* Skill Cold Resistance lvl 3 acquired-

Well that’s a nice sight to see. I groggily try to open my eyes, my arms are stiff and my eyes feel like they’re on fire. I lift my hands up and rub my eyelids, breaking away ice that had accumulated on them over the night. Damn, it was really cold last night. Surprisingly, I didn’t get a 4th level in cold resistance. I crawl out from under the tree, quickly breaking free from the frosty ground. There is a half an inch of ice coating the grass around the area. Hmm, what to do. I glance up to the tops of the trees, the sun still hasn't peaked. Ah guess I can’t start yet. Plus I don’t think I grabbed the ax and the saw outside Abby’s tent. I slowly make my way towards the camp, my boots making soft crunching noises on the grass.

Approaching the camp most of the tents are imitating soft orange glows from lantern fire’s inside. I don’t see anyone up and about, except for one old man. The old man who Abby talked to the day before. He appears to be working on a couple blocks of wood while sitting by a small fire. I casually make my way over to him.

“Do you need any help?” I call out to him.

“Huh, oh hey Kusk, yeah if you could that would be great. Do you know how to make Vbi-Armana’s?” He replies after seeing me.

“I don’t even know what they are, but if you’re willing to show me I’ll be more than happy to help you make them.” I reply while sitting down beside him.

“Yeah, I can do that. By the way, the names Galviot, people call me Galv. Here I’ll show you how they work. If you could make them it would be a huge help, sadly the other man who was helping me cut himself real bad. Almost lost a finger.” He replies while picking up one from a finished pile next to him.

Galv picked up a wooden block that resembles a wooden train horn.

“They use these in the armies for communications during battle. You just blow into this part here and it makes a loud enough noise that the beastkin can hear. I’d demonstrate, but I believe there is one in the camp and they’re probably sleeping. Anyways, I’ll show you how they are made.” Galv drops it back into the pile and picks up the one he was working on before.

“Do you have any woodworking skills?” He asks, just before showing me how to make them.

“Uh yeah, I’ve got woodworking lvl 1.” I replied after checking my status.

“Okay, I’ll have you carve the outsides, and I’ll do the insides.” He grabs a new block of wood from a pile. He slowly carves the block of wood down to a crude cylinder and cuts the 4 corners off the top. It took about 4 minutes. “So, do you think you’ll be able to do that?” Galv says while looking at me.

“Yeah, I can do that, no problem.”

“Alright, here use this knife. I’ll use this tool for the insides. The outside is a little easier to work on, but I’ll probably finish the inside of this one when you’ve completed the inside of yours because my woodworking skill is higher.”

I immediately get to work carving the blocks of wood. Carefully making sure each one looks very similar to the one he made. By the time I finished one, Galv had already finished carving the inside of his and started carving the outside of another. He would just swap his with my finished one each time.

* Skill Woodworking lvl 2 acquired - (1 hour in)

We sat there together quietly whittling away the wood until the sun started peeking over the trees.

“Ah I see you’ve gotten a new helper” A lady’s voice calls out.

I turn around and see Jasmine. She’s wearing a large fur jacket with mitts. She’s carrying a decent sized load of firewood, which she drops next to the fire.

“Haha, yeah Kusk came over about 2 hours ago and offered to help. With his help I might actually finish this on time.” Galv replies while still whittling.

“Eh, I woke up really early and would rather be useful.” I replied going back to work.

“Well, you’re one of the few who actually want to help.” She replies with a sigh, throwing a log onto the fire.

“What do you mean by that?” I say as I look towards her.

“Oh nothing, I’m just referring to my girls. They tend to just hang around even when I ask them to help me.” Jasmine gestures in the direction of her tent.

“Oh, gotcha. I suppose I should probably get to work on that firewood. It’s probably early enough where people are awake.” I put the block of wood I was working on next to me as I stood up, turning towards the forest.

“Thank you Kusk, your help means a lot. I can tell you’re a good fella.” Galv says.

After saying my farewells to the two of them, I make my way over to Abby’s tent. I can hear the snoring from outside. Maybe I shouldn't start yet… I meander around the camp checking to see who’s awake and who isn’t. After thoroughly checking the camp it appears like Abby’s the only one still sleeping. Well, guess I’ll start. I doubt she will be THAT upset. I grab the ax and saw from outside Abby’s tent and make my way over to the forest and begin chopping down trees for firewood.

Abby did show up after 40 minutes, but she didn’t make a big deal out of being woken up. She just casually asked me to wait a bit next time before starting.

I continued to chop firewood, stacking it neatly off to the side, and before too long Amelia showed up.

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“I’ve brought you some breakfast.” Amelia calls out while walking into the clearing. She was holding a bowl of oats and some fruit.

