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Chapter 3

Camrad_RIP 31.03.24 в 14:53

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Camrad_RIP 31.03.24 в 14:53

The clever little beast did not rush forward with all its might but crouched even lower to the ground and slowly, unhurriedly, in a fighting stance, as a university cat named Bazisevs Arnoldovich used to sneak up on pigeons, began to move toward the waiting earthling. Either he had experience with spears, which was quite likely, given the presence of scars on his skin that were noticeable even now, or he sensed Stepan's magical giftedness and was used to taking everything fountained by magic very seriously, or he had such a combat tactic and adhered to it.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 16:35

Stepan, in response, threw off his backpack and pulled off the sheath covering the tip of his spear-horn, crouched low to the ground, resting the weapon with its blunt end on the ground, and reached for his contracts. Yes, they were not the strongest, but they could take down a simple beast, as they could disperse a small gang of bandits (mass horror and all the assholes ran away, dropping feces in their pants). But the shaman had doubts that these tricks would be enough to defeat a clearly magical creature. The problem was that he would have to check it anyway, and at the risk of his life and with only one attempt to spare.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 16:36

He didn't want to wait for this carcass, the size of a cow, to strike, so he attacked first, the very terror forcing the spirit to work off the full reserve it had once been fed. The cloud, invisible to the eye, traveled toward the beast, hovered over its head, and immediately burst with energy. The beast shuddered, yapped with some indescribable sound that could not be attributed to animals familiar to man, and then became angry and growled in response. It was also a magical growl, and the horror tried to shackle the shaman's consciousness, but only just tried: the fortress of the spirit, the high characteristic of this spirit, and the shaman's general ability to work with alternate states of consciousness were all in evidence, but Stepan only wrinkled his face, pressed his lips into a thin thread, and hissed as if he had spat:

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 16:37

"Weakly." His voice didn't waver, remaining dry and calm, though the point certainly threatened to create the basis for a new black hole. "I've seen bigger dwarfs."

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 16:38

The beast hardly understood what was said, and in a language unknown in this world, but it recognized the tone and the contemptuous attitude, growled, got up, and rushed forward. A few seconds before the contact he stumbled on a flat spot and convulsed, as if trying to throw off something invisible, foaming from the suitcase-mouth. The man picked up his spear and rushed forward, feeling the spirits one after another signaling their "cheers" to him as they wasted their strength, and only the strongest, the most loyal, and the most fed continued to attack, at the same time feeding off the reserve of Stepan, who was helping them.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 17:59

By the time he got to the creature, it was already up and struggling to stand on twitching legs, making a furious hissing and snarling sound. The spear stabbed into its side. The more maneuverable man did not poke a sharp stick into the huge head, which had only small eyes for such a carcass. The blade went into the flesh on the very crossbar, and the beast surged upward, almost tearing the spear out of his hands, trying to bring the small biped down with all its weight, to crush and tear the defenseless. And it almost succeeds, Stepan, distracted by the rapid call, does not have time to dodge, but a hole under his foot makes him fall in the only direction that led not to death. The beast experienced a spirit-sent convulsion, slipping again and running past the man. The man picked up the spear that slipped from the wound and, without thinking long, struck it in the other side, roughly in the armpit. The completed call created in one exhalation a flash of bright, brilliant light directly into the beast's eyes, blinding him and allowing him to pull out the steel and strike again, closer to the open neck that was just in time.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:03

The frantic and even foolish battle of the ages continued for another three minutes until something that was dying of blood loss and a growing list of wounds finally froze. Stepan couldn't even be glad, he was just too tired, having used up all his reserve and even taking a little help from the spirits on credit. The realization that he was very close to a cruel and ignominious death, especially if he didn't stumble so timely, only added to his monolithic certainty that such pumping was not for him, no matter how lucrative it might be. No, no, no, no, he's definitely a pacifist, because he's against violence, especially upon him.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:12

When he reached the wild apricot tree in the center barely able to walk on shaky legs he put his spear down beside it, leaned his back against the warm wood, and began to meditate gathering energy from the world around him, which was especially plentiful at this point in the world. The flashed message about level five, as well as another, this time almost ignored a whisper of the Autogoddess, he put it aside for later, when he would be back to normal.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:14

It took him a while to get into it. First, go to his backpack and munch on dried fruit and leaf-wrapped roast meat. Then he cleaned his body and weapons of blood, which could easily be fed to the spirits. They would just lick it off, especially so magical. Only when his legs were no longer shaking, and his hands stopped trembling, Stepan began to cut out the most important parts of the beast's body. The fangs and claws would be used for totems and spirit houses, the entrails would be eaten by a whole list of those entities to which he had not yet dared to turn, because there was nothing to pay. The meat was definitely not edible, the bile had spilled into the body after so many blows to the belly, and there was no time or desire to dress the backbone - it would take at least a week's work, but it would be of little use; the main spiritual power of the creature was in its claws and fangs, as it was with predators, and also in its eyes and tongue. The latter is not surprising, remembering its frightening magical roar.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:16

Received: "contract with an elder spirit: Sleepwalker".

