The smell of fried meat and potatoes filled my camp. As I started to dig into my food, a new pop-up appeared.
Cooking → Discovered
→ Level 1
→ XP needed for Level 2 → 100 XP
"Aaaaand another one. Everything I do gives me a skill that I can level up. This is pretty neat. If everything works like the hunting skill that levelled up earlier, it means I can gain effects from every skill I have."
If I can level up enough, my stats will increase, and I'll be able to take on that Gray Wolf properly. But I'll need time, and more importantly, a weapon. While pebbles are easy to use and I can find plenty, they aren't very effective except for hunting birds. I'm not skilled enough with them yet for them to be a reliable weapon. If I can find a decent stick, I could try sharpening it against one of the boulders by the river to make a makeshift sword.
As I thought about tomorrow, an idea struck me. Since I'll be here for a while, survival is my priority—and since food is key, the potatoes I gathered today are perfect to start a small farm.
While planning ways to make my life easier, the sun set, and the stars once again filled the sky. I added more wood to the fire and huddled closer to it. It was my third night in this place. Though I could've been in a worse situation, I felt fortunate to be surviving without too much worry. I still don't know who I am or why I'm here. The Others and the Higher Ones are mysteries I know nothing about.
As Larrios drifted into thought, he slowly fell asleep. No dreams would come to him tonight, but he would need the rest—danger was on its way...
Morning arrived like any other. The birds gathered near Larrios's camp, chirping until one of them got hit.
"Bullseye! Breakfast is served!"
Larrios woke up and began his daily routine. His first task—finding food—was already done. He quickly stored the bird near the fire and turned his attention to the potatoes.
"I've got around 15 potatoes. If I dig some holes, they should start growing again."
Determined, Larrios began digging near his camp. He chose a flat spot and, using his bare hands, got to work. In less than an hour, he was done. He planted about 10 potatoes, carefully covering them with soil.
"I need water!"
He ran to the river, carrying water back to the potatoes to ensure they didn't dry out.
"Perfect! Now I just need to take care of them, and in a few weeks, I won't need to hunt those birds anymore!"
Farming → Discovered
→ Level 1
→ XP needed for Level 2 → 100 XP
Farming→ Level Up
→ Level 2
→ XP needed for Level 3 → 200 XP
→ Current Effect → Patience Level 1
Skill Description: By farming your first plant, you now understand that it takes patience and nurturing to bring forth life in this world. → +1 Intelligence
"Wow! I discovered farming, and I already levelled it up! Way to go, little potatoes. And what's this? Level 2 gives me another skill—and a bonus! Neat! Intelligence definitely wasn't my strong suit before, or ever, HAHAHA."
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After Larrios finished understanding his newfound skill, he returned to his camp and began drawing in the dirt.
"So, my camp is the centre of the area I'm in. To the east is the wild potato patch. That'll be a good hunting ground if the birds disappear from around the camp. To the west, the river flows, where I can wash and drink water. To the north is the forest, and if I follow the trail from yesterday, I can reach the wolf's cave in about 20 minutes. The only area I haven't explored is to the south. Alright, today's goal is to investigate that area and find a good stick to make a sword."
After Larrios made up his mind, he quickly fried his bird and prepared himself. He took some pebbles with him and started walking south. In that direction, a dried-out forest could be seen. The remnants of old trees were everywhere. It looked as if a fire had burned this part of the forest in the past, leaving it in its current state. The land was barren, with no vegetation growing there.
As Larrios walked, he looked around when suddenly, he heard something. In the air, two eagles were fighting each other. They clashed in the sky, and every time they touched, cruel screams echoed from them. Neither was willing to give up, and the reason for their fight was unknown.
Larrios was stunned and couldn't move. This was the first "battle" he had ever witnessed. Something ignited within him—a battle instinct that kept him from flinching. He was hooked. The two eagles were ferociously fighting when suddenly, they locked eyes and flew straight at each other. Upon reaching, they clasped talons and stopped fighting. Their wings ceased flapping, and they began descending.
This was the decisive moment. It was a fight of wills. Whoever broke the grip first would lose, and the other would win the battle.
500 meters... 400... 300... 200 meters! They didn't stop. With less than 50 meters to the ground, right near Larrios, one eagle suddenly pecked the other's neck until blood poured out, forcing the other to release its grip. The attacking eagle flew away while the defeated one, drained of strength, plummeted rapidly to the ground. Larrios watched as the eagle crashed, its body hitting the ground no more than 10 meters from him.
He was stunned. The entire fight had taken place in just minutes, and it was something majestic to witness. His heart was still racing, and his blood was flowing rapidly. The fight had stirred so many feelings in him. He sprinted toward the spot where the eagle had fallen.
Once there, Larrios saw the brutal grave of the eagle. Nothing remained of its body. Awe-struck, he began to think:
"He should have won. He was the braver one. He didn't let go; he was stronger. The other eagle cheated."
These were some of the thoughts running through Larrios's mind. But this was one of the first real lessons he would learn: nothing is fair in the game of life.
As Larrios was still contemplating the death of the eagle, he noticed the dead trees near where it had fallen. They were pointy and about an arm's length. He began walking toward them, and from the many sticks, he chose one. It was the perfect shape—as straight as a dead tree branch could be. He picked it up and removed the smaller, dead branches until it was clean. At this moment, it looked more like a club than a sword, but Larrios knew what he had to do with it.
He wanted to turn back now that his goal was achieved, but he remembered the eagle. He returned to the spot and started thinking again about what he had witnessed. He did not want to die like that.
"I need to become stronger..."
As he thought this, Larrios began to cover the eagle's body with earth, forming a grave in just a few minutes. Once finished, he stood and looked at it.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you. While you won't fly in the sky anymore, I hope this will bring you peace."
After saying this, Larrios turned his back on the grave and started walking back to the camp. When he arrived, he began swinging the stick around, trying to familiarise himself with how it felt in his hand. He practiced all the way from the camp to the river, where he searched for a boulder that could help him with his task.
He found a flat, smooth stone and began scraping the stick against it. With each stroke, the bark peeled away, revealing the smoother wood beneath. Once that was done, he used the stone to carve out a pointed tip at one end. Next, he focused on the handle. If he couldn't grip it properly, he wouldn't be able to use it effectively. He rubbed the stick against a larger rock to create a comfortable grip, using the edge of the stone to notch and shape the handle.
Larrios's hands grew tired, but he was determined. The image of the eagle's defeat still haunted him. He continued refining the wooden blade, smoothing out the rough edges and sharpening the tip until it resembled a proper sword. The sound of the river accompanied his efforts. Slowly but surely, the stick transformed, taking on the shape of a wooden sword.
Crafting → Discovered
→ Level 1
→ XP needed for Level 2 → 100 XP
New Item
→ Wooden Sword
Type: Weapon Damage: 2-5 Durability: 10/10
"Item Description: A simple yet sturdy wooden sword, crafted by Larrios. Though it lacks the sharpness of steel, its lightweight design makes it easy to wield."
Another window popped up. This time it showed a new skill, but what Larrios was most interested in was the new item described. Feeling proud of his hard work, he quickly ran back to his camp to investigate further.