Chương 5: B1 Chapter 4

I immediately turned my face toward the river. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that the words and the lights were there. They didn't burn like the torch burned. I couldn't feel heat and there wasn't any smoke. All I could see was purple and blue light, bright enough that it almost seemed to reflect off the dead caiman's wet scales. I could see the words even when I tried to avoid them, which was more than I wanted to. So I lowered my eyes as I'd been taught.

The gods had chosen prophets and others for such things as words. Those like myself weren't allowed to read, nor should we even gaze upon them. My father had taught me, before I was old enough to even hope to understand what a word was, the distinction between my position and those few called for such a thing. A man didn't become worthy to read them simply because the gods placed temptation before him. So I understood what this was. A test. Without waiting a second longer, I touched my forehead to the mud.

"If these words are meant for another, forgive me for being close enough to see them. If they are meant for me, forgive me because I am not worthy of such a thing." Closing my eyes, I offered a small prayer. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes to find the light remained. I couldn't help but frown, wondering how long the gods might test me, but also understanding that there was only so much I could do. Gods rarely explained themselves just because someone asked.

So I turned my attention toward the caiman and the need to start preparing it. The animal was dead and the meat was too valuable to let it suffer because of a test. Blood had begun collecting beneath its head where my knife had ended its life. The wound was too small to adequately drain the creature, and its body was too heavy for me to move it into a better position. So I shifted a little bit and tried to push it, barely moving the carcass an inch or two.

As I did, pain flared along my hip where the tail had struck me. Frowning, I stopped pushing. The gods could wait, but meat couldn't. I crawled toward the rear leg and began working on the snare. As I did, the lights and the words began to change, but I kept my eyes off them, promising the gods that I wouldn't fail this test.

[Planet Integration Complete] [Universal System Access Unlocked] [Entity Identified: E'ru] [Individual Interface Established] P Foundational Assessment Initiated] Squinting, I avoided the bright light and increased amount of words. My fingers found the cord that had tightened around the caiman's leg. I worked one finger beneath it and failed to do much. Carefully, I pulled out my knife and managed to free the loop from a few scales. The braided fibres were wet and coated with mud, but they'd survived.

That pleased me more than the test I was being given. The caiman had done everything it could to free itself.

I had obviously done a great job in crafting this snare, and the time I'd spent was well worth it. There had been a few who mocked the weeks I'd spent working the fibers together, but tonight they would eat well and not laugh, knowing that once again I had filled their bellies. The jungle returned to normal, the sounds of frogs and birds announcing that my battle was over and only one had survived. Working the cord, I finally got it free of the caiman's leg and stopped, inspecting it.

Several strands had broken, and others were stretched thin. I couldn't help but frown, knowing that this snare would have to be used for something smaller.

"Thank you for holding how you did," I told it.

"We shall eat because of your strength." I knew I could catch an agouti or a bird. These small strands would feed more people than a single hunter could in a day. As I wound the cord around my palm, the words changed again.

[Foundational Assessment Complete] [Pre-Integration Feat Recognized: Hunter Beyond Limitation] Entity E'ru defeated a predator through preparation, self made tools, patience, and at a direct personal risk while suffering from permanent physical disabilities.

[Kill Classification: Trap Assisted] [Kill Credit Confirmed: Eru] [Primary Class Selection Unlocked] [Initial Attribute Allocation Unlocked] [Initial Skill Selection Unlocked] [Say "Start Selection" To Begin] [Time Remaining: 00: 09: 00] Bowing my head slightly, I tapped my fingers to the mud against my forehead. As I did, I suddenly realized that something had changed. I heard nothing, which was worse than whatever game the gods were playing.

Whatever the gods were doing made no sound, which was worse than the jungle. A jaguar announced itself by disturbing birds. A peccary broke leaves and pushed branches aside. Even a snake told me where it had been if I examined the ground. These words made no sound at all.