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 16:40

The acquired talent is added to the overall Player status.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 16:41

The first of Stepan's "narrow" knowledge, not even so much knowledge as a contract with a spirit for twenty summons per year, forever, and with the possibility of passing on the right to summon to his descendants. The spirit is strong, very strong, as for Stepan's low personal level, he should not even try to summon such a spirit before becoming a Senior Shaman - the analog of mastery for classical mages. He would not have enough reserves, or banal offerings, most of which, according to the available base of knowledge, would be classified as "very expensive", and the rest as "fuck it". In theory, he could, knowing the full specification of the ritual and already having the most favorable attitude on the part of this Sleepwalker, call the spirit and outside the limit, but... no, he won't make it to becoming that senior shaman, physically and magically he won't make it.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:23

In general, the gift is very good! In fact, the goddess gave it to her non-Сhosen one, and here begins the reason why the individual who did not appreciate such kindness does not tolerate the Autodivine Milf very much. The specialization of this spirit and, more importantly, the stipulated framework of the contract under which he works, just freezing, as well as everything is usually associated with that big lady. You can't use the spirit in battle, or rather you can, it's not defenseless in a direct attack, but the essence will not fit into the fight, not that contract and agreement. Invocations, all twenty in a year, are activated only if you call this entity only to perform a predetermined type of work: against a female person, and the caller must find this person at least sympathetic.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:25

The spirit comes into the dream and makes this dream very wet and passionate, after which the girl or woman wakes up all upset and, most likely, helps herself to quench this passion, necessarily with hands or other aids, even if there is a husband or fiancé lying next to her on the bed. Then the woman behaves as usual until the summoner (or the one to whom he points when giving orders to the spirit) will not say in front of her originally specified to the spirit phrase-key. The victim who hears these words or sounds - one may even hear a melody - falls into a somnambulistic-trance state in which she immediately indulges in passionate and lewd debauchery. If she is in public at this time, or in a place where sex is not possible, the victim will quite naturally suggest moving to a more acceptable place under one or another, nowhere suspicious, reason.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:32

After performing lewd actions several times in a row - it is possible and one, but then she will help herself a couple more times at least - the woman will get dressed, get out of the distorted state, say goodbye to the person she just fucked (she can also scold him if her relationship with him is not very good), and go about her business. No suspicions, even if her clothes are torn and there are marks on her body she dismisses it as an insignificant trifle and will take all necessary actions to hide such marks from those who might notice them: relatives, servants, acquaintances, or random witnesses.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:34

This was it. It was the best and strongest contract at Stepan's disposal for the next ten levels at least. He had to admit to himself that he was as fucked up as the Autogoddess and still couldn't come to his senses. If she could give him a fighting or defensive spirit of at least half that potential, he would be happy and crying with gratitude! The Earthling would even agree to do her missions! But no, how could a gift be useful for survival? Now the newly gifted noob has a contract of the level of a very powerful clan secret of an entire family of shamans that is just completely useless to him. He won't even be able to find a rich kept woman, because Sleepwalker only creates a one-time situation, not a permanent spell!

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 11:55

Oh, how Stepan wanted to shout, and only fatigue prevented him from blaspheming, forcing him to continue to understand the mechanics of the new suitcase without a handle and without usefulness.
Чемодан без ручки

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 18:35

A non-gifted individual will be affected in just an hour or two, but strong-willed individuals may require several nights for full exposure. The gifted can also be affected, as well as the owners of good amulets, but with certain reservations. For the gifted, not above an apprentice of some sort, because a strong aura is too difficult for a spirit to distort properly, especially imperceptibly. For the ungifted rich and amulet wielders - the time limit of exposure. The spirit is very cautious and considers its invisibility a very important part of the contract and will act the slower the more paranoid the target's defenses are.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 11:57

