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June Bonus Chapter
🕑 Added 2023-06-30 02:21:20 +0000 UTCThe winning prompt for this month's exclusive chapter was Elincia's POV of her first encounter with Rob with 43% of the votes. These events occur in parallel to Chapter 4. Enjoy!
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Elincia
Despite my best efforts to keep the gremlins at bay, they had invaded my bedroom. Two of them were jumping on my bed, three sitting at the desk, one on my night table, and two more on top of my dresser. At least they were keeping their sticky fingers far from my alchemy tools and Mister Lowell’s book collection.
“Are you going to come back?” Shu asked as she nervously played with the edging of her pillowcase dress.
“Of course I will come back. I just have to gather a few herbs for Wolf and I’ll be back before you even miss me.” I replied as I adjusted my leather travel boots.
Despite the fact I should be focusing on my departure into the Farlands, my mind was focused on a hundred different matters. Wolf’s sickness, the upcoming tax season, and stocking the pantry for winter were only the most urgent ones.
I wondered if I should send Ilya to ask for donations. She was only three months away from becoming an adult and getting a class. I shook my head. Last time I had visited Baronet Tirno to ask for contributions, the man had acted with open hostility despite the fact he was well known for having a soft spot for kids and women.
“I bet I could go to the Farlands and return with the herbs by myself.” Ash pointed out from the doorway with a defiant tone.
Although Ash was the number one troublemaker of the orphanage, he kind of respected the ban on entering my room. By technicality at least, as both of his feet were on the line between the corridor and the bedroom.
“You are not putting a foot in the Farlands before you get your class, Ash.” I quickly replied before other orphans could jump on the Farlands’ bandwagon. “And you will eat all your vegetables. Don’t think I haven’t noticed your smuggling operation onto Virdian’s plate.”
Ash pouted and Viridian croaked from the bed, acknowledging his wrongdoings. The snakefolk kid knew he was too cute to be held accountable for such a small crime.
“I’m departing! If anyone wants a hug, this is your last chance!” I said, opening my arms.
The gremlins didn’t hesitate and pounced over me. I did my best to encompass them all in a single embrace. The moment went on for a minute before I let them go. As much as I wanted to keep squeezing then, they were going to cry if I kept stalling my departure.
I left the sleeping quarters and walked down the corridor to the main door where I found Zaon and Ilya waiting for me with an oversized bag of supplies.
“You two really believe I could eat all of this in a week?” I said with an indignant voice. The orphanage’s pantry wasn’t particularly stocked.
Zaon’s pale face quickly turned into a deep shade of red.
“W-w-w-we d-don’t want Miss Elincia to starve.” Zaon stuttered and I gently tugged his pointy ear. Only then he seemed to understand I was joking.
Mister Lowell might have been able to raise Zaon into a strong and bold man, worthy of a powerful class. Me, on the other hand, I could only raise a timid and withdrawn child.
Zaon was the kindest kid I ever met. A tall achievement considering there were more than thirty kids at the orphanage when I was young. Zaon would have made a great Healer or Priest, but circumstances needed him to be strong. The Farlands didn’t forgive the weak.
“Why does Holst have to come to look after us? We are completely capable of looking after the younger kids, even without Wolf and Firana’s help.” Ilya complained as I grabbed the supply bag from her hands.
“It’s Mister Holst, Ilya.” Zaon pointed out just to be silenced by a murderous glance from the gnome girl.
“Stop you two. You are still kids, and until you get your classes, you’ll need an adult watching over you. Understood?” I said with a severe tone.
While I knew Ilya and Zaon could keep the orphanage running without me for a week or two, there were other dangers out in the streets of Farcrest. Honest hardworking people had accepted the Marquis’ land grants in nearby villages and fewer and fewer inhabitants were left in the northern district. Only undesirables were left behind.
“I’ll be back in a week tops. There is enough food in the pantry, and don’t forget to check for eggs every day. Remember to keep Wolf well hydrated and if he gets worse, inform Mister Holst.” I said as I strapped the bag of supplies to the side of my backpack. Nerves were starting to get me too.
“W-w-w-we will not disappoint you, Miss Elincia.” Zaon said.
I smiled back at him, of course he wasn’t going to disappoint.
“Goodbye, Miss Elincia. Travel safe!” Ilya waved as I crossed the front yard but didn’t have the confidence to turn around and wave back without my resolve wavering.
