A white blur fell out a tree of the tree I was sat under, waiting for my teacher. I closed the book I was reading a shuffled over to take a look at it, it was a baby bird, its wing had broken and its blood was seeping out, more blood than this small thing should contain.

I stared at the small thing, it was sad but this was the way life worked, you lived, you died, some had longer rich fulfilled lives, others died young, I had never known my own mother, this was the way the world worked, I was still thankful for what I had.

As though in response to my thoughts the bird opened its eye, as though it were at looking me to ask something, it opened its mouth, it tried to make a small peep but it’s breath died out halfway and once again its eye closed.

“You want to live, don’t you?”

I took the bird into my hands and stroked its head to comfort it; I could feel it breathing softly in my hands but each breath was getting softer.

A golden light came from my hands and surrounded its, the wounds closed the wings repaired, the baby bird got up in my hand shook it wings and peeped as though the wounds were never there.

“You know the mother’s watching.”

The voice came from a man a full head taller than myself, he was clad head to toe in leather, he had a long leather coat on with straps around it, they held a few clear crystal bottle on his left, and on his right were 3 silver daggers, the only thing different was a hilt that could be seen above his right shoulder. Underneath his Jacket he was wearing a tabard, it had the sun and the moon but fused into a single dao like circle, the same one he had given me.

“If you try to put the baby bird back, she’ll abandon all of them, but it’s too young to live alone.”

“That’s fine I’ll keep it.”

“It’s a wild animal, it’ll fly away eventually.”

“I’ll still raise it.”

A smile crept up on teacher’s face and he twisted his handlebar moustache.

“Well they say animals that are born pure white are blessed with holy affinity.”

He grabbed the hilt above his right shoulder, and threw the weapon, a mace, to me.

“The oracles have found a quest for your induction into the order, the details are unknown to me they’re in this sealed letter.”

With hand he reached inside the breast pocket of his jacket and took out a browned roll of paper sealed with a ribbon and wax seal and handed it to me.

“You won’t be able to take any of the trainee paladins or priests with you, they’re going to be busy trying to catch the eye of the gods and this is separate from that, should you fail you’ll never see me or the order ever again.”

With that he patted my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, you’re smart and talented acolyte, I’m sure this won’t be our last meeting.”

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The horse finally came to a stop, dizzy I jumped off, I think if I could throw up I would.

*ding*

Congratulations for riding a horse more than 200 levels above your own in the dead of night, you have gain a skill and a unique title!

Riding Beginner level 1

You can ride your own mount at 120% of your own speed.

Unique Title: Night Rider

Trust between you and mounts increases more easily.

Mounts are less likely to stumble in the dark.

Well that would come in handy I would have to look into getting a mount of my own sometime, it almost makes riding Alexander worth it, almost…

In front of me was the forest and Alexander had gone to a nearby field to graze a bit, I guess if I needed him I could call him, either way it was time to find some goblins.

5 minutes of walking through the forest I found my first goblin, it was a small thin that barely came up to my waist, it was wearing tattered brown clothing and some sandals and had a long dagger in its hand that became more like a short sword.

Goblin level: 17 Health: 925 Mana: 951

Level 17, what the hell did that old man send me into? Well the health and mana were quite low, even with only level 7 I had 700, or maybe I was missing something, either way I began to silence my breath and match footsteps with goblin, slowly sneaky behind the goblin I raised my sword behind my head in fire stance and struck downwards onto its head.

*critical hit* - 156 damage

Goblin stunned for 5 seconds

It was too much to expect me to crush its head I guess, but in addition to the gash I left in its head it was stunned, I’ll take that free damage thank you, continuing in fire stance I made strong attacks.

-78 hp

*Critical hit* -156 hp

-78 hp

-156 hp

-78 hp

The goblin snapped back to reality, but I managed to get one last hit off on him.

-78 hp

I then switched to wind stance, it was still a level 17 monster, the goblin came at me and it was fast, 4 swift attacks came.

