Chapter 4

The room was a blur as Alec opened his eyes. His body was stiff and moving his legs to the side of the bed as he sat up took more energy than he was used to. He rubbed his eyes, blinking a layer of crust away. As his vision focused, he saw that he was back in his room. What was left of his armor was draped over his gathering pack near the door. He looked down at his chest to see long, ragged white lines tracing from his sternum to his naval. He traced them with his finger, just now starting to realize how close he had come to dying. How had he not realized that before? Logically speaking, he should have been freaking out after the attack. Instead, he had gone back to where he had shouldered the wolf, retrieved his pack, and made his way back to town. He must have passed out at that point, as he didn’t remember being healed or arriving home.

His hunger chose that time to make itself known. The growl from his stomach demanded attention. How long had he been asleep? He stood up and walked out of his room. He needed to speak to his master. Well, after finding a snack, of course. He made his way to the kitchen, opening the cold box to find some leftover sliced ham. The cabinet awarded him with a loaf of bread, which he promptly but into several slices for a couple sandwiches. As he was tearing into his second sandwich, the door to the work room opened, his master entering the room.

“You almost died.” The old man said, a hint of irritation in his voice. “Would have been a shame to lose another apprentice. They said you were attacked by a wolf while collecting the grass. Thing is, as long as I can remember, wolves stay in the forest, and deeper than the tree line. I’ve collected silvertip grass in that area for decades, never seen a hint of one until I went a ways into the woods. Now, seeing as you couldn’t possibly be stupid enough to have gone into the forest alone, I am going to assume you aren’t lying. This time. I’ll not lose another student to the stupidities of youth. This happens again, and you’ll be stuck in town for the foreseeable future.”

“I got careless. It won’t happen again. I realize how close I came to dying and can say that I don’t look forward to a repeated experience.” Alec wasn’t about to lie to the old man’s face, though he wasn’t going to admit to going into the forest either. “I feel like I’ve slept for days. How long have I been out?”

“About fourteen hours. Being healed takes it out of you. The healer said he was forced to use mend, rather than a lower level spell. It speeds up the body’s natural healing rate by a large degree. This has the side effect of using vast amounts of energy and nutrients. You’ll be needing more than a few sandwiches to get back to feeling like yourself, but your stomach can only process so much at a time. Finish those and I’ll get started on a late lunch. Take the lore book to your room and study. You need to take it easy for the rest of the day, but that doesn’t mean we are going to waste that time. Skip to page 435 and start your reading on the local wildlife. Maybe that will keep you from costing me five silvers for a healing next time I send you out for materials. Ah, speaking of, good job there. You brought back four times what I had come to expect from such trips. Maybe losing the last child was a boon after all. I won’t front the cost again, however. Now go, I have materials to process.”

-----

Alec found himself lying in bed not long after. He set the lore book to the side and pulled up his character sheet. It was time to experiment with his trait.

//Name: Alec Montaine

Age: 16

Level: 1

Experience: 150/200

Condition: Healing recovery

Health: 104/104

Health Regen: 4.75 per minute

Mana: 50

Mana Regen: 2.375 per minute

Physical

Strength: 7

Endurance: 6

Perception: 6

Agility: 5

Constitution: 7

Mental

Magic: 5

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 7

Fortitude: 6

Willpower: 6

Attribute Points available: 0

Traits:

Enhance: Spend experience points to modify the properties of an object or entity targeted by the user. May not be used on self. Object must be under the ownership of the user. Sentient beings must give their consent. Non-sentient beings must be under the control of the user.

Cost: Variable Experience Points

Skills: None//

He had gained 150 experience points. He looked around the room, and his gaze fell on his leather chest piece. As poor a piece of armor as it was, it had most likely saved his life. He faintly remembered how low his health was after the battle. It wasn’t a stretch to think that he would have died if he wasn’t wearing this.

