The figure of a person—in an attire made of straw, a facemask from the same material tightly covering his nose and mouth, and a large straw bag hanging beside him—perched on top of one of the lower hanging branches of a giant shrub of a questionable dimension, which is a few hundred meters away from the bank of a mighty river rushing at its own pace.

  This figure dazed by the sight of thr heavens above, marveled with eyes colored in pure reverence and a face worshiping in bliss.

  The sight of eight enormous planet, their appearance seemingly near ground like they are threatening to just make contact and decimate the world. The colossal moons of varying sizes bound to them and others standing aloof. The sea of bright stars beyond, vastly superior to nebulas and galaxies ever seen or fabricated by computers in the history of mankind, which bless the planets and the world below with sacred and modest luminosity and also make the state of the world stuck between the day and the night, a state of dilemma striking the human spirit with a feeling of nostalgia and comfort like this is how it should be.

  All this together with the caress of the gentle and cool wind crossing the ancient river, rich in the breath of life, and the smell of petrichor, blends together to create an experience which can elevate the spirit and intoxicate the mind of any creature.

  Skylar, intoxicated by the view of heaven waited on the shrub for the smoke of death coming from the chamber located inside the shrub to cease, a product of his creation.

  Its over, I think...

  Skylar having recovered his calm from his trance, thought as he looked down below. He then jumped down from the top of the shrub a great height and entered the tunnel, and inside the chamber.

  Its been several moons since Skylar battled the fruit that invited a disaster on him. With his exceptional intelligence and discovery he concluded that traveling along the river bank will be his best option.

  He discovered that for some reason, no wild creature approach the bank of the ancient river and that the strange lizards that create their nest in the shrubs that grow a little far from the river bank and along it won't even ever try to cross an invisible boundary line over to the river bank even if you anger them greatly.

  Back to Skylar, in a chamber;

  This chamber similar to the first one where he first had his encounter with a giant lizard, except there is another small bedding close to the bigger bedding, on top of which are 4 very big yellow translucent egg, is a dead body of another one of the big and strange lizard which might have laid the four eggs.

  Skylar moved closer to the lifeless lizard, dragging his big baggage with him and as usual like he did to his previous eight victim, he skilfuly butchered the poor creature with mastered movement.

  "These guys' meats taste like wood and they are kind of rubbery." He muttered after he swallowed a bite of chewed meat and licked his oily lips. Meanwhile, he did not take his eyes away from the holographic display his mind projected like they are floating in front of him.

  [Home ]

  [ Profile ]

  [ User name : Skylar ]

  [ Attributes ]

  [ Constitution : E- ]

  [ Perception : D ]

  [ Spirit : D- ]

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  [ Intelligence : F+]

  [ Energy : Ether( chemical ), ( ??? ) ]

  ...

  My stats have somehow gone up... my intelligence is still very low though, and my energy have gained a triple question mark somehow... I wonder when I will be able to release energy beams like in those fantasy movies...

  Skylar thought as he checked his status window with a thoughtful look and at the same time, he turned the meat he is roasting on fire.

  After he ate his fill and slept a little, he went out of the chamber and took a shower at the riverside like he likes doing. And after the uneventful bath, he returned to the chamber, packed his stuff together with the leftover meat, bless the 4 eggs, hoped they hatch and grow up healthy, and he bid his farewell to invisible spirits in the chamber and left, dragging his heavy load behind him.

  ...

  After several moons, twist and turns, Skylar having been traveling along the ancient river bank reached a fork on his journey.

  The sacred river that has been blessing and protecting him all along, has now taken a turn to the north as opposed to east, which is the direction of the destination he chose—the straight line direction to the safe zone closest to him.

  "I need to think about this carefully." Skylar muttered as he settled with his butt on a log in front of a lizard shrub as he calls it—the place where he gets his food and accommodation through cowardly and dirty means since he began his journey in this world.

  According to my map, if I follow along the riverbank, which is clearly safer, I will reach the northern side of BRAVE, but the time it will take me to reach a safe zone will more than triple unlike if I just continue on a straight path... So the way along the river bank is way longer...

  Skylar concluded and then he rechecked the map, trying to compare more accurately the length of the two path he's been forced to choose from.

  How can I be certain I won't at one point along the riverbank encounter great danger. Even some of my lizard hunting were not successful, there were times I had to run for my life and there was this time I almost had my head removed from my neck by that cunning bastard, but if I take the straight path, more and bigger danger is guaranteed, I may not even find food to eat, but it's shorter... this is really giving me a headache...

  Sky thought with mixed feeling and a bit of frustration.

  Deciding to postpone his decision for the moment, he stood up and walked closed to the side of the river. Then reaching it, he squatted in front of it and faced its ancient silently roaring waters with a solemn look on his face.

  "You see, kind river; we may soon part ways. So I have come to express my gratitude and at the same time promise to have fun with you when I am able to... Remember the time we first met when I was being chased by that hungry rabbit which ran away after it probably sensed that deity coming... Remember that time I was chased by that crazy lizard that stopped and retreated after i escaped to your side... Also that time I was bathing and nearly fell inside you as I was trying to take water, well... that was by far the most hilarious of them all... Kind river we have really come a long long way..."

  Skylar recounted his past experience to the river, a thing he does regularly, a thing to motivate his wavering spirit. And he probably wish he received a reply, something childish but he might not be prepared for.

  "Eheheh, eheheh, eheheh, eheheh, eh..."

  Just as he wished, a voice that sounds like a chorus of little girls giggling echoed in his mind, surprising him that he turned mute.

  "???" Confused with his expression showing great doubt of the situation, he looked around for the source of the voice to settle his doubt, but the voice once again echoed in his mind.

  "Hey! you blockhead, coward, look here, in front of you, meathead, other eye, closer, mast..."

  This time several voices like the sound of a rowdy group of girls yelling echoed clearly in his mind, clearing his doubt.

  What the hell is happening?

  Not understanding the situation and therefore really freaked out, he walked backwards with careful and quiet steps, trying not to agitate whatever might be haunting him as he concluded.

  "Hey! in! Meathead, not that way, idiot, here, jump, will protect, no mast..."

  The voices, each colored with different emotions, anger, panic, frustration, concern, irritation and many more continued in Skylar's mind, but ignoring them, he quickly seized his heavy load after reaching a far distance from the riverbank, not even daring to look back at the ancient river he concluded might be cursed.

  "When can we play again, they are going, what a pity, they will be back, they promised, we shall wait, they are intr... mast..."

  "Fuck!"

  These voices taking turns lingered in Skylar's mind as he scurried into the giant black bush ahead, already forgotten about the decision he was deliberating about. So, at the end, he chose the straight path closest to his chosen destination, which is away from the ancient river's protection, and is also a long and eventful journey ahead.