Reynard the Bandit Slayer(1)

You ever take a shit in complete darkness outside?

It was fucking scary.

It was completely quiet and occasionally the scilence of the night was broken by a insect or animal. It wasn't all that bad just a little creepy, especially because I was vulnerable. But time passed by quickly and I finished up and looked for some firewood and tinder. Luckily in the fall there wasn't a shortage of dry grass and good firewood so it did not take long at all before I found a suitable amount of firewood.

I wonder how long it's been since I've been camping .

I've gone camping a few times as a kid but it wasn't too often and I've never been an kid who liked the outdoors. I liked video games and tv so I was almost always Inside.

My mind drifted to my parents after thinking about our times together as a kid. I wonder if they were okay. Its been a while since I've taked to them but it's not like I hated them or anything.

I wonder what happened to my body.

Was I dead? Did I just disappear? Did some other guy reincarnate into me and started to live his best life? All were possibilities but I quickly tried to think about something else. I had to focus on setting up this campfire. Once I'm safe I'll think about this again.

Nephiah was waiting inside the cave sitting on the floor with her armor off and in her under clothes. I couldn't see but damn did I want to.

I dropped the firewood in the midde of the small cave and looked towards where Nephiah was sitting.

"I brought this." I said plainly.

"Thank you, I'll start the fire." Said Nephiah before she stood up and walked towards the pile of firewood and started to stack the logs and prepare the tinder.

Does she have a flint and steel or something?

My question was answered when she suddenly said something out loud.

"Ignis!!!" The dark elf said.

With the flick of her hand a small cone of fire came out of her palm and hit the small bundle of tinder that promptly bursted into flames.

That's so fucking cool !!!! Magic!!!

Magic exists!! It was such an amazing thing to see happen before my eyes. It was definitely a cheat though, you can say one word and basically make a lighter but I would have to hit rocks together like a caveman…

It was definitely a cheat.

"Is that? Is that magic?" I said in bewilderment.

Nephiah laughed a bit before speaking. "Yes it is magic. I suppose a common barbarian like you wouldn't have seen something like this before." She said with a teasing tone.

I made an annoyed face and she laughed a bit at my reaction. Seriously whats up with this elf she just loves teasing me like our life isn't in danger.

I sighed before I replied to her. "No I haven't seen anything like it before. Though I have heard of it. Is it common to be able to use magic?" I asked Nephiah.

She thought for a little while before she spoke, "It is not common nor is it uncommon. Plenty of people can use magic but only some races are able to. And different races are better at different styles of magic." She answered helpfully.

"Huh… Thank you." I said politely.

The fire soon quickly grew and became nice and hot to help us warm up in the cold damp cave.

Magic huh.

It did cross my mind a few times but because I didnt hear or see anything that proved that magic was a thing I just had kept that thought to the side. But to know that magic really did exist in this world was exciting. How was it used? In what ways? What spells? Was it like DND or something else? How did it even work. Mana or something? It was something I would look into soon.

Nephiah tended to the fire and added firewood occasionally. I couldn't see her until now but Nephiah was really beautiful. She had dark purpleish-skin with bleach white hair and really exotic white eyes. She was beautiful in every way possible, more so than any human I've seen. This world had amazingly beautiful people and I was all for it.

After admiring Nephia my mind moved to other things like survival. We at most had a day's worth of food left and needed to get more soon.

Maybe we can fish or hunt but….

It was a long shot for me. I only ever fished occasionally and shot a few birds or squirrels as a kid but that was with modern equipment. Maybe Nephiah new some tricks, I'm sure after 2000 years or so you knew a few things about survival.

I wish I went outside a little more.

Maybe if I focused on other thing it would've made my survival a bit easier. The thought left my mind as soon as it came, it wouldn't have mattered much anyways. This was a completely different world and sure knowing survival tricks and things like that would make it easier but it was still a long shot. Even back on Earth "survivalist" specialized survival in certain areas. And anyways I didn't regret my decisions, games brought me peace and I absolutely hated the outdoors. Even now….

"Should one of us stand guard?" I asked the dark elf who equally was incased in thought.

"Hmmm… yes that is most definitely a good idea." Nephiah agreed with me.

"I'll be on the lookout, I dont think I can sleep much anyways." I said truthfully.

"Okay…well I will sleep soon. Wake me up in around 2 hours." She said before tending to the fire again.

I was tired, exhausted even, but sleep couldn't come. Today was just…. Too much. That much death and chaos puts a toll on the human mind and it weighed heavily on mine. I wish I could've saved someone, that old man's last words…

"Try to save as many as you can."

I couldn't save anyone, no, I didn't save anyone. I could've.

I tried not to think those thoughts but it was hard not to.

Nephiah laid down and covered herself with her gameberson as a makeshift blanket. How she slept on the hard ground with no blanket or pillow was beyond me. Maybe she was used to this after 2000 years. Seriously man, that's so old.

"Mmm. Goodnight, Reynard. Wake me up if you hear or see anything suspicious." Nephiah said before closing her eyes.

"Will do." I said.

I sat nesr the crevice of the cave to keep watch. Waiting outside would've been a better idea but in practice a bad one. I couldn't see for shit in the dark night and the light from the fire would make me stick out easily for an archer or something to take me out from a distance. So I decided that waiting inside would've been better.

Nephiah was sound asleep and the fire soon became a warm pile of ashes that still had some life. I'll let Nephiah deal with in on her watch.

I was lost in thought once again before I noticed something. It was quiet, too quiet. Yes I know very original haha, but genuinely it put me on edge. The sounds of the night forest was loud, insects and other animals constantly making noise in the stillness of the night.

But suddenly it all stopped.

This can't be good.

I was on edge and every one of my senses went into overdrive, every second that passed by made me more and more on edge. Something was here, though I'm not sure what.

Step…..Step….Step…

There was something there. It sounded human because it only took a step once at a time. But this was a fantasy world afterall, it could be anything from a goblin to a troll.

I silently unsheathed my dagger and waited there at the entrance to the crevice. Luckily the crevice created a choke point that gave me an advantage.

They were crawling through the crevice very carefully and silently, if I didn't know that someone was there I probably wouldn't have noticed it. I'm glad that I set up watch.

Wait…..wait….

Everyone of the hairs on the back of my neck stood up in anticipation, my instincts were also in overdrive. Was this because of my new body? I've never once felt like this before. That however was a thought for another time.

I could smell them now, the dark cave provided little light and the once bright fire was just embers and helped me see nothing. Both to my and the attacker's advantage. They smelt of alcohol and smelt horrible. Like musky onions.

Note to self take baths before infiltration.

I held my breathing as they came closer. Step… Step… Every step they took put me more and more on edge. I felt like a wild animal now, ready to pounce.

A few seconds passed by before I saw him exit the crevice with his back turned to me. He was short and thin, perfect for these types of things. His leather armor looked strong and light and he only wore what looked like thick socks, most likely for stealth purposes. He already had a dagger drawn and he was surveying the room.

I have to do it now.

I tightened the grip on my dagger and grabbed the back of his armor before plunging my dagger deep into the side of his throat. Even in the dim light I saw it.

A black heart.

"GAHH….grgrgggrrr" he said as I plunged the dagger deep into his neck.

Blood squirted out rapidly and soon covered my hand and dagger.

Nephiah seemed awakened by this and quickly rose to her feet, sword in hand.

I looked to her and said only one thing.

"Bandits."