// Shredded Thin Leather Armor

Rarity: Common

Condition: Destroyed

Durability: 0/10

Armor: 0

Material: Cow Leather

Weight: 9.7 lbs

Thin leather armor made from the processed hides of cattle. Provides weak armor in exchange for freedom of movement.//

//Would you like to Enhance this item?//

For the first time since gaining his trait, Alec selected yes.

//Select the property you wish to Enhance.

Durability

Armor

Material

Weight//

Alec’s jaw dropped. It looked as if he would be able to use his trait to change the durability, strength, and material of the item he was enhancing. Even the weight? Alec decided to start from the top of the list and work his way down.

//Enhance: Durability

You can add a point of max durability for 500 experience points.

You can repair the item for 10 experience points per 1 point of durability.//

The list was short but shocking. Alec put a lid on his excitement and pushed on.

//Enhance: Armor

You can add 1 point of Armor for 750 experience points.

You can add the property Magical Armor for 3000 experience points.//

//Enhance: Material

You can change the material to any that you have a sample of for a commensurate experience cost.

Current Material: none.//

//Enhance: Weight

You can increase weight by 10% for 1000 experience points

You can decrease weight by 10% for 1000 experience points.//

Alec took another breath, deeper this time. He reviewed his options again and again. His trait was simply overbearing. With enough experience, he could make his leather chest piece stronger than tempered steel. Could he do the same for his weapon? He grabbed his sword and used his trait once more.

//Iron Short Sword

Rarity: Common

Condition: Worn

Durability: 3/10

Damage Type: Slashing, Stabbing

Damage: 4

Material: Iron

Weight: 2.5 lbs

A short sword made of iron with a worn leather-wrapped handle. Though it is slightly rusty and well-used, its edge has been recently sharpened.//

//Would you like to Enhance this item?//

Alec again chose yes.

//Select the property you wish to Enhance.

Durability

Damage

Material

Weight//

//Enhance: Durability

You can add a point of max durability for 500 experience points.

You can repair the item for 10 experience points per 1 point of durability.//

//Enhance: Damage

You can add 1 point of Damage for 750 experience points.

You can add Magical Damage of the type of your choosing for 5000 experience points.//

//Enhance: Material

You can change the material to any that you have a sample of for a commensurate experience cost.

Current Material: none.//

//Enhance: Weight

You can increase weight by 10% for 1000 experience points

You can decrease weight by 10% for 1000 experience points.//

Alec’s smile widened as a plan formed in his head. He put his sword back against the wall and picked up his ruined chest piece. He brought up the durability menu and chose a full repair. He felt… something drain from his being as the leather in front of him start pulling itself together and repairing itself. He somehow felt less than he had a moment before. Patches and thread fell to the floor as new leather simply grew to fill the holes he had cut out for them. Tears and wrinkles disappeared before his eyes. The leather itself went from worn to new in seconds. He looked at it from various angles, unable to spot a single blemish.

//Thin Leather Armor

Rarity: Common

Condition: New

Durability: 10/10

Armor: 9

Material: Cow Leather

Weight: 8.6 lbs

Thin leather armor made from the processed hides of cattle. Provides weak armor in exchange for freedom of movement.//

He slid the armor over his head and tightened its straps. It creaked and moaned like a piece of freshly made armor. “Looks like I’ll have to break this in before I use it again.” He whispered to himself. He noticed that the armor of the piece had gone up, most likely from being a whole unit rather than a collection of stitching and patches. He removed the armor and placed it in the chest near his bed. He checked his character sheet and saw that he only had 50 experience, rather than the 150 he started with. It blew his mind that he used it as a resource. He laid back down, mulling over the plan in his mind, changing small details and keeping others open in case of unexpected circumstances. He fell asleep that night, stomach full from the extra meals he’d had.

