Fight. Level. Survive.

The many legends of ‘The Others’ tell of a group of people who travelled to this world from another. No one can say whether it was their intention or the result of an ACT. The timing of these people arriving differs from story to story, but generally, it is agreed that the first tales of them appeared around 500 years ago.

All stories of these people typically start with them rapidly developing extraordinary powers soon after their arrival; then, the stories then tend to tell of the carnage and destruction ‘The Others’ reaped for no other reason but to grow their powers.

There has been debate about whether these stories hold historical relevance or are just fairytales. This book will lay out the arguments for and against and examine the evidence for each side. - Introduction to ‘The Others: Fact or Fiction.’

Chapter 15 - That had Fucking Hurt

On their way to Viv’s shop, Mayry explained that Malika had been chasing her for the better part of a year. She turned him down repeatedly, but being the offspring of a well-off High Elf, he was used to getting what he wanted.

Nodding along as she spoke, Mason just gave a non-commital “Hmm.” As a reply.

Lost in thought, he replayed the recent interaction over and over. Despite managing to stay calm while confronting the Elf, thoughts of what might have happened if he hadn't purchased the danger sense ring crept into his mind. He doubted his measly 9 resilience would have stopped that intense-looking green fire. Had he really come that close to death? Had a fight broken out, would he have even stood a chance? He knew he would inevitably get stronger and would piss people off along the way, but had he really needed to make an enemy of the top hunter in town on his second day in this world?

His thoughts led him to a single conclusion: he needed to get stronger and start doing it now. Until now, he had waited for the fights to come to him, but that needed to change. “I think that after we visit Viv, I’m going to go and clear out that cave of spiders; I feel like I need to be doing more to get stronger. Plus, I get to kill a load of spiders, and I fucking hate spiders.”

Sounding concerned, Mayry asked, “Okay, but are you sure you don’t want to wait for the armour to be finished before you go?”

Considering it, Mason replied, “No, I’ll be fine. I’d quite like to get an idea of how strong I am without the armour first so that I don’t end up too reliant on it. Also... I think I’m going to do this alone. It’s just a bunch of bugs. We’ll visit Viv, get the books and then I’ll head off.”

Mason thought he saw a hurt look on Mayry’s face, but it was gone so fast that he assumed he had just imagined it. “Oh, I wasn’t offering to come….” She said a little too quickly, “I have stuff to do anyway, so don’t worry about it! Will I err, see you when you get back?”

Frowning a little, he put a hand on Mayry’s shoulder as they walked and with mock seriousness, said. “Of course you will. I mean, you are my best friend in the whole wide world, after all.”

Elbowing him lightly, she replied, “I’m your only friend in this world, idiot.”

They approached Viv’s shop, with Mayry seemingly in a better mood. Pushing the door, they walked in and saw the same wizened old man they had seen on their previous visit. As soon as the figure looked up and saw who had entered the shop, the illusion broke, and Vivenya stood there grinning and waving, looking like a typical child.

The first time Mason had been here, he hadn’t even considered asking what potions she had for sale. He was too busy acting as a test subject for the two women, and In all honesty, he had still been getting used to magic being a thing.

“Hi, Viv, we aren’t staying long; I just wanted to give you this and see if you could get any use out of it.” A single Basilisk scale appeared in his hand; he held it up for her to see.”

Eye wide, she asked, “Is that what I think it is?” She ran over and took it from Mason “oooo, It’s so shiny and pretty,” Her eyes glazed over as she inspected the scale, turning it in her hand so she could view it from multiple angles.

“I also…” He tried. Eyes fixed on the scale, Viv walked off, either not hearing or ignoring him. Waving his hand a little to get her attention, he tried again. “Viv? Hello?” Nothing. Trying one last time, “I just wanted to buy some potions.”

At the word ‘buy’, her head shot up scale disappearing into her pocket, “Now, why didn't you say so?”

He sighed, giving her an annoyed look, “I wanted some Mana, Health and Stamina potions. Also, what other potions do you have?”

“Well, as you’re a friend of Mayry’s, I’ll give you each potion for 20 bronze.” Hearing this, Mayry coughed, which prompted Viv to correct herself. “15?” This time she got a glare, “10 Bronze coins for each potion is the best I can do, and your bleeding me dry here as it is!”

Mayry spoke up and said, “5 Bronze coins each? Wow, that is generous of you, Viv!”

Mason, who had decided to keep quiet and watch the exchange, finally spoke. “Well… 5 Bronze is a little rich for me. I might have to take that scale back and sell it….”

Sighing in defeat, Viv smiled and backtracked, “Well, let’s not make any rash decisions now. How about 2 1/2 bronze per potion, and I’ll throw in an Ironhide potion for free?“

“That sounds very reasonable, so that was 10 health, 10 mana and 10 stamina potions. Do you have anything else on offer?”

