It took Lorena two entire days of hunting, killing, and skinning from sunrise to sunset to get enough leather.
Other than the occasional jab when a fight went sideways, Ren had been silent. It was honestly a bit of a relief—the constant commentary made fighting harder. But the silence felt wrong too. Empty. She shook the thought away; it was better not to dwell.
She had given up on finding a river to bathe herself off in after the first day and was now used to the horrified stares she got as she entered Silvershire, covered in blood in the dark of night.
The market was quiet, most people gone by now, but that didn't stop the remaining people from giving her disapproving stares as she passed.
"Oy. You. Blood Girl." An older human woman called after Lorena as she passed her cart.
First 'The Voice' and now 'Blood Girl'? I really hate these nicknames.
In my defense I didn't call you Blood Girl.
No, but you caused me to hear it. Why couldn't you take my hearing too?
Lorena turned and looked at the woman, a glistening bottle of clear liquid held in her hand.
"Bottle of Cleansing. I'll give you a discount. You clearly need it."
She approached the woman with a smile, then quickly returned her face to something more neutral. Smiling at people covered in blood probably wasn't the brightest idea.
Her interface supplied the details about the item as the woman held it up.
Item: [Bottle of Mighty Cleansing] (1)
Cleans even the toughest stains!
"How much?"
The woman stared at Lorena, mouth pinched in disgust. "For you, fifty silver. Normal price is one and a half gold but you're bad for business walking around the market like that."
Lorena didn't bother haggling and accepted the trade.
She uncorked the bottle and smelt it, a sterile smell wafting out.
Just drink it. If you die, well, you deserved it.
She grimaced at Ren's comment.
"It won't taste good but it'll get you clean," the woman said with a disapproving scowl at Lorena's expression, returning to her work.
The viscous liquid crawled down her throat, then her whole body heated. Her eyes went wide as she stared at the woman, the heat growing to a nearly unbearable level.
"What—"
Oh good. This is exactly what this living hell was missing. A lake of fire under my skin.
But before it got to be too much the heat dissipated, along with all the gore and viscera that had coated her for the last several hours.
"Oh, thanks," Lorena said as she let out a breath.
The woman grunted as she pushed a needle through a thick hide of leather.
"Are you a leather worker?"
The woman shot her an unimpressed stare, then returned to her work.
Lorena pressed on. "I have gathered a decent amount of leather. Would you be interested in buying some off of me? I could also use some new armor made."
The woman didn't look up from her sewing as she said, "Don't buy crafting materials from strangers. Leads to dodgy quality goods."
Lorena's jaw clenched.
"And I don't make deals with strangers either. You can pay the full price or go somewhere else."
Just then the woman's eyes lit up and she stood. "Oy! I need more cleansers if you've got em."
Lorena turned to see Jade walking down the street. She looked up and gave Lorena thin smile, then approached the grumpy leatherworker.
"For you Sadia, sure thing."
The two women bartered, rapid numbers and whispers flying back and forth until they landed on an acceptable price. Lorena went to slip away from them and find another leatherworker when Jade turned to her.
"How have you been making out? Henry told me you ventured into the northern forest yesterday."
"Yeah, made it out in one piece thankfully."
"Didn't meet any spiders then I guess?"
I like her.
She's been helpful, at least.
She's better than you. Quick, switch bodies with her, I'd rather ride with her.
Wouldn't that just put her in my head instead of you? Or in addition to you?
That's fine. Anything is an improvement to this.
Lorena chuckled, more to Ren's comment than Jade's joke. "No, just wolves."
Sadia looked up and squinted at her. "Is that her? The fool who nearly died in our streets the other day?"
Jade shot Lorena an apologetic look. "Her name's Lorena… But yes."
"For you, armor is double the price."
Jade frowned. "What's going on?"
Lorena gave Jade a pained smile. "I was just trying to negotiate with Sadia here, but she's pretty tough."
Jade cocked an eyebrow at Sadia and the woman batted a hand toward her. "Don't trust passer-throughs. Especially ones as under prepared as her."
"Then maybe you should cut her a break and give her a deal on some armor."
"I brought leather with me," Lorena added.
"Well there we go. Surely you'd be willing to tip Sadia if she made you some items at cost, right?" Jade gave her a knowing look, her eyes wide and head tilted.
Lorena nodded. "Of course."
Sadia grumbled, then Lorena's interface prompted her to view Sadia's store.
