The following morning I woke up in my bed, still sore all over but still happy. A silly grin was plastered over my face. I’d had to actually use wraith step to get into my room again as my body just couldn’t muster the strength to climb down in through the window. But damn what a haul last night!

If it was only the points and skill ups I’d have been happier than ever but whoa I got a nice haul of loot from Bozkurt’s house as well. Though as I lay there and went over my character sheet in my mind, noticing the free points burning holes into the lowest part of it, I noticed something odd. My classes hadn’t gained a single level. I was rather confused at that as I did remember fighting quite a bit, not to mention the death’s I had caused too.

I began to grumble a little. Perhaps some part of this strange system didn’t give me exp for killing in a city? No that couldn’t be it, I’d seen several people kill in cities when I was a ‘hero’ and had even done so as well and gained levels for it.

I put these thoughts into the mental bucket I had dubbed, “stuff that annoys the living hell out of me” and filed them away for a later time. Then as I raised my hand up to my forehead I felt the chitin still covering my body. Seems I had just passed out right when I got into the room huh? Well, it couldn’t be helped, I still felt like I had been run over by a truck last night.

Rolling over to stand I managed to half limp towards the mirror and let the chitin recede into whatever place it went to when I wasn’t using it. I stood there nude, safe for the utterly tattered hood and the tattered remnant of cloth I had tied around my waist with a belt.

I grimaced at the sight. I was black and blue all over, part of my face was swollen and I could even see the angry red and purple on my skin denoting probable broken bones. I sat down gently and slowly put on underwear and some trousers at least. The hood and tattered cloth I stored into my brand spanking new spacial ring.

That alone made me happy, I had gotten something that was really expensive to buy and I suspected better than a handy haversack. When I closed my eyes and thought of the ring I sort of saw a grid in my mind's eye. A total of maybe thirty-four boxes appeared with some items in each box, that is if I didn’t count the almost angry looking armoured being taking up almost twenty-eight slots by itself. I gulped a little. I had promised Abhorash to let him out when I got into my room since he wanted to stand guard over me.

With a sheepish expression, I let him out of the ring and I even heard the floorboards creak a little under his considerable bulk. I was starting to think he was made of like 80% metal at this point with the rest comprising hollow spaces and bones.

“My lord.” He began, his voice calm and even as he moved to sit in a sort of lotus position. “I see your wounds were too severe to follow through with what you said you’d do.” He then said almost apologetically for being annoyed with me.

I waved him off. “It’s all right. It was a long and hard night and you are essentially just a newborn. I take responsibility for my broken promise.” I said as I took the satchel that held my books in and handed him the ‘martial arts, weapon styles and movement techniques’ book. “I want you to go over this martial manual. Tell me what styles speak to you as well as what sort of weapons you’d like to be a master of.” I said and watched as Abhorash took the book gently in his big hands.

While he slowly flipped through the book I leaned back into the chair and let out an exhale. I needed to spend my points now. As far as I was concerned I needed to invest in intelligence for two points to get it up to thirty. I figured that the extra undead I could summon would be at a ratio of one for every ten points I had in it and since I had four it was worth the expenditure.

As for my ability points, ish, now that was a bit tougher. I felt I should invest in both Carapace and regeneration but I also had promised myself to at least have every ability up by one point before I continued to invest.

I had found that my carapace while under the effect of ethereal armour and shadow infusion was a tad tougher than iron armour with the gel underneath it adding in impact resistance. It still wasn’t enough in fights against those with actual skill and strength. Like that Anubis guy or who Abhorash used to be. Then again the pain I was in now might be easier dealt with if I invested in Regeneration as well. I sighed, I hated going back on things I had promised myself to do. Since I already had two points I could finish up Bone claws and Liches gift at the same time but this was also a matter of my own survival. I grit my teeth.

My own survival did have priority after all. With an internal sigh I decided to spent those points into regeneration and Carapace. To save myself the headache of notification overload I decided to spend some of the skill points as well. Since I had six available I decided to spend five now, upgrading the skills I had most often used.

Ethereal armour, wraith step, Shadow infusion, improved stamina and improved reflexes. I think those would work the best for now. I didn’t know why but I had a feeling about the skills I could essentially buy for a skill point might be good to at least checkout. If not I’d spend it on either raise minor skeletons or intimidating growl.

