“I can’t, mister Dallton. Not anymore. I’m sorry.” Ell hung up, Mark cursing as he dialled the number back. No answer.
He resisted the urge to smash the phone, taking deep breaths. ‘Calm, calm. Just, ask Jim. He knows people. Yea, ask Jim.’
Jim was working the trucks, stepping out when Mark found him. The man raised his hands, frowning when he caught the look on his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Ell, my babysitter, can’t watch Amy anymore. Says she’s too busy with school.”
Jim shook his head, pity appearing on his face. He wiped it away when Mark scowled. “And you don’t believe her. I know a guy, good with kids. A professional. Hold up, let me get you his number.”
Mark took the slip of paper, nodding gratefully. “Thanks man, really.”
“Anything you need. Christ, Mark. Just, I’m sorry.”
He shook it off, thanking the man again and finding a quiet place to make a call. Ten minutes later he had someone to watch Amy for the evening, a weight off his mind. ‘Why the fuck aren’t I home with her?’
‘Bills.’ He thought. ‘Hospital and rent both. And because I’m a coward.’
----------------------------------------
He put quick reaction aside, pulling up the two stone related skills.
Body of Stone. The body is a vessel, the mind its master. This skill increases natural toughness, letting you keep to the quest for a little longer. Adaptable enhances this skill by a minor degree.
Prerequisites:
Maxed Will of Stone.
Endure extreme physical punishment, lose a major body part, and recover to full.
Soul of Stone. If the mind and body are safe, so must the soul be. This skill increases natural resistance to mind and soul manipulation, letting you keep to the quest for a little longer. Adaptable enhances this skill by a minor degree.
Prerequisites:
Maxed Will of Stone.
Maxed Body of Stone.
Have encountered those who warp the senses, surviving to tell the tale.
‘Both would be good. Soul of stone also lends some weight to what Pride was saying.’
He picked body of stone, not that he could get soul of stone if he wanted, before he could start worrying about it. If he wasn’t affected now he could hold a few days. The skill ran over his body, unlike any other he bought, and he found it felt much like Adaptable did. His skin didn’t turn to stone, though, and he looked the same as ever.
Mark put the knife away, grabbing the axe and moving outside. Greed was packing his tent when he approached, his eyes dipping to the item in his hand. “You maxed crafting?”
Nodding, and wondering how the man knew that, Mark held it out to be inspected. The man chuckled at his puzzlement. “Got it too. Mine is enhanced by my class, letting me influence what I make. Not bad at all. What are you looking for?”
He grabbed his pouch, fishing out the two half hearts. Greed eyed them, his hands stilling from where they worked. He smiled. “Ambitious. With our time limit in mind, how about a backpack with some tools and a set of leather armour? It’ll be basic, no plating or anything, but better than what you have. You can even trade it back for something better, later.”
Mark nodded, shaking the man’s hand when presented, and all three items broke apart. Mark tried to pay attention to it, to the energy and how it disassembled, but found his mind slipping. When he focused again it was done, a strong backpack and a set of leather sitting on the floor. Greed picked them up, handing them over. “There. Go change, should be doable on your own, and pack away the tools properly. Damned skill always makes a mess.”
Mark nodded and walked back to his cave, looking it over. ‘Probably the last time I’ll see it.’
The brief moment of fodness came and went, changing out of his clothes with quick motions. It was a bit more involved than throwing on his gambeson, but Greed hadn’t been lying when he said it was straightforward. That done, and feeling strangely snug, he dumped the backpack on the bed.
Four tools fell out, rope and a bedroll joining it. The bedroll was more a hide than anything, although leagues thicker and softer than his own. It was also sewn shut on one side, buttons appearing on the other. It would protect him against rain, assuming it was waterproof, and he rolled it up.
The rope was simple enough, high quality and some hundred feet, and he put that back too. That left the tools, looking them over. ‘Knife, axe. A sewing kit and flint. Thank fuck for that.’
