Acting

Type: Active Skill

Effect: You have a 5% chance to succeed at people believing your act.

You have a 0.01% chance to be able to trick someone to tell you a truth about themself thanks to your act.

Rank: F Level: 1/10

You know how to act the way peopel like. And how you want people to see you.

This skill is affected by your Charisma and Luck stats.

* It's not much but it sure will make it a bit easier to act like a baby with this skill. I can feel a strange bit of knowledge I had not know before already making itself know.* I think as I read on. The first skill I've got in this world, beside those that was given to me as a gift and those that are given at birth, may not be a cheat or something thats going to make me able to do magic out of the blue. Or give me a epic way to pass time for all I know. But I'm happy none the less for a few reason. Reason one is that this proves to me, before I even got the chance to try it, that I can get skills without worring for now, on whether or not they are locked as well due to my age or some other restriction. Reason two is that while I'm sure most recarnators will be disappointed about gaining a skill like [Acting] as their first skill, I find it a welcoming thing.

I don't need something that will allow me to start chant fireballs or make me strong beyond that of what a baby should have all of a sudden, as I want to keep that I'm a recarnated person a secret for as long as I can until I know how people like me are treated in this world. I still remember what Mini told me about others like me not having the best of reaction to knowing the trurth about our deaths and why we recarneated. But I have no doubt that some of the fates they ended up with is thanks to them also acqurie a skill, or more for that matter, that they could not control or hid and it somehow ended bad for them. Whether or not this meant death I have no idea, but I plan to be careful in what skills I'll obtain just to be sure for the time being. I want to live to I'm well into adulthood again thank you very much. And for a third reason, this allow me to test which of my skills will level up first. Wheather it will be [Acting], [Lesser Nightvision] or [Appraisal] is now just a matter of time. Those three are the only skills I know so far that have both a level and rank, so I'm curious what will happen just from one level up. Or what will happen if I can somehow increase the rank instead.

* And I might know in some aspects just how skills even level up in the first place. Theres really not a lot I can get out of things just by using [Appraisal] alone.* My thoughts continues on as I look around the bed room. I have little problem seeing whats before me while I lay in my basket, my parents sleeping forms and the bed, three big chests, one at the bed and the two others to one side at the wall. And then theres the weaponds that mother and father have for their profession, two great bows, a pair of hunting daggers and a sword made out of bone that reminds me of a kitchen knife I once had back on Earth all on their own racks. Then theres the only dresser in the room and a big wooden box filled with extra furs for us to use when the nights gets colder, I assume at least. I don't know what the states, durability or really much at all what effects the weaponds have, thanks to that either my [Appraisal] skill is too low leveled, most likely, or there is some effect that stops me from seeing it. For each time I tried I got either a bunch of ??????? or that I've faild to appraise them.

And I'm just guessing at what they are really called at the moment. And it's all thanks to [Lesser Nightvision] letting me see better in dark places. Well about 10% better then normal in a 15 ft radius and shaper as well, so I can make out forms even at the edge of the effect of the skill. I've been spending parts of my nights awake to level up the skill and trying to increase my states by doing any sort of movment I can with this body. But now that I know I can get skills even as a baby I'll try getting some more while I still have the chance. It's really only at night I get the a moment peace for myself to think and try out things, much less a chance to see what skill I can get.

* The question is were to start? From the stories and mangas I've read people in my kind of situation will try to go for magic or some other cheat like skill when they are alone at night. Or somehow having the luck to meet a spirit of some kind that they befriend and gain something amazing from that. But that is not what I need now.* I think while trying to come up with something. It's when I mamage to move over to my stomach while thinking of what I should try first and is looking at what is my 'pillow', which is nothing more than a leather sack stuffed with straw, that I know where to start.