-----

The next day found Alec at the Watter farm. Yesterday had been Sam’s awakening day, and he wanted to celebrate with her. He had gotten ahold of a small brooch in the shape of a tulip. It had been in a basket of random junk at a local shop, scratched up and faded. He had used 40 experience points to repair it, watching as it became a vibrant blue with a glossy finish. He almost reconsidered when he saw the experience cost but getting Sam to help him was a large part of his plan. Plus, she really liked tulips, and he wanted to be a good friend. He found himself at the door to their farmhouse, a two-story affair with small windows and a lived-in feel. A well-tended flower garden hugged the house. It was something Sam and her mother had started years ago and had spread until it nearly circled the place. A light wind blew through the flowers as the morning sun shone in a clear blue sky. It was truly picturesque.

A moment after his knock the door opened. Sam’s younger sister looked at him with red, puffy eyes.

“Alec! Thank the goddess. Go talk to Samira and put some sense into her!” Claira pleaded. Seeing Alec’s confused face, she started to explain. “She awakened a combat trait. Father didn’t mind, as she can still work the farm without any issues. He wanted her to have a farming trait, but it honestly doesn’t matter too much to him. Samira was excited though, more so than I’ve ever seen her. She keeps going on about becoming a warrior. Dad lost his mind when she told him. He keeps screaming about how he won’t lose two of his children to fighting. But she will listen to you, you can stop the fighting.” She looked at him, hope in her eyes.

Alec looked at Claira with a sad smile. It was never a good feeling to let someone down who believed in you. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to convince Sam to change her mind, even if he had wanted to. She was just too damn stubborn.

“I’ll be honest with you Claira, I’ve never once been able to change Sam’s mind after she made it. I will talk to her, but it will be as a friend, not someone trying to convince her to do something she doesn’t want.”

Claira’s eyes fell, tears leaking from them.

“I don’t want to lose her like we did Castor. We haven’t seen him for almost a year. He only writes around the holidays, too.”

“Growing up can be tough, but we all have to do it. Now, are you going to let her know I’m here, or do I have to walk in unannounced into a family argument?”

Claire left him standing in the doorway as she went to get Sam.

Sam walked through the door a moment later, slamming it behind her. “Sorry about the state of things.” She said to him, a resigned look in her eyes. “I’m betting sis told you about my trait?”

“Just that it was a combat one and that you are excited to have it? I never thought you’d want to be a fighter Sam. I’m not saying I’m against it, just a bit surprised.”

“It isn’t that I want to be a warrior. It just feels… right somehow. I’ve always been a bit sturdier than regular folk. Working on a farm from childhood will do that to you. I took to it a bit better than most though. I can pull a plow in place of an ox if need be. Found that out the hard way. When I awoke my trait yesterday, I started to see different possibilities for myself. I love the farm, I do. But it’s the only thing I’ve ever known. There’s so much more out there that I want to see, to experience. My trait increases my health and natural armor. I have five armor right now, my skin’s as resilient as an ox’s . I would make a perfect frontliner for a party if I learn how to wield a sword and shield.”

“What are you planning?” Alec asked. This was good news for him. He needed someone to share his trait with. He had yet to test its last use.

“I need to learn to fight, first off. Never even held a sword, let alone a shield. I’ve saved up a small amount of money over the years, though not near enough. I plan on finding a swordsman willing to teach me for the pittance I can pay. Then I’ll try to join a party or guild to get some levels and experience. Not many other ways to go about it.”

“What if money wasn’t an issue? What if you had someone who could sponsor you? Get you decent training, even a weapon and armor?” Here is where Alec got anxious. He didn’t want to share his trait with anyone, but if he had to, Sam was his best bet. She was loyal to a fault.

“As long as it was all above board, I’d say they’d have themselves a warrior. Why, do you know someone who could actually do that?” Her eyes lit up with excitement.

“You could say that. Give me a few days. I will need to get some things together. Come by the shop on Friday and I should have everything ready.”

Sam threw her arms around Alec and squeezed. He could feel his ribs creaking under the pressure. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! It would be the best awakening gift I could ever ask for.”

“Speaking of gifts,” Alec said, rubbing his side after she let him go. “I did get you one, as long as you didn’t break it with that hug.”

