Sharp

My Power and Recovery Attributes are still normal but my mind seems to be able to compartmentalise things easier. Especially my senses. By the end of the week, I know the footsteps of every person at work. I have taken to eating my lunch outside as the smell in the lunch room was putting me off.

My night vision was much better. Although I could not see in pitch darkness, I seemed to be able to use dim light around me better. I do see movement a lot clearer, especially in my periphery vision.

Kitten did her delivery, and I got a sense of her smell. Sometimes, when I am walking, especially at night, I would catch a whiff of her. She is following me. Not all the time, but enough. I have not told her about getting the essence, so I wonder if she is trying to find where I hid my coin.

I wonder if I should vary my route home. Do you think they will try mugging me? They know where I live and work, so there is probably not much point in it. Careful and watchful are my keywords. This has expanded to a new level.

On my day off, I ran to the forest and spent time tracking animals by smell and sound and trying to sneak up on them. I was reasonably quiet moving through the forest, but I still need to work on it. I foraged some food and herbs for the week. I didn’t see any monsters. I was more confident that it was harder for animals to sneak up on me, but there were still clever hunters out there. Careful and Watchful.

Dad was coming to visit this week. He would be working all week, but we would meet for dinner most nights, and then he would have to go back. He is coming alone, which is sad. But at least he is coming.

“You have changed, son,” Dad said as we sat at a mid-level restaurant. Dad was paying. That is just what dads do.

I was reasonably sure we were not being listened to. I nodded, “I have a second essence.”

“You do? Well done. You never wrote and told us.”

“I have been keeping my skills quiet here.”

“Why is there trouble?” Dad asked.

“Not as such, but there is someone I don’t trust, so I am just keeping quiet.”

“OK, but spill! I need all the details for Mum and Olivia.”

I grinned, “It is the essence of the Hunt.” Dad's smile slipped a bit. “I know that is not what you wanted, but I am definitely going adventuring, not crafting.”

Dad nodded, “Just be careful.”

“Careful and watchful are my keywords.”

He nodded, “So, Skills?”

“Senses of the Hunter.”

“So when you say watchful, you really mean it, huh?” Dad said.

I nodded, “Eyes are better in the dark and better at spotting movement. But that is not all.”

He looked excitedly at me.

“This is the part I am keeping quiet. The skill also enhanced my sense of smell and hearing.”

“Really? Three senses. I have heard of two, and I have heard of a person with four senses skills one from each essence, but three from one skill is amazing.” Dad paused. “I have heard it said that this sort of thing means you are really suited for the essence but don’t tell your mother I said that.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“So, how did you do it? How did you get an essence so quickly?”

So I told Dad about the plant monsters. They were the slowest, dumbest monsters I could have come across.

“Don’t say you were lucky when you fought them. You were smart,” he said, “You planned ahead and were prepared. That is all you. You keep doing that, son.”

“Yes, Dad. Careful and watchful. Always.”

“That's my son! I am so proud of you.”

That’s my dad. It felt really good that he was proud of me. We spent every evening together catching up, and then he left for the village again.

I survived my four weeks of reduced pay and then started saving again.

Kitten was still making deliveries and chatting. She was getting suspicious and asking me pointed questions about my essence and when I was going to get it. I kept a tight reign on my emotions, so I didn’t give anything away, but it was becoming more difficult. I felt there was more behind it than the coin. I don’t know how much I am keeping from her, but I am guessing her aura is low-level like all my skills.

Dad said to be smart and careful. How do I be smart and plan when I don’t know what the danger is? I guess there were some things I could do. I am assuming there are people behind Kitten who are pushing her for something to do with me. They knew where I lived, so I needed a backup place to go.

I couldn’t afford to rent another place. There was a shed at work in which I could store some stuff, but if they were looking for me, work was the second place they would look. I will scout around and see what I can find.

Defence is next. They will probably be Iron rank or close to it. I looked at my list of Skills.

Sharpen [Speed attribute] (2/5)

Razor Sharp. Level 3ish

Iron rank: Sharpens any cutting or piercing object to a razor edge. Bonus penetration and cutting through material up to Iron Rank. Cost mana, Varies.

Resistant Fur {Hair Stone} Level 2ish

Iron Rank: Fur becomes resistant to cutting and piercing.

Hunt [Spirit attribute] (1/5)

Senses of the Hunter [Perception]. Level 1

Iron Rank: Improves Sight, xxxxxx senses.

I left out writing the full number of senses on the paper.

I was very conscious that I didn’t have any direct attack skills. I could sharpen things, including my claws, but I had no fighting technique except hacking at things. I had some defence, which was good. I also had no movement skills, so running was not going to be easy. How long before I could afford another awakening stone? Several weeks anyway. I can’t ask my boss for another loan.

This is how it feels to be at the bottom of everything. My options are few. Should I give up my room and find somewhere on the street to live?

