I had a surprise waiting for me when I popped back into the world in the morning. One of the people from the school had either followed me or Loki back from the school and she was waiting outside.

She was fiddling with a sketchpad, her pastel colored hair catching the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Her clothes blended with the natural surroundings, and she seemed absorbed in her art, occasionally glancing up as if seeking inspiration from the forest.

I was initially surprised someone had discovered my home. It was only a day. My expression softened as I recognized Jillian. I was curious about what brought her to my doorstep but also cautious not to startle her.

As I was approaching, I called out. “Jillian?” Not wanting to abruptly intrude on whatever she was doing.

Jillian looked up, a bit startled at first, but her face lit up with recognition. “Oh, Gavrin! I hope I am not intruding. I just… I was taking a walk and stumbled upon this place. It’s so peaceful here,” She explained, her voice soft.

“It’s quite a surprise to see someone out here, Jillian. What brings you to this part of the woods?” I asked.

Jillian looked up from her sketchpad with a gentle smile. “I often walk here for inspiration. Today, I guess I wandered a bit further than usual. Your place… It’s really in harmony with nature. It’s beautiful.”

I sat down on the log beside her. “Thank you. I’ve tried to make it blend in with the surroundings. It’s part of my effort to rebuild. I keep getting quests and just doing what it says.”

Jillian, her eyes reflecting genuine interest. “I’ve always been passionate about sustainable living. Your approach sounds fascinating. How does the magic affect everything you are building?”

I replied with a thoughtful expression. “It makes it easier. I’ve been focusing on using my abilities to create a self-sustaining environment. I don’t want to reveal too much now, but I am really excited about the project.” I didn’t really want to tell anyone of the dimensional shard. The more valuable I realized it to be, the less likely I wanted to share.

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Jillian leaned in eagerly. “Oh? That sounds intriguing. Can you tell me more about it?”

I shook my head. “I am preparing an area where I can grow plants and create materials using magic. Magic is making amazing things possible. I can use the plants to grow items. Its like 3d printing, but with plants. It’s amazing.”

Jillian, sketching a quick tree into her pad. “That’s such a unique concept. I would like to see it.”

This made me uncomfortable. I felt like I was sharing too much. “My idea isn’t ready for primetime yet. I don’t want to share it just yet. Tell me about your class, What path did you choose? I mean, in terms of your new abilities or class?” I tried to change the subject.

Jillian brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I chose the artificer class. It seemed like a natural fit with my design background. I’ve always loved creating and imagining things, and now I can bring them to life in ways I never thought possible.

I nodded in understanding. “I’m currently at level five. It’s been a learning curve, figuring out how to use my abilities. This world… it’s different now, scarier, but also full of possibilities.”

“I can relate to that. The way we interact with the world has fundamentally changed. How are you coping with all these changes?” I asked.

“It’s been tough, to be honest. The uncertainty, the loss… it’s a lot to process. But I also see it as an opportunity to make a difference, to rebuild things better than they were. What about you Gavrin? How has this affected you?” Jillian responded.

I replied after a moment of thought. “It’s been a journey. Like you, I see both the challenges and the opportunities. It’s why I’m focused on using my abilities to help and protect. But, Jillian, I’ve been meaning to ask, your interest in my work, is it purely professional, or… you know because I think it is kind of dangerous to be out here alone.”

Jillian laughed. “Oh, no. I followed your dog Loki out. She’s been hanging around with me.”

I looked over at Loki, who a very innocent look on her face. “Uh, huh.”

Jillian met my gaze earnestly, “Gavrin, I do find your work incredible, I’m not just saying that. Everyone saw you make that wall in a manner of minutes. While everyone else was still arguing about how to do something, you just did it. It’s not every day you meet someone who can literally shape the world with their magic. But it’s more than that. I genuinely believe in what you are doing. And I want to be part of it. It’s not just about what you can do. I think we can bring out the best in each other’s abilities.”

I sighed. I had some complicated thoughts about this due to my history. But I decided to push those thoughts down and accept her words at face value. “Well, I am currently looking for monsters. I need to collect materials for my project. I want to collect samples of plants I can try to grow. I need to find some water somewhere. I got tons of stuff to do. Want to level together?”