Later that night, I tucked Ana into bed, pulling the blankets snugly around her small frame. The soft glow of the lantern on the nightstand made everything feel cozy and secure. Ana seemed to sink into that comfort, her small body relaxing into the bed.

She smiled sleepily at me, her eyes heavy with exhaustion from the day. It had been a wonderful day—full of new experiences, laughter, and a growing sense of belonging.

Watching Ana drift off to sleep, I couldn’t help but think that we might have finally found a place where we could fit in. The warmth of the inn, the kindness of the people we had met, and the sense of community all gave me hope.

The way Harold made sure we had everything we needed, Miriam fussing over us at dinner, and even Tommy's patient explanations throughout the day all contributed to that feeling.

Each small kindness made me believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be home. It was heartwarming how everyone made an effort to welcome Ana. Many even communicated in her language, engaging with her rather than just talking at her.

After making sure Ana was settled, I found Alex and Sam in the common room and quietly explained my plan for the next morning. "I'm going to be up early to help Miriam in the kitchen," I said softly, not wanting to disturb the quiet of the inn. "It might be too early for Ana, so could you check in on her in the morning? Just make sure she's okay, and help her get ready if she needs it."

Alex nodded immediately, giving me a reassuring smile. "Of course, Ani. We'll make sure she's taken care of."

I smiled gratefully, adding, "There's also this new feature Miriam told me about—a kind of mental alarm. I set mine for 4 to wake up and help with the bread, but it could be helpful for you two as well." I glanced at the quest and saw it started at 7.5th hour and shared that with them. "You'll need to be up early enough to get ready, eat breakfast, and have time to walk to orientation."

Sam gave a small nod, looking thoughtful. "Got it. We'll set ours too. Don’t worry, Ana’s in good hands."

Hearing their reassurances made me feel a little more at ease. Knowing they’d be here for Ana while I focused on helping Miriam was a comforting thought. I had Elina run a bath for me as I needed to unwind from the day. I loved learning about all the new things. Realizing we could choose to make this our home—knowing we could return, though not to the same moment we left—brought both comfort and uncertainty. A tension I couldn't fully understand remained. As she heated the water with a simple gesture, I couldn't help but marvel at her ability. Once the bath was ready, I decided to ask her more about it.

"Elina, how do you do that? The way you heat the water, is it a skill you learned or something natural?" I asked quietly, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Elina smiled, her eyes reflecting a hint of amusement. "It's a skill that came naturally to me, but I refined it through training. It's part of what we call 'household magic' here—small abilities that make daily chores easier. The skill itself is temperature control. I can show you some basics if you'd like, though it does require a bit of attunement to the elements."

Attunement—that was the first time I had heard someone speak of it. I looked at her curiously and asked, "What do you mean by attunement, Elina?" I kept my voice low, not wanting to wake Ana, who was asleep in the next room.

Elina leaned closer, her eyes softening with a gentle smile. "Attunement is about connecting yourself to an element or force of nature. Most people are attuned to elements like fire, earth, water, or air, which allows them to manipulate those elements in small ways. For instance, I'm attuned primarily to fire and water, which is why I can heat water so easily." She gestured to the still-steaming tub.

I nodded, intrigued, feeling a surge of curiosity about what attunement could mean for me in the future.

I nodded, fascinated. "So, does everyone have an attunement?" I asked quietly.

"Not everyone," Elina replied, her voice getting excited as she explained. "But those who do often find it aligns with their personality or life experiences. Miriam, for example, is attuned to air. Air is about freedom, adaptability, and lightness—all qualities that resonate deeply with Miriam. Before coming here, perhaps she wasn't always free, and her affinity for air now reflects that sense of newfound lightness. Her role at the inn, maintaining a welcoming, clean, and comfortable environment, fits these qualities perfectly. She uses her air attunement not for showy magic, but to keep insects away and cool the inn in summer—subtle ways that ensure her guests' comfort. It's practical, like Miriam herself, but also nurturing. Air is about movement and change, and she uses it to care for others in meaningful ways." Elina blushed slightly, realizing just how much she had spoken. She gave a small, sheepish smile, her passion for the topic evident." Elina blushed slightly, realizing just how much she had said. She gave a small, sheepish smile, her passion for the topic evident.

"Sorry..." she trailed off, clearly caught up in her excitement for the subject.

I loved all the information and gave her a grateful smile. Trying to understand, I asked. "How do you become attuned to an element? Is it something you're born with or something you learn?"

