Alternative Life
Page 23
That-imeant-ithey'd-iwon-ithe-ibattle.-iThey'd-iwon,-iand-ihe-ihadn't-idied.-iIf-ihe-iwasn't-iabout-ito-ipass-iout-ifrom-ithe-ipain,-ihe'd-iprobably-ipat-ihimself-ion-ithe-iback.-iThis-iwould,-iby-ihis-iestimation,-ibe-ithe-ifirst-ithing-ihe'd-imanaged-ito-ido-iright-iwithout-iin-isome-iway-iscrewing-iit-iup.
He-ifelt-ia-itwinge-iof-ipride.-iMaybe-ithere-iwas-ia-ichance-ihe-icould-ifinally-ido-isomething-iright-iafter-iall.
A-ifew-imoments-iafter-ihe-iflopped-iback-ionto-ithe-ibed,-isomeone-iwalked-iinto-ithe-iroom-ihe-iwas-iresiding-iin,-ias-ievidenced-iby-ifootsteps-ion-iwooden-iboards-iand-ithe-isound-iof-iswishing-ifabric.-iHe-iturned-ihis-ihead-ito-isee-ia-iyoung,-idark-haired-iwoman-iin-ia-igreen-idress,-imaybe-iin-iher-ilate-iteens-ior-iearly-itwenties,-icarrying-ia-ismall-ileather-isatchel-ias-ishe-icrossed-ithe-iroom.-iNoticing-ithat-ihe-iwas-iawake,-ishe-ismiled-ibrightly-iand-iset-ithe-isatchel-idown-ibeside-ithe-ibed.
"Oh-igood!-iYou've-ifinally-icome-ito.-iI-iwas-istarting-ito-iget-iworried-iabout-iyou."-iShe-isaid,-isitting-idown-ion-ia-iwooden-istool-ibeside-ihis-ibed-iand-ipulling-ithe-ileather-isatchel-iinto-iher-ilap.-i"It's-igood-ito-isee-ithat-iyou're-ion-ithe-imend.-iWe-ihad-ia-iscary-ifew-ihours-ithere-iat-ithe-ibeginning."
"I-isuppose-iI-ihave-iyou-ito-ithank-ifor-inot-ibeing-idead."-iJames-isaid.-i"Thanks."
"Well,-inot-ijust-ime.-iFarien-iand-ia-icouple-iothers-iin-ithis-icamp-ialso-ihelped-iwith-ithe-itending-iand-ithe-ihealing.-iBut-iyes,-iI-ihelped."-iThe-iwoman-isaid-iwith-ia-ismile-ias-ishe-ireached-iinto-ithe-isatchel-iand-ipulled-iout-ia-iroll-iof-ilinen-iand-ia-icouple-ibrown-iglass-ibottles.
"What's-iyour-iname?"-iJames-iasked,-itrying-ito-ishift-ionto-ihis-iside.-iAfter-ia-imoment-iof-itrying,-ihe-igave-iup.-iThere-iwas-ino-ichance-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-ifind-ia-iposition-ithat-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-iin-ithe-islightest-ibit-icomfortable-ithat-iway.-iNot-iwith-ithe-ipain-ifrom-ithe-ispear-iwound-iin-ihis-iribs.
"Abigail.-iI'm-ione-iof-ithe-ihealers-ifor-ithe-iGreen-iCompany."-iShe-isaid,-iinspecting-ithe-ibottles-ione-iby-ione-ibefore-iselecting-ione-iand-isetting-ithe-irest-ion-ithe-iground-ibeside-iher.-i"Now,-ilie-istill.-iI-ineed-ito-itake-ia-ilook-iat-iyour-iwounds-iand-ireplace-isome-idressings."
"Sure-ithing."-iHe-isaid,-iflopping-ihis-ihead-iback-ionto-ithe-ipillow.-iAbigail-istood-iup-iand-igingerly-ipulled-ithe-ifurs-icovering-ihim-idown.-iAs-ishe-idid-iso,-ihe-iglanced-idown-ito-isee-ithat-ihe-iwas-inaked,-ioutside-iof-ia-imyriad-iof-ibandages-icovering-ihis-iarms,-itorso,-iand-ileg.-i
He-iinstinctively-iwent-ito-icover-ihimself,-ibut-iAbigail-ijust-ilooked-iat-ihim-iand-ishook-iher-ihead.-i"Don't-iworry-iabout-iit.-iI've-iseen-imore-iof-ithose-ithan-iI-ican-iremember-isince-iI-istarted-itended-ito-ithe-isick-iand-iwounded.-iI-idon't-ieven-inotice-ianymore.-iNow,-ihands-iat-iyour-iside,-iplease."
