7. The New World

Novum looked over everything one last time and smiled. He should have been a little nervous and a lot afraid but for the first time since the war he was content. Maybe it was because he knew the world he was going to was brutal but peaceful. A place where he would have to fight for his very survival but could also enjoy a simple life with out all the extras. And maybe it was an opportunity like only the gods knew and living in a world he created.

"Novum, is there anything that you need to know before you leave?"

"Can you have the system drop me in an area outside of a medium sized village? If I ride into a town that is big enough to get travelers I can make up whatever story I want and that will be the end of it."

"I don't see an issue with that. But I figured that you would be a little more interested in your old life before you crossed over."

"When I told you to kill my body I tried to push it to the back of my mind. I don't want to dwell on things and miss out on something like this. But since you brought it up, were there any issues with my policies or anything?"

"The ex wife got her's without an issue. And I am a little excited to tell you that Joe got the first part based on the stipulation and has already got things in motion. He worked with the legal team and only took part of the money and worked with a few people and the first one out of the series should be out in a month or so. He used the money to get it professionally edited and has sent test chapters to a buttload of agents. This is a test release by the company but if it goes good they will release the rest of then."

"That is awesome. I am glad that he will be able to enjoy them and any profits."

"Actually he has it set up that almost all of the profits are going to a few charities and a few scholarships. Mainly for military kids who have a passion for the arts."

Novum teared up a little. "Good for him. He remembered what I had always talked about doing if I ever made it big. I don't need to hear anymore. Let's just move on with the process."

The being put out his hand. "Novum I wish you the best of luck and I might drop by on occasion to visit you."

"Stop by any time." Novum saw his smokes on the table. "System can you add this specific type of tobacco to the area where I am going to be starting please."

(It is available at better quality general stores and is more expensive because of the unique taste.)

"Thank you system. Elder one I am ready to go." Novum had barely finished the last word when a bright light filled his eyes. He blinked them a few times and found himself sitting beside a small fire with stuff out to start cooking his breakfast.

He had taken Chef as one of his multitude of professions as well as cooking as one of his crafting skills. He had only the basic spices but that was fine. He had put fresh pork as one of the chunks of meat he got from the system and he added a little pepper as he cooked it up. He thought about heading into the woods to find some eggs but figured it was not worth the time on his first day.

Novum dropped the pork in the pan and then stood up and stretched out a little. There was a lot more of him than there used to be. He checked himself out and realized that he even looked good in the armor. He pulled out the sword and gave it a few swings and found that despite its size his strength and the instinctual training that he had made the sword easy to swing. He knew he could do a lot of damage with this sword.

He flipped the pork and gave it another few minutes and stabbed it with a fork. He ate it right out of the pan. He started putting out the fire as the pan cooled enough he could put it in his pack. He looked in the pouch on his hip and found a small tobacco pouch as well as papers and a flint and steel. He was alone so he spoke outlook to the system. "Thank you for the tobacco. I appreciate it." He heard the notification ping but no words showed up. It must have been the systems way of telling him that it heard him.

Novum tore two papers when suddenly a quick lesson from the system popped up in the corner of his view. After that it seemed like he had known how to do it forever. He picked up a twig and lit it off the last ember in the fireplace and lit his smoke. He was almost done with the smoke when he heard something tearing through the brush coming towards him. His body reacted without any thought and he was in his feet with his sword out.

A man in his late 20s came out of the brush and fell into the trail. His upped arm was torn to shreds. While watching the forest behind the man he got closer to him. Novum bent down to check the wound and heard something else coming through the woods as well. This was not as loud as the man and was definitely moving quicker than him. Novum dropped a bandage out of his pouch. "Try and stop the bleeding while I deal with this. Do you know what it is?"

"Big ass wolf." The man tried to wrap the bandage around his arm.

Novum saw a bush a short distance away move and knew that it was close. If he had not seen the bush move he would have been taken totally by surprise by the wolf that leapt out of the woods at him. He did not even swing, he just shifted enough that the point of the sword was waiting on the wolf. The viciously sharp sword dug deep into the wolf's chest. The sword had destroyed the lungs and heart before the wolf knew that the weapon was there.

Novum used the momentum of the wolf to twist himself and sling the sword in order to get the wolf off his blade. He checked the woods one more time and then bent down to check on the man. The bandage was not wrapped very well and before Novum could help him he was dead. He wiped the blood off his sword and put it away. He knew that he was not far from the village. Once the camp was packed up Novum checked over the beautiful animal that was his mount.

(System please pull up the stats for my mount.)

A screen popped up and Novum looked over the information. This animal was above and beyond a normal heavy warhorse. The thing that made him suspicious, besides the high stats, was a few questions marks beside breed. (Horse????) He was not sure if the system was not sure if it was a horse or not from reading it but he knew that it was special. Novum was about the close the window when he noticed the name slot was empty. He looked at the animal that was as dark as the night sky, it was the fastest he had ever come up with a name, Noctis.

"Noctis, what do you think about that for a name?" The horse shook his head in a happy way and nuzzled him. "I am glad that you like it." He threw both the man and the wolf on the back of Noctis and headed towards the town. By the time the sun was at its highest he was at the edge of town.