* All right then. Better get started. I just hope mother and father won't be too mad if I destroy it.*

[Status]

Name Locked* Race Orc Gender Female Clan Rainstorm Age 4 months and 1 day Level 1 (Locked until the age of 3) 0/100 EXP Rank F Title [A Second Chance!]*Hidden* HP 45 (115) MP 15 (95) SP 8 Strength 39* (Full effects locked until age of 5) Dexterity 42 Constitution 41* (Full effects locked until age of 5) Wisdom 46 Charisma 29 Luck 21 Resistance 34

* Not bad, a bit more work and I might reach the 50s soon enough.* I think for a brief moment as I look at my status while I still have a chance before something takes my fouces away again. I'm quite proud of seeing all the work of getting this body stronger was really working as it meant I have a better chance to survive in this world. And might just be a smidge stronger than my peers though I'm not holding my hopes high. And that my experiment also worked, for the most part. When I first got the box telling me of my first stat gain, the joy I felt was soon stopped as I read it in full and gotten to know another limit I have.

You've gained the following stats!

5+ to Strength

5+ to Constitution

7+ to Dexterity

WARNING!

Underdeveloped or damage done to the body detected! All stats gained halfed until body is more developed or healed.

Yeah, seeing that had me check my [Status] as soon as I could and found out my Strength and Constitution only went up by 2 points each and my Dexterity went up by 3. I got really annoyed and mad at first as it meant I've have to put in a lot more work to increase my stats even more. But after a few days to stew it over it became clear to me that it was most likely for the best as I doubt theres many babies that have their stats in the hundreds well before the age of 1. At least if I wanted to go the more OP cheat way. And most likely doing things one at that age should not be able to do, unless your born as a monster or beast. Orc not included even though my new race is still seen as a monster race in some regard, as far as I've seen we are far from it. Though I'm a bit scared with what it meant with me having a underdeveloped body. Or it being damaged for that matter, which most have happened while I was still in mothers womb. Regadless of this, I trained my stats to the best of my abilities for the next two months. And with the exception of my Charisma and Resistance stats, all of them only increased with a 1-3 point each time I got a stat gain from there on.

My Charisma stat have gained all 11 points just by me getting older as even though I can crawl pretty darn well now and move my body quite well, though whether or not this is thanks to my new stats or my natural growth have to do with it remians to be seen, I know for a fact I can't take care of my own body by myself yet. Much less my appearance. Mother, father or Thai still has to help me clean and feed me by hand unless they all want me to get covered in food now that I can eat solids once cooked for my new baby teeth. Never thought I'd miss even teh simplest of soups, porridge and soaked bread, but thats what happens when the only thing you can 'eat' is milk from your mothers breasts. Though I'll admit it's a bit difficult thanks to me not being used to my new tusks just yet, and that they are still growing somewhat so theres growing pain with the meal. Not to mention I still can't go to the bathroom by myself yet either. Resistance is also another stat that have gained it's stats as well just from me getting older. Which is good as I have no idea how to increase it yet. Or if it is possible me to even try at this age without stirring up trouble.

That being said my new found stat gains seems to have helped me somewhat in getting stronger and better than normal. As not only my family but many of their friends as well have taken notice I am apparently, regadless what the box said about my bodys current condition, a lot more active and better at things then others of my age. They've also notice I'm smarter than normal as well thanks to the fact I've managed to slip up a few times over the last month with how respondsive and observant I am. Though lucky for me they have yet to go on the 'my child is a genius' track thanks to my [Acting] skill managed to somehow make them think I'm only slighty smarter than those of my age.

Bare that they know I understand words a lot better than they thought as Shagar managed to trick me when she was doing some tests to see how smart I really am. Along with some other tests to see how far more developed I already was from my peers. My family is happy regadless as they see me being even slightly stronger than normal as a good sign that I'll be alright as I get older. I had not notice until then but it seems me being born a few weeks earlier than planed have made my family a little scared with how well I was growing. Which I can understand somewhat due the possibility of this era I'm born in are in the middle ages child deaths are very much higher here, and are far to commen for anyones taste regadless of what age or world one comes from.

