The campfire crackled softly as night fell over the outcasts' camp. Kael sat on a log near the flames, his spear resting across his lap. The warmth of the fire and the distant sounds of the forest were oddly soothing after the tense patrol with Marra. Though his body ached and his wounds still throbbed faintly, Kael felt more at ease than he had in days.
Corin sharpened his dagger a few feet away, the rhythmic scrape of metal on stone breaking the silence. Thane sat cross-legged on the ground, fiddling with the runes on his staff. The faint glow of the carvings flickered in time with the firelight, casting strange shadows across the boy's face.
Marra leaned against a tree at the edge of the camp, her bow resting against her shoulder. She watched Kael with the same sharp intensity she had since he arrived, as if trying to decide whether he was a threat or an asset.
Kael leaned back, his fingers idly tracing the rough surface of his spear. The past few days had been harrowing, and now that he had a brief moment to breathe, he decided to check his progress. With a thought, he pulled up his System interface.
---
Name: Kael Ardyn
Level: 3
HP: 65/100
MP: 30/50
Stats:
- Strength: 13
- Agility: 13
- Endurance: 12
- Intelligence: 13
- Wisdom: 12
- Charisma: 9
- Luck: 8
Skills:
- Skill Replication (Unique)
- Body Double (Rare, Tier: Grandmaster)
- Improvised Weaponry (Basic)
- Spear Proficiency (Basic)
- Swordsmanship (Basic)
- Predator's Reflexes (Basic)
- Domain Seed (Unique)
---
Kael studied the display, noting how his HP and MP had recovered slightly since he first joined the outcasts. His stats were solid for someone who had started from nothing, but the gaps in his knowledge and skills were glaring.
"You've got some impressive abilities," a voice said, breaking his thoughts.
Kael dismissed the interface and turned to see Thane watching him with open curiosity. The boy's staff rested across his lap, its faintly glowing runes casting a soft light on his eager expression.
"What do you mean?" Kael asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"I saw a bit of your screen," Thane admitted sheepishly. "You've got two unique skills. That's rare. But I'm more curious about one of them—Domain Seed."
Kael hesitated. Marra and Corin didn't seem to be paying attention, but he still felt wary about discussing something so personal. Yet Thane's genuine interest and lack of judgment made him decide to share—carefully.
"It's… a skill that lets me create a space," Kael said slowly. "A sanctuary where I can recover and store things. Time moves differently inside, and it has room to grow."
Thane's eyes widened. "Time moves differently? That's incredible! That alone makes it one of the most powerful abilities I've heard of. How does it work?"
Kael glanced around again, making sure the others weren't listening. He lowered his voice. "It's powered by something called Energy Units. Right now, it's small, and I don't have much energy to work with. But if I can gather resources—or people—it might become stronger."
"People?" Thane asked, his brow furrowing. "Do you mean followers?"
Kael nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. Apparently, having people believe in me can fuel the domain and help it grow."
Thane leaned forward, his excitement evident. "That's amazing. I've read about skills like that in old system texts, but they're so rare they're practically myths. Do you know how many Energy Units it takes to expand it?"
Kael shrugged. "It depends. I checked earlier, and the costs vary. Expanding the size is cheaper than increasing the time dilation or adding special features like resource nodes. But everything requires energy, and right now, I've got none."
Thane frowned thoughtfully. "If followers are one of the ways to generate energy, it might be worth finding people who trust you. Not just for survival, but to grow your domain."
Kael tensed slightly. The idea of gathering followers—convincing others to trust him, to believe in him—felt overwhelming. "I'll figure that out later," he said. "For now, it's just a useful place to recover."
Thane nodded, though his curiosity didn't fade. "If you ever need help experimenting with it, let me know. I'd love to study how it works."
Kael offered a faint smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
Marra's voice cut through their conversation. "Thane, give him some space. Kael's still adjusting, and he doesn't need you pestering him with a thousand questions."
