Chapter 222 - Days DCXLIII - DCLXXV

The next thirty days were focused on mainly hunting. I every day cleared the bear den all the way to the doors leading to the boss. I managed to collect 22440 more crystals. Without having to run all the way to wolf territory and back, I wasn't as tired as during previous huntings. Although fighting with those incredibly powerful bears in almost complete darkness was taxing.

A couple of days after she left me, Ki'rei returned. In the beginning, she didn't want to talk to me at all, but with time and a lot of dried fruits, she opened up a bit, and I managed to convince her, that next time I'll bring her that damn knife.

It was kinda annoying, having to persuade her to forgive me.

Even after all this effort, she was distancing herself a bit from me, but I had this strange feeling that it was more so I would remember this time to bring what I promised, than because she still was upset.

Then I made the way back to the city, which took a whole two days. The walls changed. I noticed two towers on both sides of the gate, with guards patrolling, carrying torches. I couldn't see any siege machinery as it was a bit too dark already. Hatta was putting the crystals I donated to good use.

Ki'rei left me there and ran away without a word to hide between the trees in her chicken form. Being seen by too many people was not good, and I understood that.

The last bit of distance was the hardest, as I could feel my skin itching for a bath more and more with every step closer. It was a strange feeling, and it got even worse as I finally passed the gate. 

I then made it furder, finally reaching the proper city after the night covered it with the blanket of darkness. I sold most of my score, leaving some crystals to Rishi and two in my pockets to later leave in the pub, so I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to get a beer. The rest got me 55 432 500 points, that I immediately invested in the Weapon master skills.

I rose all of them, but 'Parry' to the fifth level, but that was not the last possible upgrade. Then I bought new clothes. My shadows parked all the carts but one and then helped me to transport the goods to Jayadeva's workshop.

The father was absent, but the son was working on some sword, with few more people cleaning the place up. I made the shadows bring the stones inside and patiently waited for him to finish.

He didn't look so good. His eyes were sunken deep in the skull, and he had dark circles around them, probably from the lack of sleep.

When he finally snapped out of it, I immediately asked him:

- Can you do me a favor?

He jumped up, almost getting a heart attack.

- Ah! Peter... You scared me... Did you just return?

- Yes, and I brought gifts - I pointed out at the crystals piling up on the floor.

- That's... That's a lot.

- I know, but they are not for free. I need you to do me another weapon. A knife. Curved like a claw. Can you do that?

- Yes, of course. Whan do you need it?

- It's not super urgent, but as soon as you find some time, ok?

- Yes, sure. And how does the other one work? I didn't have time to go and ask sooner - he scratched the back of his head.

- It's great.

- I infused it with wind magic, so the blade would have less friction, and could cut deeper. It's also strongly reinforced. I don't think it will break, like... ever.

- Well... I can only tell you, that it's great - I smiled slightly. - I hope you can someday make even a better one, but it will be hard, as this is almost perfect.

He smiled back.

- With enough points, I'll make you one that will cut mountains!

- I hope so - I patted him on the shoulder. - Take some rest man.

- I have many orders.

- Fuck the orders. Get some sleep - I told him, and then left, taking my shadows with me, as they seemed to scare the other workers a bit.

I dismissed them outside and took care of the cart by myself. I parked it with the rest and finally went to take a bath. It felt incredible to soak myself in warm water, and just lie there for a couple of minutes. I would love to stay longer, but my stomach was getting angry at me.

I washed up quickly after that and went to the cafeteria to get some food. There were only scraps left, but it was still warm, so I ate.

Then I swung by the pub. It was just filled with people, so I ended up resigning from the late-night beer.

- Have mercy on the old man - I heard a weak voice as I was leaving.

It was the same old guy, that I fed last time, and talked with. With the same bowl in his shaking hands.

- Here - I dropped two crystals, that were supposed to top up my pub account, in his bowl. - Go eat something.

- Thank you. Thank you for your kindness.

- Yeah... - I said more to myself, than to him, and then left.

Giving him the crystals was not the best solution. The old man needed work to sustain himself. I thought that maybe Hatta will have something. Just enough so he would have a bed to sleep in, and some food to fill his stomach.

I kept thinking what that could be, as I made my way to the barracks. Few ideas for relatively easy jobs popped into my mind. I entered my room and finally get to the bed. It felt incredibly nice after all those nights spent on the ground, in the harsh environment of the woods.

I spend few more minutes trying to solve the 'grandpa problem', but the exhaustion combined with luxuries made me sleepy. I started to feel how I'm slowly drifting away from reality to the realm of dreams. It felt so damn nice. So damn nice...

The day came to an end with 9 698 290 points remaining on my account, and forty-two class points.