Other than my new stats gains, and my family now trying to teach me a lot more words even though I can't as of yet talk. And believe me, I've tried. I have also gained new skills as well. So far I've gained [Bite], [Punch], [Kick], [Math], [Calculation] and [Slumber Resistance] thanks to staying awake so much over several months. And most of my skills have leveled up as well. Multipule times on some of them even, beside my [Racial Skills] that can't level up at all and my [Apparsial] skill that just don't to want to level up yet. And I've learned a few things thanks to said level ups. Leveling up a skill not only increase at least one random effect, at least if they have more than one, about 1-3% more and gives more knowledge on what I can use to skill for. Or make it easier to do and use the skill for the task its meant for. Though I've notice that my secondary effect on [Acting] have not yet gotten this even though said skill have leveled up twice.

It also gifts me with something new called SP once they reach level 5. SP is short for free Stats Points, which allows me to freely put points in whatever stat I want. However not very much free SP is gained upond reaching the halfway mark, only about 1 to 5 free points, so I'm holding it off in using it now. I want to at least have 10-15 points to spare before I try increase my stats this way. Just so I have a little ace up my sleeve should I suddenly need a quick boost in some of my stats. Never know if a extra 5 to 15 in any stat, or spread around, will be the lucky break I'll need to save me from trouble one day.

I also learned that it is possible to [Apprasial] people and I did not get much beyond their names and gender. It also prove to me of my fear as well when I tried it the day Thai's friends came over, five Orcs all whom was here to talk about something or another. A male Orc named Hig, the one I had picked to test my [Apparsial] on, had not reacted well to it. His reaction was to take out the great axe he was carrying on his back and start looking around rather angrly for whomever used the skill on him. It had surprised Thai and the others when Hig reacted like that for no aberrant reason but all of their shocked looks soon changed when Hig told them that someone or something had use [Apprasial] on him. It soon lead to mother and father coming back home running, for they have left to go do some much needed shopping and my other brothers where at school at the time leaving me and Thai alone in our home, with some shamen man hot on their heels after Thai asked one of his friends to go find our parents once they all where done checking our home inside out for anything out of the ordinary.

We were all out of the cave when our parents and the shamen man arrived, though I did not get a good look what the outside looked like as Thai had taken a rather large piece of fur to cover and hid me before we got out for some reason, though I did get to see the little rustic garden we have out here. Nor did I get a good look at the shamen man as he ran past us and right inside our home. I later learned after one of our nabors let us stay with them for the night, as more shamens came over to inspect our home, that the Spirits Guides have found the cause of the Spirits unease. Corrupted and malicious Will-o'-Wisps are near us. Though luckly they can't get past the wardens that have been placed around our town as barriers and protection agains creatures like them, a rather lose word used here as you can't really call our place a camp yet we really are not a town either so to say as we are quite big and have many things a town often has as well bot we still can't be called a town for some odd reason, at least from what I've overheard.

However stronge Will-o'-Wisps are know to use [Apparsial] from very far away when they feel weaker willed beings or at least beings weaker then them to see whether or not they can possess them. Which is bad in more ways than one would think with how fearful mother, father and Thai was as they explained it all to us. And me being a baby and my triplet older brothers still being children that have yet to rank up, which makes it even easier for them to try, at least once counts on both of those. So yeah, I've not use my [Apparsial] on adults, or children for that matter, since then. And I dare not until I feel I can do it without being the cause of something like that again.

* Maybe once I'm five or so old I can? That way I can say I just earned it a few months ago or something of the kind. And the reason I did not tell them at first was because I did not want to scare them or something. I'll have to think about it a bit more but that seems to be a more appropriate time to reveal that skill to my family.* I think as I look at one of the new wards thats been place to guard us this month. Since that 'incident' shamens have come to place wards around and inside our home, and our nearby nabors as well, to give us some protection agains those creatures. At least until they are taken care of, which is a little bit difficult as there are a lot more of them then was originaly thought and there only so much you can do to ban or damage those things without being in danger of your well being. Apparently even the weakest of creatures that have the ability to possess others are not to be taken lightly even by someone who have mastered the arts or class to battle them.