Elina smiled knowingly. "It's a bit of both. You’ll learn the basics during orientation. It involves meditating and really thinking about all the aspects of the element—what you know about it, what it means to you, and how it plays a role in your life. With time and practice, you can start to develop that connection more deeply. For me, fire and water were natural fits, but for someone else, it might be different."

I thought about what she said, glancing at my interface to confirm. "My attunement tab isn’t unlocked yet," I told her quietly.

Elina tilted her head slightly and asked, "How many days have you been in Aetheris?"

"This is our sixth day," I replied.

She nodded thoughtfully, a knowing smile touching her lips. "Ah, that explains it. You should unlock the tab tomorrow, Miss Ani. Since you also have your orientation tomorrow, you’ll learn a lot more than what I’ve just told you. They’ll provide you with some reading material on attunement, including hints on how to attune yourself and recommendations for improving attunement." I absorbed her words, feeling a growing sense of anticipation. "I love cooking—do you think fire would be a good attunement for that?" I asked, my voice still hushed.

Elina nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. Fire is a wonderful element for a cook, not just for heating but for understanding how to control it—how to temper heat, bring out flavors, create warmth. You could also consider others depending on what speaks to you. There are more specific attunements too, like 'soil,' which some gardeners use to enrich their soil with nutrients."

The idea of attuning to an element intrigued me, especially with how it could help in the kitchen. "That sounds amazing. I think I'd like to explore that, especially with fire," I said thoughtfully.

Elina gave me a kind smile. "You’ll find your path, Miss Ani. It’s all about what resonates with you."

The thought of learning to heat liquids quickly intrigued me, especially considering the endless applications it could have in cooking—from boiling water efficiently to creating precise temperatures for delicate sauces and stews. It would be a game changer in the kitchen, opening up new possibilities for experimenting with flavors and techniques. I imagined how easily I could control the temperature for fermenting dough, or even keep a broth at the perfect simmer without fear of overheating. It was not just about speed, but about precision and expanding the range of culinary techniques I could apply.

"I'd love that, actually. Anything that helps in the kitchen is worth learning," I replied, making a mental note to explore this more when I had the chance.

I said my goodbyes to Elina, thanking her for all the information and the hot bath.

I slipped out of my clothes, letting them fall into a neat pile, and stepped into the warm bath. The heat enveloped me, unwinding the tension in my muscles, and for a moment, I allowed myself to simply relax. The water seemed to soak away the day's strain, and I rested my head against the edge of the tub, closing my eyes as the steam rose around me. Elina's words lingered in my mind, a mix of curiosity and excitement about tomorrow. The bath was a small sanctuary, a quiet space to absorb everything she had shared.

As I thought about tomorrow and all the information we would learn, I started to get nervous. Though the water helped ease the physical tension, the knot of anxiety in my chest only seemed to grow stronger. Tomorrow would bring the orientation class, and I had no idea how many people would be there. The thought of entering a crowded room filled with strangers made my stomach twist.

Once the bath was done, I dried off and got dressed, but the unease lingered, never fully leaving me.

I had always felt anxious about attending in-person classes—even as a child, I preferred online classes or classes where I could work solo or with only one other person. Though I wasn't non-verbal like Ana, silence had always been my comfort.

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Signing came easier than speaking aloud—it allowed me to communicate without breaking that comforting quiet—and I often found myself retreating into that silence when the world became too loud. There was something about the stillness that felt safe, a place where I could collect my thoughts without the pressure of finding the right words.

I remembered one particular moment during a party my father made me attend—while everyone else socialized inside, I chose to step out onto the balcony, feeling more comfortable there than in the crowded room. The garden below was peaceful, and the cool night air helped me collect my thoughts, giving me a sense of clarity away from all the noise and chaos.

Today had been easier with one-on-one interactions. Even moving through the crowded market hadn't been too bad, though the noise was overwhelming at times. I noticed a few times when Ana flinched and covered her ears, and I tried to shield her as best as I could, speaking softly to reassure her until we moved to quieter spots.

As I was cleaning out our backpacks from the day, I took out Ana's sketch pad and opened it, noticing a few new sketches that I hadn’t seen before. One of them depicted the herbalist garden in vivid detail, with the different plants carefully labeled. The way Ana captured the texture of the leaves and the arrangement of the garden beds showed her keen observation and how much the place had impacted her. One of them was a sketch of me identifying plants for the test I took at the Herbalist garden. I looked focused in the sketch, my expression intent as I carefully examined the leaves. Ana had captured the details of my posture—kneeling with one hand gently holding a stem, my brow furrowed in concentration. I remembered her sketching, but hadn’t realized she was sketching me.

