No idea what to do with Sharky and needing to get a drink plus wanting to return to camp Adam just left him to his own devices. Deciding to walk rather than run back to camp Adam had plenty of time to think and digest the past twenty-four hours.

Adam knew you couldn't simply increase a number call it intellect and actually become smarter. Despite knowing this; it was happening. His brain was battling between what he had learnt in school: that IQ was a mix of genetics at birth and your upbringing and what was now occurring: he could increase intellect and become smarter. His trail of logic carried on, knowing that we didn't know everything about the human brain and its development or capabilities then why couldn't it change? If there was an extremely powerful something, be it race; person or just an entity, that could stop him dying and transport him to a magical world then why couldn't that same entity increase his intellect? He was definitely grateful that the combination of increased intellect and clarity with levelling Inspect and Discern was starting to have an effect. He understood the system more intuitively and could learn more from the world around him.

Adam felt better for the walk. He had worked through the anxiety and adrenaline of his shipwreck experience and come to a realisation. He was going to have to push himself to succeed in this world. Surviving was fine but he was obviously meant to be doing more. He also didn't think he was going to get any direct guidance on what this "more" would be. Risk had led to reward this time but he needed to be smarter next time. To take calculated rather than uncalculated risk rather than rush in head first.

By the time he arrived at the stream in the woods Adam had completely pushed away the feeling that he wanted to get back to camp and curl up in his tent to sleep. It was hard to feel that way when stamina meant the physical and mental exhaustion he used to get after a week at work just didn't exist. Odd that only a week ago, when he arrived here, he felt his stamina was a figure on top of the stamina he already had innately. Now it seemed more like it was his total stamina level and that dropping under zero would, and had already, mean he was completely out of stamina. He had the same sensation about his health. Obviously there was no mana on Earth; so this was slightly different. Maybe it was due to the attributes becoming a greater percentage of the whole; or his integration to this world; or the fact that he was pushing himself harder and harder meaning the point at which his stamina or health ran out his body would be overwhelmed. Too many potential explanations that didn't change the fact that the reason was not really relevant, so he moved on.

A clink as he set his pack down reminded Adam of the rum and taking out one of the bottles he willingly poured away the rum to fill it with water from the stream. Find a way to bring water to camp. Thought Adam, Person gave a thumbs up. He collected 20 exp. Adam went on to collect some hazelnuts on the way back to camp, hatching a new plan on how to complete his only outstanding quest.

Returning to camp felt like coming home. It had only been a day but the fences and tent had a familiarity to Adam that made him feel safe and secure. Unpacking his new clothes and working out where to put them had all the excitement of returning from a shopping trip after his birthday. He lay the clothes out over his fence to help them finish drying and propped the bottles and hatchet on the inside of his inner fence. Unpacking complete and only the food in his pack Adam picked up his staff and walked off, determined to find the vermite.

His experience with the sharks had taught him that Discern had more uses than just identifying now. He thought of the first encounter of the vermite and the limited information he had gained. With that information he could tell there was a way to search for vermite again; to sense them in the area as he had the sharks. On reaching the furthest pile of rocks where he had been leaving nuts and fruit for the vermite he used Discern while concentrating on the vermite entry he had from before. While nothing immediately happened he could now tell the skill was active so started circling away from the rocks to see if he could sense any vermite.

It was reaching early evening when Adam reached an area with slightly longer, knee high grass in the direction of the foothills. He stopped as he found a small pile of nut casings even though there had not been any others nearby. While he wanted to take some time congratulating himself for the skilful tracking he stayed on task and concentrated on Discern again making sure the skill was active. By pulsing and using another mana point he could sense that vermite were nearby but still not tell exactly where. On moving further forward still he saw a small area cleared of grass at the base of a tree. Staff out in front of him in case of attack he crept towards the clearing.

The clearing was disappointingly empty but right at the base of the tree was what Adam needed to complete his search. A burrow hole. Realising that the vermite lived in a burrow he turned his attention down and could now pick up the vermite signals he had sensed earlier. With a lock on their position; he could tell there were six vermite sleeping in a nest about two feet underground at the end of the burrow.

Flicking his attention across each in turn he found that they were not all the same. Adam could tell some individual features distinguishing them. For a start; two were female and the other four male. They were also of varying ages with two being older than the other four. As he concentrated on the individuals within the pack he became aware of more information about them in general. Vermite - Level 1. A small humanoid creature with rat-like features. Scavengers, drawn by food. Often hunt in packs. Predominantly nocturnal. Intelligent.

The vermite were intelligent. That meant he could convert them; but not yet as he didn't have the god power available. Adam considered this in his head and decided that calling it god power seemed ridiculous. From now on it was gp for short. So, he didn't have the gp yet. According to his regen he would get one gp tomorrow as he already had one follower.

He checked his quest. 100% complete. Pleased with his acheivement he collected the 25 exp. With all quests completed he considered what to do next. As evening was now drawing in he headed back to camp, leaving a small pile of fruit and nuts by the rocks on the way for the vermite. While a swarm of sharks doing his bidding seemed very cool vermite followers would be much more practical. If he wanted them to follow, he wanted to treat them right, so best start as he meant to continue.

The cool evening was much more pleasant in clean, warmer clothes. He closed both rings of fence and risked for the first time keeping an apple for breakfast by the tent. By the time he was in his tent and wrapped in his blanket he was ready for sleep. Activating stealth out of habit rather than because he was still worried about the vermite he closed his eyes and drifted off.