Walking towards the pile of equipment they have gathered he begins rubbing through the equipment and pulls out a piece of armor.
He tosses it over to me and I catch it. I flip it over its front and examine the armor in detail with my eyes and it begins giving me numbers wording above the armor.
{Steel plates armor-Level 2}
{Quality-Medium}
{Skill-Heavy armor}
Huh? What the hell is that? Seila? Didn't know I was able to examine armor qualities and statistics.
[I didn't know of it either. I know you would be able to examine objects and figure out their qualities but it wouldn't be using detail like the one we just saw. I am not sure what this information is based on. I don't know how I would know it was steel since we didn't examine it purposefully, seems like it automatically did.]
Maybe I did somehow?
[Perhaps. But I suppose this armor will be of use, so I suggest putting it on.]
Agreed.
Jarvis is pulling out other pieces of the armor of similar quality and design but seems to be a variation of damage and quality.
He sets down boots, greaves, bracers, and gloves.
{Leather boots -Level 2}
{Quality-low}
{Skill-lightweight}
{Steel greaves-Level 3}
{Quality-Medium}
{Skill-Heavy armor}
{Steel bracers-Level 3}
{Quality-Medium}
{Skill-Heavy armor}
{Leather gloves-Level 2}
{Quality-Medium}
{Skill-lightweight}
I guess the boots seem to be a bit of poorer quality but that is all I can ask with my ruined shoes...My sneakers cost like 600 dollars...
[Wasn't your father like, rich or something?]
Ever since KDD was announced to the world and the fear many governments required to know if you had KDD in resumes. I couldn't get a single job for years and the only jobs I could were just small community jobs like lawn mowing or walking someone's dogs. Took me fucking months.
"Thanks, Jarvis for the armor," I say taking off my shoes to equip the greaves.
"No worries man, besides. This is the least we can do for someone who helped us. Also, we were sorting out some of the weapons we had gathered from the bandits and we decided to give you one of the best ones in our opinion. But we are not blacksmiths, we're farmers. So our understanding of weapon quality is poor. But maybe you can, seeing as you are a traveler from the far east of the Great Jagged Mounts.
"Uh, yeah I can take a look."
He shows the pile of weapons and gestures to them for me to look at.
As I look around them I see variations of weapons of quality and design. One-handed axes, one-handed swords, and two-handed swords. As I look at the two-handed sword I begin looking at it longer and then the same thing happens as with the armor.
{Steel Two-handed Sword-Level 2}
{Quality-Medium}
{Skill-Two handed weapons}
I then check out the other ones and look at them longingly the same way.
{Iron War Axe-Level 1}
{Quality-Poor}
{Skill-One handed weapons}
{Steel War Axe-Level 2}
{Quality-Medium}
{Skill-One handed weapons}
*50 seconds later*
As I examine the weapons I have determined the best weapons at least quality wise the steel two-handed greatsword, and the steel one-handed sword. As of so far, those are the best ones. I wonder if I can push it and ask for both.
"How about the two-handed sword and the one-handed steel sword?"
"I uh, I think we would appreciate it a lot if you could pick one. We also want to be able to defend ourselves. If, that's alright"
"I think that is perfectly fine. I will take the two-handed sword"
"Sweet!" he picks up the two-handed sword, which has some heft for him to lift and hands it to me point facing down.
I take it with one arm and I easily lift it, even though I was expecting to need to use more of ym muscles to hold it up.
Wow, this is much lighter than I thought it is. My "eye" says it is steel but it sure feels light.
[Remember, the implants? A lot of your abilities have been enhanced essentially twice as much as humans, as well as a so far "indestructible" endoskeleton.]
Right, right, I forgot.
"Is there a weapon holder or strap I can put on my back or hip?"
"Uh, yeah, I assume this is what this leather strap was for." he hands it over to me and I begin my best to strap it on. "My bad, I guess you wouldn't want to lug around that thing with both hands for hours."
