The noble-looking elf had already prepared some sort of carriage pulled by what looked like elks right outside the purified clearing. I hopped into the carriage, settling into the cushioned seat as I looked out of the window. In my old life, I always loved traveling; it was a chance for me to explore the world and find inspiration for my paintings. I had a habit of dozing off just looking at the terrain passing by.

As we started moving, the gentle sway of the carriage brought a sense of calm. The landscape around the grove was breathtaking, filled with lush greenery and vibrant, exotic plants that I had never seen before. The trees towered above, their canopies intertwining to create a natural tapestry that filtered the sunlight into delicate patterns on the forest floor.

The sky above was a beautiful blend of colors, with two suns casting their light across the horizon. One sun was a warm, golden hue, reminiscent of the sun back on Earth, while the other was a cooler, silvery-blue, adding an ethereal quality to the light. The interplay of the two suns created a surreal atmosphere, bathing the landscape in a unique, almost magical glow.

As we traveled, I noticed small creatures darting through the underbrush, their movements quick and graceful. Birds with iridescent feathers flitted from tree to tree, their songs adding a melodious backdrop to my observation. Every now and then, I caught glimpses of larger animals in the distance, some resembling bears and some resembling large birds, the ecosystem here wasn't that different from earth after all.

The terrain varied as we went along, from dense forests to open meadows dotted with wildflowers. Each shift in scenery brought new details to observe, new elements to appreciate. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the subtle scents of blooming flowers and fresh foliage.

I found myself getting lost in the beauty of it all, the sense of wonder growing with each passing moment. The landscape was a painter's dream, filled with colors and forms that seemed to dance in the shifting light. Despite the underlying tension of my situation being reincarnated in a different world and all, I felt a deep connection to this place, a sense of belonging that resonated within me.

After a while I figured that I hadn't looked at my status window ever since I awoken at the grove. I hadn't really checked it out thoroughly back at the while room either, so it seemed like a good moment to see where I stood. With a thought, I brought up the window's interface.

Immediately, a flood of notifications appeared:

Achievement Unlocked: "First Purification"

* You have successfully purified an area for the first time.

* Reward: +10 Purity Points, Skill Level Up: Purification (Lv. 1 → Lv. 2)

Achievement Unlocked: "Savior of the Grove"

* You have purified a significant portion of a corrupted grove.

* Reward: +50 Purity Points, New Skill: Nature's Blessing (Lv. 1)

Achievement Unlocked: "Guardian of the Innocent"

* You have saved a life threatened by corruption.

* Reward: +20 Karma Points.

Achievement Unlocked: "Spirit of Resilience"

* You have endured severe corruption while maintaining your purity.

* Reward: +30 Karma Points, Attribute Increase: +5 Endurance

Achievement Unlocked: "Visionary Artist"

* You have utilized your artistic talents in a magical way.

* Reward: +40 Creativity Points, Skill Level Up: Artistic Enchantment (Lv. 1 → Lv. 2)

Attributes:

* Strength: 10

* Agility: 12

* Endurance: 15 (+5)

* Intelligence: 180

* Wisdom: 200

Resources:

* Creativity: 22 (+40)

* Purity: 70 (+60)

* Karma: 100 (+50)

I noticed for the first time that I had attributes, this was really similar to D&D and the MMO games I played back when I was younger.

I didn't really know what each attribute indicated, but I noticed I had a substantially higher Wisdom and Intelligence compared to my other attributes. I also noticed a resources tab, which meant I could spend those creativity, purity, and karma points to maybe buy or upgrade stuff? I was really confused as to what I could use them for.

I decided to just start blabbering random words to see if any of them activated an extra feature. "Store? No, Shop? Still no, uhh, help?" Yeah, that seemed to work. The word "help" opened a large guide that flooded me with an unnecessary amount of information all at once.

But most importantly, I figured out that I have to say the name of the resource before the word "shop" to activate it.

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"Creativity Shop" I mentally commanded, and a new interface appeared.

Canvas Bundle: 500 Creativity Points

* A set of high-quality canvases for creating detailed and powerful paintings.

Easel of Focus: 2,000 Creativity Points

* An easel that improved concentration and allowed for more precise and impactful paintings.

Palette of Infinite Colors: 3,000 Creativity Points

* A magical palette that provided an endless array of colors, helping me create more vibrant and effective paintings.

"Purity Shop," I tried next. Another interface appeared, offering items and skills focused on purification:

1. Purity Charms: 500 Purity Points

* Charms that could be placed around an area to slowly cleanse it over time.

