I went back inside. I left Thor on guard duty and brought Loki with me. She didn’t like to be too far from me. I didn’t blame her. She was a good doggo.
There was a group waiting for me when I got back in. It was the three guys I healed from earlier.
“Hey, its you.” One of them said. “When we woke up there was no one there. And the guys here said you healed us?” He asked with a question. This guy was of average height, with short, curly hair and a constant, reassuring smile.
I nodded my head. “No worries, mate. I would have done it for anyone. Also, I don’t know your name. My name is Gavrin.”
“Gavrin? That’s a funny name.” The guy replied. “Name’s Carlos. I used to be the math teacher here.”
The two guys next to him chimed in.
“I’m Raj.”
“I’m Isaac.”
Raj had a medium build, with short, neat hair, and was wearing a smart casual out fit. Isaac was a younger looking person. He was tall and slim and wore round glasses.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Gavrin.” I repeated. “As for my name, you’d have to ask my Dad.”
“So, Scott was looking for you. What were you doing outside?” Carlos asked. “It’s dangerous out there.”
“That is true.” I replied. “But, it is also dangerous to not know what is moving around out there. I got one of my dogs sniffing around. We will have a warning before something else sneaks up on us.”
“And who is this good boi?” Carlos asked.
“This is one is Loki. And she is a good girl.” I said while scratching her ears. “So what did Scott want?” I asked.
“Something about going for supplies.” Carlos replied.
“Let’s go find him, then,” I suggested, giving Loki one last ear scratch before heading towards where I expected to find Scott.
Carlos, Raj and Isaac followed close behind, their expression a mix of gratitude and curiosity. As we walked, the hallways of the shelter were quiet, with only the occasional sound of distant conversations and or the shuffling of feet. The atmosphere was tense, but there was a sense of community and shared purpose among the survivors.
We found Scott in the main planning area, poring over a map scattered with various notes and markers. He looked up as we approached, his expression turning from concentration to relief when he saw me.
“Gavrin, there you are!” Scott exclaimed. “We’re organizing a supply run, and we could use someone with your…talents. After what you did for Carlos and the others, it’s clear you’re not just an ordinary survivor.”
I nodded, understanding the importance of the task. “I’m in. What’s the plan?”
Scott outlined the route and the items they needed to prioritize – food, medical supplies, and anything that could be useful for fortifying our shelter. The group was small, to avoid drawing attention, and included a few others who had experience in scavenging and combat.
I rubbed my face. “Ok, I agree with the objective and the stuff we are looking for. But, I’m not taking that route. There is a pack of zombies at this intersection.” I pointed towards the center of the map.
“How do you know?” Scott replied.
“I have Thor out scouting.” I answered.
“Like a dog can talk.” Scott retorted.
“Not talk, exactly, but I can see through his eyes and he is more intelligent than you give him credit for.” I said. “So is Loki, here. Isn’t that right girl.”
Loki barked in the affirmative.
“See?” I pointed at Loki. “Such a clever girl.” I patted her head.
“So who is going with me?” I asked.
“How big of a group do you think you can manage?” Scott asked.
“Not a very large one.” I answered after a moment’s thought. “All you guys are still level one? Does anyone even have a class yet?”
“Well, we each got our class.” Carlos said. “I’m a tactician, Isaac is a spellweaver and Raj is something called a merchant-adventure."
I closed my eyes in thought. “Right, I think you should stay here and tactic up some defenses. I’ll take Isaac and Raj. Isaac because spellweaver sounds damagey? And merchant-adventure would be good in a store.” I looked over at the two in confirmation.
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“Yeah.” Isaac and Raj almost said simultaneously.
“Alright, let’s head out.” I said.
“Wait.” Raj called out. “We aren’t ready.”
“Well get what you need.” I said. “I’ll be waiting outside.” I have never liked being cooped up with a bunch of other people. Maybe I should rethink about my living here.
I remembered my dimensional shard and contemplated making that into a living space. I brought up the prompt for it again.
The prompt was different. The text was all scrambled. I wondered if I hit my head. I wondered where to hit the computer to make it display correctly.
I thumped the side of my head. Percussive maintenance is percussive maintenance. I received an updated prompt.
Dimensional Haven: You are now the keeper of a secret, interdimensional space accessible only to you. This sanctuary is a safe haven, a place for rest, planning, and storing your treasures.