* But that is not the only problem either with this situation.* Is the thought that cross my mind as I turn my head to look at the large table from the floor, where Thai is eating a very late brunch after finally coming home from a almost 13 hour watchshift up on the rampart thats around our town. What father said two months back really came true, a small clan war between the Twin Wolfs Horde, Iron Hawk Caste and the Earthen Brothers clans started barely three weeks ago and it has gotten bad fast. Already five other small clans have lost their homes, and those that survived have joined us and other neutral clans temporary for safety and to give some extra help in the palces they now reside in, we are very near the crossfire line as the war gets closer and closer to a frighting degree.

Thai, father and several other hunters are now on scouting missions and guard duties for both day and night to look for anything suspicious happening around. And capture any soilders they can from any of the three waring clans to figure out just why theres a war to begin with or whatever else they can get on whats going on. Darak, Tarr and Malak have been given their own tasks as well, which is to help get any supplies and what not are being delivered to the right places. Or help some of the crafsmen with whatever small jobs that will makes things just a little easier to get the bigger jobs done faster and better. So it's only me and mother for the most part in our home now, but that those not mean mother have been idle either. Whenever my brothers or some of the other children comes over with supplies for arrows, what looks like small bombs that seems to have a wide varity of uses and other throwable things, other mothers and their own babies or small children that can't as of yet help much gather here and makes them. This also means I've gotten to meet my peers several times for weeks now. And I'm not surprised or shocked that I find it a bore to be with them.

Oh don't get me wrong, it's somewhat interesting to see how my peers play with each other and learing just how a normal Orc baby actually behaves, though it those not seem that my family or other clan memebers mind that I'm a little bit weird for a baby. But other than that things gets boring very quick. I can't really play much with them, mainly thanks I don't see the point of it to begin with and me having a slight advantage in stats, thanks to the fact that none of my peers react to me using [Apparsial] on them is a blessing as far as I see it. And then theres my other advantage of being once human gives me options that they don't have and a sense that I'm too old to play with them, this is especially so whenever they want to play fight. Yeah, even as babies Orcs loves to fight even at this age, and when theres more than three gathered around. It's quickly become a chore for me to get them to leave me alone when this happens as they see me as someone strong to conquer. That those not mean they try everytime though as I've made it clear with both growling and me beating them good without hurting them too much, which is both a shockingly fun and very annoying challenge, to leave me alone when I'm really not in a mood for it. Though I'm sorely tempted to throw the nearest damn thing I can get my hands on when some of the little more stubborn ones don't get the damn hint.

" So how went the watch this time Thai?" Are the words my mother speak that brings me back to attation on whats happening at the table and brings me out of my thoughts for the moment. And makes me start crawling over there to listen better.

" Good, for the most part." Thai says once he has swallowed a mouthful of food, his voice a little sluggish and I can see the beginnings of black circles forming around his eyes once I'm a bit closer. " Me, Mazoga and the others got tricked by one of those darn Shadow Owls deciding to use their fancy voice mimc ability to make us believe a battlehorn have been sound. I'm glad aunt Gharol was there to put an end to that real quick."

Mother lets out a soft laugh at that before she says. " Well then! I'll have to thank my sister later. Anything else that happened?"

From there the small talk continues on as I crawl slowly under the table until I'm between one of Thai's legs and the table leg right beside it. Thats when I make my present know when I use both legs to keep my new shaky balance once I manage to stand on still very much not ready to walk yet legs of my own, using Thai's and the table legs as support so as I do not fall on my butt once again. Despite all the things I've managed to achieve over the last two months and the new stats, my body is still not ready to do any of this just yet. Though both mother and father are talking about starting to train me to both stand and walk on my own once I'm a month older, believing that I'll be ready by then. I don't know if I'll be ready but it won't stop me from at least trying to do it. Thai just looks down quickly and smile when I look up at him with my own little smile. Then I'm suddenly in the air laughing as Thai quickly picks me up and throws me. Much to the amusment of mother as she watch us play.

We played just for a few more seconds before mother had to stop us so that Thai could finish his food and catch some sleep. Did not stop the small talk that started again though, with me in mothers arms as the two talked until Thai was finished and went to bed. Then it was me and mother alone again but not for long as my other brothers soon came running with father not long behind them. The rest of the day went peacefully from there until night finally came and it was time to go to sleep. All of us unaware that it will all soon change for the worse just a few months later.

