- 37 -

Gessica, Gionnathyn, and Sarah were gathered together, bodies sagging with fatigue. Gessica knelt beside Ethan’s lifeless body.

The sunny meadow that was once filled with the joy of victory now seemed overcast with the shadow of grief.

Gessica's hands were stained with blood, evidence of her futile attempts to save Ethan. She looked down at the remaining bandages in her trembling hands, her heart breaking with every beat.

“I-I tried... I tried to stop the bleeding, but... I couldn't…” Gessica whispered, tears in her eyes.

Gionnathyn’s usual cheerful demeanor was gone, replaced by a somber expression. Tears welled in his eyes as he silently put a hand on his sister's shoulder.

“You did your best, Gessi. We all did. It's not your fault.” Sarah said, crouched down beside Gessica.

Gionnathyn wiped sweat from his forehead and stared silently towards the fence where Drew stood silent vigil.

“It was a tough fight. We all fought as hard as we could, we all could have died.” Sarah continued.

“But it wasn't enough... I couldn't save him.” Gessica sobbed.

“Those horned rabbits were way above our level, Ethan knew the risks the same as us.” Gionnathyn said gruffly, his voice cracking as he looked at the blood on his wooden sword.

“Gionnathyn is right. We were fighting together, as a team. We need to get stronger so we can protect our friends.” Sarah sat down with a thump.

“You don’t get it! He didn’t want to be a fighter. Ethan wasn’t like us. I needed to protect him, I shouldn’t have invited him along with us. I thought he would fight, I thought he would want to share the exp. He shouldn’t have been out here.” Gessica threw her sling on the ground. “I feel so useless. I couldn't heal him, and I couldn't protect him.”

Gessica is right, we need to protect each other.

Drew watched as the weight of their friend's death hung heavy in the air, the three of them leaned on each other for support.

I couldn't save even one child, if I was out here alone maybe I could have flown away. Who are these children to me? Are they my friends? None of them blame me for his death. Who am I to them? What am I to them?

In the distance, a town guard hurriedly approached them. He was tall and broad for a human, as if someone had scaled up an already big man by 20%. He was sporting a thick beard on his jaw visible where it puffed out from his helmet.

Although he is not human, he’s Ressian.

What seemed most out of place were his kind eyes. On such a large man in heavy armor, the kind eyes seemed too personal. He held a grim expression on his face.

“Gessica, Gionnathyn, Sarah... I'm so sorry for your loss. Are any of you low on health? I have a health potion. We just received the notification... I'm here to take Ethan's body back to town. We'll make sure he's returned home.”

The guard bent down and scooped up Ethan’s body. When none of the children responded the guard spoke again.

“Would you three like some advice?” The guard asked as he started the trek back to the city.

Gessica, Gionnathyn, and Sarah walked silently along with the town guard. He didn’t look at the three rookie adventurers while he spoke.

“Children, I wont tell you to put adventuring behind you. I can tell that you are not the type to become crafters or farmers." He paused here to let that sink in.

"I know you've just experienced a great loss, but I want to talk to you about something important. It's about your safety and the path you choose to take from here as adventurers.” He paused, weighing their silence, and then proceeded with his explanation.

"You see, being adventurers or being guards requires more than just skill with a weapon. It takes resilience to honor those who have fallen, friends like Ethan.”

“What kind of advice did you have for us sir?” Gionnathyn asked.

“If you want to proceed, you need to build up your attributes. There is a regimen the guards use to build up your Health reserves, your stamina, and your physical stats. Make yourselves harder to kill, more capable of facing the dangers that lie ahead.”

“Tell us, please sir.” Sara responded after a moment.

“The town guard have a daily training regimen. We carry heavy loads to build up the strength in our bodies, not just our arms. Swinging a weapon or raising a shield builds strength, dexterity and agility, but pushing your limits with weight on your back strengthens your very core, which in turn fortifies everything else. Start with smaller weights and gradually increase as you become more comfortable. Train your bodies to bear the burden."

“We can do that.” Gessica said tightening her hands into fists.

