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Salt and Blood - Chapter 47
🕑 Added 2024-10-17 11:43:22 +0000 UTC<< Chapter 46 | Table of Contents | Chapter 48 >>
1.47 - Hungry for Power
Let me tell you a story about a frog. An unfortunate frog was tossed into a pot of boiling water. Sensing the temperature, it immediately leapt out and escaped. That same frog was then dropped into a pot of cool water, where it began to swim and frolic. That water was slowly brought to a boil; but the unfortunate frog never noticed until it was too late and he was another man’s dinner.
-Excerpt from ‘Parables and Teachings’ by Lark Dundee
“What was that?” yelped Felix, brandishing the torch like a cutlass.
Rose blushed, embarrassed. The growl had come from her stomach. She was absolutely starving, having not eaten in Sylack knows how long.
“Nothing,” she muttered. “Now stop waving that damn torch around. If you use it like a weapon one more time I’m going to leave you behind.”
“You’re being so tyrannical today. It’s perfectly reasonable to be on edge in this situation,” he protested.
“Sure, nerves are fine. Just don’t try smacking anything with the torch again.”
She turned to continue walking, but another rumble from her stomach made her freeze. Turning back to the lizard with a grim look on her face, she sighed and pulled out half of Sunsplitter.
I suppose there’s no harm in grilling it and giving it a taste… Rose figured that even if the meat turned out to be inedible, it was better to find out now while they had the chance to eat.
The cave might continue onwards for miles. In this situation there was no room for pickiness. Bending down, she started by slicing off the head and legs.
Tossing them away, she carved off two thick chunks of flesh from the lizard’s torso. When Felix saw what she was doing he gagged.
Skill up!
Butchery 6 > 7
“You can’t expect me to eat… that thing?” he spluttered.
“You don’t have to eat a thing,” she retorted, already preparing a small fire pit. “Just keep watch while I look for some dry wood.”
***
A rich aroma wafted through the tunnel as she turned the lizard steaks over the fire. She hadn’t expected them to smell so enticing. Even Felix’s plain disgust had turned to reluctant curiosity.
She cooked the steaks for far longer than necessary. She had no idea what kind of dirt a wild beast living in a cave like this had picked up and it was better to be safe than sorry.
Grabbing the biggest one for herself, she raised it to her lips and closed her eyes. Her first bite was cautious; a hesitant foray into the cuisine of a scavenger.
However, the moment she bit down and felt the explosion of meaty, umami deliciousness, Rose was a convert for life. Ravenous hunger played a part in the savage dissection that followed, but she couldn’t deny it was one of—if not the most—fantastic foods she’d tasted.
Skill up!
Cooking 6 > 7
Within half a minute she’d devoured the whole hunk of meat and was greedily eyeing the second. Felix, having seen the enthusiasm and delight with which Rose had torn hers apart, overcame his disgust.
Soon he too was moaning as he tore piece after piece off with his teeth like a barbarian who’d never encountered the concept of manners. She forgave him for the slightly distasteful sight, knowing she’d been equally gross in her own consumption.
It had been a while since she’d checked her status, so she pulled it up while waiting for him to finish. This convergence had arrived at an inopportune moment, but it was a perfect chance to hone her skills.
Name: Rose Everblue
Race: Human
Occupation: Apprentice Scholar 9
Title: Apprentice
Available Titles: Murderer, Apprentice
Bound Items: Sunsplitter 51
Skills: Cleaning 11, Reading 11, Fishing 14, Swimming 8, Writing 13, Butchery 7, Cooking 7, Herding 2, Focus 14, Drawing 11, Sailing 15, One Handed Weapons 5, Blades 9, Pistols 10, Firearms 5, Unarmed Combat 2, Endurance 5, Precision 6, Arcane Attunement 2, Light Attunement 4, Stealth 4, Athletics 8, Toxin Resistance 2, Appraisal 1, Climbing 1, Crafting 1, Dual Wielding 1
Traits: Sensitive Line, Deft Hand, Good as New, Tunnel Vision, Endless Inkwell, Quick Consumption, Knot my Problem, Reliable Duelist
The pattering of feet against stone alerted her to an approaching beast. Rose realised that cooking the meat openly might have been a mistake.
While eating the lizard’s flesh raw was certainly not an option, they forgot to account for the fact that other hungry predators might be in the market for a snack.
