Finally... Elias thought, a tired smile crossing his face. Now, at least, I can cook the fish and eat something real.
The warmth of the fire felt like a small victory, but as his body started to relax, the reality of his situation crept back in. He was still stranded in an alien world, still injured, and without a clear plan. His mind, sluggish from exhaustion, wandered back to the one thing that seemed consistent in this chaotic world: the HUD.
He flicked his hand, and the familiar translucent screen blinked into view. The soft chime was oddly comforting now, a small reminder that he had some kind of guidance, however vague.
Name: Elias
Class: No Class
Level: 1
Health: 45/80
Mana: 60/60
Stamina: 30/40
XP to next level: 25/100
His health had dropped considerably, likely due to the poison and the rough night he'd endured. His stamina, too, had taken a hit from the physical strain of making a fire, catching fish, and the exhaustion still lingering in his bones.
Elias frowned. 45 out of 80? I'm more banged up than I realized. He was running on fumes, and the HUD only confirmed what his body had been telling him all along—he needed rest, proper food, and a moment to recover.
His eyes drifted down to the small stack of fish lying near the fire. Cooking those would be his next task. Real food, he reminded himself. He hadn't eaten anything since those poisonous berries, and his stomach growled in protest at the memory.
He crouched next to the fire, carefully skewering the first fish onto a stick. Holding it over the flames, Elias watched as the skin crackled, the smoky aroma filling the air. He kept rotating it slowly, trying not to let it burn. He wasn't exactly a master chef, but as long as it was edible, he'd survive.
As the fish started to brown, his mind wandered to the growing list of abilities he'd accumulated. The skills were piling up, and Elias couldn't help but think it would be easier if they were organized somehow.
There's got to be a better way to handle this, he thought. Maybe I can group them to make things simpler?
As if reading his thoughts, the HUD flickered and a prompt appeared:
Would you like to create skill categories?
Yes | No
Elias blinked. Okay, this thing really does listen, he thought, selecting Yes.
Immediately, the HUD began adjusting itself, and Elias quickly created a few categories to better organize his scattered abilities. He moved his survival-based skills into one group, combat-related abilities into another, and the rest into utility or defensive categories.
Skills:
Survival
Firestarting (Level 1)
Improvised Crafting (Level 1)
Spearfishing (Level 1)
Improvised Weapons (Level 1)
Endurance
Poison Resistance (Level 1)
Utility
Identify (Level 1)
Sneaking (Level 1)
NEW Cooking (Level 1)
Combat
Blunt Weapons (Level 1)
Frowning slightly, Elias noticed the NEW Cooking skill under Utility and selected it, curious about the skill that had appeared.
Cooking (Level 1)
Congratulations! You've mastered the fine art of not burning your food to a crisp... mostly. Keep practicing, and maybe one day you'll open a food cart. For now, let's just stick to "edible."
He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Okay, I'll take it," Elias muttered, smirking at the HUD's playful tone. It seemed that even his rudimentary efforts at survival were being acknowledged, and that alone made him feel a little more competent in this world.
The Cooking skill now sat neatly under the Utility category in his HUD, still marked NEW but now inspected. He liked that the interface was adapting to his progress. As simple as it was, something about seeing the new skills accumulate gave him a sense of momentum.
"Alright, world," he said aloud, leaning back and glancing up at the sky. "What's next?"
For now, though, the most important task was finishing his meal. The fish sizzled on the stick, its smoky aroma making his stomach rumble in anticipation. He tore into it, grateful for the simple but real sustenance. This world might be harsh, but at least it wasn't without a sense of humor.
CRACK!
A sudden, distant rumble of thunder echoed through the air, causing Elias to pause mid-bite. His eyes flicked to the sky, where thick, dark clouds had begun to gather on the horizon. The twin suns, still glowing faintly, were slowly being smothered by the encroaching storm.
Elias frowned, his heart sinking. "Really..." he muttered under his breath. The crack of thunder wasn't immediately threatening, but it was a clear enough warning—rain was on its way.
The wind picked up just slightly, rustling the leaves around him, and the air grew cooler, a sure sign that the storm wasn't far off. His small fire flickered but remained steady for the time being.
