(World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan (11 page)

Your strength has increased by 1 point.

Your stamina has increased by 1 point.

I unexpectedly passed to a new level and again I contributed all the gained points into my strength and agility. My character achieved level four. Last time I left the Cradle on level two.

While distributing the points I kept Gosha’s advice in mind and the following logic – there are no guilds in the Cradle, consequently a gamer can’t choose a class and master any combat skills. There are also no shops selling attacking and defending spell scrolls. So I came to the conclusion that the basics here were sheer strength, agility and stamina. Due to the absence of spells intelligence and wisdom were totally useless. And it would be stupid to waste my precious points on them. The Cradle is intended for one thing – to give beginners some time to assimilate into the game and to go two levels up. Even money is not critical since it’s free to enter basic guilds, the first tuition fee is token. If a gamer is a mage, then once he enters a guild and chooses one of departments, he gets one of three attacking spells free. If he wants to enter one more department, he doesn’t get any spells free. And he’ll have to pay a full price for other scrolls. But it’s true for the city, there are no guilds in the Cradle.

The evening came and I allowed myself to take a break. Until it got absolutely dark, I broke dry boughs off trees standing nearby as many as I could, raked some dry grass – with a surplus to have enough for several hours. Using my tinder-box I set fire to a wisp of dry grass and made a fire in front of the opened barn door. The lit site was enough to continue further combat activities. I decided to keep two candle-ends that I had. But I had to fight hanging a thick and heavy tree branch instead of my oak stick that had broken down and I had sent her pieces into the fire.

I continued the eradication of rats with new efforts. Rats inhabiting the barn were level two, I was level four. It took me incredibly much time to gain experience points. But nevertheless I achieved my aim – I did raise to level five and to crown it all, I got +1 to the stamina as the curtain fell.

I didn’t have to put out the fire – it went out itself without feeding. I took a heavier sack on my back and walked far from the dangerous place. I chose a small spot covered with dry leaves to sleep. It was at the city wall and effectively protected from all the sides by high and thick bushes. Once I got defended from all the sides by branches, the system hanged out a message:

Disguise +10

Achievement!

You’ve got a first rank achievement – ‘Hide’!

You can see your achievements in your character’s settings.

Your award for the achievement: +1% to disguise in the natural environment.

Current bonus level: +1

Heh… an aura of nostalgia…

So many times I hid the same way in bushes, wood wilderness and even in tree crowns…

I tucked the sack under my head, put the stick which was clapped out against rats’ backs and my preparations for sleep were over. There was only one thing left for that day – to distribute points gained for level five. Without thinking for a long time I divided them between my stamina and agility. Then stared at the result:   

Your character’s basic attributes:

Strength – 13

Intelligence – 2

Agility – 11

Stamina – 11

Wisdom – 1

Life: 93/170 Mana: 20/20

I definitely had the most fruitful day in the Cradle ever. So it was high time to live at least several hours in real life. If I could trust the timer, I had spent eighteen hours in the game. I should have some rest… 

Exit

Chapter 6

The Cradle. Day Four. Trailing the Secret.

It would be understatement to say that the leather-dresser was surprised. Actually he was stunned when I discharged a heap of grey rat hides in front of his rolling eyes. Seventy-two items. Exactly. The leather-dresser didn’t stay in a stupor for long. In a moment he started bargaining furiously to drive down the price as low as he could. I was digging my heels in as long as I could but finally I agreed to decrease my price from the asking price of one hundred coppers to seventy-two. In total I got a copper per a hide. Apprentices that ran up drew the hides away into the tannery quickly. I said good-bye to the happy master and without wasting time walked straight to the Cradle center where a Frol the Money-box’s shop was situated. There was a lot of rat meat and the same amount of rat tails in the rucksack that I was planning to give to the miller as a proof of my success, but I didn’t have an idea where to push off the meat. If I can’t get rid of the meat, I’ll make a fire and cook rat chops.

Time was running out for me – if today or maybe tomorrow a girl gamer appears in the Cradle, we’ll have a lot of urgent deals. If I want to sort out the strange story told by Vlasilena, I should act without any delay. I should visit the shop to buy a more reliable and penetrating weapon as well – I got sick and tired of swinging dry branches and sticks. And it would be nice to buy some shoes too. But how shall I approach Frol the Money-box with my questions? He doesn’t know me and he won’t feel like having a heart-to-heart talk with a stranger. A small shop was located at the crossroads of two main roads in the Cradle in a small two-storey grey-stoned building. There was a bright sign hanging above the entrance. It was welcoming visitors to come in and estimate the quality. So I did it entering the shop at the jingle of the door-bell.

All the inside space was occupied by three rough counters thrown together standing in the U-form. Cheap goods were overwhelming the counters. Such a mini downscale convenience store. Any beginner-gamer who grubbed some coppers could buy weapon, clothes and food there. A yawning half-orc – a guard – dressed in a quilted jacket and baggy pants was standing at the entrance. There was a huge sword hanging at his waist that I glanced with jealousy at. The shop-keeper was standing behind the central counter folding his arms on his bulging belly and talking to a green-haired girl-gamer who was trying to choose between a staff and a broadbrim. Oh women, women… I wonder why did she need such a hat – very beautiful but absolutely useless. It was clear for me that she should buy the staff besides its bottom part was iron-reinforced. But no way, the hat was so beautiful, wasn’t it!

