Chapter 5: Learning the Basics

Branch came back a few hours later, two rabbits dangling from his belt. By that point, I had used Lay on Hands twice more. My wounds were fully healed, splint discarded.

Standing, I’d found that the process wasn’t quite perfect. There was still an unpleasant twang in my right leg whenever I walked on it. But it held my weight, and that was all that mattered for the moment.

“All better?” Branch asked.

“Better.” My stomach grumbled at the thought of some food.

Branch chuckled. “Follow me. I’ve got a place nearby with more supplies. We can cook up something decent there.”

I wrapped my weapons in bark and tied them in a sling over my shoulder, then complied. The bearded man knew the forest like the back of his hand, a whistle on his lips as he led them along without a second’s hesitation.

“Who are you?” I asked, struggling to keep step with his long-legged, easy gait. “I mean, why are you here? It seems awfully dangerous to be out here alone.”

“I’m a poacher,” Branch said. “The king’s not so worried about the animals, but he’s very particular about who gets to hunt the monsters that roam these lands.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense. Don’t the monsters threaten people’s homes? Surely, he’d want them all eradicated.”

“You don’t get how this world works yet. Let me break it down real simple. On Ard, when you put in work, you gain experience, or XP. When you get enough XP, your level increases, giving you better abilities and more mana to use those abilities.” Branch held up his exposed right arm and pointed to the gleaming crystals. “That’s why I’ve got five o’ these bad boys and you only have one.”

Looking down at my own arm, I noticed the white glow filling the bottom of the class mark.

“This is counting my XP, then, I’m assuming?” I asked, showing it to him.

Branch nodded.

“Right,” I said. “That’s all well and good, but what does it have to do with these monsters?”

“You can gain XP by doing everyday labor like farming or mining, but it’s damn slow. The quickest way to level up is by killing monsters. They give different amounts of XP depending on how strong they are, but even the weakest ones, like goblins, give a good amount for fresh spawns.”

“Ah, I get it. The king doesn’t want just anyone to level up and get strong. He wants to save all the XP for himself and his closest followers, while keeping his subjects weak enough that they’re forced to follow his rule.”

Branch clapped my shoulder. “There we are. You’ve got a decent head on you, kid.”

We walked for a while in silence. Branch kept his gaze on the treetops, beholding the songbirds that jumped between the branches, and whistled questions to them. I glared into the shadows below, always looking out for goblins.

“You don’t happen to have any clothes at your place, do you?” I asked. I felt self-conscious of my naked body, especially since Branch was fully dressed.

Branch glanced back. “I might. But it won’t come free.”

“I’ve got nothing to give you.”

“I have something in mind. You didn’t think I’ve been taking care of you out of kindness, did you?”

I stopped dead. “If you’re saying what I think you are…”

Branch turned to face me, brow furrowed. His eyes widened with realization, and he broke out in a fit of laughter, guffawing until he wheezed, red-faced.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, recovering. “I’m not that kinda guy. Besides, fucking a fresh spawn is plain wrong. Nah, it’s something way more dangerous. You’re going to help me hunt a monster. I need someone to act as bait.”

“What makes you think I would do that for you?”

“Because I can give you clothes.” Branch held up a finger. “A share of the XP.” Two fingers. “The knowledge you’ll need to survive in this world.” Three fingers. “Even a weapon for the road.” Four fingers. “If you don’t like that deal, I can send you packing, naked and alone.”

We kept walking, a sudden edge in the air between us. I mulled over my options in silence.

I don’t want to be bait for some monster. I can barely handle myself in a fight, and I’m not sure if I can trust this guy. Then again, I won’t get far without those supplies…

“The monster,” I said, “what is it?”

“Direboar,” Branch grunted. “Angry, stubborn, and super-sized, with a taste for human flesh. I call ‘im Piggy.”

“I think I understand the concept. How big are we talking, exactly?”

“Big as a horse, with tusks that’ll skewer you clean through.”

I swallowed. “And you need me to be bait, why?”

“Because the porker’s fucking fast, is why. I need you to keep his attention while I line up a clean shot.” He patted the bow hung over his shoulder.

“I sense a personal history.”

“Piggy ate a friend of mine. I’m going to hang his head over my fireplace. He’ll give a neat chunk of XP, besides.”

“And I’ll be safe during all this? You’ll make sure the direboar doesn’t get to me?”

Branch shrugged. “That’s up to you, kid.”

I swore under my breath. Both of my options were bad. Out of the two, going off on my own seemed like the worse one.

Branch stopped, held up a fist. “Shh,” he said, neck craning. Listening.

“What?” I whispered.

“Goblins. A whole pack of ‘em.”

Branch spun around, eyes narrowed to slits. He settled on a spot in the distance. All I could see were trees, bushes, and rocks.

The poacher set down the bow, quiver, and rabbits, then drew his sword. “Stay back,” he said. “I’ll handle this.”

I nodded, not in the mood to reprise my encounter with the green-skins. Besides, if the goblins managed to kill him, maybe I could take his stuff.