###-iChapter-i98-i--iBed-Ridden-i(part-i2)
The-iwork-iof-ichanging-ihis-idressings-itook-iseveral-iminutes,-ipunctuated-ifrequently-iby-icursing-iand-iexclamations-iof-ipain.-iAbigail,-ifor-iher-ipart,-iwas-iexceedingly-igentle,-iand-imoved-iquickly-iso-ias-ito-ihave-ithe-iwhole-iexperience-iover-ias-iquickly-ias-ipossible.-i
By-ifar-ithe-iworst-ipain-icame-ifrom-ihis-ithigh,-iwhich-idespite-ibeing-istitched-iup-iand-icovered-iwith-ivarious-ikinds-iof-isalves-iand-iunguents-istill-igently-iweeped-iblood-iand-ipus-iaround-ithe-ithreads.-iThe-iwhole-ileg-iwas-iswollen-iand-iinflamed,-iand-idark-ipurple-red-black-ibruises-iencircled-ithe-istab-iwound-ilike-ithe-ipetals-iof-ia-irose.-iWhen-ishe-iwent-ito-iremove-ithe-ilinen-iwrapped-iaround-iit,-ipart-iof-ithe-iblood-soaked-ilinen-inear-ithe-istitches-icaught-ion-ione-iof-ithem-iand-itugged,-isending-iinto-ia-iflurry-iof-ihowls-iand-iobscenities.-iAbigail-iapologized-iprofusely,-ibut-ihe-iwaved-iher-iaway.-iHe-iknew-iit-iwasn't-iher-ifault.
Mercifully,-iafter-ithe-ibandages-iwere-ireplaced,-iAbigail-icovered-ihim-iback-iup,-iand-igave-ihim-ia-imouthful-iof-isome-ithick-iwhite-isubstance-ishe-ipoured-iout-iof-ione-iof-ithe-ibrown-iglass-ibottles.-iIt-itasted-ia-ibit-ilike-ipine-isap-ismelled,-iand-ino-isooner-ihad-ihe-iswallowed-iit-ithen-ihe-ibegan-ito-ifeel-ihis-ilips,-itongue-iand-iteeth-igo-inumb.-iHe-ilooked-iover-iat-iher-ias-ishe-ire-stoppered-ithe-ibottle.
"You-ijust-igave-ime-ithe-igood-istuff,-ididn't-iyou?"-iHe-isaid-imore-ithan-iasked.
"Crushed-iMorphium-ipetals-iin-iNumb-Nettle-isap.-iI'd-isay-iyou've-iprobably-igot-iabout-ifive-iminutes-ibefore-iyou-ican't-ifeel-iyour-iface,-imuch-iless-iyour-iwounds."-iShe-isaid,-iflicking-iher-ieyebrows-iwith-ian-iamused-iexpression.-i"Never-ihad-iit-imyself,-ibut-iI've-iheard-iit's-ipretty-ipleasant."
So,-ihe-iwas-iabout-ito-itrip-iballs-ion-ipowerful-ipainkillers.-iThat-iwas-igoing-ito-ibe-ifun.-iOnly-itime-ihe'd-igotten-ito-ido-ithat-ibefore-iwas-iwhen-ihe'd-ibroken-iboth-ihis-iarms-iwhen-ihe-irode-ihis-ibike-ioff-ia-ijump-iat-ithe-ibottom-iof-ia-isteep-ihill-iand-imissed-ithe-ilanding-iramp.-iHe-icouldn't-iremember-imuch-ifrom-ithe-icouple-idays-iafterwards,-ibut-iwhat-ihe-idid-iremember-ihad-ibeen-ian-iendless-iconga-iline-iof-iwarm-ifuzzy-ifeelings-iand-ihappy-ithoughts.