The knife and axe were, in his eyes, good iron. He clipped the knife to his belt, coming with a sheath. The axe he left in the bag, its edge protected by a leather covering. The sewing kit he left be, little more than fine thread and needles. The flint he likewise didn’t test. Smaller pieces of leather joined it, those he used to wrap up meat, and he closed it afterwards.
He put the backpack on, moving outside and having to stop as Pride held out his hand. Mark looked at him, shrugging with an I-don’t-know-what-you-want look on his face.
“The pack.”
Mark could interpret that one of two ways. Either he was being robbed, somewhat unlikely, or he was offering to store it in his pocket dimension. He smiled lightly. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll carry it. Feels good to carry my things when I’ve had so little these past few weeks.”
The man smiled back, some sharpness to it. “Sure, let me know if you change your mind.”
He went around, Sloth and Greed giving up their packs with a happy smile and an uncaring shrug respectively. Lust shook her head when the man moved his way, shooting him a look.
Pride glanced too, not quite quick enough to hide the scowl. Wrath and Envy had already given theirs up, making him and Lust the only two carrying it the old fashion way. Pride took a breath, moving to the front of their group. “We were following the stream downriver when Sloth found you, Gluttony. We’ll continue as we have, and hope we don’t run into another waterfall.”
Mark shrugged his agreement, the plan as good as any, and they started walking. It wasn’t boredom he felt, he was too content after the hunt, but the hours fell into a rhythm. Following the stream was easy enough, widening as it was joined by more of its brethren. By evening it was a proper river, what monsters they came across dispatched by Wrath.
The double headed mountain goats, spitting fire like a llama, were surreal to watch. Not new to Wrath, though, as she sidestepped the attacks and savaged the things necks. Mark was tempted to take a bite, Wrath’s kill or not, but Pride hurried them along before he could. He started to get annoyed by evening, adjusting his pack and ignoring the smug look the man sent his way.
“Hunt?”
He looked to see Lust had snuck up on him, the rest of the group making camp. He nodded, holstering his pack again and waving to get Sloth’s attention. The woman was already asleep, so they stepped away without bothering her. “He can really get on your nerves, can’t he?”
Mark nodded, not venturing a reply. Tracks had appeared, another one of the goat things, and he crouched to study them. ‘West, if the sun isn’t lying to me.’
“Especially that fake chivalry. Oh, let me take care of your pack, it’ll be so much easier. Don’t think about having to ask me for permission to get your things back, of course I wouldn't withhold them!”
He looked over, her face the picture of annoyance. She smoothed it when she saw him looking, waving to the tracks. “Lead on, hunter man.”
“It seems unlikely he would.”
Lust shrugged, walking almost exactly beside him. “Probably not. It’s a nice gesture, even. But where supposed to decide things by vote, yet he ends up making most of the decisions.”
“If they didn’t make sense, or if I had better alternatives, I would have spoken up.”
He got the sense she was venting more than anything, staring at nothing. “Never said he was stupid.”
Silence descended as they followed the tracks, finding the goat before long. One head blared a warning, the other spitting fire. Mark rolled to the side, adjusting his technique almost without thinking to account for the backpack. Lust had stepped, letting it fly past her. “You want to take this one? Fought more than my fair share.”
He answered by charging, his cestus already equipped. A stone from the elemental was consumed, ignoring the sensation crawling over his body, and he punched it.
The goat answered by turning the fire spitting head aside, his fist just about scraping past, and spit him point blank in the face.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Mark ignored the heat on his eyes with some effort, closing them and snapping another punch at its last location. It connected, this time, and bone cracked. He forced his eyes open when he had wiped away the gel like substance, letting himself fall backwards.
The teeth missed by inches, his leg snapping out to kick it back. Another glob of fire was sent his way, just as he was rolling to his feet, and he turned. It landed on his arm, the fire burning hair but doing little more than singing. ‘Good thing my armour doesn’t have sleeves.’
