‘I can’t go back to the town. I might alert my killers.’ Determined to avoid any potential encounters, he cast his gaze around the forest, searching for a solution to his predicament.

As Dorian's hunger intensified, he scanned the forest, desperate to find a solution to his predicament. His gaze settled on the nearby river, its tranquil waters flowing gently along. "Fish!" a glimmer of hope sparked within him as he remembered the potential food source it held. With renewed purpose, Dorian set out to satisfy his hunger by catching a fish.

Leaving the blood-stained stone behind, Dorian retraced his steps through the forest, guided by the distant sound of the flowing river. The dense foliage gave way to a small clearing, where sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

Approaching the riverbank, Dorian's senses heightened. The crisp air carried the faint scent of water and vegetation, invigorating his senses. He took a moment to assess his surroundings, searching for the optimal spot to begin his fishing endeavor.

A few meters downstream, Dorian noticed a fallen tree partially submerged in the water. Its branches stretched out, forming a natural barrier that created a calm pool on one side. It seemed like an ideal location where fish would gather, seeking shelter and sustenance.

With a sense of determination, Dorian waded into the shallow waters, careful not to disturb the tranquility of the pool. He reached for a nearby fallen branch, approximately the length of his arm, to fashion a makeshift fishing rod. Using the sharp edge of a rock, he skillfully fashioned a crude fishing hook from a sturdy vine he found nearby. With a glance of satisfaction at his improvised fishing gear, he cast his line into the calm waters, allowing the hook to sink beneath the surface.

Grinning to himself, Dorian couldn't help but recall the times he had scoffed at those "boy scout" missions his mom had forced him into. "Well, I guess they paid off," he muttered with a touch of amusement. "Surely this wouldn't take long," he added, half-jokingly, as he settled into a patient waiting game.

Five hours later, with the sun setting in the distance, Dorian found himself grumbling in frustration.

‘Of Course it took long’

The fish seemed to have eluded him, testing his resolve and patience. He had cast his line countless times, adjusting the bait and his technique, but without success. His stomach growled louder with each passing minute, heightening his determination to catch something.

Just as he was about to give up and admit defeat, a sudden tug on the line jolted Dorian out of his grumbling thoughts. His heart leaped with excitement as he swiftly pulled the rod upward, feeling the weight of his prize on the other end. Finally, his persistence had paid off.

A glimmer of triumph flashed in Dorian's eyes as he pulled a shimmering fish out of the water, its scales glistening in the fading sunlight. Relief and satisfaction washed over him as he moved to unhook the fish and throw it on the shore. However, his elation quickly turned into fury as the fish, sensing some meat nearby, retaliated with a sudden burst of aggression. Its sharp teeth sank half an inch deep into Dorian's hand, causing an intense pain that shot through his body.

Enraged by the unexpected attack, Dorian's eyes narrowed with determination. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let the pain weaken his resolve. With a fierce growl, he tightened his grip on the struggling fish, its scales slippery beneath his fingers. Blood mingled with the water as he clenched his injured hand, a testament to the battle that ensued.

His mind honed in on a nearby rock, its rugged surface promising retribution. Without hesitation, he lunged towards it, his muscles coiling with raw power. In swift motion, he brought the rock crashing down upon the fish's head repeatedly, unleashing multiple cracking sounds.

The fish convulsed in its final moments, its struggles growing weaker until they ceased altogether. Dorian stood there, panting, his hand still throbbing from the bite.

With a mix of frustration and vindication, Dorian carefully unhooked the fish, his movements filled with purpose. He tossed it onto the shore, a small victory amidst the pain. Wiping the blood from his hand, he couldn't help but mutter a string of curses, his anger fueling each word.

‘Of course this world has carnivorous fish’

Setting the fish aside, he washed his wounded hand in the river then wrapped it up in leaves. He then retrieved a wooden stake nearby and impaled the fish upon it, preparing it for cooking over a fire. Setting up a small fire pit, he arranged some dry twigs and leaves, coaxing the flames to life with the friction of two rough stones, expertly striking them together to create a spark. The crackling fire provided both warmth and a means to prepare his hard-earned meal.

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As the fire crackled and danced, Dorian positioned the wooden stake with the fish over the flames, allowing it to cook slowly. The scent of searing fish filled the air, mingling with the smoky aroma of the burning wood. Dorian's senses heightened as he watched the fish sizzle, its skin turning a golden brown, and its aroma grew more tantalizing with each passing moment.

With patience and precision, Dorian monitored the cooking process, ensuring the fish was cooked to perfection. The flames embraced the fish's flesh, infusing it with a charred yet savory flavor. Gradually, the fish transformed from a mere prey into a culinary triumph.

Finally, satisfied with the fish's readiness, Dorian withdrew the wooden stake from the fire, its scorching heat warming his hands. The mouthwatering aroma enveloped him, teasing his senses with the promise of a satisfying meal. He carefully placed the cooked fish onto a makeshift plate of leaves, savoring the sight of his hard-won feast.

