Pedil edhellen? “ I slowly turned around, and saw one of the most horrifying things ever. A bony hand comprised of a grayish white skin stretched extremely tight over each finger, was gripping a root outside my little hidey hole here. The extremely gaunt body, was wearing a victorianesque suit, with a blood red tie. The head poking between the roots to look at me closely with orangish yellow eyes more pupil then anything else, nearly caused my little kobold heart to expire.

  The face, to use a very loose term here, was that same grayish white skin. A pallid color if I'd ever seen, bleached of almost all life or other color. It was stretched horrifyingly tight across a skull much to large for the rest of the body. I remembered a popular movie where a bug infesting the body of a farmer, pulled the loose skin it was inhabiting back. This face reminded me of that. The mouth was a smile straight out of a creepypasta. But those eyes, never stopped staring at me. It only then dawned on me it had no eyelids.

  This creature is a threat beyond your meager brains ability to rationalize

  Well that about caused me to soil myself completely and utterly. Luckily (unluckily?) I hadn't eaten a single thing since I arrived in this world. I stammered and feebly raised the tiny two inch blade in front of me, backing myself gently behind a root. I gulped and tried to speak to this thing, hoping it wasn't about to destroy me with a thought.

  “Wh..wh..what are you? P.. Please don't kill me.” I wiggled the blade, feeling my skin blister slightly at the little bit of gunk that had splashed on it from that final stab. Apparently it still had some lingering acidic nature to it. I paid no mind to that pain right now though. There was something straight out of 'Scary Stories to tell in the Dark' from my childhood, a few feet from me. Some freaking how, that stretched macabre smile got even larger.

  “Oh so it speaks this tongue then. This is good. Hello little kobold. Have you been here long?” It squatted down, making the knees hidden behind those stylish pants crackle like 10,00 feet of bubble wrap being run over by a steamroller. He stayed crouched there, as if waiting for me to make the first move. I gulped and shook my head a moment, it quirked its head and gazed about the cluster of roots, and dirt that was my hiding spot under this hill/tree.

  “ I am intrigued by you. Allow me to introduce myself, and tell you that I am not here to kill you. I may have other plans for you, but I will not kill you. I am Gloomy, Rictus Gloomy.” He curled a bone thin arm across his chest, and bowed that horrifying stretched face down. Then he whipped his head back up and quirked his head yet again. I could see those eyes searching every part of me. His gaze lingered on me for entirely too long. I opened and closed my maw multiple times, trying to figure out what the best thing to say to this … man in this situation even was.

  “K..Ki'jit sir? I'm not sure if that is what you're asking?” He nodded. “Then yes, my name is Ki'jit. At least that's what the voice named me when I came to this world.”

  If he was surprised by that fact, there was no sign on that stretched face. He merely nodded, and took a deeper look at me. I felt a chill as if he was staring deeper into my soul. He finally opened his lips once more and gave a long low sigh.

  “ That cloak is not yours. It belonged to another didn't it. I'm not accusing you of theft, but when a person gains a class in this place, they're given a magical item. This one is not bonded to you, and I sense no class on you. You've only just arrived haven't you.” I stared at him slack jawed, and nodded gently. He gave another long sigh, then sat down with a grumble.

  “Allow me to explain some things then” He looked up at me, and then motioned me to sit with him. I did so, only to get some more information and I was only too aware he could kill me with a moments thought. I had no evidence of that, but I could feel it screaming at me from every cell on my body.

  “I've travel to these places. These areas where new arrivals learn the rules of the realm without anyone explaining it. I come for two things. The first of which, are items from defeated arrivals who've obtained a class, but failed to escape this place. The second reason I keep to myself for now.” He gave a low hollow laugh, more akin to a hacking cough then true laughter. “ I am intrigued by you, and would like to know what you've been offered as far as class choices go … I would see your status.”

  Name: Ki'jit

  Race: Kobold

  Class: Not yet Earned

  Experience: n/a

  Hit Points: 4

  Stamina: 2

  Physical Resistance: 2

  Magical Resistance: 1

  Physical Stats:

  Might: 3

  Agility: 1

  Vitality: 2

  Mental Stats:

  Mind: 5

  Will: 2

  Charm: 6

  Stat Points: 0

  Skills:

  Level 0 Assessing Eye

  Level 0 Lesser Draconic Scales

  Skill Points: 1

  Traits:

  Sunlight Sensitivity: perception and reaction speed reduced in sunlight.

  Cave Vision: Able to see in Darkness in a grayscale hue.