Thane leaned back, muttering an apology. Kael gave him a nod of reassurance. "It's fine," Kael said. "If I learn anything new about it, I'll let you know."
"Thanks," Thane said, his enthusiasm returning. "I think it's amazing. Skills like that are practically unheard of."
Kael glanced at Marra, who was watching him with a faintly amused expression. He could tell she was still assessing him, but for now, she seemed content to let him settle into the group.
***
The next morning, Marra woke Kael before dawn. The forest was cool and quiet, the air thick with the scent of damp earth. Kael stretched, his muscles aching slightly from the previous day's exertions.
"We're heading to the northern ridge," Marra said, handing Kael a waterskin. "Goblins have been spotted in the area. If we're lucky, we'll pick off a few stragglers."
Kael nodded, gripping his spear tightly. "What's the plan?"
"Stick close to me," she said. "Watch and learn."
They moved cautiously through the forest, their footsteps silent on the soft earth. Marra's bow was nocked but not drawn, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows ahead. Kael followed her lead, his spear held ready.
The first goblin they encountered was alone, crouched by a shallow stream. Its crude spear rested against a nearby tree, and it appeared focused on the water. Marra signaled for Kael to circle around. He nodded, moving silently through the underbrush.
As Kael positioned himself behind the goblin, Marra loosed her arrow. The projectile struck the goblin's leg, causing it to shriek in pain. Kael lunged forward, driving his spear into its chest before it could recover.
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin (Level 2)
+10 XP
Kael pulled his spear free, glancing at Marra. She nodded approvingly. "Not bad," she said. "Quick and clean."
They continued their patrol, encountering another goblin a short while later. This one was larger, its body scarred from previous battles. Marra drew her bow, but before she could fire, the goblin let out a sharp cry, summoning two more from the shadows.
"Great," Kael muttered, adjusting his grip on the spear.
"Stay focused," Marra said. "Take the smaller ones. I'll handle the big guy."
Kael hesitated, watching as Marra loosed her arrow at the leader. The projectile struck its shoulder, but the goblin didn't falter. It charged toward her, its crude axe raised high. Kael turned his attention to the smaller goblins, his heart pounding.
The first goblin lunged at him, its spear aimed at his chest. Kael sidestepped, spinning his spear and delivering a sharp thrust to its side. The goblin staggered, blood dripping from the wound, but it wasn't finished. It snarled, swinging its spear wildly. Kael ducked, using the momentum to drive his weapon into the creature's neck.
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin (Level 2)
+10 XP
The second goblin was faster, its movements erratic as it darted toward Kael. He barely had time to adjust before it was on him, its crude blade slicing toward his leg. Kael jumped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. He spun his spear, aiming for the goblin's exposed arm. The creature yelped as the weapon struck, its blade falling to the ground.
Kael finished it with a thrust to the chest, breathing heavily as the goblin collapsed.
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin (Level 2)
+10 XP
Kael turned to see Marra locked in combat with the leader. Her movements were fluid, each step precise as she dodged the goblin's heavy strikes. Her arrows were gone, and she now fought with a short blade, her strikes calculated and efficient.
For a moment, Kael considered using Skill Replication on her. Her mastery of combat was clear, and her movements were unlike anything he'd seen before. But the thought of revealing his unique skill—and the vulnerability that came with it—made him hesitate.
"She's handling it," Kael muttered, gripping his spear tightly. "No need to risk it."
Marra ducked under a wide swing from the goblin, slashing at its side with her blade. The creature roared in pain, but she didn't let up. Finally, she drove her blade into its chest, ending the fight.
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin Leader (Level 3)
+20 XP
Marra wiped her blade clean, her breathing steady. "You did well," she said, nodding at Kael. "But don't let your guard down. Goblins rarely travel alone."
Kael nodded, his heart still racing. As they continued their patrol, he couldn't shake the thought of Skill Replication. Watching Marra fight had been a lesson in precision and control, and the temptation to replicate her abilities was strong. But for now, he decided to hold back. Trust was fragile, and he wasn't ready to risk losing it.