Chuck trudged up the hill after exiting the ruins around the strange crater. His mind was able to put a word to the odd landscape. He was glad his mind didn't offer up a reason behind what could have possibly caused something like that. The thought chilled him.

It took Chuck a good half an hour to climb the hill he had sprinted down in his desperate bid to escape the monster. He made sure to keep an eye out for the creature but didn't see any tracks other than the ones coming down the hill. They were hard to miss, the beats six limbs and massive weight leaving clear tracks in the soft soil. It also tore through any vegetation along the way. It was one of the reasons he was able to follow the trail back towards the camp so easily.

He passed by the broken trees and flattened plants, a testament to the size and strength of the monster. He got to the end of the trail sooner than he expected, entering the clearing where the now-abandoned camp lay.

He looked over in dismay, seeing the petrified remains of Sha still stood, spear still grasped in his hand. Chuck had hoped he had imagined the whole thing. The sight made him sick to his stomach but he was able to keep it down. The lack of blood or viscera probably helped on that account.

Chuck walked over to where the fire had been. The coals were cold, the event happening over thirteen hours ago. He figured it was early afternoon. He walked over to Sha's abandoned pack to see if he had any food or water. He found a flask. Giving it a sniff, it wasn't water. He put it back and pulled out a small bag containing some nuts and berries. It was better than nothing.

There wasn't anything else he wanted from the man's possessions. He did put the pack on, he would give it to Erwin if he managed to find them again. Chuck stood up and scanned in the direction he thought he saw them heading. There wasn't any clear sign of disturbed plants to point him in the right direction. At least not one that he could see. He looked at the ground, walking around until he found three sets of tracks heading off in the correct direction. He hoped they were the right tracks.

His attempts at trying to follow the trail managed to unlock a new skill.

You have unlocked the skill tracking.

Name: Tracking

Rarity: Common

Level: 1-5

Status: Passive

Stat: Intuition

SP to next level: 30

Description: You notice tracks and signs of passing easier than before. 25% chance to successfully follow a trail less than a day old.

Would you like to train this skill? Y/N

Chuck immediately paused light armor to train level one of tracking. It was worth the wait. As soon as the skill finished he could more clearly see the signs of the trail, disturbed vegetation, and the slight impressions from their feet as they ran through. It wasn't perfect at level one, he got turned around a few times as paths merged from when Erwins's team patrolled around the camp. He decided to train level two, hoping that would help eliminate that problem. Level two took less than an hour so he figured it was a sound investment. Preferable to wandering around in the woods lost again.

When the skill finished he checked the new description.

Description: You notice tracks and signs of passing easier than before. 40% chance to successfully follow a trail less than a day old.

"Better than nothing," he mumbled, setting level three to train while he got back to trying to find the trail that led away from the camp.

It took Chuck a while to locate the trail, he ended up going back to the camp and starting over before he successfully located the trail leading away from the camp. He was able to follow the trail for another hour before he lost it again. The trees and ground cover had started to clear. This left the ground hard, leaving little to follow. Chuck wasn't too concerned though, he could see what looked like a road in the distance.

This was the first sign of civilization he had come across, other than the ruins. Just the sight of the road brought a tear to his eye. He ran towards the road, which was really just a dirt trail but to him might as well have been a path of gold. He saw dusty footsteps leading in one direction. Older tracks were heading off in the opposite direction. He decided to follow the newer sets of tracks. Mainly because it looked like four people traveling together. Another three hours later and a skill-up on tracking, Chuck finally made it to somewhere. A small town surrounded by a wooden palisade stood at the end of the road.

***

Varris swept his gaze over the fields and forest, this deep in the wilds anything could be dangerous. Hell, just this morning a crew came in talking about a Basilisk that had been spotted only a few hours away. Dangerous beasts those were. They could drain a person dry with their magic, leaving nothing but a petrified husk behind.

He didn't care for the danger of guarding in the wilds, but he loved the coin that came with it. Another month of this and he would spend the rest of the year drinking and fucking it away in the nearest town of note.

Felnar slapped him on the shoulder, "We got a lone traveler coming up the road."

Varris looked towards where the man pointed. His eyes not nearly as good as the bowman. He spotted the small dot approaching, "Aye, I see em."

He readied a spell, just in case it was trouble. 'Can't be too careful.'

"Halt and state your business traveler!"

He had been doing this gig on and off for years and anyone with an iota of intelligence would at least pause. Not this person, they just waved. Varris called out again, "I said halt and state your business!"

Chuck came to a halt after the man repeated his sentence. Apparently, a friendly wave did not grant him access to the town. He was woefully unprepared for this situation. He decided to call out the only words he knew in Erwin's language, "Erwin, Bargo, Ricardo, and Sha-la-hasha." With the last one, he held up the pack and pointed at it.

