Level 1 Profile [https://i.imgur.com/WiDhnce.png]
What the hell? I leveled up by reading a few pages of a book, using Foresight once, throwing up, being carried, walking around the wilderness, and asking questions?!
This world is nuts. But I shouldn’t complain.
Though, while she’s glad for the boost in HP and MP, they’re still abysmally low in her opinion.
I remember improving my character’s HP by adding points to Vitality before, but the question is how much to focus on that versus other things.
> “Players are extraordinarily valuable individuals, my lady. They attract danger simply by existing.”
In that case, the last three stats would be useful as well in a society like this. And of course physical traits like speed and agility for getting away...
Huffing in frustration, she opts to poke the Hindsight skill and read about it for the time being.
Hindsight Grants user ability to see the past. Length and duration at current level: up to 5 minutes in the past for 5 seconds, can only be activated upon touching the specific object or person whose past the user wishes to see. MP required: 7 [https://i.imgur.com/NxRCBwH.png]
Useful, but am I really incurring a 2 MP privacy breach fee?
Rolling her eyes, Lexi closes the information pop-up and mulls over stat allocation once more.
Screw it.
Strength: 1 + 1 Speed: 1 + 3 Dexterity: 1 + 1 Agility: 1 + 1 Intelligence: 4 +1 Vitality: 1 + 3 Charisma: 3 Luck: 5 [https://i.imgur.com/vajE69N.png]
System screen: Confirm distribution of stat points? [https://i.imgur.com/hrduKEN.png]
Yes.
System screen: stat points distribution confirmed [https://i.imgur.com/7hNILUn.png]
The numbers change immediately to reflect it, and Lexi is pleasantly surprised to glance up and note that her HP has risen as well.
HP: 20 / 23 MP: 20 / 20 EXP: 3 / 2,000 [https://i.imgur.com/WBQvCdt.png]
Nice! It worked!
Just before turning the display off, her eyes flicker to the question marks next to her class.
No need to wonder anymore. Only a sage has 5 ultimate skills AND the time attribute.
Now I just need everyone to think I’m merely an alchemist.
“Commander.”
Startled, Lexi whips her head up and wants to kick herself for not realizing something very important sooner: she’s never been able to hear the scarlet haired knight’s footsteps, not even when they were walking on gravel or ground littered with dried twigs and leaves.
How long has he been watching?
Does it matter? Ray was next to me all this time as well.
Eric’s eyes are dark from this angle, though she’s gotten used to his cold stares by now so she just stares right back.
Maybe the shadows are playing tricks on her, because that hard face seems to soften for a split second before he turns away, pulling a dagger out of nowhere and getting to work cleaning a weird bird-looking creature as Ray dutifully collects enough dry twigs for a fire.
Are we roasting them like in the comics?
Not for the first time, Lexi misses the conveniences of home. Especially truffle salt in a convenient little shaker.
Surprisingly, the flesh of the bird - Ray tells her it’s a ‘grasswing’ - is both tender and tasty, even without seasoning.
Or maybe I’m just really hungry.
The last meal she’d had had ended up on the floor of the viscount’s library, after all.
“What did you allocate your points to?”
Eric hasn’t spoken a word to her since he abandoned his disguise as a friendly young knight, so it takes her a few seconds to get over the shock.
When she’s answered, his response is swift.
“Why?”
Are you actually testing me?
It annoys her immensely, the way someone acting superior to her always grates, but Lexi clenches her jaw and stays silent because she knows she can’t risk angering this deadly man.
At least not right now while she’s still weak and lacking knowledge of the world.
“I’d considered improving Intelligence, Charisma, and Luck in order to survive in capital society.” The rude brat continues eating while gazing into the distance. “But I also needed to improve my HP, and my chances of escaping on my own from those who can’t be reasoned with.”
“You could have put it all in your Luck stat.”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
She’s never wanted to throw a bird bone at a person more than she does right now.
“I realize,” her words sound clear enough considering she’s gritting her teeth, “that it was pure luck that allowed me to evade the blade thrown at me from behind, back in the viscounty.” The redhead turns to look at her at last. “But luck is fickle, and my other stats were all abysmally low.”
