Luke felt the cured leather in his hands. Short horns poked from the boot's tip. The grip on the bottom was well-made. Both pieces were light brown and black in color. The pants were smooth leather but thick. They slled of fresh hide and a treatnt process.
Gliding his hand over it, Luke approved. There were no nicks. The craftsmanship was truly artisan, the threading done perfectly. It was armor, sure, but close to art as well. The leather moderately covered thin white streaks. Luke took the plunge and brought up their tooltips. His fingers tapped against the two gear pieces.
First, the legs. What I was originally expecting. Luke decided.
[Hunter's Ice Blessed Trousers]
Quality: Exceptional
Armor: 15
Stats: 20 Strength 20 Intellect 5 Frost Resistance
Passive - Dejen's Diligence: Draws in Ether from the air, boosting Essence Regeneration and reducing stamina expenditure. Repairs wear and tear across all armor and periodically removes all stains, cannot fix major damage.
Requirents: Level 25, Tier 1
Set Piece 1/2
The armor that allowed a desperate leather worker to ascend. Items of this set have the maximum stat range allowed for their quality and level.
Reserving judgnt for when he got the whole picture, Luke studied the leather boots next. They were mostly plain brown, with horns at the tips included. Yellow-white symbols also hid within the slightly raised leather.
[Hunter's Ice Blessed Boots]
Quality: Exceptional
Armor: 12
Stats: 15 Agility, 10 Strength 5 Frost Resistance
Passive - Horned Grip: Able to keep your posture and position more effectively. Will assist to keep you upright when a force too great for the wearer tries to knock them back. Boosts ability to grip otherwise impassable surfaces.
Requirents: Level 25, Tier 1
Set Piece 2/2
Set Bonus: Onelius's Soul - The tenacity of Onelius resides within you. Staunches bleeding, toughens flesh, and makes negative alints marginally less effective. Receive a two hundred HP bonus when worn for over thirty seconds. Bonus HP lost imdiately once removed.
Luke swapped out his boots and pants using the equipnt function. The two pieces resized themselves and fit against his body perfectly. Strutting around, he experienced an 'elevation' in internal vitality exactly thirty seconds later.
Overall, the effect felt similar to when he broke through the vitality threshold but targeted different areas. He wondered if he could be considered a tank now.
"Finally, a master that matches my splendor. Knew it was a good idea to go along with you. Can we go test out the new armor in a dungeon? I'm itching for a fight." A bit of blood lust seeped out of Xera.
Dejen nodded his head as if understanding the sentint perfectly. The other two leather workers raised their eyebrows, and the elf woman held her hand over her mouth.
Luke sheepishly grinned, "This is Xera, she's sentient, as you can see. Also the type who likes excitent. She's harmless to anyone on my side."
"A master blade for a worthy Defier. I take it the armor is to your liking?" Dejen leaped over Xera's ability to speak. Likely too imrsed in pride from a successful crafting feat.
"Extrely pleased with this. Let take a few gold out of the bag and leave a tip. These items are easily my best armor pieces."
Wayfinder tugged himself on Luke's neck.
Is Wayfinder considered an armor piece? Maybe he considers himself armor? He wondered. With Wayfinder's situation vastly different from Xera's, he showed no external reaction.
Dejen responded, "I would never take additional compensation for these two items. The upgrade I've received, the new heights I'm allowed to reach, are already more than I can repay."
"If I've got tier 1 materials for leather gear in the future, I'll co to you, Dejen." Luke swiped up the gold paynt Kalara, the store owner, set out. He'd check it later, "I'll take my leave." Luke turned and walked out.
As he left the store threshold, Luke heard the three leather workers waving him off, asking him to co again anyti. The Reaver wore a smile that imdiately got wiped off his face when Kelic's eyes bore into him.
Shaking his head, Luke rely left out the door. He had better things to use his ti on.
Coward. You let that soldier face that firefight alone.
"Shut up. Old mories die hard."
"What needs to be quiet? How can a mory die?" Xera asked.
"It's a phrase that ans so things refuse to be truly forgotten. Usually to previous experiences."
"Is that why I can't forget the chest?" Xera said.
Luke subconsciously veered toward the south gate, entering into the main road. He said, "Probably, Xera. Try not to let them get to you, it'll only lead you down the wrong path. Sotis, you need to face them head on. Other tis, forgive yourself, and others still, to forget. The past can influence the present but should never rule it."
"What should I forgive myself for? How can I know when to do what?" Xera questioned
The Reaver stood behind a line to leave from the south gate. Unlike usual, where it was mostly farm hands, port workers, hunters, and traders, hundreds of refugees were moving into the Duchy's safer interior.
"You'll have to co to that conclusion yourself. The mind is a very personal thing, to gain proper command takes self-discovery. I've not co close to completing that journey. We'll see if Cedric can help. But don't expect it. In life, there are issues you can only face alone."
About to continue guiding Xera, a loud sob from two people further up the line pierced through his train of thought, "Mommy! I'm hungry, where's daddy? I miss him, when will he co back from the village?"
