With this ability to level up 10 times as fast, it would probably be better to just go to another settlement. I had all the standard newbie armor. It would probably be better to leave now since I did not have the money needed to get better stuff. I told Suzie about it. She looked really disappointed. "I still have to stick around here to make sure I get into the guild. Once I do, I'll come find you." she said. I said "Don't worry, I'll wait for you." She punched me in the shoulder and said "Yeah right!" I laughed with her a bit and turned to leave the city. Once I was gone, I kept to the roads for safety. There were still dangers on the road, but less than off the road. It did not take too long just walking before a bandit toll stopped me. They wanted to steal from me. I told them to shove it. We fought and they died. I was able to take all of their money and gear. It was much better than what I had. Even their weapons were better than my generic longsword. I took a round short shield, a short sword, a pair of quivers of arrows, and a bow. I also leveled up to level 30. I put it into my dexterity. Having reflexes was good.
Healing and stamina potions were in their chest and I took them all. That made me smile wide. "This is some good loot for a bunch of bandits on the road. 159 gold might get me stuff at another settlement." I continued down the road for a few hours before coming to a fork in a road. There was a sign in the road. The left was a small human settlement. On the right was an elvish settlement. I decided to go to the elvish settlement. Suzie was an elf and it probably would be easier for her to find me there. If I hung out with elves there would probably not be much of a downside. I did not hate the elves or anything. It took me another few hours of walking before I came before a large wooden gate. There were trees lined up in a row with a metal door. I stood in front of the door and waited to rest my legs a bit. An elf peered out at me. He had an arrow notched and pointed at me. "What's your intention here, Outsider?" he asked. I said "I want to come in and see what you're doing." That really seemed to surprise him. "You cannot come in here based on that." he said. "What do I need to do?" I asked.
It made the elf look down at me in confusion. "Wait there." the elven guard said before his head ducked behind the metal door again. I could not see anyone anymore. As a bunch of elves, they were good at hiding. That was not the best of signs for me at the moment. With that being the case, I had to think about what I would do if they told me to leave the area. It would probably mean going to that human settlement. As long as they did not attack me, I would be fine. I had to wait for a few minutes before the initial guard returned. He was back and more of them were here as well. The group then demanded to know what I was doing. I told them the same thing that I told the first guy. They looked at each other and told me that I could only come in if I had something of value for them. I told them about all the various potions that I had. The elves looked at each other again and they ducked out for a second time. I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief. The gate then began to open up. They were cautious as they let me slowly inside. They had their bows drawn as I gave the potions to the elf.
The guards looked at them and shaked them all to see what it would be like. Satisfied that they were actually magic, they then smiled and pocketed them all. Whether it would be used for the benefit of the settlement or for their own use was up to them. They were satisfied and that was enough for me at the moment. They still made sure that I was under guard as I went through their settlement. I asked them what type of settlement they were here. It was a way to break the tension. They all just looked at me in disbelief. "We are the Wood Elves of Kearie Clan in Kyrnan Forest." one of them said. I knew a bit about the elves. Wood elves considered themselves the heirs of the ancient elven empires established, but they shared few of the cultural characteristics that marked such early realms. Although a proud people, wood elves largely felt compassion was a greater virtue than strength and their realms were less concerned with expansion than with maintaining good relations with their neighbors. Clan politics were complex though. I did not know how these elves would take me being here.