Instant Access: At will, you can enter or exit this dimensional shard. To enter, simply focus on your tattoo and envision the space. To exit, envision your desired location in the world.
Customization: Over time, you can shape and expand this space according to your needs and desires. It can be a simple room, a vast hall, or even mimic natural environments.
Safety and Privacy: The Dimensional Shard is impervious to outside detection and intrusion. It exists outside of normal time and space, ensuring complete privacy and security.
Restorative Properties: Time spent in the shard accelerates healing and mana regeneration. A night's rest in the shard is equivalent to several days of rest in the outside world.
Storage: The shard can store an unlimited amount of items without affecting its spatial dimensions. Items stored here are preserved in their current state.
That was much better. I found what I was looking for. The customization option. I wasn’t a fan of caves. It gave me uncomfortable feelings. The feeling of earth pressing down on me was an unpleasant sensation.
As I focused on ‘customization’ information appeared in my mind. I suddenly knew how to change my dimension shard.
I could use mental visualization and intent. By envisioning the desired changes, I can manipulate the shard’s internal environment. This could range from altering aesthetic aspects like colors and lighting to reconfiguring the spatial layout.
There was a function called environmental mimicry. If I had a specific environment in mind, such as a forest clearing, a mountain cabin, or a tranquil beach, I can recreate it within the shard. The allowed the space to feel more personal and relaxing, providing a mental and emotional sanctuary.
There was functional adaptation. The shard can be customized for specific functions, such as creating areas designated for rest, storage, training, or planning. I could created separate rooms or zones within the shard, each tailored for different activities.
The was item integration. I could place items within the shard, and they become part of the customizable environment. This could include furniture, décor or equipment I find or create.
Finally, there was evolution over time. The shard may evolve and expand its capabilities as I grow in power and understanding. It was unknown what features or possibilities I could unlock, only that they would reflect me and my class.
I activated the environmental mimicry. I wanted the dimensional shard to look like my old house. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the image of my old house. I recalled the familiar architecture, the colors of the walls, the arrangement of the rooms, and the comfortable, lived-in feeling it had always possessed.
In my mind's eye, I pictured the house not as it was, surrounding by other houses in it the neighborhood, but rather sitting serenely in the middle of a vast, open field. I imagined a bright, clear sky above and a gentle breeze that carried the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth.
I received an unpleasant prompt. I didn’t have enough resources.
Error: Insufficient Resources to Complete Customization
Required Resources:
Natural Essence: To create a lifelike and sustainable environment, the shard requires a collection of natural essences. This can be gathered from various plants, soils, and natural elements from the outside world.
Mana Infusion: A significant amount of your mana is needed to transform and maintain the complex ecosystem you've envisioned.
Magical Catalysts: Certain magical catalysts, such as rare minerals or enchanted items, can enhance the shard's ability to sustain complex environments.
How to Acquire Resources:
Gathering Natural Essences: Explore different natural environments and collect samples of flora, fauna, and soil.
Mana Channeling: Allocate a portion of your mana periodically to infuse the shard with the energy it needs.
Seeking Magical Catalysts: Embark on quests to find or create magical items that can serve as catalysts for environmental stability.
I sighed. Looks like this dream would have to be put on hold. But at least I could get something as I added in the materials. It wasn’t an all or nothing system.
I was broken out of my current task by Raj and Isaac joining me outside.
“You guys ready?” I called out. “I want to get this party started.”
I walked over to the sand sculpture I made of the town earlier. I pointed to the clusters of zombies Thor had discovered.
“We are here.” I pointed out. “Here are the stores we want to hit in town. There is the grocery store, both convenience stores, the weed shop and the hardware store. They are all on the same street just on opposite sides of the town.”
I traced a path. “I think if we go this way, we can avoid most of the zombies. I don’t know what else is out there, but Thor is only one dog. He can’t be everywhere at once. Once we start moving, he will be closer to us so this information will be dated fairly quickly. Any questions?”
Isaac raised his hand. I pointed at him. “What do we use to carry stuff. We don’t have any bags.”
“Inventory.” I said. “It can hold a surprising amount of things.”
Raj clapped his hands. “Let’s do this thing.”
I waved to Loki and headed for the gate. I wasn’t planning on hopping over this time. I wondered what things I would find this time.