Echo Of Infinity: 100× exp

The Echo of Infinity: Chapter 4 - Whispers and Whetstones

The presence of the Adventurer's Guild cast a long shadow over Oakhaven's usual routine. Elara and her assistant, a quiet young man named Finn ([Guild Scribe Lv. 5]), set up a temporary command post in a corner of the Drunken Dryad. Villagers spoke in hushed tones about the dangers in the woods, their Weave interfaces often displaying worried expressions.

Kael found himself drawn repeatedly to the tavern, ostensibly delivering firewood or running errands, but truly hoping to glean information. He needed to understand the Guild's procedures, Elara's methods, and the exact nature of the threat. Knowledge was armor, especially when wrapped in layers of deception.

He saw Marcus frequently volunteering for tasks under Finn – reinforcing the palisade, sorting supplies, carrying messages. Marcus puffed up under any perceived praise, boasting about his contribution to the "war effort" against the forest menace. Kael felt a sliver of sympathy; Marcus, in his own way, was trying to be useful with the tools he had.

One afternoon, while dropping off herbs for the tavern kitchen, Kael overheard Elara speaking quietly with Finn. "...the tracks are definitely Goblin, but larger than usual. And the patterns suggest coordination, not random raiding. Borin confirmed seeing strange totems near the eastern stream two days ago."

Goblin Totems. That often indicated the presence of a Shaman or a War Leader trying to exert influence or claim territory. Kael subtly activated his real status, checking his [Shadow Scout]'s [Track] skill. *Level 3. Good enough for basic goblin trails, maybe.*

He needed a reason to get closer, to potentially investigate himself. An idea sparked. He approached Finn, who was meticulously inventorying arrows.

"Excuse me," Kael began, pitching his voice to sound hesitant, playing the role of the timid villager. "Guildsman Finn? I... I heard you need supplies carried?"

Finn looked up, his gaze neutral. "[Guild Scribe Lv. 5], not Guildsman. And yes, we always need help moving things. Standard porter rates apply." He consulted a list. "Actually, Elara wants reconnaissance reports from the nearby watch posts. Just delivering messages and bringing back their log entries. Simple, but requires navigating the edge of the woods."

He eyed Kael's flimsy fabricated status. "[Gatherer Lv. 2]? You know the paths?"

"Yes, sir," Kael said, nodding eagerly. "I gather for Old Man Hemlock all the time. I know the western and southern paths well." "And my [Silent Movement] and [Detect Presence] will make it safer than you think."

Finn shrugged. "Alright. Less risk than hauling lumber. Take this message pouch to Watchpost Alpha near the old logging camp. Bring back their logbook. Payment upon return."

Kael accepted the pouch, his heart thrumming with opportunity. This was perfect. It gave him a legitimate reason to be near the woods, away from prying eyes, and potentially close enough to investigate the eastern stream area Elara had mentioned.

He set off immediately. Once clear of the village, he swapped his equipped classes on his real status, keeping [Shadow Scout] and [Swift Blade] active but swapping [Mana Weaver] for his high-level [Gatherer Lv. 21 (Tier 1)]. This maximized his detection, stealth, and tracking abilities while still giving him Tier 1 combat potential if needed. The mana skills weren't as crucial for pure scouting.

He delivered the message to Watchpost Alpha – manned by two bored-looking village guards ([Guard Lv. 8]) who hadn't seen anything unusual – and collected their log. On the way back, he deliberately took a detour towards the eastern stream.

Activating [Track], the world shifted subtly. Faint impressions on the ground glowed in his vision – deer, rabbits, and then... goblin prints. As Elara had said, they were slightly larger than typical scouts', sunk deeper, suggesting heavier bodies or armor. And they moved with purpose, not meandering. He followed the trail cautiously, [Detect Presence] sweeping the area.

He found it near the gurgling stream – a crude totem pole, barely waist-high, carved with jagged symbols and adorned with crow feathers and stained rags. A faint, unpleasant energy emanated from it, prickling his [Sense Mana] even through his unequipped [Mana Weaver] class. Definitely Shamanic influence.

Suddenly, [Detect Presence] flared. *Hostile, close!*

Kael reacted instantly, dropping low and rolling behind a thicket as two arrows *thwipped* past where he'd been standing. He risked a peek. Two Goblin Scouts, clad in mismatched leather scraps and armed with crude bows, peered suspiciously at the spot he'd just vacated. They were Tier 0, maybe Level 5 or 6, but their arrows were sharp.

He couldn't risk a fight here. Discovery was too dangerous. He focused, pouring mental energy into [Silent Movement] and relying on his high DEX. He faded back into the undergrowth, circling away from the stream, putting distance between himself and the Goblins without making a sound. They searched for a few moments, grunted in their guttural tongue, then seemed to dismiss it, turning back towards the deeper woods.

Kael let out a silent breath. Close call. He had confirmed the Goblin presence and the Shamanic signs. He couldn't report *how* he knew, but he could anonymously tip off the Guild.

Back in Oakhaven, he handed the logbook to Finn, collected his meager pay, and meticulously updated his fake status.

*‘Accumulator: Modify fabricated status. Set [Gatherer] EXP +15. Set [Basic Combatant] EXP +5.’*

A small reward for a 'dangerous' delivery run.

Later that evening, he found a discarded piece of charcoal and rough parchment. Disguising his handwriting, he wrote a simple note: *'Shaman totem. Eastern stream. Large tracks. Be watchful.'*

Under the cover of darkness, using [Silent Movement] even within the village, he slipped the note under the door of the Guild's temporary post at the Drunken Dryad, then vanished back into the night. He had provided the echo of his discovery, hoping it was enough.

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Date of Publishment: 3/4/2025