I approached it eagerly, imagining the treasures it might contain. Rare gems? Magic weapons? A map to even more riches? But when I threw open the lid, all I found was… a small, dusty pouch. My excitement vanished in an instant. "Seriously? That's it?" I muttered, picking up the unimpressive bag. With a frustrated sigh, I tossed it onto the pile of coins.
What a letdown. But then, oh, something incredible happened. The pouch started to glow just a little bit, and before I could snap back into reality, it ate the whole mass of coins as if a black hole was greedy for devouring light. The once cluttered floor inside the cave was now bare, with the pouch lying silently and unassumingly nearby. "A magic pouch...?" I whispered in disbelief. Slowly, I picked it up.
It felt impossibly light despite holding what must have been hundreds of coins. This was no ordinary bag; it was a treasure in itself! This ended my worries about sneaking coins through Murkwell. No one in their right mind would expect that a simple pouch contained a small fortune. This day was a blessing in disguise.
Day 13
I took my leave, quitting jobs and moving my dreams to the reality of traveling around the world. My next destination is Ashwind City. Mr. Kelby even suggested that I could sign up at something called an Adventurer's Guild when I arrive in the city so that I could earn something extra.
I tucked away that advice and thanked him for it as I set off with my bow hanging from my hip, my quiver slung over my shoulder, and my magic pouch containing everything else I might need. The journey to Ashwind City can last up to four to five days on foot, but with my enhanced stamina, I guessed I could make it in just two. Not to mention, I also gained the ability to see in the dark after killing the goblins. By nighttime, I had already completed half the distance.
The grassy plains stretched on forever around me under the quiet dusk of the setting sun. It was the perfect place to rest. I unfolded my camping gear, pitched a mini-tent, and started gathering wood to set up a campfire. Warm, dancing shadows upon the grass from flickering flames resulted as I dug my hands into the magic pouch for some of the fresh meat I had hunted in earlier moments.
Creating it up above the fire by breaking the pieces, the sweet aroma of roasting venison filled the space. "The air is so fresh out here," I murmured, relaxing back and taking a deep breath. As I released my lungs, my eyes strayed up to the stars: brilliant and alive, more than I could ever recall seeing on Earth, twinkling like scattered diamonds on black velvet.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The beauty of this natural world, untouched by the hands of man, filled me with a sense of awe and inspiration. Welcoming in the cool breeze was the sweet smell of wildflowers and grass, which brought a stark contrast to my old life on Earth-the smog and noise. There, they said, the air was thickened with pollution, gray, and nearly always closed skies. It felt like a few steps back into a paradise untouched by time, a world ruled purely by nature.
Day 14
As dawn broke, I woke from a dream with refreshingly bright morning sunlight. Softly golden light bathed the plains around me, and the air was laced with a faint, dew-laden aroma of grass. I started taking down my camp and stowed everything carefully into my magic pouch; I was going to keep up this routine—the simplicity of traveling light was comforting.
Basically, Ashwind was halfway there. So why not give my gift a whirl? I took position and shot forward, pouring every ounce of my being into it. My speed was unprecedented, beyond anything I'd ever imagined - so fast that the wind roared past me as the world became a blur. I've gotten stronger. I now understood how my powers worked. It was a revelation!
My ability is that I can absorb the skills of those I kill. Strength, speed, endurance, you name it. I could siphon it all, with each kill adding to my stockpile of power. Before half an hour was over, I could see the vast gates of Ashwind City ahead. I skidded to a halt, hardly breaking a sweat. But my enthusiasm plummeted as I entered the city. It was the same thing as Murkwell.
The narrow alleys made vast crowds of people inhale their rotten waste and polluted skin. The same raggedy conditions welcomed me again, and I sighed again in disappointment. "So much for big city charm," I said bitterly under my breath. Truth be told, if I had my way, I'd sleep out under the stars rather than wallow in the stench of cities. But I was not going to just complain; I had business to get to.
Remembering Mr. Kelby's advice, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild. One of the busiest places there could be amidst warriors, mages, and all types of rogues. I walked to the front desk, where I filled out all the formalities. After that, I got my Adventurer's Card, which proved my identity as an adventurer and kept track of all completed quests and accumulated points to rank up.
Of course, everyone will start at F-rank, similar to all other adventurers. But one thing that came into my mind the most is that one of the perks of being an Adventurer is having a discount or being exempted from entry fees in towns and cities. However, discounts only vary on which rank you are. The only negative aspect of this organization is that not everybody plays fair.
Some adventurers will sabotage other people for the sake of money or fame. I looked over the room where bundles of adventurers and parties lauded and strategized together. Teamwork had its advantages, especially for more challenging quests. But relying on others made me... anxious. I would have to measure up whether any party was worth joining; otherwise, I was self-sufficient.