Free (World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan by Dem Mikhaylov

got so involved in my quest that I completely ignored NPCs and other gamers passing behind the fence. Let them passing by. We are hard-working people and we don’t have time to stare at looky-loos!
    As if by magic, two rough but reliable saw bucks emerged, my belly button nearly became bigger than my stomach when I loaded the thinnest log on them. At that very moment when I was groaning strenuously while moving the log too heavy to lift, a long-expected message appeared in front of my eyes when the world went dark because of my tension:
    Your strength has increased by 1 point.
    Nice!
    Smiling gladly I got armed with a sharp-toothed two-handed saw and bit into the wood dispensing the ground by a shower of sawdust.
    ‘Last time when I left the Cradle I had just two points of strength and stamina each…’ – a sudden thought flashed through my mind. Now I’ve got twice more and I’m still in two steps from the Birth Gates. Although my other attributes are equal to one point so far and there is nothing I can do. A mindless axe swinging doesn’t do much good for intelligence. The most important is that I feel enthusiastic due to drive – a sudden discovery of two wooden sawbucks that were impossible to hide anywhere in the small yard didn’t happen undetected for me. It means that we’re following the right way, my comrades! An axe, saw and sawbucks – all that’s required to fell down the trees and cut them into billets. The quest can indeed be completed on different levels – you can fell down only one tree or grit your teeth, go all the way and finish the quest to a full extent. I was absolutely unaware of it. I haven’t read about anything like this on the game forums. Game gurus spending all their time on the forum advised not to sweat away at that quest as it’s a waste of time with a minimum return. Although… it can be so indeed. I don’t have any agreement on any additional award. Working hard like a beaver and literally sinking in honest sweat I worked till the end of the day and sawed six oak logs into billets! If it was in the real world I would have already flaked out. But here it’s ok, it only does good for me – I hardly coped with the last log when my stamina went up by one more point.
    Your stamina has increased by 1 point.
    But it was nothing in comparison with what could happen at dinner when Vlasilena sitting opposite me leaned to me and touching my hand said gratefully:
    -           You stick to your word, Rosgard. You’ve done everything as promised – you freed me from those withered oaks that reminded me about one evil day! Like a thorn in the side – every day indeed, every single day they were in my eyes! I don’t know how I can reward you.
    -           You’ve already done it, auntie. You’re treating me such hearty meals and let me stay here a night – I bowed my head in respect trying to hide my eyes glistening with a burning curiosity. – Let me ask you… what evil day are you talking about?
    -           Oh… - Vlasilena shrugged her shoulders as if it was chilly there. – About the day when my dear oaklings turned into dead-wood at once. Would you like to listen to that old story happened three years ago? I have told it to nobody yet.
    -           Yes, I would – admitted I as if confessing with an appealing glance at the hesitating hostess. – I’d love to! And besides you’ll relieve when you share this hard burden with me!
    ‘How I am singing. Where does it spring from, I wonder?’ – I was surprised to hear such unexpected and eloquent words from myself. I can become a bard and hang out about pubs, saloons and other snack-bars to entertain gamers and ‘locals’ by singing and telling different false tales… no way, taking into account my humble talents in music, I am unlikely to become a star on the stage. I’ll hardly make any money but I can easily get a good drubbing – due to my nice nasal voice…
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