Hesitation is death.

Jack swung the axe down with all his strength, burying its head into the chief’s neck. Hot blood landed across his face, temporarily blinding him. Ignoring the spray he yanked the axe upward for another swing. It’s stuck! He panicked, pulling with all his might.

He’s still alive! The chief clawed at the bound axe. Gurgling filled the hut as the chief thrashed on his bed.

I have to kill him now! Jack thought, drawing his knife. Thrusting downward, he plunged his blade deep into the orc’s eye. The chief violently spasmed. Jack gasped in disbelief. How is he still alive? He thought before the chief finally stilled.

Thank God, Jack sighed.

They had to have heard THAT. After sheathing his knife, he strained against the axe. I need to add a point to strength, he promised. It has to be wedged in bone. Forget it, I don’t have time.

Jack grabbed his pack and opened it. He swept his arm across the night stand, dumping the coins and jewelry atop it into his bag. Is there anything else? He searched the dim room. I have to hurry, as he stuffed a leatherbound book into his pack. Screw it, nothing here is worth dying over.

He slipped his pack onto his back and opened the door.

A small female orc stood a foot in front of him with her hand raised to knock. Averting her scream, Jack bear hugged the orc and heaved backward, tackling her to the floor of the hut. Jack twisted in the air with his higher agility and landed on top of her with a thud.

“Uuuuuhhh,” the orc moaned, the breath knocked out of her.

Quickly, Jack covered her mouth with his left hand. With his right, he unsheathed his knife and drew it across her throat. He wasn’t sure of her level, so he deepened the wound.

When her struggles stopped he removed his hand pausing. In anticipation, he strained his ears, desperate to hear if anyone was alerted to the struggle. After an eternity, he sheathed his knife. He fumbled for her coin purse and dropped it over his shoulder into the pack. Now finished, he stood peering out the open door.

That was too close, he thought as he stepped into the night retracing his steps through the camp. Slow down, if you move too fast they’ll be suspicious, he chided himself as he lost control of his pounding heart and gasping breath.

An orc by a campfire stood up and regarded him, tilting his head to the side. In the dark night and from a distance, he looked similar to an orc.

“Where you goin?” the orc questioned with guttural speech.

Trying to mask his voice, he responded as deep and gravely as he was able, “To take a leek.”

The orc, suspicious, looked past Jack. Shit, I left the door open! The orc strode purposefully toward the chief’s hut. Nooooo! Jack screamed as he swiftened his pace.

Once in the woods he searched for his spear. There it is, he thought, relieved . He snatched his spear and fled deeper into the forest. I can’t see crap, he complained as he stumbled over another root.

“Murder!” came a yell from camp. “Guntar’s been murdered!

Jack wiped sweat off his forehead as it dripped down his face in the cool night air. I have to get away, repeated over and over in his head as he scrambled for a plan.

I have to make it to Rivertown, he decided. But it's sooo far, it’ll take hours. He continued his retreat as swiftly as he could through the dark forest.

“He went this way!” an orc yelled a few hundred feet behind him.

Crap! He swore, quickening his pace.

A root grabbed his foot and he lost his balance. “Uuhhff,” he groaned, face planting to the ground. Ok, I can’t go that fast. He scrambled to his feet and pushed on, voices behind him.

Nerves on edge, he retreated further into the forest. Over the next twenty minutes, the orc’s shouts slowly faded. He slowed down to catch his breath and calm down. I lost them, relief filled him.

Growling to his left interrupted his thoughts. What was that? His head jerked as his steps paused. He waited with baited breath, unable to pinpoint the threat in the inky blackness. GRRRR. Is that a wolf?

He slowly backed away.

Turning to flee, he occasionally glanced back to ensure he was not pursued. He heard no more growling yet he never lowered his guard. I won’t be safe until I reach the village.

Jack spent hours on edge, pausing at the slightest sound. Extreme exhaustion interrupted by bouts of adrenaline pushed his body to the edge. Each time he thought of sleep, a sudden noise would startle him and urge him on.

The sun’s blessed rays broke through the forest canopy, bringing him new hope. His constant fear dulled as the sun rose, washing it away. Jack now had a new problem, staying awake. I’m still not safe. Gotta get to town, he repeated his mantra, just get to town.

What's that? The sound of water cascading over rocks interrupted his thoughts. He rushed toward it. His water bladder had gone empty hours before and his throat was parched. Yes! The namesake of Rivertown lay just ahead.

Jack fell to his knees beside the large stream and drank deep from the cold water. So good, he thought as he splashed his face to wake himself.

Finally, I’m almost home, he thought in relief. Weird, when did I start thinking about Rivertown as home? He had only been here a few days, yet he was already attached to the tiny village. There, he had safety and friends. Jack followed the river upstream, homeward bound.

Soon, he heard the clanging of a smith. I’m here! he thought, speeding his pace. I can’t wait to get some sleep.