A weary looking monic woman with a malnourished fra and yellow rune marks on her cheeks consoled her daughter, "They've run out of rations before we ca here, dear. There should be plenty of food waiting for you in the next city. Hold a little longer, for mommy, okay?"
A loud stomach grumble ca from the daughter, "But it's been three days mommy, my tummy hurts too much."
The monic mother misted her eyes, "Hycintha, mommy knows you're hungry. But your father spent every last copper to get us on a carriage to this city. It'll only be a few more hours to a safer city. We'll have to walk the rest of the way. Be a good girl for mommy."
"Okay, I'll try mommy." The daughter continued sobbing, lower in volu, and she clutched her mother's clothes. "Why won't you tell when daddy is coming back?"
Pity filled Luke when the environnt started to deteriorate back on Earth, Luke had many hunger filled days himself. Worse still, there was little he could do to change it at the ti. That didn't include the starvation days in basic training.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
He wouldn't pretend he could solve every problem associated with the Tides, but he could solve this one. Luke tapped the person behind him, a bored looking young Tora man, "Hey, I'm going to buy food from that stall over there, if you hold my spot, I'll get you sothing. Deal?"
Looking over to where Luke was pointing, the tora man saw a vendor selling bread and dried ats. He licked his lips, "Get a strip of that Eomth beef and a hunk of the white bread, and you can leave the line worry-free." The Tora man agreed.
"Beef and bread for you, got it." Luke stepped out of the line, and intentionally made eye contact with the person behind the tora so that the human wouldn't make a fuss when he returned.
With his place in line secured, Luke jogged over to the stall a fair distance away but still visible from the gate, "How much for your ats and bread?" Luke asked the vendor, a middle-aged human man.
Taking on a miserly look, the man said, "With the refugee surge, things have gone over double in price. Twenty copper for half a loaf of either sourdough, white, or brown bread, and fifty copper for a serving of Eomth Beef, or the lamb at."
Price gouging during the Tides? My opinion of this Duchy keeps dropping. Sylen might be unable to provide for all these refugees because vendors like this made it three tis more expensive.
This sort of governntal issue was outside of Luke's jurisdiction. He pulled out two silver and eighty copper.
Luke said, "Get four loaves of bread, two pieces of the Eomth Beef, and two pieces of the lamb at."
"Coming right up, the wrapping for them is free of charge."
The Reaver rolled his eyes but said nothing. After a short preparation, Luke grabbed the four sets of food. He walked over to the monic mother and daughter. The daughter hid behind her mother when Luke approached. He chuckled when she shyly peeked out at the food. Luke said, "I overheard that your daughter is starving. Here." Luke handed over a loaf of brown bread to the mother, along with a piece of lamb piece.
A red flush of embarrassnt covered the woman's face, "I'm sorry to have her bother you like that. She's only a child."
"No need to be sorry at all. Kids need to eat to grow. If you can't trust the food I'm giving you, go ask that man over there, he'll tell you I bought it from him monts ago." Luke pointed behind him to the distant food stall.
Appearing afraid she'd miss this chance, she grabbed bread and at, "Thank you so much. If you ever visit Lothri Village. You'll be welco at our ho."
Luke crouched down and greeted the shy little girl, "Hey there, I must be scary, huh?"
The little girl nodded, to which the mother looked horrified about. Luke, however, laughed out loud.
"I appreciate the honesty. Here, that food was for your mother, and this is for you. Be sure to help your mom and listen to her, okay?" Luke brought out the brown bread and at, handing it toward her.
Glancing up at her mom and down at the food a number of tis, the girl hesitantly reached out, grabbed the food, and hid behind her mom again. She started munching on the bread vigorously.
The Reaver walked back to his place in line, giving the white bread and Eomth beef the young Tora man requested. Luke nibbled on the sourdough and lamb, he offered so to Sooty, who picked at the at but wanted nothing to do with the sourdough.
More for . Luke thought.
While Luke enjoyed his food, a minority of disgruntled voices entered his ear.
"Why them and not us? Damn greedy hunters, always trying to show off."
Luke tried to pay them little heed. Hungry and desperate people were quick to beco rude. And lose their logic. With his sense of hearing elevated, the task proved difficult. Still, when he noticed the little girl had a smile on her face as she tore apart the beef, Luke knew he made the right choice.
He couldn't save everyone. But he could save soone.
The line moved along at a snail's pace, but finally, it was Luke's turn. Up ahead, he could see the little girl and mother waving at him goodbye. He returned the gesture.
"Sigil stone." A stone faced but exhausted looking tora guard requested.
Luke had the stone appear in his hand and passed it off to the guard. He read it over quickly before his eyes bulged. "It's, it's you? The newest Defier in the Duchy? World Spirits Speed to you, sir. May you turn the Tide." The guard righted his slouch and made a signal, "Let this man through, no need for further checks. He is Defier Luke."
The Reaver hurriedly left the cacophony of gossiping whispers behind. He cut past the safe but congested road. To him, running into a pitifully low monster was no danger at all, so he'd rather save the ti.
