Aegaeon considered his rate of improvement. His mind was already clearer and thinking came quicker. If he continued on this rate, he had no idea how powerful he could become. But he also realized this was just his brain functions increasing. Physical stats required physical effort. Something that Aegaeon was unaccustomed to. He figured that would come with time.

As the sun began to set, Aegaeon realized he didn’t have a shelter, and that he hadn’t found any others. With resolve he figured he’d continue walking until he was too tired to keep going. While stumbling through the night, a mental exhaustion began to settle on him. Too much happened in such a short amount of time, and trying to grasp it all was impossible. With a pounding headache, Aegaeon found another opening in the trees and hoped it was the edge of the forest. Breaking through he was discouraged in finding it was another clearing. However this clearing had a pond.

Looking at the water made Aegaeon realize he was extremely thirsty, making a mad dash to the water he cupped his hands and relished in the drinking of cold water. It had been a hot day and the night was warm. While drinking he paused to look at his reflection.

Aegaeon had dark brown hair that was close cropped on the sides, with longer hair on the top. His hair was a mess so with the pond water he slicked his hair back. He noticed his piercing blue eyes, darker blue than the lightly colored pond. He couldn’t perceive more than that about his eyes due to the night. His nose was slim and tapered to a round point, and his mouth was likewise slim. He had sharp facial features with high cheekbones and a sharp chin as well. He appeared almost elvish.

While peering at his visage, Aegaeon noticed a glimmer in the water. At the bottom of the pond was a glittering dagger. Remembering the hog things from earlier Aegaeon needed a weapon. So he dove into the water reaching for the blade. The first thing he noticed was how cold the water was on his skin. With pins and needles stabbing him all over, he became numb to the effects. But he wasn’t able to reach the bottom of the lake; it was simply too deep.

Coming back to the surface, Aegaeon took in a deep breath. It was good to feel the warm air in contrast to the cold water. Taking a deep breath Aegaeon dove again, striving to reach the blade. While trying to swim to the bottom Aegaeon had notifications pop up but ignored them, his goal was the dagger.

Not having any luck, Aegaeon resorted to sitting on the ground and thinking of how to reach the weapon. While drying off he considered the efficacy of using a tree branch to drag the tool up. So Aegaeon went to the nearest tree and slowly climbed to a branch he could reach, more notifications popped up but again he ignored them. When he had a branch that he could break off Aegaeon went to the pond and attempted to reach the dagger, but the branch was too short.

Resigning himself to be without a weapon Aegaeon checked his Notifications. Hoping to see a better result with them, he was delighted.

New Skill: Swimming, fighting to move through water becomes easier, effect increases with skill level

Swimming increased to Lvl 3

Deep Thought increased to Lvl 7

Careful Climbing increased to Lvl 3

This was significantly easier to perceive but it could be more simplified, and so Aegaeon looked to change this screen to make a new template. This thought increased his Deep Thought once again, he saw this as his new screen;

New Skill: Swimming (abilities can been seen by looking at the skill in the Status Screen, this will be applied to all new skills)

Swimming Increased by 3

Deep Thought increased by 3

Careful Climbing increased by 1

Aegaeon pauses to see his new Status Screen

Status Screen:

Class: N/A

Level: N/A

Skills:

Sprinting Lvl:8, Deep Thought Lvl:7, Mana Blast Lvl:3, Careful Climbing Lvl:3 Swimming Lvl:3

PP: 20

Paths:

Path of the Initiate Mage 0/10, Path of the Racer 0/10, Path of Ideologies 0/25. Path of Water 0/30

For the first time, Aegaeon considered his paths. He was intrigued by all of them, but the Path of water pulled his attention, after all, he was trying to get to the bottom of a pond. Pouring his 20 PP into the path of water Aegaeon hoped for the best. Hoping to be able to reach the bottom of the pond, he dove back in.

Aegaeon immediately noticed he had much better ability to move through the water, probably due to the increased swimming skill. Given this advantage, Aegaeon was capable of getting to the bottom of the murky lake, and began to feel around in the mud for his metallic goal. Using his eyes was impossible at this depth and he was shocked to find that touch was his only sense left.

Fumbling around on the bottom of the pond, Aegaeon started to feel the lack of air. His lungs strained with the effort of holding his breath, but he wasn’t about to give up this chance to take hold of the dagger. Ignoring the building pain in his lungs, Aegaeon continued to search with his hands. Eventually the pain building up took the forefront of his mind and Aegaeon started to fear passing out.

It was at this moment that Aegaeon found the blade as his hand passed over the hilt. Excitement overcame the pain and Aegaeon kicked off the bottom of the pond, searching for oxygen. Notifications informed him that his health was running low and advised him to seek shelter immediately. As Aegaeon broke the surface of the water, he passed out.

Aegaeon woke midday, meaning he had slept for over 12 hours; it seemed he had drifted to shore. With fear and excitement he checked his notifications.

Warning, Health Extremely low. Seek Shelter. Warning, staying in Dangerous Areas can result in death. Seek Shelter. Warning, close proximity to Dangerous Items. Seek Shelter.

Swimming up 4

New Skill: Holding Breath

Holding Breath Up 4

Deep Thought up 1

Aegaeon checked his status screen with these new additions

Status Screen:

Class: N/A

Level: N/A

Skills:

Sprinting Lvl:8, Deep Thought Lvl:8, Mana Blast Lvl:3, Careful Climbing Lvl:3 Swimming Lvl:7, Holding Breath Lvl:4

PP: 9

Paths:

Path of the Initiate Mage 0/10, Path of the Racer 0/10, Path of Ideologies 0/25. Path of Water 20/30

Aegaeon remembered with a start that he had the dagger. Looking down at the metallic object in his hand, he found something profoundly beautiful, and deadly. The dagger was intricately designed, with a curved blade. It was about as long as Aegaeon’s forearm and the blade itself had etched inscriptions and decorative holes cut through.

The hilt was curved like a wave, with one end higher than the other. The handle of the blade was made of what appeared to be gold. It was shaped like a water serpent and in the mouth of the snake was a blue gem; almost as dark as Aegaeon’s eyes. This gem flashed menacingly and the blade appeared to be an instrument of death. Looking at the dagger he saw a name and level above much like that of the hogs. Neptune’s Wrath Lvl ???.