Living in a dwarven stronghold is as exciting and confusing as it can be shockingly boring. For one the place looks is some sort of strange mix between your standered dwarf lifestyle found in all kinds of books, games, movies and what not. But mixed it with some strange steampunk and victorian style, with a small splash of mordern goth put in as the cerry on top when it comes to architecture and looks. This means you have a place that is making your trun your head ever which way to see what's around the next corner while also making you feel your in a the Addams Family show.

Which makes this place not only a wonder to look at, if a little creepy or strangely halloween themed in some places, and have way too many funny rooms to explore. But you can get lost far too easily too if your not careful.

Me and Hugo know that well for the month he, me and Linda have lived here. We'd gotten lost more times then I care to count and it's only thanks to Roro or some solider finding us that we manage to return to the less confusing parts of the stronghold. And to a very worried Linda and a pair of Orc hunters whoes become my official caretakers at the stronghold.

It those not help matters that most of the stronghold is inside the mountain. With only the wall, gate and tunnle leading to the cities being the only parts you can actually see on the outside. And a few towers build on the mountain sides to keep a lookout for flying monsters and enemies.

This means the stronghold is a lot bigger on the inside than it looks, which also means miles upon miles of halls, rooms, stairs, floors and what else a place like this has.

It also seems that the lousy sense of direction I had back on Earth has managed to tag along to join me in my new life. Making it even easier for me to get lost in here.

Oh and add the fact that some areas are under maintenance or being rebuild, things gets even worst as you can't use them as short cuts to get out of this maze like mess quicker.

Fortunately for me and the siblings, this type of style and confusing architecture is for the most part used by Dark Dwarfs and their lesser know cousin Shadow Dwarfs. While all types of Dwarfs follow some sharded architecture and build, all of them have over countless generation made their own unique styles and what not that makes it easier to tell which type of Dwarfs lives in what underground city.

For the most part anyway. Some places have ended up with a few sub types of dwarfs being forced to inhabit the same space for generations that their respective styles, architecture, builds and such have mixed and become something new.

So where those the boring part come to play in all this? Well for one there is only so much exploration I can take, even with Hugo or Linda with me. Hugo is most certianly having the time of his life with it, but it is becoming a little too much for me.

Theres also the fact that while Hugo is acting his real age thank to the fact that he is by all means a real kid, I'm not. So I don't share enthusiasm that children my age have. Nor am I as easily entertained. Which is a problem in more ways than I really thought.

As a child, the adults don't expect much from me aside from following the rules as best as I can. Playing with others my age or in this case play with those yougner than me and watch over them as best as I can. And generally act as a child should.

With a few chore being done here and there. If needed. The people who work here do an excellent job in keeping this place clean and working, so theres not much of chores for me and Hugo to do, unless something happens and they need the extra hands.

Linda though has plenty to do. Some of the higher ups have hired her to help fix, mend and make new clothes for the soldiers and other stuff needed that only tailors can make. Which in turn means she earns a living wage and thanks to some of the on hand tailoring staff, learning how to makes new stuff.

Like how to make shoes and boots. Which she is more than happy to learn.

She also gains much needed experience in not only her skills and class, but also work experience. Which she is going to need for when she's going to look for work in the towns or cities once it's safe to leave the stronghold.

Espeically since she'll gain a speical sett of papers that will prove she'd worked here for a brief time, which will help her chances in gaining a job that will make it possible for her and Hugo to live on.

More often than not, the main chore me and Hugo has is to help Linda deliver finished cloths and other stuff to certian rooms or get something for her that she dose not have time to get herself.

Otherwise, theres nothing much for the two of us to do. So this leaves me and Hugo with a lot of time on our hands.

Now Hugo is a good playmate and has quite the impressive mind that fit a good author. The boy has quite the imagination and I won't be surprised if he dose end up as a author or something similare later one in his life. And while it is fun to play with him, I can't play with him forever and go exploring every few days so until the day I leave the stronghold with the other Orcs.

And the adults have notice that. Especially my caretakers. Who are just like me, Orcs.

Now my caretakers and I aren't the only Orcs around this place. Counting before I came here, theres already 8 Orcs, all who have some sort of hunter class, who's sole reason for being here is due to a order from the Demon Lord herself. And what is that order? To hunt down any monster, wild animal or mana beast that comes near the stronghold while it is going through a major maintenance and re-building projects.