I've got a little time, Elias thought, glancing around the clearing. The meal wasn't over yet, and he still had a little more fish to cook, but the thunder was a reminder that he couldn't sit around for long. Shelter would need to come next—soon.
"Can't ever just have a quiet moment, can I?" he grumbled, tearing off another bite of fish. The food was warm, and his body welcomed the nourishment, but the distant storm gnawed at the back of his mind.
The thunder rumbled again, this time a little closer. Elias eyed the sky once more, calculating how much time he had left before the rain would come down.
Finish eating. Then shelter.
Elias took another bite of the fish, chewing thoughtfully as the thunder rumbled once more in the distance. The darkening clouds continued to creep closer, and he knew that time was running out. He needed to move—fast.
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With a sigh, Elias stood and pulled off his shirt. He wasn't thrilled about giving up what little warmth the fabric provided, but it would make for a decent makeshift sack. Carefully, he wrapped the remaining cooked fish in the shirt, tying it securely at the ends to create a small bundle.
"Alright, that'll have to do," he muttered to himself. He slung the makeshift sack over his shoulder and grabbed the spear he had crafted earlier. His gaze fell to the ground, where the sharp-edged flint he'd used to start the fire still sat. He crouched down and pocketed it, knowing it might come in handy again.
Now equipped with his improvised gear, Elias glanced one last time at the fire, which was still holding steady but wouldn't last long in the coming storm. The wind had already begun to stir the flames.
Spear in one hand and the sack of fish in the other, Elias turned toward the forest. Gotta find some kind of shelter, he thought. His eyes scanned the treeline, but nothing obvious stood out. He didn't need a full cave, just somewhere dry—someplace to keep the rain off and protect the firewood he'd gathered earlier.
With a final glance at the dying fire, Elias set off into the woods.
An hour passed, and the sky above had transformed into a swirling mass of gray, the first drops of rain beginning to splatter against his skin. Elias groaned as he trudged through the dense undergrowth, already soaked through. The rain had started slow but was now coming down in earnest, the cool droplets stinging his face as he pressed on.
His muscles ached from the earlier effort of making camp and catching fish, and now, the cold rain added another layer of discomfort. But he pushed forward, determined not to be caught in the open when the storm fully hit.
"Come on," he muttered through gritted teeth, scanning the landscape for any sign of shelter. But the forest was dense, and his options seemed limited.
Just when his frustration was about to boil over, Elias spotted a break in the tree line ahead. His heart lifted as he hurried toward it, the sound of rain intensifying behind him. There, nestled against the side of a mountain, was a shallow dip in the rock—too shallow to be called a proper cave, but deep enough to keep the rain out.
He stood at the entrance, water dripping from his hair and clothes as he surveyed the space. The rocky overhang curved inward just enough to provide cover, the ground beneath it dry despite the rain now pouring heavily outside.
"It's not much," Elias said to himself, stepping under the overhang, "but it'll do."
The cool, dry space was a relief after the wet trek through the forest, and Elias quickly dropped the makeshift sack of fish and leaned his spear against the rock wall. His chest heaved with tired breaths, but a small sense of victory crept in. He had found shelter—just in time.
Elias wiped the rain from his face and collapsed onto the dry ground, leaning back against the stone. The rain continued to fall outside, a steady rhythm that somehow felt soothing after the chaotic search.
For the moment, at least, he was safe.
Elias quickly plopped his makeshift sack of fish down onto the dry ground, eager to get out of the rain. His mind raced, already thinking ahead to his next task: staying warm. Without wasting a moment, he grabbed his spear and went back outside into the rain, keeping low to avoid getting drenched again as he scavenged for anything useful.
He moved swiftly, collecting dry branches from under the trees and bits of brush that hadn't been soaked through. His hands worked quickly, grabbing whatever dry material he could find before retreating to the shelter. By the time he returned, the rain had picked up even more, a steady downpour pounding against the rocky overhang. Elias sighed, water dripping from his soaked hair and face, but at least he had managed to gather enough for a fire.
Inside the dry shelter, Elias arranged the dry twigs and branches at the foot of the rock overhang, just far enough from the rain but still close enough to feel the warmth once he got it going. He placed the flint he'd pocketed earlier on the ground and used the edge of his dagger to strike it against the stone. After several tries, sparks finally caught on the driest leaves and brush, and soon a small fire flickered to life.
