Gatebreaker

The moon hung low over the village as Jonas and Grimm made their way back to the camp, its pale light casting long shadows on the ground. The battle had drained Jonas physically, but his mind buzzed with the thrill of it, with the intensity of everything that had happened—and with the memory of Grimm’s lingering touches, her playful, yet charged, words.

The fire between them still simmered beneath the surface, but now, as they approached the small clearing where their makeshift camp lay, the cool night air began to settle the heat in Jonas’s chest. He had a lot to process—his first battle, the rift, the leveling up—but his thoughts kept circling back to Grimm. The way she moved, the way she fought, the way her presence filled the space around them with a raw magnetism that he couldn’t ignore.

Grimm tossed her gear to the ground as they reached the camp and gave him a sidelong glance, her tusked grin sharp in the moonlight. "Get some sleep, kid. Tomorrow’s gonna be even tougher. No rest for the weak in Ilvorya."

Jonas smiled back, though his heart was still pounding in his chest. "I’ll manage."

Grimm stretched, her muscles rippling beneath her skin, before settling down on her bedroll, the gleam of her emerald skin highlighted in the soft glow of the campfire. Even at rest, she looked fierce, powerful. But there was something about the way she softened as she lay back, arms crossed behind her head, eyes closing with a contented sigh, that made Jonas’s chest tighten.

He tore his gaze away, shaking his head, and sat down on his own bedroll. The night was quiet around them, the only sound the distant rustle of leaves in the wind. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. But he knew sleep wouldn’t come easily. There was too much on his mind.

Jonas opened his stat screen, the familiar chime ringing softly in his head.

Character Status

Name: Jonas Hawke

Class: Novice Warrior (Level 2)

XP: 1300/2000

Next Level: 700 XP

Stat Points Available: 5

He stared at the screen, his mind still buzzing from the events of the day. He had earned these points, fought hard for them. And now, he had to decide how to use them. The battle with the Riftbeasts had taught him a lot—how much he still needed to improve, how vulnerable he could be if he didn’t grow stronger.

Grimm’s words echoed in his mind: Strength and endurance, kid. Focus on that.

He glanced at his core stats, considering his options. His strength had been decent enough to hold his own in the fight, but he’d felt the strain in his muscles with every swing of the sword. And his endurance—he’d barely kept up by the end of the battle, his breath ragged, his body heavy. He needed more stamina if he was going to survive future fights.

Current Stats:

Strength: 5

Dexterity: 4

Intelligence: 3

Endurance: 4

Charisma: 3

Luck: 2

Jonas rubbed the back of his neck, mulling it over. Five points didn’t seem like much, but it was enough to make a difference. He knew he had to focus on what would help him survive, and right now, that was brute force and stamina. With a deep breath, he made his decision.

Allocate Stat Points:

+2 Strength

+3 Endurance

The moment he confirmed the allocation, a surge of energy pulsed through his body. His muscles tightened, growing more defined, and he felt a warmth spreading through his limbs. His fatigue from the day’s battle lessened slightly, the weariness easing just enough for him to notice the change. He could feel the difference—stronger, tougher, more capable.

He closed the stat screen, satisfied with his choices, and leaned back on his bedroll. The sky above was filled with stars, their light flickering softly against the deep blue of the night. Jonas stared up at them, letting the cool breeze brush against his skin as he tried to calm his thoughts.

But it wasn’t just the battle or the leveling that kept him awake. It was Grimm. The way she had looked at him, her teasing words, the way her hand had lingered on his arm. There had been something between them tonight, something more than just the camaraderie of battle. Something that pulled at him, that made his heart race even now as he lay under the stars.

He glanced over at her. Grimm was lying on her back, her arms folded behind her head, eyes closed as if she were already asleep. But even in the stillness of the night, she exuded an irresistible presence—her powerful body relaxed but still coiled with potential, her long braids spilling over her shoulders, the curves of her muscular frame highlighted by the soft firelight. There was a strength to her that went beyond physical power, something magnetic, primal.

And he was drawn to it. Drawn to her.

Jonas swallowed, his thoughts tangled between the rush of the day and the unexpected pull he felt toward the orc warrior. He had never imagined he’d be in this situation—fighting for survival in a strange world, growing stronger, and being so completely captivated by someone like Grimm.

His mind flashed back to the way she had grinned at him after the fight, the way her hand had brushed his arm, her words soft and teasing: "You’ve got fire in you, Jonas."

She hadn’t just been talking about the fight. He could feel it. And it made him wonder what tomorrow would bring—what more he might learn, not just about this world, but about himself. About her.

Jonas closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. The fire crackled softly nearby, and the wind whispered through the trees, but the heat between him and Grimm lingered, simmering just below the surface, waiting for the right moment to ignite.