Leveling Up
What a strange term.
But when it occurs, my body rips and tears, forming a stronger frame each time, brimming with energy.
Apparently, I seem to receive a set of rewards each time.
NOTE #2: One [LEVEL UP] rewards me with 10 parameter points and a new passive skill each time. One of many rewards given by this ghost.
- From the journal of Solas Morningstar
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I look over his body cautiously.
Dead?
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/BMiDkDU.png]
I collapsed to the forest floor, star-fishing again, exhaling ragged breaths. As the adrenaline passed, the pain started settling in at home. I supported the bridge of my shattered nose, as the blood flow was persisting.
Shit, this hurts so bad.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/XQREFYb.png]
Another passive skill? A pattern. Will I receive something similar to this every time I level up?
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/6Y1YxrJ.png]
A throbbing rush of hot and cold filled every part of my body, as my face swelling started to reduce. The wound started closing up on my calf, and my nose snapped and crunched its way back to non-deformity. I stood up slowly, my stiffened body loosening up again.
Goddamn, that was agonizing.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/KCKNsa2.png]
Less pain would be nice. Although, I am unsure if I would call this a win, considering I almost died. I began rummaging through the dead man's belongings. He said he was observing me, not explaining the reason why. I looked at his leather pocket, and something was sticking out of his pocket.
A parchment paper. I slowly pulled it out, reading the poor handwriting hastily scrawled on it.
“Keep watch Tind.
I know you are nearing the end of your patience. But these last four years will not be for naught. This is the only person in Ripple who no one will look for. The town mayor has been paid good money to look the other way. Unless the operation is completely null, I will accept nothing but profits.
The blood of Scinn is our last chance to supply our group.
-Z”
I crumpled up the paper into a ball and threw it into the forest. Fucking hell. I grab the rest of my things, both of his knives and start walking off.
I was being watched for four years? Even as an invalid? It seemed that this 'group' had been planning this for a while now. What is even worse is that this man was only a scout. Most likely, not their main combat material. Yet, I almost died. Now, it seemed the town mayor was also involved in this.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/UcpRcKj.png]
What do you think? It goes without saying that I'll choose [A NEW SKILL].
Building my body is all well and good, but my fighting power is sorely lacking. The ability to detect life is useful, but if this Tind was more vigilant, and his weak point was not immediately within proximity, then this would have been much more difficult.
I was lucky. I need more strength.
Ping! Ping! Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/dHLW9lP.png]
[https://i.imgur.com/pSgOqF4.png]
[https://i.imgur.com/aasTL2v.png]
I sighed in relief. It's not perfect, but at least this one seems more combat-oriented. But will I actually have to drink someone's blood? That's kind of disgusting now that I think about it. I stick out my tongue gagging at the image.
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Before I knew it, I had reached the town once again. The sun had already risen at the end of my walk, and the townspeople were already out and about. Some hunters and laborers were readying themselves for the early morning work.
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The minute I passed the gate, whispers immediately accumulated within the background noise.
“Is—is that Solas?”
“I thought he was dead?”
“I thought his mother killed him?”
“Wait, why is he covered in blood?!”
“No, I heard that she poisoned him so that he would not show his face in public.”
“See son, beasts need to be kept clear of no matter what. Might end up with a death in the family otherwise.”
Too many people were talking. I ignored them since I had better things to be focused on right now. Continuing down the gravel road, I passed the main guard barrack area, when the path in front of me was suddenly cut off by one of the hunters.
“Solas. You look well.” A large foot stood in my path, connected to an even larger man. His shaven head matched his well-shaven jaw. Sporting a sheathed short blade by his side, something only guards and hunters could hold. His dirty beige top was stretching from his every expanding muscle, from many devoted years of training. So muscular.
“It looks like you got better.” He mumbled. The man in my path was the Guardhouse Captain and Lead Hunter of the village. Tanner Byrk.
“Looks like it,” I reply dryly.
“That’s good to hear.” He nodded in response. He wasn't much of a talker.
“Thanks, Tanner.” I nodded back, wanting to get back to the house.
He scratched the back of his bald head. “Uh... how’s your mother.”
I squint at him. “She’s fine Tanner.” Why is he blushing?
“Okay, well, be safe on your way.” He looked like he wanted to ask more, but stepped aside.
Thanking him while passing towards the residential area, I chuckle. Our conversations are usually this short, but he is one of the few villagers I don’t detest. Sort of a nice guy and visited the house occasionally. Not always sure why he’s asking after my mother so often though.
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I arrived back at the family home. The same build as all the other houses, with poorly structured rubble stone, and a moderate-sized oak tree arching over acting as a natural roof. I clenched my fist. Our house was a little special. Completely defaced with graffiti new and old, some of it scrubbed away.
“LEAVE MONSTER.”
“DIE.”
“DON'T COME BACK.”
“FUCKING DOG.”