It is possible to notice such influence before activation of the key, but it is not so easy. It should be at least a master of magic, preferably a mentalist, healer, malefic, or the same senior shaman, it is better that a couple of the two at once, and one of them must be either a mentalist or a shaman. It's even harder to notice the traces of influence after the key is closed, even the wizards won't find it there if they don't know exactly what to look for. Admirable caution and stealth, no doubt about it.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:00

No use either.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:00

And Stepan's nerves.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:00

The most frustrating thing here was that it was indeed an incredibly powerful creature, which could be summoned by a master of magic or shamanism, minimum, using ready-made templates and a full description of the calling ritual. To make a contract with such a creature, eternal, hereditary, and as safe as possible, that is, as Stepan has now, you need to be not a master, no. A whole family coven of shamans with half a hundred generations in reserve and a couple of higher (analog of masters of ordinary magic) spirits caster in the composition and that will be chiseled for many years, decades even, and will finish the contract and sacrifice will be their grandchildren.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 18:05

If only this spirit could be used in some other way! But no, no! Stepan even marveled at the fact he had been given such an expensive and useless gift. No, seriously, it was like being given a real fighter plane with all the possible combat equipment, but at the same time, they changed the body of the fighter plane to one made of pure gold. And now the fighter has become even more expensive, but it can neither take off nor even be towed. But now at least it became clear why Big Milf had given him a relatively useful skill of working with dreams and spirits in those dreams in his last gift - without learning such knowledge Stepan would not be able to communicate with his new faithful servant.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 18:10

Having already habitually waved his hand at the Autogoddess's tricks, having promised himself anew not to be surprised by new ideas in a similar style, the guy was still glad that he was an isekai with the system and not a local individual. Because the local shaman, for whom his craft is his life, from such a feint, would be in complete hysterics. And the earthling though morally prepared by thrashy porn novels, his happening also pisses him off, but at least it does not atomize the picture of the world and the purpose of life. But, of course, the great Milfa has to be very careful with such gifts, if she doesn't want to destroy the world with a greenhouse effect provoked by the burning ass of her (un)Chosen One.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 18:14

After exhaling, waving his hand, and giving a word to those who deserved it, the traveler, who had taken a break, got up and began to work again. The eyes of the beast had to be sacrificed right there, making it the basis of a call to summon a very advanced spirit, which now for the next three years twice every ten days will give him the opportunity to look at the world from above, like a bird, but without the bird. One for each magical and natural magic-infused eye. Almost cheapened, but skill was enough to realize: the spirit of this gift is truly willing, and therefore willing to cooperate more fully. The intangible scum, when he realized that he had been revealed, twitched a little, - a weak student could have been crippled by such a twitch, but the protective totem, preliminary call, and the circle made of small stones kept the scoundrel in check. And then Stepan, angry and still on adrenaline from the past mortal danger, began to press back with all his Spirit and skill. So much pressure that the spirit very quickly began to back down in the style of "What's wrong with you, we had a normal conversation", which, to be honest, pissed him off even more - not a spirit, but some kind of chav, who began to whine after the first retaliatory blows.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 18:16

He carved the tongue of the Source Guardian with care, treated it against decay, wrapped it in the leaves of a local plant that resembled both burdock and plantain, and carefully placed it in his bag. It was a valuable thing, he would not risk using it as an offering just yet. He would have to think about who it would be good for, and how to handle it, how to protect himself from possible attack. Spirits are like that. They can often try to take away the offering, take it without paying, or even together with the bearer, especially if he is weak and small, which can be offended. But really strong shamans may just ask or demand, even without payment, just by right. There is a whole list of rituals that give, for example, the right to order any sufficiently weak spirit of any of the spheres, be it air, darkness, water, or something extremely exotic. And to whom not to order, it is simply cheaper to order different services, a kind of shamanic discount for VIP persons.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 18:31

But where are the mighty shamans, and where is Stepan?

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 18:31

He finished his work only in the evening, not even afraid of the night predators. It wasn't just the deterrent totems. The smell of blood would not overpower the remnants of the Guardian's presence, who would eat anyone who wanted to get close to his treasure, having developed a strong reflex in the local fauna. He didn't touch the bones and flesh of the beast, because they weren't worth it, but he meditated with sincere pleasure near the apricot for a long time, spending and replenishing his strength. The young gifted one was not going to bind himself to the source, to become a new guardian, but a simple feeding would not harm, only good.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 08:53

At the same time, he browsed through the options of possible talent enhancements for himself... Though he had made his decision in the first minute, he just let himself think it over, to make his choice in a balanced way, not under the influence of the moment. And the choice was simple. Stepan had successfully taken care of his survival and was sure that now he would not perish even in winter, he would find warmth, food, and even a bit of comfort. But the first real battle, which he did not want to get involved in, but which he found despite this reluctance, clearly showed how much the earthling lacked combat power.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 08:56