You've gained the [Cold Resistance] and [Fear Resistance] skills!

Is what the damned blue box that comes up to my face says, which I quickly dismiss in a hurry, far from interested to see what skills I've earned at the moment. Not when everything is going too fast and in chaos. I can feel the cold harsh night rain on my face, making me hold tighter on Tarr's shoulders who is currently carrying me on his back with some cloth helping both support me and keeping me secured on his back while he and our brothers run as fast as they can. I can feel a shiver run through my body but I'm usure if it is becuse of the cold or the fear I still manage feel though the numb shock thats also going through my body and mind. I can, numbly, hear Tarr shout at Darak who is infront of us with a lantren and a far too big spear for him to use with one hand. Darak shout something back that, yet again, I can't hear what it is said but it makes me turn my head to see behind us. Where Malak is close behind, a bag on his back that mother have given him before she had told us to run and not look back, his face winded and fear ridden. And I can't blame him, not when I see why.

Behind us is our town, in a blazing glory and smoke, with ashes somehow still flying in the rain. Sounds of battle, screaming, shouts of murder and the smell of blood is strong even as my brothers continue to run deeper in the dark forest, the lantren being our only light source for what feel like forever. It's only when I finally feel no more rain falling on me and the sound of bare feet on stone that I notice we have entered a cave thats under a really big tree, somewhere in the forest. At least from the large thick roots that seems to hold the mouth of the cave open. From there only the sound of my brothers running and their heavy breaths for air are the only things I hear for what feels like a long time, with my brothers running deeper and deeper inside for who knows how long. It's only when I feel and see that we stop at a wall in a section that looks like a dead end that they dared to take a break. It's painful for me to both hear and see them trying to breath without chocking on the air their burning lungs needed.

"Darak *pant* *weez* are you sure we are *gulp* on the right path?" Malak manage to finally speak after a while. Tarr is bussy making sure I'm not going to fall off his back should they need to run again once he is able to breath a bit better, something I'm not even gonna let happen myself as I strenghten my hold on his shoulders, which seems to make Tarr a little more relaxed knowing I was not willing to let go of him at the moment. Darak looks up and about to open his mouth to say something before a coughing fit hits him hard, which makes me whimper in distress as Malak tries to help Darak's coughing. Tarr starts to go from side to side, hoping the movments will shoot me a little or distract me somewhat while we all wait for Darak to stop couaghing and speak.

" Yeah, we're on the right path. *Cough* At least mothers neckless says so." Are the words that Darak manage to say showing now said neckless in his hand that, unbeknown to us, mother have give to him before we ran. And it is the same neckless I've seen mother wear these past 9 months since the day I was born. Though now it was glowing softly with strange white symbols froming a map of sorts, with a single green line that seems to show the way. For the most part. I don't think I'm the only one thats confused why the line wanted us at this deadend, and I can't read what most be words that seems to be saying something to us, but Darak is soon able to answer our unspoken questions as he waves the neckless around near the wall. Having to move a bit away when suddenly a part of the wall splits apart, revealing a sett of stairs that goes deep into the dark. With silent and unspoken words exchanged in a way only triplest could understand all four of us soon are walking down said stairs, with me letting out whimpers now and then that makes both Tarr and Malak to try and calm me as we walk deeper down.

We all hear a faint rumbling sound just moments after we have gone down a good bit, no doubt the wall have closed itself once it could no longer sense us or the neckless. Though none of my brothers stopped walking even as we heard the rumble, though all three of them started to walk very slowly as the light from the lantern was not reaching far ahead and thuse made it bit difficult for them to climb down the stairs for some of them looked a little cracked and unsafe, and some even had a really strange slight glowing moss growing on them as well. Making the place a bit more creepy than any of us like at the moment with our nerves still on the edge with the weak light coming from the moss.