“Thanks, Amelia.” I replied while taking the bowl.

“How was sleeping in Abby’s tent?” She says with a slight smirk.

“Oh, I left after she fell asleep. I couldn’t handle the snoring or the smell, so I decided to come back to my shelter.” I replied casually while taking a bite.

“What!? You slept out here last night?! Amelia spits out.

“Yeah, it sure was cold, but anything beats sleeping in that tent. It smelled like she hadn't bathed in weeks. Also don’t even get me started on how loudly she snores. I’m surprised no one has said anything.” I take another bite.

“I can’t have you sleeping out here, it’s too cold, you're going to get sick. Um… why don’t you come sleep in my tent until I find something else.” She replies while blushing slightly.

“I don’t think that would help the rumors going around.” I say with a discerning look.

“What rumors? I haven't heard any rumors.” She says quickly.

“Oh rumors that we are a thing. I thought I told you.”

“Oh… those rumors. Um well, I’ll think of something else.” She blushes more.

“Don’t worry about it, you have enough to worry about. I will figure something out. The people in the camp are more accepting now I guarantee one of them has space. I will ask around during lunch. You don’t need to worry your royal hiney off on my behalf.” I reply jokingly with a slight smirk.

“This royal hiney can do whatever it pleases. I give you my word I will find you a place to sleep that isn’t a dirt floor under a tree and that's final.” She replies with an annoyed huff.

“Okay, I didn’t mean it like that though.”

“I know, it's just Abby coming back that has put me in a foul mood. Sorry…”

“I understand, anyways I’ll get back to work.”

“Okay, I’ll go around and find a place for you.” She replies, as she walks back to the camp.

I guess Abby’s really gotten under her skin. I wonder why she doesn’t just get a replacement guard. Eh, it's not my concern anyways. I finished the breakfast that she brought, and started chopping down trees again. After a few more minutes luckily I gained a skill.

* Skill Ax wielding lvl 2 acquired -

I continued my work, getting the extra level helped a lot. I was able to chop even more trees in less time, and with the woodworking skill I seemed to de-limb them at a much faster rate. With these skills I should be able to get enough firewood in only a couple of weeks.

“Here’s your lunch, I haven’t found a tent for you yet though.” Amelia says while handing me lunch.

“No biggie. If I have to, I'll sleep out here again.”

“No. You. Will. Not.” Amelia states with a huff and returns back to the camp.

I really don’t mind it too much, plus I’m gaining skills from sleeping out here… Ugh, but she's going to get her way either way I’ll just let her do her thing. I continued to work until dinner.

“Okay Kusk, come follow me. We are having dinner in my tent.” Amelia calls out.

I placed the ax and saw on my shoulder, and followed her to her tent. As we open the tent flap my nose is immediately assaulted by the smell of cooked meat. Laid out on the table is a pile of meat, a few potatoes, and some bread.Damn, that smells good. I quickly take a seat at the table.

“Okay, so… you’re staying here.” She bluntly says while sitting facing me.

“Yes, I plan on staying in the camp until the firewood is complete.” I reply while taking a bite from what looks to be a pork chop.

“No… I mean you’re staying in this tent with me tonight.” She boldly claims, as she grabbed a steamed potato.

“Guh-” I nearly choked on the porkchop. “What do you mean by staying in this tent. What about the rumors?” I reply as I swallow.

“I went around to every tent today and no one has space, so that just leaves here. Plus I don’t care about the rumors and I gave you my word. So you will be sleeping here until other arrangements are made.” She says while blushing and looking down at the table avoiding my eyes.

“What does Abby think of this?” The last thing I want is to be strung up and murdered by that woman. She could kill me in 3 seconds.

“She is the one who came up with the idea.” She whispers while toying with the potato.

God she’s a horrible liar. “Where is she?”

“I think she’s already sleeping.”

Why the hell would she be sleeping at this hour. It’s hardly 7pm… I mean I did wake her up and she did have a busy day yesterday. Oh God, I feel like this is a bad idea.

“Maybe I should go and see if she wants any food.” I start to stand up.

“NO!” Amelia yells out grabbing my hand while trembling. “The last time she was woken up she almost killed the poor lad. It would be best if you let her sleep.” She holds my wrist, not letting me leave the table.

Ugh, doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get out of this… Oh Gods if you can hear me, please spare my life.

“Alright, I will stay here tonight. Let’s finish eating.”

We sat eating in silence, Amelia was giddy with excitement, as soon as I agreed. After dinner, Amelia started working on some cloth on the wooden contraption. I decided, I should just fall asleep before anything bad could happen. Hopefully I will wake up tomorrow. Gods protect me. I laid down on Amelia’s bed and slowly drifted off to sleep.