6 Volume 1 - Chapter 5

We started our lessons on tinkering. The teacher was very similar to our last one. These courses were meant for us to learn trap making and basic tactics for hunting and defence, but he also taught us about kobold history and religion. Not much, of course. Just the titbits that were remembered by all kobolds and passed down from generation to generation.

I had been curious about this since birth. Vyth clearly didn't share my enthusiasm. Our first class was only about this. I could see Vyth trying his best not to doze off. It was hilarious! I guess he doesn't want to be rude, but it really doesn't matter. The teacher isn't even paying attention to us. He's just going on and on about this all.

I wonder how many will actually remember all this. The teachers only focus on their lecturers, the concept of testing seems to be unheard of and the knowledge is barely used outside of class.

I've gotten the impression that things have always been peaceful here. At least for a long time. That owlbear still has them cautious each time a hunting party goes out. That despite a seeming lack of activity. I wonder what could've happened to it.

The class was done. It was exhausting! We just sat in a room with the teacher for hours on end, listening to him. I might be curious, but it's not worth such torture. The concept of a break in between seems to be as far from their minds as testing.

The teacher left us, as everybody slowly got up. I'm clearly not the only one who had a though time. I looked over to Vyth, only to find him fast asleep. I shook him.

"You can sleep back in our room. Come on. Get up", I softly whispered to him.

He slowly woke up. I got him on his feet and brought him back. It looked like I was dragging him away from a battlefield. He went straight back to sleep the moment I put him down. It truly amazed me!

I didn't know what else to do, so I went outside. The sun was still up, so I made sure I was careful. I feel like a vampire. Sure, the sun won't disintegrate me, but still. I found a cosy stop under a tree and laid myself down against its trunk.

I began thinking about stuff. Wondering about what kind of world I've landed in. Was this the first time my soul reincarnated or did I just happen to remember it this time. Will it happen again? An other thing I was wondering was whether I was capable of magic.

There were sorcerers in this world. People born with the ability to cast spells. They can naturally use magic. Games often were full with this kind of people. The people inside them could all use some magic, but talent dictated the amount or something along those lines. That clearly wasn't the case here.

Then again, this resembles D&D a lot more. In that game, there were multiple ways your character could get magical abilities. Such as learning or obtaining it from a deity. If that's the case here, then I want to become a wizard.

I've somewhat enjoyed my time here. I mainly loved my time with Vyth and mom, but the rest were nice as well. At least my siblings were. The rest keep looking at me strangely. I can't see myself staying in this tribe for years, however. All of the kobolds seem young, except for some, like our hunting teacher and that grand sorcerer.

That means the death rate must be high among them. Those two were just skilled or lucky enough to make it this far. I don't know how high the lifespan is for my kind, but it certainly is higher than what most die at.

I'll have to leave eventually. I'll die eventually again, but I want to postpone that as much as possible. When I die, I'd like it to be a peaceful one. Not one where I get mauled by an owlbear or trampled by a boar.

I wish I could get Vyth to come with me, but that won't happen. He likes it here. A lot! So, I'll have to leave him behind. It's sad, but then again. If I'll just reincarnate again after death, then what's the point really? I'll just be reborn and have someone else at my side. It'll break me to see that someone be left behind time and time again.

Staying on my own won't be much better, though. I was like that previously, so I know how bad it truly feels. Going on my own sounds lonely, but staying sounds like a waste. I'll head off anyway. Who knows, maybe I'll make some friends along the way. Maybe I could be an adventurer, defeating bad guys and being showered with love!

I will miss this place, though. Still, I want to see what's out there. I could probably always return if I want to. They never warned us about leaving the tribe. Then again, they preach being good to the tribe a lot, so it might be a problem after all. Well, if I'm an adventurer, they might welcome me back. I'll be really useful, so they'd be crazy not to accept me back.

The sun began to set. I watched the shadows around me grow larger as it sank deeper and deeper. I wish I could see the sunset again one day. Maybe I can invent sunglasses! How are they made, though. I would've made a fortune if I knew how to make some really awesome things from my last world. Even a simple all in one shampoo would've been a lucrative product here.

Night had fell. It's funny. I'm a creature of the night, yet I instinctively want to go back home for safety. I saw Vyth exiting the nest with a couple of others who were wearing their armour. That must be tonight's hunting party. Vyth came up to me.

"I thought you were here", he said before sitting down next to me.

"Yeah, I didn't have anything else to do".

"That history spiel knocked me straight out. I can't believe you managed to stay awake for the whole duration of that!".

"Yeah, it was bad. I guess I'm somewhat used to it, since I went to school in my previous life".

"Was school something like that?".

"Kinda. It was way better, though. We at least had breaks in between".

"You guys got brakes?! Why don't they do that for us".

There was a moment of silence. It wasn't awkward or anything. I actually felt more comfortable just having him there. He stood up and reached his hand out to me.

"Wanna go to the cliff again?", he asked.

"Why do you wanna do that?".

"I don't know. The view is nice".

We went back to the cliff. A full moon shone brightly from the sky. It had been ages since I last saw a full moon. It was beautiful. Vyth was looking at it as well. We both sat down, enjoying the view for a while.

His eyes averted to the village after a while, however. I knew he really came for the village. I guess that still counts as enjoying the view. He looked at it with an expression of pure, wide-eyed fascination, like a child seeing something for the first time.

"Is it interesting?", I asked.

He jumped back a bit, before showing some embarrassment.

"Well,...a little,...I guess".

The brave and mighty warrior Vyth, is acting like a teenage girl. I tried to contain it, but I lasted about 2 seconds before bursting out into laughter.

"You can stop laughing now!", he yelled.

Too bad kobolds can't blush, cause that would've made for an unforgettable sight.

"What's so interesting about them anyway?", I asked after calming down.

"I don't know. They're just so...different. They build these things out of wood to live in. They create fire to light their homes, yet it doesn't burn down. It's just so… weird".

That fascinated expression returned. I couldn't help but smile.

"Well, I could probably teach you about…", I began saying.

"Who are they?!", Vyth interrupted.

He pointed to a group of strangely dressed people. One was wearing a long, white robe and holding a fancy staff. Another wore simple leather armour, with a bow over his torso. The last of the group was shirtless and wore simple, baggy pants. He was small, bald and very muscular.

"Those are adventurers!", I shouted in joy.

Now I was the wide-eyed one. Vyth looked surprised at me at first, but that quickly turned into a smirk as he realised the table had turned. I was a bit embarrassed, but he was in the same spotlight, so he can't exactly judge.

The 3 of them stood there, outside a building, all looking at something out of view. The woman in robes began waving. They're probably welcoming back a party member.

The silence was broken by the light clucking of metal. A large man in metal plated armour came into our view. He wore a comically large sword on his back. We both looked in shock when we saw that he was dragging an owlbear behind him.