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Chapter 2 - Cracks in the Facade
The Echo of Infinity: Chapter 2 - Cracks in the Facade
The next morning dawned crisp and clear. Kael woke with the sun, the phantom sensations of his newly leveled skills still tingling. [Swift Blade Lv. 10] felt subtly different; his movements possessed an underlying grace he had to consciously suppress. The new skill, [Flowing Strikes Lv. 1], promised smoother combos, while [Mana Shield Lv. 1] offered a desperately needed defensive option, albeit a small one.
He spent the morning performing mundane tasks around Oakhaven – mending a fence (earning a pittance of real EXP for his hidden [Basic Combatant] class, logged as +2 EXP to [Villager] on his fake status), fetching water, and avoiding Marcus. The gap between his public persona and private power felt wider than ever.
Around mid-morning, he found himself near the village notice board, a mandatory stop for anyone seeking odd jobs or news. A new parchment, tacked prominently, caught his eye.
**ADVENTURER'S GUILD – OAKHAVEN BRANCH LIAISON**
**Request for Patrol Assistance**
*Increased beast activity reported in the Western Woods.*
*Seeking parties including at least one Tier 1 Combatant for extended patrol.*
*Standard Guild Rates Apply. Report to Guild Rep Elara at the Drunken Dryad.*
Kael’s eyes lingered on "Tier 1 Combatant." He *had* Tier 1 classes. His [Villager Lv. 18], [Gatherer Lv. 21], and [Basic Combatant Lv. 12] all qualified. But they were unequipped, hidden. Showing them would shatter his facade. Equipping [Swift Blade Lv. 10] was still Tier 0, though tantalizingly close to the Tier 1 threshold of Level 11.
He felt a familiar pang of frustration. Here was a chance for real experience, better pay, perhaps even recognition that could lead to more opportunities – all locked away behind the wall of his secret. He saw Marcus swagger over to the board, read the notice, and scoff.
"Tier 1? Barely anyone in Oakhaven qualifies except Old Man Borin, and his [Veteran Warrior] class is gathering dust. Guess the Guild will have to send someone from Riverbend." Marcus clapped Kael on the shoulder, making him wince internally at the casual strength. "Don't worry, Kael. Stick to gathering herbs. Leave the dangerous stuff to us future Tier 1s, eh?"
Kael forced a smile. "Sounds like a plan, Marcus."
Later, Hemlock called him over again. "Boy, feeling adventurous today?" The old herbalist had a twinkle in his eye. "Need something a bit deeper in. Shadowmoss. Only grows on the north face of Grayfang Knoll, about an hour's walk past the edge path."
Grayfang Knoll. That was definitely beyond the "safe" fringe. It wasn't deep wilderness, but encounters with Thorn Sprites (Tier 0), Dire Wolves (Tier 0, dangerous in packs), or even the occasional wandering Goblin Scout (Tier 0) were more likely.
"It pays double," Hemlock added, seeing Kael's hesitation. "And I'll throw in this." He produced a small, slightly chipped whetstone.
```
[ Worn Whetstone ]
Quality: Common
Effect: Temporarily grants [+1 Sharpness] to a bladed weapon (Duration: 1 hour).
```
It wasn't much, but it was useful. More importantly, Grayfang Knoll meant better potential EXP.
"Alright, Hemlock. I'll do it."
"Good lad. Keep sharp."
Kael prepared, ensuring his short sword was secure. Once out of sight, he activated his real status and reviewed his new skills. [Flowing Strikes] seemed intuitive, linking basic attacks together more smoothly. [Mana Shield] required concentration, projecting a shimmering, barely visible barrier that cost a small amount of mana per second.
The journey to Grayfang Knoll was tense. His [Detect Presence] skill kept him alert, allowing him to avoid a foraging Dire Slime and a territorial badger. The deeper woods felt older, the trees taller, the shadows longer. He found the Knoll, a rocky outcrop draped in moss, and quickly located the dark, velvety Shadowmoss on the shaded northern face.
As he carefully harvested it, a sharp *thwip* sound echoed nearby, followed by a pained yelp. Kael froze, crouching low. [Silent Movement] active, he crept towards the sound.
Peeking through dense ferns, he saw a scene of chaos. A small pack of three Dire Wolves were circling a single figure – a Wood Elf. She was young, perhaps barely an adult by elven standards, with leaf-green clothing torn and stained. An arrow protruded from her shoulder, clearly the source of the yelp, and she clutched a wicked-looking curved dagger, her Weave interface flickering defensively.
```
[ Lyra - Wood Elf ]
Title: None
Equipped Classes:
1. [Forest Strider Lv. 8 (Tier 0)]
2. [Archer Lv. 7 (Tier 0)]
3. [Knife Fighter Lv. 5 (Tier 0)]
... (Status Flickering: Injured, Bleeding)
```
She was clearly outmatched. The wolves, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger, pressed closer. One lunged. She dodged clumsily, hampered by the arrow, and swiped with her dagger, leaving a shallow cut on the wolf’s snout. It only enraged it further.
Kael’s mind raced. Helping would expose his abilities. Ignoring it felt wrong. The Accumulator pulsed silently within him, a constant reminder of the power he wielded, the power that set him apart. *What good is it if I don't use it when it matters?*
He made his decision. *Carefully.*
He channeled mana. *‘[Mana Shield]!’* A faint shimmer enveloped his left arm. He drew his sword, using the whetstone quickly. [+1 Sharpness] buff activated.
