It took Kali Kik another hour or so to finish the transportation of the settlers. She was consistently taking mana potion after mana potion but managed to get everyone and their animals across. She rested while the villagers thanked her profusely, her acceptance of their praise was a humble nod and reserved a smile.

Many thanked Six aswell, he waved them away, there was a part of him that was angry that they were here at all but he swiftly crushed that part of himself. If he needed help, he would want someone to help him, they needed help so he must help. He could have run, they did not own him, he had not needed to risk his life for them, but he did. There was a selfish part of himself that wanted to leave them behind, lead them astray, away from the glade he had descended into. He had no more right to this place than any of them, almost less so seeing as their previous leaders had chosen the area before him. That being said wherever he ended up building his shack would be his and he would defend it, he liked the idea of having something for himself.

No one said anything about his use of blood casting. Perhaps no one had noticed or perhaps they did not understand the magic he used. But not even Irduth had not approached him so Six felt like his second gamble paid off.

The settlers set up camp and Six threw up his dope tent.

- Jackdog Tent of Comfort -

Rank:Average

Rarity:Unusual

Weight - 4 KG

Durability 90/90

Traits: Made from the hides of Jackdogs this tent protects its user from the elements and improves comfort and rest.

It was simple to set up and with the bedroll very comfortable. This time it was a bit more difficult as his hands were shaking. He needed to calm down, he looked at himself, his jaw clenched, his breaths short. He was short and his temper was flaring, that was unhelpful, for him and for those around him.

He pulled out his smokeweed and pipe. He busted the flower and saved the seeds, he had accumulated about a bunch of them now, placing them into a little jar. Denny had been hovering nearby and spotted what Six was doing.

“Is now the time to be doing that?” The old man asked.

“Yes. I’ve seen you do as much.” Six reminded him.

“Hmmm. Ok.” Denny came and sat down next to Six.

“Yeah buddy,” Six said with lethargic sarcasm, making fun of the situation.

Denny just sat in companionable silence as Six performed his ritual of relaxation. He busted and packed. A part of him said to not turn to the psychedelic, he knew he was self-medicating, he also knew of the detriments for him. This body was new, fresh, unfettered by the connections of the previous, yet he wanted to drive it to do the same compulsive habits. He thought about what he would feel after the first toke.

A fresh start meant giggles and optimistic apathy. That would be nice. Then it would end and he would be once again mired in his feelings, muted and controlled as they were. He knew that it wouldn’t be truly enough unless he was constantly high. Wake and bake, smoke and toke, smoke two joints and all that.

He brought the pipe to his lips and with a burning tinder, inhaled. He glanced at Denny and offered the pipe to the old man who took it with an appreciative smile before taking a hearty toke himself.

“Not bad,” the old ranger said.

“Nah man, it’s shit. Like single A quality, my mom smoked this shit.” Still when Denny passed it back Six took another deep lungful and observed his vision tremble.

“May I have some?” The cultured pronunciation of Charles revealed the kid standing nearby,

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“How old are you?”

Fourteen

What would your parents say?

Charles looked corned, his eyes darted around looking for an answer before falling. He gave a shake of his head with an embarrassed smile.

Six knew that smile. A smile that blossomed from pain, like laughter from trauma. “Sorry Charles, ask me again when you turn into a man.”

“I am a man.”

Six wanted to say something irreverent and condescending but inhibited himself, Charles didn’t need that. He was just a kid, a good one. “Why do you wanna smoke?” He went to pass Denny the pipe but the old man gestured that he was fine. Six inhaled another one.

Charles shrugged. “I don’t know, you’re smoking.”

Six coughed. “Why do you care about what I’m doing? I don’t know anything, you know more than me I’m sure. You think this stuff is good for you?”

“You’re smoking it,” Charles said as if that was evidence of the action’s benignness.

“People engage in self destructive behaviours all the time Charles. I’m smoking it because I have done so to cope for many years. It is not healthy to do so.”

