Chapter 6: Whispers in the Outpost
Silverhaven Outpost bustled with the chaotic energy of a frontier town teeming with new arrivals. Kael moved cautiously through the crowds, his 'Level 3' display hopefully rendering him mostly invisible amidst the sea of actual low-level players and the handful of slightly higher-level ones already sporting better gear. He kept his head down, becoming an observer.
The central marketplace was a cacophony of bartering and shouted deals. Merchants displayed racks of basic weapons, piles of leather and iron armor, shimmering vials of potions, and stacks of raw materials. To Kael, it was like looking through a window into a world he couldn't touch. Every gleaming coin exchanged, every piece of gear equipped, was a reminder of what Absolute Assimilation denied him. He felt a familiar pang, not of desire for the items themselves, but for the convenience they represented.
He lingered near the roaring forge, watching a blacksmith hammer glowing metal into shape, the sparks flying. Players waited eagerly, perhaps for repairs or newly crafted gear. Nearby, others gathered around alchemy stations, carefully mixing ingredients. These crafting professions, vital parts of the game's economy and progression, were entirely inaccessible to him.
The Quest Board, centrally located near the sturdy-looking Barracks, drew a constant crowd. Kael edged closer, scanning the posted parchments over shoulders.
[Quest]: Pelt Procurement - Bring 10 Wolf Pelts to Tanner Grimwold. Reward: 30 Gold, +50 Reputation with Silverhaven. (Impossible - Pelts transmute.)[Quest]: Restocking Supplies - Deliver this crate of provisions to the Watchtower East. Reward: 20 Gold, Minor Healing Potion. (Impossible - Can't hold the crate, potion transmutes.)[Quest]: Goblin Menace - Clear the nearby Goblin Cave. Bring back 5 Goblin Ears as proof. Reward: 50 Gold, Iron Shortsword. (Impossible - Ears transmute, sword transmutes.)[Quest]: Missing Scout - Investigate the disappearance of Scout Roric near the Old Ruins south of the outpost. Report findings to Guard Captain Valerius. Reward: Variable based on findings, +100 Reputation with Silverhaven. (Possible? Requires investigation, not specific items initially.)
Most quests were variations on themes he couldn't fulfill. Collection, delivery, even simple kill-confirmation often required bringing back a physical token. But the 'Missing Scout' quest… it offered reputation and asked for information. That seemed potentially doable. He filed it away mentally.
He drifted towards the Tipsy Hydra Tavern, its sign depicting a rather cheerful multi-headed beast. Inside, the noise level rose. Players drank, ate, laughed, and most importantly, talked. Kael found an inconspicuous corner, nursing an imaginary drink, and simply listened.
"...yeah, the Pioneer title! Some guy named Kael hit Level 10 already. Crazy fast." "Must've exploited something. No way someone leveled that quick normally." "Maybe he found some secret spot? Wonder where he is now..."
Kael suppressed a grimace. His name was definitely out there. Thankfully, no one seemed to connect it to the strangely under-dressed Level 3 lurking in the corner.
More relevant chatter surfaced. "...tried the old monk up on Whisper Peak? Supposedly teaches some unarmed techniques, but he's a cranky old coot, asks for weird 'offerings' no one can find." Unarmed techniques? That piqued his interest intensely. Offerings he couldn't provide were a likely dead end, but a trainer specializing in his only combat method was a vital lead.
He also heard talk about the Old Ruins mentioned in the scout quest. "...spooky place. Weird energy down there. Saw some glowing symbols. Didn't stick around." Anything involving 'weird energy' or 'knowledge' felt more aligned with his potential path than gathering boar tusks.
He needed more power before tackling unknown ruins or seeking out mountain hermits. Kael slipped out of the tavern and headed back towards the wilderness surrounding the outpost, needing to process and gain another level. He found a ravine just outside the main patrol routes, populated by aggressive Cliff Drakes – small, winged reptiles that spat fire. The fights were intense, requiring him to use the terrain for cover and his slightly improved Dexterity to avoid the worst of the fire bursts. After defeating several:
[System]: Congratulations! You have reached Level 11! +15 Stat Points available. Health and Mana fully restored.
He quickly checked his status:
Name: Kael
Level: 11
Class: Novice (Potential paths available)
HP: 925/925
MP: 70/70
Title:
Stats: (Including +1 from Title)
Strength (STR): 105 (96 base + 8 levels * ~8-10 avg + 1 title)
Dexterity (DEX): 13 (10 base + 1 level * 2 + 1 title)
Vitality (VIT): 74 (68 base + 1 level * 5 + 1 title)
Intelligence (INT): 11 (10 base + 1 title)
Wisdom (WIS): 11 (10 base + 1 title)
Stat Points Available: 15
(Stats adjusted based on Lvl 10 allocation and +1 Title)
The need for better evasion against the Drakes' fire was fresh in his mind. He needed more Dexterity, but couldn't completely neglect his core strengths. He allocated the points: 7 into Strength, 5 into Vitality, and 3 into Dexterity. New Stats (Including Title): STR: 112, DEX: 16, VIT: 79, INT: 11, WIS: 11.
He took down another Cliff Drake, feeling slightly more agile, the fire spit easier to anticipate and avoid.
[System]: Cliff Drake defeated! +210 EXP! [System]: Loot Drop: Drake Talon x1 [System]: Drake Talon detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +60 EXP! [System]: Loot Drop: Flame Sac x1 [System]: Flame Sac detected. Transmuting via Absolute Assimilation... +75 EXP! [System]: Total EXP Gain: 345 EXP. Applying 3x Multiplier... +1035 EXP!
Level 11: 1035 / 5500 EXP
Returning to the bustling anonymity of Silverhaven felt different now. He hadn't found a conventional place for himself, but he'd found direction. The standard quests, the economy, the social structures – they were largely irrelevant. His path lay in the unusual: the reclusive martial arts master, the mysterious ruins, quests offering reputation or knowledge instead of material wealth.
He glanced once more at the Quest Board, ignoring the standard fare and focusing on the 'Missing Scout' notice again. The Old Ruins. That felt like the most tangible starting point. Investigate, gather information. That, he could do.
Without a word to anyone, Kael slipped back out of the Silverhaven Outpost gate, not towards the common grinding spots, but south, towards the location marked on his minimal map as the Old Ruins. Civilization had offered whispers and clues, but his real journey remained out there, in the wilds of Genesis, defined by the overwhelming power and crippling limitations of Absolute Assimilation.