Edén delved into the heart of the North Forest, his steps guided by the belief that Gruff would seek solace in its embrace. Familiar with these woods from previous herb-gathering expeditions, Edén found comfort in the mapped-out terrain stored within his system. Icons representing various discoveries and hidden gems dotted his map.

As he wandered, aware that Hilda would soon have food ready, Edén temporarily forwent herb gathering. However, with each new discovery, he dutifully recorded it in his system before pressing on. One curious observation puzzled him: his system's map displayed icons representing his companions, including Brogar and the others back at the sanctum. Yet, in the depths of the North Forest, where Gruff was expected to be, the icon representing him remained absent—a perplexing anomaly that stirred thoughts of potential errors or other enigmatic occurrences.

But soon, Edén's ears caught the faint sounds of laughter emanating from deeper within the woods. Intrigued, he cautiously advanced, his steps guided by the curious laughter. As he drew nearer and peered into a clearing up ahead, the source of the laughter revealed itself: Gruff stood before an altar of sorts, engaged in some mysterious activity. The sight puzzled Edén, as he had no recollection of encountering this altar before. However, considering the vast expanse of the woods, it was entirely plausible that such a structure had eluded his notice on previous visits.

Emerging into the clearing, Edén's foot inadvertently landed on a brittle branch, snapping it under his weight. The noise prompted Gruff to whirl around with a swift motion, his eyes lighting up with a mixture of surprise and relief upon seeing Edén standing there, seemingly unscathed despite the recent events beneath the sanctum. However, what caught Edén's attention was something unusual in Gruff's hand—a peculiar light, glowing with a mesmerizing blend of green and white hues.

"Hey, what brings you out here? Shouldn't you be resting?" Gruff rasps, his voice strained from the exertion, as Edén approaches cautiously. He maintains his grip on the peculiar light, now fixing his gaze squarely on Edén. Sensing Edén's confusion, Gruff glances down at his hand, realizing the source of the bewilderment. With a subtle gesture, he extends his hand toward Edén, and the small orb undergoes a transformation. In the glow, Edén discerns the delicate form of a tiny fairy.

"I've never seen one before, is it a fairy?" Edén inquires, leaning in for a closer look. Simultaneously, both his System and Gruff provide information. The System displays an information sheet detailing the small creature, while Gruff offers his own explanation. "Yes, indeed. It's a woodland fairy. We dwarfs have our own fairies back home, but they're not as open to contact as this little one. Ours are known as mountain fairies."

As Gruff elaborates, the System also delivers a message, presenting the same information but with slight variations.

Woodland High Fey

Since time immemorial, the Fey, or as locals call them, fairies, have coexisted with nature in various forms. Some dwell underwater, while others reside within the earth itself. They harmonize with and nurture the natural world, using their abilities to heal, guide, and protect. Despite their existence, their language remains unrecorded, and no humanoids have ever been able to comprehend it. Nonetheless, many communities have begun to revere them, attempting to communicate through gestures and offerings.

As the system's information disappears, a small icon catches Edén's eye, resembling a bestiary for cataloguing the various monsters and creatures he's encountered in this realm. However, he sets aside the notion of examining it later as his attention is captivated by the small fairy fluttering around him. Uncertain of what to make of the creature's behaviour, Edén turns to Gruff for answers.

"What's it doing? Didn't you mention they're not usually open to contact with us?" Edén inquires, watching as the fairy completes another fly around him before alighting on his shoulder.

"It seems to have taken a liking to you. Perhaps it's because you're the owner of the sanctum? Back home, in our sanctuary before it was overrun by monsters, the few priests and clerics we had often attracted fairies, who would linger around them," Gruff explains, his expression tinged with sadness as he recalls the past.

Before he forgets to inquire further, Edén shifts his gaze toward the altar he had spotted earlier. It appears smaller than he had initially imagined, consisting of a solitary tree in the clearing adorned with various ornaments and a small shrine-like opening at its centre, likely intended for offerings. This explains why his system mentioned people making offerings to them.

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"I never noticed this altar before, and I've wandered around here quite a bit. If there's an altar here, shouldn't there be people around?" Edén muses aloud, turning to Gruff for answers. However, Gruff appears just as perplexed as he is, indicating his lack of understanding of the situation.

