Sitting across from each other, the quiet rustle of crickets filled the air. After a minute, Scott looked up at Eve and subtly scanned her.

  [Wood Elf (level 31)]

  “Are you sure you can trust her?” Amarwrath asked.

  “Not sure to be honest, this is a new world where it seems that many people want to kill me just for a simple level. Now you are right, trust is an issue. I should try out a few things to test her.” Scott replied to Amarwrath talking inside his mind.

  “Do you have an ability to do that in your bag of tricks?” Amarwrath inquired.

  “No but I have another idea. I remember on a show once that listening to someone's heartbeat while asking them questions if the heart skips a beat then they are lying but if it doesn't then they are telling the truth.” Scott explained.

  “Never heard of that type of trick but continue.” Amarwrath said.

  “Not sure if it truly works or not, I just want to be safe since I am all the way out here by myself and if she is a high level being that can mask herself from others then I need to be careful. But if the off chance she is a trained assassin she could lie without the skipped heartbeat. Not going to lie, this is the first time testing out how well my hearing is. Good cop time, because who wants to be the bad cop?” Scott mused.

  “And a cop is?” Amarwrath asked.

  “We will talk about that another time. For now I will try and get as much information out of her as I can.” Scott replied.

  Scott sat there for a moment focusing his hearing until finally he could hear a strong steady beat that wasn't his of course.

  “Can you tell me two truths and a lie?” Scott asked gently.

  “Uh ok, oh I am a daughter of the head of the town council, I collect dead things, and my mother was a wood elf outcast.” Eve said.

  The first answer was a steady heartbeat, the second one hmm sounded off, and the last one was steady. “I am guessing the lie is that I collect dead things?” Scott asked.

  “Correct.” Eve replied.

  “You say your mother was a Wood Elf. Now, was your father also a Wood Elf as well?” Scott asked.

  “Yes my father is a sore subject, well my father was a High Elf that procreated with a Wood Elf which in turn created me. Something that is looked down upon in my community. We had to keep the type of Elf my mother was a secret all of my life so I wouldn't be treated any different. ” Eve responded.

  Scott paused for a second, listening to her steady heartbeat, then continued. “What skills do you have and what class are you?”

  “I am a level 31 Ranger, and I made bows and arrows for my clan,” Eve continued, her voice even.

  Scott listened to her steady heartbeat to confirm her truthfulness; her heart remained steady. “How did you get captured by these bandits?” Scott asked, still staring at her face as she took bites of food between answers.

  “My clan was attacked by these so-called bandits, and the result of it was being caged and tortured,” she said plainly, going in for another bite of bread.

  “Does your clan have a name?” Scott continued, trying to get as much information as possible.

  “We were known as the Blood Moon Clan. A group of High Elves that lived in the forest before this so-called program took us from our home,” Eve continued.

  “Do you mind if I ask you where you came from before the System, or I mean, the program as you called it?” Scott asked.

  “I was from the planet Avelon, and the kingdom we were from was known as Kydrah inside the Alder Forest,” Eve quickly said before drinking down all of the water she had in her cup.

  Scott wondered if other beings from other planets were integrated into this tutorial, and this confirmed his suspicion.

  “May I ask you a question?” Eve asked.

  “Yeah, Go ahead.” Scott replied.

  “Where are you from?” Eve inquired.

  “Earth!” Scott replied.

  “Ok, where on earth were you from?” Eve continued, the shoe now on the other foot.

  “Well I'm from Legion county, in Good ole Michigan of the U.S.A.” Scott said proudly.

  “Interesting, I have never heard of this Earth. What race are you?” Eve asked.

  “So that is the funny thing,” Scott said. “Originally I was human, but now since the system I have transformed into a Beastkin.”

  “Beastkin? Never heard of it, nor have I heard of a human. Why a beastkin and not stay in your former race?” Eve asked.

  “Eh, that is the question of the century. I guess from the beginning I've always felt like a beast, always angry inside. At least part of me is. At get togethers, if I didn't know people I would be the guy sitting in the corner by myself kind of like an outcast keeping to myself. If that makes sense.” Scott explained.

  “That's deep.” Eve said, “Nice to formally meet you Scott the Beastkin. ”

  “Likewise.” Scott replied.

  “Though with the softness of your voice, I could tell you're not a beast.” Eve said.

  “Thank you, I guess.” Scott replied. “How about your eyes? When did they take them from you?”

  “I figured you would get to that.” Eve sighed. “It was only a cycle ago that I lost my eyes.”

