The warm bathwater had worked wonders, washing away the day’s grime and leaving a pleasant scent of lavender and chamomile on my skin. Small bottles of luxurious soaps and oils sat by the tub—scents I hadn’t used since stepping into this new world. Wrapped in the inn’s soft dressing gown, I felt not only refreshed but a bit lighter. I sat on the edge of the bed, casting a glance at Ana. Her small face looked so peaceful, her usual worries replaced by sleep's gentle calm.
Exploring the room further, I noticed a woven basket in the corner with a small sign pinned to the top: Place laundry here by midnight for clean clothes returned in the morning. I quickly gathered our worn clothes and piled them in. Alex, it turned out, had already helped Ana prepare for bed, even washing her hands, feet, and face before wrapping her in one of the inn’s cozy dressing gowns. Knowing Ana could bathe fully in the morning, I placed all her clothes in the basket, mentally thanking Alex for the extra care. With our preparations complete, I lay down beside Ana, although I wasn’t quite ready for sleep.
Feeling a tug of curiosity, I decided to explore the interface screens again. I focused, and the translucent panels appeared before me, hovering softly in the air. I navigated first to the Focus tab, watching as the shifting scale settled toward the lower end. The day had taken its toll—between the effort of healing Alex, the long walk, the tension of seeing Al again, and the memories that resurfaced, my mental clarity was understandably dim. Still, the bath seemed to have helped slightly, easing me just enough to take in my surroundings with a bit more calmness. It wasn’t high, but it was manageable, a subtle improvement that kept my thoughts from spiraling too far.
I lingered on the Focus tab, wondering how exactly it affected my abilities. Did a low focus impact my healing or my capacity to think clearly during critical moments? The interface offered no immediate answers, leaving me with more questions than before. I made a mental note to seek out more information, either by testing it myself or by finding someone who could explain the deeper connections between focus and its influence on skills and actions.
Moving on, I revisited the other tabs I had previously explored. The Quests tab showed our initial task to meet Mundi in Tyra, but now a new quest had appeared:
Healing Hands: Visit the local medical clinic in Gyrica.
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A small green dot pulsed beside the quest, drawing my attention. My healing of Alex earlier must have triggered it. Maybe visiting the clinic would provide answers—or even some guidance on how to develop this newfound ability further.
Next, I opened the Party tab, which still only displayed my name but now had an option to invite others. I noted it silently and decided to leave it for now.
Path was still grayed out, its purpose unclear. Maybe it would become relevant as our journey unfolded, possibly marking larger missions or significant story threads.
My glance passed over Inventory, where I noted a reminder to go through our supplies soon to see what needed refreshing, but I decided to save that for another time.
I navigated to the Connections tab next, noting that alongside Ana and Mundi, three other names had appeared: Albert (Al), Alex, and Sam. My breath caught slightly when I saw Al’s name listed. So he was now connected to me within this interface. Did Al see my name on his connections too? The thought stirred a blend of anticipation and unease. I set those thoughts aside for now, focusing instead on Alex and Sam.
Beside each name was an option to make notes—a feature that hadn’t been accessible before. I tapped on Alex first, deciding to jot down a few things. They possessed a strong instinct for tracking animals, particularly skilled in recognizing subtle signs of animal presence and movement that would be invisible to most. It was a talent not only useful for hunting but one that could also help us detect wildlife dangers early on. Alongside their skill in animal tracking, Alex was perceptive about animal behaviors, understanding enough to guide us in hunting safely. Their personality matched this calm precision—they moved with a quiet confidence, able to read both the landscape and people in ways I hadn’t fully appreciated before. Their abilities, combined with their grounding presence, provided a sense of security on our journey.
Next, I turned to Sam. Their quick wit and openness had quickly made them an irreplaceable part of our group, and they had a remarkable ability to spot details others missed, from hidden items to slight shifts in the environment. Sam’s sharp eye for lost or overlooked things often brought us unexpected advantages—like locating essentials in difficult-to-see places. Though Sam’s abilities might not seem flashy, their acute observation skills and knack for noticing anomalies could save us in tight situations. I noted that Sam’s quick jokes and encouraging words had a way of lifting the gloom from the group, their adventurous spirit a steadying presence when we needed it most.
I tapped on Al’s name, unsure of what to write. I had only met him once before and spent just a few hours in his company. What I knew was limited—he seemed observant and was friends with the other guys I had met at the same time. Beyond that, he remained a mystery.
Mundi’s name sat next to Al’s, and I added notes about our history in Aetheris. He’d been the one to encourage my love for coding, showing me that world-building was about creating connections and experiences as much as it was about code. His quiet but guiding influence had shaped my curiosity and taught me to see systems beyond gameplay. My notes about Mundi were brief and uncertain, the memories feeling distant yet meaningful, and they left me wondering how he fit into this world now.
