"Good man! Follow me" Kam spoke, grabbing the wine jar and started walking. They left the area soon after and started to follow a path surrounded by woods. That was when a giant boar rushed from behind the bushes, tusks as big as Connor's arms and hooves that dug holes in the dirt as it pushed its body towards them. It was as big as Connor, which terrified him. With a side roll, he barely managed to dodge it before he was turned into a pancake. Kam swiftly moved, like a jaguar as he swung his sword so fast that Connor couldn't even see it. A deep gash appeared on the boar's side, making it shriek in pain. Kam seemed to be superhuman, as he kicked the boar before it managed to turn towards him, making it fall with a thud. It struggled, but before it could do anything a sword pierced right through its temple. Ending its life.
"Animals mutated after these cursed ruins appeared, but now we get more food from a kill so it's a win I guess" Kam commented before he started moving again. Connor on the other hand just stood there for a bit. He looked at the giant boar with awe. "This thing probably weighs more than both of us combined, how did you manage to make it fall like that with a single kick?"
Kam stopped and turned around, looking at Connor with confusion. "What are you talking about? Of course I've strengthened myself with a Void Tablet!"
'Is this something i'm supposed to know? I shouldn't let him get suspicious" Connor said. "Oh, do you have some in the camp?" He asked.
"Of course we do, since the Ruins keep popping them out like candy" Kam continued. "It's a good thing too, or the Mages would still have the upperhand"
'What does that mean? Void Tablet? Is it something to strengthen the body in some way? So the Mages had the upperhand in these raids before? Does that mean before the Ruins the Mages were the supreme power?' Connor thought.
"Come on, what're you waiting for?" Kam said before he continued to walk. A few feet ahead, he stopped and spoke. "Look north. You see the Ruins sticking out of the ground?"
"Yeah, I've seen one before!"
"Well, the white robes set up a camp there. If you're smart you won't be seen up there. Otherwise you'll be snatched up and taken to the Monastery" Kam continued. "Do you wanna be a slave or a free man?"
"You're really hammering this home aren't you?" Connor said.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! You're right. You're your own man. Free to do as you like" Kam said, raising his hands. "Come on, it isn't much further!"
They encountered a few wolves along the way, not starving ones this time. Connor saw their speed and might, which made him worry. The wolves could reach his chest, with their fangs bigger than an average tusk. Kam dodged an attack from one of them which landed on a tree behind him. Connor watched in horror as a chunk was taken from it like nothing by the wolf's jaws. If animals were that strong now, then what about the demons that came out of the Ruins? These questions appeared in his head whenever he saw Kan fight one. He was impressed each time with how much power the animals had and even more so by Kam.
As they walked, Kam would show Connor which plants to pick and which to ignore, widening his knowledge further. He learned that there was a red mushroom called fire hat, which is used mostly in alchemy to make a Potion called Fire Resistance. It's a useful Potion that lessens Fire damage by 40%, but cannot be stacked.
Healing Herbs which is used to make Healing Potions along with Mana Herbs and so on. These are used to create medium sized Potions and are very sought after. Of course Healing Potions require much more than just Healing Plants or Herbs but they are one of the main ingredients.
After they reached a crossroad, Kam pointed towards the one on the left and spoke. "If you follow the path north, you'll find our camp" Connor followed the path ahead with his eyes to see if he can spot any animals along the way, but even the greenery became rare, replaced by mud the more you walked. "And watch out for the Hunters, the lazy beggars are always trying to get others to do their job for'em!"
"Thanks for your help" Connor genuinely meant it. This man has taught him many things that he needed to know, which will make things easier on his journey in this World.
"You've been through enough, you deserve a bit of kindness.. I'm sure I'll see you around. Good Luck!" And just like that, Kam started walking back the way he came, heading back towards his guard post.
Connor walked on the path pointed to him, reaching a bridge of sorts that hovered over the foggy and dirty water of the swamp. On the other end was a man, who easily noticed Connor as well.
"Hey you. Where do you think you're going?" He said menacingly. His sword unsheathed, but Connor couldn't help but feel an invisible pressure emanating from him.
"I'm just making my way to the Don's camp.. Kam led me here" Connor answered.
"Haha, just messing with ya!" The man laughed as Connor felt the pressure lift. "Have to make my own entertainment. Gets a bit boring out here.. Apart from the Devilworms eating people"He continued. "I'd stay on the walkway and not go too far out into the swamp. Believe me, being eaten alive by those creatures is not the way a man should go" He said, looking towards the foggy swamp. Roars and other indescribable noises could be heard from deep within. "Hang on! I think I've got a map somewhere you can have.. Although by the looks of you, you could do with a better weapon and a set of armor instead"
"Where can I get a better weapon and armor?" Connor asked. Although the sword he just received was decent. Looking at the scratches and damage all over it, he knew it might not keep him company for long.
"Depends on what you're after" The man answered. "Some swear by a good blade. Others prefer the heft of an axe, but I'm a hunter, so I prefer the bow and arrows.. I've got a couple of nice specimens here actually, for the right price of course"
"Let's trade then!" Connor said, seeing the man reach into his pocket and pull out a small Crystal. It looked unrefined but the dark purple glow it emanated spoke greatly of its value.
Connor watched with wide eyes as the man tapped the Crystal, and an assortment of items appeared. It looked like a holographic screen.
The image of 2 Bows appeared, each of a different shape and size. Multiple arrows, a Ring with engravings on it emitting green light and what the man explained was a Wing shears and a Jaw chisel. They can be used to collect the useful parts of a beast, selling them for extra coins. But for now Connor decided to focus on selling the stuff he had, which after some back and forth managed to sell everything he had, including the Plants for 65 Gold coins. Of course Connor kept the Small Healing Potions for himself. They were worth more on him than anywhere else.
"Do you have another one like that for sale?" Connor asked. He saw the man pull the Gold out of the Crystal and shoved the items he got from him in it too, like a walking storage of sorts. He would definitely need something like that so he asked.
"I do actually.. Got it off the corpse of some brave idiot!" He said with a smirk. "I'll sell it to you for 50 Gold, nothing more and nothing less!"
"Make it 45 and you got a deal!" Connor tried to haggle, and right after they both agreed on 47GC, the exact amount he wanted. This was an item that will be his bread and butter. He had 82 Gold coins found along his way and now with the 65GC became 147GC.
"Here you go!" The man said, handing Connor a Crystal similar to the one he held. Copying the man's actions, Connor saw the screen open, and he shoved everything he had in there, finally feeling free from the burden.
"Can you tell me something about that Ring?" Connor asked, curious.
"It is called the Ring of Skill, which improves your Dexterity by a whole Star.. This is an Item i got in the Ruins, many tried to buy it off of me back then but i kept it. After a while, I no longer need it, as my Skills improved tremendously since"
'Dexterity? Star? What is a Star? Some sort of ranking system here?' Connor thought to himself, looking at the Ring. 'Dexterity might come in useful, and the man made it seem like it was a decent item.. I shouldn't show my ignorance and pretend like I know what I'm talking about so he doesn't try to scam me'
"You want 100GC for a Ring that adds only a single Star?" Connor said, showing disappointment on his face.
"Are you insane?" The man frowned. "Do you have any idea how cheap that is? Especially for a Star upgrade? Do you have any idea how much my archery improved because of it?" The man seemed slightly offended, so Connor decided not to push his luck.
"Alright, I understand" He said. "I'll give you 80GC for it, how does that sound?" He said.
"100GC and don't fight me on this, I'm already having second thoughts about selling it!"
"Ok, 100GC it is!"
And just like that, Connor got himself his first Magic Equipment..