Chapter 13

One Down and Nine More To Go.

Thrush was not home. It was odd looking forward to spending time with the little monster. Every now and then, he’d send chills up and down my spine. It was the way he looked. It was some of the things he said. However, I couldn't help but hope to talk with him and share some food and beer with him. And those dreambons…

What a spectacular fruit. What a strange creature he is. Carrying around that hide backpack filled with fruits. I wonder where he is. I wonder if I’ll ever see him again.

I looked around for a delivery of fish, but neither saw nor smelled any. Perhaps he was out fishing or hunting. Which was something I should be doing as well. I could certainly store more meat for the winter.

It was noon by the time I made myself some roasted chicory tea and a small potato salad with some sliced cabbage on the side. Cabbage and cardoons would be my only greens this winter. Better than last which had been only the cabbage.

After my fill, I went to clean off the logs of accrued snow by the fire pit. I cleaned out the fire pit, knowing it would simply fill up with snow again. Then I cleaned some of the dishes I’d used for the birds and wild animals. Though it was cold, I decided to head down to the sea for a few reasons. Gather some salt water, enjoy the walk, feel the sea breeze on my slowly growing beard, gander around for signs of Thrush, and take a look at my new skill book.

Though I found no signs of Thrush, I had everything else. I realized how excited and happy I felt having a buddy like Thrush to talk with. Unusual for me as I’d never been a people person.

Now Thrush isn’t exactly people, is he? Ha ha ha!

It felt good to have one of those private, happy smiles that came more rarely to me now. It felt good to feel my face tighten against the perpetual blade of the sea wind. The crash of the coast ground my thoughts to dust.

In under an hour, I could no longer feel my face. My nose dripped. My eyes watered and my eyelashes were weighed with small icicles. It was time to return home—but first thing’s first.

Let’s see what this skill book is all about!

I opened my system inventory and mentally grabbed the Gourd Blower skill book. I appeared in my outstretched hand. The skill book was an odd reward to get for a brewer’s path, but as long as I didn’t have to travel, I was content with it. I used it. Something I hadn’t done in over ten years.

The book opened of its own accord to page one. Then a page flipped over, against the wind. Then another flipped over. As each page flipped, from beginning to end, the information flooded me. I became so overloaded with new information that I was stuck in the midst of a gasp. Sea wind and snow cut my lungs.

Gourd blower. Of course. It makes sense now. I’ve got to have a container to store beer I’ve brewed. I’ve got to start somewhere. I’ve got to pick the right gourd. Hollow it. Cure it. Cork it.

[Level 1 Gourd Blower skill book used.

Ten squash and one small brewer’s loot chest have been added to your system inventory.]

When all the information was absorbed, I found myself face first in the snow. I’d forgotten the toll it took on the body to absorb a skill book. At least it was a level 1 skill book, and not anything that would have knocked me unconscious. The feeling of using rewards from adventures did make me feel a little uneasy. It brought back the feeling of having ventured out into the world and an unknown of where I’d be by next month. The feeling passed as I picked myself up from the freezing snow and turned to return home.

I was looking forward to opening my brewer’s loot chest, but part of me really wanted to share that with Thrush. My favorite part of growing as an adventurer has always been opening loot chests.

At home, once more by the stove, I added another few logs and poured myself the rest of the chicory tea I’d made. It had reduced and brought out more of the soot and black earth flavors of the root.

Absolutely fantastic.

As I enjoyed my current favorite tea, I brought out one of the squash I’d been rewarded with. It popped up onto my hand and I was surprised how heavy it was. As soon as I set it on the table, a system screen came up.

[New Quest Objective: Make ten gourd containers.

Reward: ten corks and one small brewer’s loot chest.]

Now hold on a second. Let’s do one today and see how long it takes me. I’m here to relax and take it slow.

I knew exactly what to do so I made myself comfortable and grabbed the squash in both hands. It was a little bigger than a boot and looked like two globes atop each other. The top one was a bit smaller and had a slight onion-top shape to it. Oops, I thought. Forgot my axe.

I carefully snipped off the tip of the gourd and once more clasped it tightly in both hands. Gourd blowing only took a little bit of mana, so I knew I’d be able to do the whole lot in one sitting if I wanted to.

I turned the gourd so that I was looking straight down over the top which I’d just cut off. The flesh was a beautiful yellow-orange. The skin was peach colored. It smelled of cheese and nuts.

I began to gently blow into the top of the gourd. My breath came out with the sound of wind passing through a deep glass flute. As I blowed, I could see the flesh of the gourd start to sink down into the fruit. For every inch that the meat of the squash sank down, The sound of my blowing breath deepened in pitch.

The process could not be sped up. I had to take many breaths. The most important thing was to take my time and pivot the squash in slight angles to thoroughly hollow it out. I almost burst out laughing when I imagined some excited adventurer opening their loot chest to find a jar of mysterious gourd fruit.

The system takes. The system gives. The gods steer.

I received a notification that the gourd was hollow. Now I had to cure it. I took a moment to catch my breath, and began blowing once more. This time I started with the entire exterior and then blew inside once more. The sound of my breath was different this time. It sounded as though wind were passing through a deep wooden lute instead of a glass one. I didn’t stop until I received another notification that the gourd was cured.

Alright. One down. Nine more to go.