“Good morning!”
The two knights seem a bit surprised by her cheerful greeting, then Eric’s eyes narrow and that familiar question leaves his lips.
“So?”
This guy...
She’s in a good mood anyway, having checked her status window out of curiosity upon waking up and seeing the higher numbers and new skill.
Lexi's Level 6 Full Bio [https://i.imgur.com/zNM6QpR.png]
Foresight Grants user ability to see the future. Length and duration at current level: up to 15 minutes in the future for 20 seconds. MP required: 24 [https://i.imgur.com/d6BUNXK.png]
Hindsight Grants user ability to see the past. Length and duration at current level: up to 15 minutes in the past for 15 seconds, can only be activated upon touching the specific object or person whose past the user wishes to see. MP required: 23 [https://i.imgur.com/YW04n0V.png]
Flow Allows user to see effect of flow of time on object, person, or surroundings with different variables by level. Current level allows user to see up to 3 variables’ impact on one item or person, up to one day in future MP required: 13 Note: types of variables that may be used differ according to Intelligence points [https://i.imgur.com/gOjbemc.png]
Guide Indicates items and people of important to player’s journey. Level 5 unlock: Guide leads user towards items and people of importance from up to 100 feet away Level up to unlock additional abilities [https://i.imgur.com/6vHWTHM.png]
Sight Allows user to see information about others. User can view levels of people and items that the user already knows the complete names of. User can view names of people and items that have not been shared. Level up to unlock additional abilities. [https://i.imgur.com/f2oUAN2.png]
Clarity Allows user to see past illusions in accordance with user’s level. Current level: 6 Illusions that are level 6 and below do not work on user. [https://i.imgur.com/nh5jfvK.png]
Looks like MP is growing at a faster rate, and Flow’s improved - one additional variable for an extra 1 MP cost isn’t a bad bargain.
And just as I thought: with Foresight, even numbered levels grant an extra 5 seconds of viewing at an additional 3 MP cost, while odd numbered levels let me see 5 minutes further at an additional 5 MP cost. Meanwhile, with Hindsight, odd numbered levels grant extra viewing time, and even numbered levels let me see further at the same incremental cost per enhancement as Foresight.
The improvement with Sight is awesome though. I got the skill at level 3 and now it’s improved at level 6 so maybe it works on multiples of three? Plus, now I’ll never have to worry about getting names wrong. But it looks like I can’t see their levels if they or someone else doesn’t actually tell me their names? Wonder how this works.
After checking her status window earlier, she’d looked around and realized she could see the names of all the plants in surrounding them, though even whispering their names to herself hadn’t allowed Lexi to see levels.
I guess it’s only fair...that would be too much of a cheat skill at only level 6.
Strength: 7 + 3 Speed: 11 + 4 Dexterity: 8 + 3 Agility: 10 + 4 Intelligence: 13 + 5 Vitality: 13 + 5 Charisma: 10 + 3 Luck: 10 + 3 [https://i.imgur.com/MhBAKOU.png]
After confirming the distribution, HP goes up as it always does when points are added to vitality, but Lexi is pleasantly surprised to see P-ATK rise as soon as her strength stat hits 10.
I was right! Every time a related stat hits 10, I get an additional 5 points to an attack or defense parameter.
Eric seems pleased with her choices and reasoning, if the warm breakfast he hands her carefully is any indication.
Gaining EXP just by listening to stories and reading books is seriously cheating, but I’m not complaining.
She’s in a great mood, and the weather seems to feel the same - clear skies and gentle breeze - which makes her start humming softly to herself once they’re mounted and on their way.
Of course, Eric decides to burst her bubble soon enough, by making her fight a wind-worm on her own for “real world practice”.
According to the number above the contorted creature, it’s only a level 1 monster, but Lexi still approaches with trepidation, having never actually fought with the intent to kill in her entire life.
Kill or be killed, right?
This world isn’t the safe, civilized ivory tower she’d lived in before. And though she’s called a ‘player’, failure has very real consequences.
Alright, let’s do this. Just hold the blade slightly in front, grip it properly but not too tight, remember the footwork and breathing that scarlet demon kept yelling at you about...
It’s ridiculously complicated, and she’s not at all coordinated, which Eric makes very clear from behind her.
Oh shut up, Mr I’m-The-Greatest-Knight-In-The-Empire. We all start somewhere.
She wouldn’t be surprised if Eric rolled out of the womb ready to rumble, though. The man is far too talented with the sword to be normal.
