Blair

The disruption on the water continued for a few seconds, but that was the least confusing part to me. I stood up and swiped the small rocks that adhered to my body, a strange feeling of cold remained on my fingers that I used to draw the arrow. Rubbing them together brought a certain warmth, but it didn’t feel the same. The missing warmth was different, it was at the center of my body like a pool of primeval heat, one that I didn’t know existed. I could feel it ever so slightly churn with every movement, but it was never uncomfortable. At the same time, part of it was missing. I could just feel it.

I grabbed an arrow from the ground, just like before I moved the warmth towards the arrow. The instinct was no longer there, but eventually it reached my fingers. My hand felt heated and then was promptly transferred to the arrow, it felt familiar but it was also foreign. Compared to the feeling of the Explosive Shot it was different. I withdrew the heat, and it returned to my body instead of being lost. After that, I grabbed my bow and promptly nocked an arrow. As if it was natural the same instinctual feeling came to be once more, pushing me to guide the warmth towards the arrow. I did it once more, and this time, it felt right. Its green glow called my attention.

This was a skill.

This was [Explosive Shot]...

I familiarized myself with the feeling, before withdrawing the warmth from the arrow back into my body. There was no loss, no feeling of coldness. The string was slowly loosened and the arrow was withdrawn. I played with the warmth that I felt in my body. Sometimes it was easy to guide and other times it was hard, it depended on where I wanted it to go. Guiding it to my fingers regardless of limb was easy, but focusing on a different spot was difficult. I played with it for a few seconds, but felt as if I was forgetting something.

Looking around everything was deadly quiet, the trees were still toppled and the remains of my campfire were still fresh. It was all⁠— I was out in the open. The sea of trees surrounded me, any animal could get the jump on me if I wasn’t paying attention. If another Knell Boar showed up I’d be done for.

I awoke from my reverie, grabbed my arrows and bow in one hand, and the corpse of a Loa Vulpe in the other. I headed in the opposite direction of the destruction, though I felt that any direction was about the same⁠— just as dangerous. The fight had shaken a large portion of the seemingly endless forest. The only important thing was being away. Away from the site of destruction.

As I entered the grass and away from the lake, I couldn’t help but look at Glim, my companion who simply was silent.

“Why didn’t you warn me about the potential danger of being out in the open?” I wasn’t feeling awfully down about it, but Glim did warn me about the Knell Boar.

Glim waited a second before replying. [As your assistant I cannot control a large majority of your decisions, such suggestions have a high likelihood of changing your plan of action. Moreover, even though I am here and can warn you of immediate danger, you shouldn’t rely on it. Since well… it’s immediate after all. But I can warn you about things such as the dangers of picking a certain quest⁠— of course, you can just let me pick all your quests, every single one of them!] Glim chirped.

I acknowledged its first statement and ignored basically everything else. Glim was right. I shouldn’t wait to be told of danger. I had to be more proactive, much more⁠— careful. I had to think further ahead. I took a deep breath as I approached a tree that was still near the lake, but not at the forefront of the forest. The sounds of insects and unknown beasts served me as a reminder. It’s a different world.

I placed the arrows between my belt, and through a hole in my leggings. It was uncomfortable and their cold metal brushed against my skin, but I couldn’t really complain. Then I put my bow behind my back, and finally looked at the Loa Vulpe⁠— wait… It was a dead animal, wouldn’t that attract predators? If I brought it to the tree would it bring something like another Knell Boar towards me?

That was… troublesome.

I sighed before kneeling down, and placing the animal on the ground. I grabbed my knife and decided on whether I needed anything from it or to just leave it to rot. I saw its tail, and then my arrows. Perhaps…

My knife sliced through the base of its tail roughly, but it didn’t take much strength before it snapped and broke off with mangled flesh. Oddly enough it didn’t bleed much, but it was a welcome surprise. Now focusing on its tail, I ran the edge of my knife from the base all the way to the end of the bone of the tail ⁠— making sure it cut all the way through, I pulled. The fur was separated from the muscle the more I pulled, eventually I had a sort of sleeve, and the tail bones and muscle were separated. Making sure to not leave any flesh or residue on the fur was hard, but I got it done.

Once I was done, I headed elsewhere.

[I can’t help but notice you didn’t want to bring an animal carcass because of rotting,] Glim mentioned. [But the fur will still rot, you know?]

“Will it?” I asked with confusion.

Glim bobbed. [Indeed, but injecting your mana into it can help preserve it as well as making it more durable! Though it will still rot, but it will take considerably more time.]

“I see,” I nodded, though what Glim said also brought a question to my mind. “Why did the Everwood Moose rot so fast?”

[Mana is ever fleeting, if the being whose mana it belongs to is dead, then too shall its mana vanish. If it's vastly composed of mana then it shall rot faster, is what I am saying.] I continued to walk in an attempt to find another tree. [By the way, it makes me happy that you ask me so many things! You can rely on me at any time.]

After a few minutes of walking I found what I was looking for. A tree that allowed me to see the lake ⁠— or I thought would allow me to see the lake when climbed ⁠— that was also surrounded enough to not expose me. With that in mind I began to climb, however, this time around I did not stop at the lowest branch, I continued to go up until I was near the top.