Lorena scrolled through a long list of items that Sadia could make, it was honestly impressive. Thankfully there was a way to filter out items based on only the crafting supplies she currently had in her inventory. She opened up her equipment page to check her existing gear, there wasn't much to look at.
shirt: Plain brown shirt, +0 armor
legs: Hand Stitched Canvas Pants, +25 armor
feet: Worn Leather Boots, +10 armor
With only eighty pieces of leather, Lorena wanted to make sure she got the most value out of it as possible, so she filtered out legs and feet items. It was better to fill empty slots than replace something.
Her chest not having anything more than a flimsy shirt bothered her the most, so she started there. Sadia had three recipes available:
[Battered Leather Harness] (common)
(chest slot)
+50 armor
Requires 15 leather pieces
[Footman's Tunic] (uncommon)
(chest slot)
+65 armor
+10 health
+2% Power
Requires 30 leather pieces
[Embossed Leather Tunic] (uncommon)
(chest slot)
+62 armor
+10 health
Requires 25 leather pieces
Her eyes jumped to the Embossed Leather Tunic and Footman's Tunic. Either of these could be her first Uncommon piece of gear which was exciting. The Footman's Tunic was the most appealing, giving her 2% Power. She needed more strength behind her attacks, her body was nimble and agile but it lacked the striking power she was used to.
The Footman's Tunic is ugly. Get the Embossed Leather Tunic instead.
Lorena smiled, surprised by the first not overtly hostile comment from Ren. Unfortunately, her opinion wasn't practical.
I think the Footman's Tunic looks fine.
The leather was a very light brown, almost pale. The material itself was thick, with cords to draw it closed near the neckline. The sleeves came down half way to her elbows providing excellent protection while not totally limiting mobility.
It washes me out. The Embossed one has a beautiful peach coloring to it that really brings out my skin tone.
While she had to admit that the color was nice, that was about the only nice thing she could say about it. Sure it was Uncommon, but it lacked the Power stat, it had no sleeves, and it would leave her midriff exposed.
Lorena selected the Footman's Tunic and moved onto the waist selection.
You never listen to me.
I'll listen when it doesn't endanger our lives.
There were two choices in waists.
[Weathered Belt] (common)
(waist slot)
+30 armor
Requires 18 leather pieces
[Basic Footman's Belt] (common)
(waist slot)
+30 armor
Requires 15 leather pieces
Would you like the Weathered Belt? Lorena asked Ren.
Ren recoiled. No.
But it's a warm color, isn't that what you liked about the Embossed piece before?
Ren's sigh rolled through her mind. It won't match and the [Basic Footman's Belt] will. It's cheaper anyways.
Lorena bit back a sigh and selected the Basic Footman's Belt.
That used up 45 of her 80 leather pieces, but she really wanted a pair of gloves. Having hand protection to enable better blocking would be great.
Thankfully, there was only one choice of gloves available.
[Pioneer Gloves] (common)
(hands slot)
+35 armor
Requires 10 leather pieces
"Come back tomorrow and I'll have the pieces ready for you." Sadia said in a curt tone as Lorena handed over the 55 leather pieces.
"Do you know where I can sell the rest of my leather? I could use a bit of gold," Lorena said to Jade.
"There's usually a few traveling merchants in town that would buy them, try the stables. I'm headed that way if you want to tag along."
Lorena smiled at the offer and followed Jade through the empty street.
"Thanks for your help with Sadia, I wasn't getting anywhere with her before you showed up."
"No problem, she's pretty set in her ways."
They continued down the road until the smell of manure and hay grew intense, then turned the corner and found the stables nestled behind the inn.
"Let me do the talking." Jade whispered as they entered, several horses whinnying as they passed.
"Who's there?" A large man stepped out from one of the stalls, a fierce look in his eye. He was tall, taller than her old body and thick as stone. Lorena used Identify on the man.
Jeremy, Human, Level 33 Mage
"We're looking for a merchant headed to Darnathal, we have trade goods to sell." Jade said in a friendly tone.
Jeremy softened but his expression fell. "Ah, you've come to the right place, but it seems you haven't heard."
Jade glanced at Lorena, "heard what?"
Jeremy's frown deepened even more. "The road to Darnathal is closed until further notice."
Jade smirked. "What? By whom?"
Jeremy looked at them with hollow eyes. "Rendclaw."
Jade rolled her eyes.
"Who's Rendclaw?"
"A mythical creature."
"He's real. I've seen him. On my way into town."
