Chapter 14:

14. On to the next stage-exam

Waldina - Journey as a ninja in another world


“So what is our next destination?” Kiandra asked curiously the next morning as Waldina was preparing their breakfast.

“Hmm,” Waldina wondered out loud, “I haven’t yet checked the objectives listed in my bracelet. But I was thinking of heading towards the next stage-exam and planning our route accordingly.”

“Can we please get a fire magic grimoire?” Kianra begged as she was flying around hysterically, “I’m so done with cold food.”

“You usually get warm food in the evenings,” Waldina reminded as she pouted with dissatisfaction.

“Yet there are so many other times we eat food during the day and they all are meaningful,” Kiandra pouted in response but still took the slice of bread Waldina offered her.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re actually a food fairy,” Waldina let out a soft laugh and began eating without waiting for a response. Kiandra muttered a few objections behind her bread before becoming too absorbed in eating. As the prisoner of the grimoire she hadn’t had many chances of enjoying this worldly desire called food. And not many of her past masters had served her food unless necessary. That way it made sense she was now so mesmerized by eating and experiencing delicious food. She just couldn’t get enough of it. Warm food was naturally better tasting - in her opinion - compared to cold food. At least it smelled better. She didn’t necessarily need to eat as fairies got enough nutrients from the mana particles floating in the air. But this was the one thing she didn’t want to compromise any longer.

After finishing her breakfast Waldina checked her bracelet. Under the objectives she found new information. It had clearly refreshed after she won against Vermell. The same as before though there was only one objective she accessed through her bracelet and it was that of the next stage-exam.

In Waldina’s point of view the next stage-exam would be way easier compared to fighting against Vermell. The second stage-exam consisted of defeating and capturing a small group of thieves. They were praying for the poor travelers who were going to and from the town of Twande. Thus the exam was close to the next town, Twande. It was way closer to the town than Waldina and Kiandra currently were. The player - or in this case the adventurer - didn’t need to be on any specific level in order to attend this exam. The player could freely decide when they were ready to tackle the challenge.

After going through the details of the stage-exam Waldina checked the map. They’d need to travel for a day or two until they’d reach the next stage-exam. The food she had prepared for their trip would barely be enough, but they’d need to continue marching forward without any extra breaks. And the fight shouldn’t be dragged on for too long if she didn’t want to become a hunter.

Waldina glanced around them and saw a couple of squirrels skittering from one tree to another. She pondered her choices for a while before reaching a conclusion. Perhaps one day she’d have to hunt down the cute and innocent rodents, but that day could wait for a while longer.

“Let’s leave quickly,” Waldina announced to Kiandra and gathered their stuff into her inventory. Then she took out her short-sword and sheathed it at her waist belt. She checked her thigh belts and the daggers and shurikens those held. Finally she straightened the hem of her dark ninja dress before being content. They were ready.

“Gosh, why the rush so suddenly?” Kiandra wondered, though she didn’t hinder their leave at all. She just followed the ninja who stepped away from their camp.

“We’re running low on food and I don’t want to become a hunter just yet. Not to mention a farmer,” Waldina explained and the blue fairy understood everything within a matter of nanoseconds. Her interest towards food was way too much that she’d accept running out of it at this point. In her eyes the situation was critical.

“I get it. Let’s go,” Kiandra nodded and flew to Waldina’s shoulder. The purple haired ninja understood the meaning behind that choice and took off running.

Waldina ran as long as she possibly could. After the fights with the green goblins, Hiisi and Vermell she had gotten tons of levels and experience points which she had added to both agility and stamina, some to speed and power. She’d stopped leveling up her mana now that Kiandra had joined her with a semi-permanent plan in mind. Their non-official agreement was that Kiandra would focus on supporting Waldina with water magic, so that Waldina could focus on everything else. It would also help her level up faster as a ninja.

According to the map the thieves were stationed at the opposing edge of Blancob’s territory, compared to their current location. This meant they’d basically have to cross Blancob’s whole territory. Waldina could theoretically go around Blancob’s territory and instead run across the meadow. This would ensure she wouldn’t come face to face with that gigantic bunny, Blancob. Yet it would also mean longer traveling time which Waldina didn’t want to risk for now. So they really had only one choice: to continue crossing Blancob’s forest.

The rodents laying under the bushes and stumps startled the fast-moving ninja who was only getting faster and faster with every step. Waldina had been trying to train her body for better physical state at every possible moment. It was finally starting to bear fruit, although she was still far from where she wanted to get. The route to the top was long and by no means easy. But at least she wouldn’t have to focus on using her experience points to her stamina for a while now.

The roots, small burrows and underbrushes got Waldina cursing the fact she hadn’t leveled up her agility more. She didn’t exactly stumble but she still had to decrease her running speed to avoid stumbling in the future as well. At Vermell’s and the green goblins forest there were countless paths, thanks to bigger forest animals and monsters, so it had been easy to move around. In other words they were comfortable for humans to move around.

The same couldn’t be said about Blancob’s forest. The small rodents really didn’t leave much trails or paths behind them. It had to do some sort of act of protection as it meant humans like Waldina would have a harder time moving around.

Blancob’s forest was huge. So huge it would take a long time to reach Waldina’s destination. It became painfully aware that the day would change into night and into day again at least once before they’d be close to the thieves. The thought annoyed Waldina a lot yet she knew it was still better to keep moving on than to stop now. Worrying wouldn’t lessen the distance - likely the opposite.

“Couldn’t we stop for a quick rest and snack?” Kiandra voiced hesitantly. Waldina snapped out of her trance like running and slowed down. She glanced around as she noticed the sun shining from somewhere behind the trees. Time had really gone by fast.

Waldina nodded slightly as an answer to her blue fairy friend before beginning to look for a place to rest at. Slightly further away there was a small slope and at its foot the remnants of a camp, perhaps from earlier adventurers. Waldina stepped towards it and after making sure the place was relatively safe, she sat on a fitting stump.

After resting for a while she had to admit being quite tired. Traveling all day from morning till late in the day had really taken its toll on her body. Not to mention the fact she wasn’t physically nor mentally used to this kind of lifestyle. Suddenly changing from office worker into an adventurer was rough and it would take time before she properly adjusted to this kind of lifestyle. Waldina just had to accept that and give herself some time. The worst part wasn’t even learning all the difficult ninja skills, but adapting to this overall different lifestyle and world. The world of AO differed so much from her modern world. She had to constantly be aware of her surroundings and ready for a fight. It was taxing. It was as if she had been stationed in the middle of nightlife of a megalopolis; danger lurked everywhere though here it was present day in and out.

“Can we at least grill a couple of vegetables?” Kiandra flew right in front of Waldina and begged, eyes round and cute.

“Perhaps in the evening,” Waldina smiled shortly before giving Kiandra her portion of the cold salad. The blue fairy sighed, moved her long blue hair out of the way before eating. She munched it with a glum mind, yet not a word of objection ran out of her mouth. Waldina was quite humored by the sight - though she made a mental note to search for fire magic grimoire at the next town.

“Waaaah,” the shriek escaped Kiandra’s lips at the same time as she dropped her half-finished salad. The small fairy’s eyes were so open from the shock they seemed bigger than normally. Her gaze pointed before Waldina. Carefully Waldina turned around and what she saw got her gritting her teeth. She frowned, going through all sorts of possibilities.

Behind their camp, gazing from behind the slope, two gigantic red eyes were focused on Waldina and Kiandra.