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Finally, I tapped on Ana's name. To my surprise, a list of notes was already attached—an assortment of observations and memories that captured her essence. Words like "artist," "keen observer," and "gentle spirit" were noted, alongside her natural curiosity and quiet resilience. There was a note on her love of sketching, and the way she communicated with both hands and expressions, weaving her thoughts into a language all her own.
As I read on, I noticed a few qualities that hinted at something deeper—her connection to nature, her uncanny ability to sense moods, and the calm she radiated in the forest, as if she belonged there. A note marked "sensitivity" stood out, hinting at an intuitive awareness she seemed to carry. It wasn't just that Ana was perceptive; she often seemed to listen in ways that went beyond hearing. I recalled moments when she would tilt her head as though catching a whisper in the wind or pause at the sight of an animal, her focus sharp yet gentle.
Though not fully understood yet, these notes hinted at a connection that might grow into something more: the ability to sense the intentions of others, to listen to the world around her, to feel the quiet language of animals and nature. It was as if the land itself spoke to her in ways beyond my understanding, and I couldn’t help but feel that, in time, this connection would become a gift not only to her but to all of us.
I next navigated to the Skills tab, which had previously been greyed out. Now it was accessible, displaying a list of newly unlocked skills:
Cooking: Level 1
Herbalism and Plant Lore: Level 1
Healing Magic: Level 1
Each skill had a small description attached, hinting at the potential that lay ahead. A note at the bottom caught my eye: Skill Trees Unlock at Level 5. I realized that once these skills reached a certain proficiency, they would evolve, branching into more advanced abilities.
What intrigued me most was a faint line that connected the three skills, as if forming a triangle. It seemed that each skill was somehow tied to the others—suggesting that progress in one would enhance the others. Cooking, for instance, might draw on my knowledge of herbs, adding depth and healing properties to meals, while understanding plant lore would not only improve my healing abilities but also provide insights into ingredients that could make my dishes more effective.
These interwoven skill trees hinted at something beyond simple mastery. They felt more like a holistic path, where each level of growth would strengthen my connection to the world around me, as well as my ability to nurture and protect those I cared about. The discovery filled me with a renewed sense of purpose, urging me to explore these skills with both curiosity and patience.
I noted that the Attunement tab still remained grayed out. Perhaps, in time, this one, too, would become accessible.
Curious, I opened the Map tab. The familiar layout of Gyrica and its surroundings unfolded before me, now enhanced with a new feature—a pin system with options to add notes directly onto the map. Each pin could be labeled with timestamps, allowing me to track not only locations but also when we visited each place. I could toggle pin visibility on or off, keeping the view uncluttered while still marking key spots.
Testing it out, I placed a pin near the entrance of Gyrica, marking our arrival point as Day 5 of Harvestine, Week One, 50 AB, Hour 21. I paused, surprised by the date format—it felt unfamiliar, like a subtle reminder that this was, indeed, another world. 50 AB? I wondered, curious about the data and what “AB” could signify in this place. Perhaps I’d ask the innkeeper or someone at the healer’s hall tomorrow to learn more about the origin of this calendar system.
Finally, I opened the Journal. It had automatically recorded our journey over the last few days, organizing each event by the hour. Key moments like the creature encounter in the stream on Day 1, the healing of Alex, and our arrival in Gyrica were all precisely noted:
Day 1 of Harvestine, Hour 00: Waking up in an altered campsite with grown hair and unfamiliar tattoos.
Day 1, Hour 16: Discovering the interface tabs, with the quest to find Mundi in Tyra.
Day 2 of Harvestine: Noticing the forest’s unusual, younger appearance and the persistent green dot that seemed to guide us.
Day 3 of Harvestine, Hour 09: Meeting Alex and Sam, discovering shared tattoos, and beginning a quest to find water.
Day 4 of Harvestine: Learning more about our abilities, like my skills in cooking, herbalism, and healing, and the map’s new pin feature.
The latest entries, from today, Day 5 of Harvestine started with packing up camp and following the stream, where we encountered Al, who revealed surprising details about this world. Later, we faced a creature that injured Alex, prompting me to use my healing ability for the first time. By evening, we reached Gyrica, found shelter, and settled in at The Silver Sparrow.
Ana’s sketches, were integrated alongside all the days entries, bringing to life the memories of the day, capturing moments words couldn’t.
With a final glance, I closed the interface, feeling grounded and more certain of our path forward. These insights and abilities, so carefully cataloged, were comforting—a small anchor in the chaotic unknown.
A yawn tugged at me, the day’s events finally catching up. It was time to rest. I settled beside Ana in bed, feeling the soft mattress beneath me and the warmth of her small frame next to mine. Tomorrow promised new possibilities—a meeting with Gyrica’s headperson, a visit to the healer’s hall, and perhaps some answers about this world and our place in it.