The afternoon sun hung high above Azure Shore as Ember stepped out of the Hunter’s Lodge. The crisp mountain breeze carried the scent of pine and damp cedar, mixing with the lingering smell of woodsmoke clinging to his clothes.
His fingers brushed against the cool metal of the Hunter Token tucked safely into his pouch.
A few minutes earlier, Garrick’s advice had sounded almost lazy in its simplicity. Buy supplies before you leave town. A bow won’t solve every problem.
At first, Ember had nearly dismissed the old hunter’s words as basic advice, the kind any instructor might recite out of habit. The more he thought about them, however, the clearer they became. Asterra wasn’t a world where you rushed from one battle to the next. Preparation mattered. A careless hunter might survive one mistake on pure luck, but eventually, luck would run out. Ember wasn’t interested in relying on luck.
The streets leading toward Azure Shore’s market district grew busier with every step. Unlike the quiet roads near the Hunter’s Lodge, the marketplace pulsed with life. Rows of colorful stalls stretched along broad stone streets while merchants loudly advertised their wares.
Nearby, a blacksmith wiped sweat from his brow before plunging a glowing sword into a barrel of water, sending a burst of steam rising into the air. A pair of blacksmith apprentices hurried past carrying glowing ingots, while a courier dashed through the crowd with a satchel full of sealed commission reports. Somewhere nearby, a bard’s cheerful tune competed with the constant shouting of merchants.
Across the road, an herbalist carefully arranged bundles of green plants across wooden shelves, while a tailor stitched reinforced leather armor beneath a shade awning. The rich aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread drifted through the crowd.
Mixed among the NPC-run businesses were player-owned stalls displaying stacks of ore, herbs, and animal pelts collected on recent runs. Players bargained over monster materials, while others hawked crafted arrows or basic camping supplies. A couple of crafters quietly discussed saving up to open permanent shops of their own, passing by empty buildings with notices posted for future commercial leases. Watching the bustling market, Ember realized Azure Shore wasn’t static. It would grow alongside its players.
A leather shop near the center of the market caught his attention. Finished backpacks, belts, boots, and quivers hung neatly outside. The sign above the entrance read: Harlan’s Leatherworks.
Inside, the rich scent of tanned leather filled the room, with shelves lined with sturdy boots and finished saddles hanging from the walls. An older craftsman looked up from polishing a saddle, his gaze lingering on the fresh Hunter Token at Ember’s belt.
"New hunter?" the craftsman asked, setting down his cloth.
"I’m looking for a backpack," Ember replied.
"First hunt, then," the merchant said with a knowing nod as he walked toward a shelf displaying basic gear. "Every adventurer starts with a basic ten-slot inventory. Enough space for a few essentials, but whole carcasses take an entire inventory slot. Process them into meat, hide, bones, or other materials, and they’ll stack together instead."
He lifted a compact leather backpack. Ember examined the clean stitching and sturdy straps.
"I’ll take it," Ember said.
"You’ve already registered with the Hunter’s Lodge?" the craftsman asked while wrapping the pack.
"I have."
"Then you’ll eventually want Skinning—unless you already have a harvesting Growth Skill?"
"I have Basic Gathering," Ember said.
"Basic Gathering, huh?" The merchant nodded with an approving grin. "A solid foundation. Keep practicing it."
He set the backpack on the counter, then brought out additional supplies.
"Ten meters of rope," the merchant said, setting down a coil. "You’ll be surprised how often rope solves problems."
Next came a sturdy leather waterskin. "Always carry water. You don’t want to rely on finding a stream."
He added a small pouch containing flint and steel. "Fire means warmth, cooked food, and safety."
Finally, he placed five wrapped strips of dried meat beside the other supplies. "Dried meat isn’t delicious, but it’ll keep you moving."
"Knowledge only takes you so far," the merchant added casually as Ember handed over the coins. "Your hands still need practice."
[Currency Updated]
Purchased:
Small Leather Backpack
Traveler’s Rope
Waterskin
Flint & Steel
Dried Meat ×5
-74 Bronze Coins
Current Balance: 26 Bronze Coins
Ember looked over his purchases. Nothing looked impressive, yet every item solved a problem before it appeared.
With his supplies purchased, only one task remained before leaving town. Ember headed toward a wooden sign depicting a steaming mug: The Traveler’s Rest. The common room inside was modest and warm.