As-isoon-ias-ihe-ithought-iabout-ithis,-iit-ioccurred-ito-ihim-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithat-ihe-ihadn't-iseen-iRose-ior-iMadeleine-ior-ieither-iof-ithe-ibrothers-isince-ihe'd-iwoken-iup-ia-ilittle-iwhile-iago,-iand-idespite-ihis-ipain-iand-ithe-inumb-iglow-islowly-ibeginning-ito-itake-ihis-iextremities-ihe-ibegan-ito-ifeel-isuddenly-iapprehensive.-iBefore-ihe-iwent-iall-iloopy-ihe-ihad-ito-iknow-ithe-igirls-iwere-iokay.
Abigail-igot-iup-iand-iturned-ito-ileave,-ibut-iJames-icalled-iafter-iher.
"Abigail,-imy-icompanions...-iRose-iand-iMadeleine...-iare-ithey-iokay?-iWhere-iare-ithey?"-iHe-iasked.-iIt-itook-ihim-imore-ieffort-ithan-iusual-ito-ipronounce-ieach-iword-ibecause-ihe-icould-ino-ilonger-ifeel-ihis-itongue-ior-ilips.
"They're-ifine.-iI-ibelieve-ithey're-ihelping-isome-iof-ithe-iothers-iclean-iup-iand-itreat-ithe-iwounded.-iWould-iyou-ilike-ime-ito-itell-ithem-iyou've-ifinally-iwoken-iup?
"Yesh...-iPleash..."-iHe-isaid,-ibeginning-ito-ilose-ihis-iability-ito-iadequately-icontrol-ihis-imouth.-iThe-idrugs-iwere-itaking-ieffect-imuch-ifaster-ithan-ihe-iexpected.-i"Tshell-ithemmm-iI'm...."-iHe-istarted,-ithen-istopped-ias-ihe-istruggled-ito-iget-ihis-ibrain-ito-ithe-icorrect-inext-iword-iin-ithe-isentence.
"I'll-ibe-isure-ithey-iknow-iyou're-irecovering-iwell,-iand-iare-icurrently-isedated-ifor-ithe-ipain.-iWhen-iyou-iwake-iup-inext,-iyou-ishould-ibe-ifeeling-imuch-ibetter,-iand-iwill-ibe-iable-ito-isee-ithem-ithen."-iShe-ireplied,-ithen-iheaded-ifor-ithe-iexit.-i"Sleep-iwell,-iJames."
"Hyoh-kay.-iCannn-idoooo..."-iJames-isaid,-igiggling-ito-ihimself-ias-ihe-ifelt-ilike-ihe-iwas-isinking-ifurther-iand-ifurther-iinto-ithe-ibed.-iHe-iwas-iabout-ito-ihave-ian-iabsolutely-iphenomenal-isleep.-i
###-iChapter-i99-i--iBed-Ridden-i(part-i3)
["I'm-inot-igonna-ilie,-ikid.-iI-idon't-iknow-iwhether-ito-icongratulate-iyou,-ior-ito-itell-iyou-ithat-iyou-ilook-ilike-ishit."]
James-iopened-ihis-ieyes-ito-ifind-ihimself-istanding-iinside-iThe-iRepository.-iFrumpkin-isat-ion-ia-ifloating-icushion-inot-ifar-iaway,-ifiling-iaway-iat-ihis-ifingernails-iwith-ian-iemory-iboard.-iThe-ideity-ilooked-iup-iat-ihim,-iand-istopped-ifiling.-iWith-ia-ifaint-ipuff-iof-ipink-ismoke,-ithe-icushion-iand-ithe-iemory-iboard-ivanished,-iand-iFrumpkin-ifloated-iover-ito-iwhere-iJames-istood,-ibefore-ihe-idropped-ito-ithe-iground-iwith-iwhat-isounded-ilike-ia-ifaint-ijingle.
"But,-iya-iknow,-iI-idon't-isuppose-iI-ihave-ito-ipick.-iSo,-igood-ijob-ion-inot-idying,-ikid."-iHe-isaid,-ioffering-iJames-ihis-ihand.-iWhen-iJames-itook-iit,-ihe-iadded-i"but-iyou-iseriously-ilook-ilike-ishit."