  Crèche Attack: Naturally move, strategize, and attack when in small groups.

  Boons:

  Low Karmic Reincarnation: You've been given a chance to fulfill an experiment to see if you can improve the Karma of a hated Creature/monster. A special reward awaits you at the end of this experiment.

  Divine Blessing: You've payed homage to a religion that was not your own, and shown respect for a foreign culture. Deities have gifted you 3 Skill Points to start your new life. You may spend them on Class Skills, or Racial Skills.

  Inventory:

  Cloak of Lesser Protection: This cloak improves the Physical Resistance of its wearer by a point. Enchanted to remain clean and fresh.

  Small Knife: a simple two inch blade for cutting.

  Rogue Seed Core: 5%

  Tamer seed core: 38%

  Warrior Seed core: 2%

  Trapper seed Core: 33%

  Somehow this creature had pulled up my status screen without me prompting it, and he was reading over it with invigorated interest. He appeared to have finished, and turned his attention toward me, waving away my status with a flourish of his stretched skin hand. He brought the self same hand up to his chin, stroking over the morbid looking flesh in a manner reminiscent of a deep thinker. Finally he stood and clapped his hands together in a wet sounding slap.

  “It is settled then. I shall offer you three gifts, and in exchange you'll do me two favors. The first of which is allow me to observe you, making suggestions and helping you succeed. The second I'll ask after you've earned your first class.” I just nodded meekly at him, and he gave a terrifying smile. “You still seem nervous. Why don't you ask me some questions and I'll see if I can allay some of your fears. Maybe if you get to know me a bit better, you'll see that I mean you no harm.”

  “Er, I guess the first thing I think I'd like to know, er if its not to rude. What are you?” He made a motion at his own chest, and looked genuinely surprised at me question. Though it was hard to tell with that face. He relented and looked back at me before replying.

  “Once long ago, I was known as an Elf. Dagger Ears to the grotesque speaking among the races here. Through a series of adventures, and research I shall not bore you with here, I became something more. In the proper world of this realm, there are a collection of places. We call them sacred sites. They're Castles, and Ruins, and Temples, and caves, and more. Each one is a place where creatures can be fought, and items can be discovered. Each one is puppet mastered from behind the scenes by a creator, a lord of that place. I am one such puppet master. That is all I can tell you on that.”

  I gulped and nodded at that explanation. So he had once been an elf, and now was this horrifying looking thing. And his job was what … a dungeon master? He ran a location filled with monsters, and loot? That was a bit odd, but then again I was in a world with classes, experience, and magic items now. It would stand to reason there had to be people who could facilitate such locations. I had to trust him for now, though I had other questions.

  “I think I'm on the right path for unlocking classes, after all I seem to be filling the percentages of each with actions I do. Is there a faster way to develop a class?” he shook his head and thought for a moment.

  “You could try focusing your attention on the actions you'd associate with the chosen class. For instance, the Warrior one you've spent so little time on. You need to get a weapon, and boldly face your opponents. That will raise its level. The petite little strike you made against the slime creature, that gave you the bit of experience toward Warrior. “ He stood up and stretched a bit. I heard several cracking sounds from all over his body beneath that well tailored suit. He then motioned out of the root network to the outside world.

  “Why don't you head out there, and get some experience? Adapt and learn a class?” He seemed absolutely excited, but then his attention was drawn downward as my stomach made a deep rumbly noise. I blushed and rubbed a scaled paw over my stomach flesh.

  “Sorry, I'd been attempting to cook up a creature when that slime ate my catch. I'd run to the river to get … “ I scampered over, and found my cast off stone. I lifted it toward the creature, he studied it for a minute and then gave that same creepy laugh. He shook his head and began to dig about in the pockets of his suit. Finally pulling free a thin black pencil like wooden piece, topped with a gorgeous small ruby like gem. He handed it to me.

  “You were seeking a striking rock to make simple mans fire. Then this is my first gift to you. It mimics the level 0 Fire spell, Ember. Just extend it toward a bit of kindling or set up burnable material and think about flame. The tool will do the rest. It has other uses, but I'll reveal those to you in time. For now, take this gift of fire.” I gingerly took the small gem topped pencil, nodding my thanks to him. He then turned and started to walk away from my hiding spot. I felt a bit more confident, before a sudden notification shook me.

  TROPHY OBTAINED: Meet a Maker! You've met a lord of a sacred site and lived to tell about it. No class detected. Experience and Reward withheld.