Another sketch caught my eye—it was of the unknown thief, though it mainly focused on the eyes and the thinness of the figure. I knew Ana hadn't sketched it at the time, so it must have been from memory, capturing what had stood out to her most. Alongside the thief, there were a few more sketches—Kibwe, his calm demeanor perfectly captured in the soft strokes of her pencil; Gil, with his kind eyes and slight smile; the narrow, winding street that led to the Healer's Hall, with its cobblestones etched in detail; and even a random cat, lazily perched near a vendor stall, that I hadn't even noticed was there. There was also a sketch of Fiona, her expression serene as she listened, and one of Tommy, caught mid-smile, looking bashful. Thinking back, I realized I hadn’t noticed her sketching except at the garden.

When had she found the time to do these sketches? It struck me that I hadn’t seen her take out her sketchpad as often as she must have today. I always prided myself on being hyper-aware of Ana—knowing where she was, what she was doing, how she was feeling. But seeing these sketches made me realize that today had been different. My attention had drifted, and perhaps that was a good thing. It meant I was starting to trust this place. Still, it left me wondering when exactly Ana had found the opportunity to do all this without me noticing.

I thought back over the day, picking apart the moments when I wasn’t focused on Ana. During our visit with the headman, I had been so caught up in the discussion, trying to understand the laws and the oath we were taking. Ana had been quiet, holding onto my hand, but I didn’t look down at her often. She must have been sketching then.

Then there was our conversation with Kibwe. I remembered feeling curious about his background, fascinated by his story of the common language and how everyone adapted here. Ana had stayed close, but I had been engrossed in Kibwe’s answers, wondering about the magic of this place. I hadn’t been watching her closely.

Later, at the herbalist garden, I was so focused on my test and identifying plants that I didn’t really see what Ana was doing. I had assumed she was watching me, but clearly, she had been drawing instead—capturing everything with a level of detail that made me realize just how much she saw, even when I wasn’t paying attention.

Even at the market, there had been moments when I was distracted—talking to vendors, looking for gifts for Miriam and Tommy, or asking Jian about herbs. Ana had walked beside me, but her small hands must have been busy with her sketchpad, and I hadn’t noticed.

I felt a pang of guilt for missing those moments, but it quickly gave way to pride—pride in Ana's growing independence and in her ability to observe the world in such a profound way. She was exploring this world in her own way, and today, I had allowed myself to do the same. Maybe this world was encouraging both of us to grow, to loosen our grip on each other just enough to let in the possibilities around us.

I pulled out her new notebook. The stationery store owner had mentioned that pictures from the new notebook could be copied onto paper to share, but could existing sketches be copied into the new notebook?

I opened up her new notebook to the first page and opened her sketchpad to the first page, which was a picture of the fist rock with the tree coming out. That felt like forever ago, but it was only six days ago. I didn’t remove the paper but separated it from the other pages of the sketchpad and placed it on the first page of the new notebook.

As soon as the pages touched, I watched in fascination as a soft grey glow enveloped the pages, my breath catching at the sight. When it faded, a perfect copy had appeared in the new notebook, leaving me both surprised and relieved. I couldn't help but marvel at the magic of this world, so simple yet profound, and wondered what other surprises were still waiting for us.

I then continued to do all the rest of the pages from her sketchpad. I was amazed at how many drawings there were, each one showcasing Ana's increasing skill—from the first day of our camping trip to today, the progression was striking. Even comparing her earliest drawings in this new world to those made more recently showed significant growth. The number of drawings was astounding, and it was clear how much her skills had improved in such a short time.

I found that the cover of the new notebook had a sealable pouch to keep her writing supplies, so I moved her new supplies into the pouch. I put both her new notebook and sketchpad back into her backpack so it was ready for tomorrow.

I walked over to the small sitting area in our room, sinking into the worn armchair. The soft light of the lantern on the side table cast a gentle glow, and I took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension in my body. The truth was, I felt at home in the kitchen, surrounded by warmth and purpose, not in a classroom with its unfamiliar social dynamics and expectations. The kitchen offered a warm cocoon, filled with familiar sounds and the comforting rhythm of tasks. A classroom, on the other hand, felt like an unpredictable storm, where I couldn’t control the currents or predict the next question. The thought of standing among strangers, navigating the unspoken rules of a group setting, made my skin prickle with unease. I much preferred the simplicity and predictability of my own quiet space.

