Chapter 41 - Astronia
Now we are talking! Hunting like this will allow me to level up fast! From yesterday's conversation, I'll go for dexterity. That should help make archery and moving around without making sounds easier. I'll keep one of the status points safe to help hide my blessings and be used when I better understand my status.
"Bryn?" Michelle waved her hand in front of Bryn's face.
"Sorry, I just leveled up and was thinking where the status should go."
"Good! Dad asked me for you to reach level 5 today. Another four rabbits should do it or an elk, but they are not as common in this area."
Both kept going, rabbit after rabbit. Bryn was able to hit two on his first try. After two in a roll, he missed the first shot and had to reposition for a second arrow quickly. The additional dex helped with the speed to ready his bow. This time, he was ready to miss the initial one. The second arrow hit perfectly.
The last rabbit took a bit more work to find. They spent a long while searching for a trace but eventually found it. Learning from every experience, Bryn fired his first arrow; before it hit or missed, his second one had already fired. The two hit almost at the same time.
- Level UP ! -
Level 4 -> Level 5 (17%)
Gained 8 status points
Fuck yea!! Dex is the way to go for now… But my blessing will make me stand out too much. After adding 7 points from the previous level, my dex with the skills and blessing went to 19… I'll compensate by not adding two status points at this level. Dex +6 it is.
"Task completed Michelle! Level five is here!"
"Perfect! Let's head back…"
While Bryn recovered the arrows from the rabbit, he wondered how they didn't break as they hit both bones of trees. On the way back, Michelle explained that the blacksmiths reinforced them with earth magic, making the materials sturdier than usual arrows—another reason for her to pick every arrow up.
They had walked quite far on their hunt and the sun had already reached the horizon. The light was starting to diminish as both returned. "Hey, Bryn, look here! I think it's the trace of an elk. How about the last prize before going back?"
"Let's do it!"
Thankfully, the traces led them to slight deviation from the path home. The creature was eating without a care in the world. "Elks are tough. Prepare to fire consecutively and aim for their heart region." Said michelle, pointing to the upper side of her ribcage.
The animal had no chance to evade. Bryn and Michelle fired five arrows without stopping, hitting their target close to its vital organs. As it tried to escape, the second volley made impact, scaring the beast. The third, fourth, and fifth were unnecessary, but Bryn only stopped when the creature was utterly immobile.
- Level UP ! -
Level 5 -> Level 6 (63%)
Gained 8 status points
"Wow, that is much better to hunt than the rabbits! Why don't we hunt that?!" asked Bryn, looking at the notification.
"First, there are many more rabbits than elks. Second, elks usually live closer to the mountains and you saw what happened last time…"
Bryn said nothing, understanding her message.
After the elk, it took them another hour to arrive at the village. Bryn thanked her before saying goodbye, returning the bow and the quiver, and walking towards his tent. Arriving, there was Kwame, now looking at Bryn with his mouth slowly opening as if he was about to speak, but no speech came out of it.
"Mr. Kwame, how is Daniel?!" Bryn asked.
"When did you level up?!" Kwame asked, ignoring Bryn.
"Well, Michelle and Luca took me to hunt elks yesterday and today as well… Bow hunting is much better than using the short sword, so today was better than the previous."
"They sent children to hunt elk? How did you bring the carcass home?"
"Well, yesterday Luca used a magical ring… Today, we left the carcass in place… Michelle said she is not allowed to use magical items yet."
"Common sense does not prevail in this village after all…" Kwame whispered to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing… Daniel is great. He is now on his feet and would like to return to training. Not only with you but with his training schedule. Meeting Mr. Jonas was a blessing for us."
"Amazing!"
"Bryn, since you worked so hard today, we can speak tomorrow. I wish to share our plan with you and the caravan now that we've settled for the winter."
"Ok, whenever you wish, Mr. Kwame."
"Now go to bed, 5 levels in two days is excellent, even from 1 to 6."
"Thank you."
Today, Bryn had a bit more energy than yesterday. The increase in status was improving his stamina even without him realizing it. He slept like a rock after cleaning up. Waking up the next day revitalized. Starting his day, as usual, he used appraisal on himself.
I should consider where to add the points from reaching level 6. If I keep going on dex, I'll have too many discrepancies and will have to overthink where the status should go. I'll put 2 points on int and 5 on vit. I'm going to keep these 4 points for a future date…
The morning was usual. Bryn noticed that with the increment in dex, his precision on training was better than before, as well as his stamina. After eating with the caravan, he met michelle at the square. She was holding both her bow and the one Bryn had used yesterday. Together, they walked towards Michelle's place of training.
"Today, we increase your archery level! Also, we'll use moving targets. But let's warm up with yesterday's competition." said Michelle.
Both did three rounds of five arrows, one after the other, on targets next to each other. Bryn had gotten much better than yesterday's first attempt. At 3 meters, he was a perfect shot. Michelle increased the distance to 5. He could hit the target, but the arrows didn't group as close as before, and he tended to the sides. She corrected his form between every round of five arrows; the remaining seven rounds were all from the new distance.
