Chapter 3

When we're done bragging with the boys, I went back to my tent calling for a servant to attend to me.

Not long after, a woman came inside the tent.

"Do you require any assistance my lord?"

"Uhhm.. Yes actually I'm in need of help with something."

Before I continue to tell her exactly what I needed, I noticed some shadows outside the tent and I can see the soles of their boots when I look down below the lower seams of the tent.

That's not all. I can even hear stiffled laugh from them like giggling little girls.

I sneered at their antics and let them continue their stupidity.

I beckoned the servant to get closer to me and I learned to whisper in her ears.

"What's your name?"

"Marlena, My lord." She replied in low voice.

"Okay, be quiet and I need you to do something for me."

Marlena nodded nervously bracing herself for what's going to come.

"Okay, I want you to pretend that I'm fucking you. So you need to moan loudly, is that clear?"

Marlena nodded and she was about to moan when I suddenly covered her mouth to stop her.

"Wait, not yet. Getting excited are we? I haven't finished yet. Listen, If something happens to me suddenly, don't panic and just guard me until I said so. Be ready for anything I ask, do you understand?"

Marlena was confused for a moment and thought for a few seconds before nodding.

"Okay, let's start."

I fished out the black ring in my pouch covered with a thin cloth. I took a deep breath getting ready to wear the ring when I heard something that I almost stumbled in my bed.

"Ahhhhh! Daddy! Please don't be so rough! Ahnnn~"

I looked at her in disbelief and I can see her face getting carried away by what she's doing.

You see, if you ask me the only talent I have that I didn't extract, I tell everyone that my talent is to make my expression do the talking. I can say what I wanted to say by look of my face. And right now, my expression could be clearly read as 'What in the seven hells are you doing? Really?'

But it doesn't seem to affect her that much cause she is currently engrossed in her own imaginary world.

"Ahhn~uhh, my Lord pinch my nipple."

I could barely keep myself from kicking her but I manage to restrain myself from doing so.

Shaking my head, I proceeded to my plan.

I braced myself and slipped the black ring in my middle finger. Like before, I welcome the surge of information in my head about swordsmanship. A few minutes later, it stopped and I'm about to smile because I thought it's done. Reality kicked me in my balls once again. My body tensed and I got paralyzed unable to move. I helplessly slumped but thankfully it was on top my bed. Intense pain came in and I couldn't control my body's seizure.

"Aghhhh gahhhhhhhhh."

I gritted my teeth enduring the best as I could.

Then I heard a surprise yelp from the side. Apparently, she noticed what happened when I fell down and stopped her moaning. She tried to check on me but she hesitated. She noticed the look I gave her and remembered my instructions to her. With a tacit understanding, she nodded to me and keeping her eyes on me while continuing to moan.

At this time, my body is sweating profusely and I can feel my muscles are squirming like they are rearranging themselves. I didn't become bulky but I can feel I gained some solid muscles and my limbs became leaner.

I didn't know how long it took, maybe 5 minutes or so but I felt like I've been in that state for years. Gradually, I stopped shaking, taking deep breaths like I run a marathon.

A few moments later, the pain stopped completely.

'I knew it. I fucking knew it! I knew there are side effects when accepting something valuable like what I've read in those novels.'

Then I suddenly felt an intense hunger.

"Huff... Huff... Marlena. Take a gold coin in my pouch and use its entire worth to buy some food and bring it here. Hurry."

"Yes, my lord." Marlena replied and went to his pouch on the bed side table.

"Take another stag coin. That's your payment for assisting me. Remember, don't tell anyone else what happened, is that clear."

Marlena nodded and said, "Thank you, my lord. I won't say anything to anyone about what happened."

"Good, go.. and please hurry, I'm starving."

Marlena quickly exited the tent in a hurry. I look at the spot where earlier and found no one's there anymore. Maybe they already left.

While waiting, I started to ponder over why there's an effect when wear the black ring compared to the copper ring I've wore before.

Maybe because of the color ranking and instinctively knew the color black is higher than the copper. There's another theory I'm thinking as well which is the type of the skill acquired. When I think it over carefully, I'm more inclined with the second theory. Who knows, maybe it's a combination of both. Since horseback riding is a skill that doesn't lack enough requirements from the body to do so, it didn't affect me at all. While the intermediate swordsmanship require a strong body to do so, that's why there's an adjustment on my physique. It's like a motorcycle needed a gasoline in order to move, it's the same with the skill that needed a body strong enough to execute it. Well, I could only prove it once I get my third ring.

My thoughts were interrupted when Marlena returned with two baskets of food covered in clothes stack together. She came running inside out of breath.

"Rest for all a while and thank you for the effort. Now if you'll excuse me, would you mind bringing the food here in my bed."

Marlena smiled sweetly and bowed, then she exited the tent with satisfaction.

On the other hand, the primal instinct within me started to awaken as uncovered the two baskets filled with food. I didn't even noticed that I started to stuff my mouth with bread and cheese without care of any etiquette. I was so hungry that I that only thing I could think of is to eat every piece of food before me.

I grabbed some smoked ham, fruits and pheasant's leg. Maybe this is the price for acquiring a stronger physique and skill.

In no time, I was able to finished all the food with only bones left in the basket.

Burp~

I sigh in satisfaction as my hunger was sated. I stood up from the bed and picked up the training sword that I prepared earlier.

The moment I held the sword, I felt a feeling so surreal that cannot be described in words. It's like it's part of my arm. I swing it diagonally and body automatically performed the correct form.

I giggled by the thought of me being forced to spar with anyone in the Golden Company, only to find their ass kicked. I mean that would be thrilling. I couldn't help feeling like a wolf in sheep's clothing while I imagine the marvel of their faces when the time comes. I didn't noticed that I was grinning like a fool until I saw myself in the water's reflection in the basin.

After calming myself down, I pondered what I was going to do from now on. I don't wanna stay here and coop up in this muddy place. I want an adventure to see the world or watch the events of the canon unfold. Hmm.. Maybe they will easily let me go since I don't have any value.

After I left here, I decided that I will go to different places here in Essos. I'll go see the famous Tattered Prince, the two first swords of Essos, Qarro Volentine and Syrio Forel. Who knows, maybe I can gain something from them.

But before that, I got a sea of rings before me ready for harvest. Who am I to refused such blessings.

I look at my reflection in the water and I couldn't help but mutter the famous lines on one of the epic movies ever made.

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

I giggled and said in Gollum's voice, "My precious."

However, my precious moments was once again interrupted when I hear a terrified voice near my tent. I could hear a scream and the sound of running in the mud.

'What's wrong with these people? Tsk what an uncultured economic peasant behavior for having a habit of peeping. I bet he was terrified when he sees me talking to myself. Well, not my problem anymore. I'm already unpopular, what could be worse?'

I shrugged it off and continue planning for my future but there's one thing that I needed the most with utmost urgency. Gold coins.

With the increase of my appetite, the money I have will decrease in an alarming rate. That means I got to find a way to earn some coins. Without, it would be really hard to travel.

--

Unbeknownst to Auron, the servant who was peeping at him was named Tom. Terrified of what he has witnessed. After running from Aaron's tent, he immediately notified his masters of has happened.