The following skills have been Gained!

Advanced Death’s Ethereal armour lvl. 1, Advanced Wraith Step lvl. 1, Advanced Shadow Infusion lvl. 1, Advanced Improved Stamina lvl. 1, Advance Improved Reflexes lvl.1

Statistics increased! Intelligence 28 > 30 Endurance 28 > 30 Agility 38 > 40

I smiled a little to myself at how I spent the four stat points. I had to admit the Vampiric physiology was a great ability to have. I have to wonder how much I’ll have to upgrade it before I’m burdened with the Vampiric weaknesses that those undead have. I’d hate to not be able to go outside due to their severe sun allergies after all.

Perhaps I should see if Verona is up for a chat the next time I die. Yes I know why are you thinking of dying in terms of next time?! Well I’d say my track record sort of speaks for itself. I’m sure I’ll end up dying in some stupid fashion again.

Increases in natural abilities have been made.

Defensive Carapace lvl. 1 > lvl. 2: (Able to cause a carapace to grow around the user's body and limbs. Gives as much armour as a gambeson with chain-mail over it currently.)

Moderate Regeneration lvl. 1↑ : (Capable of healing most normal injuries within 3-4 hours. Aches and pains will be faster, so will bruises and scratches.)

Hm? Wait the Regeneration didn’t change all that much! What the hell?! It only gained a level one tag and that’s it?! Give me back my friggin point damn it!! I’m going to have to have a stern talk to the one who made this damn system up!

I seethed a little inside but I then I began to realize my aches and pains began to lower a little. Actually they weren’t just lessening by a little, but by a lot actually.

I looked down at my body and I could see the bruises visibly shrink, though of course it was just barely visible it was still there if one looked hard enough for it. Ok… so not a useless expenditure of an ability point. I still felt like grumbling a little, so the system writer just got lazy over the whole thing. Slacking piece of…

I shook my head and decided to take up a lotus position on the bed while I went over what I could get for the last skill point. Granted I knew I had at least… 8!!! Seriously?! I still have eight skills awaiting upgrading?! How the hell do the people of this world accumulate enough skill points to advanced?!

Oh, whatever there isn’t any harm in looking what I can get is there?

Current skills available for choosing.

Summon familiar: (Allows the user to create and resummon their familiar.)

Skill: Claw strike (Empower the users claws to deal a devastating strike.)

Even Keel: (User takes slightly less magical damage. (passive))

Meditation: (Allows the user to sink deep into their mind and push aside emotions to solve problems or circulate their mana.)

Tearing strike: (Allows the user to cause his claws to grow serrated to rip up flesh easier for a single strike.)

Skill: Willpower (Allows the user to push through pain and mind effects better.(passive))

Intuition: (The user begins to be able to read others and their intentions, though this manifests as a simple gut feeling.(Passive))

Savagery: (The user can enact a near-feral state where all attacks with natural weapons are boosted along with speed but at the cost of reason and recklessness.)

Swordbreaker: (A striking skill aimed at breaking or damaging enemy weapons.)

Adept striker: (Causes some strikes to allow for another follow up strike by causing the user's movements to subtly change. (Passive))

Mana manipulation: (The user can manipulate their mana to cast spells.)

Mana empowering: (Allows the user to channel mana into a skill, spell or held object to further empower or strengthen it with mana.)

I sat there, just sat there staring at the new skills added to my choices. I still had that stupid Water movement, Deceiver and Pelt use skills but I decided to just ignore them. If I decided to go out to sea or some such nonsense I’d go for it but now it was absolutely useless.

There were quite a lot of skills I saw I could use, chief among them being the mana related ones. Abhorash had the Even Keel skill and I had wondered what it did but now that I saw it I knew it was very useful. I racked my brain of what to pick or if I should pick at all.

I knew that if I managed to get into a magical school I’d get access to many of the mana focused skills there, or at least taught them. Well the Summon Familiar and Intuition skills would really help out, the familiar might help out in scouting and even might be useful for spying.

I’m beginning to feel I needed much more information on how this darn system works. I sighed once more, I’ve begun to do that a lot lately huh? Aborash looked up at me. “Is there something wrong, my lord?” He asked and I sighed again, the whole my lord was good for the ego but I don’t think I should inflate mine much further.

