Elena's initial frustration at the market turned into a spark of determination.
She watched as other vendors offered small samples of their cheeses or breads. People needed an incentive, proof that it was worth spending their precious coins.
"Daniel," Elena said, her voice low but full of conviction, "we have to give them a taste."
Daniel nodded. It was obvious. How could they expect someone to buy an unfamiliar dessert without knowing what it tasted like? He quickly cut one of the pies into small pieces, placing them carefully on a large, clean sheet of paper he had brought.
"Try the Earth Pie!" Elena announced, her voice commanding attention. "An ancient recipe, made with the freshest fruits from the village and Grandma's magic touch! It's free to try!".
The word "free" turned some heads. Curiosity, a powerful force in a village where novelty was few, began to take effect. An old woman wearing a headscarf and carrying an empty basket approached cautiously.
"Free, you say?" she murmured, her eyes scanning the pieces of pie.
"Yes, ma'am," Daniel replied, offering her one with a genuine smile. "Try it, you won't regret it. It's like a piece of home."
The old woman hesitated, then took a small bite. Her eyes widened slightly. The sweetness of the fruit, the softness of the pastry, and that subtly different note given by the special herbs created an unexpected explosion of flavor. Her face softened.
"By the ancestors..." she murmured, "this is delicious! It's... unlike anything I've ever tasted. What do you put in it?"
Elena, with a smile, briefly explained the fresh ingredients and Grandma's recipe, omitting the "silver dew" and "moonberry" to maintain the mystery. The old woman, convinced, took three copper coins out of her purse.
"I'll take a whole one," she said, smiling. "My grandson will love this. And my old man, too."
From that moment on, the fortunes of Daniel and Elena's stall changed. Other villagers, seeing the old woman's reaction, were encouraged to try. Word of mouth, more effective than any advertising, began to spread through the market. One after another, the pies began to disappear from the basket.
"This is selling very well!" Elena exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
Daniel felt a wave of relief and pride. People appreciated his efforts, and, most importantly, he was generating an income for his family in a way that didn't put his life in constant danger. At the end of the day, they returned home with an empty basket and a bag full of copper coins.
The Fruit of Cunning and Effort
That night, as Alicia counted the coins with a smile she hadn't had in a long time, Daniel felt the familiar buzzing of the interface.
+75 EXP
[Progress to Level 5: 195/240]
He hadn't fought, but he had overcome a challenge. The satisfaction was immense. Plus, he had those 13 Available Points from the previous level, plus what he had accumulated in his last few outings.
He remembered the tension in the market, the need to think quickly to convince people. He thought about how Intelligence had helped him decipher the recipe and how Sharpened Perception would help him find ingredients. And also, about the importance of Luck in a world where a chance encounter could change everything.
[New Points Assigned
+1 Intelligence
+1 Luck
+1 Speed]
His body once again experienced that slight tingle of transformation. He checked his interface, his stats reflecting the progress not only of his muscles, but of his mind and fortune.
[Attribute System
Name: Daniel
Age: 18
Class: None
Level: 5 [195/240]
Health: 40/40
Mana: 50/50
Strength: 10
Speed: 12
Intelligence: 15
Luck: 11
SpecialAbility: Adaptive Body (S) - Skill Creation (F) [???]
Abilities: Basic Healing (F) - Mana Projectile (E) - Basic Analysis (F) - Heightened Perception (E)
AvailablePoints: 10]
With the pies selling and his skills growing, Daniel felt he was on the right path. The forest was still dangerous, but now he had more options. Nighttime brought more peaceful sleep, without the constant pang of worry for his family. The sweet aroma of baking pies permeated the house, a promising new scent of prosperity.
The success of the Earth Pies brought with it a sense of relief and a more predictable routine. Daniel still accompanied Thom to the forest, but now their outings were more focused on gathering specific ingredients for the pies, as well as medicinal herbs.
However, the forest, like a wild beast, was unpredictable.
One morning, as Daniel and Thom ventured into an unfrequented area in search of a rare flower that Daniel had "remembered" would enhance the flavor of the pie, a loud growl broke the silence. It wasn't the sound of a lone wolf or a wild boar; it was a cacophony of high-pitched screams and clumsy footsteps.
"Damn it!" Thom cursed, his face scrunched up in surprise. A horde! And we're in the middle of it!
