Chapter 2: The Price of a Life
I stepped out of the tent at exactly 10:00 AM, my boots crunching on the frost-covered grass. The air was crisp, smelling of pine and something metallic—the lingering scent of the "Excalibur" crash.
Eris was sitting on a stump nearby, aggressively sharpening a jagged shortsword. When she saw me, she didn't smile. She just pointed the blade at my bandaged arm.
"You're awake," she said flatly. "Good. You've eaten two days' worth of our rations and used our best healing salves. You're a heavy debt." She paused, her eyes narrowing as she looked me up and down. "What do they call you, anyway? Or should I just call you 'Corpse'?"
"My name is Rudeus," I said, my voice raspy.
"Rudeus," she repeated, testing the name. "Well, Rudeus, you're a long way from home."
I looked at her gear. Her leather armor was scorched from the shockwave I'd caused, and the sword she was sharpening had a massive notch in the center.
"I'll pay you back," I said, stepping closer. "I can fix that."
She laughed, a sharp, cold sound. "Fix it? This is Dwarven Steel. Unless you've got a portable forge in your pocket, you're dreaming."
I didn't need a forge. I pulled out my phone. [BATTERY: 6%]. I ran the Refinement App over her blade. A faint blue light flickered, and the notch filled itself in, the steel becoming smoother and sharper than the day it was made.
Eris froze, her eyes wide. She snatched the phone from my hand, trying to trigger the light herself, but the screen stayed dark under her fingers. It didn't recognize her touch. Realizing its value, she tucked the phone into her own belt pouch and gave me a dangerous smirk.
"If I can't use the tool, I'll just keep the craftsman," she said. "You're not leaving my sight, Rudeus."
"Wait," I croaked, pointing toward the site of the crash. "Before we go... I have to get what I dropped."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Make it fast."
I ran toward the center of the crater I had created. This was the spot where Excalibur had buried itself deep into the earth. I reached the center and looked down, expecting to see the legendary hilt.
My heart stopped. The hole was empty. I fell to my knees, frantically digging through the ash with my one good hand.
"Where is it?" I hissed. "Lucius, scan the area!" The phone vibrated weakly: [ERROR: TARGET NOT FOUND]. The sword was gone. Someone had taken it.
"Move it, Rudeus!" Eris shouted from the tree line.
We traveled until we reached a small, stone-walled town. Once we were safe inside, I realized I couldn't rely on a missing sword or a dying phone. I asked Eris to teach me how to fight.
Recognizing how useful I was, she agreed. In a quiet courtyard, she began drilling me in Ninja Arts and swordplay. She was brutal, sweeping my legs and forcing me to move through the shadows.
"If you want to find your sword," she barked, "you have to be fast enough to keep your head."
I struggled, my muscles screaming, but I didn't stop. I was no longer just a hacker; I was a student of the blade.
If you are interested at Chapter 3, we can see what happens when Rudeus uses his new skills for the first time.