Chapter 8: Charlie Cucumber

“Open Character Record,” Chastity whispered, still sprawled on top of the too-small bed. The translucent text box appeared before her on command.

If I want to have any chance of getting home, I need to figure out how this weird system works, she reasoned.

Looking at the Character Record, she noticed that both her Life Points and Focus Points were full, at 20 and 10 respectively.

Hmmm. I know I lost Life Points tumbling down that mountain. And I used some Focus Points activating those Abilities. Maybe they were replenished while I was sleeping?

She looked carefully at the different categories listed in the record. As she focused on where it said Level, she was surprised to see the text box zoom in, opening up a new box.

Woah! All I had to do was sort of stare at that word to open up a sort of sub-menu.

She practiced this focusing technique, first with her eyes and then with the power of thought, concentrating on the part of the record she wanted to access and seeing if she could back out of the current text box. It took time and effort, but after several trials she realized she was able to ‘zoom in’ to different parts of the Character Record to view more details, and ‘zoom out’ again.

It seemed that once she opened the record using a verbal command, her ability to focus would allow her to navigate freely within the screen. She concentrated again on the Level section of the record.

LEVEL: 1

Progress toward Level 2: 30%

Ah, I do remember some notifications saying ‘experience gained,’ thought Chastity. When I encountered those wolves, and even when I reached this village. I wonder what exactly counts toward gaining experience…

Next she concentrated on Life Points. As she concentrated, explanatory text appeared beneath the status.

LIFE POINTS: 20

Life Points represent your mortal life. Reaching zero means an end to your story. Life Points can be regained through healing Abilities and Items, or slowly recovered through rest.

That solves one mystery. I guess I’ve been resting here long enough to get back to full health. What about Focus Points? She concentrated again.

FOCUS POINTS: 10

Focus Points are required for using most Abilities. Focus Points can be regained through prayer, meditation, or being well-rested.

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Interesting. Using ‘Recall Knowledge’ did not use up any Focus Points. Is that because I have Knowledge-Religion listed as a Boon? Is that what differentiates Boons from Abilities–a sort of always-on, free, passive benefit? And does the use of that specific Boon make Recall Knowledge free-to-use?

Next she concentrated on her list of Abilities, zeroing in on Detect Evil.

Detect Evil

Like a rancid stench, by concentrating on a creature you can sense the presence of Evil.

Ability Level: 1 (Initiate)

Requires: 5 Focus Points

Next Ability Level: 2 (Novice)

Progress Toward Next Ability Level: 15%

Ability Split: Detect Evil II <-> Sense Evil

Ability Split, Chastity mused, I wonder what that means? Either way, it seems that I will have the opportunity to improve these abilities through use and experience. I had to use an Ability Point to gain Detect Evil. How do I get more Ability Points? Just by gaining levels? But which Ability will help me get back to the real world?

Just then, the door creaked open. Chastity jumped and quickly minimized the text box, not at all sure that anybody else would even be able to see it. For all she knew, everyone in this world had a Character Record. Or maybe she was the only one. Either way, she felt self-conscious about it.

“So sorry, it’s just me,” came a familiar voice from behind the cracked door. “Are you decent? My Auntie asked me to bring you some breakfast.”

“Uh, yes! Yes, I’m decent! Come in!” Chastity replied more forcefully than she intended.

The door squeaked the rest of the way open and the younger halfling from the previous day ambled in holding a tray. Chastity saw, and smelled, another cup of barley tea. There also appeared to be a boiled egg cut in half, showing off dark orange yolk, and some crackers.

“Beg your pardon, but my Auntie’s hen laid an egg this morning,” said the halfling with a smile.

Chastity eagerly accepted the tray, laying it across her lap and, hardly being able to restrain herself, dug right in. The rich protein of the still-warm egg sent pleasurable bursts to her nutrient-starved neurotransmitters and, although somewhat stale, she devoured the crackers in a spray of crumbs.

“Quite lucky if you ask me! Egg laying's real hit and miss with the old girl these days. And we had to borrow the crackers from Miss Brandyhill, but Auntie insisted.”

Chastity instantly felt a wave of guilt about her ravenous display.

“I… did I just take food that was meant for you? For your family?”

The young halfling waved her off, launching into a rapid monologue.

“Don’t worry. Got plenty of pickled fish to go around! You really should try some, you know. Bout the only thing I can pickle these days, terrible shame. Our village used to host a Pickle Festival every autumn. Aye, you should have seen it! Folks from all round the Riverlands would come. We were famous for it–that and the goldenberries of course. I can pickle those too, you know. But nobody much cared for pickled goldenberries…”

Despite the halfling’s nonchalance and change of subjects, Chastity was getting the sense that food was not exactly plentiful in the Underfoot household, and perhaps not in the village either. She carefully set her empty breakfast tray to the side. She would need to find a way to pay them back for their hospitality.

“I’m sorry, Cucumber was it?” she asked.

The young halfling shook his head.

“No, no. Cucumber is my surname. The name’s Charlie, Charlie Cucumber! The Underfoots are my aunt and uncle. I’m helping out while my father is away looking for work up north.”

Chastity extended her hand.

“Pleased to meet you, Charlie. My name is Chastity, Chastity… er… Morningstar, apparently.”

The young halfling took her hand and eagerly shook it, grinning from round ear to round ear. Her hand nearly enveloped his.

“I’ll take that tray from you,” Charlie offered. “And my Auntie says, if you’re feeling better, Mayor Roundhedge would very much like to meet you.”