Thin lips tilt slightly at the corner, before the young commander looks away and continues eating.
Lexi really wants to shove his head into a turkey.
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The Bridge of Thorns is a bit of a misnomer, to say the least.
Lexi had been expecting something straight out of the story about an arrogant prince turning into a beast, but instead she’s greeted by the sight of a large, sturdy, well-constructed and properly maintained piece of infrastructure with high foot and hoof traffic, the crowd being the reason why they’d told her to keep her hood up and hide her eyes as much as possible from now on.
Ray doesn’t even meet her accusing glare as they continue walking towards the wooden structure, pace deliberately scaled down to blend in with the crowd. “When we get to the bridge, look into the ravine, my lady.”
She’s heard that word - ‘ravine’ - before, so she assumes the almost eight feet tall man must be referring to the large lack of ground that the bridge stretches over as the sole connection between York and Flamingo.
Holy...
The Bridge of Thorns should have been called the Bridge over Thorny Death.
Huge brambles seethe and snarl hundreds of feet below the wooden overpass, vicious spikes gleaming threateningly in the afternoon sun. Lexi can almost swear she sees a million sharp eyes watching them, waiting for someone to take a wrong step and plunge to a painful death by shredding and impalement, and she instinctively moves closer to Ray, almost reaching out and pulling on his jacket the way she’d always done as a child to her father when she was scared.
While the gigantic knight doesn’t say a word, he casually moves to put himself between Lexi and the edge. Somehow, that small act calms her.
She cheers up significantly when they reach a little town strategically positioned as a waypoint for travelers moving between Yonk and Flambé, having never gone more than half a day without a shower and a change of clothes. As she’s debating how to politely ask if they can stop and if the knights can pay for a room and bath for her, Eric continues strolling down the crowded street before turning and pushing open the door of an inn.
I take back what I thought about attacking you with a turkey.
The red haired knight secures three rooms for them, subtly sliding some coins - she can’t see the color or quantity, resolving to ask later - over once the transaction is settled. Lexi’s given the room in between Eric’s and Ray’s, and though it’s just a simple room with a small bed and a wooden bathtub, she excitedly sheds her clothes and starts cleaning up once she’s locked the door.
Wearing sweat and vomit stained clothes again after that is disgusting, but she knows she can’t be too demanding and risk angering the knights right now.
It’s a good thing she hadn’t spent too long bathing, as a voice calls out to her softly right after she’s put her robe back on and pulled her hood as low as possible over her face.
The dining hall is noisy, crowded, and reeking of sweat. Lexi knows she’s getting her share of curious stares, despite keeping her head down as she follows the knights to a table in the far corner, but she ignores them when her stomach rumbles at the sights and smells of freshly cooked fare. She’s told to sit with her back to everyone - “just in case, my lady” - and then Ray is settling in next to her, the wooden bench miraculously holding their combined weight.
Eric refuses to order her ale until she’s had a sip of Ray’s, and when her face doesn’t flush red immediately one scarlet eyebrow quirks slightly before he signals a waitress to bring another pint over.
Seven pints in, and both Eric’s and Ray’s eyebrows are trying to hide in their hairlines.
“Is this weird?”
She’s been doing her best to ignore the whispers around them, the fingers pointing at “that fallen noble and her lovers”, so she’d been hitting the drinks a bit faster than usual. But as someone who drank a regular man’s week’s worth of alcohol each night, she knows she’s not being reckless.
Would kill for a smoke though. Drinking without smoking is weird. Everything feels wrong, and my chest feels...
No. Stop it. Stop being so demanding, stop expecting to get it all your way here. You’re already safe, warm, and fed.
It was about time to quit anyway. Stop being swayed by the chemicals. I’m my own master. I decide what I do, not some stupid overpriced sticks. I do what I want, when I want, and that’s never going to change.
It doesn’t really help, and as she gets increasingly agitated a sudden thought seizes her.
Do you want to be incapable of running for your life if you’re attacked again? Some people can run marathons while smoking, but you’re starting from the absolute bottom in this crazy world with monsters and humans trying to kill you.
