Returning to consciousness, daylight lightens the room. Rays blast my eyes as I open them and wake up from a peaceful sleep.

I yawn and carefully get up, avoiding agitating the wounds, Status, I think, pulling up my status and sit comfortably on the best.

[

Name: David Velac

Age: 22

Race: Human (Variant: Unknown) Level: 3

Titles: World Traveller

Class: N/A

Health: 3/10

Stamina: 8/10

Attributes

Strength – [8]

Constitution – [5]

Dexterity – [6]

Endurance – [7]

Wisdom – [7]

Intelligence – [10]

Charisma – [4]

Perception – [10]

]

Chuckling a little as the ludicrousness of the situation I dismiss the status and head downstairs where I can smell a fragrance permeating the room as I walk down.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs I head over to the bar and see a familiar silhouette cooking food, I call out as I approach, “Loraine? Morning.” With a yawn surprising Loraine as she glances across the room at me.

“Ah David! Morning, want some breakfast?” She offers, nodding I sit nearby as she continues cooking, a thought flashes in my mind as I wonder, “Loraine, this is a tavern, right?” she responds with a nod and I continue, “So we-will people be coming in soon?” I say with a slight mistake.

“Oh right, I decided to close up shop for a few days, just to help ya, yknow?” She says with a wide smile and responding to her kindness I respond, “Th-Thank you so much! I really appreshiate it! If you need help with anything just c-call me!” I say with a small blush as I mess up the pronunciation again and because of the kindness Henry and Loraine had showed me.

She smiles and nods and continues to cook, “Henry is out, by the way, he will be back in a bit.” She mentions before she looks back at me, “Also as I said yesterday, you can call me Lor or Lora if you would like.” With a wink.

“Al-alright, Lor.” I respond with an embarrassed smile, shortly after she finishes cooking and comes over with a couple plates of food, eggs, bread, bacon, a meat I hadn’t seen before.

“Hope you don’t have any allergies.” Loraine said with a beaming expression, “Luckily no, I don’t have any, from my knowledge at least, otherworlder and all.” I say with a shrug and begin to dig in, after eating I can firmly say, that was far more delicious than it appeared. Each food at a unique texture that was similar but also extremely different to its respective food in Earth, and the meat I hadn’t seen before, known as “Pezil” had a taste that was difficult to describe, the closest comparison was somewhere between, chicken, lamb, and ham. Though that description was not giving it enough credit, apparently it was also one of the most common meat eaten as it didn’t cost much and, depending on how you prepare it, can be a long-lasting meat and can be used with travel.

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Finishing breakfast Loraine shoots me a question, “Hey so, as much as I would like to ask a couple questions about “Earth” I don’t think its going to be easy to return, I would recommend thinking about how to live on Novae.” She says before quickly mentioning, “Actually I don’t know if Henry told you, but Novae is the name of our world.” I thank her and dwell on her suggestion.

She’s right, I think with a sigh, If what henry and her have said, interdimensional travel doesn’t seem to be the norm here, most likely I won’t be able to return and will eventually die here somehow, as the thought of the wolf makes me start shaking and hyperventilating. “Hey, its okay, its okay.” Loraine soothes as she gives me a hug and stays with me until I calm myself down, “Thanks, need that.” I say, emotion leaking out from my voice, “Its fine, want to talk about it?” She asks with a worried expression, it takes me a moment to collect myself and formulate my thoughts and emotions, “Just, I was dwelling on what you suggested and, I was trying to come to terms with, most likely not returning home, and potentially living on my days on ‘Novae’ until I pass away. However, at that moment I flashed ba…” I stop and clear my throat and calm myself down, “I thought back to the Wolf that attacked me shortly after appearing in the forest. I’m pretty sure I said this yesterday but, that Direwolf should have killed me, if the stars didn’t align, I wouldn’t be here. It-… It scares me, I could have died, I WOULD have died, and that terrifies me, I don’t have any control of my own life, if that monster was ‘weak’ by everybody’s standards, well someone could walk in here, see me and kill me before I even realise.” I say, dumping my emotional baggage on Loraine.

A silence descends in the Tavern as Loraine thinks over what was said, during this time I mentally fist pump the air at successfully completing the sentence without a mistake, eventually she starts talking, “Yeah, if your strong enough your basically untouchable, you could die as simple as that!” She says with a snap of the fingers, “However everybody knows that it’s something most people come to terms with early on in Novae, most people can’t do anything, there is only two options for everyone.” She says as I intently listen and motion for her to continue.

“First is simple, accept your own weakness, accept that yes, you can die at any moment and live life as you want, do what you want, follow your dreams, experience the world, or…” She motions towards the rest of the tavern, “Or you could settle down and make a living somewhere, such as a Tavern like I have.” With a smile she says and seeing my contemplative expression gives me a few minutes and then continues.

“Second, while simple, is easier said than done, you must become strong enough that nobody messes with you, if someone tries to kill you, kill them, if someone attacks your family, you protect your family, if you want to hunt monsters such as the Direwolf, than you just need to be strong enough to do so.” She finishes, nodding her head and mentions, “Like Henry, he’s a hunter, adventurer, whatever the hell you call em.” She mentions with a shrug, and finishes, “But of course, there are problems and compromises you have to make with both, most hunters die, you are constantly risking your life and if ya do survive, the rest of your team may not. However, some of the strongest people you’ll see are hunters, the ones that survive and continue are truly strong, mentally, and physically, they push their limits and breaks them. As said however, they’re the 1% highly likely you will die.

On the other hand, however, option one, pretty self-explanatory compromises, you have less say over things, your opinion is lesser than the truly ‘strong’, if someone with connections or someone is powerful enough, you will die, without question.”.

“Uh, can I get some context?” Henry says, making me jump inches off the seat, he came in at one point apparently whilst we were talking, after Loraine filled him in, he nods and says, “She’s right, those are really the only option for you, go into a profession, make connections and just settle down, live peacefully and just enjoy life, or truly try to get strong, to survive in this world.” He says with a solemn nod, “Think it over, if you want, and I assume Lor will do the same, but if you want to become and Adventurer than I can help you, train you up and give you a chance, if you want to settle down, then.” He stops and looks over to Loraine who finishes his sentence, “Than i can help you look for a job, profession or, and what I was planning on offering, you could work here when you’re all healed up!” She says with a thumbs up.

After that conversation I go over the past few days and getting some information from Henry, There really is only one option, if I settle down than, anything could happen, leading to multiple problems, monsters attack the city, they come in and kill everyone including me, I can’t defend myself currently even if I was fully healed, on the other hand, If I get experience dealing with opponents, monster or otherwise, than I can do more, live with less stress, protect the people I care about. I decide with finality, not realising that instead of stress decreasing it would instead increase with more responsibilities.