> Quote:The ruins were like a huge house. They were covered in moss and some trees even became part of it. It became one with nature. He decided to make camp here, prepare and spend some time here exploring the ruins and the surroundings.

Vol.2 Chapter 1-Mystery mechanism

Paul was now in the old ruins of a large building. He started to search around to see if he can find something that he might use in the future. The ruins had around 5 rooms, but some of the walls were destroyed a long time ago so now in front of Paul was a big room, and on the right were the remains of a wall that reached the knees, in front the walls were intact and there was room for a door and on the left there was no wall left and the tree’s claimed that area. There wasn’t any bed smells, it just smelled like nature. Paul quite liked the smell. He also liked that there were no bugs that he saw so far.

He first headed left to see if he could find something among the roots and weeds. There were only pieces of rock, planks of wood and nothing else. Paul then headed right, jumped over the small ruined wall and he saw that there were some old bookshelves. Some were still standing but there were no books only more moss.

The last room was the smallest but also had all four walls and a roof. When Paul entered first he saw that there was a chair and a table but nothing else survived time. After walking all over the room to see if he missed anything he noticed that sometimes when he steps near the table there is a empty sound coming from under the floor. He looked carefully and saw that there was a hidden trap door made from stone. He used a dagger to make the trap door visible by cutting some of the moss that grew over it and using the knife to clean the gap between the floor and the door.

After cleaning the door he used a dagger like a crowbar and lifted the hard heavy door. After pushing the door aside he saw that there was a hole in the ground of around 1 square meters. An old damp smell came of the hole. Paul decided to wait until climbing down to let the air inside circulate a bit.

While waiting he cleaned himself up a bit, since he was still covered in blood. He also checked his stats since he gained some more since fighting the wolves.

NamePaul SilverTitleNoble PeasantGuild LevelGGuild Points987Strength297Agility369Endurance188Stamina440Wisdom424Intelligence446Charisma125Leadership0Luck328Fighting Spirit379Fame1005

-

SkillsHumble Mask-Aura shiftIntermediary LVL.3 (99%)Memos-IdentificationIntermediary LVL.5 (12%)Mana sightBeginner LVL.8 (40%)Creature tamerBeginner LVL.7 (0%)PerceptionIntermediary LVL.3 (99%)ParkourIntermediary LVL.2 (99%)NaturasBeginner LVL.5 (20%)DetectiveBeginner LVL.6 (93%)DeceptionBeginner LVL.6 (23%)StealthIntermediary LVL.1 (64%)ListeningIntermediary LVL.3 (99%)Iron WillIntermediary LVL.9 (99%)InsightBeginner LVL.9 (86%)Dual Wielding DaggersIntermediary LVL.1 (29%)Survivalist-CraftingBeginner LVL.8(20%)ArcheryBeginner LVL.5(90%)BookwormIntermediary LVL.1(25%)

He then took out his blacksmithing and tailoring tools and repaired his armor and weapons. Then he eat a bit. He then he started taking out the bodies of the wolves and started taking everything that he could use. After a few hours he put everything back except for a pelt. He put it on the ground and he sat on it. He started to meditate. He used Memo to review everything that happened in the last 24 hours then started thinking of a way to improve his arsenal and safety.

He then remember that there is a weapon that he could craft that he didn’t see or use yet. A crossbow. Before creating a crossbow he needed to think how it works. All the parts needed to make the crossbow. After a few hours he created a mental plan of the items and how it would all work. He then used all his skills and items that he had to create a crossbow prototype. It was able to shoot an arrow but there wasn`t much power behind it. Paul started to make different crossbows. After a few hours of making crossbows and countless small and big improvements he finally created one that he was satisfied with.

The final crossbow was small, it looked like a gun. It was able to shoot five small iron arrows without needing to stop to put in another arrow and pull the string back. It also had power. It was able to make a hole and get stuck in a rock from 15 meters. Paul used iron for the small mechanisms and he also used a combination of bone and wood to make it elastic enough to shoot the arrow. The string was made using a part of the Alpha’s fur. He wasn’t quite satisfied with the crossbow but he didn’t have better materials to make something better so this will have to do until he finds some. He made two identical crossbows and salvaged what he could from the ones he created so far.

A mechanism created by the mind of its creator. The mechanism is able to launch small iron arrows. It is able to launch 5 small iron arrows before needing to reload. Reloading time depends on multiple factors.

Mystery mechanism(2X)Damage???Durabillity250/250

Then using some springs he created he was able to create two gauntlets that shot out arrows as well. They looked like normal gauntlets but when Paul used a pulled back a finger, the safety mechanism stopped and an arrow launched out of it. It only worked for a distance of maximum 2 meters but it had the same power the crossbow did from 15 meters.

A mechanism created by the mind of its creator. The mechanism is able to launch a small iron arrow. It offers arm protection as well. Reloading the arrow takes 10 minutes minimum.