When she’s near enough that the faceless, lumpy thing can reach her with a single lunge, she realizes her hands are trembling slightly and her breath is catching.
Breathe, breathe. It’s alright. The knights are here, this thing’s only level 1, and you have Akara.
This close, Lexi can see the fine hairs growing from the creature’s wrinkled skin, and she grips the dagger tighter, taking one last breath to steel herself before pushing off with her back foot, bringing Akara up towards her right shoulder and then swinging down while twisting her hips.
The legendary weapon slices clean through, though it’s too short to completely cut the monster in half, and Lexi thanks her luck stat for being able to avoid the spurts of viscous greenish-gray fluid that come out of the semi-severed wind-worm.
Is it dead? Please just be dead, please just flop on the ground and stop twitching.
It’s taking all she has not to throw up right now, because the sights and smells are disgusting, but she can’t risk getting hit by the monster or what she assumes is its blood.
Just die, just die, please just die.
Backing away, she circles the creature so she can’t get hit by the spray, watching as it finally spasms one last time before collapsing and staying still.
Thank God.
“Your footwork is terrible, your breathing wasn’t synchronized with your movements, and that strike was weaker than a baby’s.”
Shut up, Eric.
Ray at least gives her an encouraging pat on her shoulder - he’s good at controlling his strength, because it doesn’t hurt or send Lexi flying - then she’s being helped back up onto Violet and they’re on their way again.
The vice-commander had mentioned before that monsters can be harvested for parts, but he’d also said that most people only invested the effort in more valuable creatures.
Lexi shudders at the thought of being made to harvest that lump she’d sliced.
Knowing Eric, he’d make her practice harvesting on some mid-level monster - because he wouldn’t trust her to handle valuable creatures, and because he has a sadistic side.
Asshole.
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Only 3 EXP? Is it because that wind-worm was only level 1?
“How much EXP did you get?”
After that day in the pavilion, Eric had made it clear he knows all about her status menu but he’d also warned her not to tell anyone else about it, though he’d refused to tell her why.
Ray wouldn’t tell her the reason either, which had made her start to wonder about their motivations, but when the large man got down on one knee and swore that it’s for her own safety, she’d relented and promised not to talk about what she can see on her screen with anyone but them and the crown prince.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Only 3.”
Do you really have to laugh out loud?!
At least the knight riding next to her tries to cheer her up by saying it’s likely due to the wind-worm being a low level creature.
Thank God for you, Ray.
“You’ll need to fight a lot more monsters then.”
I knew it.
“My lady, please remember that sages prize knowledge.”
That’s true. The experience of fighting monsters counts as knowledge.
And all knowledge can be used at different points in time, for different results depending on the situation - whether it’s applied forwards to better prepare to deal with a future occasion, or applied backwards to understand why things happened the way they had and what could’ve been improved.
“Over there. Go.”
Three bobbing peanut-shaped lumps, each about as tall as her waist, with white fur and green stripes, appear to be having a meeting nearby.
“Those are nut-bears, my lady. Their claws are hidden in their fur, and their limbs are slightly shorter than your forearm.”
Thanks Ray.
Ray helps her dismount, then he follows her at a distance - far enough that she would have to deal with the monsters alone, but near enough that she feels reassured.
Each is level 1? This isn’t going to give me much EXP, you idiot Eric.
While she knows she doesn’t have the skills or experience to deal with higher ranking creatures, it’s also a bit annoying that she has to grind so slowly - especially when she’s clearly not a physical-type class.
Short limbs, which means I have the advantage of reach. But there are three of them and only one of me.
What did Eric say to do when I’m outnumbered again?
> ”Never give your back to your opponent. If there are more of them than you, try to use one as a shield against the others if you can. Otherwise, keep moving while keeping your eyes on them.”
Easier said than done. Can’t we just go with the tried and tested, surefire survival tactic for physical fights? I invested in speed so I can run for my life, dammit.
Although, to be fair, her agility stat is only 1 point below her speed’s.
Sighing, Lexi draws Akara - she’s a useful dagger, because she absorbs blood which means she never needs to be cleaned - and draws nearer to the nut-bear conference.
Oh shit.
These monsters don’t just hang around waiting to be killed like the wind-worm had. When she’s about six feet away, they turn in unison and let out warbling, screeching cries.
Ow, my ears!
There’s no time to think about the pain, not when the three creatures launch themselves at her. Throwing herself to the side helps Lexi avoid the claws that suddenly appear from their furs as short limbs extend, but then she’s on the ground as they leap towards her once more.
