Chapter 6

**Back to Exton**

Waves of notifications came to life in Jason’s vision.

**Note This: You have found your first power gem. Power gems capture the magical essence of powerful creatures upon their death. Every type of creature creates a power gem with unique abilities. Power gems have two classifications: Potency and Capacity. Single use power gems are not effected by potency or capacity. You have unlocked beginner rank 0 for the following skills:**

**New Skill: Magic Channeling (Beginner 0)- Each level gives a 1% boost to power gem capacity.**

**New Skill: Magic Manipulation (Beginner 0)- Each level gives a 1% boost to power gem potency.**

**New Skill: Magic Efficiency (Beginner 0)- Uses for power gems have a 20% chance of failure and a 5% of backfire on user.**

**To learn more about magic you must speak to a power gem wielder. Sorcerers’ Academies contain the most information on this subject but are highly exclusive.**

Jason looked at the red gem in his hand. It was a little larger than an almond and it’s color seemed to beat like a heart. The color oscillated from light pink to dark amber, showing ever hue between. I can’t even begin to imagine how much this thing would cost. I don’t think this is the kind of thing that is traded though.

The thought of losing the little gem began to worry Jason. He didn’t want to put it in his money pouch because that would be the first thing a thief would go for, and besides it was back with the two brothers. Jason patted around his pants for a pocket and eventually found a little pouch on the inner lining of his waist. He made sure the compartment didn’t have any holes and was secure then dropped the gem in. Even though small in size, the gem possessed a significant weight and Jason could feel the item in its pocket, giving him slight peace of mind. Then he check his next notification.

Level Up: Level Two

+1 Charisma and +1 Intelligence from class bonus

You have (1) skill boost available

**Note This: Skill boosts increase a desired skill’s level by one. Ex. From Beginner I to Beginner II. However, player will not receive the normal experience reward for skill increase. Additionally, skill boosts cannot increase a skill if player does not possess the requirements to level up the skill naturally. Skill requirements are displayed only when a player has not yet met the requirements for the next level of a skill. Skill boost can be saved and only disappear as a result of player death.**

After reading about skill boosts, Jason decided to save the boon until later when it would be harder to level up his skills. He pulled up his stats sheet to see where he was at.

Name: Jason

Level: 2 (775 of 2000 to next Level | 1775 Total)

Class: Peddler

Tribe: Braccian

Hit Points: 45 (5*Constitution)

Injuries: None

Stamina: 40 (5*Strength)

Affinities:

Earth: 23

Air: 20

Water: 90

Fire: 7

Light: 40

Dark: 55

Attributes:

Constitution: 9

Dexterity: 8

Strength: 8

Intelligence: 9

Wisdom: 8

Charisma: 11 (+1 from clothing)

Luck: 9

I think that was just the kind of boost I needed, Jason thought. His body still ached from his earlier beating and his head still was wary with fatigue, but it was like a rush of caffeine or even adrenaline had went through his body after the level up. Unlike before, now he felt he could walk the entire way back to Exton, if not for anything else to find somewhere safe to sleep.

It looks like I need double the experience for the next level up. I wonder if it doubles every level or if it just increases by 1000 each level, Jason pondered as he looked back at his stats sheet. I guess I won’t know until the next level, but that last boost from finding the power gem took me almost halfway there. Jason closed all his opened screens then made his way out of the trees and back to the road. Exton still glowed softly in the distance like a warm hearth. Based on the weather during the day and the fact many building kept fireplaces lit in the afternoon, Jason figured it was either spring or fall in the game. Sadly, he learned that although the days were nice, at night it was significantly colder and he started to shiver.

As he walked, his arms wrapped around chest to keep warm, Jason tried to formulate a plan to get his things back from the brothers, but kept running into hurdles. I can try to ask some kind of law enforcement when I get back to Exton, but the only people that looked close to that were the gate guards and I doubt they’d do anything, but it’s worth a shot. Besides they could also point me to some other way to get my stuff back. Or I could hire a mercenary to get my stuff back, but I don’t have any money so that may cause some issues. Argh I don’t even know how I’m going to survive past tomorrow without my stuff, I don’t have any means of getting food or even making money.

Jason’s thoughts kept him distracted from the cold and he approached the gates faster than he expected. His heart dropped when he saw the stone gateway was now barred by giant wooden doors.

“Halt,” A voice called out. Jason looked up and could see a guard holding a torch on the palisade above the gate. “Gates are closed until sunrise, turn around now before I call the archers.” The voice sounded familiar to Jason and he looked closer at the guard. It would have been hard to tell who the speaker was except for the thing dangling from his mouth, Wheat Eater!

