The Realm Between: A LitRPG Saga (Books 7 - 10), page 78
Agility: 10 (4)
Dexterity: 10
Charisma: 5
Luck: 10
Skills: Archery Lvl 13; 10% of the way to next level
Stealth Lvl 5; 20% of the way to next level
Analyze Lvl 29; 79% of the way to next level
Cooking Lvl 20; 60% of the way to next level
Alchemy Lvl 7; 43% of the way to next level
Foraging Lvl 26; 28% of the way to next level
One-Handed Weapons Lvl 4; 10% of the way to next level
Tracking Lvl 1; 90% of the way to next level
Two-Handed Weapons Lvl 22; 4% of the way to next level
Fishing Lvl 1; 10% of the way to next level
Drinking Lvl 3; 57% of the way to next level
Land Magic Lvl 5; 34% of the way to next level
Enchanting Lvl 46; 37% of the way to next level
Mining Lvl 3; 60% of the way to next level
Tanning Lvl 5; 80% of the way to next level
Leatherworking Lvl 3; 10% of the way to next level
Woodworking Lvl 9; 97% of the way to next level
Languages: Common Tongue, Sprite, Goblin-Tongue, Elvish, Cheoksum
While Azure hadn’t suffered the same amount of battery as his friends, he still didn’t feel great about his amount of Vitality. In The Realm, it never seemed like you could have enough. Everything else, Azure didn’t feel like he was lacking, but he couldn’t help but think that his Luck stat had played a part in making that blind shot, so he placed one of his Characteristic Points into Luck and the other two into Vitality.
Maybe next time, he’d be confident enough in his ability to survive tough battles to place his points into Agility and Dexterity instead because he was beginning to feel like he was lagging behind in those stats.
As for his skill, Azure leveled up Two-Handed Weapons again, keeping to the same pattern as before.
Congratulations! The skill: Two-Handed Weapons has reached Level 23. This skill enables you to use all manner of two-handed weapons to defeat enemies. Increasing your Strength will make them easier to wield.
Once he was done, he closed his Character Sheet and went to retrieve his loot from the dead grokran. To Azure’s surprise, there was no body to be found. On the ground near the rent earth was a pair of what looked to be goggles with slightly slanted lenses. He picked them up and immediately received a notification.
You have received the following item:
Grokran Eyes
Type: Light Armor
Durability: 37/55
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Grants the wearer night vision
“Oh sweet!” Azure’s eyes widened, though looking at the way the item was fashioned, it was hard to believe it was part of a creature. There was a head strap made out of an elastic material and everything.
He fidgeted with the goggles for a little while, checking the inside of the dark-green lenses for bits of flesh before pulling them down over his head. Azure had expected his vision to immediately change, perhaps to blur since the sun was on its ascent into the sky, but he didn’t notice anything different besides that he could see a bit clearer.
“How do I look?” he turned to Jin, who immediately stifled a chuckle, making Azure frown.
“It’s about functionality, not fashion.” Rerdam offered him some comfort, though even he was wearing a smile.
“Maybe I’ll just wear them at night.” Azure opted to take the Grokran Eyes off and place them in his Worn Leather Backpack for now.
“I’m just glad the night is finally over,” the old knight said with a look of relief on his face, his gaze set on the sun.
“Yes. I cannot wait to get to an inn,” Jin mirrored his sentiment.
“I feel like I could sleep for days,” Azure joined in, stepping up beside his friends.
It was still a long way to the nearest inn, but just knowing that their nights of sleeplessness were over brought a sense of victory greater than defeating most monsters ever could.
GOD OF DEATH
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE REALM – DAY 917
Jin didn’t rush them the next morning, which was a blessing after all they’d been through over the past few days. The three men slept until they were all well-rested, with Rerdam waking up before anyone else.
Now that Princess Zadori was temporarily out of their party, that left the second bed unoccupied for Azure and the old knight to share. Feeling like he should respect his elders, Azure offered the bed to Rerdam first, but Jin insisted that Azure use it. The old knight accepted the elven king’s wishes with grace, but Azure still wanted to argue. Rerdam told him that it really didn’t matter who slept in the bed first. They would both get their turn.
In the morning, after they’d eaten breakfast, the three companions went to the merchant to do some shopping. Jin made good on his word to force the old knight to buy a bow and some arrows. He also ensured they all restocked on Potions of Minor Healing, though this particular merchant only had 55. Azure and Jin each bought 18 potions. Then the elf forced Rerdam to buy the rest. Even though Azure walked away 19 gold and 8 silver poorer, it felt like a worthwhile investment, knowing what lay ahead of them.
You have received the following item:
Potion of Minor Healing
Quantity: 18
Item Class: Common
Quality: Good
Weight: 0.0 kg
Uses: Heals 35 HP
Once their shopping was done, they set back out. Small Owl joined them just outside the gates of the hamlet, alighting on Jin’s shoulder to hitch a ride for a few minutes.
Azure frowned at him. “Some help you were the other night.”
“He was plenty of help.” The elf coddled the owl.
“He didn’t warn us about anything, though. Isn’t that supposed to be his job?”
