After a few days of getting my body back into decent enough shape, getting some things crafted and prepared for Aethisia when she gets older, and quite a few good ruts with Rhefia, I had leveled up both my systems again.
[Level Up
Level 20 (SS), Level 28 (BS)
You have four skill points and five breeding points!]
The breeding points were swiftly spent on [Pain Blockers V] and [Sexperience II], which decreased my pain by 40% and experience gained from sexual acts by 3%.
As for the skill points, I got [Archer II], [Spearwoman III], and a new skill, [Farmer I].
The increase in [Archer] raised my bows attack values by 4 now instead of two, my increased [Spearwoman] raised the spears attack value by 8, and [Farmer] decreased crop growth time by 5% and increased the yield by 5%.
Just like Rhefia and Camara, I was now wearing a fitted set of leather armor, and I was aware of Rhefia's blatant ogling of the leather hugging my ample chest, making my heart soar.
Puffing out my chest a little, I stood before her, a spear in my hand, ready for our first hunt.
Since it had been a few days, Aethisia was now standing to the middle of my thigh, and she was capable of speaking.
"Mama... where you go?"
Her voice was flat, but I could see her small shoulders trembling slightly as she stood beside me, her crimson eyes staring up at me.
Crouching down, I ruffled her snowy hair, my hand gliding over her stubby antlers.
"Your dama and I are going out hunting for a little bit, so it'll just be you and Camara, alright?"
Reaching out, she grabbed the edge of my leather skirt, tentatively asking "Be home fast..?"
Chuckling, I lifted her up and kissed her nose, nodding.
"Mama will be home fast, Aethisia. Now, be a good girl for your sister, hmm?"
She gave me a cute little nod, and I handed her over to Camara, who smiled gently at her.
"Remember, if she gets hungry just heat up the jug of milk for her, alright? You know how to grill, so take whatever meat you want."
She nodded, and after giving her and Aethisia another kiss, I followed behind Rhefia as she led me out into the forest.
I hesitated at the edge of the clearing, since I had only stepped out to travel to that one boulder and that was it.
Stepping over the edge, I felt my heart pounding as Rhefia turned around, her head tilting.
"Whats up?"
Taking a shaky breath, I grinned at her as I said "This is the first time I'm leaving our clearing..."
An odd look appeared on her face as she heard that, saying "I..."
Shaking my head, I gave her a smile as I said "It's fine, it doesn't bother me. Now come on! I want to see everything outside!"
Nodding, she took a breath before turning around, leading me into the lush forest that housed us.
The trees were large, the leaves a wonderful dark green, the ground covered in shrubs and mossy stones...
The air had a different scent to it then our clearing, smelling more earthy.
I was in wonder as we walked, and my time was spent admiring the scenery, enjoying the feel of the breeze on my skin as we made our way deeper into the forest.
However, after a little while Rhefia held up her hand, making me freeze behind her.
She gestured forwards, where a short, round boar stood, peacefully grazing on some tufts of grass.
Crouching down, Rhefia leaned closer to me and whispered "Use your bow, and aim for just a little behind its front legs. Should hit something vital, be it the lungs or heart."
Nodding, I carefully laid my spear beside me before withdrawing my bow, nocking a large stone arrow on the string.
Taking aim, I pursed my lips as I stared at the animal, a quick moment of hesitation as I realized that, when I let that string go, I could very well end a life.
Was that something I was alright with?
I mean, it had every right to life, just like me.
However, that moment was quickly thrust from my mind, as I another entered, one that made me release that bowstring with no hesitation.
This boar would provide meat and fur to help keep my two daughters fed and warm.
That was all I needed to know; that this act of taking a life would provide for my family, for my daughters.
So, I let my bow sing, spitting that arrow forth into the boars unsuspecting side, the arrow thunking deep into its chest.
It squealed in agony, but it could only stumble away a few steps before collapsing, dead.
Rhefia pursed her lips as she stared at me, before smiling as we approached the dead boar.
"Good shot, love."
Nodding at her, I stared at the boars carcass that laid before me, before focusing on the notification that came through.
[Level Up
Level 21 (SS), Level 28 (BS)
You have a skill point!]
[You unlocked the skill {Hunter I}]
[Hunter I : You deal 5% more damage to animals when hidden, and you harvest 5% more from animals killed when hidden]
Nodding at the useful skill, I crouched beside the boar and harvested it, getting a lot of meat, bones, and hide from the corpse.
I had a feeling that I'd be able to harvest any ingredients from it should I know of them and be able to use them via a skill.
Besides that, this meant that I could earn skills outside of purchasing them, which meant they were either 'unique', meaning only earnable, or that I just hadn't unlocked the option to purchase it yet due to my current life experiences, which was likely as I had gotten the options for [Archer] and [Spearwoman] by crafting those items.
There was no [Swordswoman] available yet, after all...
Anyways, after harvesting the corpse, Rhefia smiled at me as she said "Shall we continue?"