The knowledge of "basic practice of martial calls" was inherently complex, like most of the other talents, providing not only a considerable list of martial-useable entities and methods of summoning, controlling, and managing them but also a set of reflexive tricks. How to call under stressful conditions, ignore pain and fear, act quickly and decisively, and the like. Stepan's personal combat experience was sadly lacking, and the one he had just recently received finally convinced him that he didn't want to get new ones in the usual way. And if the system can download that combat experience into his head and soul, then one should not hesitate to take advantage of it. Alas, this talent was not exactly experience, more like a prop for using the experience of his own, allowing him to use the knowledge he already had for combat.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 07:08

"I know kung fu." Again he repeated a joke he'd said a long time ago, smiling an almost satisfied grin. "Well, almost kung fu."

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 07:06

The carcass dragged away was not much in the way. The blood from his clothes and weapons had been cleaned off, and even the night was surprisingly warm, so he decided not to waste the chance. Once again, leaning against the tree, Stepan fell into a trance, the deepest one he had ever experienced, gazing deeper and deeper into the spiritual plane. The world blossomed with countless colors that had no names and could not be named, fell into itself, thinned, and was replaced by other landscapes, more fragile and subjective, depending on who was looking at them - just like shamanism and the theory of quantum uncertainty. The real world had receded further than anything else. His spirit might have gotten lost in this labyrinth. His mind might not have been able to maintain its connection to his body, but now the young man had a very strong connection to reality - not just his body, but support in the form of a small, lumpy, uncultivated, but still a Source of Magic.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 09:18

The power flowed into him, soft and deceptively gentle, but if he lost control and let go of the river, he would be swept away, torn apart, and damage his aura, and his thin body, maybe not fatally, but certainly not pleasantly. In retaliation, the guy could have temporarily drained, killed, and dried the tree he was leaning against, in return both feeding his still small and stupid retinue and taking some of the tree's power for himself. But he did not want to do that, and not only because of the danger of getting a curse from the dying tree, which had its own spirit, no. He could hide from the curse. He could transfer it to some anchor or feed it to a special spirit. He just didn't want to spoil the beautiful glade and destroy the tree that gave him shelter and support in his meditative practice.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 09:20

Instead of drying and drinking the power he gives away, he runs it through himself, only through the topmost layers of his aura, giving it back to the tree and its source, creating a closed cycle while strengthening the source in return for strengthening himself. This goes on for quite a long time. Two or three eternities and a couple of millennia in return, but when Stepan opened his eyes, he saw only the beginning of dawn, especially beautiful in this morning mist-filled clearing. The ritual he performed was a mixture of shamanism and classical druidism, which his systemic knowledge didn't really delve into, just grabbed at the edges, just where those edges intersected with shamanic practices. His body felt great, full of strength and vigor, even the bruises and sprains he had received yesterday had gone away, and the fatigue caused by the long journey had dissipated without a trace. His mood was even better when he read the new system message. He hadn't gotten a level, of course; he'd only recently taken fifth, though he'd gained about a third of the experience from the new step. But the system message was still there.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 09:35

Acquired: "basic techniques for interacting with magical sources"; increased affinity with the natural sphere; increased probability of acquiring knowledge and properties of the Druidism branch.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 07:29

The acquired talent is added to the overall Player status.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 17:38

The gift of knowledge was successfully assimilated right during meditation, and he didn't even immediately realize that he had begun to interact with the Source much more easily and deftly. The depth of this knowledge was very significant and, more importantly, it overlapped with literally all his other talents, not so much enhancing them as allowing this enhancement to be carried out by working with the Sources. The skill of the wanderer-shaman was especially distinguished, where the whole blocks of skills to work with such small and not too valuable wild sources of magic, which are of little use for ordinary gifted.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 09:37

After yawning, stretching, and stroking the bark of a wild apricot tree, which had once grown on this place from a random seed, the traveler picked up his belongings, grabbed his spear, and went on, guided by his homemade magic compass. The possibility of going out to the people beckoned with such desperate force that even laziness retreated... However, Stepan had literally defenestrated laziness during his hermitage. And even before he got into this crap, he had rarely allowed himself to be lazy, mostly as a schoolboy.