As he flew into the clearing, the sight of farmers working the fields almost made him burst into tears. I hope Islar will let me sleep in her cellar, he worried. In no time at all, he saw Islar’s vegetable shop welcoming him.

“Why hello there Jack!” cried Islar with warmth. “Oh my, you look awful, yes you do. What have you been doing?”

“Killing orcs,” he slurred.

“Good for you,” she retorted. “Although it looks as if you’ve been up all night, yes it does.”

“That’s because I was. I’ve been running from the orc village all night long.”

“Oh dear me! That is hours away, why don’t you get some sleep in my bed, and tell me all about the many orcs you killed when you wake.”

“Are you sure? I could sleep down in the cellar if you need me to.” Jack asked, hoping she declined.

“Of course you can sleep in my bed, I won’t be using it during the day. Although, I want you to take off that bloody armor before you get in bed, yes I do.” she laughed..

“Thank you so much Islar,” he yawned in reply. So tired. It was difficult to stay awake now that he had reached safety. Just a little bit longer, he told himself as he dropped his armor to the ground.

He fell asleep as his head hit the pillow.

Jack woke well-rested in the comfortable bed. Maybe paying for a bed is worth it, he thought as he stretched his arms wide and yawned. I could get used to this.

He suddenly remembered that he had yet to check his status, and all thoughts of sleeping fled. He immediately brought up his status, eager to see the changes.

Name: Jack Herring

Race: Human

Level: 14

Experience: 495,280/819,200

Health: 100/100

Strength: 8

Agility: 13

Vitality: 10

Intelligence: 12

Skills:

Inspect level 1

Haggle level 2

Fire Starting level 1

Butchering level 2

Cooking level 1

Woodworking level 1

Spears level 3

Axes level 1

Boons:

Polyglot

Contestant

Available Attribute Points: 9

Holy Crap! he stared in disbelief. He was level 14 now, a dramatic increase of 9 levels. He had gotten over a million experience from the level 18 chief. What? 400,000 experience to the next level! he despaired. How long will it take me to get to level 15! At 320 experience, I would have to kill over a thousand level 6 creatures. How am I supposed to kill over a thousand in 24 days? he thought in anguish, and that is just to get to level 15!

Am I first place now? He couldn’t imagine anyone else being higher level, but how could he possibly know? Most of his experience had come from a single kill. That kill was only possible because the chief was sleeping. For all I know, the others are going around town, killing high level people in their beds every night. He shuddered.

That’s something I will not do, Jack swore. Assassinating innocent people was a line he would not cross. The orcs however were not innocent. They had been killing and eating humans for years, and he had no problem eliminating them. He also suspected they had been capturing humans alive so the chief could get experience from killing them himself. How else could he get so high level?

Jack focused back on his status. Should I put all 9 points in agility? At 22 agility, he would be over twice as fast as when he started. I’ll talk with Hem before deciding.

Now let’s check out the loot, gleefully rolling out of bed. It had been too dark to properly see what had been scooped off the chief’s nightstand.

Reaching his pack, he upended it’s contents onto the bed. Gold and silver coins clinked off jewelry and spread across the sheets. Holy crap! I’m rich. He greedily sorted the coins. 12 gold and 32 silver! I’m renting a room at the inn for now on!

What else did I get? he wondered as he inspected the necklace, two earrings, and three rings.

Silver Necklace of Vitality

Vitality increased by 3

Durability 18/20

Golden Earring of Strength X 2

Strength increased by 2

Durability 10/10

Silver Ring of Agility X 2

Agility increased by 1

Durability 15/15

Golden Ring of Vitality

Vitality increased by 2

Durability 10/10

He slipped the rings on his fingers and the necklace around his neck. Lifting the earrings, he paused. I guess I have to pierce my ears. He unsheathed his dagger and braced himself. While holding his lobe, he stabbed through his ear. Owwww! He complained, before doing the same to the other.

You know, I thought it would hurt more. He quickly inserted the earrings before the holes could heal. If I waited another twenty minutes, I’d probably have to redo the piercings.

With the new jewelry, he now had 150 health. He had 15 vitality, 12 strength, 15 agility, and his original 12 intelligence. This is insane. He had just gained 11 levels worth of attributes. This is worth far more than the gold. He remembered the insane price they had wanted for enchanted jewelry when he first came to town. The only enchanted ring for sale granted 1 strength, and the shopkeeper had wanted 5 gold.

Wait a minute, I can afford it now. Jack mused that he was probably the richest and highest level person in town. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

Curious as to what an orc would read, he lifted the book that had fallen to the side. It was encased in a stiff leather binding. Flipping open the book, he read the title page. The Way of the Shaman. Scratching his head, Jack thought that seemed familiar, yet couldn't place it.

Skimming through the first few pages, his excitement soared.

This is about magic!