James-ilaughed.-i"Thanks,-iasshole."-iHe-isaid,-ishaking-ithe-ishort-iman's-ihand.
Strangely,-iJames-ifound-ithat-ihis-ibody-ididn't-ihurt,-iand-iwhen-ihe-iinspected-ithe-iplaces-iwhere-ihis-iwounds-iwere-isupposed-ito-ibe,-ihe-ifound-inothing-ithere.-iHe-iwas-ialso-iwearing-ihis-iarmor-iagain,-iand-iit-ilooked-ibrand-inew-iand-iunblemished.
"So,-ieither-ione-iof-itwo-ithings-iis-ihappening-ihere--ieither-iI'm-itripping-iballs,-ior-iI'm-ihaving-ian-iout-iof-ibody-iexperience."-iHe-isaid,-igiving-ihimself-ia-ionce-over.-i"Which-iis-iit?"
"It's-iless-ione-ior-
ithe-iother,-iand-imore-ia-i'some-iof-icolumn-iA,-isome-iof-icolumn-ib'-ikind-iof-isituation."-iFrumpkin-isaid.-i"You-iARE-itripping-iballs,-ibut-iI-ifigured-iyou'd-irather-ibe,-iyah-iknow,-iwhole-iand-icoherent-iand-ibe-iable-ito-ido-isomething-iwith-iyour-itime,-iso-iI-ipulled-iyour-ipsyche-iout,-irather-ithan-ijust-iletting-iyou-ilay-ithere-idrooling-ilike-ian-iimbecile.-iWhich-iyou,-iby-ithe-iway."-iHe-iadded,-ishowing-iJames-ia-irather-iunflattering-iimage-iof-ihimself-isnoring-iloudly,-ieyes-irolled-iback-iin-ihis-ihead,-iand-ia-ilong-istrand-iof-isaliva-irunning-ioff-ihis-ibottom-ilip-ionto-ithe-ipillow.
James-irolled-ihis-ieyes,-ithen-iglanced-iover-iat-ithe-ipedestal-iin-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-iroom.
"Well,-isince-iI'm-ihere,-iis-ithere-ianything-inew-ion-ithe-iTerminal-iI-ishould-iknow-iabout?"-iHe-iasked.
"Why-idon't-iyou-itake-ia-ilook-iand-isee?"-iFrumpkin-isaid,-idrifting-ilazily-iup-itowards-ithe-iceiling.
James-iwalked-iover-ito-ithe-ipedestal,-iand-iput-ihis-ihand-ion-ithe-ifingers-iof-ithe-ioutstretched-istone-iarm.-iWhen-ihe-idid-iso,-ithe-ifamiliar-ifloating-iscreen-iof-ithe-iTerminal-iflared-ito-ilife,-iand-istarted-iprinting-iblack-itext-iacross-iits-iwhite-isurface.
"Welcome-iback,-iJames.-iYou-ihave-itwo-iunread-inotifications."-iThe-iscript-iread.
"Alright-iTerminal,-ihit-ime!"-iJames-isaid,-ileaning-iin-itowards-ithe-iscreen.-iThen,-isuddenly-irealizing-iwhat-ihe'd-ijust-isaid,-iwent-ito-ibackpedal-i"wait,-ino,-iwhat-iI-imean-iis-"
An-iinvisible-iforce-iknocked-ihim-iflying-ioff-ihis-ifeet,-iflying-ihaplessly-ithrough-ithe-iair-ibefore-icolliding-iwith-ione-iof-ithe-ishelves-ibehind-ihim-iand-iknocked-iit-iover-iwith-ia-ihuge-icrash.-iIt-ihurt,-ibut-imore-ihis-ipride-ithan-ianything.-iHe-isat-iup-ito-isee-iFrumpkin-idying-iof-ilaughter,-iholding-ihis-ibelly-ias-ihe-iguffawed-iin-imid-air.
"I-ican't-ibelieve-iyou-idid-ithat!"-iHe-isaid-ithrough-ifits-iof-igiggles-ias-ihe-iwiped-ia-itear-ifrom-ihis-ieye.-i"When-iare-iyou-iever-igonna-ilearn-ito-ibe-icare-iabout-iwhat-iyou-iask-ifor?"