Camrad_RIP 09.04.24 в 09:45

Gathering himself, girding himself, and patting the sheltering tree on its rough trunk, the Earthman continued on his way.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:20

He came to the road in the middle of a warm day, and for the last kilometers, he walked in an extremely relaxed state because the forest near the road was free of logging and impassable areas. Stepan scratched the back of his head, thought about it, and went back into the forest. No, he wasn't going home, he was just a little scared to take such an obvious path without the slightest reconnaissance. After all, a lone traveler on the road is a tasty and quite manageable prey not only for brigands but for anyone in general. A simple group of medieval peasants was distinguished from a group of road thugs only by the risk of getting kicked. No, of course, it may not be like that here, the coasts may be sour, the rivers may be milky, and there are no highway robbers, but it was believed as strongly as in the honesty of a lawyer or the sobriety of a labor teacher.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:34

When he returned to the forest, he stripped down to his waist, remaining barefoot, and cast a scout, a few spirits who would fly ahead of him, looking for people like him. Then he remembered that the world was a bit fantasy and changed the condition of searching for humans to humanoids. There were still beasts, but he had no doubts about his ability to disperse wolves or drive away bears. The main thing was not to run into another guardian beast, but that was unlikely, even though he was not that unlucky. Well, he hoped so.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:36

And so he walked forward, kicking up dust with his boots and whistling a simple tune. A couple of times he came across travelers, but in the first case it was a rider going somewhere, whose horse looked at the world with eyes much more intelligent than the rider's own. The boy did not take any chances. He went off the road and hid in the trees, fearing not so much the rider as the possibility of making a mistake in all those bows and other things. He passed the three men accompanying the big cart with sacks calmly, though he was no less tense inwardly than the men who gave him tense looks. No one spoke, but the tension was palpable, and the local natives kept their pitchforks and axes within reach.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:13

Another large group, a whole trade caravan, albeit a small one, only seven wagons and a covered wagon, he prudently skipped past them, stepping off the road into the forest and going around them in an arc, watching them through the eyes of the avowed bird. The five guards, who were guards and not armed horsemen, were a bit alarming to the Earthman, and he didn't like something about the caravan. On Earth, intuition was considered an unproven phenomenon, but here he had learned that high Spirit and Sensitivity allowed him to listen to the world, understand its signs, and anticipate danger.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:09

He spent the night in the forest again, surrounding himself with totems and spirits, at the same time summoning and communicating with already quite serious entities, pre-agreeing on future cooperation rather than making a deal right now. Any serious contract, especially if it is on a permanent basis or if the spirit is to become part of the retinue, is usually negotiated in this way, long, little by little, knocking down the price and coming to a common and comfortable decision. The stronger the shaman, the faster such a stage passes, and the stronger those spirits for who shaman can simply say "Do it, bitch" and they will do it. So far Stepan could not classify himself as strong, and in general, he preferred caution and slowness in any action.

Camrad_RIP 08.04.24 в 12:07

And so the road went on until he came, at last! - to the very settlement that had so beckoned to him all these days. Surrounded by a simple and low wooden wall intended to keep the beasts out of the settlement, it drew nearer with every step of his tired feet. Many of the houses were not located within the walls at all, and some were located on the outskirts of the settlement. There were no guards at the gates, and the gates themselves had not been closed for half a year at least, as they were so loose. The boys, who were playing some game of their own, noticed him and ran away quickly, but there was no crowd with pitchforks to meet him. When he had passed a couple of houses, barked at by the dogs, he gave the scurrying mutt that had tried to come closer a pure spirit, making it whimper and run away, after which the other friends of the man preferred to bark a little more quietly and from a greater distance.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 17:28

Four men came out to meet him, and it was evident that they had just stopped working, and they looked at him without aggression. The chief of them, broad, burly, and with a considerable potbelly, did not seem either good-natured or harmless, and he looked him over with a keen eye, going over his spear, his knife and cleaver on his belt, his bag behind his back, and his clothes as such. The young man, a little shabby, despite his attempts to take care of himself on the road, was certainly not a prom-goer, but he still looked good against the background of these four.

Camrad_RIP 01.04.24 в 17:26

"You, traveler, what are you going to be? Well, they didn't attack at once and didn't seem to be particularly aggressive, which was already a small victory for Stepan. "Where are you going?"

Camrad_RIP 04.04.24 в 15:59

He had already thought out his further actions - and how could he not have done so in so much time - so he didn't get lost. If there was any pause, it was only because he was surprised at how easily and effortlessly he understood the man's speech, as if he had been speaking it all his life. It sounded, by the way, unlike anything else, but there were notes of something Romano-Germanic.

Camrad_RIP 07.04.24 в 11:57