Ment
Auto-translated
Lex and Mirna
The Donar tribe. An ancient old man, deprived of an eye, an arm, and a leg, standing on his remaining leg with the help of a wooden peg, raised his staff high and began to chant loudly.
-- Glorify the sun! You have all survived your sixth winter today! The ice is cracking on the rivers, and the buds are swelling on the trees, which means the worst is behind you! But a Donar must never let down their guard; they must always strive for improvement to become stronger than they were! And soon you will feel for yourselves what it means to be fully armed! You, little boys and girls, are gradually entering adult life, where there is no place for the weak! May Gar and Adalar la protect you—and if not, then you were not worthy!
From the old man's speech, it soon became clear that a group of children would soon be occupied with hunting local rats. Mirna listened to the priest's speech with anxiety—she never wanted to hunt anyone, but as the daughter of the chief, she had no way to avoid military training. If she had declared a resolute "no," not only would she have been brutally punished by her father, but she would also have shamed him before the entire tribe.
Three months later, the number of six-year-old children decreased by a quarter. Most died from rat poison, but one was eaten alive by a rat.
***
A middle-aged woman entered the room and adjusted her expensive frames glasses.
-- Let us get acquainted. My name is Ivonia Nykt. Yes, I see that this surname is familiar to many. I have the honor of belonging to this famous Astrian family, although I am merely the sister of the heir.
-- Since you were assigned to our school specializing in trade, I assume you have a talent for it. However, in my economics classes, you will need something more. I will teach you that trade is not just buying and selling; it is primarily the ability to think and a deep understanding of processes.
Lex sadly propped his head with his hand. Well, the party's over—adult life begins, full of suffering. This teacher was clearly going to be hard on them.
***
An unknown disease swept away a significant part of Mirna's tribe. She herself managed to stay healthy so far, but many of her friends could no longer attend training or go on (now quite real, not rat) hunts. Hook-nosed Rob and Jolly Kton would never kill a deer, a wolf, or a mug of ale ever again.
The burden on the remaining fighters increased disproportionately—they not only had to do everything that the larger group used to do but also spend additional time searching for herbs required by the tribe's priest. He needed them to stop the epidemic. However, the priest didn't so much brew decoctions from the herbs as he burned them near the huts—to ward off evil spirits. History is silent on whether this had any effect.
***
Lex and his comrades huddled in a small group in an alley near the school. Actually, there should have been a math class now, but the teacher was sick, and the students were happily idling. This particular group had long wanted to try one small act of mischief. With a sly smile, Lex pulled out a small bundle and some paper—oh, he hadn't obtained such wealth without effort! Delight was written all over his friends' faces; they were even afraid to breathe. Leisurely, Lex opened the bundle and pulled out some tobacco (or, apparently, any other smoking herb existing in OK), made a roll-up, and gave it to one of his comrades—not chosen by chance, as this was the person with whom he was especially keen to develop "business relations." Then all the kids, including Lex, got roll-ups; a fire was lit, and they all took a puff together, coughing cheerfully from the smoke.
And then—as if to spite them—Miss Nykt turns into the alley...
-- What is this stench?! -- their economics teacher asked loudly, but no answer followed from the children paralyzed by fear. Miss Nykt stepped closer and demandingly held out her hand.
-- Now give me those roll-ups.
The teenagers bowed their heads, but there was nothing to be done—from experience dealing with adults, only obedience and following orders could soften the inevitable punishment for what they had done.
Miss Nykt took the roll-ups, and then began to do something strange—rustling in her bag and pulling something out. Eventually, she produced a pipe and a paper packet of tobacco, properly speaking.
-- I cannot bear to watch you smoke this filth of yours. Here—smell how real tobacco should smell! Do you feel this pleasant sweetness? While you've just mixed some grass from the fence.
Miss Nykt poured some of her own tobacco into her pipe and gave the rest of the packet to the boys. They were stunned, but they accepted the gift and, after thinking it over, decided to put it to use—since Miss Nykt herself was smoking away right next to them.
For a while, they all stood in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Perhaps this silence proved more useful in terms of information gained than some school lessons. This smoking session lasted about fifteen minutes.
-- I think it's time to go, otherwise you'll be late for my lesson, -- Miss Nykt said. -- Before returning home, I recommend masking the smell with something.
The woman resolutely walked away from the alley, but then a question reached her from behind.
-- Why? -- the asker was Lex.
Miss Nykt looked at the boy attentively and answered shortly:
-- Because most people are idiots.
That explained everything.
***
The final exam—victory over the forest serpent. Few lived to see this day, and Mirna feared that she had simply been lucky. Or perhaps the others protected her—because of her pretty face and because she was the daughter of the chief. She knew for certain that her combat skills were below average in this group, and she constantly witnessed the deaths of those who were stronger than her.