“Then stop?” Charles suggested with a bit of confusion.

“No.” Six didn’t want to, he knew that and now that he was nicely stoned he didn’t care that it was bad for him. He giggled and clapped, “I don’t think I can. Not forever. But, so far I am doing well in moderation.” He giggled again, the giggle wouldn’t last forever, neither would his dreams, nor would this feeling. No, he knew it wouldn’t last, but he didn’t need it to. He just wanted to relax and he had accomplished that, now his inebriated mind needed to be focused to continue forward with his goals. “What can you guys tell me about race evolutions?”

“Tch, they’re difficult to achieve. You should focus on getting to your class first,” Denny grunted.

Charles got straight to the point. “Every twenty levels brings about the ability to evolve oneself. Evolution brings an increase to the returns of each attribute point but also, sometimes more importantly, brings an evolution ability and sometimes unlocks Gifts if they are not already present.”

Six had a Gift, his Unbound Comprehension was a Gift.

“Neither of you should worry bout an evolution until at least level 15!”

Charles shook his head. “Many Elites of the Empire say otherwise, I do not doubt your wisdom but Titus Belloro says that the deeper the foundation the higher the heights. The knowledge itself will not hurt him.”

Denny nodded and leaned back to listen.

“Upon reaching level twenty you will be given a choice, a choice based on your choices. The options you get for a racial evolution are weighted by many things, the clear known ones are skills, attributes, achievements and most importantly objects. Trusted items and materials or reagents of great power can be used to aid this transformation and increase the options of evolutions. Fusing with an object will also decrease the experience deficit you will experience after evolving.”

“I could like… fuse with a shovel?” Six asked.

“Ah, eh, if that shovel was of sufficient power, then yes. It might open up an evolution related to digging or whatever materials the item was made with.”

“Experience deficit?”

“A state of negative experience points. It is a result of the rarity of evolution and it is reduced by the rarity of the item.”

“The rarer the better?”

“Not necessarily no, but in general yes.”

By now Denny had leaned in and was listening.

“Any famous evolved people?” Six asked.

“The Emperor was twice evolved,” Charles offered immediately.

“And he still got got eh?” Six winced in jest.

“Eer yes. Juthe-wei Yudinzo is once evolved, hopefully soon he will attain twice evolved status.”

“Hopefully? Why hopefully?” That didn’t make any sense, wasn’t he a usurper?

“ The Hynyk Empress is also twice evolved. A warrior and the apex of her society, she will hear of the weakness in the Empire and send her legions. Now that he has taken the throne Juthe-wei must be strong enough to meet her.”

“But the Emperor was twice evolved and he got got. It can't be all that important.”

“Octario Advent was murdered and betrayed by those he trusted the most.” Charles spat on the ground to make his disgust evident.

“Mmmmhm, anybody else?” Six grunted. Charles was controlled to hope for the advancement of someone who he clearly hated.

“Grand General Marcus of the Zleenish armies is once evolved and there is also the Master Bounty Hunter, Zanzibar Jones, almost all the archmages are evolved. Arch Mage Boot is nearing twice evolved I heard and his protege Arch Mage Alice is well on her way to twice evolved as well. Most nobles and many heads of organizations and cities are at least once evolved and even some cloutless vagabonds have been known to be once or in extremely rare cases twice evolved. It is the single most significant aspect of growth within a person's means.”

“But, you need dope items to advance properly right?”

“You don't need… dope… items no.”

But the process is much better if you do have those items?

“Yes.”

“Sounds much harder if you have no resources.”

“It is, and more dangerous.”

Six nodded. “As long as we are on the same page.”

Charles looked confused. “What page?”

“Ah nevermind,” Six yawned, he felt satisfied with his current knowledge, he just quietly chilled with Denny and Charles before fatigue set in and he said his goodbyes, “I’m going to bed.”

This day was alot to internalize but somewhere in the torrent of his hazy thoughts he managed to fall asleep.