A shadow fell over him, and Sskarin knelt beside him, gently pushing his shoulders so that he was relatively upright, facing her.
“You alright?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Sssorry. Didn’t mean to hit you that hard. I sssshould’ve pulled my hit more.”
Still unable to speak, Colin raised a hand and waved away her apology. He was winded, but he hoped he would be able to continue shortly.
“Sssso… about lassst night…” Sskarin glanced nervously to either side. They were behind the tavern, in a dirt field set up for various contests.
“You scared me, Sskarin. You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, but if Bram asks about it—or anything that sounds like it—I’ll have to tell him.”
“I know, Colin,” she said, her eyes lowering. “It’sss not asss bad asss you think it isss. I wasss jussst coming back from a meeting.”
“Covered in blood? Limping? Sounds like one hell of a meeting, Sskarin.” Colin looked up at her, still doubtful. She seemed fine now, but a health potion could do wonders for someone.
“The meeting went sssour. No loosssse endsss though. I promisssse. It wassssn’t anything that would caussse danger to the group.” Her eyes darkened with something Colin wasn’t used to seeing—fear.
“Alright, Sskarin. I believe you. And I trust you. If you wanted to kill me, you could’ve done it ten times over just in the last sparring match and claimed it was an accident.”
Sskarin nodded, offering her arm. Colin grasped it, allowing her to pull him up.
“Alright. Ready up. We’re going again.” She smirked and fell back into her traditional stance.
Colin sighed, but a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he dropped into his own stance. This was going to be rough.
Several matches later, Colin sat by a water trough, panting like a dog. His entire body ached. Bruised and battered from the relentless sparring, he couldn’t help but feel like a punching bag.
Sskarin stood off to the side, chatting casually with Bram, seemingly unaffected by the sparring session. Despite Colin landing several solid hits, she was as pristine as ever.
Maybe it was time to increase his stats again? He had received a few level-up notifications over the last few days, and this sparring session had granted him some levels in his skills as well.
Level Up.
[ Hello Colin! You currently have: 2 levels available]
[Current Stats and Skills]
[SKILLS]
- Deception: Level 3
- Calm Mind: Level 5 ^
- Unarmed Combat: Level 5 ^
- Taunt: Level 1
- Combat Time: Level 3
- Identify: Level 4
- Perception: Level 5 ^
- Stealth: Level 1
- Swordsmanship: Level 5 ^
[Stats]
- STR: 13
- DEX: 17
- VIT: 13
- INT: 12
- WIS: 11
- WIL: 11
- LUC: 15
- CHA: 10
- FRE: 20
Wonder what those arrows mean… As he thought, the system provided an explanation.
[Congratulations! You have reached level 5 in (4) skills. These skills may be eligible for skill evolution! Skill evolution can often enhance a skill far beyond what it would normally be.]
[Please note: Skill evolution is based on several factors, including but not limited to: Level, stats, race, and class.]
Huh. That’s cool. I wonder what I’ll get… Might as well divvy up the stats first.
[Please select stat distribution:]
Colin was stuck. He knew he wanted to be stronger and faster—those were obvious choices—but that still left him with 10 extra points. Should he invest in charisma? But he hadn’t really encountered a situation where that had been crucial.
Vitality seemed like a solid option, as did intelligence. Both would improve his survivability in a fight, and a high enough intelligence could unlock spells for him, if this system worked like the RPGs he used to play.
He considered his class further. It was based on wisdom and luck. Maybe he should lean into that? Wisdom could definitely help if he ever found himself lost in the woods… again.
After a moment of thought, he adjusted the distribution to match what felt right.
[Free points assigned:]
2 points → Strength
3 points → Dexterity
7 points → Vitality
8 points → Wisdom
Confirm? Y/N
Yes.