  I gave a frustrated noise, and then a terrified cry as the head of the figure twisted around on his body like an owls. He quirked it to the side looking at me in curiosity before inquiring to my demeanor.

  “ To what has caused your sudden stop and cries of frustration?”

  “I received a notification about getting a Trophy? Meet a Maker. Apparently I was supposed to get rewarded for meeting you and living. But it withheld my award and experience cause I don't have a class yet.” He let out that horrifying approximation of a laugh and snapped his head back to the front with a sickening crack.

  “Then let us proceed to getting you that class … so you don't miss out on any other opportunities. Which of those choices did you wish to put focus on first?” I gulped and cleared my throat a bit, thinking over the four options. Like he mentioned, the little bit of work I did with the knife earned me progress toward Warrior. But my stats didn't feel much like a warriors stats. A Rogue was sneaky right? Had to hide and strike from shadows? I wasn't really that strong, or fast, or anything really melee focused. I needed to be smarter, go off the mental stats.

  The Trapper was one option, I could set simple traps and profit off that. But what if my traps failed to do what I needed them too. Then I couldn't defend myself from whatever I pissed off with my traps. The Tamer meant I could possibly have a pet who could fight for me. But I'd have to be able to tame something strong enough to do that. And I had no clear idea how I could even begin that process. Then again, I did have a source of information when it … he was willing to share it.

  “Which do you think would be better for me, Trapper or Tamer? I don't seem to be physically strong so you know maybe one of these two seems more mental focused?” He turned this time, to look back at me and I could feel his eyes gazing into me again before he finally managed to reply.

  “There are fused style classes. Perhaps if you raised both cores to 100 percent? Though if I had to choose of the two for you … No, I shan't both are a good option when I look at you. Lets try raising both these ones, and then I'll watch you make your choice.”

  We went deeper into the forest, nothing else seemed threatening while he was around and I wasn't sure if his presence was scaring away the foes, or there just weren't a lot of bad monsters about in here. Finally we came to a clearing with some huge flowers, and birds flitting about everywhere. The … elf … ahead of me reached up and plucked one of the huge flowers, and tore away one, ripping apart the petals and green around it. Then he pulled free a handful of little seeds, and motioned at me to open my palms.

  “Stand still with your hands upraised with these, I'll make myself scarce nearby … I'll speak to you in a whisper only you can hear. But try to lure a bird to your hand. Talk with it. Be soft in your mannerisms, be calm. “ And with that, he started to walk backward and faded into shadows at the edge. I gulped and attempted to follow his instructions, keeping my hands raised up filled with seeds.

  It wasn't long at all before a black crow like bird landed on my outstretched claws, and began to peck at the seeds cupped there. I gasped gently, surprised to see such a huge bird just happily pecking at the seeds in my hand. I gulped, and started to whisper ever so gently.

  This creature is a mild threat to you.

  “Such a pretty bird, what a pretty, big, and massive bird you are. I hope you like those seeds. My friend … I guess he's my friend, picked those just for you. So how bout it, would you like to be my friend too. I'm just a little Kobold, but I'll work on getting you more seeds and I don't know you could peck at the bad guys?” I wasn't sure what this was accomplishing and the huge ass bird was almost finished with the seeds. I didn't feel like anything was happening but I was trying.

  “Your tamer percentage is rising at a good rate. But if you want to raise your trapper, close those hands around the bird quick. Entrap it in your grip, crush it, choke it out, kill it.” I heard the voice like it was whispered by a weak breeze right into my ear. The birds complete lack of reaction indicated to me that it didn't hear the elf's words. I looked at the black corvid and watched it trust me, eat from my very hands. How could I in good conscience hurt it? I ignored Mr. Gloomy's words and shook my head watching the huge black bird finish, then flutter off looking for more food elsewhere.

  “You're not ready to be a trapper, to create circumstances to rob others of their freedom, to injure them, to impale, smash, crush them in devices of your creation. You've a good soul. “ The whisper voice seemed a bit disappointed in my ear, despite the compliments. “You watched me get the seeds before, I will not hold your hand for all of this.”

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  I felt the chastisement, and immediately got to work plucking seeds from some of the giant flowers. A great deal of birds had started to settle on some nearby branches watching me work. I smiled a little at that, and tried to pick a great deal. Maybe if I talked to multiple birds at once, it could raise my Tamer percentages even faster? Soon enough I had the seeds and stood in place absolutely still.