I pinched my arm, asking myself when I became so apprehensive. Even after seven years, the war still raged on the western frontier. The Farlands were acting like a living organism trying to expel the invaders, as always. The deeper the king’s army pushed into the Farlands, the harder it was for them to hold the conquered territory.
I raised one last silent prayer to the System, asking for the kids to get good classes, before focusing on the task ahead. Entering the Farlands with the wrong mindset was a death sentence. I needed to be keen and sharp.
Farcrest’s Alchemists Guild must have already ransacked the nearest farming spots, so I might be obligated to get deeper than what I considered safe.
I was deep in thought to notice the man who appeared around the corner. A tall man with rapacious eyes and greasy hair pulled up in a ponytail looked down at me. His features were sharp, his skin tanned, and his forehead crossed by deep wrinkles. The man could’ve been considered attractive if it weren't for the underlying sickly yellow tone of his skin and his disgusted expression.
“Mister Holst.” I greeted him.
He tucked his bag back and glared at me. I heard the sound of glass bottles.
“Out already, Governess?” He replied with a neutral tone.
Holst rarely called me, nor the kids, by our names, which I found unnerving.
“Thank you for looking after the kids. Ilya and Zaon will take care of everything.” I gave a small curtsy. “I’ll be back by the end of the week.”
He seemed to ignore my words.
“Deep into the Farlands, where magic runs free, you might find unimaginable things, Governess.” Holst said and walked past me towards the orphanage. “Be careful of what you bring back to our city.”
An eerie warning considering I was just collecting herbs in the nearby valleys.
Minutes later, I left behind the outer wall and crossed the abandoned farmlands towards the northern path. It would only take me half a day to reach the next valley but I didn’t expect to find any untouched resources that close Farcrest.
I continued north and by midday I crossed the rocky path between the two mountain ranges that separated Farcrest’s valley from the Farlands. I stopped at the summit and glanced down at the lush valley ahead. Lushan Valley, named after the former Marquis, was considered part of the Farlands but it was a relatively safe place. Only small monsters and the occasional Black Wolf ventured so far south.
Past the first valley, things were more dangerous but I couldn't help but feel excited. The Farlands were my second home. I had grown up exploring these woods and creeks and I had learned to love them despite the natural dangers and the monsters. The Farlands were the place where I almost became a Hunter.
I wondered what would’ve become of me if Mister Lowell was still alive, or if any of the other orphans my age would’ve remained at the orphanage with me. I shook my head. Reflecting on the past was useless, I was the sole caretaker of the orphanage and nothing was going to change that.
What I could focus on was enjoying my time in the Farlands.
Lushan Valley was a quiet place and, as much as I strained my detection skills, there was no sign of deer. At least there was no sign of monsters either, just birds, small mammals, and me.
By dusk, I had already inspected both Dead Man’s Grotto and Bride’s Waterfall with expected results. No harvestable ingredients in sight. Guild alchemists must’ve razed everything before the end of the summer. It was outrageous they weren’t accepting non affiliated alchemists during the last expedition.
I wasn’t going to find what I needed on Lushian Valley so I made my way to the north. When I left the woods behind, I set up camp sheltered from the wind between two rocky formations. Monsters weren’t common that far south but I didn't want to tempt fate so I wrapped myself up on my blanket and surveyed the surroundings without making a campfire.
I had to thank one of my parents for giving me their elven night vision but I didn’t know which one. Not even Mister Lowell had met my biological parents. Logic pointed out that at least one was human and the other an elf. Maybe two half elves? It could be but it was a rare occurrence. Half elves were infrequent so far from the Elven Kingdoms.
A cloaked figure made its way through the valley and got lost over the slopes before I could even think about drawing its attention. A lone Sentinel. Nobody else would travel alone through the Farlands after the end of summer. I kept my head down. The denizens of the deeper parts of the Farlands were known to adopt human forms to lure novice adventurers.
As I closed my eyes, the distant sound of howling wolves rose from the valley, shy at first and quickly turning into a frightening chorus that didn’t bode well. It was too early in the season for Black Wolves to reach such a southerly valley, winter was still months away.
Before falling asleep, I wondered if I should’ve stopped the Sentinel to ask what the deal was with the Black Wolves. If anything, I missed talking with an adult other than Holst. Not that Sentinels were the most chatty people, they were wilderness-addicted idiots just like me.
For some reason, I always had vivid dreams while sleeping in the Farlands. That night, I dreamed about Mister Lowell.
“The Black Wolf won’t see us if we stay still.” Mister Lowell muttered softly at my side.
