Paul was more interested in the Strength-Boosting Chicken, so he checked the recipe first and made sure he had everything prepared.

Although the host's kitchen was congested and had no things he was used to in his past life, he could still make do with the menial items stacked against the wall.

He had to first roast the chicken with garlic, oil, and a pinch of salt. So, he needed a pan or a pot.

Paul didn't have an oven, so he had to use the host's clay pot. He didn't use the whole chicken; since it was his first trial, he used only the legs, leaving the remaining in the Inventory.

Now came the biggest problem of his life - lighting the hearth. How was he going to start the fire? He didn't have a lighter or a matchstick.

'System, can you help me?' He sought the system, hoping for it to help him out of the predicament. But all he got in return was its silence.

"Aren't you going to help me? How am I going to start the fire?"

[I can't help you, Host. Until you become a fire elemental, I can't help you start a fire. You'll have to look for a way yourself]

Paul huffed, his blood boiling in frustration. He was close to hurling profanities at the same system he had praised some time ago.

"At least, guide me. How do I start a fire?"

[You can use flint stones, Host]

The system suggested and Paul frowned. Although he knew what flint stones were, he had never seen them before. He had no idea how they looked.

"How do they even look? Can you provide me with a picture or something?"

This time, the system compromised and an image of flint stones appeared before him for a moment.

Keeping the image in his mind, Paul started to look for it. At first, he had no idea where to look. But the kitchen was small and there weren't many things inside. So, he found the flint stones easily beside the hearth.

"You were right here and I was looking everywhere else," he grumbled as he picked up the stones. It wasn't his fault that he couldn't locate them soon. The hearth was covered in soot, making it quite difficult to find the stones that happened to be black as well.

Recalling the steps, he tried to ignite the fire. But it didn't work. There wasn't even a spark.

Paul didn't lose hope and tried repeatedly until he gave up.

"This is so difficult. What am I going to do?"

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[Umm... Host, you may want to put more pressure and keep rubbing the stones repeatedly]

Paul almost threw the stones in dismay. Swallowing his anger, he did as the system suggested to him, and on the eighth try, there was a spark.

"I did it. I almost did it," he cried, his lips curling in joy.

Paul tried again and this time, the dry grass in the hearth caught fire. Shooting to his height, Paul cheered at his small victory and grinned toothily.

"I did it. I did it."

[Good job, Host]

"Thank you, thank you," Paul clasped his fingers and applauded himself.

The hearth already had some half-burnt logs, which had slowly started to burn until the fire became bigger.

Placing the clay pot over the rim of the hearth, he started preparing the chicken.

First, he prepared the seasoning—garlic and salt—as they were the only two things he had for now. Using one of the clean stones by the kitchen door, which he assumed was a pestle, he crushed the two garlic cloves and mixed them with salt.

Once done, Paul rubbed oil and the seasoning paste on the chicken legs before placing them in the pot. To roast them better, he even covered the pot with the lid.

"System, can you keep track of the time?"

[Yes, Host]

"Can you inform me after forty minutes?"

[Yes, Host]

"Wait a minute!" Paul's eyes narrowed when a thought hit him. "Can't you inform me once the chicken is roasted well?"

[No, Host. I do not have the power yet. Once you reach higher levels, you can unlock the power]

"Ah, fine. Inform me after forty minutes," Paul instructed and leaned against the wall, away from the hearth, and slid down until he was sitting.

Now that he had a lot of time, he confronted the reality he had pushed aside in his excitement previously.

"System, can you tell me more about the world I am in?"

[Yes, Host]

The system responded immediately. Even though he knew a few things from the host's memories, Paul wanted to hear from the system.

[The world you are in is called Aeltheris. You are in the Core Realm which mainly consists of humans who possess little to no magic]

"Do you mean to say there are multiple realms?" Now, Paul was spooked. The truth was far beyond his imagination and he even felt chills run down his spine.

'What kind of mysterious thing have I triggered?' he wondered.

[Yes, Host. You will be able to visit the other realms once you become powerful]

Paul didn't know how to react for a moment. "What kind of realms are you referring to?"

[Forest Realm, Crystal Caverns, Celestial Realm. There are a lot of realms, Host. You will learn as you level up]

"How different are these realms from the Core Realm?"

[Core Realm is the least powerful and least dangerous, Host. The people in the other realms have mana and are capable of performing magic]

"Is it the same mana that I have?"

[Not quite, Host. Your mana differs from theirs]

Intrigued, Paul quirked his brows in wonder. "How so?"

[They were born with the mana, Host. But you...your mana was granted to you]

"Whose mana is powerful then" Paul was curious. If someone from another realm and he fought, who'd win the battle?

[In your current situation, even the weakest member from other realms can crush you to death]

'Fine. I shouldn't have asked it. I'll shut my mouth,' Paul thought, clearing the bloody image of him squashed to a pulp from his mind.

Paul scolded himself for almost missing the most important question. It was how he had ended up in this predicament in the first place.

"System, can you tell me how I ended up here?"

[That..]

Paul was surprised to see the system hesitate. It was a first.

[I don't know, Host]

Paul blinked a few times blankly. There was something that the system too didn't know. It bugged him completely and he broke out into a cold sweat.

"Then, why did you choose me?"

[Because you are the only one who does not belong to this world]