I slowly started sweating as Bastard’s glare bore into me. Time slowly ticked forward before he looked away, leaving me with only a side-eye.

“Now that’s a skill worth of, mean face,” I chuckled nervously.

Coming up behind me and putting his hand on my shoulder Faron praised, “Damn, I can’t believe you actually did it.”

“Of course I did,” I exclaimed, chest puffed out, “Who do you think you’re dealing with.”

“An idiot.”

“Why are you always so mean to me?”

“I can’t let all that pride go to your head.”

“This ain’t pride this is pure awesomeness!”

“Shut up,” Faron sighed, looking towards the sky, “We got things done faster than I thought, so there’s some extra time before nightfall. Do you wanna catch us some grub or collect firewood?”

“Hmmm,” I mused, before looking down at Bastard, who was still angrily in my hands, “I think I’ll catch something, Bastard here can work that river good.”

“Did you really name the turtle Bastard?”

“Look when he acts like a bastard he gets called a bastard, and right now that’s the only name he deserves.”

“You’re a special breed.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said smugly.

“You make me wanna hit you but I’ll control myself and get some firewood,” Faron said, walking away into the threes grabbing whatever looked burnable.

Staring into Bastard’s eyes I said, “Time for some fishing!”

“No,” Whispered his grouchy voice.

“Why not?”

This time there was no voice but only an unending stream of rage and laziness.

“Why do you resent me so much!?”

“Bridge!”

“What about it?”

“Home,” This time there was a flood of warm feelings, tinged with a little sadness.

I didn’t say anything but just carefully stroked his little head.

“Stop,” Bastard yelled as he whipped his head around glaring at me again!

I started getting that same feeling as before making me quickly say, “Hey hey, no need for that type of skill!”

“Fish,” This time it was Tiny’s voice that came through as he carefully slithered up my arm facing Bastard.

“Why,” Bastard asked?

“Hungry.”

“Fine,” This time there was a tinge of happiness from Bastard as he wiggled free out of my grasp. He slowly walked his way forwards into the stream, sinking straight down.

Tiny and I watched the water waiting for something to happen. Minutes ticked by and the only thing to happen was a bunch of bubbles coming up before disappearing quickly.

Then out came Bastard practically moonwalking out of the river dragging a fish easily twice his size.

“Damn Boy,” I blurted out, “Look at the size of that thing.”

Bastard glared again before dropping off the fish and heading back into the river. He repeated this process three more times giving us a good stack of fish.

Crouching down to pet his head I cheered, “Yes you glorious bastard!”

I should’ve seen this coming but I gotta give him the pets. So as my hand went in for the touch he lunged forward chopping right down on my finger.

“AAAAA,” I howled in agony as my hand waved around taking Bastard with it.

Tiny chuckled while Bastard snarled.

Finally getting Bastard off I screamed, “THIS IS WHY THE ONLY NAME YOU DESERVE IS BASTARD!”

“What the fuck are you yelling about,” Faron shouted from the trees, walking through some bushes.

“This bastard keeps biting me!”

“Then stop trying to pet him!”

“Stop,” Bastard growled.

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“Again,” Tiny cheered.

“But I gotta,” I pleaded.

“No, bad boy,” Farron said, wagging his finger.

“I’m not a dog or a toddler!”

“Then stop acting like one!”

“Did you get the firewood?”

“Don’t change the subject like that and I did.”

“I just did, so why don’t you get that fire going while I clean the fish,” I said, pointing towards the pile.

“Well damn, I can’t believe it. You actually got some decent-sized fish,” Faron gawked.

“Well, it’s all in a good day’s work!”

“Bastard got them all didn’t he.”

“Maybe…”

“Yes,” Bastard whispered.

“Shut up,” I whispered back.

“Just go gut the fish,” Faron said, done with my shit.

“I’m going, “I said dejectedly, before sitting down and conjuring up a mana knife.

Taking one fish by the tail I slowly cut down the middle of the stomach. Sticking in my hands and slowly cutting, ripping, and pulling out anything that we shouldn’t eat. Off to the side, I made a little pile of guts that Bastard started snacking on.

With all the guts out I was able to slowly drag across the knife and break the ribs, letting the fish layout butterfly style.