Afterward, they rested briefly before a round on the moving targets. She used one of the dangling wooden circles, throwing it from side to side. Bryn's challenge was hitting the target five arrows in a row. The distance now was closer than the previous competition. Bryn's challenge this time was timing rather than precision. Michelle changed the force she used to push the target around so he wouldn't get used to the speed and range of motion.
At the end of the tenth round, Bryn consistently hit the target four times, but the fifth in a row was still hard to hit. It was time to go after rabbits. This time, though, michelle complicated Bryn's hunt. The new rule was that she would fire an arrow close to the rabbit; Bryn would have to fire as soon as her arrow hit and the rabbit moved. According to her, it was the fastest way for him to train in shooting at real moving targets with any risk involved. After noon, Bryn could only hunt five rabbits until sunset going from level 6 to 7.
Walking back to the village, he pondered where to put his new status points, but the day was already over and he would use the night to think about the question.
At the village, he went straight to clean up and then towards Kwame's tent. Arriving, he saw all the caravan members around a small fire in front of the tent. After talking with all the members, Kwame and his party exited the tent.
"Good evening, everyone." Said Kwame. He walked around the center of the group and continued. "I invited you all here today to explain our plans." Daniel looked at Bryn, smiling as one of his eyebrows raised. Amelia was beside him, holding his arm, and Thrain, Zara and Kaelar were behind them.
"We've been at the village for a few days. Has anyone changed their minds about staying?" Mr. Kwame asked, but the caravan was silent. "Then let's talk about our plans. We were meant to arrive in the next six months on Astronia, the demi-human continent as it is known. For those who don't know, we are part of a merchant group from Cosmara. Our goal is always to bring materials, create trading routes and deals, and bring back information to the council."
Bryn was paying close attention to Kwame before realizing Daniel had moved to his side. "Leveled up ham…" he whispered.
Bryn was startled but thankfully didn't scream, interrupting Kwame. "Mr. Daniel, I'm glad you alright. Yes, I've been hunting around the village… But more importantly, what is Astronia and Cosmara?" Bryn asked.
"Astronia is one of the three great continents. Cosmara is the kingdom where we usually live and where we are heading!"
"Is it far?"
"About six months to get there from here after the snow passes. Crossing the ocean is the most demanding part, especially if we don't have wind and water mages…"
"That long?" Bryn bit his finger.
"What is going on Bryn?"
"Is the place we are going safe? I mean, safe for people like me?"
"You mean fauns?" Asked Daniel, almost sure where the conversation was heading.
"Yes." Said Bryn, looking Daniel in the eyes and turning his head from Kwame, who was still speaking about the details of the journey.
"Astronia is a continent with many conflicts. We are divided into many more kingdoms than Auroraan… But yes, it is safer for you than staying here. Astronia is a country controlled by demi-humans."
"Mr Daniel, can I find my parents before we go?" With every question, Bryn's morale dropped one more level. He thought he was ready to stay away from his parents if he got stronger and had a perspective to find them. Facing reality as Kwame spoke was more challenging.
Daniel's lips pressed against each other. His eyes rounded, listening to Bryn's questions. "Bryn, we wouldn't have the time to find them before we go there. You are not a slave anymore, but I don't think you should room around this Kingdom alone. Or any other in Auroraan, for that matter."
"How strong do I have to be?" he asked.
"Are you asking for a level?" asked Daniel, placing a hand on Bryn's shoulder.
Bryn shook his shoulder to remove Daniel's hand. "Yes, how powerful do I need to become?"
Taking his hand away, Daniel looked at his party. He thought about his friends, then remembered his time facing Jonas two days ago. "Fifty, if you were not a faun. So level 65 should be ok for you…" he said, lowering both hand and head as he spoke.
I'll find you, Mom. Don't give up on me.
Bryn's rage grew bigger and bigger. He visualized Isolde and Rowan's bodies in the same position as the rabbits he had hunted. "Thank you, Daniel." he said.
At this point, Kwame had ended his speech, and people had already asked their questions and were starting to leave. He saw Bryn and Daniel talking and decided to approach. "How are you two?"
"Fine." Said Bryn, his fist trembling and his eyes not blinking, staring the fire.
Kwame looked at his friend, who simply nodded from side to side. Comprehending more behind it, Kwame resumed the speech, not pressing the subject.
"Bryn, as I said. We have the next two months here in the village. Use it however you like. Then we are going to a port city. On the way, we'll try to find others to help and take to Cosmara."
Bryn said nothing, still lingering on the thoughts of destruction clouding his mind. He nodded his head up and down while his heart beat faster and faster. "Mr. Kwame, I'm not feeling well… I'm going to bad."
"Bryn?" Kwame looked at the back of the faun, walking away. "What happened, Daniel?" asked Kwame.
"The calm before the storm, that's what happened. The kid is facing reality, and it is horrible."