The First Steps — Leaving the Order's Lands(Valdris)

The moment Neo stepped beyond the city walls, the silence felt unnatural.

No more structured streets. No more merchants shouting. No more distant sermons of the Radiant Order.

Just the open road ahead.

For the first time in his life, there was no one telling him where to go.

And that thought both excited him... and terrified him.

Neo's First Journal Entry — The Beginning of His Adventure

Neo sat beneath a weathered oak tree, pulling out his journal and pen.

He had always written things down—his observations, his questions, the things people didn't say aloud.

But now, his words weren't just for memory. They were his guide.

He dipped the pen into ink, pressing the tip to the page.

Journal Entry — Day 1

"The world feels...too open."

"I thought leaving would make me feel free, but now that I'm here, I realize I never actually planned what to do next."

"I have no destination. No supplies beyond what I took from the city. No idea what lies ahead."

"I should feel overwhelmed. But instead, I feel—"

Neo paused, tapping his pen against the book's spine.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

He thought for a long moment before finally finishing the sentence.

"—alive."

With a small sigh, he closed the journal.

And only then did he notice the quiet movement around him.

A rabbit sat nearby, ears twitching. A pair of small birds rested on the low branch above. Even a fox, half-hidden behind tall grass, stared at him with calm, unbothered eyes.

Neo blinked.

"Had they been there the whole time? Watching? Waiting?"

"Maybe they were just curious—just like me."

The moment he shifted his weight, the animals slowly drifted away. Not frightened, not startled—just... departing.

He watched them for a moment, then shook his head. He had bigger things to focus on.

The Reality of Survival Hits Hard

Neo's first real mistake happened within hours.

He thought he could make it to the next village before sunset.

He was wrong.

The road was longer than he expected, the terrain rougher. By the time the sun began to sink, he was still miles away from shelter.

And worse—he hadn't rationed his water properly.

His throat was dry, his stomach empty, and he could feel the fatigue slowly creeping in.

Sitting down on the side of the road, he flipped open his journal again.

Journal Entry — Day 1 (Nightfall Update)

"Lesson one: Roads are longer than they look."

"Lesson two: Water runs out faster when you drink without thinking."

"Lesson three: I should have bought more food before leaving."

"Lesson four: The animals earlier are too adorable. Now I can't eat them even if I wanted to."

"Conclusion: I am an idiot."

"Note: Do not die from stupidity."

He sighed and rubbed his temples.

Closing his book, he stretched out his legs—and then paused.

A small group of fireflies blinked in the tall grass nearby. A lone owl, perched above, watched him silently.

It was only now, after finishing his journal entry, that he noticed them.

Learning Through Struggle

The night was cold. Much colder than he expected.

Without a proper fire, sleeping outside was miserable. Every small sound in the grass made his heart race. He was not used to this.

At some point, exhaustion won. He drifted into a restless sleep, shivering beneath the stars.

When he woke up, his body ached from the hard ground. His stomach complained louder than before.

But still—

Despite everything, he smiled.

Because he had learned.

He flipped open his journal once more.

Journal Entry — Day 2 (Morning Thoughts)

"Mistakes are only failures if I refuse to learn from them."

"I will find water first today. Food second. Shelter before nightfall."

"Waking up accompanied by animals isn't so bad...except for the insects."

"I need to learn a proper way to camp."

When he finished writing, he closed the book and stretched.

And only then did he notice it again.

A fox, resting near his feet. Birds perched on the rock beside him. A few squirrels peeking from behind a fallen log.

Neo frowned slightly.

"Curiosity. I guess we all have it in common."

The moment he stood up, the animals slowly scattered.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, shaking his head. Coincidence, probably.

Still, the thought lingered.

Neo's Resolve — The Journey Continues

He dusted off his clothes, stretched his sore limbs, and took a deep breath of the morning air.

Today, he would do better.

And tomorrow, even better than that.

With his journal in hand, Neo walked forward, eager to see what else the world had to teach him.