I awoke in the hut, bandages wrapped tight around my body. My vision was blurred, but I could tell the roof above me was unfamiliar—rough, wooden, and held together with sinew and care. A warm, savory scent drifted through the air—meat, spices, something rich and earthy. I turned my head, weakly trying to find its source.
That's when I saw her.
A cloaked figure sat cross-legged in front of a wood-burning stove. The hood cast a shadow, but the white mask she wore caught the firelight—blank, featureless, and smooth. No mouth. No eyes. No markings. Just… nothing.
Still, I could tell she was a woman. Something in her posture, maybe. Or the way she moved, graceful and deliberate.
She turned toward me.
"No, no, no," she said, wagging a gloved finger. "You should be resting. You haven't healed yet."
She rose and walked over, sitting down beside my bedroll.
"Hey, Lost One," she said. "What goods do you have to offer in exchange for my help?"
"What... do you mean?" I croaked, my throat dry and sore.
"I'm a merchant," she said casually. "Nothing I do is out of kindness. I was hoping there was something of value in the Snow Circle."
"The... Snow Circle? What's that?"
She gave a theatrical gasp, then leaned closer, shaking her finger again. "Ah-ah-ah. That information will cost you."
She sat back and stirred the pot again. "Never mind that. What I want to know is—how did you kill the Wendigo?"
I blinked at her, confused.
"It takes damage from physical attacks, sure. But I know you don't use magic. You haven't even chosen your first ability yet."
"My first... what?"
She snorted. "You didn't know? Of course you didn't." Her tone turned smug.
That's when a soft hum filled the air, and a glowing magic circle appeared in front of me—larger than before, pulsing with light. Three smaller circles hovered in front of it like options on some ancient menu.
The main circle read:
Name: IvanMagic: NoneTitles: Lost One, Trap SmithDeals: Healing from Merchant 13 in exchange for goods (Unfulfilled)Allies: Merchant 13
Proficiencies:Medical Equipment (7/100)Crude Lumber Tools (28/100)Polearms (7/100)Archery Weapons (3/100)Crude Traps (16/100)Basic Craftsmanship (21/100)Crude Leatherworking (2/100)Crude Mapping (3/100)
Weapon Masteries:Crude Spear (27/1000)Crude Bow (19/1000)Crude Axe (10/1000)
Status Effects:
Cold
Paranoid
Brain Damage
Wendigo's Curse
Face Lacerations
Back Lacerations (+2)
Right-Side Lacerations
Left Shoulder Lacerations
Chest Lacerations (+4)
Punctured Lung
5 Broken Ribs
Fractured Skull (+1)
Broken Left Shoulder
Broken Upper Arm
Fractured Vertebrae (+1)
Neck Cuts
Chin LacerationsHealing: Stabilized
I hadn't realized just how wrecked I was. No wonder I could barely move.
But I also hadn't realized—until now—I had a friend.
Then came the abilities, listed in the glowing smaller circles before me:
1. True Slash – Your next successful melee attack deals 2.5x damage.2. Quick Dodge – Greatly increases your evasion for the next minute.3. Nutrient Specialist – You can cast a basic enhancement spell on food, increasing its nutritional value and energy yield.
The merchant leaned over and stared at the circles.
"Wow… those are some shitty options," she muttered. "If it were me, I'd pick Quick Dodge."
I frowned. "Quick Dodge is nice, but... I barely get any food. I've only seen birds, squirrels, and maybe a rabbit once in the past... months."
She scoffed. "Yeah, but come on. Your first bit of magic, and it's a spell that buffs food? Doesn't that sound lame?"
I looked her dead in the eye—or mask, rather. "I'm not picking it to be cool. I'm picking it so I don't starve."
Her posture softened a little. "Huh. That's fair."
She turned back to the stove, dropped something else into the pot, and stirred.
I selected Nutrient Specialist.
Maybe it wasn't flashy. But if I'd had better food earlier... maybe I wouldn't have been so weak. Maybe I wouldn't have nearly died.
Some time passed. The stew smelled amazing. She eventually removed the pot and set it carefully on the wooden floor. Then she walked to a bag in the corner and pulled out two bowls and spoons.
She served both, handed me one, and adjusted her mask before sitting beside me.
"You're not eating?" she asked, mouth already full. "Does it look gross?"
"No... it's not that." I hesitated. "Why are you being so... nice to me?"
She chuckled. "If you're wondering how you'll repay me, don't worry. You already agreed."
I blinked. "I did?"
She grinned beneath the mask. "You're my human shield, remember?"
I stared at her. She stared at the stew.
I sighed, picked up the spoon, and took a bite.
It was incredible.
After a few mouthfuls, another magic circle bloomed before me—this one pale green, rimmed in faint leaves and floating spectral utensils. It read:
Meal Analysis:
Ingredients:
Rabbit (wild, jointed)
Garlic (2 cloves)
Onion (1 large)
Carrots (3 medium)
Potatoes (2 diced)
Animal fat (2 tbsp)
Ground herbs (thyme, bay leaf)
Water or ale (2 cups)
Cook Time: 2 hours, 47 minutesConsumed Portion: 1 of 4 servingsCalories: 912
Nutritional Note:High protein. Moderate fat. Provides warmth and stamina in cold environments.
Taste Profile:Savory, earthy, faintly sweet.
Side Effects:
Chill Resistance +5% (2 hrs)
Mental Clarity +3% (30 min)
I stared at the floating text, then slowly turned toward her.
"What ingredients did you use?" I began to list them one by one.
She blinked. "Wait... how do you—"
Realization hit her like a falling tree.
"Holy crap," she said, leaping to her feet and raising the bowl high. "There's this ramen shop in Dragon Wing—people have been dying to recreate their broth. With your skill, we can find the secret ingredient!"
She twirled in place, the bowl spinning over her head in celebration.
Then, just as fast, she pointed her wooden spoon at me like a wand. "This is how you'll repay me. So listen up!"
She spun the spoon in tight circles. "You'll travel with me. You'll protect me until we reach Dragon Wing. When we get there, you will eat the ramen and identify the secret ingredient. Once I've made a perfect replica, our deal is done. Clear?"
She paused. "What do you say, Ivan?"
I hesitated... then nodded. "Y-Yes. I mean... yes, boss."
She giggled. "That's what I like to hear."