The road from the village wound through rolling fields and low hills, the dirt path still damp from a light rain the night before. Birds called from the hedgerows, and somewhere far off, a farmer's dog barked.I kept my pace steady, letting my body adjust to the rhythm of travel. Enhanced Body I made it easy — my stride was smooth, my breathing even, and even with the pack, my shoulders didn't ache.
[Stamina consumption: 15% below baseline for current travel conditions.]
The system's voice was as calm as the morning air.
So this is what efficiency feels like, I thought. It was one thing to read numbers in my status; it was another to walk for hours without fatigue setting in.
By midday, the hills gave way to flatter land, and I spotted the first sign of civilization ahead — a pair of windmills, their blades creaking in the breeze. Beyond them, rooftops clustered together, and a faint spire rose above it all.
The town's outer wall wasn't much more than a sturdy wooden palisade, but it marked the border between the open road and something more controlled. The gate was open, though two guards in mismatched armor lounged nearby, watching travelers pass.
They looked me over when I approached — not suspicious, just curious.
"New face," one of them said.
"Passing through," I replied easily.
"Market's this way," the other said, jerking his head toward the main street. "Keep your nose clean and your coin close."
"Thanks for the advice," I said, and stepped inside.
The town smelled different from the village — stronger, a mix of baking bread, tanned leather, and the sharper tang of too many bodies in close quarters. The main street was wide enough for carts to pass side by side, lined with shops whose painted signs swung gently in the breeze.
It was busier here, too — merchants calling out prices, hawkers pushing trinkets, and townsfolk in varied clothes, from patched work tunics to fine coats that marked higher status.
[Target density: medium-high. Estimated Desire Point gain potential: above average.]
The system's assessment was immediate.
Scanning the crowd, I saw what it meant. There were women of every type here — young and fresh-faced, older and confident, some clearly locals, others travelers like me. The variety alone was enough to make the village feel small in comparison.
I wandered through the market first, taking in the layout. There was a butcher's shop with fat sausages hanging in the window, a cobbler working on boots behind an open counter, and a spice seller whose fragrant stall drew a steady line of customers.
The system pinged softly.
[Potential high-value target detected: merchant class. Status: unmarried. Confidence threshold for approach: moderate.]
I glanced toward where the ping came from — a woman in her late twenties, dressed in a fitted burgundy dress that hinted at wealth without shouting it. She was speaking to another merchant, her posture straight, her hands precise in their movements.
I didn't approach — not yet. First impressions in a bigger town needed more than just walking up and talking. I'd need the right moment, the right reason.
Instead, I kept moving, mapping out the town in my head.
At the far end of the main street, I found the inn. It was larger than the Landlady's — two stories, with a stable to one side and a wide front porch where a pair of travelers sat nursing mugs. The painted sign above the door read The Copper Flagon.
Inside, the air was warm and smelled faintly of roasted meat. A man with a thick beard stood behind the counter, polishing a glass.
"Room for the night?" he asked.
"Three, maybe four nights," I said.
"That'll be twelve silver."
I counted out the coins from my pouch — part of what the Landlady had insisted I take. She'd claimed it was "just to get started," but I knew she'd given me more than she needed to.
The room was on the second floor, overlooking the main street. I dropped my pack on the bed and took a moment to breathe in the new space. This would be my base for the next few days.
[Note: Establishing stable location allows system to track local target movements and behavior patterns for optimization.]
So the system wasn't just tracking individuals — it was mapping opportunities.
By late afternoon, I was back in the streets. The market was still busy, though the crowd had shifted — more travelers now, fewer locals buying supplies for the day. I stopped at a baker's stall for a meat pie and ate as I walked.
It was while I was leaning against a low stone wall that I spotted her.
She was standing just outside a cloth merchant's shop, holding a bundle of fabric. Early thirties, dark hair pinned up, a streak of silver at her temple that only made her look sharper. Her dress was simple but clean, the kind of neatness that spoke to discipline.
[Potential target identified. Estimated high emotional yield due to personality type: proud, reserved, challenge-oriented.]
The system's classification made me smile. Proud women always gave more when they finally bent.
I didn't move on her right away — I just watched, noting the way she interacted with the shopkeeper. Polite but firm, quick to correct a miscalculation on the price, her voice carrying just enough weight to leave no room for argument.
Definitely one to keep on the list.
As evening fell, I returned to The Copper Flagon. The common room was fuller now — merchants talking business over mugs, a pair of locals playing cards in the corner, and two serving girls weaving through the tables.
One of them, a redhead with freckles across her nose, caught my eye as she set down a tray. She flashed a quick smile before disappearing into the crowd.
[Multiple potential approach scenarios available:— Low-risk: serving staff (quick point gain, minimal complication)— Medium-risk: market merchant (moderate point gain, social influence)— High-risk: status-bearing townsfolk (high point gain, increased resistance)]
The system's list made it sound like a menu. I'd start small — build my footing here before moving on the more valuable challenges.
I ordered a drink and took a seat in the corner, watching the room as I sipped. The redhead passed by again, and this time, I caught her wrist lightly.
"Busy night?" I asked.
"Always," she said, smiling again.
I let Desire Tongue coat my next words. "You handle it well."
Her smile deepened, and there was a flicker in her eyes — a moment of curiosity, interest. She pulled away gently, moving back into the crowd, but not without a glance over her shoulder.
By the time I went up to my room, the system pinged again.
[Minor influence established: serving girl, name unknown. Potential follow-up opportunity: high.]
Good. This town was already starting to open up.
I lay back on the bed, hands behind my head, and let the hum of the common room fade beneath me.
The Landlady's bond was still active, her loyalty a constant thread in my mind. But here, in a new town full of new faces, I felt the horizon stretching wider.