He burst from the ferns, aiming for surprise. *‘[Flowing Strikes]!’*
He moved faster than anyone in Oakhaven would believe possible. His sword became a blur, striking the nearest wolf twice before it could react ([Twin Strike] embedded within the flow). The sharpened blade, combined with his STR and skill, bit deep. The wolf howled, collapsing.
```
[Weave Notification: Dire Wolf Defeated. +12 EXP allocated to Equipped Classes.]
[Accumulator Notification: Base EXP Gain +12. Multiplier x100 Applied. +1200 EXP allocated to Equipped Classes.]
```
The other two wolves, startled, turned towards the new threat. The Wood Elf stared, eyes wide with shock.
Kael didn’t hesitate. He dashed towards the second wolf, activating [Mana Shield] fully as it snapped at him. Teeth scraped against the barely visible barrier, the impact jarring his arm but holding. He thrust his sword forward, a simple, efficient move empowered by his [Swift Blade] class. It found the wolf’s throat.
```
[Weave Notification: Dire Wolf Defeated. +12 EXP allocated to Equipped Classes.]
[Accumulator Notification: Base EXP Gain +12. Multiplier x100 Applied. +1200 EXP allocated to Equipped Classes.]
```
The third wolf, seeing its packmates fall so quickly, hesitated, then bolted into the undergrowth. Kael let it go, turning his attention to the elf.
"Are you alright?" he asked, consciously slowing his breathing, trying to appear exerted.
The elf, Lyra, clutched her shoulder, still wary. "Who... who are you? Your speed..."
Panic flared in Kael. *Too fast. Too efficient.* "Just lucky," he stammered, sheathing his sword. "Saw you were in trouble. I'm Kael, from Oakhaven." He gestured vaguely with his head. "Just gathering herbs."
He immediately focused on his fabricated status. *‘Accumulator, modify fabricated status. Add… uh… +20 EXP to [Gatherer]. Add [Basic Combatant Lv. 1 (Tier 0)] to equipped classes, EXP 5/50.’* He needed *some* justification, however flimsy, for fighting. Showing a brand new, level 1 combat class was less suspicious than revealing his real ones.
Lyra eyed him, doubt clear on her face, but pain seemed to override suspicion. "Lyra," she managed. "I was tracking rare Moonpetal spores... got ambushed." She winced as she touched the arrow. "It's deep."
Kael knelt. "Let me see. My... my [Gatherer] class gives me some basic [First Aid] knowledge." A lie, the skill came from [Basic Combatant], but plausible enough. He carefully examined the wound. It wasn't poisoned, thankfully, but needed proper attention. "We need to get this out and bind it." He used his [Minor Heal] skill subtly, channeling a tiny thread of mana, not enough to glow obviously but sufficient to ease the immediate pain and slow the bleeding slightly.
Lyra gasped softly, looking surprised again. "You... have mana?"
"A little," Kael said quickly. "Found a cracked Mana Crystal once. Barely enough for sparks." Another half-truth. He helped her break the arrow shaft and carefully bandaged the wound with clean cloth from his pack.
As he worked, his Accumulator delivered the EXP notification.
```
[ Swift Blade leveled up to 11! Tier 1 Achieved! ]
[ Shadow Scout leveled up to 9! ]
[ Mana Weaver leveled up to 7! ]
[ Attribute Points Gained: +3 (Allocate Manually) ]
[ New Class Evolution Available for [Swift Blade] at Lv. 15! ]
```
Tier 1. He'd crossed the threshold. The power hummed within him, a stark contrast to the Level 1 [Basic Combatant] now displayed on his fabricated status for Lyra to see if she checked.
"Thank you, Kael from Oakhaven," Lyra said, her voice steadier. She seemed to accept his flimsy explanations, perhaps too preoccupied with her injury or simply assuming he was one of the rare, naturally gifted individuals. "I owe you a debt."
"Just be careful heading back," Kael said, packing the Shadowmoss. "The woods are getting rough."
He helped her to her feet and pointed her towards the path back to the deeper forest, assuming she wasn't heading to Oakhaven. She gave him a nod, a complex expression in her elven eyes, before disappearing silently between the trees.
Kael let out a long breath, the adrenaline fading, replaced by the familiar anxiety of his secret. That was too close. Her surprise, her questions about his speed and mana... cracks in his facade.
He quickly allocated his new attribute points – 2 into DEX, 1 into INT – enhancing his strengths. He checked his real status, the glowing 'Tier 1' next to [Swift Blade Lv. 11] a beacon of progress and peril.
Returning to Oakhaven, he delivered the Shadowmoss to Hemlock, collected his double pay and the thanks of the herbalist, who seemed none the wiser. He walked through the village, past the notice board still requesting Tier 1 adventurers, the irony bitter.
He *was* Tier 1 now, in a class far more potent than [Basic Combatant]. But he was still just Kael the [Villager], Kael the [Gatherer]. The gap was widening, and Oakhaven felt smaller, more suffocating, with every level he gained. He needed space, anonymity, a place where he didn't have to constantly look over his shoulder.
The Echo of Infinity was growing louder within him, and he wasn't sure how much longer the quiet village of Oakhaven could contain it.
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