World of Fantasy

Exploration

QUILL

Wolven canines crunched down on the tip of the wooden staff. Fierce yellow eyes frowned at her while deep-throated growls escaped the beast's throat.

The large wolf tried to move sideways, but Jane turned, keeping the staff held out in front of her like a spear, fending the animal off, forcefully jabbing the tip in its mouth. Because if it got any closer, those jaws would tear into her flesh instead.

Quill came at the wolf from Jane's right. After already having done so many times, he raised the mace high in his right hand and slammed it down on the wolf's head.

The wolf's HP finally ran out, and it sank to the ground, dead.

Jane pumped a fist into the air, face full of excitement. "Woo!"

"Yes!" Just as thrilled, he raised his left hand and high-fived her. "It feels good to have actual weapons when fighting."

Jane, grinning, looked down at the staff in her hands. "So much more useful than a knife."

"So this is what it feels like to get stronger, huh?" Quill laughed, feelings of relief and confidence flooding his body. He'd been feeling pretty helpless so far in this world. The fight against the rogue yesterday had gone very poorly. But now? Energized like an excited kid, he looked at Jane and nodded toward another wolf pacing in pre-programmed circles a dozen paces away, conveniently oblivious to them despite being visible. "Come on. Let's take on another one."

"Yeah!" With both hands gripping the staff and wielding a fierce grin of her own, she led the way.

They used their technique on three more wolves. Jane acted as the tank, going in first and drawing aggro, fending off the wolf with the length of wood. She was able to do this while not expending much effort so that her Stamina didn't run out too quickly.

Then Quill would come in from the back or sides and slowly chip away at the beast's health with his mace. While the work was very slightly faster than with the knife and felt a lot more fun, he still had low stats and had to work hard. But it got the job done.

After their fourth kill of the day, Jane picked up yet another pelt and slung it over her shoulder. They'd skinned all four wolves, and a single apple had dropped, which they'd shared. She shaded her eyes with one hand and looked out over the Green Hills zone. "Let's go exploring. We need to find the Gold Crusade training camp."

"You don't want to grind for a bit first?" He was feeling the lack of levels. Despite four kills, his XP had barely moved, and it was frustrating.

Jane looked eager to move past grinding, though. "We don't have bags. How are we going to carry anything? Feels like a waste leaving pelts behind. Even junk drops we could sell for copper."

He agreed. They needed every coin. It felt wasteful leaving items behind. "Bags of holding are going to be expensive. You think we might be able to buy regular backpacks?"

She turned her head and gave him a look. "Once again, things that should have come to my attention — yesterday!⁠1"

Hearing the old movie quote, he coughed a surprised laugh. Then he gave her a shrewd look in return. "That's how it is, huh? All right, remember: alcohol equals puke, equals smelly mess, equals nobody likes you.⁠2"

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no witty remark came out. Instead, she blushed and turned away, embarrassed.

The urge to tease rose within, and he leaned toward her. "You remember what you were like with the cat jokes, hmm? Relentless." He lowered his voice to a flat, machine-like tone. "Relentless mode, starting now."