Contact

I pounced.

Falling behind two small goblins without a sound, I released Laevatein from its cage. And in one clean horizontal stroke, the obsidian black Katana, carrying clouds of scarlet over its edge that blended elegantly over its sleek blade, whipped like a venomous snake reaping life in a single stroke.

The sounds of heads fell, and the two goblins headless bodies slipped to their knees and then the grass. It had been all so quick, so easy.

Was life so vulnerable, so weak, that one minute it was there, the next—

I slipped over the corpse of the larger animal carcass towards another two goblins who had not even heard their comrades perish. It wasn't the time to fall into deliberation. I was in combat. Even if these monsters were weaker than I was, all it took was a single hit in the right spot, and I, too, would die like those goblins.

I flicked my wrist over the two Goblins gorging on raw flesh, and Laevatein danced in an arc of blade light that cut through the chest of these two unaware monsters like liquid butter, painting the grass a beautiful red.

[New Skill Acquired: Novice Swordsman Lv 5]

- Rank: [F]

[+5 Str, Dex, Con, Int]

My mind surged, and a sensation so enticingly raw crept over my cheeks, warming them. My heart fluttered at this sensation that left me breathless for more. The world had seemed so much brighter. So much more welcoming and wondrous. I bit my lips and turned to the last three goblins, who had finally taken note of me.

"Mr. Goblins!" I'd said, ready to pounce, eager to show more of my skill that these things could not bring out.

I had been trained at birth, taught to hold a sword or spear faster than I had learned how to speak fluently.

Crowe and I were warriors.

While I held great trepidation towards taking human life, Father and Uncle Zariel had trained me to be a huntress, taking the lives of animals, or in this case, monsters, were no issue. I've hunted and eaten all kinds of animals in my fifteen years.

A half-smile appeared on my lips. I'd never enjoyed taking life. I did it to survive, but now. Now I think I might enjoy it. I will enjoy growing stronger.

"Get it, girl," Lily screamed, cheering me along.

I lunged ahead under the vengeful shrieks of the goblins. Whose weapons constituted a simple dagger or club. Dashing at a blinding speed, I skidded over the soil. Just as I tried to stop, a little taken aback by my speed, Laevatein was quick to act under my direction cutting through the waist of the goblin spilling his guts in a single stroke. It wasn't my best cut, but the obsidian blade had run through the leathery flesh of the goblin-like hot butter. There was almost no distinction between swinging my Katana through the air versus the flesh of this monster.

Fascination flashed, but so did Laevatein as I saw to test the blade, watching in wonder as it cleaved through the fine steel of a dagger with the same ease. I chuckled, and before the goblins could react, their heads fell.

[7 Goblins Felled: 35 Ether Acquired]

The forest fell silent, and the sensation I needed coursed through me.

"Lily, what is this? This wondrous feeling."

"It's called being in heat, bitch!" Lily replied, and my cheeks burned.

"Lily!" I cried.

"What? Well, your cheeks are so red, I thought you had an orgasm!" She explained, crying in laughter.

My feet stomped over the ground and at that moment. I thanked the Gods that there were no mirrors around. Had I really looked so flushed?

Oh, God!

"Girl, nothing to be ashamed of. I am you, and you, me." She said, but my cheeks only burned hotter.

I'd always consider myself to have perfect control over myself and my expression. Was that just wishful thinking? My breath evened, and Lily continued.

"That energy you felt was Ether. You can't use it right now, but once you can. The entire system will undergo a minor update."

Overlapping my arms over one another, the heavy scent of blood crept over my nose, and I knew I had to leave. I was sure not everything in this game-like world was so weak. Plus, I needed to find some food and water, not to mention Crowe. He was heavily injured last we met.

I hope he's OK. If he dies… No. If I'm alive, so is he. That has to be true!

Sheathing Laevatein into its scabbard. I slapped my cheeks, ridding myself of this so-called ethereal bliss. Crowe should be my concern.

Fleeing the scene, making sure to mark locations I've been to make a mental map, hours slowly began to slip away as more and more Goblins slowly began to meet their end over the edge of my blade.

Traveling along the west, where the scent of the coast still traveled seamlessly through the breeze, I made sure not to get too far. I had not seen one wild animal since I came, which left me with only the option of fishing. It was currently noon, but I was sure I'd be spending the night here.

Passing my hands through the smooth waves of my silver hair that clung to my skin due to the humid heat, I knew I needed some water. Going a day without water, while a bit problematic, was tolerable, but anymore, and I may end up dead faster than I would like.

A bit of pressure clamped over my chest at the thought, but there was nothing I could do but search.

Suddenly, my head twisted towards the northwest—a little ways away from where the sounds of splashing water crept into my ears. Someone or something was near a body of water. Smiling, I moved silently through the forest floor like an apparition, never leaving even a trace of my footprint over the soil. A small trick I learned during a competition against Crowe. Each of us had to track and tag the other with a coated knife deep in the Heart of Madagascar.

My gaze settled over the small oasis and to the small rippling of waves spreading evenly to each side; coming to a stop near the edges of the shore, I waited. Crouched beneath the bushes that hid my form, I narrowed my eyes and stilled my breath. Blending the best I could beneath the bushes, the waters rippled once more, and from its center, a small human figure appeared. A male

His skin was a suntan dark brown, with short sandy brown hair and hazel eyes, floating aimlessly fully cloth in the Academy of Minds uniform that mirrored my own.

A small virtual azure screen appeared.

[Ding]

[Name: Koz Silzel]

Race: Human

Cultivation: N/A

Title: N/A

Str: 2

Dex: 1

Con: 2

Int: 2

[Arcane: 9]