Dammit!
Eric had tried to teach her how to get up from the ground properly - ”and not like a newborn elephant trying to stand for the first time” - but the only thing she’d learned from that lesson is the fact that this world has elephants as well.
She ends up having to throw herself to the side again, scrambling backwards to put distance between herself and the furry, screeching monsters, cursing the fact that she doesn’t have a single skill useful in combat right now.
Foresight will take too much time and leave me open to attack. And Hindsight and Flow are of zero use here.
“My lady!”
One of the nut-bears is almost on her, and she instinctively lashes out with a kick.
It connects, her left shin - protected by her sturdy boots - making contact with soft fur below an outstretched claw by luck, sending the creature flying.
I wish Coach could’ve seen that!
Her Muay Thai instructor had always said her dominant leg’s kicks were worse than her weaker right leg’s.
“My lady, stand up!”
The other two nut-bears are hanging back slightly after their comrade was hit, and Lexi takes the opportunity to get to her feet, already knowing what Eric will say about her lack of technique.
Think about it later. Deal with these things first. Kicks work as a last resort, especially since I’m wearing boots. But I need to get close enough to stab them with Akara.
When one of the nut-bears decides to avenge its furry friend by leaping at her again - honestly, these things suit the name ‘hare’ or ‘rabbit’ more than that crazy forest hare in the northeast - Lexi dodges and slashes its back.
Did it work?
“Move!”
Oh fu-
Stepping to the side in time, she narrowly avoids getting her face ripped off, the dark claws passing terrifyingly close to her eyes.
That moment, the knowledge that this is truly life or death even with two elite knights watching, ignites her survival instincts, her temper, and suddenly she doesn’t have any qualms about killing another living being because anger is better than fear.
DIE.
Fury propels her forward, rage strengthens her strikes, as she kicks and slashes wildly, finesse be damned.
When at last the bunnies in disguise are lying on the ground taking their last breaths, Lexi is bent over with her hands on her knees panting like she’s just sprinted ten miles.
Not that she’s ever even sprinted a mile.
I’m definitely dying of a heart attack.
Large hands startle her, but it’s just Ray pulling her into an upright position - “you can breathe better this way, my lady” - then Eric is leading the horses over with a smug expression on that handsome face.
You just wait. Once I get my breath back...
“I knew you could do it.”
Lexi thinks maybe one of those nut-bears got a good strike in.
At her dumbfounded expression on a face that’s no doubt resembling a boiled tomato, the commander chuckles before his face turns as cold as ever.
“Did you learn nothing from my lessons? The way you stood up was inefficient and exposed, and did I not tell you to keep moving when you’re outnumbered? Also, why did you turn your back on your opponent? Did you want to get clawed?”
Ugh.
It takes her a few minutes before she can breathe somewhat normally, and when she looks down she’s glad that the blood only got on her boots and not her clothes.
Once she’s mounted and they’re moving again, Lexi calls up the status window.
Huh?
60 EXP? But those things were level 1.
When she answers Eric’s question about the EXP gain, Ray smiles a little and tells her it’s likely because she did more this time than against the wind-worm.
I see.
Sages really do prize knowledge.
----------------------------------------
Didn’t the prince tell me to party with you two so I WOULDN’T have to fight?!
Eric had made her battle twice more before they made camp, and Lexi is annoyed with the fact that her clothes are stained and sweaty less than two days after leaving the manor.
I need a bath.
“We will reach a town tomorrow afternoon, my lady.” Ray hands her a steaming bowl of meat and vegetable soup. “There is an inn there we can rest in.”
Bless you, Ray.
Out of curiosity, she calls up the status window while waiting for the food to cool.
Looks like I got about 600 EXP today from Ray’s lectures and the fights.
It’s three more days to the griffin nest, so she doubts she’ll be level 7 by then.
And it’s not like I can read once the sun goes down here.
Though they keep a fire going through the night, the flame isn’t very large - Lexi knows it would tire her eyes out if she tries to read the small print with only that light source.
I don’t think they have corrective eye surgery here.
She’d seen a fair few people wearing glasses in the city, though they were all commoners.
“Can healers fix poor eyesight?”
Ray always answers her questions calmly, however random they are.
“No, my lady. Only Priests and above can cure short- or long-sightedness.”
Oh.
“Does it cost a lot? Is that why commoners can’t afford it?”