“Next, run laps around the city. Push yourselves to improve your stamina. The more you run, the longer you'll be able to keep going in a fight or during a dangerous journey.”

“We'll run until we throw up.” Sarah said.

The guard gave her a look and continued his lecture.

“Lastly, practice holding your breath underwater. It strengthens your lung capacity and helps prepare you to stay calm in intense situations.” He said.

The guard stopped to turn and look at them.

“Remember, these training techniques won't make you invincible, but they will make you stronger, physically and mentally. Ethan would want you to survive to become the best versions of yourselves.”

“We won't let him down.” Gessica said.

The guard reached down to place a heavy armored hand on her shoulder.

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“I know you won't. Keep his memory with you, and let it fuel your training. Lisaria is full of different paths you can choose, the path of an adventurer is challenging, you must believe you have what it takes to face it head-on.”

“Thank you…” she said.

Gessica's tears flowed freely as she plodded along, her voice barely a whisper.

“Thank you for bringing him back.”

I really chose a hard life this time. Even now while these people are grieving they are talking about their stats and levels. And here I am sneaking along stealing the info for myself.

“Drew!”

A whisper came form a nearby tree and Drew saw an Agusta shaped shimmer in the air. He circled around to land on a tree branch.

Agusta solidified as a translucent figure beside him.

"Sorry for your loss Drew, I saw them carrying away that boy, did you know him?”

Thank you. I'm trying my best. I've been helping them out for a while, he was a nice kid.

“Someday you will be able to level up your healing spells and be able to save the next person." She replied.

She checked his combat logs on her tablet.

“Getting the Remote Healing spell would be good idea if you want to go that route.”

After looking down again at his combat logs she looked back up to Drew.

"And I suggest leveling up your mana regeneration. It will indirectly raise your max mana reserves. Then you can channel your healing spells longer."

What? That’s so obvious! Why didn’t I think of that? Is the same true for Stamina and Health?

Drew’s mind shut down from the implications.

“Yes Drew, I told you that using a skill more levels it up. The same is true for stats and attributes.” Agusta said offhandedly.

Shit! I should have been draining my mana constantly!

"What I came down to tell you was that the race upgrade is progressing. You'll need to spend 10,000 exp on the next stage of the race upgrade."

Wow that’s expensive. That’s a lot of hunger quests. That’s a lot of risk for no reward. I could raise my mana instead. Seems like a waste to do it so soon.

"It might be premature, unfortunately the Elara is not budging on this. But trust me, it's worth it.” Agusta said checking an alert on her tablet.

“Once you complete the race upgrade, your base stats will get a significant boost. It'll make the investment worth it in the end."

Drew nodded, barely taking in the information.

"Last thing," Agusta continued. "there's a special quest for you to complete as a favor for the Mage faction. We need them to sign off on the next part of your paperwork."

Drew cocked his head. What kind of quest?

"It's a simple one," she said. "They need you to complete a certain quest that’s posted at the guild hall. You got to retrieve a rare herb, some kind of flowering moss, from a nearby forest. They'll sign off on your paperwork once you turn it in at the guild."

Drew nodded again, barely taking in all the information.

Thanks for the advice, as always.

She popped away without another word.

- 38 -

Instead of following the children back to the guild, Drew flew around the city to sort out his thoughts.

How is everyone treating this like it’s normal? A boy died because he wasn’t a fighter, and his friends could barely save themselves. If there had been one more rabbit we all could have died. And I couldn’t do anything.

He wandered near the river and found a small jetty. It was old but well maintained. A well worn three legged stool near the end of the wooden decking, overlooking the river.

This world is so violent. How can people just accept that a child can die collecting berries? Why couldn’t the guard have stepped in to help? Or a stronger guild member? Could I really get strong enough to protect the next child?

The sound of the rushing water filled the air. The breeze ruffled Drew's feathers as he perched on a weathered wooden post at the end of the jetty.

There’s no guarantee it won’t be me dying next time. I won’t run away. But I won’t butcher my way to the top either. Even Agusta has written these children off, spending 100000 exp on her paperwork instead of leveling my healing spells and raising my mana reserves. That’s so backwards. If I’m not stronger I wont get the chance to save others.

