by Grey Arney
Lydia
Awakening
This novel is dedicated to Olivia. Because if I were ever to lose you, I too would tear heaven itself asunder to find you again.
CHAPTER 1
He was falling, fast, through the cloudy heavens, approaching the ground below. And then, for the first time, he opened his eyes.
He was laying flat on top of a rock, wearing the same outfit as anybody else who had just been born into this world—namely, nothing at all.
The rush of sudden self-awareness stimulated a chain reaction of adrenaline-induced panic. He sat up abruptly and examined his surroundings feverishly. The flat slab of rock he was sitting on was in the rear of a rocky alcove. Although it could not be described as a cave, it offered modest shelter from the harsher elements. The roof was no more than an outcropping of a cliff overhead. The air was still. A steady flow of water streamed in from somewhere above. A channel of igneous rock sloped down from his position and out of his view. The sky outside radiated with the rosy orange hues of early dawn.
He was in a safe place. But what was he doing here? He held out his hands before his eyes, examining them. His skin was clean and healthy, although unusually pale. His body had not a single hair anywhere on it. His hands explored what his eyes could not see. He rubbed his face, and then his scalp, which was as smooth as a bowling ball.
He rolled onto his side and used his hands to push himself to a standing position. The ceiling was twelve feet high. He cautiously moved around, looking for some clue that would answer the questions which were forming in his mind. He saw none.
The temperature was comfortable and balmy, and he was as safe as anybody could hope to be. He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the uncertain risk of further exploration against unknown benefits. And then he did as all human beings do when given this choice. He followed his curiosity.
As the shapes of the natural formation around him began to resolve in his mind from strange to familiar, he noticed a new detail: a dark, oblong mass in the rear of the alcove. He felt grateful that there was more to investigate here because he was apprehensive about stepping outside into the morning light. He walked over to the object, his bare feet suffering each time they stepped on a pebble. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light in the back of the cave, he saw the sharp outline of something wooden. A clothing trunk, like the kind that had once housed a man’s entire possessions during a journey to new continents overseas.
As he undid the clasps of the chest, he didn’t pause to wonder how he had become familiar with these mechanisms. The top of the trunk creaked open, but its contents were obscured by darkness. Closing the lid again, he grabbed a handle on the side and dragged it into the light at the center of the alcove, where he had awoken. The chest scraped loudly against the rock, and the sound of wings flapping outside made clear that he had spooked away some nearby birds.
There was barely anything inside the trunk. On one side there was a bundle of clothes, and on the other a small tool and a pouch. Seeking the familiar comfort of dry clothing, he reached in and grasped what appeared to be a shirt.
You have found: Cotton Tunic (Def +1)
This simple piece of apparel offers little in the way of protection, but it may be useful in protecting against the scratching of tree branches or the piercing of thorns.
What in the hell was that? Opaque letters had formed in front of his eyes. He knew what the words meant, but he did not understand their implications. Although the words were surprising, there were bigger questions lurking in his mind. He slipped the shirt on and reached for the pair of pants.
You have found: Leather Trousers (Def +3)
These trousers made from the hide of an unknown animal offer modest protection against damage.
This time the letters dissolved quickly into nothing. He put on the pants without further ado and reached for the tool on the other side of the chest.
You have found: Rusty Iron Dagger (Attack +2-3)
This primitive dagger can be used for collecting materials or other utility purposes. Due to its low attack rating, it would make a poor weapon.
The dagger was double-edged with a spear point. There was an iron guard perpendicular to the hilt. He carefully tucked the blade through a leather loop in his trousers. Now he could carry the dull weapon, although it would smack against his thigh with every step he took.
Underneath the bundle of clothes was a small scrap of paper. He had no difficulty reading it.
You have found: Handwritten Note
“If you are reading this, it means you have finally awoken. While you surely have many questions, please know that the journey to understanding yourself requires deep introspection and has no shortcuts.