We were crouching behind a thick bed of ferns, just a few meters from the monster. The smell of damp earth and freshly treated leather filled my nostrils. I looked down at my body, recognizing my old clothes. The black leather jacket was Mister Lowell’s gift for my thirteenth birthday. The seams were strong and the sleeves fitted to not interfere with my movements. The cut of the jacket even resembled the Sentinel’s uniform, just like I wanted.
“You don’t want to fight more than one at a time.” Mister Lowell explained with a quiet voice. “Black wolves are stronger and larger than normal wolves but will resort to pack tactics if you fight more than one.”
I tried to look at Mister Lowell’s face but I could barely get a slim slice of his profile. In my dreams I could never get a full picture of his face and yet, it was undoubtedly him. Gray beard, squared jaw, and the strong back of a marksman despite being an Alchemist.
“Do you really think I can become a Hunter, dad?” I muttered as I awkwardly held my shortbow near my chest.
The corner of Mister Lowell’s lip raised in a dissimulated smile.
“Of course you will, Eli. You belong to the forest and the mountains, the System would have to be blind to not make you a Hunter.” Mister Lowell replied. “Now, shoot.”
Despite the fact I knew by heart how the dream was going to develop, his words caught the thirteen-year-old me by surprise.
“I can’t, I’ll miss.” I muttered as panic crept into my voice.
“You are the best archer in the orphanage, Eli. Have confidence.” Mister Lowell said with a calmed voice. “Shoot. The wolf is walking to the bush where Risha is hiding.”
I wanted to close my eyes but the dream didn’t let me. Instead, I silently stood and readied an arrow. The wolf was barely a stone's throw away, it was a trivial shot, and yet, I wasn’t able to control my arms. My stance was too stiff and my aim crooked.
I knew my past self was going to miss the mark.
The arrow flew just a bit too high. The sound alerted the Black Wolf which lunged straight at Risha. I felt the world turning upside down, a flash of light by my side followed by a high pitch whistle, Mister Lowell’s arrow killing the Black Wolf, and the blood on Risha’s arm. I vomited all over my new jacket and the dream ended.
It was morning in the Farlands and the sound of howling wolves filled the forest. I quickly snatched my bow and nocked an arrow but I realized the sound was distant and weak. My [Tracking] skill told me there were no signs of nearby beasts.
I winced at the memory of my dream, feeling equally relieved and embarrassed. Other than a superficial cut, Risha was unscathed. I, on the other hand, ended up with wounded pride and swollen eyes from crying so much.
After that fiasco, both Mister Lowell and Risha encouraged me to continue practicing with the bow and shortly after I obtained my first level in [Archery].
On the second and third day at the Farlands, I examined the remaining spots Mister Lowell had shown me when I accompanied him to harvest ingredients. There was no Fairy King’s Brooch to be harvested in the grassland spot nor in the terrace-like formations near the northern edge of the valley. Not even locusts were as thorough as Guild alchemists.
The Alchemist Guild must’ve deployed all their high level harvesters into the area.
“Greedy fucks.” I muttered.
Despite not being a particularly uncommon herb, the Fairy King’s Brooch was used in a plethora of bases for potions. It made sense the Alchemist Guild wanted to gorge on it. Which didn’t make sense was the fact they didn’t even leave the small and sick specimens behind.
As the day progressed, I found myself at the northern entrance of the valley. Beyond that point the Farlands become really dangerous. Corrupted beasts were deadly, but they were just stronger and angrier versions of normal animals and could be dealt as such. Deeper into the Farlands dwelled the real monsters, creatures that couldn’t be felled without powerful skills.
I bit my lip. I could try Mister Lowell’s secret harvesting spot but there were never Fairy King’s Brooch there, or I could venture deeper into the Farlands beyond the Guild’s harvested area. It was risky but Wolf needed the potion with urgency.
“Mister Lowell wouldn’t have hesitated.” I said.
It was a lie. Mister Lowell would have prevented Wolf from getting sick. He would have a stash with every conceivable ingredient just in case any of the orphans contracted a rare ailment. Unlike me, he was always prepared for everything.
I grabbed my bow and started climbing the steep hill.
“Monsters can’t hurt you if they can’t find you.” I repeated one of Mister Lowell’s many teachings.
Keeping my head low, I entered the deep Farlands. Fairy King’s Brooch grew in damp places so I stuck to the mountain, trying to stay out of the forest, and I headed west towards the unnamed ravines. Only twice I had ventured so far north, and both times I was accompanied by Mister Lowell and a large group of adventurers hired by the Alchemists Guild.
