Luck: Yeah, That's my Closest Friend

The path out of Oakhaven was less a road and more a worn track, winding through sparse, thorny bushes. Valerius walked with a steady, unhurried pace, a small, bundled satchel slung over his shoulder. He wasn't running away; he was simply moving on.

His "farewell" had been brief. A quiet word to Elara and Borin about seeking better opportunities, a vague promise to return. They'd cried, of course, but he'd seen the underlying relief. One less mouth to feed.

The sun beat down, warm on his face. He felt the subtle hum of the Aether-Weaver's Loom within him, a constant, comforting presence. It had refined his Qi to a level far beyond what any Oakhaven elder could imagine.

His Qi Condensation was complete. He was ready for Foundation Establishment. But that required resources Oakhaven simply didn't have. He needed proper manuals, rare herbs, perhaps even a master.

He'd chosen his direction carefully. Not the main trade road, which was too exposed. Instead, a less-traveled route, rumored to lead towards a small town called Stonehaven. It was a calculated risk.

And speaking of risks, the Daily Providence System had just delivered its morning gift.

"Congratulations! Daily Item Granted!"

Valerius mentally opened the prompt. His eyebrows, barely visible under his fringe, twitched.

It was a single, perfectly spherical, utterly useless smooth river stone.

He picked it up from the dirt path. It was cool, unremarkable. He tossed it in his hand, feeling its weight. Another gem of misfortune, he thought, a faint, almost imperceptible amusement touching his lips.

He pocketed the stone. He'd find a use for it. He always did. A weapon? A counterweight? A distraction? The possibilities, however absurd, were always there.

The path soon narrowed, leading into a patch of dense, ancient forest. The air grew cooler, dappled sunlight filtering through the thick canopy. This was where things usually got interesting.

He heard it before he saw it: the rustling of leaves, too heavy for a squirrel, too erratic for the wind. Then, a low growl.

A Timber Wolf, its fur matted and eyes gleaming with hunger, emerged from the undergrowth. It was larger than any wolf he'd seen in Oakhaven, its teeth long and sharp. A common beast, but dangerous for an unarmored traveler.

Valerius didn't panic. His mind immediately assessed the situation. It was a lone wolf, likely driven by hunger. Its movements were predictable.

He reached into his satchel, not for a weapon, but for a small, dried piece of jerky he'd packed. He tossed it a few feet away from himself, directly into the wolf's line of sight.

The wolf hesitated, its instincts warring. Hunger won. It lunged for the jerky.

In that split second, Valerius moved. Not to attack, but to position himself. He stepped behind a thick tree trunk, putting the solid wood between himself and the wolf.

The wolf devoured the jerky, then looked up, its eyes narrowing. It had been tricked. It snarled, a deeper, more menacing sound.

Valerius didn't wait. He pulled out the smooth river stone from his pocket. He aimed carefully, not at the wolf, but at a cluster of dry, brittle branches high in the tree above it.

He threw the stone. It whistled through the air, small but precise. It struck the branches with a sharp crack.

A shower of dry twigs and leaves rained down on the wolf. It yelped, startled, and instinctively recoiled, its predatory focus broken.

Valerius seized the moment. He didn't engage. He turned and sprinted, not recklessly, but with a burst of speed fueled by his refined Qi. He didn't look back.

He ran until the sounds of the forest faded, until the trees thinned, and he emerged onto a wider, more defined road. He slowed, catching his breath, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The smooth river stone. A perfect distraction. Every piece had its place, even the seemingly useless ones.

He scanned the new road. It was wider, more traveled. Wagon tracks were visible, and the faint scent of woodsmoke drifted on the breeze. This was the way to Stonehaven.

He still had a long journey ahead. New challenges, new misfortunes. But Valerius Thorne wasn't worried. He had his mind, his Loom, and a pocket full of "useless" items.