by Tamryn Tamer
“Repulsive?” Frost laughed out loud at the absurdity of the statement. There was fundamentally no way that could be true. He could have believed that the humans viewed them as inferior, but ugly, it wasn’t possible. “No, I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Why do you find that so unbelievable?” Lysandra asked while smiling at the other elves as if he was about to prove a point for her.
“How could anybody find you repulsive?” Frost laughed as he thought about a few of his college courses that talked about societal standards of beauty. “Beauty doesn’t work like that. And I’m not talking about the variance in beauty standards there are between cultures throughout history. There is a point where perfect symmetry combined with flawless features must be recognized as beautiful. You are all undeniably beautiful and any man would be lucky to marry any one of you.”
“Do you think we’re stupid?” Ena said slamming her drink on the counter. “Stop making fun of us! No human would ever marry an elf!”
“Herald Frost,” Lysandra stifled her sweet laugh as her face turned red. “I didn’t expect you to be so forward. The truth is, humans don’t find us beautiful. At least not in that way. They might find us beautiful like they would a bird. And yes, there have been many instances of elves and other demihumans sleeping with humans but it’s rare. But, as for marriage, Ena is right. Humans occasionally bed sheep as well but that doesn’t mean humans are about to wed them.”
“So, they view you as cattle?” Frost scoffed and took another drink of wine. “That’s crazy. You’re messing with me.”
“It’s the truth,” Fayeth said calmly while leaning forward. Frost was positive her large chest was going to pop from her top but they stayed secure as if held in by magic.
“I need a moment to think,” Frost said as he pieced together the situation. The woman he remembered was definitely an elf and the world herald rang a bell. But why would she choose him? He definitely wasn’t going to run around proselytizing for her and he certainly wasn’t the heroic type. It didn’t make sense.
“Take your time,” Lysandra said while eating some of her vegetables. “Ena, Renna, Fayeth, I believe you have chores to do.”
“But we haven’t had lunch yet you evil hag,” Renna objected while staring at Frost.
“Fine,” Lysandra rolled her eyes. “Eat first. And then chores. I intend to get to know more about Herald Frost.”
“I bet you do,” the petite elf scowled as she got up to walk toward the kitchen. “Dusty old crone.”
“Aren’t you around the same age,” Frost asked as the other elf women went to the kitchen.
“We’re not,” Lysandra blushed. “I’m ninety-eight, Ena is thirty-five, Renna is twenty-six, and Fayeth is twenty-one. But thank you for the compliment.”
“Ninety-eight?” Frost said while staring at the youthful woman. “You’re joking?”
“I am not,” Lysandra smiled bashfully. She looked undeniably youthful and Frost figured elves must age slowly. That meant that all of the elves he saw in the village could be anywhere from twenty to at least a hundred years old even if they all looked twenty-five.
“So,” Frost pointed toward the kitchen. “Are they your daughters?”
“No,” Lysandra burst out laughing at the suggestion. “Thank the goddess. There isn’t a lot of space in the village so we share residences.”
“I see,” Frost said as he tried to further wrap his mind around his situation. If he was in a game world, his ignorance of the world worried him. He needed to know the mechanics before he ended up in some type of boss battle. “Right. How are you able to see me using scan without using scan yourselves?”
“Scan isn’t that different than general observation skills,” Lysandra answered. “The more you focus on a person, the more you notice about them, right? Just think about the information you want and you can get it without scanning. Scanning is, well, a little more invasive.”
“Do you mind if I try?” Frost asked while staring at Lysandra. A dish clattered from the kitchen and yelling ensued. “Do you need to check on them?”
“They’re fine,” Lysandra smiled and rolled her eyes. “They’re probably fighting over the fruit. There wasn’t much left which was why they were out gathering when they found you.”
“Okay,” Frost smiled while focusing on Lysandra. “I’m going to start, is that okay?”
“Please,” Lysandra beamed while waiting patiently. “Just focus on me the same as you did while using scan.”
Frost calmly stared at Lysandra but immediately became preoccupied as his mind wandered to how gorgeous she was. He found himself distracted by her smile and focusing on her soft luscious lips. It was as if tiny invisible tendrils were pulling him in.
“Is there a reason you’re staring at my lips?” Lysandra grinned impishly.
“Sorry,” Frost said while still finding himself unable to stop staring.
“Frost,” Lysandra said while taking his hand in hers. “You never have to apologize for looking at me like that.”
“Focus,” Frost said to himself as if compelling himself. The scan symbol appeared over her head along with her level. But even though he was finished with the test, he couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous elf. Her violet eyes, snowy white hair, and pink lips were like an oasis to a thirsty traveler.
“I’m not complaining,” Lysandra blushed while stroking his hand. “But are you going to look at me all day?”
“Sorry,” Frost said as he was jolted back to the reality.
“I already told you that you never need to apologize for looking at me like that.” Lysandra smiled while staring at him. “Frost, would you like to lay with me?”
“Is that a trick question?” Frost smiled nervously. The answer was obvious but he still wasn’t sure of her intentions. She seemed to believe he was Shalia’s herald and he wondered if it was a test of some sort.