Ignoring the pain in my hip and my head, I moved closer to the caiman's head and began to gather the cord around its jaw. It had stretched less than the one I had trapped it with, now wrapped around my shoulder. With that task done, I crawled toward the tree where I'd left the rest of my game. Standing was almost impossible, so I found my staff and planted it in the earth. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Using my stronger leg, I pushed off it first, letting it do the work while my weaker one trembled beneath me.

"No. You will not quit on me," I told it, and shifted some of the weight to my arms and my staff. After a few extra seconds, I was on my feet, ignoring the pain that reminded me how dangerous even a trapped animal could be. Without waiting any longer, I retrieved my sling and regretted it the moment I placed it over my shoulders. The weight of it caused the aches in my body to cry out worse. The walk home would be much slower than I desired. Turning, I studied the caiman, still lying where I'd left it.

Leaving that much meat so close to the water wasn't good. A hunter should never leave a kill like that unless there was no other choice. I studied the path and knew that the hunters would arrive this way eventually. While waiting there wasn't the best option and my body desired rest, I couldn't let this meat go to waste when it could serve my tribe. So I removed the sling and set it aside, my body immediately thanking me by reducing how loudly it complained.

The light of the words still cluttered my vision, but I ignored them as best as I could.

"No. If you have chosen someone to receive this, they will come. If you have chosen me, then you know why I cannot look." I received no answer from anything, except my stomach. Moving to my sling, I dug out the small piece of fruit I had wrapped in a leaf. I took it out, broke open one of the fruits with my thumb, and ate. Immediately I smiled as the sweet flavor filled my mouth. Halfway through the second bite, I considered the thought that the gods might consider me eating while they tested me offensive.

But if that was the case, they should have made fruit taste worse. So I put another piece in my mouth and ate it, happy that they'd given me such a tasty treat. My father would have probably struck me if I spoke such words before a priest, but he wasn't here and I wasn't foolish enough to speak like that before anyone. As I stared at the corpse, flies and bugs began to gather around it. Here in the jungle, death was an opportunity for many things to feast, and I couldn't wait forever.

So I moved to the caiman, dropped to my knees, and drew my knife. I began opening up the caiman properly. The blade struggled against its hide until I changed my angle, finding the softer flesh. Warm blood flowed along the blade and into the mud as I practiced the movements I had been taught as a child. As I worked, flies arrived.

"You're quicker than Makua," I told them. One landed on my wrist and I slapped it.

"You're also much squisher than Makua." As I spoke, the words changed again, dimming somewhat.

[No Response Registered] [Foundational Selection Still Available] [Time Remaining: 00: 05: 00] I wondered why the glow had dimmed. Perhaps the gods were starting to realize I wouldn't be tempted. Whatever game they played was theirs. I had sworn myself to this path long ago and wouldn't stray from it now. So I kept my hands working. The caiman's body was soft under the scales and hide. I opened it up enough to let it start cooling the meat, helping to prevent as much as possible from spoiling.

Some parts could be carried separately if the hunters refused to drag the entire body home.

I had no doubts they would complain. It would be hard enough for some of them to admit that I had managed to kill one of these with my trap and my knife alone. Being forced to carry my kill would be an insult to a few. Makua would be the worst. I could already hear what he might say. E'ru trapped it because the caiman and the gods felt sorry for him. He might even attempt to tease me about my speed. It died from boredom while waiting for E'ru to reach it. Still, I couldn't help but smile.

He would eat more meat than anyone else. Distracted, my hand slipped and the blade cut against the pad of my thumb. I hissed and pulled it back, watching as blood began to flow. It wasn't deep, but that didn't matter out here. Pressing the wound against my tunic, I set the knife down and grabbed a few strips of leaves and tied them around the injury. My fingers shook, but not from the pain or the cut. I was tired, worn out from the fight and from the constant game the gods played.

Carefully, I moved to a tree near the carcass and leaned against it, watching and waiting, listening to the sounds of the jungle. As I sat there, I heard the birds calling out. Something was moving and coming toward me. Voices began to drift through the trees.

"For hunters, they are louder than a pond full of frogs." As I prepared to call out, the words and light almost blinded me. Like a torch thrust into a dark hut, they grew bright for a moment.