“About you: you suffered a terrible accident long ago. Yours is a unique case, and you have been brought here in order to give you a chance to heal.
“About this world: there are many dangers, but many opportunities. As you develop your abilities, you will have the opportunity to recover knowledge of your former self. You will also have the chance to earn wealth, power and fame.
"I really wish I could tell you more, but for this to work, you need to discover for yourself. I’ve arranged a few bonuses for you to get you a head start, especially since you have no experience here. If you find yourself on the receiving end of unbelievably good fortune in the next few days, just remember you can thank me later.
“One final warning: beware that the people you meet here will not always be trustworthy. Most of them are natives in this world, and know nothing of the place you came from.
“Good luck.”
He opened the small pouch and found it contained a variety of strange coins which he did not recognize. They had no mint markings, but instead had a hole in the center. There was also a spherical object that looked like a large glass marble, sitting inside the bag. As he looked into it, it made him think of an eye staring back at him. He left it in the pouch, which he then tied through another loop in his trousers. Satisfied that there was nothing left to do in the alcove, he stepped out into the light of day.
He felt a strong sense of disappointment when he realized there was nothing to put on his feet.
He was now standing on an outcropping, which was the only entrance to his alcove. From his vantage above the tree line, he could see the full landscape ahead for about 180 degrees. Behind him towered the cliff that formed the rock outcropping. There were some birds roosting in its crevices, but no human being could expect to climb the cliff unaided, so he focused on the view before him.
Ahead was a sight of stunning beauty that evoked ancient awe. Below was the canopy of a massive forest that spread nearly as far as his eyes could see. As the rolling hills shifted upwards, he could see the outlines of many towering trees. The foliage struck harmonious chords formed from nearly every color in the rainbow. Rich reds, dark purples, and vibrant greens. There were no blue leaves, as that would be weird, but there were colors in this canopy that were not part of the natural order.
From the position of the sun rising in the righthand side of his view, the man inferred that the left side was west, and the right side was east. That meant he was standing facing the north. To the west, a river wound through the forest until it flowed beyond a hill that obscured his vision. A very faint pillar of smoke rose from a distant point along the river, perhaps half a day’s hike away. To the east, he saw a small clearing that couldn’t be more than an hour’s hike away. And straight ahead, up north, spanning a distance of many miles, was a vast and grassy plain. Emerald-colored mountains stretched across the horizon beyond the vast plains.
The way down into the forest was a narrow channel filled with stones and sand. It looked like it had been widened over the years by erosion. After a s
hort descent down the rocky cliff edge, the exposed roots of saplings offered him a handhold. He carefully made his way down, grunting in pain each time his tender feet found something sharp. In a few moments, he reached a flat surface, allowing him to steadily work his way down to the forest floor.
With a grumble in his stomach, he quietly pushed his way into the forest, taking great care not to step on anything pointy. Before long, he found an animal trail. He decided to investigate the clearing he had seen earlier. The trail appeared to head in that direction, so he followed it.
After following the trail for about fifteen minutes, more words appeared before him.
You have learned Stealth (Level 1)
The care and attention you’ve put into every footstep has helped you learn to walk more quietly. This will decrease your chance of being noticed by nearby creatures. This is affected by your environment and your footwear. Further improvements to your skill will allow you to walk silently on any surface, and someday you could walk around unseen in broad daylight.
While he had mostly been concerned about hurting his feet, it had occurred to him that danger may be hiding behind the trees, and he didn’t want to advertise his location. He didn’t understand how these strange words could gift him with the power of quieter steps, but as soon as they dissolved, he noticed that his footfalls and even his breathing were somewhat softer.
Suddenly he heard the sound of a twig snapping near the left-hand side of the path. Seeing no place nearby to conceal himself, he dove to the trench on the opposite side. He would be clearly visible to anybody who was looking, so he hoped that mere stillness would be enough to help him escape the notice of whatever creature was coming his way. The leaves and detritus on the forest floor crunched underneath his weight as he landed, but it was not nearly as loud as the snapping twig he had just heard. He could only hope that whatever was approaching didn’t have very good hearing.
