For such a secluded forest village, the tents, tables, and stores in Bundybrook's commercial square were quite busy with shoppers. Andy and Kermit continued along, browsing the equipment on the tables.

"This is perfect," Andy said, as he approached another vendor. He planted his feet by the table and picked up a large oaken shield with a thick steel rim. Despite it's hearty build, it was light and agile. "Sven will be able to make use of this. What do you think?" Andy looked toward Kermit.

"I like it," Kermit said.

"Want to take it with ye?" said the vendor, an older woman in leather and wool trappings.

"Buy or trade?" she asked.

"I was told to put it on Kresta's tab."

"I don't do tabs," the vendor said. Her eyes were stern and uncompromising.

"Oh," Andy said. He felt himself beginning to freeze.

No, I can't freeze. This isn't battle, not exactly. But I can't get in the habit of retreating, even in negotiations.

"Well I'd like the shield, and if you're prepared to take Kresta's payment, I'd be grateful."

"I'm not prepared for that at all," she said. "I'm on the road tomorrow. Wouldn't be able to collect payment for many months, at which point Kresta wouldn't even remember it. If you have no gold I'm open to trade."

Andy looked around at the other tables. Most did not have heavy weaponry and armaments. He realized that the shield might really be something special. Trading seemed like a fine compromise.

But Andy didn't have anything on him that he felt was wise to give up.

I suppose technically I could go to another table and buy something on Kresta's tab and trade it with this vendor… but… no.

Andy sighed, he realized he was getting tired.

"I have this," Kermit said. He held up a golden medallion necklace with a bear engraved on it.

"Where did you get that?" Andy asked.

"I got it back before the arena, remember?"

Wow, we've been so busy I can't even remember details from a couple days ago, Andy thought. "What does it do?"

"I don't know," said Kermit. "I don't think it does anything. I just liked the bear on it."

"May I examine it?" the vendor asked.

Kermit approached the table and handed her the medallion.

"Ah, it's very fine," she said, pulling out a small merchant's lens to inspect the details. "It's real gold… and platinum. It's quite valuable. But it's not magical."

Andy paused for a moment. It was just a medallion, and Kermit seemed eager to help. "Well, Kermit, if you don't feel attached to it, then you can trade it. That's very kind of you."

Kermit tossed the medallion on the table without a second thought.

"Here you go," said the vendor, handing the shield to Kermit. She turned to Andy. "Why don't you pick up something else? It's worth at least another item."

"Oh, thanks," Andy said, surprised at the vendor's honesty and generosity.

"Get something for you," Kermit said. "I already got something."

"Aw, thanks bud," Andy said.

What a pal, this kid.

Andy scanned the table. He had a greatsword, but it was so big… it was difficult to swing in tight places. Andy found that out the hard way in the first room of the arena. He needed something more agile for those situations.

"Do you have any short blades? Like a shortsword or a long dagger?"

"I have just the thing," said the vendor. She crouched down and lifted something out from under the table: a long, slender dagger in an elegant sheath.

It was perfect.

"Thank you," Andy said, accepting the dagger.

"I'm here quite often," said the vendor. "If you ever need another weapon."

They exchanged departing pleasantries with the vendor and continued on their way.

"I appreciate your generosity," Andy said as he and Kermit continued through the marketplace. He tucked the slender dagger into his belt, ensuring that it was secure. He would fasten it on more tightly later.

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"No problem!" Kermit said. "I got a new slingshot today. We all get something cool."

"We do," Andy said.

Andy felt himself slowing down. It had been an exhilarating but exhausting few days.

"I want to get some food and maybe have a nap," Andy said.

"You're tired?" Kermit said. "But it's so cool! We get free stuff!"

"Yeah I know," Andy said. "But when you get older you don't stay up at full energy for as long. Even if you're in shape. Whereas kids like you can bounce off the walls all day. That is, until you drop completely. Let's go back and find Sven, Arlene, and Morwen."

***

They returned to Sven, who was standing on the edges of the clearing with PL, keeping the giant boar out of the crowd.

Kermit presented the shield to Sven.

"Oh, nice," Sven said. "Thank you!"

"The more defense, the better," Andy said.

"One thing though," Sven said. "I don't have any levels in combat, or any feats related to armor or shields… is that ok?"