"Hey-iTerminal,-ican-iyou-ihit-iFrumpkin-itoo,-iplease?"-iJames-icalled-iout-itowards-ithe-ipedestal-ias-ihe-igot-ito-ihis-ifeet.
Frumpkin's-ilaughter-islowed,-iand-ihe-iwent-ito-iopen-ihis-imouth-ito-isay-isomething,-ibefore-ihe-iwas-iunceremoniously-ithunder-clapped-iacross-ithe-iroom,-isailing-ithrough-ispace-ilike-ia-ibearded-ifootball-iuntil-ihe-iplowed-iinto-ione-ishelf,-ithen-ianother,-ithan-ifinally-ia-ithird-iin-ia-icascading-icacophony-iof-ishattering-iglass-iand-iclanging-imetal.-iThen,-ito-itop-iit-iall-ioff,-ithe-ientire-ipile-icovering-ihim-iexploded-iinto-ia-irainbow-colored-ifireball.
James,-ifor-ihis-ipart,-icouldn't-istop-ilaughing-inow-ieither.
###-iChapter-i100-i--iBed-Ridden-i(part-i4)
After-ia-imoment,-iFrumpkin-isat-iup-ifrom-ithe-ipile-iof-iof-idebris-ihe-iwas-iburied-iin,-iand-icoughed.-iHis-iwhite-ihair-istood-istraight-iout-iat-iall-iangles-ifrom-ihis-ihead,-iand-imost-iof-ihis-iexposed-iskin-iwas-icovered-iwith-iblack-isoot.
"Ya-iknow,-ithat's-ifair.-iI-ideserved-ithat."-iHe-isaid,-idrifting-iout-iof-ithe-ipile.-iWith-ia-isnap-iof-ihis-ifingers-ithe-isoot-ivanished,-iand-ihis-ihair-iand-irobes-itidied-ithemselves.-iWith-ian-iabsent-minded-iflourish-iof-ihis-ihand,-ithe-imess-ibehind-ihim-istraightened-iup,-iuntil-iafter-ia-ifew-imoments,-ithere-iwas-ino-ievidence-iof-ihis-irecent-icollision-ior-ithe-iensuing-iexplosion.
As-ihe-idid-ithis,-iJames,-istill-iamused,-iwalked-iback-iover-ito-ithe-iTerminal,-iand-istarted-iagain.
"Okay-iTerminal,-ishow-ime-ithe-inotifications,-iplease."-iHe-isaid.
With-ia-iflash,-ithe-iscreen-iflared-iback-ito-ilife,-iand-ibegan-ito-iread-iout-itext-ion-iits-iwhite-isurface.
"Welcome-iback,-iJames.
Here-iare-iyour-icurrent-iunread-inotifications:
[1-iunclaimed-iquest-icompletion-ireward]
[1-istatus-iupdate-ireport]"
"Show-ime-ithe-istatus-iupdate-ireport-ifirst,-iplease."-iJames-isaid.
The-iscreen-icleared-iitself,-iand-ibrought-iback-iup-ithe-ifamiliar-idisplay-iof-ihis-istat-isheet,-iexcept-ithis-itime-ithere-iwere-iseveral-iflashing-ired-iindicators-inext-isome-iof-ihis-iattribute-ivalues.-iThey-iseemed-ito-iindicate-ithat-isome-iof-ithe-ivalues-ion-ihis-isheet-ihad-ichanged.-iHe-ialso-inoticed-ithat-ithe-ilast-isection-ihad-ichanged-ia-ibit-ias-iwell,-iand-inow-ilisted-ihis-i"most-irecent"-inotable-iaccomplishments.-iThis-ilittle-ichange-iwasn't-imuch,-ibut-iit-iwas-ianother-ismall-iindicator-ithat-ihe-iwas-igetting-islowly-ibetter-iat-ithis-iwhole-ihero-ithing-iif-ieven-ithe-iTerminal-ithought-ihe-iwas-istacking-iup-ienough-iaccomplishments-ito-imerit-ichanging-iits-ilayout.
