The staff was tossed and the knife confiscated. To be fair to them I wouldn’t let a kid keep that knife either—sucks that I am one. I did not feel ill from this ‘infection’ but I kept expecting it to come up and bite me later. I was also unhappy about my shirt being ruined from that bite. I did not even get to have nice new clothes for even a full day. Both of my parents looked like they did not have a scratch on them but with the way father spams his healing spell there would not be any to find. I wondered if the reason my dad went shirtless when in the bush was because he also had problems with losing them in silly fights with goblins and orcs.

  Mother took me to the side and checked over me as father cleaned up the mess of goblins and the orc—putting them in a big pile. When he was done mother ushered me over to them. I wondered why as this seemed odd to me. Then I got a prompt.

  [Available essence is being shared with you from fallen foes. Would you like to absorb its essence? Yes / No]

  Confused, I looked up at my parents and they both nodded their heads. “Yes, I guess,” I muttered. “System are they trying to power level me?” No response. Oh well.

  After that little adventure, we started to head towards town going as quickly as we could, skipping all practice and language lessons.

  I rode on fathers shoulders for most of it, but I was able to convince him to let me down to run on my own. And by convince, I mean I frantically pointed at the ground and we played an awkward game of hand-waving and word-guessing until he clued in and put me down. I demonstrated with ‘Water step’ aided by ‘Foot wetter’ that I could slide through the grass at a speed almost as fast as them. Granted I was far clumsier at that speed but they humoured me, as I guess we were close enough to home that they let it slide. I wanted the practice… and it was fun, it was sort of like ice skating.

  I also found out that with ‘Foot wetter’ I could force the water to work more like rubber, so it was as if I was wearing shoes. This must have been the thing that protected my foot the other night when the goblin stabbed it. I was disappointed to find that no matter how hard I tried, I could not make the water cover more of my body. So much for water armour. At least my feet will be safer, as I happen to like my feet not being stabbed.

  It was just past dusk when we approached the town. I had not realised it was night as I had once again forgotten about the ‘Night vision’ and I was proving to be easily distracted. I wonder if my ability to see in the dark was better than the goblins and if my parents can see this well in the dark.

  The following morning, I awoke feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. The comfort of the bed seemed to dissolve all my worries. Sunlight streamed through the window, tempting me to linger in its warmth all day. That was not to be the case. The door swung open and in came my father with a placid face and what I was sure was concern hidden behind his eyes.

  Mother was already gone by the time I had got dressed and come into the kitchen. Indeed this was the same house as before but with a new bedroom attached to it. Father let me have a light snack then we headed out for the day. The first stop was the tailor.

  We went right to the counter and were greeted by the tailor who this time I decided to identify.

  (Female elf: Gwhénlán, Tailor)

  I have no idea how to pronounce that hot mess of a name. I am going to think of her as Gwen.

  She handed over a long coat. It was absolutely stunning. It was somehow both vibrant and pastel, made of the blue cloth I had picked out. There was intricate embroidery along the hem and edges in a golden colour that matched the thread that was provided. Its shape was rather basic and it contained no sleeves—only wide golden shoulders and matching golden buttons along the top half. I love it! I began bouncing up and down with joy eager to try it out.

  To my surprise, I was able to identify it and it’s not technically a coat, but a tunic. I clearly know nothing about clothing. I didn’t think tunics had buttons.

  You know what? I don’t care what it is. I just want to wear it.

  (Magical tunic: Ruach)

  After I managed to get it on. I got a system notice.

  [This is a soul-bondable growth item. Would you like to bind? Yes / No]

  “Yes,” I gleefully proclaimed to the amusement of my father and the tailor who were looking at me expectantly. I guess this is not a forbidden item for me to use.

  [Magic item bound. This can be unbound after a minimum of 8 days have passed. Caution: doing so will reduce the capabilities of the item.]

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  [Item description: Magic Air affinity tunic. Named “Ruach” a growth item. Effects: (Feather light) ability to reduce wearer weight by up to 10%, (Deep Breath) Oxygen enriches the air increasing the effectiveness of each breath and doubling lung capacity.]

  My eyes went as wide as saucers at this. I have no idea how much this must have cost but it’s a thing of wonders.

  I began bouncing up and down while holding my breath amazed at how high I could jump and how I was not feeling short-winded from holding my breath.

  I eventually stopped and I gave my dad a hearty hug and began to laugh.

  I wonder how fast I can run with this. No, I wonder what swimming would be like if I could breathe longer. Wait, I don’t want to get this wet, do I?

  Today is going to be a fun day I am sure of it.

