Chuck groaned as he woke up, his body, or more accurately his new body wasn't used to the rigors of sleeping on the hard ground or floor. He was glad the body was young though, had this been his old body he probably would have even struggled to get up. He decided to check what level three of multitasking netted him.

Multitasking

Modifier: Plus 2 skill

Modifier Description: Second skill trains at 100% speed. Third skill trains at 50% speed

He was thrilled with the benefits of the new level, multitasking level four had already slotted into that last training spot. It moved to one of the full training spots after stealth had been completed. It had a way to go to level up again though.

Multitasking: 1020/80000SP to level 4

That was fine with him, he already didn't have enough skills to fill the slots he had. Perhaps once he got to the town he could purchase some new skill books. Speaking of, he looked at his stealth skill, he was curious to see what it offered. First, he turned on level two for training before he forgot.

Name: Stealth

Rarity: Uncommon

Level: 1-5

Status: Active

Stat: Dexterity

SP to next level: 2000

Description: The shadows are your allies. 60% chance to remain hidden. Lasts for 5 minutes.

Looks like the skill was classified as uncommon. Chuck assumed that higher rarity meant better or more powerful skills. He wondered where unique skills fell among the hierarchy. Something to think about later. Another thing he noticed was the fact that it was an active skill. He would need to ask Erin or one of the others about it. Perhaps Mellas would be the best since his skills seemed to lean towards the stealthier aspect.

"Mellas, What know skill..." shoot, he didn't have the word for it. He stood up and acted out moving quietly.

Mellas looked at Chuck like he had lost his mind.

Eventually, Erwin cut in to save the day, "I think he wants to know about your ability to move quietly."

Mellas grunted, "Alright, I have sneaking, and step of the forest."

Chuck understood the word forest, but the rest of the words were unknown, "Show?"

The man grumbled but moved to a tree and crouched in the shadow of a bush. If Chuck hadn't known he was there it would have been hard to spot him. The man followed up his demonstration by saying the word. That made it click in Chuck's mind, that must be the word for sneaking. Chuck nodded for him to continue.

The man stood up and Chuck had to blink, the man faded into the trees. If he looked very closely he could see his eyes and an outline. It was like he was wearing active camouflage. 'Really cool.'

Chuck was so excited he pointed, "You see that, how amazing."

The others chuckled, even Mellas joined in as he faded back into view.

This made Chuck want to show off his new ability, "Chuck have sneaking, plus other."

Chuck walked towards the woods and activated Stealth. The sensation was strange, even to himself it looked like he blended in with the shadows of the forest.

Chuck heard whistles of admiration and a few claps. He walked out of the woods, deactivating the ability. He could feel it drained his mana pool slightly. That was good to know. He didn't want to accidentally run out while in stealth. When he returned to the group he heard Erwin say a word. It must be the name of the stealth skill in his language. He verified this by pointing to himself then back at the forest. When he got an affirmative nod in return he smiled.

He wondered why Mellas didn't have the stealth skill. So he asked, "Mellas, why no stealth?"

The man went into a lengthy diatribe about it that Chuck wasn't able to follow. The rest just laughed, seeing the man get heated over the question.

Shortly after their discussion and breakfast the group packed up and left. Chuck was happy, he had learned at least a dozen new words this morning. His sentence structure was also improving with each day. Hell, by the time they arrived in Lionoss he should be able to carry on a decent conversation.

The hike today was much milder than the previous days. They were heading down the gentle slope and the thick forest was starting to thin a little bit. Chuck would still classify it as jungle though. Only now sporadic rays of sunshine poked through the thick canopy overhead.

The group stopped a few hours in as Erwin raised his arm. He quickly motioned everyone into the bushes off to the side of the trail. Weapons were drawn but kept low and out of sight as they all hid in the trees.

Chuck didn't know what was going on for a couple of minutes. Eventually, he felt something. A small tremor in the ground. He could tell it was getting closer as the intensity of the shaking increased. Chuck heard the snapping of trees as something large pushed through the forest ten meters or so down the trail.

It was huge, at least four and a half meters tall, with skin the consistency of melted candle wax and the color of vomit. The smell emitted from the beast was almost as bad as the goblins. When the creature stepped onto the path Chuck could see it held the remains of a tree, root ball, and all in its large fist.

The creature looked up and down the trail and inhaled deeply with its bulbous nose. Apparently, it wasn't able to smell what it was looking for as it bashed its way past the trail on the opposite side.

The group waited quietly until we could no longer feel its massive footsteps. After it had cleared out of the area we got back on the trail. Bargo whispered the name of the creature to him, Chuck connected it with the word troll in his head. It fit the bill. He wondered if the creature had the same ability to heal like in stories from his old world. God, he hoped not, although, from what he has seen so far, it wouldn't surprise him.

Chuck wondered why this world seemed so much like the stories and games he played? Perhaps it was sort of bleed over from this place to Earth. He always thought that crazy stories came from someplace else, and not the mind of the storyteller. Of course, he could be completely wrong. Not that it mattered much. He was here and so far he was enjoying it, despite the danger. Besides, he had no reason to return to Earth, other than a few acquaintances he had. Not that they were likely to recognize him in the body of a sixteen-year-old. No, he was in Halcion to stay.

He only hoped this "mission" didn't end up with him being some monsters lunch.

A few hours after the encounter with the troll, the group cleared the mountain. Chuck had spotted more signs of civilization on this side of the mountain. At least signs of people recently coming through the area. The other side of the mountain didn't lack signs of life, it was just of the monstrous variety.

Another couple of hours got the group to a true dirt road. It looked wide enough for a car to drive down. A weather-beaten old sign pointed east, with another under it that pointed west. It looked like someone had tacked on a third sign that pointed down the trail they had just come from.

Erwin turned east, so Chuck figured that sign read Lionoss. The group was slightly more relaxed now that they were away from the mountains. Chuck figured even here wasn't all that safe, not like there was a fence to stop a troll from coming down here.

The group crested a small hill and Chuck got to see his first sign of people since they left the outpost. A group of wagons was posted up alongside the road. Hard men guarding the wares.

Each group gave the other stares as we passed. Hands resting on weapons in case of violence or trickery.

Chuck made sure not to stare at anyone openly, he did glance occasionally and was slightly disappointed at what he saw. Only a caravan full of humans. He had been hoping for something more fantastical, like beast-kin or elves, hell even a dwarf or gnome would have been awesome. He hoped this world had races more interesting than the bog-standard human's. With goblins, giant bears, trolls, and basilisks he figured there must be.

The group stopped for lunch at a clearing beside the road. Chuck was sitting on a log checking his stats. He still had seven hours or so before mana manipulation finished. His body felt fine so he decided to do a few more reps with his sword.

Twenty minutes later Erwin called to him. Looks like it was time to go. Chuck sheathed his sword and wiped the sweat from his brow. He had managed to add four points to his short sword skill. It wasn't much but every bit helped.

The journey continued later than usual. Erwin was pushing the grumbling group.

"Quit your complaining, you don't hear the kid grumbling do ya?"

"The kids a bit abnormal," Mellas groused.

"True, but we're almost there. A hot meal and a bed will do us good for the night."

The grumbling continued but it was more subdued now. The party rounded a corner and just ahead was a large building surrounded by a five-foot wall. Chuck thought he heard Erwin say, "See what did I tell ya." he missed the rest of the sentence.

"The Broken Knee in all its glory. Best soup and company for miles around."

Bargo grumbled, "Can't do much when ye got a broken arm."

"I'm sure you'll figure something out," Mellas poked.

The three had conveniently forgotten to tell the kid about the place. Let it be a surprise Erwin had told them that morning.