“BEASTIALITY IS A SCINN.”
I like the last one. Creative sense of humor. I inhale and step into the house, nudging my head through the crack in the front door.
Smash!
An earthenware plate dropped to the ground, shattering immediately on contact. I look up at the person who dropped it, grinning.
“Mom, Sorry I’m P-late.”
Golden hair flashes forward, and a small shoulder bashes into my torso, as my mother embrace-tackles me tightly, almost bowling me over. We do end up falling over, the fall softened by all the dropped bandages and gauze.
"Ow."
She doesn’t look up, hiding her face in my chest. But her shoulders started to tremble.
“What? What? I.. What...?” She couldn’t get a single word out. I laugh and gently place my forehead on hers. Tears start dripping down my face as I start having trouble speaking as well. I'm crying so much today.
“Mum. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Still hugging me, she sneakily smacks me in the back of my head.
“Watch your language, Sally.”
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Helos’ eyes stared straight at me. Slowly but surely, the whites of his eyes started to emerge, as he began to keel backward. I hop forward catching him just as he collapsed, I lay him on the floor, with a pillow under his head. That was a shame. I wanted to talk with my brother properly, after such a long time being bed-bound.
Mother and I snickered, taking out some quill and some ink. Not going to tell you the atrocities we drew on his face.
For the rest of the night, we sat back and had some delicious moon biscuits and hot Ardon Flower tea, which had been waiting for me for almost a decade. Burning my tongue, we admired Helos' face and our work, clinked our cups, and chatted the rest of the night away.
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I gently placed a woolen quilt over my mother’s shoulders while she quietly snored. We talked each other’s ear off all night, but it was not nearly enough. I stood up and stared at my two family members, both out cold. I shook my head and went to fill up my tea.
I still couldn’t sleep and not for the lack of trying. I just had no fatigue whatsoever, which was probably a side effect of [SECOND WIND]. Scratching my chin, I stare at the new updated window that has been nagging at me since I returned to the house.
[https://i.imgur.com/bc5Jt4k.png]
I sit on the floor of the living room, away from the snorers. I purse my lips in thought. Again, [FORTIS] indicated an empowerment of my physical abilities, speed, strength, and stamina, which I expected. [ETHOS] was completely unexplored territory, and the ghost’s cryptic messaging was not helpful at all either. What if I turn into something gross and weird-looking?
Hmmmmmmm..........
I shrug.
Nothing to lose I guess.
[https://i.imgur.com/6Hhiu5B.png]
...
...
...
?
Nothing changed. I do a quick scan of my body, moving my limbs slowly and wiggling my toes. No obvious changes at first glance. No random tail either.
I keep waiting. I assume I was scammed initially with [EYES OF AUGON], but it turned out to be something extremely practical. I continued staring at the window, patiently waiting for new information. Still silence.
I stroke my chin again for the fourth time today. Maybe I did get tricked after all. Perhaps a dormant activation?
“Thank god we got out of there. I was about to lose my mind.” A husky voice suddenly spoke, from behind me. A familiar voice.
I twisted my head around to see only the back wall of the room. That's weird. Was Helos playing tricks on me?
“Up here Otário”. I look up.
The voice came from a large man, floating directly above my head. His skin was olive, covered in swirling tattoos while wearing the strangest set of pants decorated with different shades of green. Yet, these colors were familiar to me. The man was topless, brandishing yet another muscularly toned body.
Why is everyone around me so muscular?
I blinked twice.
His dark red eyes stared straight at me, while I stared straight through him, the moonlight shining through his torso. This was an actual ghost.
His face was partially obscured by a mask, revealing only his lower facial features. It was designed as a human skull, with a surface of silver steel, covered in cracks, one going right across the right eye socket.
Nothing was coming out of my mouth at this moment. He floats over and waves his burly, scar-covered hand in front of my face.
“Earth to stupid?” He rings out, cupping around his mouth with his hands. How rude. But I still was unable to speak, my mouth just hanging. He looks behind me and shrugs, shaking his head. “I think he’s dead, Veleirud.”
Who now?
“Do not be silly Ogum, he is just in shock from looking at your horrid face.” Another familiar voice.
I look up in the other direction, eyes widening.
It was another one. Unlike the rough voice of the one called Ogum, this one had a far gentler, but firm timbre.
A smaller, hunched man. More petite. This one donned a white coat over himself, buttoned up to the top. He was also wearing a mask. It covered the top half of his face, one side of it endowed with stars and the moon, and a contrasting pure golden sun on the other. A beautiful, calming mask instead.
I felt anything but that right now.
"We have much to discuss young man." He smiles calmly through his mask, his voice of a soothing sound.
But I stare straight ahead, feeling another headache build up in the back of my skull.
I…I need to sleep after all.
To be continued….
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[https://i.imgur.com/6Bt8Kyn.png]
[https://i.imgur.com/YqoCh0i.png]
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