A hairy shape emerged from the thicket onto the path. It was some kind of boar, and although small, it looked malevolent. Grasping the rusty dagger in his hand, the man prepared for a desperate attack. As soon as he saw the nostrils of this beast, dripping with mucous and sniffing at the air, he knew he would be spotted. Then the boar’s eyes locked on him. In a careless move, it dived at him, soaring through the air.
With no hunting experience to guide him, the man fecklessly held out the dagger above his own prone body. Through some miracle, the boar’s body landed on top of the dagger, forcing the rusty implement into its abdomen. Warm blood spilled across the man’s hand, and the animal rolled himself off to the side, shrieking like an enraged guinea pig.
You attack the Wild Boar. You deal 10 hit points of damage!
You have learned Short Blades (Level 1)
While not effective against enemies wielding longer arms, Short Blades are ideal for combat up close. They can also be used when attacking from the shadows. A master of short blades can easily find a vital organ, ending the opponent’s life in a single strike.
The man stood, holding the pathetic blade menacingly while the creature advanced again. This time, its moves showed more cunning and it snapped at the man’s bare ankles. Being primarily an herbivore, its flat teeth were not optimized for piercing flesh, but the powerful jaw helped them to penetrate the leather pants, crushing and slightly piercing the flesh underneath.
The Wild Boar bites. You have lost 17 hit points.
The pain from the bite was not very powerful, but it did feel like being pinched—hard. The man stabbed at the skull of the attacking creature, but the dagger did little damage. So, he started hitting the boar with the iron pommel, pounding harder and harder until it let go. The boar disengaged and backed away snarling. Knowing that he had little chance of taking the creature down with the knife, he considered retreating to the shelter, but didn’t dare turn his back on the wild animal. He stared into the eyes of the hateful beast, and suddenly an arrow appeared, sticking out of the creature’s eye. It fell to the ground, oozing blood.
The Wild Boar is struck by an arrow. It takes 97 hit points of damage.
The Wild Boar dies. You earn 100 experience points.
“Hail there, stranger,” came a voice from behind him. In fear and panic, he whirled around. Behind him was a man of no more than five feet tall, holding the simple yew bow that had dropped the boar. He stared at the man with the bow, without realizing he was still holding his own knife up. The short man did little more than raise an eyebrow at this delirious show of paranoia, and hesitated momentarily while his counterpart lowered the blade.
“I’m sorry if this animal caused you any trouble. I’m called Brook. What’s your name?” asked the short man.
The man with the knife paused for a moment, as if trying to remember something. The words came to him naturally, as did a name.
“My name is Arcturus.”
You have chosen the name Arcturus.
Arcturus returned the useless blade to the loop of his pants, and Brook treaded forward a few short steps, appraising the barefoot man and the trickle of blood coming from his ankle. “Well met, Arcturus. I am so sorry that you were hurt. The bait I used to lure this beast has a tendency to drive them a bit mad. Ordinarily, these pigs don’t bite.”
Countless questions stirred in Arcturus’ head, but somehow his instincts told him he should stay focused on matters immediately at hand. That saying all of the things he wanted to say would make him appear vulnerable in front of a total stranger.
“I’m just glad you came when you did,” said Arcturus, “I suffered a small bite, but it’s really no trouble at all. I’m sure it will heal quickly enough.”
“To the contrary, friend,” Brook interjected, “even a small bite from this beast could get infected. Please allow me to see the injury. “
Arcturus rolled the leg of his pants up his calf, revealing the wound. A semicircle-shaped bite mark was indented into his ankle, which still bore the crushing impression. The skin was broken in only one place. Brook removed a small pack from his shoulders and dressed the wound. He plucked a healthy leaf from nearby to wipe it clean, and then pulled some berries from his pack. Crushing one of them in his hands, he spread the fruity goo over the wounded part of the ankle.