Turns out this fort is the first line responds to any invading force as the vally is near the border to one of the countries that don't like my new home very much. Still don't have a name yet for said country as Roro has yet to figure out if we are on the east or west side of my new home country, as those are the only places where we have hositle countries on. Nor have I managed to weed it out of any of the soliders or my fellow Orcs either.

Also, asking Linda and Hugo is a no go, as they aren't sure either. And Linda never bothered to ask her late parents where exactly their villiage lies on the map inside their former home.

Anyways, it's safe to say this place is a bit importent, and is well guarded for the most part as a result. But with these new protects and all the rebuilding and what not, more soliders and the Orc Hunters have been sent to help protect the place better.

That and it seems that theres been a unusally increase in wild beasts and their mana beast equivalent. So the Orc Hunters are also here to investigate why the sudden increased and if possible stop it before things get out of hand.

Anyway, Ombilge the leader of the Orc Hunters have seen fit to assigned some caretakers that will look after me while I'm here and when we travel to the clan that they belong to. This pair is also the only hunters that have any experience with raising kids whatsoever.

Their names are Grug and Bula, and as I later learned they are husband and wife to each other. They have four kids, all whom are boys, and are more than happy to be my caretakers. Especially Bula as she sees me like the daughter she's yet to have.

And I most say, the appearance of the adult of my race surprise me. Not only do we come in different shades of green, with some like Grug being born of a lightish or darkish brown colour depending on if they are from the further south or not. Or a light blue if from the north with some natural white fur to help keep the heat. With eyes that can be from red, yellow, gold, a different shade of green than their skin colour, purple, brown and a few other colours. Which can also be different depend on where your from.

Their hair can vary in colours as well from what I've learned. But black, red or a dark brownish is the main colours for most Orc hair.

But if I was to compare the Orcs on the once I know from Earth, then I would say I'd stubble into that Warcraft movie that came out a few years ago. Because that is what the adults looks like, and what I will eventually look too once I grow up.

The only differences I can find is that both genders are broader, taller and both genders have duel pair of tusks with one pair being larger than the other. That and their ears are maybe slightly larger too. Though a female Orcs ears seems to point a little more down than the males. At least from what I've seen with Bula and the only other adult female Orc form the hunting group I'm sharing a room with.

Anyhow.

It's been great so far with the pair. Both have been good to me and as a means to alleviate my boredom, they've been teaching me stuff.

Bula has been teaching me all kinds of things that is for the most part expected of a child of the Orc race to do. From helping with nomral chores like cooking and cleaing to teaching me how to make traps for small pests and some combat training so I have some way to defend myself.

Not that neither Bula or Grug believed I was weak as they know the difficulties I and my friends had comming here, which means I was rather stronger than most my peers by that alone. But Orcs society and culture sort of demands that all of their young knows a few ways to fight and defend themself should they ever need to fight monsters alone while waiting for help from the adults or should slave traders come looking around for some easy tragets.

Or if it is the only option that will work, runaway and scream as if you got the hounds of hell at your feet.

This also means that not only my caretaker but the rest of the other adult Orcs have also been teaching me how to escape simple traps and some basic hit and run tactics to confuse those who mean me harm. While also making sure I had the lungs to scream as loud as I can to warn or let the adults know I'm being attacked.

To say I've earned quite a few skills out of it is a understatment. I'm really unsure whether or not I'll need them later on, but at least I got them.

Along with this though, Bula as also been teaching more feminine things that Orc girls and woman do. From styling my hair and keeping my tusks and claws in tip top shape. To how to make nice little trinkets and to take care of my skin nicely enough. Among a few other things that surprised me a bit. Which also included how to use and make face paint that will be used not only to tell what I do in a clan, which starts around my early to later teen years after gaining a class.

But it will also help my chances in getting a good spouse by enchatning my best physcial features when I'm fully grown.

Tattoos are also a option. And it is seen as quite attractive for Orcs. I should know as both Bula and the other Orc woman both get these looks from the men thanks to some of the tattoos they have, though said men try not to look at Bula too long to avoid Grug clubbing their heads in or something far worse.

At least from what I've come to understand as I watch Grug give the guys death glares when he caught them, more then onces, red handed by leering at his wife.

Bula just finds it a little fun and somewhat likes the attention she gets from both sides. Though is clear to me that she will not leave her husband with how close they are.