{Leather Great sword scabbard}
{Quality-Low}
{Skill-None}
I begin trying to strap it securely to my back which takes a bit of time. About 30 seconds.
*Click*
I finally strap it in and tighten it around me more securely and I feel it hold onto my chest and hips.
I try to put the sword in the scabbard and I clumsily have a hard time finding it.
[You are so bad at this]
Shut up! This is literally my first time. This ain't some video game where it always works.
I finally get it in the scabbard and begin moving a bit to see how it all feels now that I got everything on me. At least for now.
I begin jumping a bit to feel the weight of it, and it feels pretty light surprisingly. Likely caused by the implants negating the effects of the weight.
"Thanks, Jarvis, helps a lot. I don't feel naked now since I was traveling with just some average clothing."
"Yeah, no worries. Speaking of which, what type of clothing were you wearing? I have heard rumors of the types of clothing from the Far East, but they didn't match the description you showed."
"Uh...It's a local kind of thing. We never had it described"
"Ah, oh well. Carry on then"
I turn around and begin walking back to the gathered supplies that everyone now seems to be getting selected to carry.
"Okay, would you two please carry the products we have left? Would be of great help." an elderly woman asks two young men. They both give a deep bow and respond politely and do as she asks. Strapping backpacks on themselves.
"Is there anything I can help with?" I ask
"OH! No, no honey, you've done a lot for us already. We couldn't impose on you more" she states. Her height is only about 5'5. She might be about I think 80 years old.
"Oh no, I couldn't impose more. You gave me food, some shelter, and some equipment without any costs. I can at least help with your people. Besides, I am in no rush.
[You've been asleep for 3 years, you might be late for a lot of stuff]
Shut up, not my concern right now.
"Well, if you insist young man. Please help carry the products we have preserved. Since our fresh produce will run out sooner, we will prioritize our preserved food source for the journey. As much as I hate to say this, but with half of the village dead, it means the remaining food can be rationed better." she says solemnly
"Which is why I want to help with that burden as much as possible. I also ask that I may accompany you all to the nearest city settlement."
"We would be splendid if you came with us. Especially since we might get attacked by anything. It would be nice to have a young strong man with us as well" she says jokingly.
She has that old granma energy to her.
[She literally is the age of one, she likely is a grandma]
"Thank you, ma'am. Let me help with this"
I join the others in packing their bags and strapping them on themselves. With mostly every adult having all the supplies they need we begin gathering around until I hear some kids run up to me.
Three small children, guessing between 8-12 years old. A blond-haired girl, a blond-haired boy, and a black-haired boy.
"Hey mister!" the little girl asks
"Huh?" I respond
"A-are you dating Miss Seelah?" she asks with excitement
[Rumors spread like wildfire don't they]
I kneel down a bit to be of a similar eye" Heh, no. Sorry kids I am not dating her. But she is a nice girl" rubbing the top of her head.
The boy with black hair then speaks up, "Hey, mister! Seelah says she likes guys who are tall! I think you got a chance! I bet you will be my big brother!"
"Yeah!" the blond-haired boy replies after
I don't think I am that tall. Like 5'8 or something.
[Actually, since you've been asleep I guess you wouldn't know, but you grew in height because of the implants remember? You're roughly about 5'11 now.]
Oh? Well, that's neat. But now the real question is, did the important male asset grow as well?
[*Sigh* You men are all the same...]
Is that a yes?
[It is, but I won't tell you....Figure that out on your own when you are sad and lonely]
"How tall is Seelah? I am 5'11"
"Uh, uhm...." the blond girl turns to her friends and they all begin trying to count with the small finger and are stumped
[Seelah is 5'8]
Ah, got it. Thank you for sparing these kid's brains
"Er, don't worry kids. Not a big deal really. So run along. I am sure someone would love for your kids to help."
The kids begin to whisper to one another and then turn back to me, with the black-haired boy hiding something behind him. But it isn't presented as very purposefully secretive.
"Uhm, here mister! For saving my mother!" he gives what looks to be a red cloth that is relatively thin but dark.
