Aidan groaned as he rolled over, the cold, hard floor sending shivers down his spine. A loose nail jabbed into his back, a cruel reminder of his discomfort. Curling into himself, he hugged his knees, seeking solace from the biting cold that seeped into his bones. The feeble rays of sunlight filtering through the boarded-up windows offered little warmth, casting long shadows that danced mockingly across the room.
Clutching the pen in his trembling hand, Aidan turned it over and over, his fingers tracing the intricate engravings etched into its sleek surface. Each twist and turn of the pen only served to deepen his frustration. “Why won’t you work?” he muttered, his voice tinged with desperation.
Memories of his brother Eldrian flooded his mind, a bittersweet reminder of happier times. But now, as he sat alone in this foreign place, his isolation bore down on him like a suffocating blanket. He had never been the adventurous type. That had always been his brother, Eldrian.
Aidan had always been interested in computers. He started his own computer programming company while still studying at university. His first program had been so successful it made his name known overnight. Eldrian, on the other hand, had spent years in the army before joining some mercenary group fighting worldwide.
After their father had died, they were both left a note from their mother. She had disappeared when Eldrian was only seven. Aidan didn’t remember her, as he was the only one then. But with the note, Eldrian became obsessed. He would disappear for months at a time. Always coming back with odd trinkets and even more crazy stories. It annoyed Aidan no end as he always covered his brother’s expenses. He always shuddered when finance called him about the new monthly costs.
His thoughts spiralled as he stared at the pen clenched in his fist and slowly ground his teeth. “Was it a one-time-only deal?” he wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. His heart raced with anxiety as the fear of being trapped in this unfamiliar world clawed at his insides, threatening to consume him whole. With a heavy sigh, he pressed the pen into his pocket, a futile gesture that offered little comfort.
The memories of Eldrian’s disappearance continued to haunt him, each fleeting moment a painful reminder of his failure to bring his brother home. The gnawing ache of uncertainty dug at his heart, a relentless reminder of his helplessness. “I can’t do this,” he admitted to himself, his voice barely audible over the deafening silence of the room. “I can’t even survive camping overnight without doing something that would require someone else to save me. I am not my brother.”
Pushing himself upright, Aidan felt the weight of his exhaustion like a suffocating cloak. His clothes clung to his body, damp with sweat and grime. The stench of his despair mingled with the musty air, a tangible reminder of his desperation.
“God. What I would do for a shower right about now. Some food wouldn’t hurt either.” Aidan muttered, pushing himself up. He walked over to where the front door was. Aidan pulled it open with trembling hands, his pulse quickening with each passing moment as he stepped into the street. The dimly lit morning light cast shadows as people hurried around.
The sights and sounds of Wildwood Crossing starting to come alive assaulted his senses. The streets and alleyways stretched before him, winding their way through a marketplace as merchants were deep into setting up their shops. Colourful banners fluttered in the breeze, their vibrant hues catching the early sunlight and casting a kaleidoscope of shadows on the ground below. The smell of freshly baked bread made his stomach rumble. Reminding him of how hungry he was.
Aidan couldn’t shake the dread that clung to him like a second skin. His heart pounded in his chest, the rhythmic thud echoing along with the street noise. With each step he took, he felt the weight of his isolation pressing down on him, threatening to crush him beneath its embrace.
A few early morning people stared at him as they hurried past. One woman who got close to Aidan screwed her nose up at the smell and hurried past as she covered her nose. Aidan sighed. He knew he smelled terrible, but surely not that bad. Shaking his head sadly, it hurt to think that he needed a shower that badly. Maybe something he could use to wash with wouldn’t hurt either. His shoulders sagged as he figured that would not happen anytime soon. He needed to get out of this town. Away from the adventure’s guild and anyone else who might be after him now.
Aidan walked for ages as the morning breeze chilled him further. He went up and down streets, lost in the maze of this part of the town. Finally, he gave up and asked a merchant where the main gate was. He suspected the merchant only told him to get him and his smell away from the merchant’s shop. Aidan thanked him before leaving. He always tried to be polite where he could be.
A few turns later, Aidan stood before the main gate. It looked different from the one he had seen when he first visited the town. But he figured Wildwood Crossing would have a few main gates.
The guards stationed at the gate cast wary glances in Aidan’s direction as he approached, their expressions guarded and alert. A sense of tension hung in the air as he watched the guards as he slowly walked closer. He didn’t see any that he could recognize. The closest guard held his hand to cover his face as he waved Aidan through the gate.
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“Move along. Move along. You there. Yes, you. Move it.” shouted the guard as he pointed at Aidan. “Move it. Don’t hold up the traffic. People don’t need your kind holding them up any more than your stinking ass already is. Move along already.”
He could hear the guards muttering to themselves as he passed. He was the topic of the discussion. They were trying to find ways to keep him away from them. A poster was stuck on the wall as Aidan walked through. It had an image of him with his name below. He couldn’t read the rest of the writing but assumed it was a wanted poster. The guild must have put a price on his head after he ran from them yesterday.
