Limits.

When I woke up the next morning, I noticed that Woody was not there, carving something as usual . I stood up, washed my face and went outside . It was eerily quiet . I took a stroll around the village but couldn"t find anyone . It was as if the whole population of the village evaporated . I walked and walked, until I arrived at the central part of the village .

I saw that all the people were gathered there and waiting for something . I was bewildered and asked out loud "What is going on?" . The people around the central plaza, turned towards me and silence filled the air . Trek came out of the crowd to the front and smiled . He said "We were waiting for you . We all gathered here, to welcome back my grandson . Come, let us celebrate!" .

This felt weird . "No one told me about that . What if, I just stayed in the hut till afternoon, would they just sit here? Waiting like this? Why wouldn"t Woody wait for me and tell me?" I though . I took a few steps forward and the people started smiling and saying "Welcome back" or something equivalent .

I joined the group and saw tables that surrounded the Village Stone . On it was food, drinks and whatnot . I asked "Why didn"t you guys tell me?" . Trek said "We wanted for it to be a surprise of sorts . Come join us, we will celebrate today like never!" . I thought "He seems quite enthusiastic . These people are a bit weird but so far, my instincts are not kicking in . I guess it should be fine" .

I sat down next to Trek, while other people also found their own spots . Trek said "Here . A toast, for the return of my grandson!" and all cheered . I didn"t know how to behave myself really . I didn"t know these people and although they seemed to be my family, they were also strangers . The questions from the previous day, resurfaced and I was lost in my thoughts .

Then I heard "Nex, tell us more about your adventure up to here!" . It was the voice of Ricky . He acted differently than before, as if looking at an older brother . It was a weird feeling and besides, I didn"t know where to start . "Should I tell them about everything? or just some major points? I don"t know" I thought . Trek saw my expression and said "You don"t have to lay out all the things you did past those years . Just give us some interesting things you saw and experienced" . I nodded my head and began .

"So, I learned about crafting since age of 16, it was after my parents pa.s.sed away . I wasn"t doing badly and I liked what I did . Couple of years later, I fell in love with a woman" . At that point I could hear some "Oooooh" sounds made by older people as well as Trek . I continued "But, she just wanted to use me . She stole the heirloom that my parents left for me and ran away . I was . . " then Trek interrupted me "What heirloom did you lose?" .

I said "The sword that father and mother left for me . They said to keep it safe but I was young and stupid . I wanted to impress a girl and gave it to her . . . " . "BOOOM!" the table we were sitting at broke into pieces . Trek was furious, he said "Did you get that sword back?" . I shook my head and said "No . I never found her and I never searched either . It was just a sword" .

Some people started to hold Trek down while his anger rose even more . The atmosphere changed by a 180 degrees . People had hostile looks on their faces, when they looked at me and my instincts were telling me to run . I stood up and distanced myself from the group . Trek was mad already due to my words and said "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! A filthy sp.a.w.n of that Raz and to think my daughter ran away with that filth!" .

"I knew something was wrong with these people . It seems this really is my family but that is not necessarily a good thing . No wonder we lived so far away . My parents ran away from here but why did he get so p.i.s.sed about that sword?" I thought . I had no answer to that question but I knew, I couldn"t stay here any longer . My instincts were telling me to run!

I backed away more and more while Trek still spouted angry comments . "You good for nothing filth . You should be skinned alive! Boiled in water and then chopped into pieces!" . The people seemed to realise that I was getting further and further away, so without waiting any longer, I sprinted towards the exit .

"Catch that b.a.s.t.a.r.d!", "Don"t let him get away!", "He has be sacrificed anyway" . When I heard the last comment, I was terrified . "What the f.u.c.k did they want to do to me? Sacrifice? To what? These people are lunatics, no wonder mother and father left this place and went far away!" I thought and ran at my full speed .

There were arrows, spears and whatnot flying at me . I calculated their behaviours and used the Natural Path skill to the maximum, in order to run and avoid the attacks . I couldn"t stay there, I had to get out of there and into the forest . The forest would at least, provide some cover and means of escape!

I ran past the entrance and I felt that something was wrong . My instincts were telling me that something was coming from behind, fast! I jumped to the left . "Screech!" . What pa.s.sed me, was an arrow that was going so fast, it was making screeching sound as it flew .

"This is bad . Woody"s skills are on par with that sword woman . I wouldn"t be surprised, if she was one of them as well" I thought and ran as fast as I could, while utilising the Natural Path skill . When I was in the forest, the people that could attack me, were those that had ranged weapons but fortunately, they didn"t excell at speed . I was worried that someone who did, would chase me but no one was faster than me from that group . Woody was the most terrifying opponent, his archery skills were beyond those of that Eterian I met and she lived for over 100 years .

There were currently 4 people chasing me, including Woody . All of them had bows but the archery skills of the other 3 people, were much worse compared to those of Woody . I decided to sacrifice some of my daggers and try to eliminate the 3 weaker opponents . With my daggers ready, I released two of them, while utilising the Natural Path skill . The daggers were on target, until two arrows knocked them off the course .