“No,” Lysandra laughed. “Your expression reminds me of Ena’s. I swear that girl believes everybody in the world is up to something. I’m simply asking because I would be happy to lay with you if you want.”
“Really?” Frost said while staring at the beautiful elf priestess. He was entranced by her before but knowing that she was actually interested made focusing a little harder. Although he still wondered if she was actually interested or if it was something else. “Why are you helping me?”
“I suppose I shouldn’t avoid the topic,” Lysandra smiled politely. “You are the Herald of Shalia and I’m her priestess. Not only that, but this entire village consists of those who worship her. You are the first herald Shalia’s ever sent and I’m really excited because…”
“I’m sorry I’m going to have to stop you there,” Frost interrupted. “Before you get too excited, I’m not a religious person and I’m not even a good person. Don’t get your hopes up because I’m not about to spread the word of Shalia throughout the world.”
“Oh,” Lysandra laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest Frost. As for your concerns about your title, that isn’t really the priority right now, is it?”
“You’re right,” Frost nodded while chugging down his wine. “Is there a list of abilities somewhere I can reference. And a way for me to find out what my level is?”
“Right,” Lysandra got up from her seat. “I’m curious about that as well. Follow me.”
“Where are you going?” Renna yelled as the women rushed out of the kitchen. The three looked like they’d been in a brawl of some sort and various colorful berry stains covered their clothing. “You probably shouldn’t be left alone with him you corpse.”
“She’s right,” Ena said while glaring suspiciously at Frost. “We should come with.”
“We’ll be fine,” Lysandra said calmly. “And if you three are done eating, clean up your mess and start helping around the village. Understood?”
“As you wish high priestess,” Fayeth said.
“Annoying old cunt,” Renna said clear as day.
“Excuse me?” Lysandra growled while raising her hand malevolently. “I didn’t quite hear that.”
“As you wish high priestess,” the three women said simultaneously before sprinting off.
“Good,” Lysandra caressed Frost’s arm. “Now, let’s go fine out a little more about you.”
CHAPTER 3
Lysandra brought Frost to a large bedroom on the second floor of the temple. It about twice the size of the typical master bedroom and filled with flowers. On one side of the room were doors leading to a large balcony overlooking the temple’s courtyard and on the other was a large bed. In the corner was a small reading nook complete with about a dozen book-filled shelves.
“Stand right over here,” Lysandra gestured for Frost to join her in front of the mirror. “What you’ll want to do is use scan on yourself. You can do that, right?”
“Right,” Frost said while staring at himself in the mirror. He was a completely different person. His muscles looked like he’d spent a lifetime perfecting them and his face could get top billing in a movie franchise. His hair was short and dark and he had some well-trimmed stubble shaped to perfection. The idea that he’d woken up in the forest that morning was absurd. He scanned himself but without a frame of reference the numbers were meaningless. “What’s the maximum level?”
“Maximum?” Lysandra asked. “Powerful heroes reach levels as high as fifty-five. But there have been heralds and monsters that have reached higher levels.”
“Monsters?” Frost asked as he stared at the number in front of him. “What’s the highest level of a monster?”
“Monsters?” Lysandra repeated. “There are legendary monsters rumored to exceed level one hundred. But most monsters will die before they reach level fifty. Although there are exceptions. Dragons, for instance, regularly exceed level seventy. There was also a demon that was rumored to have reached level sixty-five before he was defeated but that may have been exaggerated.”
“What was the level of the person that defeated him?” Frost asked.
“It was a band of heroes but I imagine to have a chance against a level sixty-five they’d each need to be over level fifty,” Lysandra said. “Which is why I believe the level of the demon was exaggerated. What level are you?”
“I’d rather not say,” Frost answered while staring at the sixty in front of his face. It seemed he was high level but not the absolute highest. It was likely that skills and equipment also played important roles in the world so it was a bad idea to overestimate how much his level meant. Additionally, it didn’t take a high level to slit somebody’s throat in their sleep. “What level are heralds normally?”
“That’s difficult to say,” Lysandra answered. “A herald is a representative of a god or goddess but the level can vary greatly. The weakest herald ever summoned was level five. I’m not sure about the strongest but maybe eighty?”
“Okay,” Frost nodded while staring at the level. Although his level was impressive, he wasn’t quite sure how much of a power differential there was between levels. But it did explain why during his scan Ena’s strength appeared to be a grey sliver.
“Frost,” Lysandra smiled politely while staring at him. “If you don’t wish to tell me your level, I understand. But I would like you to trust me as I’ve been trusting you.”
“You have been trusting me, haven’t you?” Frost sighed.
“It’s fine if you don’t trust me yet,” Lysandra pouted manipulatively. “But, based on your facial expressions I already know that your level is over fifty.”
“It’s that obvious?” Frost chuckled.
“Will you trust me?” Lysandra said while staring in his eyes. He didn’t know if she was just masterfully manipulating him or if her stare was genuine, but he actually believed he could trust her with anything.
“Sixty,” Frost answered the beautiful elf. “But I’m still not sure what that means.”
