“After hunting the pitiable stilted pig, our hero and guardian return to the camp. Rising fires and crowded area does little to rid the people of their gloom.”

…

…

…

“After an uneventful nights rest the rise and fall of an army of feathery creatures marks our hero’s continued journey.”

“Are there going to be stilted pigs at the location we land on next?”

‘Maybe.’

“I really hope there will be.”

“Little does our oblivious hero know that the young lady could easily find herds of stilted pigs with her superior speed and strength.”

“Wait. Why didn’t I think of this? Leysa, aren’t you incredibly high leveled, you should be able to easily hunt stilted pigs right?”

“A strong wind suddenly starts blowing into our hero’s face. It is sharp, cold and unforgiving. The young miss has lifted her spell, does she do this to avoid the now moaning little man sitting in her lap?”

“Ahh! Damn, come on! This is just cruel.”

“Beads of sweat roll down her slender neck. Bloodshot eyes. Has something occurred?”

“Leysa? Leysa!? Hey! Are you alright?”

‘I’m fine, I just suddenly felt oddly tired. Don’t worry we’ll be landing soon.’

“You sure? You look terrible.

Owh!”

“The quite literal horde of flying behemoths make their landing in a large forest, a near mirror reflection to their previous camp site. With the exception of a small stream the bland green and brown-green landscape leaves much to be desired.”

“We still got some food to spare so let’s just set up a tent and get some rest.”

“The night is filled with loud noises. The screeching of hundreds of birds may have lessened but they are ever present, many will remember this and carry a great dislike towards all bird-kind.”

“I know I will. I have no idea how she managed to fall asleep so easily.

It’ll probably get darker soon, I don’t really feel safe going out alone. Wouldn’t mind the experience though.”

“We watch as an amateur fiddles with matches, a small fire is lit, raw meat on a stick appears out of thin air. Our hero is roasting the pitiable stilted pig.”

“I wonder why all the other people stay away from us though. Isn’t Leysa supposed to be like the next leader of the fortress or something in that direction?”

“The naive protagonist does not realize that although her companion may have seemed like a noble, an heir, a leader of sorts, the common people saw her family as tyrants. Even as they fight the undead horde, they still remember the tough life they live under the leadership of the Keeo family.”

“Wait. Wait a minute. You telling me they are tyrants? But they were so nice to me.

Is this why Leysa hasn’t taken down her hood ever since we left mount Keeo? She was in hiding? I thought she was trying to pull off the cool mysterious look.”

“In the eyes of our fragile, naive, neurotic, paranoid, terrified, cowardly. Let’s see what else is there? Oblivious? Either way, due to his narrow world view and frankly overwhelming casual nature, he failed to see what was in its essence a failing regime.”

“Damn man. That got very serious way too fast, you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“The young couple can be considered lucky that they have managed to stay hidden, among the people in the camp are people that could be considered members of an underground rebellion.”

“What? Damn! Why are we travelling with them then?

Nothing? Anything else you feel like revealing? Is the world actually flat? Is the sky really green?

The most unbelievable thing here is that this somehow managed to get passed me, me! I don’t meant to brag or anything but I can be considered fairly astute!”

“*chuckle*”

“Who’s there?! Hello?

Hohhh, must’ve been the wind. Well, I can’t pretend to understand this worlds situation, my priorities should be on getting a higher level.

I can’t really leave Leysa here unattended so let’s do some push-ups?

Due to my bodies strange condition I have an extremely hard time gaining muscles, but, I also have a hard time losing them. it's a win-lose-win situation.

Well this is just boring. I need a spell or something to play with. Should I just try to get some sleep?”

“The lights are dimmed, the campfire slowly burns. Our hero slowly reaches into his pants.”

“Hey! Come on.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Is there a mute button on you? I’m not exactly against you watching but cut the narration!

Thought we dealt with this when I had to go to the toilet last time, this is the same thing.

You know what? You win, I’ll just go to sleep.”

“Even the most sensitive of ears fall asleep when eyes become heavy.

On a high hill far in the distance, overlooking the populated camp stands an exceedingly tall and worryingly thin silhouette. Eyes flicker with bloodthirst and hatred, Hesitation, fear, excitement and impatience. Who is this lone stranger?

Stay with us to find out after these quick messages!”

“Hrm? You say something big guy?

No? Shush then, I’m trying to sleep.”

“Sun has yet to risen when our hero wakes up, his eyes heavy and bloodshot. Screams of anguish reverberate throughout the forest camp.”

‘Ji! Get up!’

“What is happening?!”

“Before our hero manages to stand up a hand grabs him and he gets thrown over a dainty looking shoulder.”

“Leysa! What is happening!?”

‘I don’t know, the camp is being attacked, everyone is running, we are to.’

“In the dark of night with no moon in sight, screams echo, blood is shed, complete and utter panic. Fires are lit and extinguished. These fiends see better in the dark.”

“Narrator said they see better in the dark.”

‘Probably shades.’

“Why are you so calm!?”

‘They aren’t after us. not us specifically. And we’re about to fly off.’

“Can you see? It’s so dark.”

“In the midst of a bloodbath, where lives vanish and blood flows like water, there are two people having a rather calm conversation. 

Our hero and companion take off into the air on the tired and scared emperor eagle.”

‘Let go.’

“Hehe. Sorry, it really is too dark.”

‘You’ll die if I let you fall.’

“Understood.”

“Cold hearted, indifferent, almost psychotic. This appears to be our protagonist.”

“What? I don’t know these people.”

