The fire crackled softly in the night air, casting flickering shadows across the forest clearing.
Seraphina was busy with camp chores, taking on everything from gathering sticks and starting the fire to cooking the meat Nyrion had brought.
She crouched by the pit, carefully adjusting the logs to keep the flames steady.
The warmth felt amazing after a day of walking, and the scent of burning wood mixed with the crisp pine aroma created a cozy atmosphere.
Nyrion, who was lounging comfortably on a nearby rock, watched her with a grin. “You’re doing great,” he said casually.
Seraphina glanced up, her hair covering a part of her face. “Thanks. But are you sure this ‘teaching me’ thing isn’t just an excuse for you to laze around?”
Nyrion chuckled. “If I wanted to be lazy, I’d be asleep by now. Actually, since you’re doing such a good job, I’ve got a little present for you.”
He fished around in his bag and after a couple of seconds pulled out a small package, tossing it to her.
“Holy shit, you got some!?” Seraphina said, her excitement getting the better of her. She quickly hushed herself, remembering they were in the woods. She unwrapped the package to reveal a couple of pomegranates, their red skin glowing in the firelight.
“Figured I’d grab them while you were having your beauty sleep,” Nyrion said with a grin.
Seraphina’s face lit up as she peeled one of the pomegranates. “You’re a lifesaver. I’ve been craving these.”
She popped a few seeds into her mouth, savoring the sweet burst of flavor.
Nyrion smiled. “Glad you like it. Now, let’s talk about your next job: camp watch. Basically, keep an ear out for anything unusual and make sure nothing sneaks up on us. It's the hardest and at the same time the easiest job you can do.”
Seraphina nodded, standing up and stretching. “Got it. I’ll keep a lookout.”
As the fire crackled and the forest settled into a quiet rhythm, Seraphina took her place by the flames. The night was clear, with stars twinkling through the trees, and the peaceful sounds of the forest provided a soothing backdrop.
When the first light of dawn started to filter through the trees, Nyrion stood up and stretched. “And we made it to morning. I would have liked for something to happen to see how you'd react, but nice work regardless.”
Seraphina yawned, rubbing her eyes as the first light of dawn began to filter through the trees. “Morning, Nyrion. I’m glad nothing happened, actually. I’m not sure if I’m ready for any surprises just yet.”
Nyrion chuckled and began packing up his gear. “Fair enough. You did a good job keeping watch. It’s a nice skill to have. And I’m sure you’ll be even better with practice. Once night comes, I'll take the whole night so you can get some rest.”
Seraphina stretched, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from the night on the ground. “Are you sure you don't need to rest? I can go a day, and I'm sure you can too but two?”
“Don't worry about me, I have enough points in constitution to the point where I don't need to sleep for days. I mostly do it out of habit.” Nyrion said, his bag already packed.
Seraphina nodded, though she still looked a bit skeptical. “Alright, if you say so. I guess it’s nice to know you won’t be collapsing from exhaustion anytime soon.”
They resumed their trek through the forest, the morning sun filtering flashing through the trees and casting dappled shadows on the path. Seraphina took in the fresh, crisp air, feeling more awake as they walked.
The day’s journey was smoother than the previous one, with the terrain becoming more flat, and the forest slowly becoming less dense.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” Seraphina asked, glancing over at Nyrion. “Any specific spot you have in mind for camping?”
“No,” Nyrion said flatly. “We'll go as far as we can and once it starts getting dark I'll start looking for a good spot.”
“Your really just going forward and hoping for the best, aren't you?” Seraphina said.
“If I don't know where I'm going, the guys chasing us won't know either.” He said with a grin which wasn't visible given the helmet on his face.
Seraphina sighed, but couldn’t help smiling a bit. “Fair enough. I suppose it’s all part of the adventure.”
The pair continued through the forest, the sun climbing higher in the sky. As they walked, the forest started to give way to more open terrain, with occasional patches of wildflowers and grasslands interspersed between the trees.
The day wore on with the sun high overhead. They walked for hours, the terrain gradually becoming more varied with various hills, and large grasslands surrounded by forests. The scenery was beautiful, and the fresh air made the hike much more pleasant.
Soon enough, it was a couple of hours into the afternoon when they heard the sounds of fighting ahead.
Seraphina and Nyrion exchanged a glance as the distant sounds of clashing metal and shouts reached their ears.
“What do you think that’s about?” Seraphina asked, her curiosity having been piqued.
“Don't sound like beasts, so it could be a traveler in trouble or just some bandits,” Nyrion said, his tone thoughtful. “Let’s go check it out, but be ready for anything, we might earn some free money if we play it right.”