-45 hp

-45 hp

-45 hp

The last hit I managed to counter and struck at its leg.

*Critical hit* -156 hp

Goblin left leg severed

It fell over on the ground, as far the battle was very uneventful, I guess even if it’s a level 17 a goblin is trash, I took the final hit.

-78 hp

The body burst into a blue- greyish flame.

*critical hit* 548 damage

F*CK, I felt a huge pain in my back, an arrow was sticking out my shoulder, I quickly turned and saw another goblin but with a short gnarled bow, how much attack power did this thing have.

Goblin Hunter (elite) level 17:

Health 975 Mana: 1001

Skills: [Stealth] [Backstab]

Fuck an elite monster, it didn’t seem that much stronger than the first goblin but the damage was higher even considering its skills, but it seemed to just be wearing the same cloth rags, if I could just get close…

Only one chance for this

“Shadow! Shadowbolt.”

I commanded him while channelling my own Shadowbolt, shadow burst out of my shadow and began channelling.

I launched my Shadowbolt first and began to run forward in fire form it was all or nothing, shadow had also finished his channel, but the goblin had already fired another arrow.

-18 hp

-137 hp

Your pet Shadow has died.

Don't know why his arrow went for shadow, but it wouldn't make a big difference looks my first death would be to a goblin.

-62 hp

Goblin has been blinded for 5 seconds

Haha Shadow left the perfect parting gift, a flickering black fire was covering its eyes. I’m sure I could close the distance on this goblin before it could get its sight back.

5…

I kept running forward while the goblin was fumbling with its arrows

4…

Damn the goblin managed to take an arrow out while blind

3...

The goblin managed to notch an arrow in its bow while blind...

2…

The godblin drew his bow and aimed at me while blind….

1

*Critical hit* -156 hp

Goblin’s left arm has been severed

The left arm and bow were knocked towards the ground, the taut arrow was released and hit the ground near my foot, damn is this thing trying to kill me?!

Without its primary weapon and an arm the goblin hunter was easy to cut down, I got some loot in my bag but rather than check it out I made a dash for the forest entrance, it would be no joke if a goblin found me with 5 hp.

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Back at the forest entrance I checked my hp, it was at 135 that was 26 per minute health regeneration then it would be another 25 minutes before my health would be full then, I would have to find something to do. Spotting a nearby bush I realised it was basil, so I picked some leaves.

Basil leaves:

Can be used as a spice in cooking.

Yup, it’s basil.

Grabbing some fallen sticks and leaves I made a small fire with the flint and tinder, I then took a frying pan from the cooking set, it seemed to already be oiled, likely an effect of the 1% difference between realities. I tore up a few of the basil leaves and put them in the frying pan and waited a second for it to heat up, then took the rabbit meat from my inventory, at which point I noticed the drops, goblin skin, goblin meat and a goblin ear…

I put the rabbit meat in to flash fry until it gave off a great scent and the outside was golden brown then took it onto a metal plate from the cooking set to eat.

Well-cooked fried rabbit:

Rabbit cooked by someone who clearly knows what they’re doing, finger licking good.

+200 hp

+2 agi for 1 hour

Well-Cooked bonus

+20% to regeneration for 2 hours

Naturally the food was already gone, you wanted some? Too bad.

The rabbit was delicious and juicy and had the taste of nature.

+200 hp

+1 dex for 1 hour

Well-Cooked bonus

+20% to regeneration for 2 hours

Once my health was full again I would have to go back into the forest to hunt, but this time I would be much more careful, I couldn’t let another elite goblin get the drop on me, Shadow was out for the next 24 hours as well, he’s a good trump card so I’ll keep him under wraps for the moment.

Since the goblin hunters had stealth it would be really hard unless I could detect them, but stealth can’t cover up everything, footprints, broken branches, crushed plants. I would have to take note of it all, but first while my health was regenerating I wanted to take a look around for herbs I could use in my cooking.