The serpent appeared unexpectedly and devoured Bane.
***
-- I give you an "excellent" for the exam. Well, it seems our paths diverge, Lex, -- Miss Nykt noted melancholically.
-- Yes, ma'am, -- the young man replied politely. This politeness was not a show; he had truly developed a liking for his teacher. Even if she demanded more from them than other teachers—she also gave much more. As she promised, and not only in her own subject.
-- Lex, I won't hide that I expect much from you. You were the most capable among all those I have taught over the last five years. This doesn't pertain to the exam, but still... What rules do you remember that must be followed to survive and not waste your talents? I think you should know them from my lessons.
-- First rule—trust no one. Especially authorities.
Miss Nykt nodded.
-- Second rule—don't trust yourself. Don't grab the first idea that comes along; think everything through and calculate it. Consider the risks and multiply them by two.
The teacher nodded again. Of course, her wording was slightly different, but the essence was captured correctly.
-- Third rule—connections and reputation decide. People may be idiots, but you cannot neglect their opinion, otherwise they will ruin your life.
-- All correct. Go and act accordingly. I wish you success, -- Miss Nykt smiled almost imperceptibly—a rare occurrence.
-- Call the next examinee.
***
A surprisingly nimble giant serpent with a unsurprisingly (but no less) tough hide sent the second-to-last fighter to the other world. Mirna struggled to stay on her feet and felt blood streaming down her stomach. Why? How much more? Monsters-wars-epidemics, suffering and despair, over and over in a circle—an endless cycle. Once you fall into it, you can never get out, whether you want to or not. And this vicious circle is called life... If only it could be fixed—but it seems nothing can be done now. The serpent had just defeated everyone in her group; there was no longer any sense in resisting, and no sense in running either. But still...
Who knows, maybe that's how heroes are born? Amidst corpses, facing a superior opponent in an unequal fight. When it seems that no one and nothing can fix the situation—yet you find the strength within to win? What if persistence and adrenaline can defeat even an opponent like this serpent? What if life itself can be broken, changed, and improved, if only a true hero takes up the task? But a hero needs a source of power.
Mirna leaned over her own blood and began to draw a certain sign in it. Previously, the tribe's priest had noticed a certain talent in her and even taught her a few things, but Mirna didn't want to use them. And yet—bloody Adalar is her last chance. She will offer this blood of hers and the blood of all opponents as a sacrifice; in exchange, Adalar will give her strength and fury in battle. Though Mirna had never sought all this on her own, there is such a word as "must." Her own character would not matter if, in battle, it was fate itself that guided her hand.
Fury clouds the mind, and the young Donar girl, poleaxe at the ready, rushes at the monster. The death of her comrades shall be avenged!
The serpent attacked; Mirna dodged. But her weapon, the poleaxe, accidentally ended up in the serpent's maw, and with a crunch, it immediately broke it in half...
***
Lex understood that the servants of the church ruling the kingdoms hid much from them, but upon inspection, everything turned out to be worse than any expectations. What is the point? Why all this? Does anyone actually believe these ikigai delusions?
Keeping his mouth shut and never revealing anything about himself, the merchant still considered most people idiots. All according to his teacher's precepts. He had expanded his business quite well—betting on printing. He gladly published church-approved books and sometimes wrote his own. A story titled "The Boy Who Survived" was distributed in large print runs.
In this work, there was a certain boy and a certain evil sorcerer. The sorcerer once killed the boy's parents, but the boy himself turned out to be so pure that the sorcerer could do nothing to him and almost burned himself during the same attempt at murder. The boy was raised by evil atheist foster parents who did not love him—until he learned that there is an ikigai teaching and sisters who have long dreamed of taking the boy under their roof, showing him wonders opened by the power of the spirit. The boy was soon taken from his evil relatives and began to comprehend all this, noting with surprise that he was famous in his own way among the ikigai, and they called him "the boy who survived." For a long time, however, he was not allowed to live in peace, as the same evil sorcerer soon found him and tried to kill him. The boy heroically dealt with the sorcerer but perished by his hand himself. At the decisive moment, the Abbess herself appears and resurrects the boy—thereby allegorically showing that no one is perfect except the Abbess, but if someone happens to stumble under the unrestrained pressure of evil in this world, then the Abbess will be your last haven and help you be saved.
Quite good, considering Lex had long since decided for himself to become an Ixian. A decent religion—many bonuses and exactly zero downsides. And no need to depend on unquestionable authorities.
