My Ability That Thrives Off Pleasures

Lvl. 1

Skill Bar (1)- None

Available Skills (1): 1

Focusing his gaze on the available skills Hale could see a description of the skills.

Wood Crafting- Crude (Permanent)

You can make things out of wood.

He focused his attention on it, Hale could feel the system giving him a more precise understanding of the skill. He could make small things like wooden needles, hooks, spoons and a variety of other easy things you could craft with wood.

'Crude' Hale focused on it and could feel that there were levels.

Crude, Standard, Talent, and Mastery.

If say that his new skill wasn't crude and was Mastery he'd be able to do more with wood at a professional level along with a few other benefits. While with 'Crude' Hale could only carve basic things and with the ability of a beginner, if he were to carve a spoon now it'd probably look slightly ill proportioned or unpolished.

Overall though this skill would be very helpful to have despite its low quality. Hale only knew what he had learned living on the farm with his mother so having a skill where he could craft things and then sell them would be useful. He got to thinking, if he befriended another person what kind of skill would he get?

The words 'Permanent' also caught his attention, he'd only be able to hold onto some skills for a limited time it seemed. The higher his level the more likely he'd be able to hold onto stronger skills.

Hale only had one more space for the available skills and for the skill bar he only had one space… he'd have to choose carefully after getting his second skill.

He could tell the skills were related to the person in some form. The wooden hook on his fishing pole was made by that man and he seemed to have skills in wood crafting. Did the color he could see outlining people also have something to do with it?

He assumed that these colors had meaning, maybe relating to the skills. Majority of them were a pale color, when he had received a skill from that fishing pole vendor he had a pale aura so this probably meant that they give weaker skills and the darker the aura the more powerful.

The colors probably meant something too, he wondered.

He decided he needed to test this theory and find someone with a blue aura. Hale needed to choose someone with a nice demeanor too, the easier it was the quicker he'd receive skills.

He exited from the quiet corner and looked around the market scratching his chin. Who could he befriend? The city was large, almost three times the size his village was and much more complex in roads and alleys, the amount of time he could spend if he decided to search the entire city without stopping would be several hours. Of course he wouldn't do that, if he couldn't get a second skill today after maybe an hour or two then he'd just try out his new one.

He walked quietly down the cobblestone streets, the noise of the vendors buzzing in his ears. The prolonged loud sounds gave him a slight headache. He left Selby at a post, thinking it'd be easier to get around on foot, he wasn't worried about her being stolen. She'd only let his mother and him ride her, if it was anyone else she'd throw a huge tantrum.

He focused his gaze intently to the top of people's heads, some already having a slight dislike for him already. Most likely people from that morning at the well, some though were probably judging him for… his looks.

He notices a few figures in the crowd with a slightly darker halo of color around them, they also stood out because of their height. The hue of green particularly eye catching on one of them, he slowly made his way over.

He looked at them from a bit of a distance, they stood out with their leaf like attire and hooded faces, this made his memory of a certain woman he had met on the way into the city come to mind.

He didn't doubt that they were one in the same, he hadn't notice the other people around her in the woods. They wore the same clothing, with hoods obscuring their faces. Why did he not see them with her before? This set off alarm bells in Hale's head, her disappearing act when they had talked previously also left much to be thought about.

He could feel in the pit of his stomach that they were inherently different from him. He decided to trust his gut and not confront them for now.

He watched as they walked into an inn, he memorized the name of it for future reference.

As Hale walked the streets he scanned for any colors that were darker and blue, doing this he realized that their were only two prominent colors that he could see. Green and blue.

They're were most likely more, and just green and blue were the most common, but he wouldn't know until he'd explored some more. As he walked, a slightly darker blue color caught his eyes; it was a grey cat, entering an alley. Wait… could he also receive skills from animals?

Then how come Selby didn't have an aura? Maybe this cat had something Selby didn't. Hale followed the cat into the alley, the cat turned and looked at him, its green eyes were piercing. Almost intelligent. It made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

It's fur was scraggly and a dark grey. It's long tail twitching at the end. Looking more like a scuffled dog than a cat.

Hale pulled out a fish from his cloth bag which he had saved for himself for dinner, but receiving another skill was more worthwhile then a full stomach. He crouched, and held out the fish. "Pss pss pss."

The cat looked at him, a judging stare before coming over and sniffing the fish. It took the fish from him with a disdainful expression, well, what he thought was one.

Good Thoughts +1

(1/10)

Only one good thought, this cat was harder to please then the fishing pole vendor. He frowned.

The cat ran off with the fish, not looking back. Dinner was lost and he made little to no progress in receiving a second skill. Hale stood up and dusted himself off, he had wasted enough time here.

He didn't see the need to chase the cat, he did wonder what kind of skill he could procure from an animal, but the cat was faster than him and he'd probably just scare it and lose the single good thought he had accumulated.

He decided to skip looking for a second skill and instead find a place to sleep for the night. Out in the smaller villages you could sometimes ask to sleep in their stables or barns but he was now in a small city and they didn't do things like that.