  “Hmm so did they try to heal you at all with health potions or with a healer?” He continued.

  “No. The bandits said that it would be a waste on the likeness of an elf and told me to use my own magic to heal myself.” She whimpered.

  “Well, let's see if we can try and heal your eyes.” Scott said. He looked through all of the gear and pulled out a stack of healing potions. He even found some mana potions as well and added them to the pile.

  “I want you to drink these potions and hopefully they will heal your vision.” Scott said, pulling off her bandage.

  She took the potions one by one and her health went back up and yet once she was at full health her eyes didn't grow back.

  “Is it working," Eve asked. “Do you see my eyes growing back yet?”

  He stared at the socket that had fully healed over but nothing grew back. “I am sorry Eve but I think there is a time limit on how long you have to grow things back.”

  “That’s ok, I guess I will live with it for now.” Eve sighed.

  Scott gently put the bandage back on and sat there for a moment thinking. “I will try and help you heal your eyes somehow, I just don't have the ability to do that for you. I do know a few healers that could possibly do it when we find them but until then we will have to just wing it for now.”

  They continued talking for an hour until finally she had finished all of her food and drank four whole cups of water. Then she asked if she could rest. Scott agreed and found a bed before leading her into a hut, said goodnight, and shut the door behind him as he could hear a sigh of relief coming from Eve and a “thank you” that followed soon after.

  Taking his time, Scott went up to the loot piled up in the middle of the village and looked through the gear, finding three backpacks. Two of them had magical storage, while the last one had a magical ability to expand and contract using a magical word. Scott set one of the magical bags aside for himself and one for Eve. He then continued separating the gear and finally came across a bow and quiver that had some type of wind magic with wings on both the top and bottom of the bow. “This will hopefully help Eve get back on her feet when we get her eyesight back, and maybe she can still use it to gather abilities to overcome her blindness if we can't find a way to heal them,” Scott thought as he set them both aside.

  The swords were next. Laying each one of them out, he scanned over a few of them until he finally came across a shortsword that was half black, half silver. Scanning the short sword, he finally got the info.

  [Short sword Yin and Yang (Unique)]

  This short sword is a masterfully crafted weapon with a blade that is perfectly balanced and polished to a mirror sheen. Its true nature, however, is revealed when it is activated. The blade can switch between two forms, Yin and Yang, which are two sides of the same coin. This duality allows the wielder to adapt to any situation on the fly, making it a powerful and versatile tool. Yin Form: When activated, the blade shimmers with a pale white light and becomes incredibly lightweight. In this form, the blade is used for rapid strikes and intricate maneuvers, putting your foe on the defensive. Yang Form: When activated, the blade turns a deep, obsidian black and feels incredibly heavy. In this form, the blade is used for powerful, devastating strikes. Stats: +50 Agil, +50 Str, +50 Vit.

  The rest of the short swords didn't offer much beyond elemental properties like frost or fire. One, however, possessed a shadow ability that allowed the user to travel through shadows, which Scott promptly bagged for later use, a contingency should he lose any of his primary swords along with a few of the elemental short swords.

  Next were ten daggers, each similar to the short swords, except for one that had a returning ability. Scott immediately attached this one to his back. He then grabbed five more, each imbued with an ice ability that would encase an opponent in ice upon striking. He bagged these, recognizing their potential against fiery beasts like the one he had just faced. Next time, he would be ready for it.

  After the daggers, he found an assortment of shoes and boots. Many offered speed boosts or even water-walking abilities, but one pair caught his eye: the [Boots of Silence (Rare)], which allowed the user to remain completely silent while moving. He slipped these on, tossing his Speed Demon Boots into his new bag.

  [Boots of Silence (Rare)]

  These boots are crafted from soft, supple leather and lined with the quiet fur of an elusive forest creature. They are perfectly weighted to dampen sound, and they seem to absorb the very vibrations of your movement, allowing you to walk with a ghostly silence. A faint, almost imperceptible air of stillness surrounds the wearer, making them a true phantom in any environment. Ghostly Movement: Your footsteps make no sound, regardless of the surface you are walking on. Stats: +30 Str, +30Agil.

  Once he finished putting on the new boots, Scott separated six chest armors. Going through each one, none truly stood out besides the [Boar’s Chest guard (Rare)] and the [Bull's Strength Chest guard (Rare)].