Behind the counter stood a middle-aged innkeeper polishing wooden mugs. "Need a room?" he asked.
"I’d like to reserve one for tonight," Ember replied, sliding two bronze coins across the counter.
"Smart," the innkeeper said, handing over a small brass key tagged with the number seven. "Most adventurers don’t think ahead. They spend the whole day outside, come back after sunset expecting a room, and half end up sleeping in the stables when the prices surge."
[System]
Room Reserved: Traveler’s Rest (Room 7)
Duration: 1 Night
Cost: 2 Bronze Coins
[Currency Updated]
Current Balance: 24 Bronze Coins
The room secured, Ember stepped outside into a quiet corner beside a stone fountain. It was time to organize.
He equipped the newly purchased backpack, swapping out the worn starter pouch.
[Equipment Updated]
Equipped: Small Leather Backpack
Inventory Capacity: 25 Slots
Taking a few paces, he adjusted his stride until the backpack’s weight felt balanced against his shoulders. He fastened his hunting knife to his belt, secured the coiled rope to the side of the pack, hung the waterskin within easy reach, slipped the flint and steel into an outer pocket, and checked his bow and quiver.
Nothing rattled. Nothing felt loose. Every piece of equipment had a place. In the wilderness, wasting even a second searching through a pack could mean the difference between returning home—or never returning at all.
Satisfied, Ember called up his status window to review his parameters before heading into the wild.
[Status]
Name: Ember
Title: Novice Hunter
Race: Human
Level: 1
Experience: 0/100
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Stamina: 100/100
[Primary Attributes]
Strength (STR): 10
Agility (AGI): 10
Vitality (VIT): 10
Intelligence (INT): 10
Dexterity (DEX): 10
Perception (PER): 10
Free Attribute Points: 0
[Growth Skills]
Basic Archery Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Gathering Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Crafting Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Survival Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Mana Control Lv.1 (1.0%)
Basic Beast Taming Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic First Aid Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Stealth Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Footwork Lv.1 (0.0%)
Basic Observation Lv.1 (0.0%)
[Acquired Skills]
None
[Equipment]
Simple Hunting Bow
Wooden Arrows ×20
Hunting Knife
Small Leather Backpack
[Currency]
Bronze: 24
Silver: 0
Gold: 0
Ember closed the screen.
As he walked toward Azure Shore’s eastern gate, his keen observation caught the subtle details of his surroundings—worn boot prints in the packed dirt leading outward, notched wooden gateposts, and faint scuffs on the chainmail of the watchmen standing guard.
Outside the walls, the stone road turned into a dirt trail winding toward rolling green hills and a sea of dark pines. Groups of adventurers were leaving town to start their commissions, while returning hunters passed by carrying heavy packs and bundles of rabbit pelts. Players discussed active commissions and shared advice on beast locations. Watching them, Ember felt a quiet surge of anticipation. Soon, that would be him.
Beside the trail stood the entrance to the Beginner Forest.
A weathered wooden sign read:
[System]
Beginner Forest
Recommended Level: 1–5
Stay Alert. Respect the Forest. Return Before Nightfall.
Carved crudely into the wood beneath the official text was a player’s addition: "The rabbits bite back."
Ember smiled faintly, resting one hand on the grip of his bow. Out of habit, he checked the wind direction to ensure his scent wouldn’t carry forward. He listened for a few seconds—birds chirped deeper within the trees, leaves rustled gently overhead, and somewhere in the distance came the soft tapping of a woodpecker. Nothing sounded disturbed.
He chose his footing carefully, avoiding brittle branches scattered across the trail. He steadied his breathing, feeling the faint, quiet flow of mana within him as he focused.
Beyond the sign, the forest stretched into quiet shadow. Somewhere beyond the trees waited the three Forest Rabbits needed for his first Hunter Commission.
Garrick’s advice echoed in his mind.
Pay attention to the wind. Watch where you step. If the animal hears you first, you’ve already made a mistake.
Taking a slow breath, Ember steadied himself. Beneath the quiet surge of anticipation was a determination that felt deeply familiar. For six years, Ethan had spent his days trapped in hospital rooms and rehabilitation exercises, watching life move forward without him.
Now, every step was his own. Every success—or failure—would come from his choices.
He tightened the strap of his backpack one last time. Then, without another glance behind him, Ember crossed the boundary into the Beginner Forest.
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