We only stopped when we heard it, the sounds of bigger bare feet from under us. My brothers looks at each other in fear and panic but none of them get to voice a thing before something with a bright light suddenly appeared infront of us, making us all flinch hard and make all my brothers jump back a bit from their fright. And by some sort of luck, none of us jumped back far enough that we where in danger of falling of the stairs into the deep dark below. Though I'll give Darak credit where credit is due, he had managed to give Tarr the lantern and get into a shaky fighting stand with the spear in one swift movement as soon as he's feet touched the stone again. However it was not needed for as soon as we got the chance to see who was standing infront of us, we all felt relief and safety as the old wrinkly face of one of the eldest healers in our clan that, I at least, know for sometime now looks at us with relief as well.

" Shagar! Thank the Wilds!" Are words Tarr says in happy suprise, the old Orc giving the four of us a small motherly smile. Next to grandmother, Shagar is one of the few old Orcs I've ment in my short time on this world. However unlike grandmother, Shagar is far kinder and easier to get along with, for the most part as the old woman had a sassy and cussing side of her that would make a sailor blush into a new colour of red if they heard her. That was not the only thing though that made her diffrent. Unlike most Orcs who have either green or brown skin that comes in diffrent shades and the more commen red, black or very bright green eyes, Shagar's skin is a shocking dark blue and her eyes are violet. Along with her fully greyed hair from age, her being dress in a monk like garb without sleeves and have a hood on it, a lot of pouches in her belt, always having with her herbal bag, lots of old scars on her arms and some on her face, and the white marking showing her status as a elder makes Shagar the most unique Orc I've seen thuse far. She is also a very tricky person who can get you to do stuff you'd normaly not do as well, which might be why Thai don't like her much. Though I'm very unsure if that really is the only reason.

" Oh children its good to see you all safe and well. Come on, follow me." Shagar says after she dose a quick check up on all of us, quickly gesture for us to follow her down. Which we did. Having the old Orc with us made it a lot better getting down as Shagar did not mind helping us over stairs that was not only unsafe but some of them had even fallen off or looked like someone had taken a pickaxe and just hacked them badly off. Shagar would mumble whispered curses on those, saying alone the line how she's going to make sure those that are incharge of maintaining these stairs are going to do their work properly from now on once all of this bullshit is over. Her words, not mine. It also made us feel safer as well as we now had someone that we knew could keep us safe should something bad happen. From what I've heard, Shagar is too old to be of much use in battle anymore which is a shame as she is well know Combat Healer, a very rare form of a healer class that can only be obtained through large scale and rightout horrendous wars.

That those not mean she's harmless though. My fahter have told all four of us around the fireplace how even at her advanced age, the old woman can still throw someone as young and large like brother Thai a good 25 feet away with little problem and she is well versed in spells that can both confuse and posion them bad should she need to. Turns out beign a Combat Healer is one of the few classes that allows a healer to use poison magic without it being seen as heresy. Or one turing into either a Desecrated Witch or a Revenant. Something father had to explain soon after my brothers showed horror and distrees of the fact Shagar can use posion magic, which might mean that it's a type of magic know to be not good to mess with or use. Either way, once I'm old enough to read more about it, and know how as I've discovered that depite being able to understand words thanks to my two language skills they do not grant me the ability to read them until someone teach me to actually read words, just to make sure I know what I'm dealing with.

* Though thats a thought for another time.* I think as we are soon down the stairs and see light coming from a room not far from us. And inside was a sight I was not prepared to see. Theres a lot of benches, fur piles and some beds and baskets that all had either children the same age my brothers, both youger or older, pregnant woman, babies and people too old to fight sitting or laying in them. The room is well light with what [Apprasial] calls Mana Torches and theres a big fireplace that have a oddly flame in it that my skill can't tell me what it is. There are also many bags around everywhere and I can see other healers, both old and those young enough they most be very new to their new class still, walk around checking on everyone and given those that needs it any help they can. Shagar is quick to find us a place for us to rest before she leaves for just a moment and then comes back wtih something for all of us to drink, making sure that I don't spill mine by helping support it for me as my arms are shaking, that seems to be made to help calm people from the very mixed emotions that everyone here no doubt has.