I could go back home to the village. My chance of becoming an adventurer is reduced greatly if I do that.

Wait a minute. I had a racial evolution. I can use Skill books. How much do skill books cost, and can I get a fighting technique from one? I know skill books only give you the bare minimum of knowledge, but the bare minimum is more than I have now. That is something else to investigate.

I didn’t get a Racial evolution with the Hunt essence? I wonder why not? I know you don’t always get one, and mostly they are triggered by extreme events. I could have used one.

Do I have any allies or friends I can call on? No. Damn, I am too much of a loner. I need to work on that.

Can I get a rich sponsor from somewhere? Yeah right. I have moved into fantasy land thinking.

What are their weakness I can exploit? I don’t know them except through Kitten, but if they are stealing and robbing, exposure to the guards is a weak point. I have all these senses, so I should be able to find out more about the people behind Kitten. I am not sure when I am going to do that. My life is pretty busy.

At least I have some things I can work on. Firstly, I need to find somewhere to stash some gear and/or where I can crash temporarily. Secondly, I need to learn skills in fighting/movement techniques, possibly a skill book. Thirdly, find out more about the enemy, and fourthly find some allies. That last one is a longer-term objective.

Skill books were easy to find. There was a shop right next to the Magic Society. There were two options: learn properly at the Magic Society or learn cheaply with Skill Books. Then I saw the prices and discovered they weren’t cheap.

Do they have a bargain bin somewhere? No? I went for a look anyway. The fighting techniques were all together. There were iron-rank and bronze-rank books, with titles like The Way of the Dragon and Woo Kung Foo, whatever that was. Then there were the less expensive ones: Basic Knife Fighting, Sword Fighting for Beginners, Staff Basics, etc. They were still out of my price range. They were not much cheaper than a common awakening stone.

“Can I help you, lad?” an elderly Leonid asked.

I shook my head, “Not unless you have something cheaper,” I said sadly.

“Of course I do, lad,” he said. I perked up, and then he said, “Cooking for Dummies” is the cheapest I have.” Then he laughed. “Sorry, lad. Bad joke, I know. You are looking for fighting skills. Tell me about what you would like, and let's see what we can find. I have seen you in the market. The sharpening skill, ah? You are looking for a sharp weapon. What type?”

“I don’t know. I guess I want something I can find and sharpen anywhere.”

“Interesting. Most lads want to be famous swordsmen like the diamond ranker who started the school.”

“I don’t care about impressing diamond rankers. I want to live.”

“Knives are the weapon you will find just about anywhere. You can pick up a camp knife and fight with it. What about your natural weapons?”

“I am not very good at punching, but I have used my claws a few times,” I replied.

He nodded, reached behind the counter, and handed me a book. The title was “Tooth and Claw: A Guide for Natural Fighters.”

“I would be interested,” I said cautiously.

He nodded, “Not many are. It is not a civilised way of fighting.”

“Monsters are not civilised,” I said.

He chuckled, “No, but fighting like this will not impress people. Quite the opposite, they will avoid you and label you as a savage.”

“I don’t generally like people anyway, but you are growing on me,” I said, thinking about objective number four.

He chuckled, “Don’t try to butter me up, lad. You won’t be getting a discount.” He went serious, “What is the main weakness of this style of fighting?”

I didn’t even have to think about that, “You have to get real close.”

He nodded, “You have a brain on you. That's good. It might keep you alive to pay it off.”

My ears perked up at that. He saw that and chuckled again.

I like you lad,” he said, “my name is Jed.

“Theo,” I replied.

Jed named a price and said, “How many knives would you have to sharpen to pay it off?”

“Ah…”

“I’ll tell you what, Theo. I have two guillotines out the back that my usual man charges me a fortune to sharpen. You sharpen them today and commit to returning three more times in the next three months, and I’ll let you have it.”

“Will you throw in Cooking for Dummies?”

“Is your cooking that bad?” I nodded, and he chuckled again. “Let's see how you go, shall we?”

He led me out the back, and the guillotines were large machines with multiple blades each. I could see how getting in there with traditional tools would be a pain. Probably hours of work and then cleaning up afterwards. All I had to do was reach in and touch each blade. I had to rest between machines. They were iron rank blades. It must have something to do with the skill books.

He had two iron-rank machines, and I saw a bronze-rank one in the next room.

“I can’t do the bronze rank one,” I said.

“I figured that, lad, that’s why I only said the two.”

When I finished, Jed checked them carefully. He seemed satisfied and placed two skill books on the table.

“I hope you know that reading this will not make you an expert,” he said.

“I know. It is about muscle memory and practice. This is just head knowledge. I might finally have an edible meal, though,” I said, picking up the cooking book.”

“We haven’t discussed the price for that one,” Jed said.

“How about I come and cook you some meals.”

Jed looked at me, “Are you trying to kill me, lad?”

“It will be fine after reading this,” I said.

“It is only head knowledge; remember that.”