They moved cautiously toward the source of the noise, making their way through the underbrush. As they approached a small clearing, the scene became clear. In the center, a lone figure was fighting a couple of goblins.
The fighter’s clothing was utterly unfamiliar—he wore a black, snug-fitting shirt that clung to his torso, a pair of dark, loose-fitting trousers, and footwear that looked like soft, flat-soled coverings, unlike anything Seraphina or Nyrion had seen before.
The goblins, small but quick, were darting around, attacking with crude weapons. The man, though outnumbered and without a weapon, was holding his own with sheer determination. Various cuts visible on his body now that they were close enough to see more clearly.
“Aah!” Screamed the man as a goblin stabbed him in his right leg.
The man then swung his arm at the goblins head, obliterating it upon impact.
The goblins startled by this stopped their attack for the moment. The surprising thing though was that the man looked even more confused than the goblins.
The man snapped out of the confusion and screamed at the goblins. “Tak jest kurwy małe! Won bo zajebie!”
“Ah.” Nyrion suddenly said. “Weird clothes, weirdly powerful, and weird language. We hot a reincarnated on our hands.”
Seraphina’s eyes widened as she took in the scene. “A reincarnated? You mean he’s not from our world?”
Nyrion nodded, his gaze fixed on the battle. “Exactly. It’s a pretty rare occurrence. People from a different world sometimes get pulled in here. And based on his clothes and that language, he’s definitely from a place different from ours. One of them is the reason we call a level up a level up. He became so strong other people just copied the way he called things and here we are.”
“That strength of his is probably the ‘skill’ he got. Every reincarnated gets a random ‘skill’ and his seems to be something to do with strength.” He continued.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
By the time Nyrion finished, the man had killed another goblin, which caused the rest to flee for their lives.
As Jake continued to catch his breath, he looked around, his expression a mix of confusion and exhaustion. The black shirt he wore was torn and stained with blood, and the dark, loose-fitting trousers were similarly battered. His sneakers, were scuffed and muddy.
Seraphina and Nyrion remained hidden behind the underbrush, observing him from a distance. They exchanged glances, Nyrions curiosity, and Seraphinas concern growing with every second.
The man staggered slightly, wincing as he put weight on his injured leg. His breathing was ragged, and he looked increasingly disoriented. The blood from his wounds was pooling around him, and it was clear he was struggling to stay on his feet.
“Aah!” Jake let out a pained cry as he collapsed to one knee, the stab wound on his leg clearly taking its toll. He tried to push himself back up, but his strength was waning fast.
The goblins had long since fled, leaving Jake alone in the clearing. He looked around, his vision blurred, clearly trying to make sense of his surroundings. His gaze swept over the forest, but he seemed too weak to focus properly.
Nyrion was considering simply watching the man bleed out, but decided to ask Seraphina.
“We let him die, or you want to go get him?” Nyrion asked with a neutral tone. He didn’t particularly care about the man's fate, but he could be nurtured into a powerful ally, even if it would require them to change their plan completely.
Seraphina's face tightened with worry as she watched Jake struggle. She had been silent until Nyrion's question broke the tense stillness.
“Of course, we're going to help him,” Seraphina said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument.
Nyrion raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by her reaction. “Alright, let’s do it then. But remember, he might be disoriented and could react unpredictably. But don’t forget, he joins us, or he dies. I’m not leaving any witnesses.”
Seraphina nodded, her determination clear. “I understand. Let’s get him before he bleeds out.”
They approached the clearing carefully, making their presence known to avoid startling Jake further. Seraphina stepped forward first, her voice gentle. “Hey, are you alright? We’re here to help.”
Jake’s head snapped in their direction, eyes unfocused with a mix of confusion and hope. His breathing was labored, and he struggled to stay upright. “Ah, pomóżcie mi, błagam.”
“Don’t think he can understand us,” Nyrion said before hitting the guy in the back of the neck, rendering him unconscious.
Seraphina’s eyes widened in shock as Nyrion swiftly dealt with Jake, her instincts clashing with the reality of their situation. “What the fuck are you doing?” she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.
Nyrion glanced at her, his expression impassive. “He was about to collapse from blood loss anyway. This way, tend to his wounds without him panicking or making a scene, or even move him if we need to.”
“Alright, fine,” she said through gritted teeth. She wasn’t happy with what he did, but results were hard to argue against. “We need to stabilize him quickly.”
She got to work swiftly, using the supplies they had brought with them to clean and dress the man's wounds. Nyrion helped by gathering more medical supplies from his pack and setting up a more comfortable area for Jake to rest. They worked in practiced silence, their actions efficient and focused.
