Arriving at the edge of town, they slowly came to a halt. Running the whole distance Brand could hardly breathe, he wasn't accustomed to running long distances for long periods of time. His whole body was soaked in sweat, laying spread eagle on the ground he struggled for every breath of air he could get. Fastin was in much better shape, being a higher level he had minor problems running long distances, breathing a little heavier with some sweat forming on his forehead. ‘Sorry, you had to go through that so early Brand, problems with Scott's faction has been occurring more and more frequent lately. I need to let an officer know about this, get up I’m sure you ready to get something to eat and some rest.’ Reaching down Fastin motioned for Brand to give him a hand.
Lifting his hand up Brand was pulled up by Fastin, slowly they made their way towards the guild hall through town. Streetlights filled with magic light orbs were lining the sides of the street they walked down. Brand noticed that there was still a lot of people walking streets even though it was getting so dark, there was wet grass smell to the air mixed in with the salty smell of meat and soup. Brand began anticipating his free bowl of soup when he got back, his mouth watering with a slight smile pasted on his face as he followed behind. After walking for what seemed like hours they finally made it to the hall where Fastin separated with him at the door heading inside by himself. Moving by himself he searched the hall for Rex, he found him in the same spot he saw him yesterday. He sat down signaling the bartender for some food. ‘Well, how did it go you learn anything?’ Rex asked when he noticed Brand sit down.
‘Yeah I learned a few things, Fastin is a good teacher.’ Brand replied while waiting for his soup. He looked around noticing a little fewer people than there was yesterday. ‘What did you do, I thought you were the one supposed to train me?” he asked looking at Rex.
‘None of your business where I was, and you aren't ready for me to train you yet, you’ll stay with Fastin until he says you're ready to move on.’ Rex replied sipping on his mug.
‘Fine, but you I don’t know if Fastin could protect me if we encounter to much danger. Today on the way back to town we encounter a guy named Scott with 2 of his friends. They threatened us and demanded 5 silver to let us pass, saying it was their land and don’t trespass.’ Brand replied while fidgeting with his hands on the counter.
‘What!?! Scott from the Fire Wolf Faction Threatened you and extorted money from Fastin?’ Rex asked while slamming his mug down on the counter. The hall went silent at the loud outburst from Rex.
‘Yeah, Fastin said had to tell an officer about it, and that is was happening more frequently too’ Brand replied nervously from all the attention he was receiving.
‘Wait here, I need to go talk with some people.’ Rex stood up and drained his mug, walking away toward the stairs that lead to the upper floor of the hall. The hall remained quite as Rex climbed the stairs, finally resuming as he went through the door at the top. Brand looked at some of the pictures hanging on the wall as he waited for his food. One of the bigger pictures showed a man in armor wielding a sword and shield as he fought against a giant bear, stabbing the bear in the neck while defending with his shield from a swipe of the bear's massive paw. One picture Brand found fascinating was a picture of a woman holding a large staff. She was seated in rocking chair, surrounding here was a group of people staring at her with eyes filled with worship and praise. Brand wondered what would make people look at somebody like that and if one-day people might look at him like that.
Looking away he saw that the bartender had brought his soup and water, his hunger retaking control of his thoughts. He finished eating but Rex and Fastin hadn’t returned yet so he decided to go to his room, thinking that they would let him know if anything important in the morning. He entered his room and took a bath, somebody had come in and changed the wet sheets and dirty water from the night before. Clean and dry he got into bed and fell asleep.
The next morning he wasn’t woken to water but, Rex did shake him to get up. ‘Get up boy, Fastin is waiting.’ Brand got up and dressed while heading out to the counter. They were seated at the usual spot, so he went over and sat down motioning to the bartender for food.
‘We will avoid those fields today, but ill take you straight to the ratlands today.’ Fastin told Brand as they were eating.
Looking around Brand notice a few more people in the hall with leather armor on and 1 or 2 with what looked like iron armor.
