Chapter 29: First day in the open

Chapter 1: She Fell to meet Me

Chapter 2: The Darkborn Fella

Chapter 3: QUEST! Open the Gate, Irene!

Chapter 4: Please.

Chapter 5: Oh, boy. She’s gonna throw me again. 

Chapter 6: Down the Lake to the Rat Den! Yay!

Chapter 7: Run, Irene, Run!

Chapter 8: Deep Dark Meeting! How spooky!

Chapter 9: Johnny Splinter! What a weirdo.

Chapter 10: So, uh, we made a new, weird friend?

Chapter 11: I feel stupid and dehumanized 

Chapter 12: Escaping that deep dark shit hole

Chapter 13: Back through these dirty tunnels, we roam.

Chapter 14: Hall of Rat. Or something.

Chapter 15: Battle over the Rat Treasury

Chapter 16: …Ratville? Are we actually in Ratville right now… God help me.

Chapter 17: Dungeon time! Too much time!

Chapter 18: I’ll save you even if I’m an immobile item! 

Chapter 19: That one time a single rat overthrew his ratty monarch. Johnny Rules!

Chapter 20: Conversation, conversation! Irene wakes up!

Chapter 21: Back to the treasury, with a new king under wing!

Chapter 22: I’m OUTRAGED!

Chapter 23: The most beautiful nightmare fuel lurks in the lake 

Chapter 24: Rise above thy wants! WOOHO! 

Chapter 25: Reuniting with Fabian, did the rascal really do it?

Chapter 26: Opening the gate to a parting… And a what now?

Chapter 27: Fabian’s search Quest

Chapter 28: A Beginning long overdue

Chapter 30: Bath time!

Chapter 31: An odd dude appeared! Seriously, this guy is WHACK!

Chapter 32: Could’ve had a better start there, couldn’t we?

Chapter 33: Entrance to Ruge City + a tad of racism

Chapter 34: The Bridge City of Ruge!

Chapter 35: Slumber party~ Slumber party~ Yay, yay, yehey~!

Chapter 36: A nice morning chat with Mrs. Caroline, plus an age revelation! You're HOW old?

Chapter 37: Cadmus’ pawn shop! Am I getting sold? Bet I’d fetch a pretty penny at least.

Chapter 38: Betrayal.

Chapter 39: Captured! Nice going there, Irene.

UPDATE FROM THE AUTHOR!

Chapter 40: A hectic yet necessary talk.

Chapter 41: We have ourselves a situation! And I hold the solution.

Chapter 42: Finally using our darned points!

Chapter 43: Oh my god, we’re back to this!

Chapter 44: Irene decimates the outlaws

Chapter 45: Captain Lenor the Torturer

Chapter 46: He knows my secret, and spoiled it! Bastard!

Message from the Author: Thank you for 10,000 Views and 1,000 Likes!