I had very mixed feeling about the whole getting me a spouse thing though. It did not help matters when Roro says that a lot of girls regadless of race starts as soon as they are in their early teens to look for someone they want to marry. Usually a man, however same sex couples have been know to appear should other means of having a bio child of their own be possible.

Or some odd/special tradition from anicent past still used today allow such things to happen at all without causing too much issues for everyone involved.

This sort thing is not frowned upon or seen as a major sin as much as I feared when Roro started to explain it to me how it normally works aside from those traditions. Though the reason it mainly works well enough is because there are a selected few races that can only mate with some of the same sex oddly enough. As well as a few rulers over many generations swing one way, the other or both. Or in very rare cases none at all.

That being said, there are some countries that still sees this as one of the biggest sins to exists and will do unspeakable thing to you should they find you do such things under their nose.

I'm just very lucky that the Demon Country isn't one of those. Mainly becasue that many of those races that need to mate with the same sex lives in this country, so it will almost be impossible to reinforce laws and punishments without causing civil war.

Orcs also don't seem to have a problem with same sex couples. Nor do they care much on what gender you prefer your spouse to be either as far as Roro can remember. As long as it is true love it's mostly fine by them. And as long as you have a plan on how to get some kids out of it at some point.

Adoption is accepted thing for most societies. Especially if events or other circumstances hinders you to get your own kid. Or if your one of those that can't find a mate or can't physically have children of your own.

Anyhow and back on track.

Grug has also been teaching me things too. However it is a bit different than what Bula is teaching me. While I learn a bit of combat from him as well, mainly in throwing techniques when he and Bula discovered that I was rather good at it and teaching me how to fight bare handed, his main focus has been to teach me crafting related skills and how to properly butcher and dress various animals and monsters that have useful parts for crafting or cooking. As well as teaching me the basic in herb lore and useage.

And some simple traps that it easy to make with what you have on hand. I actually gained [Basic Tap Knowledge] thanks to that.

I've also gained skills like [Basic Herb Lore], [Simple Weapon Craft] and a few others thanks to this. But thanks to Grug's teaching many of my other craft related skills have leveled up at least once. If not twice on some of them.

To be frank, my [Climbing] skill is stil the one with the highest leve and is about halfway through level 9. And while I did feel that I gained some exp as me and my friends traveled the mountain, it was not enough to get it to level 10 and for it to rank up. Much less evovle into a stronger skill if that was a option.

However aside from [Climbing] and a few others skills that have also gained some experiance as I've traveled, with [Spear], [Ghater] and [Forage] getting most used so far, most of my other skills have barely gotten any exp or level up at all. Especially my crafting related ones aside form a few of my cook related skills I got soon after my Cook class was given by that blessing.

It actually made me a little depressed to be honest that I was not leveling many of my skills. But Roro says that it was to be expected ever since I found the Hobbit siblings and we started to travel to the stronghold, I haven't had time to work on them as much as I would like.

That, and the fact that not counting those that belongs to my two classes as they became separate from the other skills I have, earning me a new menu relating solely to my classes, I've already have over 30 skills in my arsenal. And according to Roro, I'll have to start foucsing on a selected few skills at a time if I don't want to be overwhelmed or get any decent progress done in good time.

[Appraisal] gets a pass though. Sort of. Nevermind the fact it still hasn't reach level two yet even though I've used it for months now on everything I saw or thought useful. Though I can feel that I need to use it just a bit more before it reach the threshold for a level up.

Thats the funny thing when it comes to exp for skills. You can't really see how much exp a skill needs. But you get a very vague feeling that over time gets better with telling you how close your are to a level up for it.

At least it kinda makes it somewhat easy to tell 'how' much you have left before the exp bar is full.

Anyhow.

Grug though has mostly fixed that problem for me. After he managed to get me to tell him some of the crafting skills I already possess.

And I had with some planed intent told him that [Handyman] and [Survival Craft] was two of several skills I've had since birth, while the rest was taught to me by my late 'grandparents'. Just to see what kind of reaction he would have.

It was for the most part a positive one. I think. He at least did not react in anyway I was able to see was bad.

I know for a fact that another reason why Grug and Bula are so kind to me is so that they can gain my trust and reveal all the 'gifts' I was given by the gods.

How do I know this? It's all thanks to Roro.

While I slept for the first time in a real bed and made me feel like I was in heaven throughout the night, Roro had snuck into the meeting all the leaders of this place was in that night to listen to what they where planning after we gave them those shards.