Slowly the process repeated with the other fish, ending with a decent pile of organs, that Bastard had worked down, and four beautifully cut fish. And there was a small ding.

[-Through repeating action the skill [Basic Butchering] is made]

[-Due to learning common skill on your own you gain 10% exp]

[-Congratulations you level up! Rewarded 2 stat points and 3 affinity.]

“Woo,” I cheered, happy at my first level up.

“Why are you so happy,” Faron questioned with a small glare?

“I got a level up, Boy!”

“Already, how?”

“I got a small skill from the fish.”

“You lucky bastard.”

“You say luck I say fate.”

“That’s just advanced luck!”

“Touche, but what should I do with my extra points?”

“I don’t know, you’re a big boy.”

“But I like to have someone to bounce ideas off of,” I whined slightly.

Faron just glared before tending to the small embers that slowly grew.

Well fine, I’m a big boy. I don’t need any help from him. I’ll just sit here and do my thing. Now, I know I’m magic heavy so heavy into the magic stats make sense but close range is probably my thing. With the mana knife skill, I can’t be far away for now, and it is my strongest attack method.

I can’t waste it by staying far away. So maybe I need to start leaning towards physical stats because at the end of the day I have ways of raising my control and attunement. I might be able to find a way to raise strength but dexterity and constitution are still mysteries.

Dexterity makes sense because knife, but constitution means more hits and less fatigue. But if I have unbeatable dexterity I can’t be hit.

I felt the smile creep on my face as I thought about being untouchable. So I think that decides that, and I added two more dexterity to my little screen.

Standing up I looked at Faron saying, “We have some time for these to cook soooo why don’t we get a spar going.”

“Just what I was thinking,” Faron smiled a oh so creepy smile.

Quickly we got three of the four fish over the fire, in the perfect balance so they stay at the perfect cooking distance.

Dropping Tiny onto Bastards back, who responded with a glare, Faron and I ran a little ways off so we didn’t disturb anything.

Sending a new burst of mana into my knife resharpened beautifully. Crouching down slightly getting ready I thought about what I did wrong last time. This time I was gonna do better.

Faron gave that cocky smile like he always did before our spars.

“Start,” I shouted, as I shot forward.

His smile grew as if he already had the win in his hands.

He was wrong though, I had a plan, I stepped forward heavily, stabbing forward but with no power.

He stepped slightly rotating just out of the way, raising his sword ready to hit my back with the pommel.

As he started bringing down his sword I dropped low, pushing every bit of my weight into him.

He went stumbling back just barely getting his footing back, but not before I slashed upwards stopping a few centimeters away from his neck.

“Wo...Woah there friend,” He stammered out, “When’d you learn to do that?”

“I watched a lot of fight scenes in my day,” I responded happily.

“You make me want to break something!”

“Do it.”

Frustrated Faron yelled, “Round two!”

So we spared again, this time I didn’t go for the straight confrontation. Instead I chose to slowly circle him round and round. Stalking like an assassin waiting for the perfect moment.

He tried moving towards me, but his guard was more meant for stationary defense. Lunging he tried to catch me but his sword was a tad too slow.

Dropping down and kicking out his legs he went down like a sack of potatoes. Not wasting a moment I jumped on top putting my weight on his sword arm, holding the knife to his neck.

“It seems I’ve gotten good,” I mocked.

“Just you wait,” He said through gritted teeth.

So we went for another round, this time he didn’t try to defend instead opting for a straight kill.

I was able to avoid the first few slashes but the constant onslaught took me down after a wrong step.

Unable to cope with this loss we went for another round, and then another and another until I could dodge every slash. By the tenth round, I was even able to move forward with my own attacks.

Twenty times later I was able to give a decent fight, but in the end, we both fell to the ground exhausted as hell. But I did get a small reward.

[-Through repeating action the skill [Basic Knife Fighting] is made]

[-Due to learning common skill on your own you gain 10% exp]

[Due to learning Basic Knife Fighting you gain one dexterity!]

“Wooo, new skill learned,” I yelled happily as I sprawled out in the dirt.

“Good for you but I think our fish got overcooked,” Faron said.

“FUCK!”