Birds called overhead as Nev and I strolled through the forest. They pestered me for hours for information, and I ran out of ways to dodge their questions.

"So, you're from Salinel?" They asked.

"Yes."

"What did you do in Salinel?"

"A... tailor, businessman. I had a couple of different interests."

"And was it being a tailor or a businessman that led to a sizable bounty on your head?"

"Neither! Er-both..."

"Right..." She replied, clearly unconvinced.

"Were you born in Salinel?"

"Kind of, yes."

"Okay. What do y-"

"Wait, it's my turn to ask a question. Unless this is an interrogation."

They stopped to consider my offer, watching an eagle flying through the treeline overhead. Then nodded in consent.

"The forest I found you in, had you always lived there?"

"The Luxe? No, my friends guided me there. I'm from a small village west of Salinel. Reeceton it was called. They didn't like my friends, and everyone thought I was going mad. So I left."

There was an intense silence as even the birds overhead stopped singing.

"And the clothes thing?"

"I thought we were alternating questions?"

"You're right, my apologies."

"Back in the Luxe woods, you said you had to burn down half of Salinel to save a friend. How does that make any sense?"

"I'm not strong if you haven't been able to tell," I replied. "All I can do are some tricks. This one just happened to get a little out of hand."

"You say you're not strong." They replied. "But I don't think I've ever met someone who burned down half of a city because they swung their sword incorrectly, let alone half of the strongest city in Thricehaven."

"I suppose. But prep time is essential. I needed a particular fabric, hours to prepare, and at least a dozen-shit what is that!?"

I was overcome suddenly by a mass of violent feathers and talons. Strong gusts of wind struck my face as I used both arms to keep an angry beak from plucking out my eyes. Each swing of my arm threw it back for only a moment before it lunged back toward me.

"Down!" Nev called out from behind.

Following their orders, I hit the ground and used my hands to cover my neck. As I peered up to watch the bird's confusion at my sudden cowardice, a branch swung down and, with a whiplike crack, snapped the bird out of the sky. It lay there for a moment convulsing in its death throws as it locked its eyes onto me. Before its end, I could feel a humanlike intelligence and hatred behind the eagle's eyes. This beast wanted me dead.

We set up camp shortly after my assault. Nev found a nice place to camp far off the trail we headed through, guided by instincts at her Spirit's absence. The eagle cooked above the campfire as Nev climbed onto a downed tree to rest for the night. It wasn't long before I could hear their loud snoring.

Against the firelight, I examined the sleeve of my shirt that served as a shield against that glorified chicken attack. The fabric remained perfectly unscathed.

"Broke, you there?" I whispered into the dark.

I'm always here.

"Creep." I joked. "Why didn't that bird tear my shirt?"

Your clothing reinforcement is higher than the force applied by the eagle.

"Reinforcement?"

Reinforcement can extend durability or enhance properties. Crafting skills boost the efficacy of equipment. Your tailoring skill and career features raise reinforcement.

"Broke, you're getting much better at spelling things out."

Thank you.

"And so polite. Proud of you, bud."

"Who are you talking to?" Nev called out from their makeshift bed.

"Myself," I lied. "Just planning out tomorrow."

"Right..." They replied in a way that was becoming all too familiar.

"Broke. Tell me more about career features." I whispered as the fire roared in the night.

Birds chirped all around us as we headed down the trail to Poilspont, the last city between Dulcrois and us. Nev seemed relaxed on the path humming a tune as they traveled, seemingly without a care. In contrast, I spun at every bird call and cracked branch that emerged around us. I'd never been attacked by a bird before, let alone a bird with a wingspan more prominent than a toddler. I didn't want it to happen again, especially anytime soon.

I noticed a man sitting next to his broken-down cart on the shoulder path ahead of us.

"Just keep walking," Nev said under her breath.

As I got closer, I noticed their cart, filled with sacks and chests. I could smell the strong scent of assorted spices as we passed. I spotted pelts sticking out of one of the bags, and suddenly I was no longer worried about the birds.

"Having some trouble, friend?" I asked, trying to channel my inner salesman.

"You a builder?" He asked.

"Not exactly," I replied.

"Mersy, don't." Nev chimed in.

"You're too nervous." I reached into my bag, pulling out some assorted supplies. "There's nothing wrong with making a new friend."

I squatted down next to the broken wheel, noticing the post that the wheel spoke slipped out of as well as some bits of splintered wood. I took some leather and metal strips, breaking them down and binding them back into cords.

"Can you lift it into place?"

The man tried for a second with no luck. Finally, we both turned to Nev with an expectant look. They scoffed in response, and with their help, the two hoisted the spoke back into place. I looped the metal cords around the spoke and twisted it until it was taught. Then fused the twisted bit until the cable had no give. The herby smell of the cart caused me to linger a bit, savoring the scent.

"There we go. It should be good now... I think."

The two stepped back hesitantly as the cart rested its full weight on the wheel. A smile spread from ear to ear across the stranger's face.

"All right! You said you weren't a builder." He jostled the cart from side to side to test its stability. "Hey Juzo! This guy just fixed the cart."

Walking up the road toward Poilspont a man walked confidently with a smile on his face and an ape on his back. His smile slowly faded as his eyes shifted from the cart to my face. The chimp screeched from atop his shoulder.

"Aye! You're the cunt that killed my bird!"