9 Home Sweet Cave

Callum sat morosely on his makeshift rock as he stared at the notification. One month, that's how long his experience and growth in skills would be locked away for.

Yet many would gladly give their own arm for just such a quest. A quest with a month-long delay was almost unheard of. Most similar quests had a timeframe that maybe went a week or two.

For many, a timeframe of a month was cause for celebration! For that skill growth and XP would be banked. No one was sure exactly how it worked as there were too many variables. And few who survived the quests openly shared the details.

But everyone knew that at the end, they could stand to receive a bounty of bonus XP. Successful quests of this nature would shower the person with experience far beyond what they normally would have received.

Everyone knew levels became harder and harder to earn as the experience required continued to climb. The experience that could shoot a basic class up 10 levels might barely register with an advanced class.

((A/N: See the auxiliary chapter 'World Info' for additional details))

There were rumors that even some Tier 3 individuals had managed to earn multiple levels after completing similar quests. Progress that would have taken them years simply bypassed after a delay of a month or two.

Had the public become aware of Callum's quest, the reactions would have been mixed. The envious would froth at the mouth and wish him dead. Others would salute his good luck and see it as another example that they too could get lucky.

It was a rare lucky break that could change someone's fortunes in an instant. For those that survived at least.

And that was Callum's problem. He had almost no combat skills to rely on. His class abilities were all limited to agriculture. And the only magic he knew were some weak but useful cantrips.

He did have his new <<Rage>> ability. But still, he was in a harsh environment he wasn't equipped to survive in. And he was all alone without anyone to watch his back. His chances at survival weren't great.

"Well, I'm warmed up enough for now. There's work that needs to be done and it won't get done while I'm sitting down." Callum spoke as he walked back out into the night.

He hadn't simply been sitting there moping about his situation. He had used the time by the fire to think about his next steps. He also needed the 'Frostbitten' debuff to be pushed back far enough so that he had time to get things done.

Callum worked throughout the night. He would find and drag logs into his growing camp. He would often have to spend time by the fire in order to warm up. But he used those times to <Dry> more wood or cut what he brought in into fire ready logs.

Now that he wasn't pressed for time, he found a rock that easily fit in his hand. This served as a makeshift hammer that he used to drive the hatchet into logs. His knife was of decent quality, but could easily snap if he tried to use it to split more logs.

<Clean> and <Light> were used judiciously around the battle site. He wanted to ensure that there was no blood scent that might attract additional predators. His HP was rising, especially after the bleeding stopped.

But one pissed off lynx was already more than what he was willing to deal with right now. The lynx had taught him several valuable and very painful lessons. He just hoped he was a fast enough learner.

But the lynx wasn't the only teacher Callum drew from. His uncle had been part of an adventurer's team that frequently delved into the Everwinter Mountains. At least until the day his team had failed to return, never to be seen again.

He remembered listening intently to his uncle as he described his adventures in the dangerous mountains. Callum had been around 10-12 years old at the time. Both young Murray brothers had constantly pestered their uncle for stories.

It seemed so much more exciting than a boring old farm. Young Callum would have been surprised if he knew his future self would one day be on his own mountain adventure. Present day Callum missed the 'boring' farm. At least it was safer!

He dredged half remembered tales for clues that could help him now. He used one of those nuggets of information now. He'd use snow to insulate the cave entrance. It seemed counterintuitive to Callum, but he trusted in his uncle's words.

Snow wasn't in short supply and Callum was quickly able to pile snow up around the cave's entrance. A small space was left clear so that he could pass in and out. On the inside, he wedged some of the wood he'd gathered in a vertical manner.

He didn't know if it was really needed as the packed snow was a surprisingly dense material. But at the very least, it provided him a ready supply of firewood in case a blizzard kept him from foraging.

During one of his breaks near the fire, Callum tried to make several spears. During his trips out into the cold valley, he located some mostly straight oak and hickory branches. These trees produced a harder material that should make decent spears.

The branches he picked were thick enough to do the job, but not too thick that they'd be unwieldy. He trimmed off any minor branches once he got them to the right length, about 6ft (1.8m). Next he cut one end into a sharp point.

He 'baked' the point over some coal he'd separated from the main fire. His understanding was this would remove moisture and harden the point. He burnt a spear on his first attempt, but the second produced something.

Makeshift Spear (Trash) (Durability: 7/7)

Deals melee damage equal to 1/6th user's 'Strength' stat

Allows user to use <Stab> skill

He compared two different spears he had made during his breaks. The fire hardened spear had slightly better durability and damage. His uncle had been right again!

"Thank you uncle, your stories may just save me. Rest in peace old man," whispered Callum.

During another break, Callum went through his bag to see what else it contained. He would randomly stick various items in it as he went about his farm chores. Walking or riding to various points in their large farm had taught him to keep supplies with him.

It was capable of carrying about 30 lbs (15L) when full. Unfortunately, he'd emptied it out a couple of weeks ago to shed some weight. Still he had collected some useful items.

He had a whetstone; 30ft (9m) rope, handy for leading livestock around; a couple of old letters from Sarah; a needle and some catgut; several candles; a flask of oil, useful for keeping equipment in good shape; and some fishing line with hook.

The lynx was strung up downwind of his cave. He used the rope to hang it in a tree high enough that most predators couldn't easily get to it. He wanted to save that meat for later, but he didn't want guests coming directly to his cave.

As the sky lightened with the coming day, Callum was enjoying a light breakfast of half his apple and some of the cheese. He needed to ration his food, even if he hungered for more. His latest project was off to his side.

A weave of pine boughs formed a shape roughly the same size as the entry to his cave. It would serve to help keep the warmth inside. It wouldn't stop any predators, but it should make enough noise to alert him in time to arm himself.

The first rays of the sun shone into the valley. And Callum felt a new hope bloomed within him.

"I will survive," he said. A snarl formed upon his face.

"I will exact vengeance upon those who conspired against my parents and I. Before my ancestors and the gods themselves, this I swear upon my soul!"

A little notification window popped up automatically. This one was golden in color instead of the blue he was used to.

'Vow acknowledged'