This is not something that can be answered right now, or perhaps ever. To be honest, I have no idea if I will ever meet her again. She did not even tell me her name. All I know is that she is a dryad goddess and held some other title that I have already forgotten, mostly because I was distracted by the foolish, clearly improvised speech she was giving.
Honestly, I do not believe I need to be overly concerned. Aside from the obvious physical differences and limitations that come with being a goblin, I do not feel significantly different from how I did when I was human.
Considering this, I do not think I need to worry too much about these skills either. They are essentially what anyone would expect for a reincarnated person who has found themselves in the body of a goblin.
I believe this "Language of the Birds" skill could have two different meanings. One possibility is that I can literally talk with birds, which, I will not lie, would be rather amusing.
However, given the context and the fact that it is an S ranked skill, which strongly suggests a letter based ranking system instead of a numerical one, it more likely means I can speak at least the common language of this world. It could even allow me to communicate in every known and unknown language, both spoken and written, though I cannot be entirely certain about that just yet.
If this world operates on some sort of language based magical system, such as one involving runes or chants similar to the games from my previous life, then perhaps this skill could help me learn related abilities. That is something I will have to test in the future.
Now, Dark Vision is self explanatory, and it is actually a welcome piece of good news amidst this pile of problems. It makes sense for me to have this ability, considering I am now a goblin. If I remember correctly, goblins are often considered a lesser type of fae creature in European folklore. In role playing games, elves, who are also linked to the fae, typically possess this ability as well.
Alternatively, Dark Vision might just be a common skill. Many animals possess some form of night vision, not due to any mystical physiology, but as a natural function of their biology.
It also makes sense that a skill like Dark Vision would not have a level, since I cannot imagine how it could be improved or downgraded. Ultimately, it is just the ability to see in the dark, right?
Lead Belly appears to be similar in that regard. I do not know its exact function, but it probably allows me to consume things that would normally be inedible.
Perhaps I could even sustain myself on rotten meat, or maybe even grass. Then again, perhaps not. I do not think attempting that right now would be a wise decision, given my current circumstances.
The idea that I have to guess what a skill does in a world with a summonable status screen, like something directly out of an RPG Maker game, is utterly ridiculous. There must be a way to read a description for each skill, or at least to understand what every word on this status window means, right?
But after trying countless times, even performing the most absurd actions to see if I could trigger a response, I had to accept that there was no apparent way to learn what a skill can or cannot do.
Extremely lame.
My only way out of this ignorance, at least for the short term, is to find a goblin community nearby, hopefully with at least one individual who can actually speak.
They must have knowledge about these things passed down through generations.
Actually, I wonder if the system even works the same way for someone who is illiterate.
I am not sure if it is because of my Language of the Birds skill, but the text on the screen was completely intelligible to me, even though it was not written in English or any other Indo European language I might have recognized. In fact, I can read these strange and alien words as if the knowledge had been ingrained in my mind since birth.
Until I meet another goblin, none of that matters. For now, my primary goal is to find food, and it needs to be something that a human could also safely consume.
Even though the Lead Belly skill might allow me to eat almost anything, contracting diarrhea out here would likely mean death by dehydration. Even the weakest creature could finish me off if it discovered me in such a vulnerable state.
Next, after finding food, or perhaps even before, whichever comes first, I need to locate a source of water, preferably a safe one.
Hopefully, Lead Belly can at least neutralize the worst effects of drinking untreated water. And yes, I am aware I could solve most of that problem by boiling it over a fire. The issue is, I have absolutely no idea how to start a fire here without any tools.
Even in my old life, starting a fire from scratch was not an easy task. People without experience could spend hours trying and failing. Nowadays, there are many specialized tools designed to start a fire instantly, tools to which I obviously have no access here.
It is not simply a matter of striking two stones together and having a flame appear. No, it is a very methodical process of trial and error. And while someone with the proper preparation and knowledge might manage it without any special equipment, I am clearly not one of those people.
Then, realizing there was nothing else I could accomplish in my current state, I began to walk slowly toward the cavern's entrance. I figured it would be extremely unlikely for me to be reborn right at the mouth of a cave only for it to be completely empty inside.
Even if that goddess lied to me about everything up to this point, she did grant my request for some initial assistance. So, why not investigate? I was not doing anything else anyway.
After walking for a few meters, I noticed that my Dark Vision skill was functioning perfectly on its own, without any need for me to consciously activate it.
