Chapter 18: Slow Progress
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After shaking hands with him, I realized that I hadn't even asked for his name yet.
"What should I call you?" I asked, pulling my arm back to my body.
He revealed a thoughtful expression. His brows shot up as he said:
"I think it's time to start a new chapter in my life. I will give myself a new name. Call me... Alvin."
"Sure, Alvin it is," I said, amused.
I then proceeded to ask, "You haven't unlocked your Magic Core yet, right?"
Alvin nodded solemnly.
"Why not?" I inquired.
"I simply never found the time for it. My days were scheduled, and when I did have time, I tried—but I couldn't take too long, as I had to sleep to gather enough energy to find food for the rest," he explained.
Then he looked at me with a smile and said, "But now, I only have to feed myself and will have plenty of time to pursue my goals."
"So, could I start and use that axe over there to cut some trees for my hut?" Alvin asked as his pale finger pointed toward the tool.
I hadn't crafted anything out of the icy claws yet, so I said, "Go ahead, I won't stop you. I have to process some materials first. Let's talk later at dusk."
Alvin hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on the axe. Then, as if shaking off doubt, he clenched his hands, lifted his thumb toward me, and strode forward in a determined manner. His steps were firm, almost defiant—like he needed to prove something, not just to me, but to himself.
I stopped looking at him and stepped into my hut.
I picked up the four dried paws that hung from the ceiling.
On each paw except one, there were five icy claws. One front paw only had three claws, indicating that the wolf had lost them rather recently.
Only nine curved claws would be fit to be crafted into small daggers. The others could be made into utility tools like carving knives.
I held one claw at the sides as my index finger traced the razor-sharp edge. The moment my finger brushed against the claw, a shock of cold lanced through my skin. Not the biting chill of the mountain air—no, this was deeper. Sharper. The kind of cold that didn't just sting but hollowed out the warmth inside you. My fingertip went numb in an instant, as if the blood had frozen solid in my veins.
Lethal, I thought with chills.
I then took out my knife and tried to carve a tiny hole into the claw. Not even a scratch formed as I dug the tip of the blade into it.
It seemed like I didn't yet possess the power to shape the claws into weapons.
But I also knew what I needed to be able to craft them into weapons: Sword Aura.
With Sword Aura, I could strengthen my knife, making it capable of shaping stronger and more dangerous weapons while also being able to apply Sword Aura to them in battle.
I then looked into one corner of my hut and sighed.
I hadn't built a bed yet, which meant I had been sleeping on the ground all this time, hurting my back.
I couldn't help it—I had to prioritize building a bed over spending time on something uncertain like Sword Aura. If I continued sleeping on the floor, it might be bad for my body as I grew up.
I had to build a bedframe first. I took two long and thick branches, then proceeded to cut them down until they were equal in length. They ended up being a bit longer than two meters. I then did the same with two other logs, which measured around one and a half meters. I carved grooves into the long branches and notches into the shorter ones. Now, I had a rectangle and only needed elevation to make it resemble a real bedframe.
I spent the entire afternoon constructing it.
Tonight, I would go hunting to get more meat and fur, I planned.
The sun slowly descended beyond the horizon as I started a bonfire with some wood.
I waited a few minutes before Alvin emerged from the forest, dragging two massive trunks behind him. They seemed heavier than a seven-year-old should be able to handle.
Maybe his trait boosts his strength, the thought invaded my mind.
He nodded to me while struggling, then laid the logs down at a spot a bit away from my hut.
He approached the campfire and sat opposite me, looking at me and waiting for me to initiate a conversation.
"I won't ask what your traits are, but remember—people will deduce them based on your actions," I said while staring into the fire.
Slowly warming up, he replied, "I'll keep that in mind."
He seemed to have something on his mind, his fingers fidgeting slightly. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he finally opened his mouth.
"Could... you tell me how you... you know... um... unlocked your Magic Core?" he asked nervously.
I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could say anything, he added in a panic,
"Naturally, I will compensate you! Once I unlock my Magic Core, you won't have to worry about food for a week—I'll hunt for both of us!"
I let out a small grin. He really didn't want to depend on me—which was a good sign.
"Good. Let's do it like this," I said. "I personally unlocked my Magic Core by sitting in a lotus position all night, trying to sense my environment. When I finally felt something, I tried to pull it toward me with my mind. In my opinion, concentration is key to unlocking the Magic Core."
His eyebrows knit together as he processed the information. After nodding a few times, he said,
"Thanks, Nestor. I'll keep that in mind. I'll build my hut first and try to unlock my Magic Core afterward."
We sat at the bonfire for a while, warming our chilled bodies. When the last ember finally extinguished, Alvin went to work on his hut.
I, meanwhile, disappeared into the woods.
After walking through the snow for a while, I finally reached my destination: the river.
Tonight, I would lay in ambush—maybe I could get some meat, fur, or other materials for crafting.
The moon hung high in the night sky, bathing the entire area in its soothing light.
On nights like this, I wonder…
I wonder if the moon will one day shine just for me.