That works like a charm.
“My lady.” Ray’s voice is pitched lower than usual, almost drowned by raucous laughter from three tables over, but the two knights have long since realized that her sense of hearing is exceptional. “Is the ale in your world stronger than this?”
“It depends, I guess. We have plenty of different brews.” With that, she empties her pint - making sure to keep her eyes closed as she tips her head back, just in case someone spots her unique eyes - and signals for another from the staff that have been hovering near their table, sneaking glances at Eric from the moment they’d walked in.
After three more pints, some drunken fool from the next table starts to slur in their direction.
“You there...missy...”
Lexi ignores him with practiced ease, picking up the fresh drink placed in front of her and taking a gulp.
“Oi oi! Ah...ah sed...YOU-“
The man doesn’t get to complete the rest of his sentence when Eric slams his wooden tankard down and turns a withering glare on the rude stranger.
Wow. Eric’s got a real way with people.
The silence is palpable, the sudden halt to bustling activity and drunken revelry too jarring not to notice, but Lexi is used to such uncomfortable situations so she calmly continues drinking.
It’s only when her red haired escort turns back and starts to snack on the sausages they’d ordered a few minutes ago that the atmosphere in the hall begins to liven up again.
Smiling, Lexi clinks her tankard against the knights’, downs the ale, and orders another.
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The next morning, both knights can’t hide their surprise when she greets them at her door fresh-faced and ready to go.
They’re not the only ones - she can feel the stares and hear the whispers from the staff and some other early-rising patrons because she’s walking just fine and not groaning from a hangover, but she doesn’t care because she’s hungry and she has no idea when they’ll be able to have a proper meal again. While she’d like to hope that they can continue stopping at inns like this, her knowledge of such transmigration stories tells her that roughing it in between civilized areas is inevitable.
After a hearty breakfast of bread, eggs, and sausages - Lexi is thrilled to see that Eric had ordered some sandwiches to be packed for them - they’re on their way.
It’s a bustling path through town, and even after walking for half a day the roads are still heavily populated.
When she asks, Ray explains that this is common when the northeast is preparing for winter - a steady stream of suppliers always jostle to hawk their wares to residents of northern regions in autumn, though the proliferation of merchants and rivalry between them help keep prices reasonable and prevent cartels from forming.
Which reminds me...
“How much did Eric tip the front desk?”
Wait, they don’t call it ‘front desk’ here do they? What’s the medieval term for those people?
“10 silver coins.”
Eric seems unfazed by the question and terminology, which makes Lexi curious enough to ask why.
“I’m familiar with many players.”
Isn’t that because you’re a bit of a player yourself?
She’d heard the sounds from his room last night through the thin walls, though the comforting buzz of alcohol and the physical exercise lately helped her fall asleep quickly enough.
I guess since players reside in the capital, and he’s an Imperial Knight commander, he’d have spent a lot of time around strangers from different worlds.
Though another thought soon comes to mind.
If a family of six can live on five gold coins a year, what’s the conversion rate?
When Ray explains that it’s 100 copper coins to 1 silver coin, and 100 silver coins to 1 gold coin, she gapes at the hulking knight.
“Does that mean that Eric basically paid a month and a half’s worth of a person’s expenses as a tip for our one-night stay?”
Deep green eyes look almost amused at her question, before Ray leans in and whispers that the inn is actually an affiliate branch of the Hawk Legion’s intelligence arm, and that the commander had actually been paying for the information that had been subtly slipped into his jacket pocket by one of his partners for the night.
Oh.
“I’m guessing it wasn’t information about nobles?”
If so, surely the price would’ve been higher.
This time Ray’s lips actually quirk, and the effect is unique due to the scar cutting across them.
“Yes, my lady.”
They veer off the main road before sunset, and Lexi wants to grumble when she realizes they need to traipse up and down slopes of dry grass but she holds her tongue to conserve energy.
Before she falls asleep, she wonders again about why two Imperial Knight officers had been all the way in the northeast in disguise.
I’ll just ask them tomorrow.
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CHAPTER 5 END