[Points assigned, please review:]
- STR: 15
- DEX: 20
- VIT: 20
- INT: 12
- WIS: 19
- WIL: 11
- LUC: 15
- CHA: 10
- FRE: 0
Well… That’s a nice stat line to look at. He mentally asserted the confirmation, and the system did its thing.
Colin could feel the system working through his body. He experienced the pain of muscle breakdown and regeneration, like he'd just finished an intense workout. His limbs felt as though he'd just completed a five-hour stretch session—loose and limber. It was like carrying a heavy backpack through high school for four years, and then suddenly, it was gone. It was the kind of relief one might feel after a session with a chiropractor.
He felt almost like a new man. The lingering pain throughout his body had disappeared, replaced by a sense of health and vitality.
His mind had changed too. Suddenly, Colin could recall the words of his father and teachers with remarkable clarity. Their wisdom seemed to flow directly into him, as if he were the vessel through which it passed.
It wasn’t just intellectual—he felt like he understood himself and the world around him on a deeper, more spiritual level. The decision to upgrade his Wisdom now felt undeniably right.
Now… time to look at those upgrade trees for his skills.
[Upgradeable Skills:]
- Calm Mind
- Unarmed Combat
- Perception
- Swordsmanship
Hmmm… Let’s do Swordsmanship.
[Skill selected: Swordsmanship]
[Upgrade options available: 3]
- Ghostblade
- Blade Dancer
- Wayfaring Duelist
Huh…. These look interesting. Colin mentally opened the three options, expanding their descriptions.
A style that blends swordplay with misdirection, silence, and lethal precision.
- Focuses on silent, decisive strikes that end fights before they start.
- Enhances ambush tactics, critical strikes, and evasion.
- Ideal for a rogue who favors assassination and subterfuge.
A nimble, acrobatic form of swordsmanship that turns every movement into an opportunity.
- Agile footwork and rapid strikes make the swordsman hard to pin down.
- Chain attacks flow seamlessly from one to the next, overwhelming foes.
- Perfect for someone who wants to outmaneuver and outpace opponents.
A pragmatic and instinct-driven approach to swordsmanship, honed through travel and hardship.
- Focuses on terrain awareness, reading enemies, and countering unfamiliar styles.
- Gains bonuses in harsh environments and against unknown foes.
- Suited for a guide who relies on experience, instinct, and tactical thinking.
To Colin the answer seemed almost too obvious: Wayfarer Duelist. He was so out of his element that every one of his fights had been against “unknown foes”.
It also seems to be the most suited to his chosen profession as a Guide here, something he really would like to get more active with in the coming months.
[Upgrade selected: Wayfaring Duelist]
[Additional sub-skills gained:]
- Stepwise Rhythm – User’s movements naturally adjust to the rhythm of battle. The longer he fights, the more efficient his footwork becomes, reducing stamina drain and improving dodges. Against predictable opponents, his evasions become almost instinctual.
- Terrain Flow – The User instinctively takes advantage of his surroundings. Rough ground, narrow spaces, or obstacles that would hinder others become assets for him, letting him maneuver unpredictably and strike from unexpected angles.
- Measure Twice, Cut Once – A tactical approach to swordplay. The user can observe an opponent's movements and store a mental "record" of their attack patterns. After a few exchanges, his next strike exploits a flaw, increasing precision and damage against that opponent.
- Flicker Feint – A deceptive movement that momentarily disrupts an enemy's perception of his position. Whether through a sudden shift in stance, a misstep that looks like a stumble, or a blade maneuver that hides his real attack, he can bait an opponent into overcommitting or striking at empty air.
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- Guiding Hand – A passive instinct for guiding his allies in the thick of battle. Whether it’s subtle positioning, wordless cues, or calculated movement, those fighting alongside him find themselves better placed to strike, dodge, or recover, as if led by an unseen hand.
Colin’s mouth hung open as he viewed the new set of skills he had gained. This was far beyond what he ever anticipated when he chose to level up his skills. If the other skill upgrades were half as good as this, Colin’s chances of survival would skyrocket!