  Several small little birds of various colors from muted greens, to stark red settled onto my hand very quickly. The seeds were going to go very quickly with this many birds, and I began my soft chatter once more. Just telling them how pretty they were, and how they were free to take as much seed as they wanted. Before the end of it however, I started to feel really weak and deeply sleepy. I watched them tap tap tapping away at seeds in my hand, wanting to give a light giggle at the tickling sensations. But I was feeling insanely tired.

  “Your stamina's last remaining point is almost depleted. You've not eaten whatsoever. You have nothing to go on. You'll fade away if you don't eat soon. You have tender morsels sitting in your hands right now, a way to make fire waiting to be used. Crush them. Do it right now.” Something in the way he said those final words clicked in my head, and before I knew it … I closed claws tight and fast, feeling my natural weapons skewer and pierce as my needy paws crushed. All of the other birds had bolted at the feel of my hands shifting, but one was unfortunate enough to be caught in my trap.

  I looked in mild horror at what I'd done, but it had been done. I was holding a dying form of a small red bird. Finally its panicked chest rising and falling, faded like the heat of the blood on my claws. I whimpered and held it steady for a soft moment, feeling the horror at what I'd done. Not sure where I went from here, but the system wasn't willing to just let me be.

  Level n/a small bird defeated. No class association. Experience withheld.

  Level not applicable. Not even level 0. These tiny innocent birds weren't even worth giving a level to, that's how inescapably innocent they had been. I felt the chilling presence of the elf … the creature who'd forced my hand to do this, walk up behind me.

  “You will die if you don't eat that. Eat something. That would be a pathetic death, undeserving of someone who actually has a soul. Let us go back to your root home, and start a fire. Then you can dress, and cook that morsel. I'll provide a water skin so you have something to drink as well. Do not worry yourself, such a mundane item won't count toward the three gifts I promised you.” I gulped and nodded and together we walked back to the tree. Again nothing bothered us, but now I could astutely tell there were things prowling nearby. Things I was guessing didn't want to come near the figure of Rictus Gloomy.

  When we arrived, he watched me as I dug a small pit, and created a small pile of tinder sticks, and dried moss from the tree. Then pulling the small pencil like device he gave me from the knife 'pocket', I focused on creating fire. The gem glowed and a series of sparks flew off of it and into the pile I was aiming the pencil at. The wand? It essentially was like a wand, I guessed. It let me do magic, and was made of wood with a gem. So I was going to call it a wand.

  “Good my gift wasn't a waste. You have the potential to use magic. If you didn't, it would have been a wasted gift and I'd have to find something else to give you instead. But this pleases me.” I nodded, still feeling a little bad at what I'd done. But the pains throughout my body, the rumbling in my gut, the sheer exhaustion working its way through me. He'd been right, I needed to eat something.

  I plucked the feathers from the slaughtered animal, and gently sliced into it with my tiny excuse of a blade. It was the perfect size for this though. I cleaned the tiny innocent, and spread it over a forked stick. Then laying bigger and bigger pieces of wood next to the flame in the bowl I'd created for this. It let the flames chew into the thicker fuel, and feed themselves growing larger and more hot. Only when it seemed to reach a proper flame, did I place the flayed bird near the edge of the pit leaning in softly.

  I had nothing to season, and just had to trust my technique would cook it well enough to be edible. When I felt it had cooked enough on one side, I flipped it and started to cook it a bit on the other. The entire time, the stretched skin thing just stood there, watching everything I did. He gave no sign he was interested, or bored at all. His actions were so neutral it was making me wonder if he'd passed on his feet. But when I removed the meat from the fire, and take my first test bite, then he commented.

  “You've done well on your first steps to survive this world. I will give you a second gift after you dine. And encourage you to rest and recover those … two tiny little stamina points you have. Each one is good for about 10 minutes of active work, then you're tapped out and will be extremely lethargic. When In that state you'll be easy prey for something else. I'll keep the fire active through the night, it will ward off the simpler creatures from coming closer.”

  I nodded at him, and finished off my roasted bird. It actually tasted pretty good considering I used no salt or anything. I ate every last bite, and was surprised to find that I crunched through the tiny bones, and felt myself instinctively chewing and swallowing them too. No idea why, but I craved them for some reason. So apparently I was eating bones now, I could adapt to that.

  “You look like you enjoyed that. Good. I promised you a gift, and I shall provide something to keep you feeling safer ...” He extended his hand, and a warm red glow surrounded the stretched flesh. Then I started to glow red too, it was a nerve wracking a sight to see. But the notification that followed allayed some fears, and raised others.