Two pink lizards, identical to the one they’d just fought, skittered up to their makeshift camp. The larger of the two hissed at her and she immediately drew her other cutlass.
“Whatever you do, please don’t let the torch go out this time,” she pleaded, throwing Felix her most convincing puppy eyes.
“What am I supposed to do if they attack me?” he questioned, waving the dagger at her twin blades. “I’ve only got this.”
Rose rolled her eyes before reaching down to her belt. She still had the cutlass from before and tossed it over to him. He fumbled, dropping the dagger and startling the beasts, somehow catching the weapon by the handle.
The noise spurred them into action and they charged forth, both targeting Rose. Their tails whipped and cracked at her, but she was prepared.
Sunsplitter whirled in her hands, dazzling the cavern with magnificent beams of refracted torch-light as she parried and blocked the strikes. Felix was not so impotent this time and when both lizards were wholly focused on her, he lunged forward and cleaved off one of the tails near the base.
With a screech the injured beast snapped at him, changing prey without a second thought. That freed up Rose to focus on her snarling foe.
She fell into a rhythm, every beat a swing of her blade that met claw or tail and made her arms quiver. Under her fury however, the lizard was unable to resist. Shallow wounds accumulated on its front legs.
Its tail cracked through the air, then dropped to the ground as she sliced it off with a well timed counter-slash. Capitalising on its momentary hesitation, she carved a leg off at the shoulder, before stomping on the wound.
The soft flesh offered little resistance to her sturdy boot and she heard a crunch, right before Sunsplitter severed the beast’s head. She swivelled when a gurgling noise accompanied by an angry roar came from her right.
Skill up!
Blades 9 > 10
You have earned a new trait!
Steady Slash: When wielding a bladed weapon, your grip rarely falters. Slashing attacks with blades are always angled to deal the most damage possible, based on the intent and skill behind the strike.
Felix was on the ground, holding the torch up high in one hand while the other was driving the cutlass through the lizard’s neck as it attempted to bite his face off with furious vengeance. The kicking legs and screeches stuttered as life slowly drained from the creature and Felix shoved it off him.
“That was absolutely horrifying,” he gasped, crawling away from the bloody corpse. “Look, the torch is still lit,” he added with a smile.
“Yeah, good job Felix,” she chuckled. Why did she feel like a proud mother all of a sudden? The roles in their relationship had somewhat reversed since they’d become pirates.
A subtle tug at the back of her mind made her turn back to the beast she’d just slain. A grin crossed her face when she realised that there was something to harvest.
Their little adventure into the caves might end up being profitable after all. Her eyes sparkled as she followed the pulling sensation and allowed the tide to guide her.
You are attempting to harvest a treasure!
WARNING!
Your associated skill levels are too low to guarantee a successful harvest of [Salamander’s Rejuvenation Gland 24]
A failed harvest may cause damage to the treasure, proceed anyway?
[YES][NO]
Rose frowned. Even with the added level in Butchery, it seemed that there was still some risk involved—even with items at such a low level.
She vowed to dedicate some free time to working on her butchery, skinning, and preservation when she next had a chance. Despite the warning she continued, hoping to luck out or only suffer minimal failures.
Attempting to harvest [Salamander’s Rejuvenation Gland 24]...
Harvest success!
[Salamander’s Rejuvenation Gland 24] obtained!
Letting out the breath she’d been holding, Rose realised they’d been mistaken about these creatures. They weren’t lizards, but salamanders. Whatever a salamander was. Trent would know—or Nasar, more likely.
These aggressive buggers were delicious when cooked so she had no doubt the man had grilled one or two in his time as a pirate chef. She had half a mind to bring some of the meat back with her just so she could taste it prepared by the man.
Given they’d already encountered three in a short time, she expected many more fights in the near future. When they discovered an exit she could start thinking about her next meal.
Having taken everything of value from the corpses, she strolled over to the prone Felix and offered him a hand up. The boy took it with some reluctance, face pale and soaked with blood—most of it the salamander’s.
“Well, you certainly decided to dive right into the fun,” she joked, attempting to lighten the mood. All she got in return was a scowl.
Knowing it would take a while for him to come to terms with his actions—just as she had done when faced with the stag—Rose started to walk further into the cavern. Footsteps echoed through the tunnel as he trod behind her. At least I’m gaining levels.
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