From the dense foliage emerged not one, not two, but a dozen goblins, their green hides and rudimentary weapons, some even riding what appeared to be miniature boars.
Their eyes, full of malice, fixed on Daniel and Thom. Daniel's "Heightened Perception" ignited, detecting every threat.
"Back off, old man!" Daniel shouted, pushing Thom behind a thick tree. "I'll stop them!"
Running wasn't an option. There were too many of them, and the terrain was dense. Daniel activated Mana Projectile, firing rapid bursts that exploded against the goblins, knocking down the weakest.
But the horde kept advancing. A goblin with a jagged spear lunged at him, and Daniel narrowly dodged, the tip slashing through his shirt. Another one lunged at him, and Daniel, using his enhanced Strength, pushed it away with a brutal shove.
The bruises and scrapes multiplied. His Health was rapidly declining. Daniel knew he couldn't win a direct fight against so many. He needed an advantage, something to balance the score. He thought about speed, about cunning. His mind worked frantically, searching for the best way to use his attributes.
The idea of what he needed to survive, to protect himself, and move forward solidified in his mind. It was time to allocate those points.
As the goblins surrounded him, Daniel focused for a moment, his interface system appearing in his vision. He had 10 points available, and he knew exactly where they should go.
[+3 Speed
+3 Luck
+2 Intelligence
+2 Strength]
His body reacted immediately, a surge of energy coursing through him. He felt lighter, more agile, but also more solid. His mind, once again, shone with extra clarity.
It was then, amidst the frenzy of battle, that a new notification appeared, almost like an extension of his own need:
Congratulations! Your need to efficiently organize and store resources has developed a new skill.
[NewSkill: Basic Inventory (F)
Allows you to store a limited number of items in a personal dimensional space.
InitialCapacity: 5 small slots.
ManaCost: 0 (to open/close)]
The ability manifested as a small transparent icon in the corner of his vision. Daniel instinctively tapped the icon. A small, semi-transparent window appeared, showing five empty slots. Without hesitation, he took a (small) healing potion that Thom always carried for emergencies and that the old man had thrown him, and made it disappear into one of the slots.
Then, in the same way, he inserted a sharp stone he found on the ground.
The potion was no longer in his hand, but he knew it was there. It was a leap of faith, a new, game-changing tool. With a breath, he pulled out the potion, drinking it quickly.
The wound on his arm, cuts, and bruises began to heal, restoring his health.
With the potion taking effect and his attributes enhanced, Daniel went on the offensive. His Speed allowed him to move among the goblins like a ghost, striking and dodging. His Strength now brought down goblins with a single, well-placed punch.
He used Mana Projectile with precision, aiming for his enemies' eyes or throats. Basic Inventory allowed him access to the few things he had without having to search his pockets.
Thom, hiding behind the tree, watched with his mouth open as Daniel, the young man who had returned battered from a goblin boss, now danced into the middle of a horde, transformed into an unstoppable force.
One by one, the goblins fell. Eventually, only two remained. Daniel, with a combination of Mana Projectile and a crushing blow, brought them down. The forest fell silent again, broken only by his labored breathing.
He was bruised and bleeding, but most of the wounds had already begun to heal thanks to the potion. He looked at Thom, who was staring at him with an unreadable expression.
"Looks like... I'm not the only one who knows how to navigate the forest, lad," Thom said, his voice tinged with wonder.
Daniel just nodded, his mind processing the battle. It had been a terrifying experience, but it had pushed him to his limits and revealed a new facet of his power.
+120 EXP
[Level 5 → Level 6!]
[Attribute System
Name: Daniel
Age: 18
Class: None
Level: 6 [75/300]
Health: 30/60 (injured, using potion)
Mana: 40/60
Strength: 12
Speed: 15
Intelligence: 17
Luck: 14
SpecialAbility: Adaptive Body (S) - Skill Creation (F) [???]
Abilities: Basic Healing (F) - Mana Projectile (E) - Basic Analysis (F) - Heightened Perception (E) - Basic Inventory (F)
AvailablePoints: 5]
Daniel knew the road ahead would be difficult. The forest was becoming more dangerous, but he was also becoming stronger, more cunning, and now, more organized.
The price of power was high, yes, but so was the reward. And the reward was the ability to protect what he loved most.