It is wiser to traverse the journey in solitude than to accompany the fool.

  - Quassian Aphorism.

  While keeping myself revitalized with the Drain spell, I had borne watch for most of the night. It was only in the very early hours of the morning that Kidu relieved me of my duties to allow me a few hours. Throughout the night, the repeated use of the Drain spell allowed me to keep my Mana almost full. Moreover, my unwavering focus had elevated the spell's level and augmented my Intelligence by a single point. Fortunately, no one broke into our room during the night to steal our belongings. I considered this to be a much-needed triumph.

  Much of the night was spent in contemption of the book's contents, particurly the enigmatic diagrams that tantalized my imagination with their intricate designs. I recalled that the Identify scroll I had absorbed contained comparable patterns in certain areas. The pages were adorned with mathematical equations in a paradigm I struggled to comprehend, and much of the text was marred by damage.

  Despite this, I was able to glean a rough overview of the workings of magic in this realm. It seemed that the manipution of Mana could influence the fabric of reality, though the level of difficulty was determined by the magnitude of change required. From the incomplete manuscript, I deduced that the casting of powerful or intricate spells necessitated a greater expenditure of Mana to bridge the chasm between the caster's "intent" and the present reality.

  Indeed, a fireball would indisputably have a more discernible impact on reality than a mere spark. Simirly, conjuring a bde of water in a parched desert would prove far more arduous than in a damp, marshy environment. This incongruity led me to question why my own magical abilities always had the same cost in Mana, fluctuating solely in correspondence to the spell's present level and potency. The previous night had left me with a multitude of unresolved inquiries about the enigmatic nature of this realm.

  Filled with stolen energy and lost in the contemption of these musings, I was far too excited to find sleep. I y there on the bed awake and staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling, simply thinking. Once I felt that sufficient time had passed, I roused Elwin from his slumber a few hours ter.

  The man slowly got up, still bleary-eyed from his rest. Despite his grumbling, I expressed my sincerest gratitude for his gift, the old primer on magic, an act he dismissively shrugged off as inconsequential. As it was still early, we opted to forgo the customary morning meal and instead dined on our travel provisions of tough, dried Laur meat. As I gnawed on the leathery jerky, memories flooded my mind of the time when the very same creature had attempted to devour me. Survival of the strong, I thought to myself, as I washed the meat down with some water that had long since grown stale.

  Our meal complete, we decided upon a pn for the rest of the day. Elwin would take care of selling the smaller ‘higher end’ bits and pieces we had acquired from the charcoal burners, while Kidu and I would sell the rest of the rger, less valuable equipment and search for work or other means of earning coin. It had also been decided that we would make a stop at a bcksmith or armorer to purchase some new gear.

  Kidu had expressed the need for a decent bow, while I desired a better helmet. Although my current helmet had proven its worth time and time again, aesthetics was still important to me. After all, a helmet was one of the most vital pieces of protection, but that did not mean it could not look good. I now understood why the ancients paid so much attention to the decoration of their armor. It was also as good a time as any to check my character sheet.

  STATUS

  Calling: Gilgamesh Level 10 Padin of Avaria / Reaver

  Strength: 24

  Dexterity: 19

  Constitution: 34

  Intelligence: 19

  Wisdom: 17

  Charisma: 11

  Luck: 16

  SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

  Pain Nullification (lvl.2)

  Power Strike (lvl.2) 10

  Endure (lvl.3)

  Stealth (lvl.1)

  Rest (lvl.3)

  Backstab (lvl.2)

  Dodge (lvl.3)

  Polearms (lvl.2)

  Dual Wield (lvl.2)

  Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.2)

  Mining (lvl.2)

  Unarmed Combat (lvl.3)

  Hammers (lvl.2)

  Fils (lvl.1)

  Maces (lvl.1)

  Shields (lvl.1)

  Medium Armor (lvl.1)

  Heavy Armor (lvl.1)

  Axes (lvl.1)

  Daggers (lvl.2)

  Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)

  SPELLS & MAGIC

  Heal (lvl.5) 5

  Rust (lvl.3) 1-2

  Identify (lvl.2) 1

  Silent Casting (lvl.1)

  Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

  Purify (lvl.2) 3

  Greater Heal (lvl.1) 10

  Holy Aura (lvl.1) 2

  Decay (lvl.1) 1

  Drain (lvl.2) 2

  Entropic Aura (lvl.2) 2

  GIFTS

  Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.

  Mark of the Padin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

  Touch of the Void: 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to Mental Effects, 15% immunity to Mental Effects.

  Experience to next level 2447/2583

  Health: 230/230

  Stamina: 53/55

  Mana: 12/13

  As we left the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Practicing my magical skills had boosted my mental faculties, as well as gaining me some nominal experience. Learning how to throw daggers, too, had added to my accumuted experience total.

  Climbing down the creaky stairs, I went to the bar and cleared our drinks tab from the previous evening with Athinad. It appeared that Elwin had been a bit too liberal with our expenses, but I deemed it necessary to view it as a business investment, for if we could find a buyer for our trinkets, the cost would prove worthwhile. Such was the price of civilization. Knowledge and information were paid for in coin or in favor, and in that moment, I was not in the mood to be giving out favors.

  Emerging from the inn, we strode along the main thoroughfare for a spell. The flow of wagons and beasts was still sparse at this early hour of the morning. A curious creature, resembling a rger and gentler incarnation of the Tree-Laur I had chanced upon in the woods, crossed our path. Its six squat limbs hauled a diminutive wooden cart, freighted with wares.