“He couldn’t warn us because he was busy diverting what monsters he could from the area,” Jin explained. “If he hadn’t spent his time doing that, we would have been overwhelmed.”
That was good enough for Azure. Of course, it was easy to accuse the owl of being lazy when he wasn’t around, but Azure often forgot that the elf was a slave driver. The poor owl had drawn the short straw when it came to masters.
Taking the same path they trod before, the three men worked their way back toward Luuq’s Place, facing the perils they couldn’t avoid along the way.
The dynamic was a bit different without Princess Zadori. Azure hadn’t realized how much she really helped with combat until she was gone. Rerdam definitely was not picking up the slack with his bow, stubbornly sticking to his sword unless Jin yelled at him to switch.
For all the hunting they did between Eckgan Bluff and Luuq’s Place, Azure only gained 40 Experience Points. He also received the following items:
Death Rabbit Pelt
Quantity: 6
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.2 kg
Uses: Crafting
Black Deer Pelt
Quantity: 1
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 1.9 kg
Uses: Crafting
Uncooked Death Rabbit Meat
Quantity: 6
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.5 kg
Uses: Cooking
Uncooked Black Deer Meat
Quantity: 55
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0.5 kg
Uses: Cooking
There was no point in keeping any of it, so Azure sold the items for 1 gold, 4 silver, and 7 copper.
As for monster loot, he was shit out of luck. With fewer members in their party, Jin was even more cautious, avoiding all danger if he could. For the whole span that they traveled, they only encountered one monster, and the elf made the killing blow, so Azure didn’t get any loot. He did earn 296 Experience Points, though.
Trekking with expediency because of their blunder allowing Vrallark the Goblin King to eat the Token of Godly Flesh, Jin did not slow down for foraging. Azure grabbed what he could, but the opportunities were few and far between—even less when the elf griped at him about it, saying that he was slowing them down.
By the time they reached Luuq’s Place, he was only able to acquire the following Alchemy Components:
You have harvested:
11 Hairy White-Root
Uses: Alchemy Component, increases Stealth by 1 Level for 5 minutes if eaten
You have harvested:
4 Whiskey Milkweed
Uses: Alchemy Component
If not for the elf nagging him for trying to pick up materials along the way, Azure might have gotten more done with his free time. As it was, he was only able to craft 16 Black Arrows, which was just enough to level his Woodworking skill.
Congratulations! The skill: Woodworking has reached Level 10. This skill allows you to turn the trees around you into powerful weapons and beautiful creations of carved art and furniture. Under your knife, every new-fallen tree has a new future.
While Azure had the ability to purchase materials to work on his other crafting skills, he just couldn’t seem to find the energy.
When he wasn’t busy crafting or strolling around the various hamlets they stayed in at night, he was down at the tavern. Jin urged him to keep his drinking at a minimum, but Azure still allowed himself an ale every other night. In the safety of the locked-down buildings, there wasn’t much else to do.
One night, Azure tried to strike up a conversation with a band of Adventurers sharing their table, but the elf quickly cut him off, saying it was best if they kept to themselves. Rerdam seemed to agree, so all that Azure could do was accept it and sulk, bored out of his mind with his current company.
He hadn’t realized how much he’d miss Princess Zadori until she was gone. She’d brought a lightness to their group that Azure hadn’t noticed until now.
They reached Luuq’s Place on their tenth day of travel. There was a sense of relief seeing the cemetery appear on the horizon, but also a sense of dread.
Azure’s party approached it with caution, half-expecting there would be a boss monster waiting for them. Thanks to Luuq’s words, they knew it would only be a matter of time. But no monstrosity arose from the dry ground, nor did a massive shadowy figure swoop down from the sky. They were able to make it to the gate unmolested, their weapons at the ready, their eyes trained on everything around them.
“He’s likely going to have more trickery for us,” the elf said as he pushed open the wrought iron gate, knowing better than to close it behind them.
“Of course. This is Luuq we’re talking about.” The old knight did not sound amused.
Azure hoped it would be as easy as asking the God of Death for another token and him agreeing. Then they could get chased out of the cemetery by birds and be on their way. That was another thing he expected—one he was reasonably sure of. The ravens and crows and buzzards were already gathering along the fence line.
Not bothering to be brave or dominant this time around, Small Owl stayed tucked under the hood of Jin’s cloak. Clearly, he had learned his lesson. This playground was full of dangerous bullies.
The three men stood in front of Luuq’s grave, waiting for him to rise. There was the slightest breeze on the air, bringing with it the scent of death. Azure was not looking forward to having to handle one of Luuq’s tokens again.
“We don’t have all day,” the elf brazenly said to the ground.
“We have as long as he wants us to wait,” Rerdam corrected Jin in a low voice. “Be patient.”
Ignoring him, the elf stomped on Luuq’s grave. “Get up. We require your assistance.”
“Do you really think that’s such a good idea?” Azure cringed slightly.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, the ground began to rumble.
Jin stepped back as if he had no fear at all, then turned with a flourish to wait for the God of Death to emerge.
Luuq crawled out of the dirt with a scowl on his face.