Taking advantage of the fact that the shop-keeper was busy I decided to look around. And first of all I got stuck to the counter with a poor range of weapon to offer. Several staffs, a couple of daggers made from nasty iron, something like short clubs with an iron pad on the thicker end, gloves from coarse leather, two thin bundles of nasty arrows. More serious and more expensive weapon – a one-handed sword in a black leather sheath, an axe and, certainly, a bow hugging an empty sheath – was hanging on the wall behind the counter. Oh, I nearly forgot to mention a round wooden shield that looked like a lid of a barrel available there. Not many… I had made my choice quite fast. Definitely a staff. The most sensible and rather cheap alternative. The bottom sharp end was iron-reinforced, its durable wooden shaft was trimmed smoothly and split-free. My skill of handling crushing weapon like a club, a cudgel, a staff was equal to two points thanks to a long rat advancement. Besides, I liked the idea that after hitting by such a weapon your enemy was thrown back and you had enough time for the next swing. I wouldn’t dare to claim that a staff was the best weapon since I had background mainly in small arms. That’s so called notorious niche specialization. But on the basic level I’d prefer a staff to daggers, for example. I didn’t fancy in-close fighting.

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Can I help you, sir? – sang tenderly the shop-keeper sailing up to me; he had already shown out the previous client.

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Yeah, do, please – I nodded gracefully –That staff is rather good, isn’t it?

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Yup, it’s a great alternative for an experienced traveler – Frol agreed with me without a delay. – It’s durable, long enough and light. On your way it will become a reliable support and help to straggle against enemies. And it doesn’t cost a fortune – just two silver coins.

Two silver coins or forty copper coins… darn well! It’s almost half of all my cash.

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Can I have a closer look at this staff? – I asked with hesitation.

Some scorn flashed in the shop-keeper’s glance. He examined my rather miserable appearance slowly and said:

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Sure. Have a look.

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Before paying you’d better make sure that the item of goods is worthy – I hurried to add and took the staff that I had put my eye on. – I think money must be spent wisely no matter if it’s a miserable copper or a gold coin of the realm.    

A kind of surprise flashed in Frol’s eyes that time. He couldn’t expect such a wise uttering from an ordinary tramp. Making sure that I made an appropriate impression I peered into the staff to estimate its characteristics popped up in front of me:

A traveler’s ash staff. A two-handed weapon. Hit: 8-12. Hit type: crushing. Durability: 90/90

I decided not to study the rest of the data, the main point was that it suited me according to the level. I was especially satisfied with its increased durability. Such a weapon wouldn’t break down in two. It couldn’t boast any plus characteristics, but should I have expected more for forty copper coins?

Making a deliberately long pause, I reached out for my bag and said:

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I’ll take it. It’s a worthy thing, you’re right, sir.

I decided not to bargain and not to knock down the price. The situation was not appropriate for that. I took out a handful of worn copper coins and told off myself in my mind – I should have exchanged all coppers for silverdumps. Then I wouldn’t be disgracing myself at that moment.

However, coppers are also money. And the honorable trader, Frol the Money-box, proved that fact by dragging forty coins to his palm by a tried and tested gesture. As if a cow licked it by its tongue. We were both quite glad – the shop-keeper because of a deal and I because of a purchase and a new achievement:

Achievement!

You’ve got a first rank achievement – ‘Purchase’!

You can see your achievements in your character’s settings.

Your award for the achievement: +0.5% discount at buying goods in shops.

Attention: this bonus is active only at dealing with NPCs!

Current bonus level: 0.5%

I definitely started liking the diamond class account!

But right now I must stop slavering from delight and focus on the most important thing. Actually I’ve come here not to buy a stick!

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Would you like to buy anything else?

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Only to ask the price – I smiled in response – For example, how much is this sword behind your back?

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Eight silver coins and a half – Frol answered immediately. – Ok, I can mark down to eight coins. Are you taking it?

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Maybe, next time – I lied without blinking my eye – I gonna come to you again and again.

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Are you going to stay here long? – the shop-keeper raised his eyebrows in amazement, Frol fixed me with his challenging eye.

Well, local NPCs got used to a constant turnover. Gamers usually don’t stay in the Cradle for a long time and never come back here.

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It’s my third day here – I replied and after thinking for a while added – Thanks to Vlasilena who gave me a shelter and allowed to spend a couple of nights in her shed. Such a kind woman!

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Just a moment, stranger… what did you say? What’s the name of the woman that gave you a shelter?

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Vlasilena. Her house is on the outskirts and there were six withered oaklings along her fence until I helped her to get rid of them to thank her for her kindness. The hostess felt so stressed because of them, she even couldn’t have looked at them especially at night…

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Erm… why couldn’t she? – Frol asked me eagerly leaning his body forward to almost crush the screeching counter.

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She had a reason… - I replied after a deliberate pause trying to make my voice sound as much enigmatically as possible. – She told such horror things… but it must be boring for you. What do I know? People are always telling some bullshit. How much would you like for this dagger?

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A silverdump… - answered Frol subconsciously and hurried to add – But you can take it for ten coppers! So what was chatty Vlasilena talking about? What did she think out?

Bah… he halved the price… damn it! I should have started this conversation about Vlasilena from the threshold then I could have paid twice less for the staff. What a stupid fool I am…

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Ok, I’ll take it – I answered sedately and took out the money – I’ll take this one that is sold with a belt and a sheath.