Which seems to have caused a huge shock and uproar to everyone in the stronghold.

Thanks to that, I know for a fact that they are aware that I'm not normal by any means and they know of my conition too thanks to that old healer lady. And that they believe that I'm a descented of some hero or champion. Which is apperantly a very big deal from what I understand. And that at least seems to give me a advantage I did not know I needed in the long run.

A advantage that may just save my life if me and Roro play our cards right.

Roro has not been able to tell me much about heros and champoins. Or why someone who's decented from one is a good thing, as we've been busy with other matters.

Like the fact what I should tell or not tell my caretakers. I made the mistake of telling them that I don't have a name nor was I ever given one, which had sent some of the other Orcs into a rage for reasons I did not understand at all at the time.

I later learned that all Orc kids get their name on their 10 birthday through a speical ritual/ceremony. And it's a pretty big deal as well as so few of their children survive to that age that clans throws parties and blessing on that special day.

Me not already having a name despite being 12 years old already, possessing two class and was given several skills since birth is more than a little worring or insulting, to put it lightly. According to Roro, I've liked open 1 to 5 dozen red flags by telling them that I'm nameless.

Joy.

This however isn't the only thing me and Roro have talked about. Another matter we are currently discussing is how to convince the leader and elders of the clan my caretakers and the other Orcs belongs to to take me in as part of them.

So I've taken advantage of my caretakers and the other Orcs somewhat lax guard they have around me to gather information so me and Roro has something to use or go on.

And once again luck seems to be on my side, somewhat, as I've manage to gather enough that Roro was able to remember what type of clan these Orcs are from.

The clan's name is Rainstorm and from what Roro told me, and what I managed to gather from my elders, this is arguably one of the best clans I could find so early on. Not only is the clan decently powerful on their own despite being relative young, only having exsisted somewhere between 10 to 17 generations so far. But it is also have neutral standing with most of the other Orc clans around the ancient forest they live. The Lost Woodlands of Nipadales.

A forest that once used to be a huge empire at somepoint in the past. However thanks to time, it has since been forgotten and no one is able to get close to the ruins that still remains in one of the deepest part of the forest to study or raid the place for what treasures still remain. This is mainly due to the fact that many C to A rank monsters and mana beasts call that part of the forest home.

And if rumors are true, there are even wild dragons living in those deep parts too. Which is a big no for most people with high power or ways to get things they want. Even the weakest, youngest or dumbest (Roro's words there) of wild dragons can easily kill a small army of High Mages with little trouble.

And High Mages, btw, are not easy to come by from what my guide said. To become a High Mage, you'd need to study in a lot of different magical academics to learn both the necessary know hows and skills. Along with with earning certain classes through both study and actual combat. And then go on a pilgrim like journey to some sacred magical place to fuse it all into the High Mage class.

This also those not include any special skills or element magic you've gained throughout all this. All in all, it can take as much as 20 to 70 years to become a High Mage. So yeah, it's no wonder you don't find many of them.

Anyhow. It's a nice little bit of history I'm glad to know. It explain a bit why the Orcs lives there as our kind thrive in difficult environments and there are a lot of resources that can only be found in there that is worth the trouble from what Roro told me.

It also makes it easy for me to know where to not go if I want to live a long life if I end up joining the Rainstorm clan.

The clan also has friendly relationships with nearby villages and towns that it trades with what they gather from the forest, which makes them able to get goods that other clans that live much deeper can't get. Which also makes the Rainstorm clan a good trade partner for the other clans in the area. All of this makes it very hard for those few clans Rainstorm is not on good terms with being able to attack them and other nasty stuff from happening.

And thanks to it's neutral standing the clan is able to avoid most conflicts that occur turing times of drought, harsh winters or when theres little to eat. Heck, the Rainstorm clan is actually considered the prime place for trying out peace talks with your enemy before war is declared or to go for help turing tough times. And many good arranaged marriage, that is only uesed when needed like when an alliance, pact or oath to each other needs to be kept through blood, are more often done in the Rainstorm clan as they are able to keep peace, avoid blood feuds and other nasty and unecessary conflict with few difficulties.

Arranaged marriages aren't very popular among Orcs for a lot of reasons as Roro told me. Orcs believe more in natural love than anything else and don't like to force a marrriage between two people who have never meet or have bad blood between each other due to greed of others, old blood oaths or other legit reasons for said bad blood. But when a arranaged marriage is the only thing that will save your clan or stop an unecessary clan war from happening turing dire straights, that option is more often than not used to make things for the most part right again.