The forest expanded as far as the horizon could see, but in a different direction there was no forest but instead mountains filled with snow and waterfalls. Ones whose height I couldn’t quite fathom⁠— if the trees were tens of meters, then how tall were the mountains? I shook my head, there was no use in thinking about those things for now.

The first thing I did was make a makeshift quiver with the tail fur, wrapping it around my belt and making a knot that allowed me to tighten it. Taking Glim’s advice into account, I reached for my mana⁠— the warmth at my core, and brought it to my fingers. I extended it to the fur, the warmth encompassed it and it began to emit a dim glow. But it wasn’t doing anything. I kept pushing mana till I felt as if I couldn’t do so anymore. And then, I stopped touching it.

It didn’t zap the heat from my fingers, but I felt a considerable drain at my core. But I could sense how it slowly trickled as more came to exist. It was a slow process, but at least it regenerated. Though, it had disappeared considerably fast. After that I threaded all my arrows through the gap and tightened around it. I doubted if they’d be able to hold, but it seemed sturdy.

The fur felt different to the touch, but I couldn’t quite tell what it was. It was fluffier and softer, but it also felt more durable. Did the mana enhance it? Could I use mana on my bowstring to make it shoot with weight? I shook my head and stared at the lake, at the campfire, and at the destruction. I could’ve just left, but I also wanted to see the aftermath of my actions. Questions such as⁠ — What kind of animals would it bring? Would it be left alone? ⁠— they were things I needed to know.

With that in mind, I waited on my tree branch. Calmly, and patiently.

Minutes went by, but I felt as if I was missing something. Something important. I couldn't quite tell what it was, so I stared at Glim hoping for an answer. Just maybe.

[What?] Glim shook. [Oh, something important! Yes, your quests! Remember?]

Oh. I nodded and thought back to the completed quest.

[You have completed ⁠— Ecology Dissection (Common F): When in a strange land, one must first investigate. Reward: 1 Shard of Ambition. Condition: Kill Beasts of equal or greater level than you. (5/5) (Complete)!]

[Would you like to receive your rewards?]

Yes?

[You have received: 1 Shard of Ambition!]

[Next quest selected by entity ‘Glim’: Ecology Dissection II (Common F): When in a strange land, one must first investigate. Reward: 3 Shards of Ambition. Condition: Kill Beasts of equal or greater level than you. (0/10) Would you like to accept?]

A light generated and floated towards my hand, it was a small shard of what seemed like glass-like material. It was pitch-black, and yet it shone in a myriad of colors as if it was a rainbow. Can’t I just like… get rid of this? Also, why did Glim select a quest for me?

[Would you like to store your reward: Shard of Ambition?] The System prompted. Huh? That was neat. Yes? The shard vanished with a speck of light.

[Do you like the new quest? I selected it just for you!]

I looked at Glim. “I… I don’t know what a Shard of Ambition is, so thanks, I guess?”

[You didn’t inquire about it? Bring it out again! Think; I want my Shard of Ambition! Do it!] Glim nagged with annoyance. [You shall see why I chose this quest for you!]

Glim got unexpectedly riled up, something that I never expected from it. With that in mind, I decided to listen. I want my shard of ambition.

A light speck appeared and came towards my hand. Once more, I had the mysterious glass-like fragment, I thought about wanting to know more.

[Shard of Ambition ⁠(Rare item) ⁠— It is said that those with ambition will achieve greatness. Gather ten of these to acquire a small feat. (1/10)]

So if I got ten of them I would get a Feat? I didn’t know what a ‘small-feat’ was but it seemed good to me. With that said, I thought about getting rid of it. Skipping the prompt with a preemptive yes, the Shard disintegrated into specks of light. That was troublesome.

“Can a⁠—

[No,] Glim answered before I could ask. [System particles and effects can only be seen by the entity causing them. That said, accept the next quest. Unless you want to see a full quest list!]

I nodded. A quest list could wait, perhaps I would change the walking quest. Whose progression was at 19 km out of 20 km. Well, maybe the limit wasn’t three quests? I shook my head.

“I accept the quest,” I said in a hushed voice.

[You have accepted: Ecology Dissection II (Common F) ⁠— Progress (0/10)]

With that done, I made sure to have all my things straight and looked towards the lake. Huh? There was a figure approaching the campfire. It wore a black matte armor, one that seemed chaffed and cracked from the sun, a draping cloak followed closely behind. A sword perched on its hip, and every step was careful and ready to attack. Atop its head, a helmet was placed, two horns protruded from the top of it. What was that? I tried to inquire, but got no result. The distance was double compared to the time with the Loa Vulpes.

It reached the campfire and ran its finger through the ashes before looking around and towards the destruction. After doing so, it signaled towards its left, and suddenly a dozen figures appeared, all in a neat and organized manner, though only one of them wore a cloak. Their helmets bobbed up and down, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I felt compelled to get closer to listen but I also felt like it was a terrible idea.

I held onto my bow, wanting to know how strong they were, but reminded myself of the things that happened with the Knell Boar.

In the end, all I could do was watch them as some analyzed the campfire and others headed in the direction of destruction. I knew there were other intelligent species due to the nature of the Skirmish, but this confirmed it. And they traveled in groups too, meaning I was in special circumstances.

I was alone after all. I clenched my fist. Even then, I could still do it. I could still survive. I just had to be more careful.