As the light's subsided, I could make out the vague outline of a square object laying in the grass, although due to the distance I couldn't tell exactly what it was.
Carefully checking the surroundings, seeing no indication of other monsters I discreetly made my way towards the battlefield.
Curious about what dropped from the mage I first headed towards where it had fallen, there in the blood soaked grass I found a book.
The book's cover seemed to be made from a brown leathery substance, and unlike the pristine condition you would assume it to be in, it seemed to be tattered and overall pretty thin.
Picking it up with my good hand I was somewhat perplexed, "So can just anything drop from monsters, and even though I get pretty bored sometimes I don't think this is the best time to read".
A bit amused at the idea of reading while surrounded by monsters, I focused on the book to see its description.
—————
[Item: Skill Book]
Rank: E
Skill: Lesser Fire Ball
Recommended affinity: Fire
Description: This book allows one person to learn the skill [Lesser Fire Ball].The skill consumes Mana in order to create a lesser fire ball. Attack produces fire and explosion damage.
—————
Shocked by what the skill book represented, I knew I had to learn it, although the recommended affinity did bother me, with me not knowing what mine was or actually what it was, but if I had to make my guess it would be something like in avatar with the other's being water, earth, and wind I assumed. It had been a long time since I last saw the show.
The other part that bothered me was that the skill was named lesser fire ball, meaning there was likely a better version of it, but at the moment I did not care, as I became strangely excited wanting to try magic for the first time.
Trying to get the skill, I first thought about learning the skill, but showing no result's I tried tapping the book against my chest, rubbing it like it was some genie in a lamp and eventually tried to eat it, after all that failed I proceeded with the only other logical step and opened the book.
Strangely enough there was some resistance, but after trying for a while it suddenly opened up.
Instead of the usual page that would appear I was instead met with a flash of white forcing me to close my eye's. Opening them the book in my hands had disappeared.
Worried for a second that I had somehow lost the skill, I quickly remembered the system and checked my status.
—————
Name: Aeron
Level: 5. (F)
Class. None
Skills: [Lesser Fire Ball]
Health: 1076
Mana: 124
Strength: 13 , Agility 16 ,Vitality 10
Endurance: 10 ,Intelligence: 16 ,Sense: 9
USP: 0
—————
Relieved that I hadn't lost the skill, I focused on it and surprisingly got a description.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
—————
Skill: Lesser Fire ball
Rank: E
Tier: I
Type: Active
Effect: Create a small ball of fire. Can be propelled in the direction the user chooses. Cost's 15 mana.
—————
I was basically shaking from excitement wanting to test out the skill, however, knowing I was in hostile territory I found it prudent to first find a safe location, and casting a random fireball was bound to attract attention.
Knowing it wasn't safe I began quickly scavenging around the other goblin corpses taking a sword and a few daggers, carrying them in one of the beast-skins the goblins wore using it as a makeshift bag.
—————
[Item: Crude goblin dagger]
Rarity: F+
Type: Dagger
Description: A random goblins attempt at making a dagger, the blade is made from the teeth of a ferocious beast.
Attack +8
—————
—————
[Item: Bear bone sword]
Rarity: E
Type: Sword
Description: A Warrior goblins attempt at making a sword, the blade is made from the bone of a ferocious bear.
Attack +15
—————
Looking at the goblins attempts at weapons I was quite impressed with them, especially the sword which did about 4 times as much damage as the whip.
Seeing no other loot had dropped I went back to the fox corpse, as that would be my meal for tonight.
With the sun already lower than usual I had but a couple of hours before it became dark.
…..
A few hours of dangerous trekking and close calls, I finally managed to find a safe place.
To be honest it was quite a fortuitous encounter as at the base of the mountain I managed to find a waterfall.
As the water gushed down the cliff it formed into a small pond that connected to a stream.
Having seen movies where there exists a little cavern behind the torrent of water, I naturally had to check and managed to find a thin ledge that traveled halfway up the waterfall and eventually went behind it.
Following the passage, it led to a small desolate crevice.
Trying to pear inside I found the cave to be no larger than 3 meters deep and 1.5 meters wide, while just being large enough so I could stand in the grotto without bumping my head.
Due to it being quite dark I almost missed the sleeping fox that inhabited it, seeing it curled up in a corner, I realised this was the perfect opportunity to test out my skill.
Not only would the noise of the skill be cancelled out by torrent of water, no creature would be able to ambush me while I was fighting it.
Feeling ready I quietly walked into the cave and activated the skill.
Unexpectedly activating the skill came very naturally. Thinking of the skill I felt a sudden drain from my body before fire started gathering above my right hand, at first it was but a spark but gradually it grew turning into a ball slightly smaller than my fist.
Although it might sound like a long period of time, in reality this happened in about 3 seconds.
Afterwards I willed it to target the fox, and in a straight line it zipped for the sleeping beauty.
As the ball impacted the beast a loud yelp was heard, before it was blasted against the cave wall, after the blast the fox managed to stand up and looked at me with ferocious eyes, as its body was singed and a red liquid was seeping through its silver fur.
Surprised that the fox managed to survive I pulled out a dagger from the makeshift bag, not trusting my ability to wield a sword with only one good hand.
Not having enough time to cast another fire ball before the fox reached me, I stood prepared and when the fox jumped I swung the knife up, the blade cleanly piercing through its skin, puncturing deep within the fox.
Maybe because it was already close to death or I managed to puncture it's heart, the fox instantly died.
[You have slain Lvl 8 {Fanged fox}]
After the battle ended I had some mixed feelings, it wasn't because the battle was all that interesting but because of the skill, "The goblins was definitely more powerful".
Recalling the battle, the mage's spell dealt allot more damage than mine, not only would the fire encompass the subject whole for a couple of seconds, but the impact could explode a goblins skull, while when I cast the skill the only result was the fox getting pushed back and partly scorched, non of the lethal effect the goblin could produce.
Remembering how it stated that a fire affinity was recommended, I could only attributed the lack of fire power to that, with me not knowing what affinity I had, although from what I saw probably not fire.
Otherwise the only option would be that the goblin mage had some other skills that enhanced his skill.
Lamenting about the fact but being unable to change it, I decided to focus on something else, this issue had been bothering me for a long time and would finally be solved today, what was this issue FOOD!
A while later and I was seen eating a piece of juicy Fox thigh in the middle of the cave. An extreme positive that made my previous grievances with the skill disappear was that I could cook food otherwise….. I would have been forced to eat the fox raw.
As the sizzling meat that roasted over the fire entered my lips, I felt an explosion of flavour rock my taste buds to their core as I hastily began devouring them all.
In truth the meat actually tasted rancid and if it had being a week ago I would have likely spat it out due to it's bland and tough nature, but it being the first food I had in a long time it naturally tasted amazing right now.
While eating my stomach rumbled portraying how it wanted more, and I obliged it.
Eventually I had finished all the meat I had collected, with me being new to gutting and skinning, allot of food from the two foxes was wasted and I could only look pitifully at the useless meat before I threw it into the river bellow.
Feeling stuffed I had a satisfied expression on my face as I doused the fire and slept for the night.