“Something must’ve hurt him, hurt him deeply.”

“Everything hurts man. Everything hurts, we’ve been through this, I am in constant agony.

Well I won’t be that excessive, it’s not that bad right now, I actually feel a bit better these days for some reason.”

‘Ji? Are you talking to the narrator again?’

“Ah. Sorry, he keeps slandering me and spreading misinformation.”

‘Who is he misinforming?’

“I don’t know.

What? He has to be talking to someone! Otherwise he’d just be crazy.”

“Flying creates sporadically fly into the darkness of night and before long a stillness overwhelms the previous cries of terror.”

“So. Ehem.

Where are we going now?”

‘We’re going to fly for an hour or two before landing and setting up another camp.’

“Alright.”

“So. Ehem.

Your family were tyrants? That was a bit of a surprise.”

‘My family kept order in a place that wanted none but required it.’

“Sure. Sure. Order is good. Can’t have people running around doing whatever.

Back to the whole ‘they are not after us’ thing. What is a shade and who were they after?”

‘The shade. The shade are a faction of humans, kanaives, ikkaes, beerrows, elves, orcs, dwarfs, ellers, devourers, practically every sentient race south of the Jaeeski mainland.

They have been corrupted with a certain method of power, a power that lead to the deaths of many for the benefit of very few.’

“Uhhh. Okay.

Not what I expected. Those names mean nothing to me though.”

‘It could be the Healers.’

“I’m afraid to ask. Healers?”

‘Self-righteous zealots. They believe in a great god they call Llewen Nebag.’

“How many of these factions are there?”

‘Endless. They are endless. Never ending, they are without end.’

“You alright? You sound a bit off.”

‘I’m fine.’

“A hard to perceive tear falls yet no one is there to see it. We tremble at the thought of what could provoke such response from the otherwise near unshakable young woman.”

“Alright.”

“The sound of disturbed air becomes their only companion for what is sure to become a mind numbingly boring journey. This is the perfect time to stand up, stretch your legs and get something sweet.”

“...”

…

…

…

“The sun still has made no appearance as the now lonesome couple set up camp and quickly fall asleep. The sky is covered in calm grey clouds.”

“Mmmrrhh. Wow. I cannot believe how well I slept.”

“The scent of freshly roasted meat wafts through the air.”

“Oh, you’re not kidding.

Morning leysa!”

‘Good morning, Ji.’

“Oh man. I slept like a baby, what a night.”

“The majestic emperor eagle pecks at a fresh carcass of an unknown creature, whilst making a sound usually seen in cats. The purring eagle, how magnificent.”

“Not sure what to do with that.”

‘You eat it.’

“No I mean. Ah, right. Okay, thanks.

Did you hunt that?”

‘Mmmhm.’

“I want to go hunt, I need to get to level thirty. Can we?”

‘Are you sure you don’t want to focus on magic rather than support skills like forced empathy?’

“Ehm. Can’t I do both?”

‘You can, if you get and clear a quest.’

“Oh!? Really?”

‘Yes at level thirty you will get a point to spend on a minor ability, it is possible to get more points through special means. Many clans and factions have secret methods to do this.’

“Oh! Oh! Secret methods. Amazing. Do you know any?”

‘Yes, but it’s impossible right now. It was at mount Keeo. There is a dungeon there, it resets every year. Every time someone clears the dungeon for the first time, they get an extra point to spend on minor abilities.’

“Oh my god! So that’s how it is. So I could have even more than just a few? Holy shit, this is eye opening. Hmm.”

‘There is a limit of how many skill points you can gather in each level tier. It does increase every time you enter a new tier.’

“Dreams rise and fall like waves in the ocean that is our hero’s mind. His vacant eyes give of the illusion of the mentally unfortunate, but let us not dwell on the superficial.”

“How many minor abilities are there then?”

‘I’m not sure, we’ve got twenty four written down back at home. But that’s just the ones we know of, like before, some clans and factions have a way to gain secret skills. 

Sometimes it’s from a dungeon, a secret combination like killing a certain amount of a certain creature or a special quest only they know how to trigger.’

“This is incredibly exciting.

I was wondering is there a safe place called a ‘trial zone.’?”

‘How do you know about the trial zones? Only enormous organizations or extremely powerful clans have control over those areas.’

“Oh? What.

No. I guess that makes sense, probably a bunch of easy quests and easy leveling for the lowbies.”

“Indeed. Our hero has finally managed to somehow stumble onto the right answer. Sadly he will not be able to taste the sweet food that is easy experience. He must struggle and hunt in unregulated land.”

“Unregulated land? What is that Leysa?”

‘Unregulated land? A land that is not regulated?’

“Ye.

No wait. I mean, the narrator said I have to hunt in an unregulated land.”

‘Ah. He means areas that doesn’t have a stable average of levels. The creatures and monsters in this area go from harmless critters to terrifying mythical beasts.’

“I see. That’s unsettling.”

‘No need to worry, meeting something above level five hundred would be extremely rare.’

“Alright, with you here there isn’t much danger, right?”

‘Sure.’

“A seldom seen smile appears on the dark haired heroine. A simple and tired smile but a smile.

We watch as our protagonist wields his stick, puts on his pig stilts and makes his way further into the forest. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the pitter patter of stilts.”

“I’m definitely increasing my level this time, can’t you help me hunt a few things for experience?”

‘If I help directly you’ll gain no experience. Our levels differ too much.’

“Ah. Should have figured there would be something like that. Game balance and all that.”

“Would have, should have, and could have.”