybe I’m paranoid, but I fear other people almost as much as I do monsters. Though perhaps that's a bad comparison. With monsters, you always know where you stand.
People are more unpredictable.
The next half hour is spent setting up a makeshift bed and hiding it well. A quick supper, of course, consisting of dried meat washed down with water.
Yum.
Maybe if I keep telling myself that these flavorless strips of meat with the texture of old shoe leather are a feast, I’ll eventually believe it.
Or hunger will change my perspective.
My bet is on hunger.
I try to fall asleep as the dusk rapidly deepens, praying to whatever deity exists in this world that I never—especially at night—encounter giant spiders.
I fear them the most.
Not only are they huge, but they attack in groups, they’re huge, and people forget how fast they are.
Did I mention they’re huge?
There’s a big difference between running from a group of spiders the size of fist and ones the size of dogs.
Big dogs.
Suffice it to say, sleep doesn’t come easily. The sounds of the forest certainly don’t help. Sometimes, having extra knowledge is more of a curse. Especially when you have a mental bestiary of monsters that might visit you after dark.
It’s true what they say.
Ignorance is bliss.
Eventually, exhaustion from the day overtakes me, and I drift off. Just before my consciousness fades, one last thought crosses my mind:
What will tomorrow bring?