He grinned, marching over as the goat tried to create distance. He scooped up a stone as he dodged another fireball, sending it flying.
Without enhanced strength the damage was minimal, but it needed a second to reorient itself. He used the time to close the distance completely, punching twice in quick succession.
For killing a Goat Twin you have been granted thirty experience.
General Skills have gained thirty experience.
Lust walked over, looking at the corpse. “It spit in your face.”
Mark ignored her, drawing his knife.
Goat Twin consumed. Fire resistance has been improved with Minor Fire Resistance Boost.
Minor Fire Resistance Boost will last for ten minutes.
“Buffs.”
Buffs:
Moderate Toughness Boost (Stone Elemental): 2:14
Minor Fire Resistance Boost (Goat Twin): 9:58
His mouth filled with heat, spitting on a rock. Steam rose, though the stone seemed fine. Lust cleared her throat. “It spit in your face, and you seem fine.”
“Get power from eating, remember? The stone elemental makes me tougher.”
“And the goat?”
“Are my eyebrows gone?”
“No.”
“Good. Fire resistance. Also hot spit, though I’m struggling to see the usefulness.”
He looked over, Lust having crossed her arms. “You get different powers based on what you eat. Jesus Christ, that’s almost as bad as Wrath.”
“What can Wrath do?”
She sat as he carved, opening his pack to grab his wrapping leather. It didn’t escape his notice how she mirrored him, sitting when he sat. “She gets stronger the longer she fights. Faster, too, and more reckless. I’m pretty sure anger jumpstarts it, though I haven’t asked.”
“Good to know.” He ate another piece, the heat in his mouth distracting but manageable. Swallowing didn’t burn a hole down his throat, though he would have to see after his toughness ran out. “Since you seem to have figured out my power, care to share yours?”
Lust visibly hesitated, looking at the goat. Mark shrugged. “Figured out some of it, if that helps. Not going to start a witch hunt, not unless you attack me.”
More silence, his carving done. With only three hours until it expired he didn’t need that much, and if he desperately needed fire resistance he’d cured a piece. “And I’ve been on the internet since I was fourteen. I would be shocked if you could surprise me.”
“I make people horny.” She blurted, cringing. “Like with the elemental. And people think I’m pretty. Everyone thinks I’m pretty, some sort of lure.”
He kept his tone level, not all that surprised. “That’s why our stony friend tried to grab after you, not punch or kick.”
“It makes them focus on me.” She agreed, still not looking at him. “Makes them more predictable, less eager to hurt me. Didn’t you hear the second part?”
“Got a skill for it, actually, so I should be thanking you. Some sort of soul or mental effect, twisting perception to suit personal preference?”
She nodded, surprise in her eyes. “You don’t care?”
“I’m a glutton.” He said, not sure how to explain. “I eat, sure. But greed and gluttony are closer than people think. My focus is primarily on food, but deeper down I want. Getting a good skill with little effort and less danger won’t make me angry. Sides, I’m of the opinion weapons can’t be evil. Blame the murderer, not the knife type of deal.”
Lust said nothing, turning away. He shrugged, standing. “I see more tracks. Plenty, actually, so I’m up for some proper hunting?”
She nodded, so he started walking. It was two more goats and a short swim later that she spoke, wiping her knife clean of blood. “I’m a nymphomaniac.”
He looked, tilting his head. She turned away again. “Since you shared about being a glutton. Not like it's a big secret, our classes what they are.”
Mark made a noise to show he heard, not offering a comment. It was late when they got back to camp, pulling up his status and acting as normal as he could when Lust put her bedroll some feet away. Everyone else was already asleep, though Pride’s bedroll was empty.
For killing a Goat Twin you have been granted thirty experience.
General Skills have gained thirty experience.
For killing a Goat Twin you have been granted thirty experience. Half experience rewarded.
