In a strange world as a Doppelganger

Chapter 38 - This plan stinks

Vera walks through the now flourishing plants that fill the larger clearing, her bare feet covered in moist soil.

"Good evening... Doppie", she sits down next to me.

"Good evening", I turn my eyes back to the stars. "What level are you?"

Vera looks at me with an odd expression and I almost feel like I said something wrong.

"Level 5", she hesitated for just a moment before she said it.

"Wow, how did you manage that?" I turn toward her with eyes wide in surprise.

"Well, I'm older than I look, I'm actually not as high a level as I could have been by now. I just never had any reason to seek out the more dangerous areas to make sure I kept improving. Though just so you know, you might not want to ask that of just about anyone. These goblins might be open about sharing it but many don't"

That's true enough, besides the goblins and the boggards I haven't met anyone capable of communication before now. There's bound to be things I don't know. Just as how there's bound to be something beyond this forest.

"I was thinking of doing just that, seeking out some danger and see if I can't gain another level. For some reason I feel like I really should."

I stand up and take a few steps away before turning towards her.

"I'm only level 1, I feel helpless. I have just barely been surviving. Day after day it feels like I run into things that could easily kill me and I get away with my life nearly depleted", I can tell that my face must be contorted in desperation.

"I am not sure how to help, it's hard to explain how it works but it's harder to grow when in a group, especially when levels are so far apart. As far as the goblins go, they grow differently, everyone has different dispositions. One creature may grow faster to another but gain less per level."

"So, there's no telling if reaching level 2 is even going to be beneficial?"

"There are basic facts, such as you should be able to cast more spells and your quantified life force would increase", I can tell that she's sifting through her knowledge and carefully choosing what to tell me.

"You don't have to tell me everything if you don't want to, I'll find out eventually".

After a moment of silence, we slowly start talking about the event of yesterday and one thing into another and I tell her about some of the events I have been through since arriving here in these lands. She asks some follow up questions occasionally but doesn't pry much and doesn't expand with knowledge of her own. Eventually she stands up and tells me she must retire and with a quick goodbye she returns into the trees.

The night is still young and I feel restless now, my brain being active after the conversation. I want to gain that level as soon as I can. If anything, to know what it would give me. Are levels even worth it?

As the night has fallen and the forest lays dark, I take on the form of a goblin to grant myself sight in the blackness. Similar to when I scouted for the badgers I walk into the woods for a bit, keeping low and quiet as I go and when I feel I have made it a fair distance away from the village I climb a tree. I plan to wait here until a target comes within range and then unleash my magic upon it.

A few small critters come and go, but I'm here for greater game. Nothing smaller than one of those foxes will do for me. I need to make sure I do this smart and efficient.

A skunk, larger than me in my goblin form, trots by slowly. It's searching for food and stops not too far away from my hiding spot. This is the best result I could hope for I suppose. Anything bigger would be a massive challenge even if I can get the drop on it. A quiet breath and I unleash the magic, drawing from the magical reservoir within me a spout of pressurized water shoots down at the black and white animal.

The water shoots past branches and the noise alerts the creature. The skunk barely manages to avoid the spell and while still looking for me I unleash yet another bout of water. This time I manage to predict where it will most likely sidestep towards and I hit it right across the head and neck with the beam of water. A loud crack and snap and the skunk lay motionless on the ground. I hear scuffling and maybe fifteen or so feet away two smaller skunks quickly scurry off. I jump down and give chase, doing my best to remember this spot so I can grab the body on the way back. I catch up to the smaller skunks, feeling my internal magics having mostly faded and being left to using the basic spells that I seem to be able to use indefinitely, I unleash a small ray of ice. The first skunk gets hit and while it doesn't perish right away it's slowed enough for me to easily catch up. I launch a speedy globule of water towards the second one. This skunk makes a sharp turn and my spell flies over its head and splashes against a tree.

The partially frozen skunk lashes out towards me as I move to run past it. But it can't quite reach as its hindlegs are covered in ice and frost. I twist around and will my hand into viscous claws and strike at it, ending it in one fell swoop. As my hand turns to its goblin form the second skunk launches itself at me with jagged teeth that narrowly misses me. It turns around and sprays musk in my direction. The odour hits, not as bad as expected but still vile. My eyes sting and my stomach turns. I raise a hand to fire off another ray of cold energy, with its back towards me the skunk can't react in time and even though I am about to lose my last meal the cold energy strikes true and the second skunk falls over, frozen stiff.