Now a new project occupied the Menassan, one that was real rather than just for show. Although he did not publicize the goal, he was assembling an expedition to search for ancient knowledge, artifacts, and true magic. No matter how interesting Ixian (as well as scroll mastery) might be, this world clearly lacked something... Perhaps this something would allow everything to be fixed and throw off the yoke of ikigai over his country?
Lex left the business to a temporary manager and set out on his journey.
***
Mirna saw death... It looked like the smelly, shredded entrails of a giant serpent mixed with dirt and someone's blood.
The High Priest smiled, revealing two and a half whole teeth.
-- You've awakened, then. Today Gar and Adalar are favorable to you, Mirna.
The girl slowly raised herself and looked around. Everyone else was...
-- Yes, I could not help them. I expected that you might not defeat the serpent... But most of you couldn't even survive. Regrettable. Look at me: I am old, and I lack arms and legs. And yet I finished off the monster without even getting a scratch. That is what it means—the strength of a Donar.
The priest turned his back.
-- You are alive, so the trial is passed. Congratulations.
***
A total failure. For half a year, Lex and the expeditionaries wandered through deserted places; they found something sort of—but traps and monsters didn't allow them to pass beyond the first door. Moreover, almost everyone died. Only Lex himself and another Ixian from Menas, just like him, remained. Lex stopped at a roadside tavern on the way to Silvergard. There he received new shocking news—in his absence, the publishing house had burned to the ground. The manager decided not to restore anything, declared the enterprise bankrupt, and everyone dispersed. Lex wanted a drink. So much effort wasted... His own fault; once again, contrary to the teacher's rules, he trusted idiots.
In the corner sat a Donar girl, knocking back her same-old mug of beer. Usually, Lex was only interested in women from high society, connections with whom could be useful in business—and he didn't hesitate to use his talents on them. But here... On a face quite pretty for a Donar (and not just for one), such sadness was read—and simultaneously determination in something serious; Lex was drawn to that corner like a magnet.
-- I have a proposal, -- he began without preamble, sitting at the table. It could work—the girl clearly had nowhere to go, she was clearly a warrior, but didn't even have equipment. Better not to try and make her fall in love—let's try an honest path. Start everything over—searching for knowledge and attempting to change the world to one's own taste. Give everyone freedom and happiness, and show idiots their place in the world order so they no longer try to turn this and other countries into a branch of their idiocy.
Mirna looked at Lex with surprise but decided to listen to what he had to say. She was no longer entirely sure that she was the hero of some new ballad—but in any case, she didn't want to miss the chance. Or perhaps it was the alcohol that robbed her of vigilance (by the way, and of reason too; after all, drinking without a penny in one's pocket is not exactly a great idea).
Soon Lex and Mirna walked out of the tavern together.
-- So, you need a poleaxe? I'll try to provide one, -- Lex said.
-- I won't let you down, -- the Donar girl replied.
Mirna:
Donar Tribes
+3 Strength;
+1 Defense for each unit of Strength;
When crafting weapons, the blacksmith can engrave runes to improve their characteristics
Strength 9+3
Agility 6
Perception 9
Intelligence 4
Will 1+4
Charisma 1
Beauty
+8 Attractiveness
Priest II
+4 Will
Access to advanced features of the character's faith
Poleaxe I
+3 Accuracy, +3 Evasion
Cult of Adalar
Berserker attacks the nearest enemy and receives the following bonuses: immunity to slow, paralysis, mental effects; conversion of damage dealt into health (does not exceed maximum); +20% critical damage chance; additional attack;
Character can attack until they miss
Lex:
Menas
Cost of learning professions is halved;
Ability to unlock an additional level for combat specializations
Strength 6
Agility 2
Perception 2
Intelligence 9
Will 2 +4
Charisma 9 +4
Erudition
Additional profession
Merchant III
-1% to item cost for each unit of Charm
-1% to item cost for each unit of Etiquette with "civilized" merchants
-1% to item cost for each unit of Attractiveness with opposite-sex merchants
+5 Etiquette and +5 Charm when talking to other merchants
Player creates an additional bodyguard character (Mirna)
Priest III
+4 Will
Access to advanced features of the character's faith
Access to expert features of the character's faith
Ixian Faith
Fire damage reduced by 75%
+4 Charisma
Charm
Character's weapon deals additional fire damage.
Brave Heart
Immunity to negative mental effects.
+8 Creativity, +8 Initiative.
Fire does not deal damage to the character; instead, it heals them. Immunity to poisons and diseases.
Spell: Inferno
Lex's Inventory
Books useful for self-development and a church-blessed copy of "The Boy Who Survived".
Money.
Writing materials.
Practically photographic memory to remember actually useful books and other information.
Ple-Sen