Drew watched fish dance in the sunlight, but his thoughts were heavy with grief.

They clearly punctured something vital, his heart or lungs. My healing spells couldn’t even get ahead of the injuries. You always see some kind of analyze or x-ray ability to help healers see how they are doing. I was doing it blind!

As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, a weathered-looking fisherman approached the jetty with a fishing rod in the crook of his arm and a tackle box in his hand. The man had a grizzled beard and a kind smile. He noticed the sorrowful bird and sensed that something troubled him.

His footsteps made soft thuds on the wood as he walked out over the water.

“Hey there, little fella. Looks like you've got a lot on your mind.” The fisherman set down his tackle box beside the stool. “Mind if I sit here?”

Drew blinked, acknowledging the man's presence with a nod.

Thanks sir, it would be nice to talk about it. But I went and chose to be a crow that can’t speak or use a sword.

Drew clacked and chattered away nonsensically and the fisherman nodded back.

“Sometimes, it helps to be by the water when things are tough. Clears the mind, you know?” The fisherman said.

The man set up his fishing rod with practiced ease, his hands moving perfectly after countless times performing the same actions.

He cast the line into the river, and his eyes sparkled with the anticipation of his next catch. He looked back at Drew, noticing the curiosity in the bird’s gaze.

“You want to learn how to fish, little friend? It might take your mind off things for a while.”

Drew cocked his head to the side.

Fishing isn’t really going to help me is it? But it couldn’t hurt to gain a new skill.

The fisherman motioned for Drew to come closer, and the bird hopped down to join him.

The man reached into his tackle box, his arm disappearing up to his elbow, and retrieved a plain fishing rod.

“This is a basic fishing rod, it’s perfect for beginners like you. It has a fixed line, so if it snaps then I can tie a new length on for you.”

With a patient hand, the fisherman showed Drew how to hold the fishing rod and showed him how to cast the line out into the river. It was difficult for the bird but he managed after a few tries.

Its a little like riding a skateboard, or balancing teeter totter. If I balance it with one claw I can hop on and use my weight to lean back and pull the fish.

“We are using some of my secret bait, I make it myself out of day old bread and cheese. All you need to do is channel some of your mana down the rod, line, and into the hook and bait on the end.” The man pointed to each part as he spoke.

They sat in silence for a while. Drew had time to think about his life so far in this new world.

I’m leveling fast by Skurr standards, and once I get that quest done for Elara I’ll be on my way to getting my race upgrade. But I’m miles behind the kids. I can’t use any of the beginner weapons, and most spells are beyond me. I haven’t even seen anyone use magic yet. Maybe I won’t be a fighter? Swords and shields are too big for a bird like me.

Drew stared at the rod in his claws.

It seems like a normal stick of wood, without any enchantments. Nothing magical about it.

He checked his stats and he had 9 points of mana and three levels of Mana Recovery but he had never tapped into it other than using his healing spells.

Is Mana Channeling the same as meditation? Maybe that’s how fishing works.

Drew discretely looked over at the fisherman.

He seems to be meditating, or he is asleep. If he’s a master fisherman, he’s got to have all kinds of fishing magic. For all I know the guy is spying on the fish with his mind.

Drew settled down and tried to think about how it felt to use his healing spell.

I know what it feels like when I run out of mana, I don’t think that’s what I’m going for here.

The fisherman spoke softly without stirring from his comfortable resting posture.

“Fishing is about more than just dropping a line in the water. It's about understanding the flow of the river and the movements of the fish. Just try to feel the water rush over the hook and the line, feel the constant pull on the rod as the current makes the bait dance around. Extend your mind out to the bait, your every emotion pouring out to make it glow, or fill it up. It takes time and patience to become skilled at it.”

Drew let his mind rest, and imagined he could feel his mana moving along the rod and line, feeling it move in the same way it felt when his mana refilled after draining it completely. Several times he got close but never quite got it. The ability just wasn’t clicking on.

The line and hook are hungry for my mana.

MP: 89%

New Quest: Puzzling: [Mana Channeling] (2%)

The fisherman nodded his approval.