"Thank you," Elias muttered to the flames as they grew, casting warm light around the shelter and into the dark, rain-soaked woods beyond.
But he wasn't done yet. Elias looked around his small space under the rock, realizing he needed more protection. The overhang was good for keeping the rain off, but the wind was picking up, and the cold air was creeping in. He needed a barrier.
Setting his spear aside, Elias grabbed a few long sticks and propped them against the roof of the rock, leaning them into a makeshift frame. He worked steadily, laying one branch against another until he had formed a kind of wall that covered most of the entrance. He left a small opening just big enough for him to enter and exit. The gap let in a bit of wind, but it was better than being fully exposed.
Once he finished, Elias stepped back and surveyed his work. The stick wall wasn't much, but it provided some extra protection against the elements, and the fire crackled warmly at the mouth of his new camp.
"Not bad," Elias said to himself, though the exhaustion in his voice was clear. He sat down heavily by the fire, feeling the warmth chase away the chill that had settled into his bones. His shirt was still wrapped around the cooked fish, and though he was hungry, the warmth and momentary sense of security took precedence.
Elias leaned back against the rock, watching the rain fall just outside his makeshift shelter. For now, he was safe—and that was enough.
An hour passed, and the steady patter of rain outside showed no signs of letting up. The fire crackled softly at the mouth of the shelter, casting flickering shadows on the rock walls. Elias sat cross-legged near the flames, leaning against the stone, boredom creeping in as the minutes ticked by.
He'd eaten his fill of the fish, dried himself as much as he could, and yet... the rain just kept falling. The wind howled occasionally, sending a shiver through him despite the fire. It was cozy enough, but he felt restless—like he should be doing something, anything.
Elias stared at the glowing HUD floating in his peripheral vision. There has to be more to this thing, he thought. He had seen other characters in games use their menus for all sorts of things, and here he was just staring at a list of stats and skills. There had to be more... right?
On impulse, Elias cleared his throat and said, "HUD, show me magic."
Nothing happened.
He frowned. "What's my future class?"
Still nothing.
"Do I have... hidden stats?" Elias asked, curiosity growing. But the HUD remained frustratingly unresponsive.
Elias sighed, his fingers tapping impatiently on his leg. He wasn't giving up that easily. "Okay, HUD, what's my fate?" he asked, throwing a bit of drama into his voice for emphasis. Silence.
"Will I get superpowers?" he tried again.
The HUD stayed still, its translucent interface hovering quietly as if mocking him.
"Who's going to win the next big sports event?" he added sarcastically, the boredom making him more ridiculous by the second.
At last, after what felt like an eternity of questions, the HUD flickered and finally responded—but not in the way Elias had hoped.
More features will be unlocked once the task is complete.
Elias blinked at the message, his eyes narrowing at the screen. "Really? That's all you've got?" he muttered, staring at the words. Thanks for nothing, he thought. The message vanished, leaving the screen as empty and unhelpful as ever.
With a groan, Elias leaned back against the rock, staring at the ceiling of his shelter. The rain kept pouring, the fire crackled softly, and the HUD was being as cryptic as usual. Great.
Boredom gnawed at him again, and this time, his thoughts drifted to something he hadn't yet explored—magic.
He had mana. That much was clear from the HUD, but he hadn't unlocked any spells, hadn't tried to use it. If he was going to be in a world with mana, surely that meant he should be able to do something with it, right?
Elias shrugged to himself. "Why not?" he muttered aloud. "It's not like I have anything else to do."
He shifted into a more comfortable position, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees. Okay... how does this work? He wasn't sure, but meditation always seemed to be the stereotypical way to unlock powers in stories. If he had mana, he should be able to tap into it somehow.
Closing his eyes, Elias took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing mind. He focused on the steady rhythm of his breathing and the warmth of the fire nearby. Just... focus, he told himself. Maybe the mana is inside me somewhere...
He sat there in silence, trying to push all the distracting thoughts away. The rain continued to fall outside, and for once, the world around him seemed still.
Come on, magic, he thought, trying to will something—anything—into happening.