Perhaps this is because the skill is a natural part of my new body. Or maybe it is simply a passive skill. Either way, it is a great help in this place.
Proceeding a bit farther, I saw that the cavern was neither long nor wide. It stretched for no more than ten meters before opening into a larger, yet still natural, chamber. Inside, I found a small underground stream, no more than twenty centimeters deep, which was more than enough to satisfy my need for water.
On the opposite side of the chamber from the stream, I spotted what was clearly a chest, identical to the kind one would find in role playing games. It sat there closed, just waiting for me to open it.
And when I did, my spirits lifted even higher. Inside, I found several items that I desperately needed.
There was a full set of local clothing, likely made of wool, though it was unfortunately far too large for me, being roughly twice my size. Alongside the clothes, I found a well kept dagger complete with its scabbard. Even better, I discovered a small pouch containing what appeared to be ten strange coins, probably made of silver, each marked with a strange symbol that I instantly recognized as the imperial crest of the Aertius Kingdom's dynasty.
Wow. So the Language of the Birds skill even works on symbols. However, beyond understanding what the sign meant, I did not receive any additional information, such as details about this kingdom, the value of the coins, or even if they were truly silver. I only understood the raw meaning of the symbol itself. Even so, that ability alone is completely overpowered.
Well, I will leave these coins in the chest for now. I cannot wear pants, so I have nowhere to carry them. When they become useful, I will come back for them.
Holy crap. This feels almost as if I just received a starter pack from some free to play MMORPG.
I think that even if this shirt looks more like a dress on my small frame, wearing it along with the strange undergarment I found in the chest is much better than remaining completely naked. And now, even though the dagger looks more like a short sword in my small hands, I can finally relax a little.
At least now I have a weapon to protect myself and a tool to help me hunt for food.
I know this body is not strong, as it feels extremely light, but with a sharp dagger, even a child could potentially kill a wolf.
After checking my surroundings and confirming that I was indeed alone, I put on the shirt and the underwear. With my dignity now somewhat preserved, I took a moment to relax in the calm and quiet of the chamber.
I think it must be a side effect of the pain I experienced earlier, but my body feels extremely tired now. It feels almost as if I have been awake for more than twenty four hours straight, and my body is demanding a break.
Wait, was I not already half asleep right before I died? I had stayed up the entire night playing that addictive new game that was released over the weekend with some of my online friends.
I think I will just close my eyes for a few moments. A yawn escaped me. Then, I will try to hunt my first creature in this new world.
But when I opened my eyes again, I realized that night had fallen outside the cavern entrance. It was not that I was unable to see; rather, the ambient light had completely vanished. Everything was now cast in total shadow, a change I could perceive with perfect clarity.
Thanks to my racial passive skill, I could see everything with the same ease as if it were brightly lit.
How long did I sleep? It was already dusk when I first entered the cave.
The strangest part is that I can clearly distinguish between areas touched by moonlight and those completely devoid of it, even though I can see perfectly in both.
Hm, my mouth is a bit dry. Thankfully, I have the most convenient water source I could possibly ask for right here.
Wow, maybe it is just because I recently endured one of the worst experiences imaginable, but this water tastes absolutely amazing.
Hopefully, Lead Belly is doing its job and preventing me from succumbing to one of the most torturous deaths possible.
Now that I am completely rested and hydrated, equipped with the best beginner set a lowly goblin could wish for, and situated in a solid shelter with its own natural water source, there is still one more thing I must do. I need to find some food, because I am desperately hungry.
I never made an effort to learn wilderness survival skills. And while I did waste a more than reasonable number of hours watching bushcraft videos on the internet, they never actually taught me anything of practical use.
But right now, I really need to kill some animals, preferably tasty ones. And perhaps after that, I could even experiment with eating grass, since I have a virtually infinite water source. If that works, I might end up with a surplus of meat, fruit, or whatever else turns out to be edible.
Actually, I wonder if poisonous fruits would still affect me now that I have the Lead Belly skill.
Hmm, it probably depends on the potency of the poison.
Regardless, if I find some, I will give it a try. Even if the skill does not have a rank, I figure that if it is not useful for something like this, then why would it even be a skill and not just a trait like "standard goblin digestion"?
Since I have Dark Vision, there is no reason for me to wait until dawn to get started.
So, after standing up, I brushed the dust off my undergarment from sitting on the ground. Holding my dagger with both hands and pressing it against my abdomen for security, I gathered as much courage as I could muster and finally walked out of the cave.