Throughout the night I fought not with a physical enemy, but a mental one. Well, that’s just an over dramatic way of saying that I was struggling to keep my eyes open, and had to send sharp jolts of Lightning running through my body in order to stay away.
Admittedly that wasn’t as helpful as I would have hoped, what with my affinity being high enough that I was unlikely to actually take significant damage from such a small amount of lightning, especially since it was technically entirely made out of my own Mana. Still, it did the job of preventing me from suddenly collapsing, whilst also letting me practise some finer control of my magic.
Not that my efforts ended up being helpful, there wasn’t a single attempt made at the tomb at any point. It was moderately disappointing, but probably for the best. I wasn’t confident that I could fight at full capacity as I was, so if they did something unexpected I might not even be able to react.
A big yawn escaped my mouth, and I instinctively created an internal burst of Lightning, feeling as the fog in my mind cleared up for a moment only to return to what was quickly beginning to feel like my default state.
I should have probably slept before coming here, but I’m not sure that I would have even if I somehow knew that I’d need to stay up for at least an entire day.
Someone shouted a greeting from behind me and I turned to see Chief Elmwood emerge from the foliage, carrying a container that I assumed hid my breakfast.
“Chief Elmwood- *yawn* it’s good to see you.” I spoke groggily, internally wincing at the yawn in the middle of the sentence.
“And you as well, Rob. I didn’t plan to deliver this myself, but I have some news that may make the coming days simpler. A travelling merchant passed through and told us that a nearby village is selling some exotic kind of bean. Supposedly, it is highly effective at keeping oneself awake, so I’ve sent a Courier to go and buy some. Hopefully they’ll arrive later today and we can get some kind of Potion made.”
“Ah, that sounds really great right about now. It’s surprisingly hard to stay up for this long, you know? I thought my willpower would help, but it really hasn’t.”
Elmwood chuckled good naturedly and said, “I was only able to stay up this long easily when I reached 20 Willpower, though you’ll probably notice that sleep deprivation is a good way to increase if, if you’re willing to sacrifice your ability to do much other than sit and watch a cliff.” I almost missed the humour in her voice with my sleep deprived state, but after a moment of silence I chuckled at the joke.
I guess this is a good time to try it out, then. My Willpower’s already above 20, but I guess I’ve been awake longer than the Chief actually knows.
“Well, I’ll be off then. Let’s hope that the tomb remains peaceful for now.”
“Huh? How did you-” I tried to say, but the Chief interrupted me.
“Know that it was peaceful? You must truly be quite tired, if anything had attacked I would see it in the clearing, would I not?” Oh, that makes sense actually.
“Well, I’ll be off then. There is still much in the village that requires my attention. I shall return with the potion when it is made.”
By the time I tried to say goodbye she had already begun to speed walk back to the village.
Gods, I hope that potion arrives soon.
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Robert Zeneki Lightning Adept 18 Level 22 Willpower 24 Wisdom 12 Strength 5 Agility 8
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“She wasn’t wrong,” I spoke out loud, not even realising I’d done so until hours later. It was already well past noon, my lunch had been long since received and eaten, and the lack of sleep was really starting to get to me.
Despite the already apparent consequences, my Willpower had increased by 2 points in just about 24 hours of not sleeping. Even my Wisdom had gone up, though that was probably more from having nothing to do other than think more than anything else.
Though I was finding it harder and harder to remain on a single train of thought as time went on, and already felt myself often nodding off only to be woken by one of the Lightning jolts that had almost become instinctive at this point.
I really hope I don’t end up accidentally doing that forever. Although it might be kind of helpful…
Suddenly, I felt a hand gently tap on my shoulder, spinning around to face what I initially thought to be an attacker. Before I was even able to think about Charging a Bolt, I realised that I’d once again overreacted to someone coming to talk to me. This time, it was Elmwood for the second time that day, noticeably not carrying anything like a potion.
I felt a spike of irritation but tried to squash it down, she might have noticed regardless as I noticed a flash of concern spread across her face.