Hale walked quietly looking at the buildings, he soon stopped in front of a slightly rundown one. At the top of the door were the carved words 'River Bed Inn', he walked in curiously. It smelled good, like grilled meat. Walking farther in the scent became stronger and he could see the interior, it was a dim area with tables and chairs spread out haphazardly.

At a counter a man was snoozing with his head in one hand, Hale walked to the counter and lightly tapped on its wooden surface.

The man's head shot up and he looked dazed. "Wha… huh?" He mumbled before blinking fast a few times and finally getting his bearings, "Hello sir, welcome to River Bed Inn." Some of the drool on the corner of his mouth indicating how well he was napping hadn't been wiped.

Hale smiled and asked about rooming and fees. "It's five copper a night, if you want breakfast that'll be ten coppers and if you have a horse and want to use our stables that'll be two extra copper coins." The man said, he looked at Hale a little on edge, Hale's ruffian face was making him feel uneasy.

Bad Thoughts -1

(-1/10)

Hale's smile turned a little stiff but he wasn't surprised by the bad thought.

"Okay I'll just pay seven coppers then." Hale decided to opt out on breakfast, he could just catch himself a fish in the early morning.

After paying the man seven coppers and receiving a key, Hale headed back outside to fetch Selby. She was fine and at the same post as before, it was really lucky the Inn had a small stable for the guests horses. After putting her in the stable Hale went back into the in and up the stairs, he entered his room. He didn't notice the receptionist eyes following him with a scrunched look.

Once he entered the room he didn't bother to undress or even take his shoes off, he plopped onto the bed with a sigh. Some tears pricked at his eyes thinking about yesterdays devastating memories. He closed his eyes tight.

Soon the exhaustion had finally cemented and he succumbed to slumber.

In another inn around the same time, the leaf like hood of a woman was pulled down, revealing sharp eyes and plump lips. Her pale skin contrasted against her red and teary eyes making them all the more noticeable. Her ears were long and pointed indicating she wasn't human.

There was several other people in the room who removed their hoods, each of them having a dark and dreary expression, they also had long ears. They all looked at her, almost in anticipation of something.

"I know yesterday was a terrible day for all of us, for our small village. However, we are alive. We must strive forward." She said with conviction, her sharp eyes glinting with a brightness that soothed the people in the room with her.

One of the people in the room rushed to discuss, "Chief, we should head to the kingdom of Verdant, we must tell the king of the being who-" but their voice was cut off by the chief, her pale hand waving dismissively. Her expression is stern but full of empathy, "We cannot. They will not believe us, and they will not grant us lowly villagers of an audience."

The eyes of some of the people begin to water, looking at her in an almost pleading fashion. One even getting on her knees, "Please Chief, I lost my son to such a monster! I want to at least try." She shouts.

The Chiefs expression tightens, her will wavering against the sorrow that seemed to be tangent and wrap around her heart. She did not want to travel with all these villagers, the journey too difficult and dangerous for such a large group, but she did not want to leave them behind either.

She looked over to one of her people, a strong looking man. He looked back at her with reassurance, "If we travel together-" he began but he too was cut off by the chief. "They will not survive the trip. It's far too dangerous to travel in such a large group."

No matter how agile they were, traveling for a full month would be far too dangerous. She was trying to look out for them. She, herself, was also suffering from grief, but she wouldn't let this affect her. Not now.

"Please chief!" The one on her knees continued to beg, "You have the power to control plants do you not? Please use your magic to help us, we'll stay back, we won't hinder you. So please travel and tell the king of the beast who killed our people, our family."

The chief closed her eyes tight, she did not want to leave them behind but it seemed even if she were to stay they may never recover from this loss, and imagining the same devastation happening to others had her rethinking what to do.

She looked over to the strong man who had suggested going together and gave him a firm look, "I shall travel to Verdant to try and inform the king of this. Though I cannot guarantee he will listen. Birch, take care of the villagers in my absence."

Birch, the strong man, nods vigorously. His eyes shining with reliability. The villager who was on her knees stands up and looks at the chief with an expression filled with emotion, positive and sorrowful.

The other people also look at her in this way, though they didn't state it as loudly as the woman, they too wanted someone to tell the king of the devastation and receive help. They had all lost family and friends.

"We all cannot stay in this inn for long, twenty people is a lot. You all will have to set up camp far but close enough to this city until then." The chief says, her tone gentle but commanding.

They all agree with her. Discussing about future plans for a few more minutes before they all scatter into different rooms.

Birch looks at the chief, "Orvia, are you sure you can do this on your own? I know you are also suffering from grief."

The chief, Orvia, looks at Birch with a smile, though it's not a happy one. "I have to, I am the chief."

Sighing, Birch looks at her with a pitiful gaze, "I understand. Goodnight chief."

He leaves the room and Orvia sits on the edge of her bed. In her hands is a leaf woven bracelet with a small branch for a charm hanging on it. Tears fall from her eyes, the guilt eating away at her. If only she hadn't…

She shakes her head and lays down on her bed. The night was plagued with sorrow for several individuals.