Finished eating Fastin and Brand left the hall heading towards the ratlands. ‘Hey Fastin, why did I see people in iron gear today and not the other 2 days?’ Brand asked as they left the town limits.
‘Those are some of our higher level faction members with important jobs. The action yesterday worried the officers, that combined with other recent activity the guild leader issued a command for more support around the town and fields. You shouldn’t have to worry too much, it isn’t much that you can do when you are low level anyway most of the important duties in the Faction are for the those who are over level 10.’
They spent the rest of their journey in silence as Brand pondered the meaning of what Fastin said. ‘I guess power is really everything like Rex said’.
‘Take care Brand, I will be back at the end of the day I got to check the traps and stuff.’ Fastin went off into the forest as Brand readied himself to enter the grass. “Oh yeah, the skinning knife I wonder how good it is?’ Brand remembered the knife he asked for yesterday. Taking it out of the inventory he examined it.
Name Iron Knife Attack 3/4 Description A solid multipurpose knife has a sharp edge.
‘Not bad, it has a 3-4 attack but my swordplay gives me a higher attack though.’ Brand put the knife away after reading the description. Brand began his rat hunting pausing occasionally to eat some of the bread given to him by the system, he also practiced his gutting and skinning skills on the rat he killed. His success rat at gutting was a little higher then skinning but, unfortunately out of the 15 rats he killed throughout the day he only collected 3 skins and 5 rat meats. The system deemed the rest of rats waste due to his lack of skill and precision cutting the meat and skin. He headed back to the meeting spot noticing the sun was getting low in the sky.
‘How did you do this time?’ Fastin asked when he saw Brand arrive out of the grass.
‘Better than yesterday I got 15 today, and I got some meat and skins.’ Brand said proudly with a grin on his face.
‘Nice! I get 1 of the skins and I’ll give you a few copper for the rest of the stuff, it will be less hassle for you and I know somebody who will give me a good price.’ Fastin told Brand with his hand out waiting for the goods.
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‘OK, that sounds good to me.’ He handed the meat and skins while receiving 4 copper.
4 Copper received.
‘Let’s head back to town.’Fast said pocketing the goods in his inventory. They went back to town the same way they did this morning avoiding the fields from yesterday.
Over the next 6 days, Brand followed the same routine. He got up ate, went to the ratlands to kill rats and practicing his skills in the process, traded with Fastin and came back to town to start over again the next day. The 7th morning Brand got up by himself having gotten accustomed to getting up so early. The first thing he did was check his status and skills before leaving his room.
Status Name Brand King Level
1
Experience
92.5/100
Attack 10-12 Defense 13 Strength 15 Vitality 12 Dexterity 7 Intelligence 13 Close
Skills Name Level Progress Basic Swordplay 2 10/100 Basic Examination 1 5/100 Basic Mapping 1 70/100 Basic Trapping 1 0/100 Basic Gutting 1 90/100 Basic Skinning 1 65/100 Close
‘So close’ Brand smiled to himself as he pushed the door open and walked out into the hall. Fastin noticing Brand walk out of his room and over to the table with a smile on his face asked. ‘Why you so happy?’
‘I’m going to level up today, and some of my skills are getting close too.’ Brand replied motioning for food.
‘Congratulations, you can move on from rats when your level 2.’ Fastin grinned while eating. They finished eat and hurried out of town to the ratlands, Brand couldn’t wait to get started.
’Whack…Whack…Whack’ the sound of meat getting hit resounded throughout the grass on a regular basis as Brand knew most of the rats habits after killing over a hundred of them, and letting hundreds more escape.
‘Whack’ He just killed a rat when a warm feeling surged up his body filling it with a warm tingly filling.
You have leveled up to level 2. Your body has adjusted automatically and the system as given you 5 points to invest manually, choose wisely
Monsterology Unlocked.
Grassland Rat has been added to the Monsterology Book.
