After a frantic and mindless sprint through the dense woods, Vex's breaths came in ragged gasps, and his legs felt heavy with exhaustion. Each step sent sharp pain radiating through his muscles. In a last-ditch effort to continue fleeing, Vex stumbled over a fallen trunk and crashed to the ground, his breath forcefully expelled from his lungs. Lying there gasping for air, his eyes rested of the crimson liquid dripping from his wrist.

"Shit," he muttered, staring at the Gremlin's bite marring his skin. New worries surged within him, replenishing his depleted stores of panic, as the blood steadily flowed out, seeping into the ground beneath him.

"Okay, okay...think," Vex said aloud, attempting to remember the basics of first aid. But as he attempted to recall his knowledge of the topic, the details slipped away and were replaced by overwhelming confusion. His thoughts darted back to the character editor, where he had meticulously optimized his summoner build, disregarding every skill he knew from his past life. In his eagerness for something unique, he had thrown away give up first aid and other basic knowledge, reallocating those skill points elsewhere.

"Damn it all!" he hissed, frustration gnawing at him. His determination, which had served him well in this unfamiliar world, now felt woefully inadequate when faced with his current predicament.

"Vex, you clueless idiot," he scolded himself, fully grasping the reality of his situation. He was alone, wounded, and without any means to mend himself. And for all he knew, the bloodthirsty gremlins could be right on his heels.

"Never thought I'd miss such a mundane skill as first aid," he grumbled, glaring at the growing pool of blood. "But here we are."

As crimson droplets fell onto a moss-covered stone, the vibrant green contrast emphasizing the urgency of Vex's situation. He gritted his teeth, fighting back his self-admonishments as he scanned the forest floor for anything that could help stem the blood flow from his wrist.

"Come on, come on... There has to be something," Vex muttered to himself, his breaths still ragged from sprinting.

After several minutes of realizing there was nothing nearby he could trust, Vex's eyes landed on his shirt, which had become caked in mud and marred during his flight.

As he tried to think through his next steps, Vex realized he wasn't certain he had ever owned this particular shirt. It was an extremely simple design, made of a course off-white fabric. The same was true of his pants, which only loosely fit.

"Better than nothing, I suppose," he mused, pulling off the garment and examining it briefly before refocusing on his injured wrist.

Wincing as he did so, Vex clumsily wrapped his shirt loosely around his wound, hoping that it would be enough to stanch the bleeding.

As he fumbled with the knot, Vex couldn't help but criticize himself internally. If only he'd had the foresight not to skimp on such a basic skill! What good was all the power in the world if he couldn't survive long enough to wield it?

"Focus, Vex," he whispered, trying to steel himself against the rising tide of self-doubt. "You thought this was a dream. You could have done much worse."

"Alright, little shadows," he addressed his summoned allies, trying to ease his panicked mind in the quiet darkness. "We'll get this bandage secured and then get away from here. Right?"

Neither of the shadowlings responded; both just silently stared at Vex from a distance.

It took several attempts for Vex to secure the makeshift bandage. Each time, the knots slipped, usually leaving the shirt on the ground. Attempting to calm his mind, Vex slowed down and focused intently on learning from the next attempt, loosely securing the makeshift bandage.

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"Think that will save a life?" Vex asked the two Shadowlings, half-jokingly. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, betraying his attempt at humor in the face of self-imposed peril.

Then, in the corner of his vision, Vex noticed the blinking illegible text, clearly meant to be a notification of some type.

> Your knot-tying skill has reached level 1.

>

> Your first aid skill has reached level 1.

"Wait?" Vex blinked in surprise. As if on cue, a trickle of knowledge seemed to seep back into his mind – not enough to make him an expert, but just enough to remember the most basic information. "Well, that's something..."

However, as he marveled at this small victory, the blood continued to seep through the hastily wrapped fabric. The sight sent a jolt of panic through his veins, and his heartbeat quickened.

"Great, just great," Vex muttered, clenching his uninjured fist over his wrist. "Alright, focus... I need to find shelter and proper medical supplies."

"Any ideas, little shadows?" Vex looked towards his summoned allies, hoping they could provide some guidance.

One of the Shadowlings tilted its head and stepped forward, walking ahead, the other following after. With resigned resignation, Vex pulled himself back to his feet, only realizing in that moment that he didn't have shoes.

Taking a deep breath, Vex took deliberate steps, walking behind the Shadowlings, his fingers pressed against the makeshift bandage, willing it to hold for a little longer.

As they moved, Vex couldn't help but let his thoughts wander to the character editor, where he'd traded away his skills. He sighed, reflecting on how he might have been too hasty in his decision-making.

"Next time, I'll be more careful," Vex whispered before laughing at himself. "Because I'm sure this happens to everyone, at least twice."

Beads of sweat dripped from Vex's brow as he trudged on, his feet heavy with exhaustion. Desperation clung to him like a second skin, urging him forward despite the pain radiating through his body. The Shadowlings flitted ahead of him, their wispy forms darting between trees and rocks, searching for any hint of refuge.

"Come on," he muttered, gritting his teeth as he pressed onward. "There has to be something..."

Then, on cue, one of the Shadowlings jumped in place and pointed. Slowly walking forward, Vex investigated the direction being indicated. As he squinted into the darkness, he noticed a small crevice amidst a mound of rocks and dark foliage, practically invisible amidst the gloom. Hope surged within him, and he stumbled towards the sanctuary, the promise of respite spurring him on.

"Finally!" Vex gasped as he reached the opening of an extremely tiny cave. "Thanks, little guys."

Dropping to his knees, Vex carefully crawled through the crevice and into the tiny cave, barely fitting inside. The low ceiling forced him to crouch down in the tiny chamber with jagged walls. The space was so tight that Vex could almost touch both walls with his outstreched arms.

The Shadowling looked between each other and then stared at Vex before shrugging shrugging their shoulders and joining him within the relative safety of the cave. With shaking hands, Vex removed his makeshift bandage and inspected the damage. Blood oozed from the gashs in his wrist, and he fought to stifle a groan.

"Okay, let's try this again," Vex murmured, attempting to recall the fragments of first-aid knowledge that had returned to him. "Tighter this time... and elevate the arm."

Tightening the bandage was far easier, and the dressing did a marginally better job of preventing blood from escaping.

As Vex leaned back against the cold stone wall, his breaths slowly evening out, he felt a fleeting sense of respite from the chaos. The cave offered a temporary sanctuary, a place to hide and recover. But even as he closed his eyes, one thought echoed: Survival.

The cave's dimness mirrored Vex's murky thoughts. His wrist throbbed in time with his heartbeat, and he knew he needed help. With a swallow, he turned to the shadowlings.

"Guys," Vex said, his voice strained from pain and exhaustion. "I hate to ask this of you, but I don't think the bandage is going to be enough. We need to find something to treat this wound properly, or... I don't know what'll happen."

Both of the little Shadows stared at Vex, their bodies unmoving.

"Anything that could help with the bleeding, please. Bandages, herbs, a better material for a makeshift wrap, or some healing potion." Vex supplied in his most encouraging tone. "I hope this world has some sort of healing potion, ointment, or magic..."

The Shadowlings stared for another minute before they nodded and slipped out of the cave, their forms melding seamlessly with the shadows outside. Now alone, Vex did his best to make himself comfortable against the damp wall while cradling his injured wrist.

Shivering as the cold darkness sank in, Vex listened intently to the brief sound of rustling leaves and snapping branches. His heart pounded an erratic rhythm, each beat echoing the gnawing anxiety that consumed him.