Virtual Space, Plum Village.
Jayden walked out of the exchange with heavier pockets and lighter spirits.
He kept one claw in case Amir wanted it—though honestly, he doubted it. The other six went for 78 copper coins, not a bad haul considering most Plum Village families could scrape by for a whole month on just 100 copper.
The value of materials clearly scaled with the rarity and strength of the creature.
Jayden jingled his pouch with satisfaction as he made his way toward the forge, weaving through the quiet bustle of afternoon foot traffic.
The village wasn't big, but it felt alive—wives sweeping their doorsteps, two old men arguing about chickens near the well, and kids chasing each other with sticks, pretending to be adventurers. The men still worked on repairs throughout the village.
When he passed, they stopped and waved at him. Jayden waved back.
All of them were NPCs, of course. Jayden was afraid there were only three players in the entire village—him, Little Blue, and Amir.
He found the latter right where he expected: still at the blacksmith's, deep in conversation and gesturing at a rough sketch the old man had pinned to the workbench. Something about the angle of the rim and reinforcing the boss.
Jayden waited a few paces off until they paused, then ambled up.
"Hey," he said, giving Amir a short wave. "Got rid of the claws. Not a bad price, honestly. Kept one just in case you wanted it."
Amir glanced over, nodded in thanks, then returned to pointing at a cross-section diagram of the shield.
Jayden leaned in. "Looks like you're getting the deluxe model."
"Something like that," Amir muttered. He didn't look away from the parchment, where Blake had scribbled some dimensions beside a circular drawing. "I want it balanced—enough coverage without losing maneuverability. We're drawing up some designs now."
Jayden whistled low. "Going fancy, huh?"
The blacksmith grunted. "More like practical as hell. Kid here knows what he's asking for."
Jayden held his hands up in mock surrender.
He waited a beat before going off-topic. "I scoped out a few places that could be our base. Temporary, of course, until we can afford something bigger."
That got Amir's attention. He looked up from the blueprint. "Yeah?"
Jayden nodded. "We've got a few options, but I picked out one specifically—the old house by the orchard. No one's claimed it yet—two rooms, a cellar, and a loft. Needs some cleaning, but it's cheap. Like, ridiculously cheap."
Amir raised an eyebrow. "Is there any reason it's so cheap?"
"Yes…" Jayden shrugged his shoulders. "But if we're serious about sticking around, we might as well put down roots before anyone stirs the village up."
"What's the reason?"
"Nothing major, just the bandits from before. Anytime the bandits raid, they have to go through the orchard." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Last guy living there didn't even last a week, apparently."
Amir was quiet for a moment, then turned back to the sketch. His fingers tapped once, twice—then stilled. "Get it. We'll need somewhere to plan. And stash things, too."
Jayden gave him a short nod. "I'll handle it—should only take a couple hours. Try not to burn down the forge while I'm gone."
The blacksmith snorted, and Amir didn't dignify it with a response. But a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he traced the lines on the paper again—already imagining how it would feel when it took a hit.
Amir gave the sketch one last look, then nodded to the blacksmith.
"That's everything. I'll be back in two or three days."
The old man grunted. "Don't be late. I'm not storing your fancy shield forever."
Amir gave him a half-smile and stepped out into the early evening light. He had a few hours to himself, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
The village was quieter now, the heat beginning to fade. Chickens wandered between homes, and a group of NPC children played near the well, too wrapped up in their game to notice him passing by.
The men were just wrapping up repairs for the day. Amir didn't want to bother them, so he stepped around them whenever he could.
He walked with purpose, but not haste. The new chestpiece hugged his torso with just enough weight to feel solid, and he flexed his shoulders, testing how it moved with him.
It was the best piece of equipment he'd ever worn, not that there was a huge selection to choose from.
As he passed through a gate of the village, the air grew cooler. Trees thickened into patches of forest, and the ground became uneven.
He didn't mind. Killing monsters was simple. It only needed a bit of focus.
He grabbed his spear and made his way through the underbrush, dispatching any low-level beasts he saw. Nothing challenging, just a way to keep his reflexes sharp and pick up some materials for trading or crafting.
But then he heard it: shouting—distant, sharp, and panicked. A woman's voice, high-pitched and cracking.
Another yell followed—then a wet, sickening crunch.
Amir frowned, adjusted his grip, and moved faster, spear ready, eyes scanning.
The scene wasn't far. Just beyond a cluster of old trees, in a moss-covered clearing, a fight had broken out. Or rather—it had already ended.
Two mangled monster corpses twitched in the grass. A third stumbled toward him, blood-slick and limping. Its hooves thudded against the soft moss with a rhythm that didn't match its awkward gait.
He didn't hesitate—one horizontal slash separated its head from its body.
It dropped to the ground with a thud, and he got a better look at the monsters. They looked like hyenas with a bull's horns.
[Level 10 Gorbor killed. EXP gained.]
Amir's eyes swept the field. And then he saw her.
A small woman lay a few feet away, unmoving. Her robes were torn at the shoulder, soaked with blood. A book was cradled in her arms, covered in bloody fingerprints.
She was dead.
He didn't move for a moment. Just stood there, spear in hand, listening to the soft wind tugging at the grass.
"…Was she alone?"
He didn't have an answer.
A few more Gorbors burst from the brush, drawn by the noise.
Amir exhaled slowly.
"Guess that answers that."
Amir dispatched the group easily—his spear slashed through the first, then the second, then pierced into a final one.
The Gorbors couldn't even graze his clothes, and Amir watched his EXP bar increase a smidge.
At this rate, he'd probably have to hunt Rank 1 beasts just to see his level budge.
The clearing was silent for a moment.
He glanced around once more, then picked up the bloodied book. It wasn't good for much, but it wasn't right to leave it behind either.
He left the forest in silence, the weight of something unspoken trailing behind him.