System Break

Paphyra was the most talented wood worker from the old clan. Bowyer, fletcher, wood worker, they were all from the same field. She made tools and weapons from wood. She was the master's protégé until she chose to come to the unknown qi world.

I watched her work the ebony and it seemed more art than science. She spent most her time considering and only a little in actual carving or shaping.

"I need to go," I said. I scratched my chin; My mask was in my tent.

She ignored me.

I sighed very loudly. "I can just use my fists its okay." And I turned to leave.

"No wait, it won't be long."

"You said that two hours ago."

She met my gaze. "Two hours is not long." Then she went back to the spears; She was making two.

I pointed to the black spear shaft. "What are those?"

She ignored me and eyeballed the tiny grain only she could see. "Drawings."

I shook my head - I could see that. The carvings reminded me of Celtic art although I was far from an expert.

"Do the drawings do anything?"

"They look nice," she said and exhaled slowly. She made another incision the first in thirty minutes. She stood back and looked at the spears. They were black, long, beautiful, and sharp.

"Done," she said. A day may come when you add tips, but this will do for now.

"What sort of tips?"

She shrugged. "Bone or precious metal, we do not know yet." She held out the spears for me. "Go now and do worry if you break them, I can make more. It is the way."

I grinned and gave her a kiss. "Thank you. I love them." I slid them down my massive back quiver, which was like the arrow type but made for spears. She pulled the drawstring around my waist tight so they would not flop around as I ran.

She eyed the quiver. "It can hold more. I will make more."

I wrapped her in my broad arms and lifter her off the ground. Her feet kicked the air. I planted another kiss on her cheek and let her down. "Thanks. I love them." The I ran out the door of her workshop in the trees. I leaped off her veranda and fell with my arms wide and before I hit the ground I tucked and rolled.

She blushed, walked to her doorway, and watched me go. She sighed wistfully then returned to her work. Later that day she discussed with the gatherers to find more ebony as a priority.

"Ailen, Sakaala, we go," I said as I passed them. I ran to my tent and fetched my wooden antler helmet. When I placed it on top of my head it congealed and fitted itself. It was a living wood and it pushed its roots into my skull. I didn't think I'd ever get used to the feeling; it didn't hurt but it was eerie.

Gisael and Reyas were passing the time sparring with sword and axe. "Ready?" They said as I approached.

I showed them a spear.

Gisael's eye lit up.

"Impressive," Reyas said.

"Black is my favourite colour."

They laughed.

Gisael spied Ailen and Sakaala approaching. "We can leave now."

We passed Talila and wished her well. She looked sad at being left behind, but it was her duty now and help was on the way.

We ran north and left the forest after a day. Sakaala's skills steadily improved and we moved faster as a group. Reyas was becoming more at home in the forest every day. My skills were coming along nicely, and I inspected them as we ran.

Skills

.

-General-

Running, 42.26

Climbing, 44.69

Negotiation, 11.34

.

-Survival-

Navigation, 27.13

Forest, 33.67

Plains, 16.39

Mountains, 22.09

Foraging, 24.94

Skinning, 27.63

Tracking, 22.78

.

-Combat-

Spear, 37.29

Brawling, 17.21

Dodge, 29.61

.

-Crafting-

Fabric, 4.22

.

There was a major change before the 250 beta players arrived. Combat was more specific, instead of melee I had spear and brawling skills, and instead of defence I had dodge.

The skill I was most interested in was skinning. It was the only one I worked to improve, to me the rest weren't important. I knew I could run and climb. I really didn't care about the numbers.

And if I could ever change anything, I'd ask the technician to move skinning into crafting.

There was another factor which accounted for our speed. It was our stats and as my lump evolved so did my stats. Ailen and Sakaala's started off higher than mine but progressed incredibly slowly.

And the tortures Mother put me through made an impact as well. The wood in my arms, fists and attached to my face.

Stats

.

-Body-

Strength, 22

Speed, 21

Agility, 23

Stamina, 21

Toughness, 24

.

-Qi-

Qi Core, 20

Qi Manipulation, 3

.