‘Sweet!’ Brand yelled as he pumped his fist into the air. He did a little victory dance before almost forgetting to gut and skin the rat, quickly he pulled out the knife got to work. Finished he put away the knife and meat when he heard a rustling in the grass ahead of him. Wondering what it was he pulled out his sword and slowly stood up look towards where the rusting game from.
“Swish” The grass parted revealing a blur as a form pounced towards him. Flinching he raised his sword in front of himself while stepping backward.
“Pah” The blur hit the sword, slightly moving to the left while knocking Brand away. Stumbling back a few steps, he quickly realized what attacked him. Standing a few feet away a big yellow cat was glaring at him with fang bared.
“Yowl” A fierce hiss resounded as the cats mouth opened wide showing its sharp fangs, a putrid odor emerged from its mouth as drool slowly fell from its mouth.
Gagging, Brand quickly raised his sword but, he realized it wouldn’t do much against something this big. The cat attacked, raising it’s left paw with claws extended at Brand’s face. Seeing the paw coming he blocked it with the sword, forcing the paw away from his face. Furious that it’s paw was blocked the cat lunged forward striking at Brands neck.
“Shit!” Brand quickly raised his sword blocking the cats mouth while being knocked over in the process. Struggling he forced the cats head away from his face while, the cat gnawed on the sword causing it to splinter. He realized that the sword wouldn’t hold back the cat much longer, he remembered his gutting knife. Using as much strength he could muster he pushed the cat away to the side, letting go of the sword he equipped the iron knife into his right hand, as the cat swung its head back around spitting out the wooden sword, Brand stabbed the knife into the eye of the cat.
-25
-5
-5
-5
-5
-5
Damage indicators immediately displayed above the cat as if recoiled swiping at the knife stuck in its eye. Unfortunately for the cat, the knife was wedge deep into the eye socket, the cats attempts became weaker and weaker before collapsing on the ground.
Brand laid on the ground trying to comprehend what just happened, breathing hard looking over at the dead cat. Calming down, Brand stood up and walked over to the cat, crouching down he examined it.
Name Mountain Cat Level 3 Health 0/50 Description A large feline that roams forests and grasslands feeding on small to medium size animals.
He pulled the knife out of the cat while looking around for his wooden sword. Searching the grass he found it a few yards away bent in half, since the sword was now useless he tossed a way and went back to cat. He decided to try skinning an gutting the cat. Surprisingly, both skills were successfull he even collected the claws and teeth. Leaving the carcus he slowly left and went to his usual meeting spot with Fastin. He was a little before the scheduled time, waiting he checked his status.
Status Name Brand King Level 2 Experience 2/100 Health 50/150 Attack 9 Defense 13 Strength 17 Vitality 15 Dexterity 10 Intelligence 16 5 Points Unassigned Close
‘I’ll wait on distributing the extra stat points, I should ask Rex what he recommends.’ Enjoying the slight breeze, he sat down and continued waiting for Fastin. He waited about half an hour before seeing Fastin emerge out of the forest, Brand stood up and waved. Fastin wave back beginning to jog, seeing Brand covered in blood. ‘What happened?’ he asked as he got closer.
‘A cat attacked me as I finished hunting the last rat.’
‘What!?! Cats are level 3 around here how did you survive?’
‘I got lucky, the knife you gave me really helped out, I stabbed it in the eye and it bled to death. Not before breaking my wooden sword though.’
‘Who cares about the wooden sword, you alive and that's what matters did you manage to skin it? The skin of cats are better priced then rat skin. Plus the bones can be used for more purposes.’
‘ Yeah, I managed to be successful skinning and gutting it but, I didn’t think the bones were important so I left them.’
‘That’s ok, there is a spot for hunting cats in the inner forest, I’m surprised there is one this far out though I’ve never seen them this far out of the forest. Let's go back to town I'm sure you exhausted. Oh, by the way, did you level up?’
‘Yeah, after I killed the rat I level up to level 2, that’s when the cat attacked me.’
‘Good, you need to talk to Rex when we get back, you can start doing more things with you strength increasing.’
They talked as they headed back to town.