"James-iEames
[Class:-iLvl-i2-iFighter/Lvl-i2-iSorcerer]
Prowess:-i36-i[+5]
Fortitude:-i27-i[+3]
Logic:-i21
Intuition:-i20-i[+3]
Persona:-i9
Composure:-i15
Spirit:-i42-i[+7]
Tenacity:-i40-i[+8]
Talents:
--i[Immunity-ito-iCold]
--i[Martial-iWeapon-iProficiency]
--i[Magically-iGifted-i(Sorcery)]
Recent-iNotable-iAccomplishments:
--i[Stopped-ia-ignoll-iraid-ion-ia-ivillage]
--i[Saved-ia-icompanion-ifrom-ia-igrisly-ifate]
--i[Bested-ia-iGnoll-iChampion-iin-ione-ion-ione-icombat]"
Looking-iover-ieverything,-ihe-iwas-isurprised-ito-isee-ihow-imuch-isome-iof-ithe-ivalues-ihad-ijumped-ieven-isince-ithe-ilast-itime-ihe-ihad-ilooked-iat-ithe-ireadout-ionly-ia-iday-iprevious.-iHis-iSpirit-iand-iTenacity-ihad-iboth-iincreased-ialmost-ias-imuch-ias-ihis-itotal-iPersona-ivalue-iin-ia-isingle-iday.-iHe-iwasn't-isure-iif-ithat-iwas-ia-ilot,-irelatively-ispeaking,-ibut-iit-icertainly-ifelt-ilike-iit.-i
Thinking-iabout-iit-ifor-ia-imoment,-iit-iseemed-iobvious-ito-ihim-ithat-ithis-isudden-istat-ispike-iwas-ifrom-ihim-imagically-ipushing-ihimself-iso-ihard-iin-ithe-ilast-ifight.-iIf-ihis-iexperience-ifrom-igaming-itaught-ihim-ianything,-iit-iwas-ithat-ithe-ibest-iway-ito-iimprove-ia-iskill-ior-iability-iscore-iwas-ito-iuse-iit-ia-ilot.-iI-imean,-inow-ithat-ihe-ithought-iabout-iit,-iit-iworked-ithe-iexact-isame-iway-ifor-imuscles-iand-icardio-iendurance-ias-iwell,-ibut-ifirst-hand-iknowledge-iof-ifitness-iwasn't-ireally-iin-ihis-iwheelhouse-inow,-iwas-iit?
"Hey,-ilooking-igood."-iFrumpkin-isaid,-ihovering-iover-ihis-ishoulder-iand-ilooking-iup-iat-ithe-iscreen.-i"Looks-ilike-iyou-igot-iyourself-isome-istat-iincreases."
"Certainly-iseems-ithat-iway."-iJames-isaid,-ireading-iover-ithe-iscreen-iagain.-i"I'm-isurprised-iit-iall-iwent-iup-iso-imuch-iso-ifast."
"Eh,-iit'll-ibe-ipretty-ifast-iat-ifirst,-ifrom-imy-iexperience.-iBut-ithe-imore-iyou-igain,-ithe-iless-ieach-iadditional-ipoint-iwill-ido-ito-iincrease-ithe-itotal-ioutput-iof-ithat-iattribute.-iSo-ithose-i8-ipoints-iyou-ijust-igot-iin-iTenacity?-iWell,-ithey're-iway-imore-ivaluable-ithan-i8-imore-ipoints-iwhen-iyou-ihave-i120-iTenacity,-iif-ithat-imakes-isense.-iIt's-iall-ikinda-irelative."-iFrumpkin-isaid.
"Makes-isense.-iA-ilot-iof-iMMOs-iwork-ithe-isame-iway."-iJames-isaid.-iHe-ilooked-iup-iat-ithe-iscreen-iagain.
"Alright-iTerminal,-ishow-ime-imy-iunclaimed-iquest-ireward!"