  [Boar’s Chest guard (Rare)]

  This chest guard is a testament to raw, unyielding power, crafted from a single, massive piece of magically hardened leather that feels like stone to the touch. It is emblazoned with a snarling boar's head on the front, its tusks carved from bone and polished to a smooth finish. The chest guard is heavy and intimidating, designed for those who charge headfirst into battle, shrugging off blows that would fell a lesser warrior. This chest guard is imbued with the spirit of a fearsome boar, granting its wearer a primal resilience. Stats:+30 Vit, +30 End.

  [Bull's Strength Chest guard (Rare)]

  This chest guard is a testament to raw, unyielding power, crafted from a single, massive piece of magically hardened leather that feels like stone to the touch. It is emblazoned with the head of a mighty bull, its horns carved from bone and polished to a smooth finish. The chest guard is heavy and intimidating, designed for those who charge headfirst into battle, shrugging off blows that would fell a lesser warrior. This chest guard is imbued with the spirit of a mighty bull, granting its wearer a primal resilience. Stats: +30 Str, +30 End.

  He found twenty rings and laid them on a cloth on the ground. Throwing them all onto his fingers, he noticed each one lost its ability. But once he took them off one by one, he discovered that when he finally got down to four rings(Two on each hand), the four worn rings regained their abilities. “That's different! compared to all of the games I have played over the years that only allowed two rings at a time.” Scott thought.

  He then checked the others by switching out each one, and they all regained their abilities. Each ring had some type of stat boost, though one specifically gave +30 to each stat, the [Ring of Nobility (Rare)], so he immediately put that one on.

  [Ring of Nobility (Rare)]

  This is a finely crafted ring made of polished silver, with an intricate crest depicting a crowned lion and an olive branch. The ring is impossibly light and feels cool against the skin, and when worn, it imbues the wearer with a sense of quiet authority and grace. It is a symbol of a true leader, a person who is not only strong but also wise and charismatic. Stats: +30 to all stats.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Another ring he found was [Ring of Summoning (Rare)],

  [Ring of Summoning (Rare)]

  This is a plain, iron ring that feels surprisingly light. Its surface is etched with a single, flowing rune that represents a closed space. The ring's true power lies in its connection to a Bag of Holding. When attuned, the ring forms a symbiotic bond with the bag, allowing you to bypass the need to physically retrieve items. The ring hums with a faint magical energy, and its power is only limited by your mind's ability to recall the item you desire. This ring is a testament to the fact that power and convenience can go hand in hand.

  The last ring he added was the [Ring of invisibility (Rare)] He equipped that one which simply allowed him to go invisible for a few minutes a day and then moved on to the next items.

  [Ring of Invisibility (Rare)]

  This ring is a simple, silver band with a single, clear-cut diamond in the center. Its surface is perfectly smooth and has no discernible marks. It feels cool to the touch and seems to absorb the light around it, making it difficult to see even when in plain sight. When worn, the ring bestows a powerful illusion of invisibility upon the wearer, granting a temporary, ghostly form that allows you to bypass obstacles and enemies. Allows you to go invisible for five minutes a day.

  Scott searched some more and found one single belt:

  [Belt of Feather Fall (Rare)]

  This leather belt feels light and surprisingly supple, with the faint magical hum of a protective charm. It is adorned with a single, small feather charm that shimmers with a soft, ethereal light, a testament to its power to grant the wearer a safe landing. Stats: +30 Agil, +30 Wis, +30 Int. Feather Fall (Active): Once per day, you can activate the belt's magic to slow your descent to a gentle drift, regardless of the height from which you are falling. This ability lasts for a short duration, allowing you to land softly from great heights, avoiding all fall.

  This belt allowed the user to slow their falling for a short while before hitting the ground once per day. Something that would definitely help when flying around, he thought. It even stated that the user didn't even need to be conscious to use it. So, like the rest of his new gear, he equipped it.

  What he found next were three cloaks, each with an interesting ability. The [Cloud Racer (Rare)] allowed the user to walk on air as if walking on clouds. The second, the [Cloak of Shadow (Rare)], was similar to Rick's ring, allowing one to enter into a shadow and hide, though it didn't allow travel from shadow to shadow.

  [Cloak of Shadow (Rare)]

  This cloak is woven from a strange, unknown material that feels impossibly dense and yet soft to the touch. Its surface seems to absorb light, making it a deep, unending void of color. A faint, constant hum emanates from the fabric, and when magical energy touches it, the cloak seems to drink it in, the humming growing louder with each absorbed spell. A simple, silver clasp holds the cloak at the neck, but it is the cloak's true power that makes it a fearsome and unique artifact. Shadow Meld: This cloak allows the user to step into a shadow and hide, becoming near-invisible to the people and beasts around them. While in an area of dim light or darkness. Telltale Footprints: As you move, your footsteps leave imprints in soft surfaces (mud, dust, snow) as normal. These imprints are the only visible sign of your presence. No Teleportation: This cloak does not allow you to travel from one shadow to another. Its power is limited to concealment. +30 Agil.