As Seraphina finished bandaging Jake’s leg and other injuries, she glanced up at Nyrion. “We need to make sure he’s in a safe position. If he wakes up disoriented, we don’t want him trying to get up and hurting himself further.”
Nyrion nodded, helping to reposition Jake so he was lying more comfortably on the bedroll. “I’ll keep watch. You get some rest, too. We don’t know how long it will take for him to wake up.”
Seraphina hesitated but then nodded. “Okay. I’ll take a short break, but we need to be prepared for his reaction when he wakes up. He might not be very friendly.”
As she settled down near the man to rest, her mind was racing. She was worried about his condition, and the implications of his presence added an extra layer of complexity to their journey. Despite the tension between her and Nyrion, they were in this together, and she knew they needed to be on the same page to navigate the situation effectively.
She was also conflicted by her own feelings. Seraphina wanted to believe that she was a good person, only killing out of necessity, but Nyrions words about how she could have let those adventurers go haunted her. Thought she wouldn’t admit it, she did consider leaving the man to die.
Hours passed and as the evening settled in, the forest around them grew still, the sounds of the day fading into the quiet of night. Seraphina stayed close to the unconscious man, her concern evident as she watched over him. Nyrion, meanwhile, was stationed nearby, his eyes scanning the perimeter of their camp.
The man’s breathing had evened out, and the bandages seemed to be holding well. Despite her initial anger at Nyrion’s actions, Seraphina felt a deep sense of responsibility for the
stranger’s wellbeing. The implications of his presence were… complex, and she was determined to see him through the night.
Furthermore, she had a lot of time to think about what to do next, but in the end left it for her future self to figure out. Once the man wakes up, they would decide what to do with him.
Eventually, the man began to stir. Seraphina’s attention snapped to him as he slowly opened his eyes, blinking groggily. She moved closer, trying to sound as soothing as possible.
“Hey, you’re awake,” she said softly. “How are you feeling?”
The man’s eyes focused on her, confusion and fatigue written across his face. “Gdzie jestem? Co się stało?”
“I’ll ask you only once, can you understand me?” Nyrion asked assertively.
But the man just looked back at him confused.
Nyrion asked again, this time in the only other language he spoke, that being western dwarven. But the man just kept looking at him while saying things Nyrion couldn’t understand.
He looked at Seraphina, “If you know any languages ask him now, if you don’t, I'm going to kill him.”
Seraphina’s eyes widened at Nyrion’s words. “Wait, what? Why would you—?”
Nyrion cut her off, his tone flat and serious. “If we can’t communicate with him, we can’t be sure he’s not a threat. We can’t talk with him, but there is magic that makes it possible. I’m not going to risk it.”
Seraphina’s heart raced. “But killing him now, before we even try to figure out his situation, is just… wrong.”
Nyrion’s gaze remained steady. “It’s a risk assessment. I’m not risking my life because you feel bad. But fine, let’s give it a shot. See if you can communicate with him. But be quick.”
Seraphina’s heart pounded. She gave Nyrion a sharp look but knew arguing wouldn’t help. She turned back to the man, trying to keep her voice steady. “Alright, let’s see if we can work this out.”
She leaned in closer, speaking slowly and clearly. “Can you understand me? We’re here to help you. Can you tell us your name or what happened?”
The man’s face showed confusion, and he replied in the same language. “Ile razy mam ci mówić że nie rozumiem. Na chuj ja gadam, też mnie nie rozumiesz. Kurwa, a mama mówiła ucz się języków.”
Seraphina tried again, a bit louder this time. “We’re trying to help. Can you understand me at all?”
The man just shook his head. He looked between Seraphina and Nyrion, his eyes showing frustration. He tried to speak more, but it was still in that unfamiliar language. Some of it sounded like cursing.
Seraphina glanced back at Nyrion, her frustration growing. “Nothing’s getting through. He’s not understanding a word of what I’m saying. Maybe he’s too disoriented to make sense of anything right now.”
“You had your chance. We've already wasted half a day on him, that’s enough. You tried your best.” Nyrion said before grabbing his warpick
.
Seraphina’s heart raced as she watched Nyrion move toward the man with the warpick in hand. Her instincts screamed at her to stop him, but she was still grappling with the moral weight of the situation. The man had been through so much already, and the idea of ending his life when he might not even understand what was happening felt deeply wrong.
She stepped in front of Nyrion, her voice trembling but firm. “Wait! There’s got to be another way. We can’t just—”
Nyrion’s eyes were cold, his resolve unwavering. “We’ve given him a chance, Seraphina. Our safety takes priority.”
Before Seraphina could respond, the man, sensing the imminent threat, let out a sudden yell and attempted to scramble away. He struggled to get on his feet, his injured leg causing him to stumble, but adrenaline pushed him forward. He ran toward the edge of the clearing, desperate to escape.