###-iChapter-i101-i--iBed-Ridden-i(part-i5)
The-iscreen-ire-arranged-iitself,-ibefore-idisplaying-iseveral-inew-ilines-iof-itext:
"For-iyour-irecent-inotable-iaccomplishments,-iyou-ihave-ibeen-igranted-iaccess-ito-ia-inew-ifunction-iwithin-ithe-iTerminal.-iYou-ihave-ialso-ibeen-igranted-ia-iquest-ireward.-iPlease-iselect-ione-iof-ithe-ifollowing-iperks:
[500-igold-ito-ibe-ispent-ion-iany-iTerminal-ifunction]
or
[A-irandom-i10-ipoint-iAttribute-iincrease-i(does-inot-icount-itowards-ipurchasable-iAttribute-ipoint-imaximum)]"
Looking-iover-ithe-itwo-ioptions,-ithe-iAttribute-iincrease-iseemed-iimmediately-iby-ifar-ithe-ibetter-iof-ithe-itwo-ioptions.-iConsidering-ithe-iprice-iof-iincreasing-iany-iof-ithem-ieven-ia-isingle-ipoint-iwith-igold,-igetting-ia-i10-ipoint-ijump-iall-iat-ionce-iwould-ibe-imassively-imore-ivaluable.-iBut,-imaybe-ithere-iwas-isomething-ihe-iwas-imissing.-iHe-ire-read-ithings-iagain,-iand-inoti
ced-ithe-ifirst-isentence.-iA-inew-ifunction-iin-ithe-iTerminal?-iHis-icuriosity-ipiqued,-ihe-iasked-ithe-iTerminal-ito-ishow-ihim-ithe-inew-iunlocked-ifunction-ibefore-ihe-ipicked-ia-ireward.
The-ireward-iscreen-ivanished,-iand-iwas-ireplaced-iwith-ithe-ilist-iof-ifunctions-ihe'd-iseen-ipreviously,-iexcept-ithis-itime-ione-iof-ithe-ilocked-ifunctions-inow-idisplayed-ia-iname,-ihighlighted-iin-ithe-isame-ishade-iof-ifluorescent-ired-ithat-ihad-idrawn-iattention-ito-ihis-istat-iincreases.
"[Attribute-iImprovement]
[Talent-iand-iPerk-iTree]
[Mundane-iEquipment]
[Alchemical-iItems]
[Magical-iItems]
[-LOCKED-]
[Injury-iTreatment]
[-LOCKED-]"
Without-ihim-iasking-iit-ito,-ithe-iTerminal-iautomatically-iselected-ithe-inew-i"Injury-iTreatment"-ioption-iand-idisplayed-iits-icontents.-iShown-ion-ithe-idisplay-iscreen-iwas-ia-icartoonish-ipaper-doll-idepiction-iof-ihimself,-iminus-iany-iclothes.-iTo-iprotect-iwhatever-imight-ibe-ileft-iof-ihis-idignity,-ithe-iTerminal-iat-ileast-ihad-ithe-idecency-ito-icover-ihis-igenitalia-iwith-ia-ifig-ileaf.
The-ipaper-idoll-idisplayed-iall-iof-ithe-iwounds-ihe'd-ireceived-iin-ithe-ilast-ibattle,-iincluding-ievery-ilittle-icut-ithe-iGnoll-iChampion-ihad-igiven-ihim-iwith-ithat-iwicked-icurved-iblade.-iNext-ito-ieach-iof-ithe-iwounds-iwas-ia-inumber,-ias-iwell-ias-ia-ipercentage.-iThe-ismall-icuts-iall-ihad-inumbers-iranging-ifrom-i2-ito-i5,-iwith-i100%-inext-ito-ithem.-iThe-ispear-iwound-iin-ihis-iside-ihad-ia-inumber-iin-ithe-itwenties-iand-ia-ipercentage-iin-ithe-ihigh-i80%,-iand-ithe-iknife-iwound-iin-ihis-ithigh-iwas-iover-i60,-iwith-ia-ipercentage-ihovering-iin-ithe-ilow-i40s.
Looking-iover-ithe-inumbers,-ihe-itried-ito-ipuzzle-iout-itheir-imeaning.-iBest-ihe-icould-ifigure,-ithe-inumbers-iwere-idays-iit-iwould-itake-ithe-iwound-ito-ifully-iheal.-iThe-imeaning-iof-ithe-ipercentage,-ihowever,-iwas-iobscure-ienough-ithat-ihe-ifinally-iasked-ithe-iTerminal-ifor-iclarification.