[Skill Selected: Perception]
[Upgrades available: 2]
- Hunter’s Sight
- Rogue’s Sight
Again, he expanded their descriptions.
A hunter studies the world over time, analyzing their surroundings and prey with patience and precision.
- Focuses on Tracking, long-range awareness, and precision.
- Bonuses granted on projectile weapons and thrown items.
- Ideal for Guides living their lives in the woodlands.
[Rogue’s Sight – The Eyes of the Opportunist]
A rogue doesn’t wait for an enemy to reveal themselves—they see through lies and illusions instantly, spotting weaknesses and openings at a glance.
- Focuses on Close Quarters awareness, Deception and Deception Detection, and Quick Reflexes.
- Bonuses granted on Deception, Combat Reactions, and Detection abilities.
- Ideal for City Rogues who have a lot to hide.
It didn’t escape Colin’s notice that the system had decided to underline that last item… It made it pretty clear what he was supposed to select.
And honestly? He thought it fit better with his current fighting and lifestyle than the other options. Rogue’s Sight it was.
[Upgrade Selected: Rogue’s Sight]
[Additional sub-skills gained:]
- Slipstrike Perception – The moment an opponent overextends or reveals a weakness, the user sees the opening instinctively, letting him react faster and strike at unguarded angles.
- Shadow Veil Awareness – The user can perceive invisible or hidden threats, whether by slight distortions in the air, unnatural silences, or subtle magical imbalances. Does not allow innate tracking of the invisible or hidden threat.
- Flicker Reflexes – His eyes register movement at an enhanced rate, giving him a chance to attempt to dodge ambushes, feints, and surprise attacks before most could react.
- Tell-Seeker – Allows him to recognize subtle cues that reveal an enemy’s intentions, lies, or incoming attacks—like a slight shift in weight before a strike.
- Blindspot Mastery – A sharpened awareness of an opponent’s own field of vision, making it easier to slip into their blind spots or avoid notice even in plain sight.
Two down, two to go. Colin was definitely digging the upgrades to his kit, and being able to tell when he was being deceived would certainly be much more of a boon than a hindrance.
[Skill Selected: Unarmed Combat]
[Upgrades Available: 4]
- Improvised Weapons Master
- Pugilist
- Grappler
- One’s Own Style
This was easy. Colin didn’t even need to open up the extended descriptions before he chose Improvised Weapons Master.
[Upgrade selected: Improvised Weapons Master]
Philosophy: A true rogue doesn’t rely on a finely forged sword alone—a tankard, a chair leg, or even a belt can be just as deadly in the right hands.
- Focuses on Adaptability, unpredictability, and weaponizing the environment.
- Bonuses with Improvised weapons.
- Ideal for those who find themselves in random fights all the time for no reason at all, whatsoever.
- Weaponized Chaos – Colin can instinctively assess objects around him and determine how best to use them in a fight. This allows him to improvise lethal attacks with otherwise harmless items. (E.g., throwing silverware with pinpoint accuracy, using a mug as a knuckle duster, or even weaponizing a broken table leg as a club.)
- Swift Reorientation – When disarmed or switching weapons mid-fight, Colin suffers no loss of fluidity or hesitation, transitioning seamlessly between improvised and standard weaponry.
- Desperate Ingenuity – If Colin lands a hit with an improvised weapon, he can inflict an unexpected status effect based on the object used (e.g., blinding with thrown dirt, disorienting with a ringing pan strike, or tripping with a snapped-off chair leg).
Last one. This one was the one Colin was most excited for, if he were being honest. Calm Mind, from what he could tell, was already a rare skill.
[Skill Selected: Calm Mind]
[Upgrades available: 1]
[Upgrade Selected: Tranquil Edge]
The world may shift and shake, but a steady mind cuts through the chaos like a blade through silk.
- Focuses on: Mastery over emotions, heightened clarity under pressure, and instinct-driven decision-making.