Aidan chuckled to himself. Little did they know, He wouldn’t be back again. Not until he was stronger. No one was going to threaten him again. He needed to get stronger to find his brother—fear of what he would need to do gripped his heart. The thought of fighting the animals of this world made him stumble.
“Dammit Eldrian.” Cursed Aidan under his breath. “Why couldn’t you just turn up dead or come back? I wish I didn’t promise always to have your back.”
The road stretched out before Aidan as he walked away from the town. He felt lighter because he wasn’t trapped within its walls anymore. The road quickly turned into the forest surrounding the town as Aidan stayed straight. Walking into the forest again, he knew he needed to find easy animals to fight.
As Aidan ventured deeper into the forest, he kept a keen eye out for any signs of movement or sounds indicating the presence of creatures. The dense foliage obscured much of his view, driving up his fear as he wiped his hands on his pants, trying to dry them again.
Aidan spotted a small clearing ahead after walking for a while. Peering through the trees on the edge of the clearing, he saw a group of creatures grazing peacefully. They were small, furry creatures with sharp claws and pointed ears, resembling oversized rodents. Aidan’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. These creatures seemed like they would put up a fight but were manageable enough for him to handle. He wished he had something that could tell him what they were.
Taking a cautious step forward, Aidan scanned the area for a suitable weapon. His gaze landed on a fallen tree branch lying nearby. It was sturdy enough to serve as a makeshift club yet light enough for him to wield comfortably.
Aidan approached the fallen branch and picked it up, testing its weight in his hands. Satisfied with his makeshift weapon, he crept closer to the clearing, keeping low to the ground to avoid detection. If his games had taught him anything, Slow and careful steps always worked.
As he neared the creatures, Aidan could feel his heart pounding in his chest with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Gripping the branch tightly, he waited for the perfect moment to strike. The group had only ten of the creatures, most of them spread out. The breeze was blowing against him now; the creatures couldn’t smell him coming.
Aidan’s heart thundered in his chest as he lunged into action, the weight of the log becoming an extension of his arm. With a primal roar, he unleashed his first strike, the force behind it sending one of the creatures hurtling to the ground with a resounding crash. The creatures, startled by the sudden onslaught, scattered in a frenzy, their sharp, piercing cries echoing through the forest.
Undeterred, Aidan pressed forward, his movements fluid and purposeful. With each swing of the log, he danced between the creatures. His senses heightened as he tried to anticipate their every move. The adrenaline surged through his veins, fueling his determination to win.
Each impact of the log against fur and flesh was met with the sounds of grunts and squeals, the noise of battle ringing through the trees. Aidan’s breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning with exertion, but still, he fought on.
As the last creature fell before him, Aidan stood victorious amidst the aftermath of his first test of strength. His hand ached from holding the log as he swung it. The fear he had felt still lingered as he rubbed his hands on his pants again. The forest air hung heavy with the scent of sweat and victory, and a sense of triumph washed over him as he breathed heavily as a ping noise sounded.
‘Congratulations. New achievement Unlocked.’
‘You have unlocked the achievement. [Razor-Eared Ferret killer] for killing ten Razor-Eared Ferrets in under sixty seconds. This achievement has unlocked an ability.’
‘New ability unlocked.’
‘You have met the criteria to unlock the ability [Agile Strike]. Passive. This ability imbues the user with a perpetual state of heightened agility and precision without needing conscious activation—+2 to dexterity.
‘Level UP!’
‘New skill unlocked.’
‘You have completed the requirements in proficiency for Skill: Club - level one to be unlocked.’
Aidan felt a rush roll over him as he levelled up. The tingling sensation warmed him as it rolled through his body. “Haha. Shit yeah!” Shouted Aidan as he read the notifications. “Status card.”
Status Card:
Name: Aidan Thornheart
Class: Battlemage.
Level: 2
Experience Points (XP): 135
Ability Points (AP): 1
Health Points (HP): 15 / 15
Mana Points (MP): 9 / 9
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 11
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 12
Skills:
Combat Skills:
* Melee Combat - Club: Level one
Magic:
No magic is available.
Equipment:
* Pen (Mythic)
* Log (Poor)
Abilities/Talents:
* Flee. (can only be used once per encounter. Gives a boost of 25% to strength and dexterity for 60 seconds.)
* Resilient Endurance. - Passive - Stackable - (adds increased resistance to damage multiplier of 15% for five minutes. Activates upon injury.)
* Agile Strike. - Passive - Imbues user with heightened agility and precision. Permanent +2 to dexterity.
“Huh.” Said Aidan as he read his status. “I levelled but still have the same amount of EXP. Ok, so there were ten of these Razor-Eared Ferrets. So that would mean each of them is worth ten EXP, then. I didn’t get any magic, though. Must come in at a high level.”
Aidan looked up from his ramblings as he heard rustling from the bushes on the edge of the small clearing. Three more Razor-Eared Ferret hopped out, their eyes staring at him.
“Well, I guess we are going to be killing a lot of you damned Razor-Eared Ferrets.” Laughed Aidan as he swung his log of wood around. “Time to level!”