General Skills have gained thirty experience.
For killing a Goat Twin you have been granted thirty experience.
General Skills have gained thirty experience.
For killing a Goat Twin you have been granted thirty experience.
General Skills have gained thirty experience.
Gluttony has increased to level eleven. New skill available.
For killing a Goat Twin you have been granted seven ex-.
He made an effort to suppress the rest of the messages, skipping ahead or past them.
Body of Stone has increased to level 2.
Body of Stone has increased to level 3.
Body of Stone has increased to level 4.
Body of Stone has increased to level 5. Body of Stone has reached max level.
General Skills have gained thirty experience. No General Skills found. New options available.
Mark laid down, tired but smiling. ‘Even with sharing experience for some of the kills that was probably the best levelling I’ve done.’ He did some mental math, his smile falling. ‘Except I shouldn’t have maxed it yet. Don’t fucking tell me it changed again.’
Too tired to look at his full status, and far too tired to do math, he pulled up his new class skill. Scrolling down revealed no new general skills, picking soul of stone.
Hunter. To hunt is to eat, to eat is to thrive. This skill increases your tracking ability, but prey found is not a monster slain. This skill increases damage done to your prey, as long as you consider them so. To take is to grow, to grow is to take.
‘Thats. Concerning. Damage done?’ He picked it, having to choose between paranoia or progress, and pulled up hunting.
Hunting. Any starving predator will hunt to eat, and man is no different. You have chased down and killed Star Boars, stalking their water source to find them. This skill will help with spotting tracks, chasing prey and increase your killer instinct. Hunter enhances this skill by a minor degree.
‘Enhanced again. Works retroactively, so that's nice.’ Mark turned, a stone digging in his side, and saw Lust looking at him. “Hi.”
He expected her to turn away, or say something, but she did neither. He’d be lying if it didn’t make him a little uncomfortable, asking a question to fill the silence more than anything else. “Just got a skill that said it increases my damage done. You know what that means?”
Her voice was as quiet as his own, his ears straining. “Means that if you punch something, it’ll do a little more than it should. Break bone, tear and rip. My knife slices through skull with less resistance than it should, if you need an example.”
“Oh.” He whispered. “I thought it made me stronger or something. Shame.”
“We don’t all get super strength from eating. Some of us have to level for it.”
Mark frowned, looking down as best he could. If anyone else could hear them, even though they camped a ways away from the others, there was no sign. “What?”
“We get stronger as we level.” She said, confusion clear. “Become more perfect. Can’t tell me you haven’t noticed?”
“What?” He repeated, even more confused. “I haven’t?”
“Seriously? Uuhm, alright. So, as we level we become more. A little stronger, faster and more agile. Pride gets prettier, his armour not staining as much. Greed used to collapse after an hour's walk, but now he can keep up for the whole day. Never noticed anything? You have all the signs of weight loss.”
Mark sat, Lust mirroring him. “I’ve been hunting my own food, sleeping in a cave. Of course I’ve lost weight. I’m. You’re telling me I haven't just been getting stronger because I’m exercising more, fighting a lot?”
“That helps.” She admitted, motioning to herself. “But do you think I’ve always been this hot? Small blemishes have been disappearing for weeks. My hair doesn’t tangle anymore, and I don’t get bad breath. I smell nice, no matter what I do, and it's not like I’m taking long showers every morning. Forget about makeup.”
“Thats. Why would that help me with weight loss? I’m gluttony.”
Lust shrugged. “And Greed is greedy. Don’t see him stealing everything he can get his hands on, or hoarding it like a dragon. Pride can let things go, as much as it pains me to admit, and Wrath can manage her anger. Don’t believe me if you don’t want to, but we're slowly becoming more than we were.”
“I see.” Mark laid down again, more bothered by that than he cared to admit. “Goodnight, Lust.”
No answer came, turning to dig the stone from under his bedroll.