He shook his head, eyes falling to the floor. The bale of hay underneath him seemed to sag.
"They say he's a demonic creation, a byproduct of a misguided Brocken Warlock."
"Why would the Brocken have created him?" Jade asked.
He leveled a hard stare toward Jade.
"Who else would have created something so foul, with such evil in its soul."
Lorena watched the exchange with an odd fascination.
"So if we kill this Rendclaw, you'll take our trade goods?"
Jade shot her a bewildered look and Jeremy barked out a laugh.
"You can certainly try. But he cannot die. I've offered a quest to three people now all stronger than you. All of them turned me down."
Lorena shrugged at Jade. "How strong is he?"
"He's a wolf, more monster than beast. Taller than this here stable and lightning quick. Fangs the length of both my arms," he said, stretching his arms out wide.
"And his eyes. I see them in my nightmares. Glowing orange, like two fireballs trapped inside a swirling black mass of evil."
"Okay… But what level is he?" The imagery was great at setting the scene, but none of that mattered if it was only level ten.
"He doesn't have a level because he's not real." Jade said in a frustrated tone.
"He was level sixteen when he chased me down the road." Jeremy said, his voice raised.
Lorena rolled her eyes.
"That's not the point." He cut her off before she could comment. "He's demonic. Evil. He has powers that do not belong to a beast, let alone one his level."
"What's the reward for the quest?"
"Lorena." Jade said in a harsh tone.
"One hundred gold, plus 3 weeks of my experience dole."
Lorena gently grabbed Jade's arm and turned her to the side.
"It's only level sixteen, it'll be easy."
Jade frowned. "You're level ten. And I don't care to kill it."
Lorena bit her lip. "We can split the reward, fifty fifty."
"I don't care about the gold."
"Okay, you can take all the experience then."
Jade shook her head.
Thirty wolves wasn't enough for you? The disgust in Ren's voice was clear. You need something bigger to kill?
It was twenty, and that's not the point.
Oh, that makes it better. Why are you pushing to kill another even stronger one? Haven't we had enough death for one day?
I need to get to Darnathal. If the roads closed that's a problem.
What happens if you can't get to Darnathal?
Lorena glanced at a part of her interface she'd been ignoring since she arrived, the Exit Everwind countdown. It sat in the corner, monitoring her every action, judging every choice she made. Constantly ticking.
Three months. That's what Colton had given her to make "substantial progress" toward killing Bale. Otherwise… She didn't want to think about what Colton would do. He didn't seem like the type that accepted excuses.
Three months? Ren's voice was sharp. You have a time limit?
Yes.
And what happens when time runs out?
Nothing good.
So if you fail, we both die.
Probably.
There was a long pause, then Ren sighed. Fine. If getting you to Darnathal means I get my body back in three months then so be it. Do you want to know how to get Jade on your side?
Yes.
Goddess Veythra hates many things, but demonic creatures are the worst of all. They're an offense to her creations.
The idea slid into place.
"Veythra—"
Goddess Veythra
"Goddess Veythra. Rendclaw is demonic, right? Wouldn't she reward you for slaying the beast?"
Jade's nostrils flared and she looked up, as if communing with her goddess.
"The Goddess would be pleased with me."
"So you'll do it?"
Jade turned to Jeremy. "We'll take the quest."
Quest [Rendclaw the Demonic] received.
Slay Rendclaw the Demonic and bring his glowing eyes to merchant Jeremy in the stables of Silvershire for your reward.
"Good luck. They say his eyes are what power him. Take them out if you want to survive," Jeremy said, a darkness to his voice.
Jade and Lorena left the stables and agreed to meet up in three days time to face Rendclaw. Jade was energetic, as if she was powered by a divine purpose.
She thinks we're helping her.
We're both getting what we want. She gets to please her Goddess, and I get to Darnathal.
And I get my body back. Right?
Yes—of course.
You hesitated. What aren't you telling me?
Nothing.
Liar.
Lorena sighed. She had hoped to keep the good will a little longer, but this would come out eventually.
I'm not entirely sure what happens when I return. None of this has gone as planned. You were supposed to be… Dealt with, by the System.
Dealt—Ren let out an exasperated sigh. And you never thought to ask what that meant?
Lorena didn't know how to answer. She never asked. The fewer details the better. Or she had thought.
She braced for a scream, for Ren to explode in anger. She certainly deserved it.
But when Ren spoke her voice was quiet, exhausted.
You better not get us killed.