That being said, the type of arranaged marriage that Orcs use are far more different then what was used back on Earth and in all the other countries in this world. There are actuall laws and very old traditions that not only dedicates that the future arranaged pair most have spent a few years living together, usually 5 years, to makes sure they are a good match and that they end up at least liking each other enough they won't kill each other withing a five feet distance.

But they also have laws that allowed for a clean divorce with next to no issue on both parts if needed, protects any children born from the marriage from being exploited by both clans and power hungry family memebers, makes sure that both parties have their rights followed as best as can be and many more.

Orcs may be a race that is genuine build and thrive on war, conflict or fights in general. But that those not mean we want for it to constantly happen. At least of the Orcs today. According to Roro, the ancestors of Orcs was the absolute opposite and caused a great deal of trouble wherever they went or settled.

That was a fun little history lesson. Let me tell you.

The Rainstorm clan is also a clan that is know to take in more refugees, orphans and other survivors far more often than others. It's infact how the clan started out as Orcs who either lost, left their birth clan on their own free will or got outcasted for bullshit reasons (as Roro called it) back in the old days, where the ones to form the clan to begin with.

In other words, I'd be a fool not to join this clan. Especially so ever since we found out about my Spirit Guide class. Thanks to it, I can't join the army without huge trouble coming my way later on when corrupted powers gets wind of my class. And will do whatever it takes to get me for their own gain.

Theres a lot of uses, and dreadful experiments, that someone with a Spirit Guide could be used for if those people got me. Or use me to cause wars if they so desire. Or something far worse.

And I would be powerless to stop them unless I got really lucky by either hidding my class until I find myself a safe place to live or was able to gain some sort of achievement that made it hard for them to act without dire consequences coming their way.

Both of which will be hard for me to gain even with my cheats. And with me having no family, clan or any sort of background to act as backup or make it harder for those types to try and use me for their own benefit, it'll be like threading on thin, slightly melted ice while fighting lions with a half burned stick if I choice to join the army.

However by having a clan adopt me or me joining one once I'm a adult, all of this will for the most part not be a problem. While Roro can't tell me everything due both lack of time to talk for lengths and the need to do so in secret to avoid people seeing me as crazy, after all while noone can see nor hear Roro everyone can still see and hear me talking, I don't know all the pros or cons joining a Orc clan entails. But if will for certian make those corrupted people and other dark powers less likely to kidnap and do whatever they want with me

However it easier said then done. Even though it is more likely than before any Orc clan is willing to take a child of their own race that don't seems to have any family or clan left with few issues, espeically after that terrible disease that have been rampaging for years now and kill off most of their own kids, it those not mean I will be welcomed with open arms right away.

I'm gonna have to porve them several times to both earn their trust and make them like me. And according to Roro I already have a few advantageds than others in that regard.

Namely my stats, skills and my Spirit Guide class. And the current misunderstanding that I'm a decendent from a Hero or Champoin. This makes me in the eyes of many, especially those filled with greed, that I have quite the value in the long term and can bring lots benefits as a result. Sure my condition as a albino might make some things a bit more difficult and I will have to work around it. But overall, I won't have as many problems like others thanks to all of this.

But that alone will not guarantee that they will trust me right off the bat. I got to earn that by hard work and proving that I'm worthy of being part of the clan.

In other words it is not going to be a piece of cake to join or be part of a clan.

This more than double depending on the clans power, their relationship with other clans, whether they are of the good, neutral or evil side and many other things. From what I'm starting to understand.

Truth be told though neither me nor Roro have made much of a plan just yet. But we still got some time as the Orc hunters won't leave the stronghold until most of the major protects or rebuilding is done, which will take another month or two at least. As well as figuring out just what the hell is up with the animals and the mana beasts.

Along with however long it will take to get to the Rainstorm clans territory and how long a clan meeting will take before I'm presented and must tell the leader, elders and other high memebers of the clan why I'm all alone in the wild and not with my birth clan or family.

Which is very standered in Orc culture and kind of expected to happen due how I was 'found'. So yeah. Theres that to.

Yeah no pressure there.

So I got a lot of time on my hands to figure something out.

I hope.

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Why most stomach pain come up whenever I think about this?