Chapter 47: Carnage brought to life

Chapter 48: Auramancy Versus Biomancy

Chapter 49: Oz has a plan! Uh-Oh…

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene climbed the hilltops restlessly; we wandered through thick forests of flora and fauna alike, neither less than the other. There were tiny critters everywhere, fluffy and quick on their feet. Oh, how refreshing it was to see animals frolicking about. A chilly breeze passed through us, or at least I assumed it to be chilly, and it carried the song of the feathered. Irene&#x27;s cousins, if you will. Haha! That&#x27;s a lil funny. No, really, hearing chirping again was simply music. I never cared for birds in my past life, but seeing them on branches now was therapy. Seeing branches at all was part of said therapy. The soft greenery; I loved. While any patch of exposed dirt or rock made me cringe on the inside. I couldn&#x2019;t look at it. Felt disgusting, revolting even. Don&#x2019;t tell me I&#x2019;ve developed cave ptsd? That&#x2019;d be awful. Well, better chalk it down to how mystical everything seemed right now in comparison.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;My charmed by nature self aside, Irene seemed stressed. She had a hurry to her step, and I noticed her eyes darting about the place. Searching.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Looking for something?&#x3C;/em&#x3E; I had to ask.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;None of your concern.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Oh, come on. I could make a quest for it! Get some XP and stuff.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Couldn&#x2019;t care less.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;If we&#x2019;re close, you&#x2019;ll get an arrow pointed its way.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene sighed, stopping in her tracks. &#x201C;Fine, let&#x2019;s do it your way.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Awesome! What&#x2019;re you looking for?&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Yesterday, I threw some weight in the bushes while being chased.&#x201D; She looked around, squinting her eyes at the far. &#x201C;An old backpack hidden under a leather cloak.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;I can totally make a quest for that! Let&#x2019;s go&#x2026; And&#x2026; Voila!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;----------------------------------------------------------------&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;strong&#x3E;SYSTEM NOTIFICATION!!&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;The Sword System has assigned you a Quest!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Quest: Find your own baggage&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Description: You&#x2019;ve lost your things while on the run, go off in the wilderness to find it again!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Reward: Your old items + 30xp&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;----------------------------------------------------------------&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;How are my own belongings a reward?&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Hey, I don&#x2019;t make the rules. Well, I do. But it&#x2019;s a form of expression!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene dragged a hand along her face. &#x201C;You&#x2019;re unbelievable&#x2026;&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;At least I help out, yeah?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Barely.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Hey!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She proceeded further into the woods; I think. We&#x2019;ve been inside a forest ever since I arrived, so I really don&#x2019;t know which direction led to an out. Didn&#x2019;t matter either way. To me, it meant more that we were making distance. Fuck that cavern, man.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;An arrow popped up for Irene&#x2019;s convenience right as the first signs of daybreak sprang on the far-off horizon. I could see the sky blur to a deep red, then orange as the aurora above slowly diminished in visibility. The leafy foliage made for quite the blockage, but I was still glad to at least see some of the sunrise. How majestic. The phrase new day new me has never rung truer. This light births a new life for me, a better one. I hope.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Thank the All Father, I found it!&#x201D; Irene sprang through the bushes, a smile covering her face.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Rays of sunlight broke through the leaves and landed on the tattered cloak laying between the tall grass. She pulled it off in a hurry and unveiled an equally tattered backpack, thick and obviously full. Irene had a little hatchet strapped to one side of it, a waterskin on the other, and what looked to be a bedroll tied right atop.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She unpacked the insides while I did the quest completion announcement. Nice plus 30 xp to add to the bank. Irene completely ignored it, of course, and laid out whatever rations she had in there. Unceremoniously, with the sun at our rear, a quiet breakfast began. Wish I could take part, that bread certainly looked yummy. She ate half the loaf and most of the meat strips she pulled. I guess a full day of excitement and running around would leave one hungry, huh? I swear, if I didn&#x2019;t have all this nature to keep me visually enamored, I&#x2019;d be bored by now. Don&#x2019;t the people of this world chat during meal times? I guess it wasn&#x2019;t the brightest idea, you could choke, but come on! Sharing conversation amongst each other is half the fun of eating!&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;So, how&#x2019;s the meat strips? Are they pork?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Genius. Just talk about the food.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene swallowed her bite and took a jug of her waterskin. &#x201C;They&#x2019;re beef.&#x201D; She let out a sigh. &#x201C;Oh, I needed that.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;You didn&#x2019;t really answer the first question? Hello?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;It&#x2019;s dried meat, what do you expect me to say? They do the job.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Right.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;How unapproachable. Maybe I should&#x2019;ve spoken about the weather?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene gathered the rest of her rations and arranged them back neatly. Though she added one thing I hadn&#x2019;t noticed earlier. From her waist where she&#x2019;d kept it tied to her leggings, she pulled a pouch.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Hey, hey, hey! What&#x2019;s that?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She glanced at me. &#x201C;Gold.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Gold? How&#x2019;d you get gold?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Johnny gave it to me before he left.&#x201D; She grabbed her backpack by the straps, which had a button to connect them to the rear, and stood. &#x201C;He&#x2019;d read about economy; thought I&#x2019;d find it useful. I did.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Whoaaa! That&#x2019;s my boyo! Always knowing what to do and to do it right, haha! How many did he give you?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Too many, I forced more than half of it back on him.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Why would you do that?! Are you stupid?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Are you?&#x201D; She glared. &#x201C;I barely know how I&#x2019;ll inconspicuously trade these coins. Let alone several dozen more.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;What&#x2019;s wrong with the coins?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene flung her backpack over and buttoned the straps around her wings. Smart, I was wondering how she got that thing on her back with those huge appendages getting in the way.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;While the design was indeed smart, I wasn&#x2019;t getting an answer yet.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Hey! What&#x2019;s up with them coins?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Why do you even care? You&#x2019;re a sword.&#x201D; She covered herself whole in the cloak. Made for a real, hunched-back looking silhouette with feathers poking out the tail end, dragging anything along.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;I&#x2019;m a curious sword who gets bored easily.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;I&#x2019;m not here to entertain your curiosity.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;As my wielder, you&#x2019;re obligated to accommodate me!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;I&#x2019;m obligated to carry you.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Same thing!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;It&#x2019;s really not.&#x201D; She went on ahead towards a clearing in the woods, a place where you could see the sky better. The aurora had vanished, Empyrean one, or however she&#x2019;d called it. She covered her eyes for some shade and turned some direction. &#x201C;Should be this way,&#x201D; she mumbled.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;What&#x2019;s that way?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;She walked straight; deadpan while insulting me. &#x201C;You&#x2019;re a child.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;What the&#x2013;That was uncalled for!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Stop the senseless questions. I don&#x2019;t want to talk to you, nor hear your voice.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em&#x3E;Well, I don&#x2019;t wanna stop! I wanna chat! Come on, you can&#x2019;t let me talk to myself!&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;But she did. Irene kept quiet the rest of the trip out of those woods. Hours on end in the morning, I did EVERYTHING to annoy her. Talked nonsense in her ear, told her about every animal I recognized and even asked her to point me at them. For added effect. But nope, nada, she walked it off. Eventually, I had to give her a quest just to hear her respond for once. Boy, did she respond. It was a senseless one for a measly amount of experience, had her catch a bunny and threatened her with a headache. I swear she&#x2019;d never thrown me faster or harder than that, the poor rabbit never knew what hit it&#x2026; And I didn&#x2019;t realize how fast I&#x2019;d developed new trauma! I like rabbits&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;The Sword System, a soul bound blade punished for the sins of his past, craves the most basic of human needs in this new life. If you can even call it one. Alone, forgotten, forsaken. He remained for decades in solitude beneath the earth, all until the day she fell to meet him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Irene Vespera, a Fallen Valkyrie filled with distrust. She now wields the Sword System begrudgingly, far more eager to throw him away than regain her divinity. With a dislike for each other and the dubious goal of rising to their prior glory, their journey across the Baratosh Flatlands begins.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;---------------------------------------------------------------&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Author Note: Hello everyone!&#x1F60A; If you&#x27;d like to chat with me and other readers of this series, please do head over to the official reader hub! I&#x27;ll be expecting you!&#x1F609;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Discord: https://discord.gg/5CVUhpKxbe &#x3C;/p&#x3E;

I am the Sword System