"That b.a.s.t.a.r.d is just too good with that bow" I thought and then, I heard Woody shouting "Fall back guys! He has the means to kill you with one dagger! I will chase him alone!" . The others didn"t seem to disagree and fell back . I was relieved but at the same time shocked . "This guy can judge my skill very well and not only that, he believes that he can catch me by himself . This is bad" I thought .When I woke up the next morning, I noticed that Woody was not there, carving something as usual . I stood up, washed my face and went outside . It was eerily quiet . I took a stroll around the village but couldnt find anyone . It was as if the whole population of the village evaporated . I walked and walked, until I arrived at the central part of the village . I saw that all the people were gathered there and waiting for something . I was bewildered and asked out loud What is going on? . The people around the central plaza, turned towards me and silence filled the air . Trek came out of the crowd to the front and smiled . He said We were waiting for you . We all gathered here, to welcome back my grandson . Come, let us celebrate! . This felt weird . No one told me about that . What if, I just stayed in the hut till afternoon, would they just sit here? Waiting like this? Why wouldnt Woody wait for me and tell me? I though . I took a few steps forward and the people started smiling and saying Welcome back or something equivalent . I joined the group and saw tables that surrounded the Village Stone . On it was food, drinks and whatnot . I asked Why didnt you guys tell me? . Trek said We wanted for it to be a surprise of sorts . Come join us, we will celebrate today like never! . I thought He seems quite enthusiastic . These people are a bit weird but so far, my instincts are not kicking in . I guess it should be fine . I sat down next to Trek, while other people also found their own spots . Trek said Here . A toast, for the return of my grandson! and all cheered . I didnt know how to behave myself really . I didnt know these people and although they seemed to be my family, they were also strangers . The questions from the previous day, resurfaced and I was lost in my thoughts . Then I heard Nex, tell us more about your adventure up to here! . It was the voice of Ricky . He acted differently than before, as if looking at an older brother . It was a weird feeling and besides, I didnt know where to start . Should I tell them about everything? or just some major points? I dont know I thought . Trek saw my expression and said You dont have to lay out all the things you did past those years . Just give us some interesting things you saw and experienced . I nodded my head and began . So, I learned about crafting since age of 16, it was after my parents pa.s.sed away . I wasnt doing badly and I liked what I did . Couple of years later, I fell in love with a woman . At that point I could hear some Oooooh sounds made by older people as well as Trek . I continued But, she just wanted to use me . She stole the heirloom that my parents left for me and ran away . I was then Trek interrupted me What heirloom did you lose? . I said The sword that father and mother left for me . They said to keep it safe but I was young and stupid . I wanted to impress a girl and gave it to her . . BOOOM! the table we were sitting at broke into pieces . Trek was furious, he said Did you get that sword back? . I shook my head and said No . I never found her and I never searched either . It was just a sword Some people started to hold Trek down while his anger rose even more . The atmosphere changed by a 180 degrees . People had hostile looks on their faces, when they looked at me and my instincts were telling me to run . I stood up and distanced myself from the group . Trek was mad already due to my words and said You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! A filthy sp.a.w.n of that Raz and to think my daughter ran away with that filth! . I knew something was wrong with these people . It seems this really is my family but that is not necessarily a good thing . No wonder we lived so far away . My parents ran away from here but why did he get so p.i.s.sed about that sword? I thought . I had no answer to that question but I knew, I couldnt stay here any longer . My instincts were telling me to run! I backed away more and more while Trek still spouted angry comments . You good for nothing filth . You should be skinned alive! Boiled in water and then chopped into pieces! . The people seemed to realise that I was getting further and further away, so without waiting any longer, I sprinted towards the exit . Catch that b.a.s.t.a.r.d!, Dont let him get away!, He has be sacrificed anyway . When I heard the last comment, I was terrified . What the f.u.c.k did they want to do to me? Sacrifice? To what? These people are lunatics, no wonder mother and father left this place and went far away! I thought and ran at my full speed . There were arrows, spears and whatnot flying at me . I calculated their behaviours and used the Natural Path skill to the maximum, in order to run and avoid the attacks . I couldnt stay there, I had to get out of there and into the forest . The forest would at least, provide some cover and means of escape! I ran past the entrance and I felt that something was wrong . My instincts were telling me that something was coming from behind, fast! I jumped to the left . Screech! . What pa.s.sed me, was an arrow that was going so fast, it was making screeching sound as it flew . This is bad . Woodys skills are on par with that sword woman . I wouldnt be surprised, if she was one of them as well I thought and ran as fast as I could, while utilising the Natural Path skill . When I was in the forest, the people that could attack me, were those that had ranged weapons but fortunately, they didnt excell at speed . I was worried that someone who did, would chase me but no one was faster than me from that group . Woody was the most terrifying opponent, his archery skills were beyond those of that Eterian I met and she lived for over 100 years . There were currently 4 people chasing me, including Woody . All of them had bows but the archery skills of the other 3 people, were much worse compared to those of Woody . I decided to sacrifice some of my daggers and try to eliminate the 3 weaker opponents . With my daggers ready, I released two of them, while utilising the Natural Path skill . The daggers were on target, until two arrows knocked them off the course . That b.a.s.t.a.r.d is just too good with that bow I thought and then, I heard Woody shouting Fall back guys! He has the means to kill you with one dagger! I will chase him alone! . The others didnt seem to disagree and fell back . I was relieved but at the same time shocked . This guy can judge my skill very well and not only that, he believes that he can catch me by himself . This is bad I thought .