  The third cloak was the [Cloak of the Magic Destroyer (Unique)], Scott set the Cloud Racer Cloak aside for Eve and tossed the Shadow Cloak into his bag. Then he grabbed the Magic Destroyer and put it on.

  [Cloak of the Magic Destroyer (Unique)]

  This is a heavy, dark cloak woven from a strange, unknown material that feels impossibly dense and yet soft to the touch. Its surface seems to absorb light, making it a deep, unending void of color. A faint, constant hum emanates from the fabric, and when magical energy touches it, the cloak seems to drink it in, the humming growing louder with each absorbed spell. A simple, silver clasp holds the cloak at the neck, but it is the cloak's true power that makes it a fearsome and unique artifact. Magical Siphon: The cloak can absorb magical damage. Cataclysmic Release: As an action, you can release the absorbed energy in a powerful, contained explosion. All creatures within 30 feet takes magical force damage equal to the total energy stored in the cloak. The cloak then creates a protective shield around you, rendering you immune to the explosion's damage. After the explosion, the cloak's energy is reset to zero. Stats: +50 Wis, +50 Int.

  Moving on to the next piece of gear he came across four pairs of gloves, each offering something different. One pair had the ability to snatch arrows out of the air, which he debated on putting on since this one was like his original gloves but decided to set them aside for Eve. The second pair gave the ability to make objects invisible upon touch, the [Touch of Invisibility (Rare)].

  [Touch of Invisibility (Rare)]

  This is a pair of fine, dark gloves crafted from a supple, yet durable, leather that feels like a second skin. The material is so thin and light that it seems to absorb the light around it, making it difficult to discern from the surrounding shadows. The gloves are imbued with a subtle, yet powerful, magical essence that allows you to render objects invisible upon contact. A faint magical hum emanates from the gloves, and they seem to pulse with a quiet, unseen energy. This pair of gloves is a true testament to the fact that not all problems can be solved with brute force. Phantom Touch: You can use a bonus action to touch a non-magical object and render it invisible. The object must be no larger than 5 cubic feet and weigh no more than 50 pounds. The effect lasts for up to 10 minutes or until the object is moved by a hostile creature. Stats: +30 Agil, +30 Int.

  Scott tossed those into the bag and continued on. The third glove was only a single glove, the [Glove of the Assassin (Rare)],

  [Glove of the Assassin (Rare)]

  This is a pair of fine, dark gloves crafted from a supple, yet durable, leather that feels like a second skin. The material is so thin and light that it seems to absorb the light around it, making it difficult to discern from the surrounding shadows. A faint magical hum emanates from the gloves, and they seem to pulse with a quiet, unseen energy. A hidden blade is concealed within the glove's material, its existence known only to the wearer, a silent threat waiting to be unleashed. Hidden Blade: You can cause a sharp, slender blade to extend from the gloves, making them a lethal weapon. Stats: +30 Agil, +30 Int.

  The last pair of gloves was the [Gloves of the Thieves King (Unique)].

  [Gloves of the Thieves King (Unique)]

  These are a pair of fine, dark gloves, fingerless to allow for a greater sense of touch and dexterity. They are crafted from a supple, yet durable, leather that feels like a second skin. The material is so thin and light that it seems to absorb the light around it, making it difficult to discern from the surrounding shadows. A faint magical hum emanates from the gloves, and they seem to pulse with a quiet, unseen energy. Undetectable Grasp: You can grab and move an item without arousing suspicion. You can't be detected while doing so. Stats: +50 Agil, +50 End.

  Going through the last of it, Scott couldn't find any pants that rivaled his own, so he kept his [Pants of the Lunging Jaguar (Rare)] and continued searching.

  Last but not least, there was one amulet:

  [Amulet of the Blood Sage (Unique)]

  This is a remarkable amulet, a heavy, obsidian disc that hangs from a braided leather cord. Its surface is perfectly smooth, but when a drop of blood touches it, the amulet seems to glow with a faint, malevolent red light. It feels warm to the touch and seems to pulse with a quiet, unseen energy. This amulet is a true testament to the fact that with enough cunning and power, one can bend the rules of life and death. Sanguine Harvest: Once per day, you can instantly absorb all blood from the battlefield within a 100-yard radius. When you do, you are healed instantly, and your hp are restored to full health. Stats: You gain a +50 Wis, +50 Vit, +50 End, +50 Tough.