  Thrug sat alone in his cave. He had banished all his underlings from his presence. He sat there feeling an emotion he had not known before—sadness mixed with loss. His beloved companion Gorn was gone, driving him into sorrow. Before this, Thrug had never known what it was like to care for anything other than himself. Thrug did not understand that the pain he felt was caused because Gorn was a bonded companion and that strengthened the connection between them. All he knew was that he did not like this new feeling.

  Would this feeling of loss make Thrug a better Orc leader, one who is more caring for his underlings? No, Thrug is perfect the way he is and has no want to change.

  Thrug sat there eating his bone soup. It did not taste very good. Thrug wanted old cook to come back—this new cook is bad. Old cook went missing when going on raid of elves. Thrug would kill new cook to make an example for others; that would make Thrug feel better. Thrug got up to do just that, but Thrug was so hungry. Thrug sat down and continued eating; he would do the killing later.

  Thrug continued to ponder while he sat there alone, eating with thoughts of the last time he saw Gorn. They were toying with an Elven warrior who had become their prey. Gorn had managed to sneak up on the Elven warrior and take a nice bite out of his leg. The warrior had dropped his dagger in surprise and one of his underlings managed to pick it up and cut the warrior other leg with it. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Thrug had sent away his underlings to find new prey while he and Gorn danced off with the warrior so they could get the kill and toy with him—and toy with the warrior they did. It was glorious. Thrug bashed the elf while Gorn bit and stabbed with his tail. This went on for much longer than it needed to but was over far sooner than Thrug wanted it to be. When it was done, Thrug pulled off a double wrap belt that somehow managed to not get ruined and fit him, although it was more like a wrap and a half belt on him. Thrug liked belt and he called back some underlings to carry away the elf back to camp and salvage what they could from it.

  Gorn was displeased that Thrug did not let him eat this kill and went off to get new prey. Thrug was fine with this as he wanted the elf for himself—there were lots of elves, he let Gorn go find another without him. Thrug went another way, filled with the glee of a recent kill driving him onwards. He would get what the voice in his head promised him and have fun doing it. Thrug was promised power and endless waves of enemies to crush under his feet. That was all Thrug could think of at the time as Thrug did not know that would be the last time he would see Gorn. Thrug felt betrayed—the voice gave him promises and then took Gorn from him. It was not Thrug’s fault; it was the voice’s fault.

  Thrug finished his meal and wanted more. No, that’s not what Thrug wanted. He wanted Gorn. Gorn was gone. Perhaps a woman Orc? No, not that. Thrug could kill some underlings; that always made Thrug happy. No, he needed them for raids and had lost many. Thrug heard a voice as he got up telling him new things. Thrug understood he needed to get a new bonded companion. Thrug might be chieftain leader of the orcs and God of the goblins, but Thrug was also a beast master that needed a companion.

  Without a companion Thrug was weak and his leadership could be challenged. Thrug had already sent away the strongest orc competitors that could threaten Thrug’s leadership on ‘important’ raids and missions, but now he would need to send away even more just to be sure Thrug was not challenged while vulnerable.

  Thrug called out to have Gretar—the current next strongest orc in the encampment—brought to him. Thrug stood up to his full height, puffed out his chest, and picked up the head of the slain elven warrior to make himself as intimidating as possible for when Gretar arrived. Once Gretar arrived, Thrug made a show of his victory and demanded that Gretar prove his worth and bring him the head of an elven warrior to show his loyalty and worth. Thrug even allowed Gretar to take one handful count of goblins with him. Gretar, who was a young and dumb orc, gladly accepted thinking this would be an easy path to power and ran off to do Thrug’s bidding. Thrug began laughing to himself thinking that Gretar would die and no longer be a threat to him, or if he succeeded it would be after Thrug got a new companion. In either case, this would make it so Gretar couldn't challenge him.

  Thrug would have to wait before he was allowed to get a new companion. The voice told him this, but promised that it was a short time and would be over soon. Now is soon, why is it not over? Thrug complained and threatened the voice but the voice did not respond back. The voice can’t be trusted, but the voice gives power. Thrug did not understand.

  Thrug decided he did not want to think about the voice. Instead Thrug made a plan for when he could get a new pet. Only one place Thrug knew to find nightstalkers and other powerful beasts: ‘The Door.’ Thrug was the only orc strong enough to go there because he was Chieftain. Well, Thrug did manage to get a large number of goblin underlings while there last time, but the other orcs did not need to know that. Thrug was god now. Thrug liked being the goblins' god.

  Thrug got an idea of what would make him happy again. Thrug got up and left his cave. Thrug entered into the encampment and gazed upon his horde of minions.

  Yes, Thrug remembered that he did not need the current chef as he would get a new one from ‘The Door’. Thrug decided to kill the current one and make the new one cook the old one as a lesson to not make bad-tasting food. Thrug smiled as he grabbed his club and headed over to the cooking pot.