“What are those for?” asked Arcturus.
“These berries have mild healing properties. They heal 1 hit point per second up to a maximum of 35 per application. How many hit points did you lose?”
“What do you mean, hit points?”
The short man appraised the taller man once more, with a new look in his eye. “Have you hit your head or something? Hit points are the measurement of how much damage you can sustain before you die.”
The concept was not new to Arcturus, but he never imagined he himself had hit points. This was all starting to feel like some sort of dream. Then he remembered the messages he had seen when the boar was clamping down on his ankle. As he thought about it, they appeared before him again.
“I guess I lost 17 hit points,” Arcturus said.
“Then all is well. One of these berries will heal that, and will protect you from infection.”
“Can I see those?” asked Arcturus.
“Sure. In fact, why don’t you take a few? There are many here in the forest. They grow in the shade, especially near rivers.”
The man handed him a small handful of the berries, which he carefully put in a pocket in his pants.
You have found: Soothing Chokeberry.
This berry can heal minor injuries. It can be used as a salve, or it can be taken orally.
You have learned Alchemy (Level 1)
Alchemy allows you to identify the uses of plant and animal parts. You can acquire new knowledge from recipes, word of mouth, or direct experimentation. Take care in eating unknown herbs—some may be poisonous. At higher levels, you will be able to prepare powerful potions that give you the strength to move a mountain.
“Why don’t I just eat one instead of making the salve?” asked Arctur
us.
“The salve works faster. If you eat a berry directly, you’ll restore one hit point per minute up to 35. There are ways to increase the power of herbs, but I don’t know much about Alchemy, myself.”
“According to tradition, half of this kill is yours, as you helped to take it down. But I am camped far away and would not be able to carve it up until returning there.”
Arcturus considered this information for a moment. Right now, he had little more than the clothes on his back, and his stomach was feeling empty. At least if he had this boar, he wouldn’t have to worry about starving, for a time.
“Is it possible for me to pay you for your half, and keep the whole thing for myself?” he asked. Pulling his pouch open, he reached in and grasped a single gold coin. “Is this enough?”
The little man accepted the coin in a heartbeat. “You’re very generous, friend. This is of course more than enough to buy my share. Consider it yours.” Arcturus was starting to think he may have overpaid for this haul by a factor of ten, but given his complete and total disorientation, the value of the coin didn’t matter to him.
“Another hunter and I are camped out by the meadow over there, along the river in the direction where the sun sets. There are few others in these parts, and we’d welcome a visitor. So if you have need of trade, please come find us. You’ll be able to spot the smoke from our campfire at midday.” The already agreeable little man had suddenly taken an ingratiating tone after pocketing the gold coin.
With that, Brook bid his new friend good day, and turned back and headed westward. He walked with a cheerful spring in his step. Arcturus almost called out to the man, desperate to ask where he was or who he was, but fear overcame him. He knew that he was in a dangerous position, and that he could not trust a total stranger.
Arming himself with his knife, he prepared to dress his kill.
***
Arcturus wondered, as he pulled the guts from the animal, why he knew how to do this task despite having no memory of having done it before. He used his dull knife to separate the hide from the body. It worked much better on dead boars than living ones. After removing the hide, he dug the knife into the throat, feeling for the spine with the tip of the blade. He finally found a spot where he could wedge the knife in, completely severing the head from the animal. He had harvested enough meat to last for days, and also a small pelt. He planned to continue to the clearing he had seen ahead and try to cook the meat there. He still wasn’t sure what dangers may be nearby, and didn’t want to advertise the position of his hideout by holding a barbecue. Field dressing the carcass took well over an hour. Arcturus worried that working in the open forest would attract more unwanted attention, but it was almost midday now and the forest had been quiet. At any rate, it would be better not to leave a pile of pig meat outside of his shelter. Who knew what predators roamed the woods at night?