I've gotten better at not only eating, and even managed to sometimes drink as well, on my own these last five months but I can both stand and walk somewhat okay as well. It took a lot of work though as it is hard for a babys body, regadless of what two-legged race it belongs to, to go from crawilng on all four to walk only on two legs and keep your balance at the same time. At least for the first two months or so when one starts. I fear that due to the quick growth I'm experiencing thanks to my new race that allows me to do thing someone twice my age should be able to do, with apparently the ability to speak being the sole exception so far, is messing with me in someways, both in mind and how I see things.

Once Shagar is sure we are comfortable on a pile of furs of our own, getting us all some extra furs to use as both bedding and to keep us warm should we finally fall asleep once the adrenaline and shock thats still going though our veins stops, she leaves us to our peace. Though not before she dose a small prayer and some handsigns to wish us good dreams. I can hear someone calling for the old woman as well, sounding a bit panicked, but I don't care anymore. Now that I have a moments peace and are safe for the most part,is when my baby instinct finally broke through my shock. And I can't stop the tears nor the sobs that soon turns into wails. I hate that it had to happen now solely for the fact that it makes my brothers, who had finally started to relax and are more than likely beyond exhuasted in both mind and body, immediate reaction to comfort me. In the end though it did not matter what I felt about it or if my brothers was able to calm me down, we all ended asleep soon enough. I welcomed both the darkness and the warmth of being in the safe arms of my brothers. And I did not dream a thing that night.

" And may Death's ferryman bring their souls to their final destination of the Grand Halls of Akkar, Goddess of Peace and Balance. Where they will all get their just rewards and begin a new life when Dialdin, God of Renewal, and Moborh, Son of Life and Death, have found their new home to come. Or become part of their guard, that watch over us and protect us in the darkest of times. Let the Goddess of Judgement, Bruulla, give them all a just and fair trail for those who fought for our home, our future and our peace. And punsih those that wants our deaths and destruction." Are the many words that goes on and on as I half-heartly listen to the Head Elder Zoranaraugh contiune on the funeral ceremony that me, Thai, Darak, Tarr and Malak are at. Along with the rest of my clansmen who survived the suprise attack a few days back. I can feel tears starts once again as I look at one of the pyres where my parents bodies lay, both coverd form head to toe in a special painted blanket made out of some coarse white fibers. Flower petals of blue, gold and black are spread around their bodies, with their weapons, all but, one lays by them. Painted and marked with some ruins to come along my parents last journey.

I let out a small whimper, one that makes Thai hug me colser to give me some comfort, as I'm reminded of when we found out. It was shortly after we all waked up from the deepest sleep the four us have had and it had only been meer minutes after Shagar hd gotten us all something to eat, that the sounds of frantic footsteps and shout of voices I've not heard before could be heard coming from the place where the stairs ends. Shagar and many of the other elders had reacted like the season soilders they once were by preparing their spells or some combat stand to fight whomever had come. Some of the elders had already started, along with the much younger healers, to gather up us kids, the pregnant and those too old to be able to do much to the farthest corners of the room we all where in.

However it was no need for any of them to do that, as my eldest brother and many other hunters, guards and warriors came in running. Sporting a wide arrange of wounds thats still either bleeding, though lightly, or bandaged. Some looked more black and blue, or had gotten a new skin colour altogehter thanks to their new bruises, than normal. I could see dried blood on their cloths and armor. With some of their weapons looking worse for wear. I nor my other brothers had not cared one bit though as we all hugged Thai like life depended on it once we saw him and Thai ran straight for us after Darak shouted his name. Thai did not seem to care that we where trying to kill him with hugs as he hold us tight, mumbling thanks to not only the Spirits and Wilds, but also to any other higher being he could think of that have helped keeping us safe.

However all our relief was short lived when we finally came out of the cave and forest, after many others have gotten a moment to their loved ones and get their things, and saw the damage done to our town. Half of it was barely standing, with many buildings burned to ashes or looked like a wrecking ball had smashed through them. The stench of blood, brunted corpses, smoke, along with seeing so many corpses of both the enemy and those of my clan spread around in chaos and even hanging on the ramparts made everything nightmareish. To put it nicely. I felt sick as we walked through this and as hours past as the clean up started, and many of us kids having troubles keeping food down or trying to eat, I kept wondering where our parents was. Or why we have yet to meet them at all. All of my brothers wonder as well where they were as it was unusual. Thai even went around and both looked and asked about our parents whereabouts but was told that with all the dead and destroction around it was making it hard to find other survivors or injured.