“You’re really bossy for a pleb,” he grumbled.
The God of Death pulled himself from the rubble like it took great effort, each clawed hand dragging him forward until he was lazily perched atop his tombstone.
“I’m surprised that worked,” Rerdam muttered to Azure in a near whisper.
Finally, Luuq’s bad mood seemed to abate, and he smiled again. “Back so soon…” He drew the word out before scratching his chin. “One might think that something went wrong.” The God of Death’s smile broadened.
“You know what went wrong.” Irritation rang clear in the elf’s voice.
Luuq lifted his hand up to his ear and tilted his head toward Jin. “What? I can’t hear you with that hood up.” He raised his voice as if he was deaf.
With a long-suffering sigh, the elf pulled down the hood of his Dark Cloak of Racial Concealment. Small Owl took a few steps closer to his head, huddling down into the crook of his neck. Jin leaned away slightly, the bird’s closeness a bit too much for him.
“Oh, how cute!” The God of Death squealed, reaching out to touch the owl.
Jin quickly swatted his hand away, causing Luuq to recoil, cradling his hand as if the elf had actually injured him.
“Mean!” he seethed at Jin.
“We didn’t come to play. You know what happened. You know why we’re here.”
The upset quickly melted from the God of Death’s face, and he grinned. “I do. Vrallark The Goblin King is hungry. Always hungry for so many things.” He paused, adopting a wolfish expression, his eyes roaming from one man to another. “I noticed you’re missing someone.”
“And we’d like to get her back as quickly as possible,” the old knight said firmly.
“Who knows what Vrallark will have done to her before you’re able to complete your task.” Luuq hummed.
The thought was unnerving.
If the God of Death was trying to rattle them, it was working. At least, Azure and Rerdam were quickly becoming unsettled. Only Jin was keeping his cool.
“We do what we have to do,” the elf replied.
“Monstre,” Luuq said in a French accent, sounding pleased.
“If she ends up getting hurt,” the old knight threatened, clutching tightly onto the grip of his sword.
“You’ll what?” The God of Death made a dumb face, showing he wasn’t the least bit intimidated.
Jin turned to Rerdam. “You won’t do anything.”
“Isn’t he just trying to get under our skin?” Azure asked, both as a way to offer comfort but also because he wasn’t sure anymore.
“So you want another token.” Luuq broke up the discussion. “But pieces of me don’t just come for free. Even though I’m a God, things still hurt, you know?” He fixed them with his gaze.
“So, what do you want?” The elf returned his attention to the God of Death.
Luuq hummed and tapped his chin before his eyes set on Small Owl. “You know, I am quite fond of birds.” He lifted his arms to gesture to the flock that had gathered around them.
“Out of the question,” Jin replied before the God of Death was even able to drop his arms back to his sides.
Luuq frowned. “Then I suppose providing you with another token is out of the question.”
“Fine.” The elf spun on his heels to leave.
Rerdam and Azure had to jog to catch up to him as he took long strides toward the cemetery gate.
Azure’s heart drummed wildly in his chest while a flood of emotions raged through him. Mostly, he was frustrated that they’d come all this way for nothing.
“Are we seriously just going to leave?” He looked at Jin, letting his disbelief shine through.
“I am not going to give him Small Owl. He knows how badly that would damage me, which is precisely why he wants to do it.” The elf didn’t even bother glancing back.
Rerdam didn’t argue, seeming to be on board with whatever Jin decided.
“There is always another way.” The elf tried to offer Azure some comfort, though it did little to stifle the strong discontent he felt over the situation.
“Wait!” Luuq called to them once they had reached the gate.
Jin stopped in his tracks, and the slightest smirk pulled at the corners of his lips. It was then Azure realized the elf had predicted that the God of Death would bend.
“I’m listening.” Jin still didn’t turn around.
“How’s about we do a temporary trade of sorts? You lost the first token, which was a mistake. Perhaps you won’t be so careless with the second one.” Luuq’s tone was contemplative.
The elf finally spun to face him. “And what do you get?”
“Oh, I still want the owl, but I won’t keep him,” the God of Death quickly backpedaled when he realized he was losing Jin again, “as long as you bring the token back to me when you’re done with it. Safe and sound.”
Jin gazed down at the owl to silently communicate with him. It was evident by the way Small Owl was whipping his head back and forth that he did not want to go with Luuq.
The elf gave the God of Death a sideways glance. “What’s the trick?”
“There is no trick. I just feel like you messing up should come with a punishment. That is normal for a God, no?” Luuq didn’t even sound sure of himself.
“You’re the God of lawlessness. People mess up here all the time without consequence,” Jin reminded him.
“But you’re special. You’re a do-gooder. Those definitely go punished in The Deathlands.” The God of Death smiled.
“Less than five minutes ago, you called me a monster.”
Luuq waved his hand in a circular motion. “Well, you’re light aligned.” His eyes fell to Small Owl again with a subtle look of longing. “I promise I won’t hurt him. Dyasitet’s honor!” The God of Death held up two fingers on his right hand and placed his left hand over his heart. “Even if you fail to bring back my token, I’ll just add him to my menagerie.”