"I have no idea," Andy said. "But I figure that you currently hold your own, maybe that's natural ability without the system's help. May as well continue to hold your own with a shield."

Arlene approached, but Morwen was not with her.

"Find anything good?" she asked.

"Yeah," Sven said, raising his shield.

"I got a slingshot," said Kermit, holding it up.

Andy gestured to the dagger in his belt.

"Wow, nice job guys," she said.

"What did you get?" Andy asked.

Arlene reached into her quiver and produced an arrow with a ruby red tip.

"Tracker arrows," she said. "Hitting a target with one of these will cause them to have a red glowing aura for a minute."

"Wow, not bad," Andy said.

"They can't sneak up on us!" Kermit said.

"Where are you all headed?" Arlene said. "I was thinking of taking a nap back at the inn. Well, it's more like a campground. Just like, a platform for you to sleep on."

No beds and running water? Damn.

"I was thinking of a nap too," Andy said. "But maybe we should find Morwen first."

"She's already there," Arlene said. "We may as well join her."

The group walked the short distance across the clearing and came to the 'inn,' if it could be called that. It was a small row of elevated platforms with three walls and a slight overhang to prevent rain from entering. It was more of a camping shelter. Morwen was behind the row of shelters, practicing with her katana on a heavily gouged dummy.

"Is there an innkeeper?" Andy asked.

"I don't think so. I think we just sleep here," said Arlene.

"Fair enough," said Andy.

Andy gazed past the shelters toward Morwen. She trained intensely, her eyes focused on the dummy, leaping and dodging, practicing forms. It was as if the katana was an extension of her.

Andy approached her. "Why train?" Andy asked.

"What?" Morwen said, her concentration breaking. She caught her breath as she sheathed her katana, turning to face Andy. She seemed genuinely puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Should I be training?" Andy asked. "Will it affect my stats?"

Morwen sat down on a stump next to Andy.

"No," Morwen said. "No it wouldn't help you with the System."

"Why do you do it?" Andy asked.

"Because it makes me better," said Morwen. "It makes my skill better. I could lose all my levels of combat, and I'd still retain what I learned through training."

"So what you earn on your own you keep, regardless of what happens with you System-wise?"

"Exactly," said Morwen. "The System builds upon your natural ability. You can still improve your natural ability at the same time that you are involved with the System. The gains are small and incremental, but they are very real. Plus, once you max out your combat levels, you have no other way to improve."

Morwen's words were obvious in the profound sort of way that revelations usually are. The System rewarded quests with levels that could be invested in a class or skill, which could unlock feats. But that didn't mean there was no point in improving in every way possible. Morwen was a grinder.

"Are you maxed out in combat?" Andy said.

"No," Morwen said. "I still have many levels to go. But I do what my trainer, Bertha, taught me. I train every chance I get, and I don't expect any results. I just dedicate myself to the practice. If the training is the point, then there's no way to be disappointed."

Andy realized how transactionally he had been thinking. There was a lot more to improvement than numerical stats. There was something to be said for the dedication, for showing up every day, for developing resilience and single-mindedness, regardless of the result. The System couldn't deliver those kinds of traits. They could only be developed with discipline and consistency.

"That's wise," Andy said.

"Would you like to join me?" Morwen said.

"Sure," Andy said, drawing his sword.

"Oh," Morwen said. "You won't need that yet. At least if you want to follow the method I was taught."

Andy let his sword drop back into the sheath.

"What do I do?" Andy asked.

Morwen bent down and picked up a small twig. She handed it to Andy.

"Go over there to one of the shelters, sit down, and concentrate on this twig until dinner."

"Oh… really?" Andy said. "That sounds really…"

"Boring?"

"Yeah."

"Get used to it," said Morwen. "We're not monks, but you do have to learn how to concentrate on one thing for long periods of time. That's the foundation on which everything is built. Attention."

Stare at this twig until dinner? That's intense… I almost regret asking. But… Morwen is a fantastic fighter and she's offering to train me.

"Ok," Andy said. He took the twig in his hand.

"See you at dinner," said Morwen.

"See you at dinner."

***

Andy sat on the camping shelter's platform, letting his pack and sword fall to the floor, gently sliding off of him.

He placed the twig on a board and took a deep breath, concentrating on it as best he could.

It was a twig, and it was there in front of him.

He began to relax, allowing the twig to be the center of attention... until... he...

Andy dozed off.