Memories

---------------------------------------------Several Hours Later-------------------------------------------

I swing my cane once more and can feel my arms twist it's movements several times turning my lunge into several graceful strikes. After they land on the heavily bruised legs and back of the bearsk I see a new notification pop up followed by a pitiful moan as the struggling animal stops moving.

{Fluid Strikes has now been mastered! All attacks using this skill will deal 10% more damage. Congratulations on mastering a basic combat skill for novices!}

I grimace at the sarcasm implied in the notice but still feel a swell of pride at having mastered a skill even if it is a basic one that's probably mostly useless. I also can finally rest easy as I confirm that the bearsk is no longer breathing and that it's massive body has gone limp in the hole. After a few minutes of victory dancing much to Pearls curious gaze I plop down and sigh in happiness that I finally finished my quest. As I take a few minutes to rest I realize that I haven't gotten any kind of display saying my quest is finished so I actually think hard about my current quests to see what it says.

(Active Quests)

Raise Settlement level to 2-53% complete

Prove your worth!-Beast defeated Must wait for retrieval for rewards to be given

Your Gods Glory!-Your god Toma has asked for your help in strengthening him! 1% complete

Bonding-Forge closer bonds to your vassals and learn more of their goals so they might evolve. 1/4 complete

Upon seeing the list I notice a few that I didn't even realize were there until now but after reading through them I understand that most of them make sense. I also notice that I won't receive my reward until my squad actually picks up the bearsk body so I'll be stuck waiting for another day or so sadly to say. After resting up and being lazy for a bit I can feel my body getting kind of antsy and wanting to just move so instead of just sleeping the time away I decide I might as well scout out the area for anything interesting while I'm here. After asking Pearl to guard the bearsk I decide my first stop should be it's nesting area after remembering the random bones strewn around. As I start heading in that direction I summon Dawn and start asking her to note down anything she thinks could help the settlement that way we can come back later but before I finish I can hear a huff before she dashes in front of my face and glows red.

"Master! That is most definitely NOT my job! My job is to help you manage the settlement and your additions to it NOT to decide what's useful and what's junk! If you want something marked for research or harvesting YOU need to be the one to first find out what it is and then mark it so I can send the right people the info understand?" Dawn huffs out at me in annoyance as I nod in understanding before stopping and looking around myself.

I approach one of the berry bushes I raided earlier noticing that it still has some of the berries on its branches and they happen to be the poisonous ones. As I ask Dawn to note down the poisonous berries for future study in case we need poison fort anything I start to think on what she said and realize I did kind of not think about using her or the people around me without really caring. After thinking for a little longer I make the decision to start trying to connect with the people around me and try to actually embrace this world instead of just surviving it. After making the decision we finally reach the clearing and I ask Dawn to mark the entire area for harvesting after explaining to her that it's an actual beast lair and there should definitely be something we can use here.

As we approach the nest I can hear a rustling noise before a small furry blob rolls out of the next followed by another smaller blob. I freeze as dread rushes up my back as two adorable faces look up at me before one of them waddles over to me and rubs itself against my leg as I numbly bend down and pet the baby bearsk behind the ears.

"I'm so sorry little guys I had no idea. But don't worry we'll make sure your okay I promise." I say to the curious cubs as a tear rolls down my cheek as memories start to hit me and I get lost.

-------------------------------------------------Several years earlier on Earth-----------------------------

I laugh as I blow away another of the ogre's in this damn forest before collecting some lousy loot and make my towards the dungeon. I still can't believe my damn guild ditched me for some new gnoll camp that popped up when a whole dungeon is here for exploring but that just means more loot for me. I watch as my character makes his way into a battered keep in the middle of the forest I'm in and cringe at how stupid that idea is. I mean come the hell on who would build a castle in the middle of the woods instead of a cleared out area? But whatever it doesn't matter since I can see the first MOB's charging towards my character. I smile cockily as my giant dragonoid berserker swings his hammer and shatters the bones of the two approaching skellies before charging into battle. After I wipe up the MOB's outside and collect my loot and am about to head inside before I hear a knock on the door.

"Damnit why does everybody decide to bug me right when I'm doing something important. Fine I'm coming calm down!" I yell as the knocking get louder before I reach the door and open it to see two police officers and a man in a suit.

"Are you Jayce Hoffman?" One of the officers ask as I nod in confusion before the man in a suit steps forward.

"Mr. Hoffman we're very sorry to disturb you but we bring some bad news. Your parents bodies were found early this morning. They were victims of a shooting in a bar and they sadly did not make it. If there is any good news is that they did not suffer but we do need you to come down to identify them and also fill out some forms." The man says gently as if I'm made of glass and the slightest sound might shatter me. The words that my parents are dead keep repeating in my mind as I feel tears slide down my face and my knee's buckle before I can feel someone grab me under my arms and hold me up.

"What do you mean my parents are dead? I just saw them this morning, we had a fight about my gaming and they said they'd be back tonight. They can't be dead you guys must be confused." I mumble as they take me inside and set me on the couch before the man in the suit sits opposite of me and starts talking. After about half an hour the three of them leave and I'm left in my empty house and I can feel the sobs starting to work their way out of my chest. I continue to cry until everything fades to black.

--------------------------------------------Current Time Garthia-------------------------------------------

I blink my eyes and wipe away the tears before telling Dawn to give Slab a warning about the cubs. After she assures me she already has I take a deep breathe and try to get myself under control before walking into the large nest and looking around before spotting several piles of bones, some fur scraps, and a small humanoid skeleton. As I approach the skeleton I notice a small backpack under it as well as a short curved sword sticking out of its chest. After curiosity gets the best of me I use inspect and nod before taking the sword and bag from the body.

(Goblin skeleton level 0)

The skeleton of a goblin. Age has worked the flesh from these bones. May be useful for necromancy, alchemy, and shamanism.

(Sword of the Sand Sprite- Rare Sword)

A blade forged using a desert spirits soul. Has an added amount of damage towards creatures aligned with nature and is resistant to both fire and earth.

(Travelers Satchel of Holding-Uncommon Bag)

This small bag has had dimensional magic woven into its very fibers making it hold much more than usually possible. Bag will refuse entry if it is full and can hold anything that is not alive. Bound to the user upon equipping. Cannot be stolen.

As I smile at my fortune I slide the blade into the bag as well as the goblin bones before looking around and grabbing anything else I think might be useful before I notice night has fallen. As I make my way out to leave I see the cubs both approach me with shining eyes and I sigh before walking back into the nest and leaning against one of the bristly walls before I feel two warm balls on either side of me.