  I debated casting Identify on the creature, but decided it was simply better to ask my companions first.

  “Keep forgetting you don’t know much about anything,” remarked Elwin unhelpfully. “It’s a...”

  “Pins-Laur,” Kidu finished for him, drawing a shrug from the Rogue as he continued on like a farmer plowing a field. “They make for good eating.”

  Elwin rolled his eyes. “Pins-Laur, a bit more expensive than horses and definitely more temperamental. They got a lot more stamina, if not quite the speed of a good horse. Can’t say I care much for them, except as my rge and learned friend has mentioned, they make for good eating,” he expounded, making sure to enunciate the st part carefully.

  Kidu just grunted at this, and dodged a middle-aged man carrying a wicker basket over his shoulders. I grinned at the pair’s trifling banter, my thoughts fixated on the potential experience points the creature would yield, rather than its epicurean value or its merit as a mount.

  We reached a corner of the road dominated by a rge yurt-like building, when Elwin suddenly decred with a cheerful smile, “Well gentlemen, this is where we’ll be needing to part ways a while. I’ll see what I can do about selling these old bit’s n’ bobs with a local fence and get a little y of the nd. You two have fun selling our other junk for what you can and let’s meet back before sundown at the Twisted Boar,” he said, eager to be off.

  “Fortune favors you, Elwin Tucker,” Kidu rumbled, holding the Rogue’s eyes for a moment, causing Elwin to run one of his hands through what remained of his hair, nervously.

  Looking sheepish, the wiry man walked off into the crowd, turning around one st time before throwing us a wave. There was no doubt that Elwin was still a bit of a mystery to me. He had proven dependable enough so far, a reliable bde to be called upon when needed. Yet, I could not help but feel a nagging sense of doubt about his motivations. The man had clearly lied about his backstory before.

  Continuing down the road, which was now slowly filling up with more traffic, Kidu and I passed a stooped old man who looked to be some sort of tinkerer, setting up his simple iron goods on a tarp along the side of the thoroughfare. Kidu and I approached him. The looming presence of my companion towered over him and cast a rge shadow across his humble wares.

  “Oh, hello there, sir!” said the startled trader, almost jumping at the sight of the rge man as he finished setting up a dispy. “Wha...what can I do for you today?”

  I bent down before his dispy, touching some pots and pans as if feigning interest in the quality of his wares, before getting down to business, “Good sir. A fine set of products, you have. And it so happens that we possess certain goods of simir quality that may be of interest to you," I spoke in a tone that conveyed both courtesy and purpose.

  Meanwhile, Kidu, comprehending my unspoken instruction, began to unpack our array of mining tools - the trusty picks and shovels that had served us so well. It was time to see if I could pass an extortion roll.

  “We have a few things you might be interested in. Of course, being an honest and healthy merchant, you will give us a fair price for these, won’t you?” I said, smiling coldly in a manner I hoped was slightly threatening. I had little patience to dicker about the price. The Hunter’s massive presence alone ensured that we would be treated fairly.

  Completely shrugging off my implied threat, the tinkerer proved to possess more backbone and mercantile savvy than I had initially assumed. His voice was unwavering as he offered his assessment. “These tools appear to be of inferior quality, cking in any identifiable maker's mark, with considerable wear and tear. That pick, in particur…" he expined, pointing at the one I had most recently wielded in the mines. "…has seen better days. I can only offer you five bronze for the entire lot." He stared me down with steely eyes.

  It could have been my ck of Charisma, or perhaps his shrewd instincts as a natural-born trader, but the man was well aware that I cked the fortitude to drive a hard bargain. In the end, it would be my loss. I really needed to work on my delivery.

  "Add another five copper to the sum, and we shall consider it a fair exchange," I relented with a tinge of resignation in my voice.

  The tinkerer's face split into an avaricious grin. "Agreed," he stated calmly, though the unmistakable gleam of greed shone in his eyes.

  Only a fool would fail to recognize that the snake of a merchant had come out on top of this particur deal.

  Whilst engaged in the trade with the tinkerer, I couldn't help but overhear a hushed conversation between two women as they walked by.

  "Did you hear about Marda? She lost her child st night, just walking down this very street. The midwife says she may never be able to bear children again!" one of the women whispered a little too loudly, as if sharing a delicious secret with the world.

  "I heard the same thing! Poor Marda believes it was a curse of witchcraft, cast upon her as she passed by that accursed inn, the Curled Boar or something. Some say they, too, felt something sinister. Even old Gus was assailed by the demons of the night. It's enough to warrant the attention of an Honored One. Who knows? It could be foul magic or the handiwork of foreign spies!" her friend commented with a nervous giggle at the delectable piece of gossip as they gradually receded from earshot.

  A pang of guilt briefly assailed me for a microsecond, but I quickly redirected my attention to the tinkerer. He reached into a light blue knapsack that was slung over his shoulder, deftly counted out the coins, and deposited them into my awaiting palm. I bid the trader farewell, inclining my body slightly in the customary local bow, while Kidu offered him nothing more than a resentful look as we continued on our way. I handed Kidu his share, which consisted of one bronze and eight copper pieces. He tried to refuse, but I insisted, reminding him of his duty to bring wealth back to his cn. Even if I had been ‘cheated,’ I would not do so with my own companions.