- Grants the user a bonus on skills involving emotional distress or stressful situations.
- Ideal for the man or woman who wishes to not be ruled by the sea of emotions running rampant in most.
- Stillwater Clarity – When under pressure—whether in combat, negotiations, or tense situations—The User’s mind remains clear and sharp. He can assess risks, predict outcomes, and make critical decisions quickly and correctly, even in life-or-death moments.
- Unyielding Composure – Fear, panic, and overwhelming emotions no longer cloud his judgment. Whether facing physical danger, psychological manipulation, or supernatural terror, The user’s mind anchors itself, keeping him rational and in control.
- Instinctive Precision – When forced to act on reflex, the user’s body and mind align seamlessly. His split-second reactions—whether dodging an attack, catching a falling object, or making a sudden call in conversation—are almost always the correct ones, honed by his sharpened intuition.
Colin could feel the new skill immediately at work. His emotions didn’t fade, but they shifted. They weren’t as overpowering as before; instead, they took a backseat to the logical workings of his mind. It was like he could think more clearly, without the distractions of intense feelings clouding his judgment.
He felt a wave of fatigue, like he’d just spent hours cramming for a final exam. He refocused his eyes and saw his friends standing over him: Bram, Lyra, and Sskarin, all looking down with a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Well… Go on then, boy. Tell us what happened.”
Colin smiled as he and his friends settled inside the tavern, sipping cold cider courtesy of Lark. At first, they had been stunned into silence, but that quickly shifted into a rowdy celebration.
Bram informed him that it wasn’t just rare to get so many sub-skills—it was practically unheard of. And from what they could tell, the skills sounded pretty powerful.
Sskarin had been a little jealous at first, but after a few rounds of drinks, she’d congratulated him with genuine enthusiasm. Lyra and Nectarine were thoroughly impressed, and even Kae had to give him credit.
The group decided to test out some of his new skills and see how they worked in action. First up: more sparring with Sskarin. With his [Rogue’s Sight] and [Wayfaring Duelist] skills, Colin reached the next level of training with her. He wasn’t quite matching her skill, but he was much closer than before. Now, he could land hits when she was actively trying to dodge them.
They also tested his [Improvised Weapon Mastery] by having him throw random objects at a target. It started with an apple, and ended when Colin managed to land three broken chair legs in a tight grouping—tighter than most archers would manage with arrows.
Now, the group was more curious about how his stat increases would affect his ability to perform everyday tasks. Currently, he was testing his strength against the group. He’d already beaten Lyra and Kae in an arm-wrestling match, but Sskarin and Bram had bested him. Nectarine was the last challenge. If he could beat her, he’d be the third strongest in the group.
It turned out to be a surprisingly tough contest. Colin hadn’t expected her to be so strong. Something nudged at his awareness, and he caught the faintest smirk on her face as he finally won, her hand slapping against the table in defeat.
She had let him win.
It didn’t sting his pride, but there was something about it—a nagging feeling that wouldn’t shake loose. Not a hit to his ego, but a suspicion.
The crew cheered, and Kae slid a bag of coins over to Bram, who was grinning ear to ear.
“Ah! Ye did amazin’, lad. Proud o’ ye,” Bram chuckled, counting out Kae’s coin. “Amazin’ indeed.”
Colin couldn’t help but smile back. Tomorrow, by noon, they’d be heading out again, taking the caravan to the next city. They’d restocked earlier in the day, and tomorrow morning would be spent on final checks.
It was time to relax and enjoy the night. They all headed to their rooms, each eager for the next chance to be together.
Next stop? Hallowed Deep.
____________________________________________________________________________
Just outside the city walls, a group of cloaked horsemen settled into camp for the night. A large command tent flickered with the soft light of candles.
It was near midnight, and the man in the tent knew his visitor would arrive soon. The songbird was never late.