“Hey, It’s me, I came through earlier this morning, I was attacked on the road,” Jason called.

The guard leaned closer and was silent for a moment as he tried to make out Jason’s face. “Move closer,” the guard command, losing some of the seriousness in his earlier tone for a hint of curiosity.

Jason moved forward so Wheat Eater could see him and the guard let out a laugh, “Ha that fool. You look like you took a tumble in a hogs pen boy.” Wheat Eater put his finger to his lips in whistled, “Hey you,” he said to someone Jason couldn’t see, “opened the gates quick and let the sorry sod in.”

A few seconds later one of the wooden doors creaked inwards and a young guard led Jason in. Wheat Eater had made his way down from the palisade and met him inside the gate. “You’re lucky boy, It’s only in a blue moon I open those gates for someone after dark. Now what happened to you.”

Jason recounted his story for the guard, who only mumbled and shook his head. “How can I get my stuff back?” Jason asked when he finished his story.

“Can’t do much for you lad. Normally I’d tell you to get the constable in charge of the village but those fools over in Fallows are a rotten bunch. You aren’t the first story we’ve heard of trouble coming out of there.” The guard leaned in towards Jason even though there was no one else on the empty street and whispered, “or you can take it into your own hands if you know what I mean. No one round here will take offense by it, but be careful. They a troublesome lot over there, they never got over the drought two summers ago.”

Jason was hoping he wouldn’t have to take the forceful approach he had taken into account earlier, but it seemed the guard was leaning him in that direction. “That not good news,” Jason commented,” I’ll have to think on what I can do. Thank you for letting me in but what can I do tonight, they took all of my money, I can’t afford an inn?”

Wheat Eater called back the young guard. “Your shift is almost over anyway. Take the lad over to the Abbey make sure the Friars let him in,” Wheat Eater instructed. He looked back at Jason, “It’s the best I can do lad, I hope everything works out for you.”

Jason thanked Wheat Eater and followed the young guard. Jason was led down the main avenue and into a small alley. Many of the houses in the row were held up by rotten posts and shielded by ripped tarps. Jason wondered how any of the hovels survived winter snowstorms or even a light rain. The road was a dirt path unlike the cobblestone found in the nicer parts of the city. Putrid puddles formed under window sills and by doorways. Jason could see the guard was holding a firm grip on his spear as they made their way through the neighborhood. The guard finally stopped in front of the first building that didn’t look like it was seconds away from falling apart. A small wooden door was the only mark on the first floor of the stone building, but when Jason looked up the front of the structure he could see large shuttered windows on the second and third stories.

The guard knocked with his fist causing nearby street cats to hiss and disperse. Silent moments passed and Jason’s companion continued fidgeting making his discomfort evident. Finally, a peephole slid to the side and a pair of eyes was looking through the door. “Who is it?” a hoarse voice asked.

“City Watch,” the guard answered. “The sergeant is asking if you can take this sorry sod in for the night,” he waved his head towards Jason, “he was robbed on the road into town.”

The peephole slid shut and Jason could hear bolts being turned and a wooden board being lifted from behind the door. An old man in a long stained grey robe that matched his hair stood in the doorway. “Come,” he beckoned with his hand and stepped aside to make room. The guard nodded his head in a combined thanks and farewell then turned to leave. Jason followed the man inside the building.

Inside, the walls were equally as grey as the man’s robes. The man instructed Jason to leaves his muddy boots in the entry room and handed him a pair of thick grey socks. They were comfy so Jason didn’t protest. They passed into another room much larger than the entry room where a few men, of all ages, dressed similar to Jason’s host were sweeping the floor. A man in white robes was dimming a few candles that were lighting the room while another white robed man was chanting at a podium from a book. “Soups cold, but the breads still fresh,” Jason’s host said as he lead him into a room that was obviously a kitchen. The man scooped a thick stew into a wooden bowl. He handed Jason the bowl and a piece of dark bread then led him to another room. “Don’t mess with the women or children,” the man warned, “or you’ll be sleeping in the dungeon and they don’t give their guest soup.” The man pointed to a stack of folded blankets, “alms are at daybreak, you’ll be give breakfast after then expected to leave.” He pointed to the corner of the room that was vacant of people, “relieve yourself there, and remember keep your hands to yourself. We know how to handle trouble.” Then the man was gone.

Jason looked around the room and saw there were about two dozen people lying about. Most were frail mothers with young children, but there were a few dusty looking men who kept to themselves. A few eyed his bread and soup but stayed away from him. He grabbed a blanket then found an empty stretch of wall to lie against and eat his soup. A different grey robed man entered the room a few minutes later and called out, “lights out in 10 minutes.”