The colors emanating from the fungus mixed, creating a beautiful light show with a somewhat soothing vibe. On my hands, 4 rings made of bronze with black gems of myhrite fully charged stood ready.

I think I have been isolated for weeks now... I don't have much hope for Skelones to return, not after all this time.

During my time of isolation, I had a few dreams that brought memories of my childhood back, both good and bad. Playing games, missing my mother, watching movies, reading books, and things like that.

Now, Time was spent studying more than anything else. I filled my notebook with theories, resumes, and projects I want to do. Still couldn't transfer a rune from an artifact to an object as I am still not good enough...

"The progress, however, was good" I say to myself, looking at the notifications and my stats.

◇Arcane knowledge is now level 10◇ You now can see some magic effects previously invisible to the eye +3 to INT (+10 total) +1 to WIL (+5 total) ◇Mana Manipulation is now level 6◇ +2 to INT (+3 total) +5 to WIL (+6 total) ◇Improvised tools turn into Artifact Crafting◇ ◇Artifact Crafting Level 1 Description: The ability to study, imbue and transfer runes from objects Effects: a better understanding of runes and artifacts. +1 INT +1 WIL ◇Artifact Crafting is now level 2◇ +1 to INT (+2 total) +0 to WIL (+1 total) Health Integrity Physical: 100% --- Mental: 80% Anxiety (-20 WIL, -5 END) depression (-20 WIL, -5 END) determined (+10 WIL) Loneliness (-10 WIL) Total: 90% Fine Stats Strength: 105 (+5) Endurance: 96 (+6) Reflex: 105 (+5) Intelligence: 123 (+23) Willpower: 75 (+15) Charisma: 101 (+1) Skills Fighting Level 4 +4 str, ref, end Artifact Crafting Level 2 +2 int, +1 wil Climbing Level 1 +1 end, str Aesiri Level 4 +3 int Staff Mastery Level 3 +3% Friend of the squidcrabs Level 1 +1 Cha Arcane knowledge level 10 +10 int, +5 wil Mana Manipulation level 6 +6 wil, +3 int Runes Current willpower: 75 Mana 0/0 Runes Attuned 0 Affinities Electricity 20% Space 23% Light 10% Time 0,1% Gathering 5%

My intelligence is much higher now, but my willpower is still low for being heavily affected by my mental conditions. Maybe I could try to increase my intelligence to a level where I would be able to find a solution for my depression?

There are more pressing matters, like the food situation. I have been making soup of the plants Skelones said I could eat using a wand of fire-starting, but if I continue doing this, I might as well end up eating all of the ecosystems. There may be more, I didn't look at any of the passages... maybe there are other places like this one.

If I do find more creatures, I might be able to test a few stuff on them too.

My efforts at using the rings to cast arcane bolts with the wand of arcane missiles were fruitless. Too mana dispersion, only a weak arcane spark came out of the wand, I probably still need more mana manipulation level to able to control enough mana from the ring into the wand. If only the wand had some way of storing mana... Wait, I got an idea.

I may be able to combine the wand with a gem... yes, that would work. Putting on my half of the gloves of alteration, I start working with some bronze I have. I shape bronze around the wand, creating a handle bellow it for more stability and increased aim. At the handle, close to the wand I place the gem. The metal works as a conductor between the gem and the wand, I made some rings covering the wand too to make sure it gets enough contact and stay in place.

The final result kinda looks like a pistol.

SCANNING ARTIFACT Name: Arcane Pistol Prototype Description: A weapon designed for long-range use, capable of shooting small projectiles of pure arcane energy. Charge: 0/25

Having a ranged weapon is a big advantage as I can attack without being seen and without being in danger up close. I think overall this is a really good tool to increase my chances of surviving out there.

At the level of my mana manipulation and my gathering rune affinity, I can gather 1 point of mana every 10 minutes, so, a lot of time charging, but it's fine as long as I have the time to prepare.

Now... I already read every book I have. I miss sunlight too. Might be foolish to think like that but maybe I am ready to step out... More like I need to step out or I will get crazy being underground for so long.

I saved some rations as I had vegetables to eat instead and there is plenty of water, I pack all unnecessary stuff and place it on a corner with plants covering them, taking with me the only what I need. I also leave a note, easy to find on the wall, just in case Skelones do come back.

Let's see what I have... Oh, there is an item menu, right? I completely forgot about it.

Items Artifacts:

◇Staff of electricity

◇Ring of myhrite, bronze (×4)

◇Arcane pistol prototype

◇wand of fire-starting

◇Gloves of alteration

Supplies:

◇waterskin (full)

◇10 rations

◇bandages

◇potion of health (x2)

Others:

◇backpack

◇clothes

◇gem of myhrite (x5)

Handy. Now there should be a way to configure the system to show the charge of my rings on the hud, separate physical and mental state… And the rations and coins… no, no need, I can remember how much of those I have. Also simplify the hud a little and hide my mana as I have 0 anyway.

♡ 100% M 80% ☆100/100

Done. The heart is body condition, 'M' is mental condition and the star is how much charges I have on the rings. There is still a message symbol on the corner and I can access the menu through concentration whenever I wish so.

Enough of this cave. I am out.

---

On my way back, I find the husk of the dead mother bug. Using my light-crystal to light the thing, I can see the carapace is intact, but the insides were eaten by smaller insects. A lone normal bug of the same species appears, preparing to jump on me. Time for target practice

As he jumps, I prepare my pistol and shot in his direction, launching a small blue bolt, missing him by a few centimeters and hitting the cave wall

The bug lands on my chest and bites my left arm, his mandible strong enough to cause blood to stain my clothes. I drop the pistol and grab my dagger to pierce him, killing it in one strike.