Modified Gauntlet(2X)Damage???Durabillity550/550

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

He was quite satisfied with what he made and this could one day save his life if used properly. He also was able to use it well since he had the archery skill. It seems that the archery skill applies to using crossbows as well since it uses arrows.

Then he finally got up and decided to explore the underground room since by now it must have vent by now. He headed to the entrance and there was a ladder, well a broken one. Paul couldn’t use the ladder since it was too weak to hold his weight so Paul jumped down since it wasn’t so high.

As soon as he reached the floor he looked around and was surprised. The room wasn’t damaged at all. The walls were in perfect condition and they were full of writing. Paul couldn’t recognize the writing. The only thing that was in the room were a book and a bed. Paul was more excited than he thought at seeing the bed. It looked comfy and soft. When he approached it he noticed that it didn’t have any smell. He then looked at the book. The book was old but still in good condition.

Paul made some torches and put them around the room. He made sure that the room is properly ventilated since he didn’t want to die from lack of oxygen. He picked up the book and looked inside. It had parts in it that were the same language as the writing on the walls. He started to read it. He finished it quite fast and he started to learn some of the words. Then he reread the book a few times. He then got a notification

Skill updateYou have learned the basics of a new language, Ancient Eldorian. Continue to read and learn to master the language.

MemosThis skill is something you were born with.It allows you to memorize everything you see, hear, smell, taste, everything you experience.

You can relive any experience you had in the last 24 hours.

You can learn any language faster.

Languages known:

Human(100%)

Elven(100%)

Runean(100%)

Ancient Eldorian(20%)

Warning:

This particular skill will not change no matter how much you use it.

He then looked around the wall and recognized some words.

“ I recognize some word…but I still can’t understand everything. That word there means mana, that other one means ward, that means protection….i need to try and see how many thimes the words repeat and then try to make sense of it. The most often used words and so on until I understand every word”

He gave up after a few minutes since it was late and he was tired. He then went back up took some leaves and branches and made a cover for the hole. He put out all the fires since he was going to cover the hole. He put the cover made from leaves and branches over the hole just to be safe, since he didn’t know if something else was using this place as a home. After finishing he went to bed and used Memo to review what he learned. Before realizing he fell asleep since the bed was so comfy.

The next day he go up and went up to the ground level. There was nothing moved so he decided to eat enjoying the quiet and nature. He took out a pelt and sat on it. He took out some food and ate in peace. After eating he went back down lighted up some torches and started studying the walls. This time after a few hours he could understand simple sentences. Deciding to take a rest he went back up for some fresh air. As he relaxed he started to realize how good it is to have a place to rest in peace.

He started picking up some rocks, branches and moss. After making a huge pile in a corner he started to create himself a small shack. Not even a shack, it was just a place where he could go to sleep. After finishing it, it was the size of a bed in length and about 1 meter and a half high. It was made from a combination of rock and wood. The wood wasn’t visible from the outside only the rock. After that Paul put some moss he gathered from the ruins and put it on the mini house. He used some mana to ‘heal’ the moss and the moss started to spread all over the house. Now it looked like a piece of rock that he saw on the way to the ruin. Paul then entered trough an entrance that looked like a cave entrance. Inside he used some wolf pelt to isolate the walls so that water and cold won’t go through. To seal the entrance he used another piece of rock that was lighter than it looked since it was hollow. After going out and sealing the entrance it looked like a huge rock that was part of the ground.

“There is still something missing…..Aah yes, the bed.”

Paul then headed down to the hole and took out the bed. He couldn’t put it in trough the entrance since it was too big so his absorbed into the ring and once inside he got it out. It was a perfect fit. Paul eat a bit before heading down to learn the rest of the writing.

After a few hours he finally could understand all the words. Or at least he though he did, but it made sense. All that writing was a lesson. A lesson on how to write a rune that creates a similar effect the ruins have. Anyone other than the owner of the writing will start to feel sick and avoid the place. Seems that depending on the amount of mana used when writing the rune the effects become stronger. The rune also needs to be present in 4 places. The corners of a box. The distance between the runes need to be as close as possible since distance weakens the spell.

“The one who made this whole ruin protected must have been a very powerful mage since it protects such a large place and still the effects are strong for such a distance.”

Ward-Beginner LVL.1(73%)Using ancient runes you can create a protection field. This field will make anyone sick when coming in contact with it.

Field minimum distance is 1 meter for 100 mana spent.

Depending on the amount of mana used the effects vary.

Depending on the distance between the runes the effects also vary.

Paul learned everything he could from the room so he headed up and used his skill on his house. After finishing he had no way to test if it worked or not so he decided to test it later.

He took out some food and ate a only a small amount since he wasn’t very hungry and went to his new house. He entered and sealed the entrance. He used Memo to review and went to sleep.

The next day he got up and absorbed the house into the ring. He wasn’t sure if it was possible since it was bigger than the usual things he absorbed. After eating he left the ruins and headed further west. He went a few minutes before spotting some creatures that looked like horses but had no eyes. They looked creepy. Paul used stealth and went closer to them deciding to test his new arsenal.

<

>>Next Chapter