“My name is Vlad von Carstein.” I began as I stood up and got dressed, leaving most of the things behind that I had gotten from last night, I’d have to identify most of it later. “I’m going down to get something to eat, I’ll leave the key in the door so that you can stay here and go over things.” I said as I placed my short sword and dagger to my hip, I’d leave the longsword here.

Aborash nodded to me. “Yes, Lord Carstein. I must request that you take the spatial ring and try to get as many of your minions from outside the city.” He said and I stopped as I was taking the handle of the door.

I almost placed my forehead against the door out of sheer frustration. My minions are smarter than me!!! I simply nodded to him and closed the door behind me, I waited for the telltale click of Aborash locking the door before heading downstairs.

I was rubbing the side of my jaw, where that brute had punched me, trying to get the ache to stop a little faster. I stopped when I was halfway down the stairs due to what was going on in the tavern below.

A gaggle of guards, tavern goers and some townsfolk were gathered around one guard. He sat in the middle and looked like he had not only seen a ghost but had been violated by one. “I sawr it! It was horrid, it just stood there holding a spine on top of his house.” He almost sobbed as he held onto a tankard of mead as if it was his lifeline.

In curiosity I moved to get as close as I could. “Inside was a horror show, skin and guts without any bones and ol’ Bozkurt had his throat ripped out. Not only that but we had to fight three skeletons who were on the top floor.” I heard the man say as I got close enough.

I looked around and noticed the barmaid not staring at the man but at me. I raised an eyebrow and slowly made my way towards her. “I swear it was horrid, the second floor was all broken up and there were cuts and nicks on the walls. It was like a twister of blades had ran through the entire house.” She almost seemed to flinch away from me as I approached her while the guard told his tale.

“What’s going on?” I asked gently as I approached her and then pointed at the guard. “What is he talking about?” The barmaid seemed to think it was her turn to give me the dubious raised eyebrow look and I only gave one back, though mine was of confusion rather than dubiousness.

“I thought you’d know best of all.” She whispered to me. “Did you go and kill Bozkurt yesterday?” I visibly blanched at her, which seemed to give her pause. I was glad I had taken that amateur acting class when I was in Iceland’s equivalent to a high school. Perhaps I should just swallow my pride and get the deceiver skill?

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“I didn’t.” I whispered almost in a hiss to her. “I’m cursed to be extremely hard to kill, you think I’d go and confront the man that supposedly had killed me the same day as he had?” I asked her and that seemed to make some realization dawn on her. I was stupid enough to do that of course, since I had done that after all. But of course I had at least had the forethought to have another persona to use to do it.

The barmaid seemed to mull it over for a few more moments as the guard continued his story. “It stood there, like a spectre from hell I tell ya! It must be him, he’s come back from the dead. That thing even looked like him.” A raucous murmur ran through the crowd and I was a little confused, then again I’m a stranger in a strange land after all.

Were they adding my deeds to an already established urban legend? I don’t know if I should feel honoured or insulted really.

“I understand.” The barmaids words caused me to turn to her and then I gestured with a jerk of my head and she realized I had no idea who the guard was referring to. “Oh, he’s talking about the dread Necroshade. A vile necromancer that terrorised Bedelev when it was just becoming a proper city. They say his ghost still haunts the catacombs underneath the city to this day, only coming out to tear into those that strike his ire. It seems Bozkurt had a smuggling operation running through the catacombs which might be why it targeted him.” She explained and I had two thoughts at this.

First, who is this they people always talk about when speaking of tales like this? Second, well isn’t that interesting, a catacomb that I might not only get some new minions out of but a possible shade I could use to further my knowledge of necromancy?

I resisted the urge to tap my fingers together before me and go “Excellent” like a certain wizened old cartoon character.

The guard continued to tell how trashed Bozkurts house was and what had happened to his guards, saying those I had simply killed off were the lucky ones. Those that they found the sloughed-off skin and guts from he thought were the very skeletons he and his patrol had to fight in the house. He also cried a little at the loss of someone named Dante, I guessed that was Aborash’s name before coming to my service.

Apparently he had been a very decent man, though a bit brutish at times due to his size and bulk. They found his face in the sloughed-off skin and he suspected that this dread Necroshade must have taken his skeleton with him to the catacombs for some darker purpose.