As he sank his teeth into the succulent flesh, a rush of flavors exploded on his palate. The tender meat was infused with the essence of the fire, a delightful blend of smokiness and natural richness. Dorian savored each mouthful, relishing in the satisfaction of a meal well earned. In that moment, the forest around him faded into the background, and he allowed himself a rare moment of contentment.

‘There’s a problem though. I’m still starving, and I’m not tryna wait another 2 hours for another fish.’

Then, an idea sparked within him.

‘I can use the fish itself as bait!’ He contemplated the fish in his hands, recognizing its potential as a means to secure his next meal. With a cunning glint in his eyes, he resolved to use the fish meat as bait, luring more prey to his makeshift fishing spot.

Setting aside the remnants of his finished meal, Dorian took a moment to fashion a new hook from the bones of the cooked fish. He skillfully attached a small piece of flesh to the hook, ensuring it would be an irresistible temptation for any unsuspecting fish. Casting his line once again into the calm waters, he braced himself for a swift and efficient catch.

It didn't take long for a fish to succumb to the allure of the bait. Within mere minutes, a tug on the line signaled success. With the lessons learned from his previous encounter, Dorian acted swiftly. Using the momentum of the pole, he skillfully swung the fish towards the shore, leveraging the force to propel it off the hook and onto the ground.

Without hesitation, he retrieved a nearby rock, wielding it with practiced precision. In a swift motion, he brought the rock crashing down upon the fish's head, silencing its struggles and ending its life.

With a mischievous grin spreading across his face, Dorian pondered the idea of providing his catches with an even more enticing offering. "What if I give them more bait? All dry food needs a sauce or drink after all," he mused to himself.

Examining the wound on his hand from the previous catch, Dorian recognized its potential as a tool. With a sense of purpose and a determination to maximize his efficiency, he intentionally allowed a few drops of blood to fall into the water, creating a trail that would attract fish faster.

This time, the result was almost immediate. Within less than a minute, another fish succumbed to the alluring scent of blood. Dorian repeated the process, swiftly dispatching the fish and adding it to his growing collection.

Driven by a relentless desire to secure his sustenance, Dorian repeated the cycle with unwavering determination. Cast, hook, swing, strike—the process became second nature to him. The tally of his catches increased steadily, each successful encounter fueling his resolve.

‘I guess 20 is more than enough.’ The twenty fish he had painstakingly procured lay strewn across the ground. Dorian wasted no time in preparing them for cooking.

He impaled each fish upon the wooden stake, threading them tightly together to form a makeshift skewer.Dorian then placed the makeshift skewer over the crackling fire, allowing the heat to work its magic.

“I guess I haven't eaten for a long while. I must have been floating down the river for some time, ” Dorian reflected, his voice filled with a mix of realization and hunger, as he couldn't resist indulging in six of the twenty fish.

‘The rest should be be enough for a few days’

‘I need to stop being a fatass and deal with Peter,’ Remembering that he needed to address the situation with Peter, he picked up the wooden stake used to cook the fish. Observing its durability despite exposure to the fire, he marveled at the resilience of the forest's enchanted trees, suspecting a presence of the supernatural within them.

"It's mana!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his grin. The revelation struck him with both excitement and shock, prompting him to question why he hadn't noticed this crucial detail in Blackwood's memories from the previous day. Before he could fully process the implications of this newfound knowledge, his mind was inundated with a torrent of information, causing an intense headache to split through his consciousness.

A sharp pain pierced through his consciousness, like a blade cutting through his thoughts. Dorian's expression contorted in agony as he clutched his temples, trying to alleviate the throbbing sensation. The intensity of the headache grew with each passing moment, threatening to split his mind apart.

But just as the pain reached its peak, a subtle shift occurred. The pounding in his head began to recede, gradually dissipating like a dissipating storm. Dorian's grip on his temples loosened as the sharp ache subsided, leaving behind a dull throb.

‘There’s way more to this world than I thought.’

‘How did I miss so much information yesterday!’

Dorian found a comfortable spot to sit and let his thoughts settle. The recent revelation about mana and the onslaught of information had drained him. He couldn't help but ponder why he had missed so much vital information in the original Dorian's memories from the previous day.

Closing his eyes, Dorian delved into his own memories, retracing the events that had occurred to him in this world. As he sat in quiet contemplation, a sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. "It's not about what I missed, it's about how I accessed the memories," Dorian exclaimed, his eyes widening with newfound understanding.

‘Looks like I need to actively attempt to recall information from Blackwood’s memory for it to become a ‘passive’ part of my memory!’

‘The problem is I cannot actively attempt to recall what I don't know of, such as mana, and can only duplicate this process by being exposed to triggers that are relevant to the related memories’

‘Mana seemed to be a big one though.’