"The Mage Stone. The Thief Stone. The Warrior Stone."
Rowan Mercer placed a hand on each of the three towering monoliths in turn, letting their faint, star-fed energies wash over him.
He felt it immediately.
Barely anything.
Rowan withdrew his hand and gave a soft, unimpressed snort.
"So that's it?"
For ordinary people, these stones subtly accelerated how quickly they learned skills tied to certain paths. Magic, stealth, combat. A quiet blessing woven into the fabric of the world.
But Rowan was not ordinary.
Even with his power suppressed.
Even with his presence muted.
Even relying solely on physical strength.
What remained was still far beyond what these relics were meant to influence.
At his current state, he didn't need cosmic handouts to learn quickly. His mind devoured knowledge at an absurd rate regardless.
With no further interest, Rowan passed between the stones and continued toward Riverwood.
Along the road, wildlife prowled in abundance. Deer darted through the trees. Wolves stalked in loose packs, yellow eyes glinting from brush and shadow.
None of them ever reached him.
Rowan's movement was too fast. By the time an animal sensed danger, the wind had already carried him far beyond its reach.
He didn't bother hunting them either.
If he couldn't even be bothered stripping gear from dead bandits, there was no chance he would start skinning wolves for pocket change.
When the last light of the sun bled into the horizon, a settlement finally appeared ahead.
Warm lights. Curling smoke. Wooden roofs and stone chimneys.
A real town.
Riverwood.
Rowan slowed to a walk, scanning the area.
"Definitely bigger than I remember."
The version he recalled from the game had felt more like a cluster of buildings than a living community. A blacksmith, a general store, an inn, a sawmill, and a handful of houses.
This place made more sense.
A town that small could never sustain trade. Could never justify permanent shops. Reality demanded population.
As he reached the southern entrance, a familiar sound greeted him.
"Cluck. Cluck."
A plump chicken wandered near the road, pecking lazily at the dirt.
Rowan paused, stared at it, then chuckled.
"Still undefeated, I see."
He stepped past without incident.
The town interior was calm. Children ran through the street playing tag. Adults carried baskets, chopped wood, argued about prices, laughed quietly.
A few glanced at Rowan with mild curiosity.
None looked alarmed.
Riverwood sat near the border between two major holds. Merchants, hunters, and wanderers passed through often enough that strangers weren't unusual.
Rowan exhaled.
"I'll find a bed first. Ruins can wait until morning."
He headed toward the inn at the center of town.
Halfway there, three bald men stepped into his path.
They were broad-shouldered, thick-necked, and wearing the kind of expressions that existed solely to cause problems.
The one in front grinned.
"Friend, if you want to pass through Riverwood, you'll need to pay a little toll."
Rowan blinked.
Not in fear.
In confusion.
"That's… new."
As far as he remembered, Riverwood had been peaceful. No guards before the dragon attack, sure, but also no resident thugs shaking people down.
Which meant only one thing.
This world might not be a perfect copy of the original.
Possibly altered.
Possibly expanded.
Which was… inconvenient.
Rowan's memories of the main storyline were solid. Major events, important figures, dangerous locations.
But if this world contained additional variations, then assumptions became liabilities.
On the bright side, it also meant more opportunities.
More threats.
More doors.
Rowan lifted his eyes back to the three men.
The leader rolled his shoulders and raised a fist the size of a brick.
"Hey. You deaf? Or do you need a demonstration?"
People nearby pretended not to notice.
Not because they supported the bullies.
But because getting involved meant trouble.
Rowan understood that perfectly.
Most people weren't cowards.
They were simply trying to survive.
He tilted his head slightly.
"So let me guess," Rowan said calmly. "You don't kill. You just take some coin, feel tough for five minutes, then spend it on cheap alcohol."
The leader's grin twitched.
"That's none of your business."
Rowan sighed.
An unexpected turn indeed.