“Hello Rob, I’m afraid I don’t have any good news to bring. The Courier we sent out was supposed to be back hours ago, but we’ve seen no sign of them. He was the only person in the village with the relevant Path as well, so if I send another person they’re unlikely to return until tomorrow. I think it may be best if you sleep for the night and we bring another group to keep watch until you’re able to return,” What? Do you think I can’t handle being awake for a couple days? “It’s not a case of whether or not you can handle it, but whether or not you should even try. You’re clearly not capable of functioning well enough to help much if someone does try to invade the tomb, and so you shouldn’t bother wasting your time.” Her voice had a certain angry and condescending tone that kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
“I can handle it, I’m fine,” For some reason I found myself struggling to reign in my indignation at what, at the time, I saw to be an insult towards my Willpower, “Just go back to those matters that need your attention or whatever.”
“I apologise if this sounds rude, but you clearly can’t ‘handle it’, you’re clearly unable to retain your rationality in this state. You would do well to listen to my advice.” I struggled to prevent myself from getting angry, since when am I irrational? I just need to stay awake for a little longer, I’ll be fine.
Not trusting myself to remain courteous, I simply returned to watching the cliff and did my best to ignore Elmwood.
In the face of my silence she huffed and walked away, though not fast enough that I could hear her muttering, “Gods above this was a bad idea, that’ll teach me to rely on Skills so much.” Technically I didn’t hear all of the last part, but I could make a decent guess.
What does she know? I’ve got tons of Willpower. What was it again? Like 23 or something probably.
I checked my Status and saw that it was actually 24, as I had commented on earlier. Close enough.
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Back in Woodhaven, the energy of the village had changed drastically since just the day before. People were still not completely trusting of certain people, but with something to blame (even if that thing was a mysterious group of summoned thieves) people were finally willing to cooperate.
Which is fortunate, because when a bloody figure limped down the main road of the village they greatly appreciated people working together to keep them alive.
Chief Elmwood was told of the event and hurried over to figure out just what was happening, after all, it wasn’t every day that someone was even able to make it to a village with the injuries that had been described to her.
She found the person being tended to in a clinic, the closest one to where they were found, and had to push past a few people to get close enough to see their face. And when she did she froze in shock. Though it was difficult to tell through the bandages, her Skills as the Village Chief made it clear as day to her that this was one of her own people, the Courier sent to purchase the exotic beans earlier that very day.
“What the hell happened?” The man was barely conscious, but one of the Chief’s Skills latched onto him and gave him the strength to speak.
“I- it was a nightmare. The village was being attacked, th-the dead was walking! It was an army of s-skeletons. I barely got out with my life, but I don’t think the village-” His voice was cut off by the Skill’s effect ending and allowing him to fall to sleep.
The Chief’s mind was racing, in all her years as Chief something like this had never happened, although there was something her father had once said, which he claimed his father had once told him.
There was a legend about the tomb, and why it was first created. Unfortunately she didn’t know the full thing, or much of the exact wording, but the general idea was that someone centuries ago built it so that his family’s corpses couldn’t be corrupted and turned against him.
At the time it sounded like utter nonsense, just some ancient patriarch with a little too much paranoia, but now it was the only thing her mind could turn to.
But how? I would have heard if something like this had happened before elsewhere in the kingdom, so why would it only happen now? I’m missing something, but what?
“Clearly ‘e’s gone mad! Was probably mauled by a cat and is too embarrassed to admit it or somethin’.” One of the labourers shouted to be heard over the chorus of mutterings that had risen in the crowded room.
“Ye’re just a labourer, why would you know who’s gone mad or not?” The Chief couldn’t see who shouted that, but it sparked a heated argument throughout the room over whether or not the Courier was even sane.
“ENOUGH!” A wave of silence sweeped over the room, and all of the attention was placed squarely on Elmood’s shoulders, “The man is resting, if you wish to make fools of yourselves then take your argument elsewhere. Even if what he says is false, that doesn’t change the fact that someone or something attacked him and drove him to this state. We shall wait until he awakes and ask for more details then. Now, everyone out, allow him to rest.”
Slowly everyone filtered out, though not without a few more barbs about some inane thing that was brought up in the argument, but Elmwood stayed. Not because of any real reason, but because she was lost in thought.
Gods, I hope he’s just insane. I’d much prefer a mad courier over an army of undead on our doorstep.