I reach my hand and take it and examine it.
{Red bandana}
{Quality-Low}
Huh, I guess I can consider it a cosmetic or accessory
The three kids run away toward some other adults, I get up from my knee and stand straight.
"They seem to approach you openly, especially to give you something" a feminine young voice calls out.
I turn around and see Seelah standing in more of an outdoor kind of clothing with boots, a coat, and hair in a ponytail.
"I guess, I try my best. Also, what's your type?" I ask out of the blue
"W-what?! Well, uhm I uh...."
"I am joking, the kids said you're into tall guys so"
"W-what?! B-but, how did they?!" she cuts herself off realizing she is in front of everyone including me quite clearly and begins to turn red.
"Ahem," a voice calls out. It is the elderly woman who was listening to us.
"I am sure you youngsters want to get to know one another but please, we must all work together. The village not only isn't safe anymore, but we can't sustain ourselves anymore. At most, we can hope to acquire some available jobs in the next settlement."
"Right ma'am, I am sorry" Seelah exclaims respectfully bowing.
I decide to tie the bandana around my neck which I think looks nice. But I don't have a mirror to compare.
*1 and a half hours*
We have managed to repair one of the carts for us to use for the elderly and children can ride on, and used some of the bandit's horses we found. Only two of them, however.
"Let us stop for a rest!" the horse steerer exclaims to everyone.
We stop and begin setting up a resting zone where we can all eat, rest, and chat more.
*30 minutes later*
I am leaning on a tree, and have been keeping an eye on the kids as they play around. shame still they have to abandon their home. But they are young, so they hopefully won't be too affected by these events. But then again, I remember psychology class. PTSD can be given to anyone at any age. I can only hope they won't be harmed too much by it.
[I am surprised you remembered your psychology class]
"Well, I did go to one of the best schools in the country. Plus, my father put me in classes where the most paying jobs can come from. Wanted me to become a doctor likely."
[Maybe, we seemed to be having you always in his mind when you were in school and your mother died.]
"How do you know?"
[When he was working on my AI version I had some conversations with him. Needed someone to speak with him a lot since his wife passed away.]
"What did he talk to you about-" I hear footsteps behind me and a voice
"Hello, Daniel." Seelah greets me a couple of feet away from me.
I get myself off the tree and turn around to her face-to-face and walk up to her.
"Hey, Seelah!"
Some children see Daniel and Seelah chatting and begin to silently observe from afar.
"Are they going to get married?" someone asks
"SSHH! I am trying to listen!" another kid whispers aggressively
"So uhm, who are you talking to?" Seelah asks
"I uh...." I say unsure how to give a proper response that doesn't like I am insane
[You're in for it now]
*sigh* "You see, there was a saying my mother told me when I was younger before she passed away. She said, 'Even when I am gone, I will be with you forever. Then when you die, you will finally come to me in the after life'. So at times, I feel like I hear her voice in my heart and so I humor my mother in conversation." I say trying to be slightly softer in tone.
She gives me a somber look, and then at the ground.
"I'm...I'm sorry that your mother died. I am sure she was a wonderful woman," she states
"To be honest, I wouldn't really know. She seemed to be a great mother, but since she passed away during most of my life I never got to see how much of a great mother she could've become."
"Well, it seems you still turned out to be a good person. At least, I think so..."
We both make eye contact for a bit and then I realize my chest is beating much harder and I feel weird in ym chest. I feel jittery.
[Oooohhh! Someone is perhaps feeling in-]
Shut up. Don't ruin this with your dumb voice
The kids who've been watching silently begin to whisper to one another.
"Hey, I got an idea!" one whispered to them all.
A brown-haired boy runs towards the ball they had and then kids it as hard as he can at Daniel's back.
*Boing*
The ball goes flying toward Daniel and Seelah notices a split too late.
*THWACK*
The ball hits Daniel's back shoving him forward a bit toward Seelah. Daniel catches himself with his right foot, but the ground partially collapses in as if there was an animal burrow.