  Lord Rictus Gloomy, Archaeo-Necromancer of the Dark Castle Ruins on Calderin Mountain has placed an enhanced death ward spell on you.

  “This spell will stop you from crossing the threshold to deaths realm once, and restore a not insignificant portion of your health. An … extra life if you will. “ He made a clucking noise, and then turned away and headed toward some nearby trees. “Find a place to rest beneath the roots, I'll gather wood and keep the fire going through the night. We'll continue on the morrow to work on earning you a class. “

  I nodded and crept into the dirt and root tunnels, crawling to a point where it was more of a dirt tunnel supported by roots then anything else. I laid my cloak out along the ground feeling a sense of vulnerability when I removed it. I shivered a moment, but gingerly got on the ground and curled up on the soft fur lined 'bedding'. Soon all the exhaustion, the mental fatigue, and the stress from this entire situation, drifted into blackness.

  I awoke, cold, and scared. It took me a very long moment to remember where I was or what had happened to me. I blinked itchy, crusty eyes and stood up feeling sore and stiff all over my body. I stretched out limbs that still weren't a hundred percent familiar to me yet. The weird curve to my legs, and the fact my entire foot didn't touch the ground was still the oddest sensation as I stood back up.

  Then I screamed in surprise and terror. Rictus's head, and just the stretched skin, morbid face was peering around a root to stare into my little sleeping hovel. The freaking smile crept wider making the pure white fake looking teeth gleam in the little light shining in from outside. He stepped fully into view, tucked down and walking in a crouched position.

  “Good you're awake. I worried when you exceeded the 8 hours normal for sapient diurnal species. I've checked on you multiple times in the last few hours. I'm pleased you have awoken. I brought you breakfast.” He tossed me a thin dried strip of meat, I wasn't sure what it was from but I ate it anyway. It was very flavorful, heavy salt taste, and left me draining the last of the water skin he provided me. He gave me another creepy smile, then turned and shuffle walked away.

  “Dress yourself, and come outside. I have a feeling we'll succeed in getting you a class today. I feel it.” I pulled the cloak free of the dirt, and brushed it off, once again noticing how perfectly clean it was. Clasping it back on, I felt the warm hum and protective energy surrounding me once more. Then I pattered after the creepy individual who'd taken an interest in me. He stood just outside, at his full creepy height waiting with that sick smile. I gulped and gave a meek wave.

  Without saying a word, he turned and led me away toward the creek nearby. I followed after with nervous apprehension. Soon we were at the same rocky shore I found my piece of flint, now abandoned. He pointed into the water, and there was my scary nemesis. The huge horrifying fish, with that mouth full of sharp teeth. If the ex-elf was giving off any kind of horror aura keeping monsters at bay, this freaking fish was unbothered.

  " Talk to this creature, attempt to tame it. Attempt to make it obey you. It cannot escape the water to bite you, so stay on the land. If it attempts to leave, dip a foot in the water … it will desire to taste your flesh.” I nodded, and walked my way to edge of the water. The Huge ass fish swam up as close as it could, opening and closing its mouth as if practicing ripping me apart. I whimpered a bit at the size of this thing, as long as I was with such sharp piercing jaws. But I endured and started speaking to the stupid thing.

  “Hey monster fish. Er, I'm Ki'jit and I was hoping maybe we could team up? Go on a watery adventure where you can eat all the bad things? How does that sound?” It waggled its massive tail and pushed its face up out of the water and started to make chomping motions only a few feet away. I stepped back slightly and continued. “I can see how big and strong you are. You're a very mighty fish … very strong. How bout we be friends?”

  “Tamers command. Order it to follow you. Show dominance toward it. You have a fairly decent charm stat, and your mind isn't bad either. Show it you're the one in control. Take command of it.” That wasn't helping at all, I was never a bossy kind of individual in my previous life. I always tried my best to get along with everybody, even those I disliked being in the presence of. If I showed kindness, and gentleness I hoped to maybe not create further dissent. Now I was to be commanding, to purposefully be aggressive in my actions?

  “Okay, you mean murder fish. I'm trying to become a tamer here. Or a trapper. We haven't really decided on that yet. Anyway, I order you to wiggle back into the water and show fealty to me. Er …. I guess Respect my Authority.” I choked back a laugh at my attempt at humor. The fish just kept chomping at the air. I looked back at the stretched man, and he was simply standing there, whittling away at a stick.