It took almost an hour before the man left, dragged away by his comrades as he had passed out due to drink. I had learned the barmaid’s name was Leila Aanor and she and her father Aldis was the owner of the inn. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk as Leila was still on duty but I did slip her a gold coin. She had looked at me like I was about to suggest she was a prostitute but I told her it was to repay her back for helping me out so much already, well that and to help pay for my room properly.

She seemed to take that well and gave me a good-natured nudge on my shoulder with her fist, saying. “It seems that the rumour of all Dökk Alfar being incorrigible bastards and whoremongers are wrong after all.” As she passed me.

“I’m just a weird one so take that with a grain of salt.” I had quipped back and had almost given her wide rear a little playful slap. Though I figured I didn’t want to ruin what goodwill I had built with her. She left me with a melodic little giggle trailing in her wake and I smiled after her.

Seems there are good people in this world much like there are on earth. Too bad the assholes are mostly in charge, much like earth again now that I think about it.

With that oh so cheery thought I sat down at a table and ordered myself a good meal and a stiff drink. I might become an alcoholic if this kept up. Eh, I’d just have to learn to be a functioning one then and problem solved! It didn’t take long for the lunchtime rush to start up and most of the tables got filled up. To my luck what looked to be a sort of adventurer gang sat down at my table.

One reminded me a little of those young guys trying to look like a wizard in those fantasy shows I’d seen. I guessed he was some sort of magic-user. Another was a Ljós Alfar and he seemed to be the swordsman in the group, with a thick gauntlet over his off-hand which I suspected worked like a buckler or something similar. The third to my surprise was a freaking cat person, or Felineid as they wished to be called. She was a sort of hybrid between archer and rouge for the group, though she seemed to be using short versions of Kopeshes and her clothing and armour held a general Egyptian theme.

The last was another Anubis looking man, apparently they called themselves Anubians, go figure. He was a sort of battle priest. Also rather Egyptian looking motif to his armour and clothing but what I found the strangest was his weapon. It was a sort of glaive that had the blade turn into a hook, he called it a Krook which I had to stifle a snort of amusement over.

In order, they were named Garrik, Ivran, Siti and Assem. They were apparently a group belonging to a guild called SunFord. Apparently this guild operates only in Bedelev, Veta and Desma. The latter of which I learned was one of two great city-states that dominate the two largest oases in the great desert. I had remembered they were on the map but I had been too focused on where I was going to actually read into it too much.

After about an hour or so of nice chatter with the group I broached a subject I had wanted answers to. “So tell me, how do you manage to get skill points for all your skills to advance? I mean some skills I guess have to be bought with points while others can be learned but what about advancing them?” The table went quiet and I felt like I might have messed up a little.

Assem was the first to respond. “That is rather easy, your upbringing must’ve not gone much into the system I’m guessing?” I nodded to him and smiled sheepishly. “Well mostly to get anything out of the system you have to challenge yourself or survive a hard battle. Some classes like craftsmen and the like simply specialize in a few skills and wait for the threshold bonuses.” He explained and I found his calm and soft-spoken manner would be perfect for a teacher.

“The threshold bonuses are when you manage to get a class up to level 15, 30, 50, 75 and 100. Usually you get maybe two times all the skills you’ve managed to get to the advancement stage from that class. So if you’ve managed to get four skills to level 9 you’d get eight points.” Siti cut in, her exited manner making her seem like those cute bubbly girls, but of course she was a frigging cat person so that actually somehow made her even more adorable.

“And if I’ve managed to get one of those skills to advanced and not to level 9?” I asked curiously as I realized Death squire was closing in on that threshold.

“You’ll only get one skill point for that but if you manage to get that to level 9 too. Well, then you can get between 3 to 5 points depending on how hard it is to advance said skill.” Assem continued, giving Siti an amused look, or annoyed I can’t really read the non-human looking races expressions all that well.

“So wouldn’t most try to get the highest rewards for each of these threshold bonuses?” I asked and the looks across the table made me realise that it was much, much easier said than done.