His feet pressed down on the grass, and he briskly walked forward. Minutes later, a level three moon hare jumped out to attack him. Luke backhanded it, and the thing crashed over, dazed. He kept on reaching the three-way intersection. The central path was completely full, but the left and right barely saw any increase in traffic.
The number of hunters doesn't increase so suddenly. Not without particular circumstances. Luke wouldn't be surprised if the number of hunters in Sylen fell, rather than increased, close to the tides. The Duchy would put asures in place to reduce the cowardice, but surely, so would slip through the cracks.
His objective remained the sa: to scout out the Ruined Realm. He already had the map from the last ti he visited the general store. Today, he only desired to delve into the beginning areas to get a feel for the place. Otherwise, he'd have prepared a new set of bandages and potions.
The ones Luke had on him were outdated for his current level, as they were tier 0 in quality. And the bandages were all used already. Based on the map, it was split into two wings, with a sub-boss in each wing. In the finale portion of the dungeon, there was a 'lord boss,' a being stronger than a regular boss, like the two Luke faced in the Beast Divide, but weaker than a raid boss.
Luke traveled down the left road slowly. Hunter groups skirted around him. The terrain turned into a twisted gray forest, with rivers often cutting through. A dark miasma shimred on the trees, the phenona felt familiar. Shades observed Luke and nocturnal creatures accompanied them.
The dungeons served their purpose. None of them felt above level nine. The beasts and creatures were skittish toward Luke, with him radiating out his tier-one aura. Above the road the Reaver traveled down, the sun shone brightly, yet to the sides, the light slowly faded. Dusk settled within this forest, and while more temperate compared to the Beast Divide, it did hold monsters.
To be fair, the jungle also could've contained aggressive creatures or beasts, Luke never witnessed one when he passed by either ti. Maybe the guard tower back there did more than keep watch? As Luke treaded in deeper, spider webs started to spring from tree to tree. A hunter group ahead of him got entangled with the perpetrators.
Out of modest interest, Luke inspected the beasts. A clown mask crowned the top of their abdon.
[Fool Marked Spiders]
Level: 8
HP: 85/85
The best pests around. Cos with complintary making webs in traveled roads, reclaiming territory after multiple exterminations, and borderline acts against the rule of the survival of the fittest. This group is currently fighting hunters multiple tis their level out of sheer spite. Darwin would be proud.
"You see all kinds of creatures in this world. Xera would probably enjoy the crunching sound they make from slicing right open."
Xera sounded off, "I absolutely would adore it, too bad they're already wiped out."
As Xera pointed out, the five man hunter group a ways off from him quickly cleared the spiders out. From what Luke noticed, they appeared to be a mage heavy group. Not trying to stir the pot after they fought, Luke maintained distance.
Roughly an additional five minutes later, a small footpath cut into the gray twisted tree forest. A worn tal sign with gashes in the sides flagged down this path as the way to the Ruined Realm.
Luke ducked in, and two shadows jumped out at him. He reflexively swung Xera through them both, ice covered the blade. Two apparitions scread as they returned to the nether. A flash of white entered Luke's inventory. He glanced at it.
[Lowest Quality Banshee Cloth]
Quality: Poor
Occasionally used by tailors in desperate straits or for terrible feeling bandages. All cold and slimy, eck.
"If this is what they can easily gather out here near Sylen, I see why the wraith cloth was valued more."
Coming down the footpath, no other monsters jumped out at Luke. A square door creaked open and closed, black and gray mist ca out each ti. The black haze around the occasional gray twisted tree also infected the door. Luke stopped in place.
"A door? With a fra and no wall around in sight. Yep, normal. What do I know?"
No hunters were in the vicinity. Rotting black, red, and brown leaves covered the rocky soil. The door continued to creak. No explanation and the footpath ended here.
This is the entrance to the ruined realm? Why is no one around here like last ti?
Luke picked up a rock and threw it at the door. Despite its dilapidated look and rotting aura, the rock harmlessly bounced off the strange entrance. To keep his wits about him, Luke circled around, and sure enough, a wall of twisting trees was what greeted him.
"Rotting undead arms took to the frost side for Orlan's Beast Divide. A rotting door takes to the Ruined Realm. Worth a shot. He looked over to Sooty and asked a question ant for the three other mbers of the party, "What do you think?"
Sooty flew over and perched on the door. Moving around as the door did.
"Stuff like this never fazed you." Luke found himself happy to see his fearless partner returning.
Xera said, "We ca from a Netherworld. Why be weirded out about a rotting door in the middle of a forest? Whatever's in there should be scared of us, not the other way around."
Wayfinder shook his chain but didn't answer. Luke felt bad for his compass, unable to speak in most situations despite his knowledge. He reminded himself to converse with Wayfinder more behind closed doors, at least within the Defier Guild's walls.
"Better now than never. Let's take a peek for today. Maybe find so spider or ghost repellent if I co here again tomorrow."
Sooty landed back on his shoulder as he reached out to the rotting door. Putting his hand on the handle, Luke vanished.
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