The demon bird flew above us and showed us the path through the hills and to the mountains. It also showed me how the forest was growing.

"Stop," I said when we reached a peak. I turned around and pointed at the forest. "Look."

The others turned to look at the forest. From the peak we could not see the sea, but we could see the eastern edge.

"Whoa," Ailen said.

"It grows," Gisael stated. "Elred communes with the trees and finds a steady path."

Out of the five of us, only Gisael was a true Svartalfar.

Reyas' brow furrowed, and she pointed. "It grows into the hills. The mountainfolk will not like this."

I nodded. The forest was steadily growing in all directions and the centre was taller, thicker and I felt like it had a green aura.

Sakaala was looking up into the sky. "The purple clouds return."

It was only a few, but that's how it always started.

I looked at Ailen, "When is he due?"

He shrugged, "We're almost ready and he can choose when to come."

I looked up into the mountains. "Okay let's get this done first."

We climbed and we ran with the demon bird and Reyas choosing the path. And in two days we were in the fort of the Staggan Clan. Reyas' old home.

The weather was milder, but it was still freezing at night despite being summer proper.

Reyas entered the leatherworks.

"Ho, Gleig," she said.

The old leatherworker appeared, "Ho Reyas. Your leathers are not here, they're in the hall."

"Oh," she said. "That's odd. Why?"

Gleig shrugged. "Maybe your father wants to make a big deal out of gifting them."

Reyas' eyes narrowed. "They're not a gift. We earned them."

Gleig wandered to the back of his workshop, made himself busy and said no more.

Reyas sighed and left. "Come on," she said. We marched down to the main hall.

The hall was packed with folk from the Staggan clan. Most of them were hunters first and warriors second. They were arguing with Ulfgrim and when he spied us, he frowned.

"It is not a good time," he called.

"We are here now," Reyas said. "We can take the leathers and leave if you're busy."

I leaned against a thick column with my arms crossed and let her do the talking. I was a seven-foot monster wearing a scary mask and she was one of their own.

"Bah," Ulfgrim said in frustration. "Enough. Everyone out."

"You've not heard the last of this Ulfgrim."

"Bring it to the council meeting," he growled. "You can challenge me, or you can do as I ask. I will bear these grievances no longer."

A dozen hunters filed out without a word or friendly wave. It was not lost on me Glum was in their midst.

Ulfgrim sat down and sighed. He poked the fire and grumbled. "Daughter you and your man make my life difficult."

I moved from my post and sat across from him.

"Father, they are never happy. This is not new."

He frowned. "But this time they are right. Our alliance is one sided and they accuse me of lack of aggression because of you."

"How is it one sided? You asked me to help with the mine and I did. Have they been back?"

"No," he growled.

"You asked us to help with the cave troll and it's dead is it not?"

"Yes, but you took all the spoils."

"My demon bird would disagree." I said and chuckled as he squawked his ire.

Ulfgrim met my gaze with a fiery one of his own. "This is all well and good, but now your forest creeps into the hills. Did you think us too stupid to notice?"

I shook my head. "Did we have an agreement that this would not happen?"

He growled, "You damn well know the hills are neutral. How is it neutral if they're no longer hills but forest?"

"I do not tell the trees where to grow, they choose it themselves."

He scoffed. "We've been here a generation. These changes have come all of a sudden. Since your arrival."

"And the portal storms? And the Svartalfar? And the fort of the city folk? I am not the only new thing here."

"The shaman says to be wary of you."

"And I agree. You should be wary and keep me as an ally, it is much safer than having me as an enemy."

Ulfgrim sighed. "And if I do all you say, then my people will think I side with my daughter."

I laughed. "Then put some other poor bastard in charge and go adventuring. And Ulfgrim if you want your domain to grow you have to feed your land core. It is your people's greed which hinders you. Not me and mine."

He growled. "Take your leathers and be off. Your presence here will just cause trouble."

Reyas sighed sadly. I glanced at her and felt her angst. I softened. "Then we'll do as you ask and trouble you no more."