  “Okay fish, I'm giving you a choice here. You obey me, or I leave and you'll never get the chance to be … er tamed by me, and get to eat tasty things together. You're obviously peckish, and I can get small creatures here on land … I think. I'd feed you those, and you'd help me fight other creatures in the creek I guess. We'd figure something out … … “ a stick clattered to the ground next to me. The end had been heavily carved up, and resembled a jagged hook.

  “Get in closer to the water, extend your paw. Let it sniff the scent of flesh, and become crazed with biting you. Then stick this in its maw and drag it up out of the water. Trap it on land!!” I nodded, and gently reached down gripping the stick. Then extending my left paw out, I moved ever closer to the wriggling nightmare in the water. It definitely smelled the scent, and the whole body started to thresh up the water around it as it wiggled to get at me.

  The mouth was inches from successfully taking off my paw, when I lunged in with the sharpened stick. I shoved it deep into that open maw with my right paw extended almost to the teeth. Then I whipped my hand back and down, successfully spearing the sharpened point into its jaw. I grinned at the success and pulled back, inching back with my feet bit by bit. Then I came to the end of the stick, and realized a very grievous error.

  This fish was stronger than me. It stopped moving temporarily out of the surprise at me stabbing it through the jaw. But now it wiggled backward in the water with enthusiasm, and was dragging me through the gravel like I was nothing. I gripped the stick as hard as I could, and dug into the stoned earth trying so very hard to not give any more ground. But as it got deeper into the water, it gained more momentum.

  I was not going to win this battle. I dropped the stick and fell backward on my tail. The pain from that new sensation sent shivers through me. The fish was thrashing about in the water, trying to dislodge the stick still jutting from its mouth. I don't know why, but I got mad. I immediately grabbed a nearby rock and threw it as hard as I could at the fish. The stone flew out in a perfect arch and slammed right into its stupid forehead.

  The fish stopped thrashing immediately, I stunned it! I lunged forward taking advantage of the situation, and grabbed the stick again and started to drag it to shore once more. It recovered before I got it even a foot up the shoreline, but I was ready for that. As it started to struggle again, I lunged forward and bashed it in the head repeatedly with the rock I had palmed. When it stopped thrashing a bit again, I grabbed the stick and dragged it further up.

  Once I had it completely free of the rippling water, I released the stick from my paw and rushed in with the rock. I raised it above my head, and looked down at the creature, it was starting to come out of the dazed state from repeated head blows before. I winced a bit, as I saw a flicker of something in those dark doll eyes. Intelligence, fear, anxiety? I didn't know and I screamed at the thing.

  “WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS. But you … you wanted to eat me! You're a mean fish, and I'm sorry to do this to you. But this world is feeling extremely kill or be killed. Also I love sushi, and I think I'm going to eat you.” I wasn't sure that last part was necessary, but I was nervous and about to do something I really didn't want to do. Then I raised the rock high once more, and started to bash the fishes head in.

  There may be hope for your survival in this world after all. Indeed, we'll take this back to your … camp, and cook it there. I believe eating such a thing will improve your chances at survival.” I tried to ignore him as I struck down again and again. I kept doing so feeling such a desire to weep, until the notification popped up and even then I still wanted to cry a little.

  Level 3 Bloodthirsty Pike defeated. No class association. Experience withheld.

  “There, it's dead. I still haven't earned enough progress to a class yet, but I'mma drag this back to camp anyway. There still embers in the fire pit right?” He nodded at me with that horrifying stretched smile always at play on his face. I nodded back and gripped the stick and began to drag the three foot long fat corpse behind me as we made our way back. Again I noted that nothing seemed to approach us while he was around. I was thankful, I wasn't sure I could inflict any more violence right now.

  When we got back, I quickly used my tiny knife and struggled to remember anything about properly preparing a fish. I gave up pretty darn quick though and just tossed the fish over the coals and tossed some twigs and leaves over it. I let the fire start to crackle and flicker around it. I knew eventually the coals and the low flame would cook the meat inside the skin. I just hoped it was edible.

  As we sat there, waiting for a sign or something the food was done, a shadow passed over us. I looked up startled, while he simply just gazed up slowly. A creature blotted out the sun briefly as it rushed over my little tree camp area, and was descending fast to a spot nearby. It had two massive wings, and a very long whip like tail. I couldn't get a much better look than that, but the system let me know something I already knew.

  This creature is an extreme threat to you.