I didn’t have to look for long because along the way I found several herbs I could use to brew and sell potions during the winter. Red Rat-tail, Yellowcap Fungus, Squirming Root, everything went into my pouch. I knew I was beyond the Alchemists Guild harvested area.
By midday, I set up camp in a densely forested area of damp terrain and lit a fire to boil water. If I couldn't keep myself out of the woods, at least I could choose terrain with many hiding spots. One advantage of damp places was the ease with which I could detect footprints, at least in the areas not covered with leaves.
There were Black Wolves nearby. The footprints were too big and too heavy to belong to normal wolves. I had to keep my guard up.
I grabbed my bow, arrows and an empty sack, and headed to the nearest gully. The stone walls raised several meters at each side, partially blocking the sunlight. The area was dark but that didn’t present a problem for my eyes. The smell of still water and rot assaulted my nose, and I knew it was the perfect place for Fairy King’s Brooch to grow.
I looked up. It was also a perfect place for an ambush; narrow and with a slight curve that prevented from seeing more than a few meters ahead. I nocked an arrow just in case and quietly entered the ravine.
The rustling sound of leaves over my head and the running water somewhere ahead echoed through the ravine, making it hard to locate the sources. Despite my keen hearing, or maybe because of it, I felt disoriented and didn’t notice the sound of an extra set of footsteps behind me.
I caught the Black Wolf’s shadow with the corner of my eye just as the beast pounced. Not even my elven agility could save me. The claw grazed my leg, tearing leather and skin. Pain exploded deep within my leg but I didn’t let it blind me. Instead, I contorted mid-air and aimed at the wolf.
The arrow dug into the Black Wolf’s shoulder and I took advantage of the moment to escape. I couldn’t return to the ravine’s entrance so I turned around and ran as fast as my leg allowed me. Luckily, the wolf’s movement was hindered by the arrow.
I turned the corner and my heart froze when I noticed a landslide had blocked the path. Behind me, the wolf growled. I needed to get away so I jumped to a rock and aimed my bow. As expected, the wolf pounced over my rock, giving me enough time to jump back.
I pulled the string back but my wounded leg suddenly gave out and the arrow barely missed the beast’s head. The wolf clawed at the surface of the rock until it got solid footing, then it prepared to lunge at me.
“It’s over, you furry fuck, I have the high ground!” A sudden voice broke the silence of the forest.
The Black Wolf turned around, fixing his eyes on the strangely dressed man at the top of the rock wall. With clumsy hands, the man tried to get a hold on a strange iron staff as the wolf climbed the rocks with renewed vigor. I could tell with a single glance, the man was clearly not a combatant class.
With a steady hand, I reached for an arrow and activated my [Piercing Shot]. Mana pulled from my mana pool, sending a slight shiver through my body and igniting the point of the arrow. I took a deep breath and shot.
The arrow pierced the wolf’s skull, killing it instantly.
I quickly nocked another arrow and pointed at the man.
“Who are you?! Answer me!” I yelled. “Answer me!”
The man raised his hands into the air but I didn’t put my bow down. Mimics were known for looking harmless until they showed their fangs. They were also known for trying to imitate human speech.
“Okay, this is awkward. I assumed everyone spoke English here, you know, since the System is in English.” The man replied.
His speech sounded too consistent and too distinct to be a Mimic’s babbling.
“Are you okay?”
A sudden wave of dizziness forced me to drop my bow. Seeing that the man came closer, I grabbed the knife from my boot and pointed directly at his face.
“Back!” I yelled.
He stopped in his tracks but didn’t back down, instead, he untied his scarf and threw it at me, pointing at my wounded leg.
“I know you can’t understand me but I’m not going to harm you, okay?” He said.
That wasn’t Mimic behavior. I glanced at the man as I tied a tourniquet around my leg. He was thin, almost lanky, clearly not a seasoned adventure nor someone who worked out in the fields. Unlike most of the inhabitants of Farcrest, the strange man didn’t have a beard. His skin was smooth and his brown short hair was so glossy that for a moment I thought he was a fellow half-elf. But he didn’t have pointy ears, his face was too square and his hair too dark.
I looked at him with distrust. What was a non-combatant doing so deep in the Farlands? I remember Holst’s warning. Even if the mysterious man wasn’t a Mimic, he could be something else. Whatever he was, I had to keep my guard up.
Comments
Chrystal 1776
Ooooooh I like it! I can't wait for the next chapter! 😄
I Dare Korval
It's nice to get different POV stories.