“Then there is the divergent skills.” Garrik began and he waited for a second to see if Siti or Assem wanted to cut in but then continued. “These skills sometimes mutate or gain traits when they reach a specific stage. For example like Ivran here, he has the skill improved stamina. It’s hard to get this skill usually since it is a divergent skill. Once you reach proficient and then master grades you get a choice of either stat points or a random mutation to the skill.” He said and as he noticed Ivran raising his head he stopped.

“Sometimes the mutations manifest as new skills but I know that there is a chance to get the mutation Endless stamina. Though it will reset the skill back to basic it’s effects are like double the improved versions. Rumour is that if you get endless stamina up to master you barely have to sleep. It’s highly sought after by pathfinders, messengers and warriors with obvious reasons.” Ivran was sort of the oldest brother of the group it seemed, he was the oldest of the group, I think, and had that sort of air about him.

“I don’t suppose you guys are leaving Bedelev any time soon?” I asked them as we had gotten off well and I’d love to get to adventure with them as a group. I might actually learn quite a few things I didn’t know.

Assem chuckled a little, though from him it was almost like a chocked or coughing growl like sound. “We are heading towards Settler’s Point in the west and will most likely be there for the next two weeks. Guild job.” He said that last part with an apologetic bow and I simply waved him a gentle gesture in return.

“I don’t mean to get in your way. I just feel like we get along well enough and I’d love to learn things from you guys. I think I’ll be in Bedelev for maybe three weeks and I’ll be staying here during that time. So if you guys don’t have any prior arrangements and want to teach me a thing or two I’m more than happy to tag along.” I said with a wide friendly smile.

The group seemed to take that well as Siti almost jumped out of her seat at me. “So what’s your class?” She asked rather excitedly. “Are you a warrior type? I’m only asking since I noticed the short sword on your hip. OH! Are you a rouge type like me?” She seemed to be about to bombard me with more questions before Assem took hold of her muzzle while laughing good-naturedly.

“I’m a sort of squire and Shadowmaner.” I answered with a smile. I could have sworn Siti was about to jump out of her seat again but this time to grab me by the collar or something.

“So your a mage sword type then?” Garrik asked me and I nodded. “Oh… That is rare. Especially for those having squire type classes too. Tell me what is the name before the squire in your class?” He asked and though he had a smile I noticed the intelligent glint in his eyes.

I looked down as if in shame before leaning forwards which prompted the rest to lean in. “Please don’t share this with anyone since I didn’t get a choice in the matter for this class.” I asked them and they gave me sympathetic nods. Seemed I could get away with saying it if I used that excuse. “I was cursed to be hard to kill and because of that the original squire class I had turned to death squire.” I said and I made my voice give off as much shame and sense of loss as I could.

Garrik smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. “As long as you use your powers for good.” He said and I could have sworn his smile turned a little cheeky.

“So you were cursed to be hard to kill?” Siti asked with wide eyes when we all sat down again. I nodded, looking both sheepish and slightly uncomfortable about it. “How so?” She asked and she grew a mischievous smirk to her cat-like features.

“Well as long as my heart still beats and my brain works, I’m able to heal from most wounds. I don’t think I can get back limbs or anything of the like though. And no I don’t want to test that out. Despite being hard to kill I still feel pain and I’m not a fan.” I said as I crossed my arms while looking at her pointedly.

“Don’t suppose you can share that curse around, can you?” Ivran said with a grin and we all had a good laugh at that. I could understand his view but I’d have to raise him if he wanted anything of the sort. I kept that scheming part of my mind in the back because I don’t think they’d have received it well if I went all ‘excellent’ on them in that moment.

We continued to talk for another hour, them telling me stories of their adventures and to be honest though I could beat them with my one four-year-long story. They had me utterly beat in the quantity of stories. Some were bad, others hilarious and others seemed to have developed into an inside joke with the party.

By the time we had nursed around four flagons of mead we called it a day and I walked with them out of Bedelev, having shot up to my room to get my spatial satchel before leaving the inn.

Once at the gate’s I told them I wanted to see if I couldn’t hunt something in the forest about three or four kilometre from Bedelev and they wished me good luck. As did I wish them good fortune on their journey.

I was in a rather good mood while I walked to where I felt my minions were hiding out. Svadilfari seemed to radiate annoyance and impatience at my approach. While Garmur and his pack seemed bored out of their figurative skulls. I had given them permission to discreetly hunt to gain levels and hopefully rank up but it seemed that the adventurer population of Bedelev had made that hard for them all.