Sam blushed as she apologized. “Emotions have been high today. Not my fault you can’t take a thank you.” Her eyes locked onto the tulip brooch he extended to her. She took it from him gingerly. “It’s beautiful, how did you afford this?’

“I have my ways.” He winked at her. “I’ll see you Friday?”

She could only nod at him as he left, treasuring the piece of jewelry she had just received.

-----

Alec reached into the chest and grabbed his armor. It would be a shame to get rid of something that had saved his life so recently, but he needed starting money if he were going to pull this off. It was the only thing he had of value, and he needed to be able to afford equipment for Sam. He threw the armor into his pack, belted his sword, and went to look for an armor shop that he had yet to visit.

He eventually found himself at an out of the way open market. Several merchants stood near wooden tables holding their wares. Almost all had a personal guard standing watch nearby. Alec looked around at the various items for sale until he found a vendor with several types of armor stacked neatly next him. Alec walked up to the stall and started studying the quality of the man’s wares. Everything he saw had been used to one degree or another. Quite a bit of the armor had been patched more than once. Alec found a padded leather jerkin about Sam’s size and set it aside after identifying it.

// Padded Leather Jerkin

Rarity: Common

Condition: Worn

Durability: 4/10

Armor: 11

Material: Ugnath Leather

Weight: 11.3 lbs

Thick padded leather jerkin with half sleeves. Made with treated Ugnath leather. Resistant to stabbing and slashing damage. Weak to crushing damage.//

He continued to search through the items until he found some pants that would work as well.

// Ugnath Leather Chausses

Rarity: Common

Condition: Damaged

Durability: 2/10

Armor: 11

Material: Ugnath Leather

Weight: 6.8 lbs

Leather chausses designed to go well under plated armor. Made with treated Ugnath leather. Resistant to stabbing and slashing damage. Weak to crushing damage.//

Both items were shoddy at best, though nowhere near as bad as his first leather piece. Finding nothing else that fit what he was looking for, he got the man’s attention.

“What do you want for these?” He asked, adopting an air of indifference. “They are shoddy but serviceable.”

The man eyed Alec, taking in his clothing, and snorted. “More ‘en you can afford guttersnipe. Go bother someone else, I’ve honest work to do ‘ere.”

“Normally, you would be correct. I have a new master, however, and he gifted me this.” Alec removed the leather chest piece he had repaired using his trait. “Nice as it is, I need more coverage. I would trade it for these and ten silvers.” He knew he wouldn’t get that much off this man, but a lifetime of haggling had taught him to always start bidding high.

“Hah! Ya’ve got balls lad. I’ll give ya that. Who’s to say this weren’t stolen? I’d be well within my rights to confiscate it from ya iffin it were.” The man countered, though Alec could see it was an empty threat.

“Would it really matter if it was? It would be a jewel next to the rest of your fine selection. Trading it for two items that were also certainly gathered under the full purview of the law would be an excellent deal for you.” Alec was under no illusions. He’d seen the dagger-like puncture wounds sewn and patched in many of the pieces, most in areas that would outright kill a man. These goods were purchased from people much less reputable than he.

The man cocked a brow at him. “Not quite as wet behind the ears as ya seem, are ya lad? I tell ya what, even trade for the pieces ‘ere.”

“And ten silvers” Alec replied calmly.

“Yer outta yer gourd if’n you think I’ll pay that. Tree silver” The man spat, what teeth he had showing black in his mouth.

Alec forced an irritated look onto his face. “Fine.” He said, handing over the chest piece as he collected his money and new gear. “Pleasure doing business with you.” Alec knew he had gotten the bad end of that deal at only getting three silver from the man. It was necessary to sell to somewhere like this, though. He couldn’t take it to someone he knew, as they’d ask too many questions. He actually ended up making out quite better than he’d expected. Alec placed everything into his pack and set off to his next destination, he had more to get ready for Friday.