“Sixty,” Lysandra nodded while attempting to hide her excited smile. “Frost, do you want to be Shalia’s herald?
“I don’t know,” Frost scoffed. Any interaction he had with Shalia faded from his memory almost as soon as he woke up. “But I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want me to be the herald.”
“Why’s that?” Lysandra asked. “Because you’re human?”
“No,” Frost grinned lecherously at the elf. “Because I’m not a good person.”
“But you’re not a bad one,” Lysandra smirked.
“What makes you so sure?” Frost asked while leaning close to the violet-eyed elf. “You barely know me. Let me guess, it’s because Shalia sent me.”
“No,” Lysandra said confidently. “It’s because you called us beautiful and it’s the way you’ve been looking at me. I don’t believe a bad person could look at me the way you do.”
“Lustfully?” Frost scoffed. “Clearly you haven’t met very many bad…”
“Lovingly,” Lysandra interrupted causing Frost’s hair to stand on end. He definitely wouldn’t have called the way he was looking at them loving. “My eyes, my hair, my lips, and even my ears. Tell me, what about those inspire lust?”
“Dammit,” Frost defiantly glared at her ample chest. She was right, he had been focusing on her face instead of her body.
“Stare all you like,” Lysandra smiled while jutting her chest out. “Would you like me to undress for you?”
“Maybe later,” Frost sighed the bitter sigh of defeat. He wanted to take her up on her offer but he’d never be able to focus if she were naked. He needed to at least get the basics down before he took a break. And he still wasn’t sure if the woman was serious or just manipulating him. “For now, I need you to teach me more.”
“Of course,” Lysandra smiled victoriously while running her hand up and down his arm.
It took a while but eventually Lysandra managed to explain to him how to navigate his menus. Their stat system didn’t include specific stats like strength, agility, intelligence, or any of the classics. It was a simple physical and mental power rating.
Physical power included things like strength, agility, and stamina while mental power included things like charisma, magical capacity, and mental fortitude. None of them could be measured individually since they interacted with each other and in fact the physical and mental even influenced each other. A tired person didn’t only have a diminished physical capacity, but a diminished mental one as well.
Frost dug deeper and found physical statistics. He was exactly six feet tall, had six percent bodyfat, and was pretty muscular despite his relatively slender build. On Earth he could be a celebrity, but he wasn’t on earth.
“Question,” Frost said curiously. “It may be a little strange.”
“I won’t judge,” Lysandra said politely.
“How do I compare physically to other people in this world?” Frost asked while making a gesture like a vertically sliding scale. “Am I above average? Below average?”
“I’m sorry?” Lysandra turned away laughing. “Are you asking if you’re attractive?”
“Yeah,” Frost said while shaking his head in embarrassment. “Sorry, I know it’s a bit of a strange question.”
“You’re extremely attractive,” Lysandra managed to compose herself enough to answer. The way she looked at him suggested she wasn’t only telling the truth but was willing to prove it if necessary. “Although, some women might find you unreasonably tall.”
“Excuse me?” Frost laughed at the irony that after finally meeting the six-foot minimum he was in a world where that was a bad thing. “Are you joking?”
“No,” Lysandra smiled. “Although, I will say you are handsome enough where your height wouldn’t matter.”
“Thanks,” he grinned. “Sorry, I know prioritizing my appearance is probably odd…”
“I’m not judging,” Lysandra grinned seductively.
They continued searching and finally got to his abilities. There were far more than he thought was reasonable but at least their maxi
mum level appeared to be ten. He also had several abilities that appeared to be maxed out which was interesting.
Scan was just the tip of the iceberg. There were abilities relating to languages, reading, writing, mathematics, and other general use skills. Apparently, it was thanks to those abilities that he was even able to communicate with those around him.
There were also memorization abilities that revolved around crafting, cooking, and magic. In essence, for every level in those abilities he could instantly commit formulas, recipes, or spells to memory. Level one allowed him to memorize ten recipes, level two allowed him to memorize twenty more for a total of thirty, and at level ten he was able to memorize five hundred and fifty full recipes.
“Try this one,” Lysandra opened a book and showed him a recipe for a fruit pie.
“Memorized,” Frost said as the recipe became as easy to recall as the alphabet. Although the recipe was useless without the skill to apply it, it was there. “It’s so strange.”
“A master crafter might reach level four or five in their lifetime,” Lysandra said. “Not that they need more. Most crafters keep a recipe book and only commit their most popular recipes to memory.”
“I assume it’s the same for spell books?” Frost said.
“Exactly,” Lysandra rushed to her wardrobe and pulled out a large tome. “This contains all of the spells I’ve learned. There are over two thousand spells. Although most of them are variations of the same spell or extremely situational.”
“Those make absolutely no sense to me,” Frost said while memorizing the first few pages of the tome. It seemed the same basic principles of crafting applied. If he didn’t have the skill necessary to perform the spell, the formula was meaningless. “I don’t understand any of this.”
“Of course not. You’d have to train to be able to cast them. These particular spells are priest spells,” Lysandra said. “Although, what class are you?”
“Where do I find that?” Frost asked while staring at himself in the mirror. “The spot where I see class is blank when looking at myself.”