  “Thank you Assessing Eyes … “ I muttered as I watched it dip into some trees a few hundred meters from where we were. A sound echoed out throughout the forest of a high-pitched mammal-like scream. It struck me though, like a deep, resonant, and low-frequency vibration felt in the chest. I shuddered at that sound, as it was soon followed by the a furious roar in reply. This one sounded like a animal based chainsaw, a deep, guttural, and rasping sound. Soon the sound of the two different roars, gave way to a cacophony of vicious and violent fighting.

  “Hmmm two wings, only two legs, whip like tail. I don't think that thing is supposed to be here. Please come with me, I'd like to see with my eyes what is befalling your little tutorial space.” I nervously stood up, and gazed at the fish again. The fire had cooled to just hot red embers all around the fish, and I could smell how close to done it was. But the powerful figure said follow him, who was I to argue?

  We walked through the shrubbery, and brush beneath so many dark trees. The actual forest aspect of this place was extremely dark, and extremely claustrophobic. I stayed as near to the figure with me as I could. The sounds of fighting only intensified, and I shuddered to think of what kind of creatures could make sounds of combat that loud, violent, and furious. The fact both of them were still standing was a testament to the power that lay in front of us. I didn't want to get much closer, and luckily I didn't have to.

  Rictus paused, and looked around with those huge yellow eyes for a moment. He breathed in a scent and somehow stretched his smile even wider. His fingers lifted up into the air, and he started to waft his bone like pulled flesh fingers upwards. As if he was drawing the air into his face, and all the while he sat there perfectly still. Then he let out a warm sigh and shook his head.

  “That creature is most assuredly not supposed to be here. I shall wait for this combat to finish, and I will take the loser with me I think. Mmm but something is running this way. Something unique. I shall leave you here for now, I will rejoin you at the camp later. What you do from here is entirely up to you.” He chuckled that weird raspy laugh of his, and then turned. “I gave you a path to escape death, I'd hate for you to waste it too early.”

  And with that he was gone, somehow slipping into the shadows of the dark forest around us. I stood still for a very long time, unbelieving that he had dragged me along with him for some unknown reason, then abandoned me. I also was terrified at the words he had said. Something was running this way? Something Unique? All I could hear from still over a hundred meters away, was a violent brawl between kaiju! I wanted no part of anything that was going to be running this way.

  I began to turn, and aim myself back at the camp with the caught monster fish. Then the sound caught my attention, and I was taken back to a regret I didn't even know I had. In my previous life, I had a beautiful, playful, loving, orange, single brain-celled companion. My Orange British Shorthair Jinx. When I went on vacation, I left him in the care of a pet hotel, an expensive one, because he deserved to be on vacation while I was. He was my best friend in a very lonely world. When I first adopted him, I became infatuated because of a single tiny sound. A sound chorusing me right now through the trees.

  “mew mew mew mew mew!” I turned fully in that direction immediately. That was the sound of a tiny kitten who just needed someone to hold them and tell them they'd be okay. I began to run toward the sound of the fighting, I needed to rescue that tiny mew. And I found it, still mewing as it scream ran in terror right toward me. It was pure black, and looked ever so terrified. The motion of its gait through me off a second, but I knew it needed me. I ran right up to it, and scooped it into my paws.

  It yowled in surprise and panic, and bit into my arm and I felt a large amount of pain. But I was going to protect this little ball of need. I turned immediately and started sprinting with my little rescue, in the direction of my camp. I needed to get us to safety before whatever was fighting behind us could spill out and hurt this innocence. I tried to be as reassuring to the small ball of fluff, still latched onto a bleeding orange scaled arm. Its paws scratching at me, as it kicked about in my grip.

  “It's going to be okay, I'm here to protect you! I'm here to make sure you're safe, don't worry. I have a camp nearby, and I was cooking some fish. I bet a tiny little black ball of brave fur would love a bit of fish!” I kept my other arm curled around it, blocking as much of the leaves, and branches as I could from hitting the tiny soul. Before I knew it, we were in relative safety back in the clearing at the base of the massive tree. I calmed down and actually looked at my rescued friend in more detail.

  It'd calmed down enough to stop biting my arm so much, but it looked up at me and gave me a very low growl and hiss. There was a scratch, bloody and red, across one of its eyes. It winced as I continued to jog, and I could tell it was in pain as well from this wound.

  I gently apologized and took us closer to the fish, so it could see I was going to provide food too. The black body was thick and dense for a kitten so young looking, and there were odd knob like growths covered in fur on its back. Even more surprising as I pulled it away from me to inspect the claw marks on my leathery scaled arms, it had … six … legs. Six!