I either need to practice more or the pistol is a little unstable. Maybe both.

♡ 80% M 80% ☆100/100

One bite and 20% of my health go away… this world is not easy. I quickly place some bandages on the wound, not so much effective but at least won't get worse.

The rest of the way was safe enough and soon, I am on the mountain again.

My eyes hurt as blinding light comes from the sun. I take a moment to adapt. The feel of sunlight hitting my skin is blissful and the air is fresh. It's good to be outside. In the middle of the valley, I can see the village. Smoke no longer coming out of it, instead, a tower stands at the center, vigilant of the surrounding.

So they conquered the village. I think they use part of the people to make slaves, others, the stronger ones, they accept into military ranks. They are not very fond of women, droids, and… well, pretty much anyone, really.

I should be questioning myself if I really should be here, but I know I would only get more anxious in the caves... I walk down the hill into the woods, in the direction of the shop. There could still be books left there and some artifacts, things most people wouldn't pillage, thinking it to be useless.

The way was clear, no danger found. The scene I see when arriving, however, breaks my heart. The place I lived, worked… my home. Destroyed. Burned.

I hold myself together, trying not to cry, to not scream in hate.

then I go see if there's anything left. All books burned and most items were taken. I do find some pieces of metal, mostly bronze. I condense it with my gloves and place them on the backpack. As I prepare to leave the place behind, I see a movement.

Then I heard "Look at that, a lone scavenger. Didn't ya hear this is Aesirite territory?" I look at the man with light hide armor with a symbol painted on it. He is armed with a bow and a dagger sheathed on his belt. Scanning shows a medium danger level, I fought worse.

While I am facing him, he speaks again "hm you are just my type. Luckily for you, I am the one who found ya. Maybe we can make some kind of agreemen-" before he finishes, I shot him with the pistol, the arcane bolt hitting him fully on the chest, making a hole on his armor and burning the skin, blue wisps coming from the wound.

"AHHHH" He screams, loudly, agonizing in pain and hiding behind a leftover wall.

I also hide, as I expect him to shoot an arrow at me at any moment. I hear footsteps... he moved.

I move the other way, to get a better look.

Just as I get out, an arrow flies close. That could have killed me, but since it didn't, I now know where he is. Before he could shoot again, I run to him, stowing the pistol and holding the staff now with 2 hands, swinging at him.

He evades, I swing again, he then drops the bow, arming himself with a dagger and swinging it at me. He is not in range however and I easily evad- no, wait, pain. Blood comes from my shoulder, he cut me from afar somehow.

He use my surprise to strike again, this time I defend with the staff instead of evading, I notice a silver arc as he swung, 30 centimeters beyond the dagger reach, as if the dagger emitted a wave of energy from its tip. The arc stops as it hits my staff, confirming my suspicions. He keeps swinging it to no avail as I block his strikes, then he changes tactics and tries to pierce me, which he succeeds, barely. If I was not wearing armor, the wound would be dangerous. Just a superficial cut was made from the wave.

He is tired, I can see. His health worse than my own, the shot I hit him with was strong, albeit not fatal. I keep trying to evade his thrusts and blocking his swings until he makes a small mistake, giving me time to get my pistol and shoot him from up close. Then I shoot again, and again, on the same spot as the first one. His flesh burning in a sinister way, raw mana eating through it. He is dead.

♡ 50% M 80% ☆100/100

I did it now, I killed someone.

Conflicting thoughts cross my mind. Killing is wrong, yet I think he deserved it. But what does that make me? Do I deserve to be killed now too?

As I was lost in emotions, a fire pass right in front of my face, the heat from it awakening me from my thoughts.

"I told ya I heard something. Jake is down, fucking mud-head." Says an archer in a similar uniform as the man I killed. By his side, someone with blue robes and a hat that looked just like a mage on those movies I watched as a kid, 'lord of the earrings'.

I immediately shoot twice, one bolt on each one of them. The mage makes a quick movement with his staff, casting a shield of energy, blocking it, while the archer screams unable to dodge. I run as fast as I can.

“Was that an artifact she used? How interesting...” the mage said

“Go... get her… she killed... Jake.” the archer says while trying to get up.

I am running on the woods and being followed by a mage, nonetheless. I saw he casting fire magic and barrier magic, and surely knows a bit of creation too, to launch a firebolt from nothing. Shit, I should have grabbed the dagger from the man I killed, emotions got in the way and I lost my chance...

Another firebolt flys close by, maybe the wizard isn’t as good as I thought? he has a really bad aim. I run faster, occasionally changing direction to confuse my pursuer. Where should I go? If I enter the caves and he follows me, I would get an advantage as I know the place… But he may just leave and reveal my location. I will just keep running then…

The mage following me seems to be getting tired at least, running slower as he pursues me. His heavy robes are not helping him either. Good thing I hit the archer, or they would have already killed me.

While running, I keep looking back at the wizard. He is getting slower, tired… he pauses to breathe and I take the chance to shot another missile and run into a few bushes as he cast a spell to block it. I use the wand of fire starting to start a fire at the bushes and as the smoke starts to spread, I escape.

That was a close one. I am near the caves now, but I fear they may be able to track my footprints… I look into my inventory panel, searching for something to use, and then, I get an idea. Gloves of alteration. Each step I take, I use the gloves to move the dirt just to make it look normal, with no footprints visible. I do this while charging the gloves with the gemstones, as long as I can. I stop at 10 charges left, 3 rings depleted, but I am sure they won’t be able to track me up here now, as the mountains are full of stones I can step without a trace.

I enter the cave and proceed to my hideout without any more issues.

♡ 45% M 60% ☆10/100