The flaps of the tent parted with a whisper, and a cloaked figure entered, their entire form hidden beneath dark fabric. The only thing that stood out was the glint of an amulet that hung around their neck—a voice modulator, crafted to ensure that their voice was always androgynous. To anyone who might be listening, the Songbird could be either male or female. No one could ever be sure.
But Veyfeyst knew.
He sat in the shadows, his lips curling into a thin smile as the figure stepped closer. He gestured for them to take the seat across from him, his eyes glittering with something dark.
“Welcome, Songbird. I trust the city has treated you well?” he asked, his voice smooth, but tinged with a subtle edge that made the air in the tent feel heavier.
“As well as always, m’lord,” the Songbird replied, their voice resonating softly through the room. “I bring news of the newest member of the Dusk Rose, if you wish to hear it.”
Veyfeyst’s expression hardened imperceptibly. He had been hoping for something else—something more pressing. Something more personal. Bram’s death, perhaps. The dwarf’s demise had been long overdue in Veyfeyst’s eyes.
“Of course,” Veyfeyst said, his tone as calm as ever, though his fingers tightened around the glass of brandy in his hand. He took a slow sip, savoring the burn, and leaned back into his chair, waiting for the Songbird’s words.
“The boy is growing rapidly,” the Songbird began, their voice almost too calm, like someone describing a phenomenon that could no longer be ignored. “His skills, his growth—it’s almost beyond belief. It’s as though he’s been touched by something… otherworldly. I have reason to believe he isn’t merely some simple farm boy.”
Veyfeyst’s interest piqued, the dark curiosity in his eyes sharpening. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the cloaked figure.
“Go on,” he urged, his voice low and intent, as if savoring the prospect of some new revelation.
The Songbird tilted their head, their voice laced with a subtle tension. “Well, at first, he knew nothing of magic, of swordsmanship. He was baffled by the leveling system, didn’t even understand its workings. And yet, in such a short time, he’s grown exponentially. He’s now on par with the average swordsmen in the guild, despite his complete lack of prior knowledge.”
Veyfeyst’s lips twisted into a smirk, his eyes glinting with something dark and knowing. “Mmmm… interesting,” he mused, his tone casual, though there was a glimmer of something else—a quiet excitement just beneath the surface. “It could just be luck, a blessing from one of the gods, though rare, those are still things that happen from time to time.”
The Songbird didn’t respond, but their presence seemed to hold a quiet weight as they observed Veyfeyst. Finally, they spoke again, their voice barely a whisper.
“Perhaps, m’lord. I will continue to watch for signs of any divine influence.”
Veyfeyst’s eyes darkened at the mention of Bram’s name, and a new, dangerous edge entered his voice. “And what of Bram? I notice you’ve yet to speak of his death.” His gaze turned cold, like the icy touch of a predator toying with its prey.
The Songbird didn’t flinch, their face remaining unreadable behind the cloak. “He still lives, m’lord. I have had no opportunity to ensure his death. Either he’s out of my sight entirely or surrounded by so many people that I cannot strike without exposing myself.”
Veyfeyst’s reaction wasn’t what the Songbird expected. Instead of anger, there was laughter—a harsh, cruel sound that echoed through the tent, the kind of laughter that came from a mind twisted by bitterness and wild excitement. It filled the air like smoke, thick and suffocating.
“Oh yes,” Veyfeyst chuckled, his voice dark and guttural, “this will be so much fun. I’m going to rip that dwarf’s head right off his fucking shoulders.”
The words dripped with malice, each syllable heavy with an undeniable promise of violence.
The smile that spread across Veyfeyst’s face was nothing short of monstrous, his teeth gleaming in the dim light, and it sent a chill of pure dread down the Songbird’s spine.
It wasn’t the smile of a man savoring victory—it was the grin of someone who enjoyed the chaos of the hunt, who reveled in the suffering that would inevitably follow.
The Songbird’s pulse quickened, but they held their ground, knowing all too well the storm that was about to be unleashed.