  Taking a minute to reflect on all he had acquired from this loot, Scott was genuinely pleased with his finds. Putting everything on, he felt good and brand new. The extra strength, added agility, and vitality boost made Scott eager to test out his new power. However, with Eve sleeping, he simply sat and waited, moving a stump outside the door to keep watch until he finally dozed off himself.

  The next morning, Eve called out for help, having fallen out of bed. Trying to be a good guy, Scott walked in and assisted her to her feet.

  “Uh, you’re naked again. Could you put on your clothes please?” Scott walked outside and waited to give her some privacy until finally she walked out of the door.

  “I’m so sorry, the clothes were a little restricting, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe,” Eve said shyly.

  “Now you sound like my wife,” Scott laughed, a genuine chuckle escaping him.

  “Oh, I didn’t know you were bonded with anyone,” Eve said apologetically, now looking embarrassed.

  “Okay, enough about that.” Scott said. “Let’s train you so that you can somehow get your vision back.”

  He led her to the middle of a field and handed her the equipment he had set aside last night.

  “How am I supposed to shoot with no eyes?” she asked, frustrated by just trying to hold the bow and nearly dropping it a few times.

  “Use your ears, and shoot at the sounds around you,” Scott said, trying to offer helpful hints.

  Eve nodded, listening intently. She took a shot at the wooden barrel that had rocks in it to give it enough noise for her to hear it, Scott rolled by her, narrowly missing. "Again," Scott commanded.

  They continued this for the greater part of the morning until they finally took a break. Eve started hitting the barrel around fifty percent of the time, already showing significant improvement. They spent the next few days training until she could hit the barrel with every shot. Then, they changed the training; Scott shot arrows past her for a day noticing that her hearing was also improving with the training, and using her gloves and ears, she could now instinctively tell what an arrow sounded like and catch it without thinking. It seemed like the daredevil was right on how your other senses enhance to overcompensate for the parts of your senses that didn't work. Or at least in Eve's case it was her eyesight lost that her hearing has improved.

  The next day, he started throwing things in the air. At first, they were back at square one, but after a few more days, she could finally sense and shoot the flying targets.

  After that, Scott found two different staffs to use as bostaffs and incorporated more weapon training into their routine. This was so Eve could get used to close-quarters combat, enabling her to protect herself from anyone attacking her with melee weapons. This intensive training took two whole weeks until they were finally ready for their first hunt.

  “Let's have a look at my stats with all of my gear.” Scott mused.

  [Name: Scott Armidais Wheaton]

  [Race: Beastkin40(Iota)]

  [Class: Slayer level 50] [Hero]

  Profession: Skinner 30/Leatherworker 20

  Health Points (HP): 5216/5216

  Mana Points (MP): 3788/3788

  Stamina: 5484/5484

  Stats-

  Strength: 548

  Agility: 605

  Vitality: 521

  Wisdom: 301

  Intelligence: 378

  

  Endurance: 467

  Toughness: 203

  Perception: 251

  Willpower: 125

  Skills-

  [Bloodline:(Nature of the Beast(common)(12%)]

  [Craft[Leather Working level 20 (Primary)]

  [Craft[ Skinning level 30 (Lesser)]

  [Dagger Mastery(Common)]

  [Medium armor proficient]

  [Short bow Mastery(Common)]

  [Short Sword mastery(Common)]

  [Weapons proficient all]

  Abilities-

  [Advanced Beast Mode Speed Form(Unique)]

  [Advanced Fangs of the Vital Mana Beast(Legendary)]

  [Advanced Mana Healing(Rare)]

  [Beastmode(Rare)(10%)]

  [Health Regeneration Greater (Epic)]

  [Ghost skin(Rare)]

  [Gravity Manipulation (Objects)]

  [Gravity Manipulation (Self)]

  [Gravitational flight(Unique)]

  [Mana Savant(Rare)10% Mana Pool]

  [Mark of Prey(Rare)]

  [Star Walker(Unique)]

  [Surging speed(Rare)]

  Titles-

  [Den Mother]

  [Dungeon Lord(10%)]

  [First kill in tutorial]

  [Gravity Lord(Legendary)]

  [Hero(5%)]

  [The first Beastkin]