Slightly shocked by the amount Mason wanted to buy, she nodded and said, “I have anything you can think of, water breathing, darkness sight, transformation potions, love potions, all sorts!”

“I’ll take a few of each of those,” Mason said before reconsidering, “well, maybe not the love potions.”

“Amazing, let me get that ready for you.”

“Are you going to the cave soon? I’m running awfully low on some ingredients. I need to remake all the potions you bought.”

“I was actually heading there now.”

“Amazing! Good luck. I'll throw in some poison antidotes too, just in case. Do try and kill all the spiders and anything else you find. I hate having to make the trip there just to be chased out.”

Mason assured her he would do his best and report back when he was done.

After getting his potions and paying what he was sure was slightly too much, they headed out.

They made a quick stop to pick up Mason’s hoard of books, Mason dumping them into the library room of his chest for him to sort out later. The vast number of books only ended up costing a measly 2 Iron coins and only that much as he had picked a fair few rarer tomes.

After leaving the bookshop, they ended up standing just outside, deciding that they should separate there. Mayry surprised him by giving him a tight hug and whispering into his shoulder, “Please be careful. If you get in over your head, there is no shame in the running away.”

He reassured her that he would be absolutely fine and that he would meet her at the Inn in two days.

He walked off. Turning and waving to her as he turned a corner, and she lost sight of him.

Thinking that it was quite a dramatic goodbye for someone he had only known for about a day and a half, he wondered why he felt as sad as he was for leaving her. When he first met her, he hadn’t expected they would get on at all, but honestly, she was growing on him.

As he headed for the main gate, he saw a shop selling weapons, remembering his new bow. Mason popped in and bought a quiver and some arrows. He browsed briefly, but nothing else stuck out to him. For now, he was quite happy sticking with his dagger for short range, his magic for long range and he would learn to use the bow as an alternative.

Finally reaching the main gate, he exited the town and started walking West. Before leaving Viv’s alchemy shop, he had made sure to get directions to the cave. It was only a couple of miles away, so he decided he was just going to run there. He surprised himself by being able to run far faster and for far longer than he ever had before. He knew that it was down to his increased agility and endurance, but actually, seeing how much he had improved was incredible.

He was only a couple hundred metres away when he slowed down and chugged a stamina potion. Like the health potion, it hit him all at once, but instead of the sense of fullness and rightness the health potion gave, he felt like he had been struck by lightning. Energy coursed through his whole body. When the feeling faded, he felt like he had slept 9 hours and was ready to run a marathon.

He wondered if people had substance abuse problems in this world because he could really see himself getting addicted to these potions if he wasn’t careful.

Approaching the cave, he activated his camouflage ability, looking down at his hand, he saw only a vague outline and only saw that much because he was looking for it. He was confident that he would be pretty much invisible in the cave’s darkness.

He whispered to his system, “You better not turn this off randomly just to be a dick.”

He paused for a second but never really expected a reply.

As he drew closer, Mason could make out the cave’s opening more clearly. It was a huge opening leading into the ground. After a few feet, the cave was completely void of light. Even with his enhanced perception stat, he saw nothing. Putting on his Night Shades, where there was nothing but darkness before, now there was grainy black and white as if he was watching a live an old-timey movie in real-time. He saw movement much further in but couldn’t determine what it was in the split second it was visible.

Heart pounding in his chest, dagger held tight in his hand Mason crept into the darkness beyond the cave's mouth. As he moved deeper, he was met with the stench of rotting flesh and the sound of countless tiny legs scurrying across the ground, echoing from further inside.

Confident he wouldn’t be seen with his camouflage active, he moved slowly into the darkness until he came to a much wider section of the cave. Looking around, he saw that this cavern had tunnels leading off in multiple directions. How big was this cave!? He noticed movement in the corner of his eye; looking over, he saw what he had been sent here to fight.

It was a single spider, but it was not like any he had ever seen before. This one was the size of a small dog with razor-sharp fangs and glowing red eyes that seemed to follow him as he moved. It was currently using its fangs to slowly chew away at the stone wall. Huh, so that’s why they’re called that.

Planning on attacking the thing from behind, he crept closer and closer, and cl- about 5 feet from the creature, it stopped what it was doing, its many eyes all moving to point in his direction. He froze. Checking his hands, he saw that they were still see-through. How could it possibly of seen him?

Deciding he would slowly back away and try and come up with another plan. He took a step back. At least he tried to. His foot was stuck. Shit. He remembered that spiders could sense vibrations on their webs. Looking down, he confirmed he was, in fact, standing in a finely placed web of almost invisible silk.

The spider leapt at him, landing on his arm. It bit down using the fangs it had just been using to chew through stone. Mason managed to hold back the scream, but that had fucking hurt.

You have been poisoned.