Nyrion swore under his breath and chased after him. Seraphina, torn between her sense of right and the reality of their situation, hesitated for a moment before sprinting after them. She couldn’t just stand by and watch, but she also knew that getting involved could have dangerous consequences.
The man, despite his injuries, moved with surprising speed, Nyrion speculated it had something to do with his skill.
He darted through the underbrush, his breathing ragged and his steps uneven. Nyrion was relentless, his warpick swinging menacingly as he closed the gap between them.
Seraphina ran behind them, her concern growing with every step when she saw Nyrion gaining on the man. Seraphiana could have easily caught up with the two, she was easily the fastest one here, but her emotions kept her conflicted.
“How can a level 0 be this fucking fast? How overpowered is that skill of his, for fuck's sake get back here already!” Nyrion screamed, the distance between them almost closed.
Just as Nyrion reached out to grab him, the man twisted around and swung a wild punch, catching Nyrion off guard. The blow landed with a solid thud, and Nyrion stumbled slightly, momentarily halted.
The man took advantage of the opportunity, continuing his escape. He was clearly fighting on pure instinct now, his desperation making him unpredictable and fierce. The man then screamed “Spierdalaj!” and flipped him the bird.
Nyrion regained his footing and turned back to face him. “Oh, now it’s personal you motherfucker!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. He didn’t know what the man had screamed, but the middle finger made it evident.
With a swift movement, Nyrion hurled his warpick at the man. The weapon flew through the air, its sharp head gleaming in the moonlight. The man, still stumbling and disoriented, barely had time to react. He tried twisting to the side, but the warpick already hit his shoulder, causing him to let out a pained a scream.
Nyrion’s warpick had struck true, and the man staggered, his pained scream echoing through the forest. He grimaced and tried to keep moving, but the hit had clearly taken its toll. He was bleeding more heavily now, his steps faltering as he attempted to put distance between himself and Nyrion.
Not giving him a moment to recover, Nyrion closed the gap. He stormed forward, his shield held with both hands firmly in front of him. The man, desperate and disoriented, tried to defend himself but was clearly struggling.
Realizing he couldn’t escape, he threw a punch at the shield, the sound reverberating through the forest. But it was quickly silenced by an even louder sound. “AAH!” the man screamed. He had put his entire strength into the punch, but the shield proved too hard, and his hand was now broken.
Nyrion saw the man’s desperate punch fail miserably, the resulting scream making it clear just how much pain he was in. Nyrion didn’t waste a moment. He charged forward, his shield raised high.
The man, now on his knees and cradling his broken hand, looked up at Nyrion with a mixture of fear and defiance. Nyrion swung the shield down with all his strength.
The metal collided with the man’s head with a sickening thud, whatever remained of his head was now between the shield and the ground. When his head finally reached the ground, the force of the impact cracked destroyed the head completely, leaving only a gruesome mess behind.
The rest of his body went limp from the blow. The forest fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the distant sounds of nocturnal wildlife.
Nyrion wiped the blood off his shield, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the scene. He took a deep breath, the adrenaline slowly fading from his system.
Seraphina, who had watched from the edge of the clearing, approached hesitantly. Her face was pale, her eyes reflecting a storm of emotions.
“Is it... over?” she asked softly, her voice trembling. The sight before her, the brutality of it, was almost more than she could bear. She had known the risks, but seeing them manifest in such a raw and violent manner was a different matter entirely.
Nyrion nodded, his gaze firm but weary. “Let’s go, we still need to find a camping spot. Unless you want to sleep next to a corpse.,” he said, his tone practical and detached.
Seraphina’s hands shook slightly as she gathered their gear. “I... I don’t know if I can just leave this behind,” she admitted, her voice strained. “What we’ve done... it feels wrong. I don’t know if I can live with this. This is different from before…”
Nyrion paused, studying her. “We all make choices in this world, Seraphina. This one was necessary for our survival. It’s not easy, but sometimes we have to make hard decisions.”
Seraphina looked back at the bloody scene, her heart heavy with guilt. “I know. I just...” She struggled to find the words. “I thought I could handle it, but this is... different. I thought we were helping, but now... I don’t know.”
Nyrion placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the metal glove he was wearing, if a bit awkward considering their height difference. “Just focus on moving forward. We can’t change the past, but we can shape our future.”
Seraphina nodded slowly. “Alright. Let’s go.”
They packed up in silence, the weight of their actions and the uncertain path ahead hanging heavily over them. As they continued walking, the forest seemed to close in around them, the night’s darkness mirroring the turmoil within Seraphina.