Once I reached their hiding spot, something akin to a badger warren, though I’m sure it was a dire badger or something given the size of it. Garmur and his pack came rushing out and wouldn’t stop swarming me until I had spent five minutes on each of them, giving them scratches and rubs. Incorrigible lapdogs they’ve become huh?

Svadilfari, Dust and Ashes did the same once I entered the Warren though I didn’t have to spend nearly as much time with them as Garm and his pack.

I looked at the other skeletons I had and almost grimaced. I had two horses, two trollings and four skeletons. Two warriors, an archer and a rogue. The warriors were both wearing different outfits. One wore a defaced religious plate mail and wielded a spear and shield, though he did have a short sword on his hip too. The plate mail seemed to have done something similar to Abhorash’s armour though not the same extent. The armour seemed to have adjusted itself so that it was protecting the skeleton as well as possible. It looked like a rather skinny man wearing a fitted plate.

The second one was dressed in leathers and had a scimitar and rapier, a combo I found weird as heck but I guessed he was good with them. The rogue was sort of the standard leathers with hood and face-covering so I guessed I could use him in Bedelev if he was sneaky enough.

The archer to my surprise seemed feminine with a slimmer skeleton than the others and seemed to have a certain grace to it. Though of course, they were all dumb as bricks with maybe a single brain cell to share between the four of them.

I found it rather irritating now instead of fascinating how my minor skeletons had more personality and brains than the supposed upgrade to the skill. With a slight groan, I began to stuff them all into my satchel, not heeding what was already in it. When only Garmur and Svadilfari were left the Satchel was full and I managed to get them into my spatial ring. With that, I smiled and left the warren whistling in the hall of the mountain king in a chipper mood.

Before I fully entered Bedelev I commanded the spectres to leave my other two rings and to begin scouting the city for juicy targets as well as find the catacombs. I specified I not only wanted them to try and map out the catacombs but to first and foremost find a way into them for me.

Once they had found a way in for me they’d go explore it and make a mental map in their head for me or Abhorash to then note down in my room later. I told them of the Necroshade and to beware any undead entity they came across, no matter the type of strength. Instead, they were to report their location back and to try a different route afterwards.

The wolfman spectres I managed to convince to run around the city, or fly around in their case, and scout interesting things out for me. I wanted to know of criminal hideouts, safe houses and stashes around the city. I wanted to get the most out of this darn city after all.

I also gave all four the command to try and figure out how they could advance in levels, skills and even ranks for me.

With that done, all mentally of course, I walked into the gates and strolled around the market place. Getting my hands on a map of the city, a pair of empty books, some extra pages of paper, some extra rings, iron this time, as well as some street meat to test out.

The meat turned out to be rather reminiscent of a kebab’s flavour. Not to spicy and just enough juices to make it savoury. I ended up buying some bread and just making myself a sort of a Pita kebab hybrid thing. Which I ate with glee as I walked around and just people watched.

Turns out those so-called demons I had been tasked with defeating. Yeah, those were just this worlds version of Tieflings or the like. I saw a small crowd of them moving in unison. I supposed they must be treated like gipsies or something in this part of the world.

I sat down on the edge of a fountain in the middle of a square. The square was rather large, easily the size of one of those large roundabouts. I continued to eat my food and also managed to snag myself some fruit juice I couldn’t pronounce the name of for the life of me. I just sat there and people watched for a while. I really wanted to have Garm out so I could have him sit next to me and I could just idly scratch and pet his head.

Then I got a report from one of the spectres and I grinned so widely people must have thought I’d gone mad. I happily finished my meal and then got a large enough hooded coat to fit Abhorash and headed back to the inn. I had a spring in my step.

Once inside my room, I almost threw the coat at Abhorash and sat down on the small desk my room had. Once I had placed the map of Bedelev on it and taken out a few extra papers to scribble and take notes on I turned to look at him with a wide grin.

“What is it Lord Carstein?” Abhorash sounded a little wary of me, well I couldn’t blame him I must look insane with how wide my grin is.

“Tell me Abhorash, Do you happen to know anything about..” I paused for dramatic effect. “The black market here in Bedelev?”