Eric looks almost pleased with her question.
“Players cannot be commissioned directly, my lady, and the Guild charges a minimum request submission fee of 20 gold coins depending on the nature of the request.”
TWENTY gold coins?!
No wonder their building is so fancy. They’re basically ripping everyone off.
“What if a player decides they want to help anyway?”
Ray’s expression looks a little darker than before, even accounting for the fading light and the shadows cast by the fire.
“It is rare for a player to choose to assist others without compensation, my lady.”
Are you shitting me?
First the people in the manor, as well as the crown prince and the knights, seem surprised by her manners. And now...
“Surely not ALL players are that fu...I mean, that mercenary.”
Both men look a little amused at her cover up.
“Some do help, my lady. But correcting one’s sight is often considered a cosmetic request, and therefore a low priority. Of course, it’s different if poor eyesight is the result of some other illness or injury.”
I see.
It’s reassuring to know that not all players are assholes.
“Do these players face any repercussions from the Guild for helping on their own?”
That dark expression returns.
“My lady, while we cannot say for certain, it is a known fact that players who accept monetary compensation for requests made outside of the Guild’s official channels do tend to get into accidents quite frequently.”
No wonder the crown prince dislikes the guild master.
“That’s only if the player is found out though, right?”
Eric smirks at that, and Ray looks almost proud.
While Lexi isn’t very inclined to help others out of the goodness of her heart, especially for free, she can’t resist the chance to stick it to that slimy git.
----------------------------------------
Finally!
Her skin is itching, and her scalp is probably infested with something from the yellow blood that had spattered on it when she’d fought some vicious fire squirrels earlier. The only reason why the townspeople hadn’t noticed is because she keeps her hood on in such places, and because Ray had kindly placed some sort of herbs on her head to mask the smell.
Those annoying little rodents had been fast, and way too small - even though she's boosted her Agility and Speed stats, and Eric had made her squat, lunge, and run more than any human should in training, it'd taken everything Lexi had to dodge flaming claws and sharp fangs while trying to kick, stomp, slash, and stab those infernal little monsters that ran, climbed, and jumped all over the place.
As soon as she gets to her room in the inn, Lexi hurriedly strips as she rushes to the wooden bathtub.
MUCH better.
This dining hall is larger and more crowded than any of the ones she’s been to previously, and she can’t help but tug nervously on her hood to make sure it’s covering her eyes.
The stares she’d gotten back at the Guild weigh on her mind still; the voices filled with envy, greed, and malice linger even now.
She’d been a bit too lax, trusting in these two knights to keep her safe when she knows there are ten alchemists in the world, and that at least a few if not all of them would kill to get promoted to sage - especially when she’d read a book on alchemy, and knows a bit about the kind of deadly weapons they can easily create.
And that’s just the alchemists. No one outside of a select few know she’s a sage, which means engineers and pharmacists who think she’s an alchemist will be targeting her as well.
It’s both blessing and curse that the Guild only logs players’ names publicly, because with classes hidden any player can be a target.
According to Ray, lower ranking players hide their classes because higher ranks are naturally wary of them, and sometimes kill them preemptively. Meanwhile, higher ranks like her usually prefer hiding their classes unless they’re strong or confident enough, or both.
Which is why only a few legendary rank individuals dared to make their classes known to all.
Sage Elise and Dhampir Lily are the two oldest players, and probably ridiculously strong given they’ve survived this long and gone public with their classes.
As for Oracle Kass, if he’s lasted more than a hundred years he’s probably not to be trifled with either.
Saint Angelus and Summoner Selena being so open is a curiosity, and Lexi assumes it’s because they’re just that confident.
Or overconfident.
Eric and Ray know many other players, of course, and they also know their classes though they tell her not to talk about it openly.
This sucks.
Would this be the rest of her life here, until someone rips her apart and she endures eternity as a lingering consciousness? Just constantly being on guard, running from lower ranks trying to kill her for promotion, NPCs trying to kill her in order to extract her powers?
She has Eric, Ray, and the crown prince on her side for now. But they’ll age and die eventually, while she’ll remain forever 29.
What then?
“My lady?”
Ray looks worried, and even Eric is watching her carefully.
Lexi tries for a reassuring smile, knows it comes out wan, and just shakes her head.
“Tell you later.”
They nod, and Eric calls for another two bottles of wine.
Would seriously kill for a smoke right now.
It’s not like she can get lung cancer here anyway. The system won’t allow it.
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CHAPTER 10 END