[No Response Registered] [Final Manual Selection Needed] [Time Remaining: 00: 01: 00] I froze. Something felt different. It wasn't the jungle or my tribemates. It was something inside me. The gods were waiting, I could sense it. I could look if I wanted. All I needed to do was raise an eye. No one had arrived yet and none would know that I had seen the words the gods had put before me. Yet I squashed that thought the instant it arrived. Without waiting, I stared down at the mud.

"No. I will not give in." The voices drifted closer and I heard Makua's voice clearly.

"How can one so slow be ahead of us?" My ribs ached, my anger boiled, and I was upset with myself for my thumb. Not looking at the words, I bowed my head once more.

"Whatever test you have, I will pass it. You know I am yours. Set whatever path you have for me and I will take it, even if I have to drag myself by my hands." I had made up my mind and told the gods that I wouldn't fail. It was as if that moment meant something, because the light went still. The bright pulse was gone. Then it dimmed.

[Manual Selection Expired] [Entity E'ru has declined all manual selections through non-response] [Automatic Selection Protocol Engaged] [Evaluating physical condition…] [Evaluating lifetime behavior…] [Evaluating demonstrated competencies…] [Evaluating environmental demands…] [Evaluating responsibility towards others…] [Evaluating belief structure…] [Evaluating long term survival potential…] I closed my eyes as the light pulsed. It had dimmed but glowed like embers I blew upon to make hotter.

I could sense something inside me, like the gods were peering into my entire being. I wasn't sure if they were searching for where I was weak or why I wouldn't give in. The voices of the hunters grew louder and I could hear them moving through the forest like an agouti. Yet my heart was beating faster and I sensed something changing.

"I will not give in," I whispered. To prove how strong I was, I opened my eyes, keeping them away from the test the gods continued to shove in my face. The light pulsed once more and almost blinded me as so many things appeared.

[Assessment Complete] [Highest Compatible Primary Class Identified] Hunter - Gatherer A broad adaptive path centered upon hunting, trapping, gathering, crafting, provisioning, and mastery of one's environment. Early specialization was reduced. Long term compatibility was increased.

[Primary Class Assigned: Hunter-Gatherer] [Recognized Calling: Provider] [Initial Attribute Distribution: Balanced] [Innate Trait recognized: Hardship-Tempered] My body shook as it suddenly became cold, yet I didn't dare glance toward whatever the gods had written.

[Hardship-Tempered] Years of survival under permanent physical impairment had produced stable compensatory adaptations. Adaptations developed through hardship were recognized as foundational characteristics. These adaptations wouldn't be discarded during future Evolution.

"E'ru!" For a moment I wasn't certain if it was the gods calling out my name. Then the realization of how well I knew that voice struck, and I called back out.

"River! I'm at the river." Makua shouted back, but the words were impossible to make out as other voices overlapped it. Their footsteps grew louder, but my ears felt hollow.

[Default Selection Mode Established: Automatic] Future selections would be resolved according to the highest long-term compatibility unless Entity E'ru provided a manual response. [Manual Selection On Hold] [Individual Integration Complete] Entity: E'ru Species: Human Evolution: 0 - Mortal Level: 1 Primary Class: Hunter-Gatherer Calling: Provider S. P. I. D. E. R.

Strength: 8 Perception: 16 Ingenuity: 17 Dexterity: 13 Endurance: 15 Resolve: 21 Innate Trait: Hardship-Tempered Bug Repellent Infection Immunity Attribute Foundation Balanced Active Conditions: Bent-Spine Lower Limb Impairment Structural Imbalance True Believer Unassigned Selections: 0 Skills: 3 of 3 Unlocked Trapmaking Stealth Grappling My mind and body were on fire for a moment and I almost shouted, and then it was gone. The words and the lights faded with the sensation.

I glanced around, realizing how much darker the jungle suddenly felt with them no longer before me. Turning, I saw Makua enter the area I was in, stumbling as he did, others crashing into him and pushing him forward.

"E'ru… what..." His words stopped as both his eyes widened, fixed upon the carcass.

"I provided meat. Just like I always did."