To signal that it's time to head back, Edén directs Gruff's attention upward, noting the sun's position at its zenith. Gruff, momentarily flustered, quickly glances up and down before realizing the hour. "Oh, it's food time! Hilda will be furious if I'm late," Gruff exclaims, expressing gratitude to Edén before hastening his departure. As Gruff turns to leave, Edén feels a sense of satisfaction knowing that the dwarves are beginning to view this place as more than just a refuge.

Before following suit and retracing his steps back to the sanctum, Edén addresses the fairy once more. "You know, you could come with us? Back to the sanctum. There are others like Gruff there, and I think you would like them," he suggests, unsure if the fairy comprehends his words. With the fairy flying off his shoulder, Edén heads back, casting a final glance toward the altar and the fairy. He senses that this encounter is not the last they will have, perhaps sooner than he anticipates.

As Edén approaches the sanctum, smoke billows from its windows, indicating that Hilda is hard at work in her makeshift kitchen. Stepping into the room where everyone is gathered, he realizes they are not eating but waiting, perhaps for his return. As the group notices him, Hilda speaks up first. "Welcome back, Edén, Thanks for gathering them, Sit down now; it's time for some well-deserved food, It's my speciality today."

Taking a seat near the group, Edén notices something intriguing. Glancing up at the window, he spots the small ball of light from earlier. It seems the fairy has followed him here, perhaps braver than he initially thought. Edén imagines that someday it may even join them for a meal. With everyone seated and food served, Dolgrim raises his mug. "To our new home," he declares, prompting all the dwarves to clink their mugs together, with Edén following suit.

While the group enjoys their meal, Edén takes the opportunity to explore the system and delve into the new window that has opened for him: the bestiary. Here, he finds detailed entries on the various monsters and creatures he has encountered in this realm.

Lumifly

"A delicate creature dancing upon the air, resembling a small winged bird. Its petite form, adorned with iridescent wings, gracefully flitted between vibrant blossoms, leaving behind a trail of glistening dust that sparkled in the ambient light. Often aiding in the growth of wild flora."

Sylvanfox

"The Sylvanfox is a creature with fur that seems to mirror the colours of the forest. Its coat is a tapestry of earthy browns, mossy greens, and hints of autumn red. Large, expressive eyes gleam with intelligence, and its tail, adorned with a plume of feathery fur, adds to its whimsical charm. The Sylvanfox moves with agile grace, its dainty paws making almost no sound as it traverses through the underbrush. Known for its curious nature, the Sylvanfox regards strangers with a mix of caution and fascination, embodying the essence of the enchanted woods it calls home."

Blue Skipper

"A larger than normal fish that inhabits magical rivers flowing across the lands. Often swimming in groups of hundreds, they give off a blue glint. Used for food and various elixirs in the cities of the world. They earned their name from their habit of skimming close to the surface of the water, darting in and out rapidly, resembling skips across the water's surface."

In contrast to the friendly beings listed in the bestiary, like the Fey, Edén explores the section dedicated to monsters, which reveals a stark difference. Here, creatures from both within and beyond the sanctum are catalogued, ranging from smaller, less menacing creatures to formidable foes.

Quntex Wolf

"A smaller than normal wolf that hunts from the shadows, often stalking its prey before pouncing with dangerous fangs. This wolf can be found in many different woods around the world, but few hunters and explorers have ever encountered one."

Soulless

"A being of undead origin, the Soulless are creatures whose original form has been altered to the extreme, resulting in the complete loss of their original identity. Weak individually, their strength lies in their numbers, with hordes often numbering in the thousands, overrunning cities and ruins.”

Reading more closely, Edén realizes he has never encountered the Quntex Wolf, perhaps because his system catalogued it before he had a chance to encounter one. As for the Soulless, they sound truly horrifying, likely resembling the creatures they faced below the sanctum. Continuing to peruse the entries, Edén encounters numerous unknown entities, depicted solely from his perspective without names or origins. They include the first being he encountered in the sanctum and the other large monster he witnessed below. These mysterious creatures remain shrouded in ambiguity, their true nature and purpose yet to be fully understood.

For now, Edén sets aside the system and focuses on enjoying his meal, though the mystery of the sleeping woman and the origin of the monsters below linger in the back of his mind. Once finished eating, he expresses his gratitude to Hilda and the others for their assistance before making his way back to his lab. There, he plans to work on crafting more potent elixirs, preparing for any future challenges that may arise.