  I blinked in surprise and gingerly set it down near the fish, where it curled on itself and looked around in fear and a bit of cat like anger. I tip toed around it, feeling a bit weak as the adrenaline faded away. I used my knife and ripped away a chunk of the fish tossing it gently into the dirt near the small black odd kitten. It sniffed for a few moments, and then carefully gave it a tender nibble. Before I knew it, it was inhaling the bits of flesh and scales. I smiled and looked at the sheer amount of damage on my arm and thought to myself if this world had hit points, what would mine be? Thoughts had power I guess …

  Ki'jit Total Hit Points 1 of 4.

  Okay, shit, I was pathetically weak. This kitten thrashing about had nearly killed me! I collapsed gently to the ground, and ripped two more pieces of fish. One I tossed to the kitten who'd nearly finished their first hunk of meat. The other I started to scarf down myself on the other hunk of meat. I figured I'd break the silence, as we both ate, and waited for Rictus to get back from whatever it was doing over there.

  There was a sudden strangled feral noise, and then a resounding roar of the type that made my chest hurt. Then the weird form of the strange winged beast took back to the skies. Its body was covered in wounds, and it looked like it was struggling to stay aloft. But whatever it had fought, it had won that fight. I sighed gently, and looked down at the odd Kitten. It had stopped eating, and was staring at the sky too. I gingerly went over, and pet it behind its ears. It turned its attention on me, and let out another growl hiss.

  I withdrew my paw, and backed up a bit apologizing gently. I wasn't sure what it had seen when it ran this way, but I'm glad I'd saved it from whatever terrible creatures had been fighting. I tossed it the rest of my hunk of fish, and let it sniff at them a minute. But it didn't go for them right away. It seemed upset.

  “Listen, I'm sorry for just grabbing you and running. But I was trying to save you from the terrible monsters in that direction. I'm just glad you made it, despite whatever you have going on here. You can eat as much fish as you'd like, and I'll give you a safe place to shelter at under there. I'd like it if you wished to stay with me, and maybe we could protect each other? For a tiny kitten you did a lot of damage.” Then it kinda dawned on me. This kitten with its bites and scratches had done 3 points of my four in damage. I was supposed to have a physical damage resistance with the cloak, and my upgraded scales. How much damage did this little kitten actually do if I didn't have that protection? Could I have died?

  I felt my body recovering slightly, so I was correct in assuming eating helped restore lost health a little. Maybe not a full recovery, like actually treating these wounds and naturally healing. But I did feel a lot better. I murred softly, and stared back down at the kitten.

  “So what do you say? Think you can give a former fat guy, turned fat Kobold a chance?” The kitten made a pathetic mew and looked into the distance, but didn't move any. I tempted fate yet again, and reached over to pet down its head and back. It didn't fight me this time and I felt a warm tingle course through me.

  Tamer Core has reached 100%, Trapper Core is at 99%. Fusion option available.

  You've unlocked the Level 0 Mori Wayfarer Class. +1 Vitality, +2 Charm

  You've unlocked starting skill: Level 0 soul bond

  You've unlocked Weapon proficiencies : Whips, Bells, Daggers, Crossbows, Short Swords

  You've unlocked Armor proficiencies: Cloth, Hide

  You've unlocked new class skills!

  You've earned 1 skill point

  You've earned 1 stat point

  Trophy obtained: My First Class! You've obtained your first class in the world of Deszeld-Eir. 10 Experience Points awarded. Please choose starting magic item.

  Whip of Enforced Command: Adds 4 to charm when ordering a tamed companion to do something contradictory to its nature. +1 Charm, +1 to Might.

  Trainer's Bell: Rewards a tamed companion with a feeling of contentment when they follow an order you give. +1 to Charm, +1 to Mind

  Trap Weavers Spinneret: A hand crossbow firing giant spider thread. (uses 1 stamina per 10 ft of thread). +1 to vitality, +2 to Agility

  I blinked at all the sudden notifications rushing by, and I shivered. I waved away the notifications. Something to look at later. I looked down at the kitten and shrugged feeling that innate feeling of a new skill filling my mind. I knew what I had to do to do now, but it was hard to vocalize something that felt so personal. I blushed a bit, and just asked.

  “So how bout it, you adorable little black kitty? You want to form a Soul Bond with me and be a Tamed Companion?” The kitten stood up on all fours and turned to look up at me.

  Level 0 Displacer Beast Kitten 'Nebrayles' has agreed to your soul bond