image [https://imgur.com/5sjDoqQ.png]

Nina smiled as the walls of the West Capital City loomed up before them. They had taken a kind of zig zagging path on their way here, and according to Luka there was less than a week left till the Competition took place. She had visited multiple small towns and she had left each one feeling satisfied. It was shockingly easy to get people to “root” for her. Villagers this far from the border didn’t have anything too interesting occurring in their lives, so her being a Chosen Hero made it easy to find a point of entry into any conversation. From there she could use the G.O.D. system, along with Etemenanki and her own insight to guide them.

She had already seen an increase in how fast experience had come in. Even though Luka and herself had taken down only a few relatively weak monsters in the wilderness she was now level eight. She had continued to split the Charisma and Luck points evenly. Etemenanki had explained that since her “natural” charisma was very high, the Charisma stat multiplier was even more effective. The Luck stat was more mysterious, but she had seen it in effect as well. Multiple villagers had given her small precious items with minor enchantments that she was sure had been in their family for generations. She had quite a little stash at this point.

Ring of Stunning

Once per day can stun for one second.

ResistibleG only by skills.

Everflow Canister

Provides endless clean water.

Horn of Projection

Allows for the speaker to be heard by all people within a 300 cubit range.

The Speaker's voice takes precedence over other sounds.

Evercut Whittling Blade

This small blade can cut through any non magical object that is not alive

Very Small Bottomless Pouch

Can store one non magical item. Item must be placed against opening.

Item cannot be alive.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Into Pouch” for storage.

“Out of Pouch” for retrieval.

And of course the small ring she had gathered in the first dungeon.

[Golden ring of Rage]

A ring owned by a desperate knight who failed to save his love.

Increase Physical by five per minute of wearing the ring, up to a cap of one hundred.

Increase Rage Debuff by fifty per minute of wearing the ring.

This ring bonds to the finger it is worn on.

Ring alters to perfectly fit any finger.

Removing the ring removes Rage Debuff and all Stat gains, and gives the Exhausted Debuff for twenty four hours.

She was interested by the difference in descriptions and naming conventions for both skills and items. According to Etemenanki it had everything to do with the context in which they were created, and for what purpose. Many of the villager items were used by villagers in mundane circumstances. As such they were quite practical. The ring came from some kind of unfortunate event, and had further absorbed energy in the Dungeon. It reflected its history and the history of its users.

She was quite pleased with her new skill as well, [False Forced Follower]. It was quite subtle, at least in the early stages. She had instructed anyone she felt was fully under its effects to tell others about her, to root for her, and to pray for her success. Using the G.O.D. system she could check her own hidden stats, and see exactly how well that was working. Currently it told her that one hundred and seventy people were actively thinking about her, and attempting to help her. She was sure there wasn’t much they could do for her at the moment, but she was pleased with this as a seed.

Up ahead guards were checking newcomers at the gates, and when Nina and Luka stepped up they took note that she was a Chosen Hero, that he was a Greeter, and then sent them to a pavilion off to the side. Frustrating. It seemed the city was still closed to her, for the moment. Still, she was interested in meeting the other Chosen. They were her enemies, but they could be useful.

Luka stood, staring up at the walls. “All these years and I had never seen the Capital, or this Competition. What do I even know, really…” He had that dazed look on his face again. It had been necessary to break him, a bit, but he had been quite mopey for a while now, and honestly it was making him less useful. Nina threw her arms around his waist, and gave him a big hug. “Well we are going to explore things together Luka! And remember the library two towns back? The library there gave us a lot of information about how Greeters first came to be, how originally Chosen just showed up with nobody to lead them! You mentioned wanting to talk to the Lord, in case she was unaware?” She was smiling as she talked, and she saw him relax.

“Yes… She would know more than anyone. But…” He looked troubled. “The more I think on it, the more I see the logic. Yes I was used, but I was used for a very deliberate purpose. And who am I to argue against that? Wasn’t it all for a greater good?” Nina looked at him, frowning slightly. “Luka. You are a free man. It is nobody’s right to take away that freedom, not for any cause. If you are given a choice that is one thing, but this was thrust upon you. There is no “greater good” that justifies using people like that.”

Luka lets out a great sigh. “You are correct. But… then should I even speak with the Lord of this city? This was not done by accident. It is very possible that I would be immediately forced back into that role. I want to do good, but I don’t know if that’s how I want to do it.” Nina smiled sweetly. Good. She didn’t really need or want him to talk with this Western Lord. She wasn’t sure how far she could push and pull things with someone that strong, at least not yet. “Luka, every day you are with me, I think you are doing good. You are my hero.” He met her eyes, and a small smile flickered on his lips. “Thank you, Samantha.”

Nina smiled, and reached out and held his hand. She would have to kill him soon, once she had a replacement ready.