2. Talisman of Cleansing: 2,500 Purity Points

* A talisman that could be used to enhance the power of my purification abilities.

3. Holy Water Vials: 100 Purity Points per vial

* Vials containing holy water that could be sprinkled on corrupted areas to purify them instantly.

4. Spirit Lantern: 5,000 Purity Points

* A lantern that could reveal hidden corruption and guide you to the most affected areas.

5. Magical Seeds: 1,000 Purity Points

* Seeds that could grow into plants with purification properties, cleansing the surrounding area of corruption.

and I already knew what the karma shop was about, I also knew that I could use karma to instantly purify an area - or the entire grove - if I had enough.

I decided to skim through the guide one more time, I didn't want to miss something important, and sure enough a couple of things stood out, most importantly the skill tree.

I had a skill tree where I saw the ten initial spells I chose unlocked, each of them had upgrades that varied in levels, affects, durations and range, I also noticed lots of locked spells that I could spend different resource points to unlock.

I also noticed a quest tab where I had daily tasks and quests that I could complete for rewards, if I knew this that would have made my life much easier! But it was my fault after all, I was the one who didn't look at my status window or attempt to figure out the system when I awoken at the grove.

I also had the option of crafting, but it consumed lots of materials that I had to collect, and it was practically useless to me since I could turn my paintings into different tools and items anyways, provided I get canvases soon.

As the elven city came into view, I finally shifted my focus from the system to the world outside the carriage. The city was a breathtaking sight, with tall spires and elegant structures made out of wood, woven seamlessly into the natural landscape. I realized that the noble-looking elf, who had been attempting to get my attention, had been speaking to me for a while.

I hadn’t noticed before because I was so engrossed in exploring the new system features. But then again, I was an ancient spirit; traditional etiquette didn’t exactly apply to me. The elf’s persistent efforts to converse with me, though courteous, felt almost inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

As the city drew nearer, I delved into my spirit vision, searching for any signs of corruption. To my surprise, the entire city appeared pristine, bathed in a gentle, harmonious glow. There were no traces of corruption within the city's bounds, which seemed unusual given the subtle signs of corruption I had encountered with the first elf I met a week ago.

This pristine state of the city puzzled me. Had the elves managed to keep their city completely free from corruption? Or was there another explanation for the discrepancy? The contrast between the city’s purity and the corruption I had dealt with elsewhere was striking, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the methods or protections the elves had in place to maintain such a state.

As we approached the city, the grandeur of its architecture became evident. Tall, elegant spires reached towards the sky, adorned with intricate carvings that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. The buildings were constructed from a blend of natural materials and delicate woods, giving them an otherworldly beauty.

The carriage came to a stop at the city gates, which were flanked by towering elven guards in ornate armor. They greeted us with respectful nods as the noble elf, the one had invited me, stepped out and extended a hand to help me down. I accepted her assistance, and as my feet touched the ground, I was met with a sea of elves.

Elves of all ages and ranks had gathered, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and awe. Some whispered among themselves, clearly fascinated by the presence of an ancient spirit in their midst. The air was filled with a quiet, respectful murmur as they observed me, their eyes reflecting a mixture of reverence and wonder.

A group of elves, dressed in more elaborate and refined attire, approached. They exuded an air of authority and grace, their clothing decorated with symbols and patterns that spoke of high status. The head of this group, a tall elf with flowing silver hair and a regal bearing, stepped forward and addressed me.

"Welcome to our city, ancient one" he said with a bow, which was a first, I was half expecting him to kneel like the others. "We are pleased to have you here and to express our gratitude for your efforts on behalf of our people"

As he spoke, the crowd parted slightly, allowing me to see the city beyond the gates. The streets were lined with lush greenery and vibrant flowers, and the sounds of cheerful chatter and melodic music filled the air. The city seemed to pulse with life and vitality, a stark contrast to the corruption I had been living in for the past week.

However, as I walked through the city, I noticed subtle, hidden concerned looks from some of the elves. A few of them glanced at me with what seemed to be unease or worry before quickly disappearing into the streets or alleys, seemingly avoiding the gathering crowd. Their behavior raised my suspicion and curiosity. Why would there be such a stark contrast between the warm reception of the majority and the covert discomfort of others?

The noble elf guided me forward through the gates and into the heart of the city, but my thoughts were consumed by the unsettling glimpses of hidden apprehension. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this city and its people than met the eye.