He was asked to wait for tomorrow as things was just too much of a mess of everthing and all the healers would only have some news by then. On who was and wasn't dead. So my brothers, with me strapped to Thai's back, went back to help the clean up and try to at least see if we can't find our parents ourself. But as night fell and we found a place to sleep, our house was not inhabitable as several large rocks had fallen down and blocked the entrance and from the few small gaps some smoke was still coming through, I could not help feel that something was very wrong. And I was proven right around lunch time. Our parents had fallen in battle. Though not without bringing several dozen of enemies with them to the grave and give the others the much needed chance for victory. Yes we'd won the battle and our parents are seen as heroes thansk to their sacrifice. I can't bring myself to care one bit though as battle agains emotions that range from rage and sadness to maybe something far worse.Though theres a numb sadness that seems to help keep everything in check. For now.

I take a look down to see how Darak, Tarr and Malak are doing, once I managed to force my eyes off the pyre. None of us had taken the news of our parents well. The four of us had started to scream and cry like the world ended once it all had sunken in what we had been told. Then Darak, Tarr and Malak had started a rampage, trying to destroy anything they could get near or their hands on. Thai, bless his heart, have been quick to hug the three of them and take the punches and hits as my brothers continue to dish out. I watched all of this in the arms of our aunt Gharol, who was the one to bring us the news in the first place. It's a understatement just how much it hurt to see them like that. Or how useless I felt, which is silly when one thinks about it as I'm just a baby. In body, not in mind though that makes things worse in more ways than I'd like. Regadless of what I felt about it, Darak, Tarr and Malak have become far more quite and withdraw than me, Thai and aunt Gharol liked. I've haven't been in a good mood either, mostly thanks to the fact that I just feel like a mess and can't find a damn to care for most things.

But like what I'm seeing now I at least look a little more alive than my brothers as aunt Gharol kneels down, a small clay jar thats been painted with our parents names where their ashes are going to be kept in her hands, and softly talks to them in a hushed voice. A look of concren on her face as Darak's, Tarr's and Malak's face dose not chance from their almost empty look they have. Though it seems to finally bring my brothers to look just a smidge better. Ithen look up at Thai, who have been for the most part calm and trying to be someone strong for us to rely. However I've notice when nights fall and when he believes we are all sleeping that my eldest brother have been weeping silent tears at the bonefire that keeps us warm in aunt Gharol's home, that have miraculously survived despite the damage done, where we will live for sometime here on. Though it's not that surprising as aunt Gharol's wife Yotul is a Blacksmith and thuse their home is pretty darn sturdy as it acts as both a home and a wrokshop. Aunt Yotul is beside Gharol, not saying anything but I can see the look of sympathy and sadness on her face that just says what she feels about this all.

I'm forced out of my thoughts when Thai turn around and hands me over to aunt Yotul when a Orc comes over with a torch thats yet to be set aflame. The Orc hands it, and a weird little flint tool, over to Thai and walks away without a word said. And I know what will happen soon. Luckly though before any pyres are sett on fire, everyone are given a last chance to say goodbye to the deceaseds. Which me and all of my remaning family do. And when everyone has said goodbye one last time, Thai lights up the torch and it's only a matter of seconds later that fire soon comes to life at my parents pyre. As we all watch it burn more and more pyres are set ablaze and the sounds of people crying begins to fill the night's air. I however are in my thoughts and in them I make a promise that night. One I swear to keep.

* Mother, father. I don't know if you can hear me but I promise you both. I'll get storng like you both wanted and I'll live in a way that will make you both proud. I'll look after my brothers in anyway I can once I'm able to. You have my word.* Are the last thing I think as I watch ashes fly into the air, feeling a resolve I've never had before slowly comes to life in me.