"What is this idiot on about?"

"I think Erwin was the name of the group leader that came in this morning," Felnar replied.

"Keep your bow on the kid, I'll go send someone to track the man down and bring him here to see if he knows him."

Chuck waited patiently outside the wall while one of the men left. He didn't dare get any closer, he could see the other man had a bow trained on him. It made him nervous and he tried to look as friendly as possible while not overtly looking at the man and the deadly looking arrow.

Eventually, two men returned to the top of the wall. He saw one point towards him while the other looked at him.

Erwin couldn't believe his eyes, somehow the kid had survived and managed to escape the basilisk. Other than dirty the kid looked fine.

"Well, do you know him or not," the guard grumbled.

"Yeah, he doesn't speak any common though. Mind if I go out and fetch him?"

"Fine, but he's your responsibility."

Erwin ran out to greet Chuck, giving him a big shoulder clap and a shake, "boy, I don't know how you survived but I bet it is one hell of a story. Too bad you can't tell us any of it. We will have to remedy that. For now, come inside."

Chuck handed the pack to Erwin, he could swear he saw him tear up before he just nodded and lead him into the town.

Calling it a town was presumptuous. There were five buildings, all made of rough-hewn wood. The largest building looked to be some sort of inn slash bar. It was lively. Another building looked to be some sort of store. There was a sort of farm, it had pens for animals and a small field growing some sort of crop. What appeared to be a smithy, it's chimney spewing large plums of smoke and the constant sound of hammering coming from inside. The last building appeared to be a barracks for the guards.

Erwin led him straight into the bar section of the largest building.

"Fellas! Look what the Breaker has returned to us," Erwin exclaimed, pushing Chuck into the bar ahead of him.

Mellas stood up, a little tippy. It was a rare sight for the man but they were celebrating the life of Sha. "By the gods, how did this little sprig survive?"

"Who knows, but now we have another thing to celebrate," Ricardo added.

Bargo just walked over and patted the boy's shoulder.

Chuck was at a loss for what was going on. Obviously, the four were happy to see him alive. He didn't think he would have had this much impact on four hardened men after only a few hours. Chuck watched Erwin hold up Sha's pack. Ricardo asked something and Erwin dug through the pack, fishing out the flask. Of course, he wanted to know if the alcohol was still there.

A round of cheers went up in the group as they passed the flask around. Each taking a drink. Then it came to Chuck who had been offered a seat at the table. Chuck tried to refuse but Erwin gave him a stern gaze and said something. The others looked on expectantly. He gave in and took a swig of the liquid. Coughing as it burned down his throat.

Erwin patted the boy on the back approvingly, "Sha would have loved to see that. Gah, where are my manors? WAITRESS."

A weather-beaten older woman walked over, "Yeah, what'll it be?"

"Another round of drinks and food for the five of us."

"That'll be forty-five copper."

Erwin fished out a silver, "Keep the drink coming until this runs out."

Chuck devoured the food, compared to the trail rations he had been eating it was gourmet. He could have done without the alcohol but it was obvious the group was celebrating something other than just his return. It was also how he found out that stats could be hindered. His intuition, dexterity, and willpower steadily dropped throughout the night.

He regaled the four men of his time here, and what little he could remember of his home. Of course, nobody understood him but they listened and laughed all the same. It wasn't about understanding, it was about camaraderie. For some reason, this made him happier than he ever remembered being.

This went on late into the night, he even managed to pick up a few more words in their language. He would drunkenly point to something and they would reply in slightly less slurred speech than his own. He didn't even mind how rowdy the bar was getting. Everyone in this town a capable warrior it seemed by the gear they sported.

Erwin got up and teetered a bit, perhaps he had one too many. "Chuck."

The boy looked at him, eyes half-lidded and a glazed look about him. Oh boy, he is going to feel this tomorrow. He waved for Chuck to follow. The kid managed to stand after a few attempts and stumbled slowly after him. Erwin walked up to the counter, "We need five beds."

The proprietor, a large burly Northman with shaved head replied, "I have double rooms and single rooms. Four copper for a double, two for a single."

Erwin handed the man, ten copper. He would give Chuck the single room, mostly because he didn't want the smell of puke to keep him awake.

"Cleaning fee is two copper," The man added after looking at Chuck.

"I'm sure the boy will be fine, otherwise he can pay for his own cleaning."

The man snorted doubtfully at that but handed him the keys anyway, "Last rooms at the end of the hall."

Erwin thanked the man and led Chuck to his room. He had to hold the kid upright. Maybe he should have taken him outside to empty his stomach first. Oh well, it would be a learning moment for the youngster. He pointed to the other two rooms, then at himself. Chuck nodded, half asleep. He helped the kid into the bed, making sure to lay him on his stomach. The kid was asleep before he could even exit the room.