As I sat alone, my thoughts drifted to a time that seemed like a different lifetime—when I was fifteen and took the biggest leap I of my life. It had been the hardest thing I had ever done. I remembered the moment vividly: "Goodnight, Ani," Arik had said, leaning over and kissing me gently on the cheek. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it lingered just long enough to make me wonder. He pulled away slightly, his breath still warm against my skin. My heart raced as I slowly turned to look at him, our eyes meeting, and in that instant, I was lost.

My gaze drifted to Ana, her small form curled up under the blankets. That experience hadn’t opened any floodgates for me. Instead, it had confirmed what I already knew: leading wasn’t who I was, though I will never forget that night. It was a reminder that, even in moments of closeness, I preferred the safety of the background—a truth that still held firm today.

Today, I realized that Ana was not just relying on me—she was exploring, finding her own way, and that was a beautiful thing to witness.

I shook my head, pushing those thoughts away. There was no point in dwelling on the past tonight. I decided to check out my interface to see if there was anything new.

First, I checked my focus—it was staying steady at a midgrade level today, with nothing particularly influencing it one way or another. I still didn’t fully understand how it worked, but I hoped we’d learn more about it in the orientation.

Next, I looked at my quests. I now had several: meet Mundi in Tyra, train with the Healers Guild, read books for Healer Training, take cooking lessons with Miriam at Silver Sparrow Inn, and attend the Aetheris Orientation. There were also new quests: read books for Herbalism Training and meet Jean Luis at the Three Ghosts in Eldergrove Heights. My quests kept adding up, and that was exciting—especially since they were all things that genuinely interested me.

Party, Path, Inventory, and Attunement hadn’t changed. Now I knew more about Attunement I was excited to unlock it. The map had been updated based on the town map at City Hall. My journal showed the events of the day along with the notes I had added for practicing herbalism. I made a note in my journal to ask about Focus, as I kept forgetting.

Looking over my skills, I think skill level up works by demonstrating enough competency through a trainer or achieving some special goal, like when I healed Alex or gained the Aetheris history knowledge. Level 1 seems to be just the unlocking phase, but gaining more levels might require additional effort. It seems like progress requires either formal instruction or some kind of notable accomplishment, something beyond mere usage of the skill.

My skills included:

Cooking: Level 1

Herbalism and Plant Lore: Level 4

Healing Magic: Level 1

Aetheris History: Level 1

My connections list had expanded to include Gilbert (Gil), Kibwe, Tommy, Harold, Miriam, Fiona, and Jian, along with Albert (Al), Alex, Sam, Ana, and Mundi, who were already there. There was also an entry labeled as unknown, which I suspected was the would-be thief from earlier, as I had received names from everyone else I met. I added notes for the new additions, including my thoughts on the unknown entry and the possibilities of who it could be.

I decided to go back through my journal entries for more clarity. Each meeting was recorded, and I found the entry labeled 'met unknown,' which matched the timing of the encounter with the thief. I noticed an icon that allowed me to add notes on events throughout the day, so I decided to jot down my impressions of the day's events. It was odd that everyone I met was listed in my journal but not in my connections, like the maid or the receptionist—it seemed that only those who had a significant impact were included. Perhaps the system was designed to highlight meaningful encounters, prioritizing those who might play a more important role in my journey. Perhaps the system was designed to highlight meaningful encounters, prioritizing those who might play a more important role in my journey.

I needed to rest, to prepare myself for whatever challenges and discoveries tomorrow would bring. I finished setting out everything we needed for tomorrow. I packed extra snacks, made sure Ana's new notebook and sketchpad were ready in her bag, and laid out our clothes to make the morning easier. After that, I threw our dirty clothes into the hamper. The room felt cozy, with the lantern's glow casting soft shadows.

Before the night ended, I mentally set an alarm to wake up at 4. I made sure to note in my interface that the purpose was 'wakeup to help Miriam with the bread.' I saw the confirmation appear in my journal, reassuring me that I wouldn't miss my early start. It was amazing to have a feature like this—something simple, yet so practical for living in this new world.

I finished up my nightly routine before climbing into bed next to Ana. The bed was soft and warm, the blankets enveloping us in a comforting cocoon. Ana shifted slightly, snuggling closer to me, her breathing soft and even. We were here, in this strange new world, and we were making it work. One day at a time.