Opening the doors of the tavern, I made my way to the counter, giving a nod to the woman behind it. She had just finished pouring a drink for another customer, wiping her hands on her apron before turning her attention to me. The evening outside was growing darker, with the rain intensifying—a heavy, relentless downpour. But at least I was safe now, surrounded by these walls, away from the threat of monsters lurking in the wilderness.

"You're alive," Phobe remarked, eyeing my battered state. "Barely so, huh?"

"Yeah," I said, my voice barely more than a mutter. "Uh, how much for a room?"

"Three silver," she replied. "It’s got a bed and a chest for your belongings. No meals included, though."

I nodded, digging into my pocket and placing a silver coin on the counter. She took it, crouched down to grab a key from beneath the counter, and handed it to me. The key was simple, with a small tag that read "3," marking the room number.

I pocketed the key and let out a sigh, a sense of relief washing over me. Finally, a moment to rest wasn’t too far away.

"Thanks," I said. "Upstairs, right?"

"Yep," she confirmed with a quick nod.

Grunting in acknowledgment, I headed toward the stairs. The corridor I entered was narrow and dimly lit, with the brown wooden walls showing signs of wear and age. Faded patterns on the wallpaper suggested this place had seen better days. A few flickering candles were mounted on the walls, casting a warm but uneven glow that made shadows dance across the floor. The wooden planks creaked slightly under my weight as I moved forward, the smell of old timber mixing with the faint scent of burning wax.

Finding the door marked with a "3," I inserted the key and turned it, pushing the door open. The room was as plain as promised—a single bed pressed against the right wall, a simple chest to the left, and a window in the centre that overlooked the rain-swept street. Next to the window sat an unlit candle in a small glass holder, its wick untouched. Without bothering to remove my armour or gauntlet, I kicked off my shoes and sank into the bed, eyes shutting as soon as my head hit the pillow. The ache in my body from the day's ordeals was still there, but at least I was warm and safe.

I opened my eyes halfway, staring at the ceiling. It was still hard to believe that all of this was real. A flower had nearly killed me—how ridiculous was that? I wasn’t meant for this world, no way.

"What a hassle," I mumbled to myself. "Let this all just be a nightmare."

Restless, I rolled over in the bed a few times, finally giving up and walking to the window. The heavy rain tapping on the glass was the only sound that filled the room, mixing with the faint, muffled voices of patrons downstairs. Sleep had never come easy to me; insomnia was a constant companion, and now, with all this chaos, it seemed even more elusive.

Out of curiosity, I got up and opened the chest in the room. Seeing it up close was odd—it looked just like the ones you’d find in video games. I stared at it for a moment, feeling a strange mix of familiarity and absurdity.

"Too bad I have nothing to put in," I said, shaking my head.

As if summoned by my thoughts, the translucent box appeared in front of me again:

Level 1: Axel

HP: [████████░░░] 70/100

Mana: [░░░░░░░░] -1/100

Stolen novel; please report.

Stamina: [██████████░░] 75/100

Options: [Inv | Skills | Quests]

Seeing my stats laid out like that—especially the negative mana—felt surreal. This whole experience was too much like the games James used to make me play, only this time, it wasn’t a game.

I lay back on the bed once more, rolling to one side, then the other, staring at the ceiling. Sleep just wouldn't come. At one point, I even left the room, pacing the corridor from end to end several times. It didn't help. Back in my world, I’d just take a diazepam pill, and that would be that.

"Man... can't sleep," I muttered to myself, frustration creeping into my voice.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, sleep began to claim me. The sound of the heavy rain tapping on the window seemed to soothe my restless mind, pulling me into a deep, much-needed slumber. At last, this wretched day had come to an end.

══════✦══════

I always had these kinds of nightmares; they never missed a night. This one was a memory from when I was maybe eight or nine, back in my living room. After my sister, Kaira, died from an illness called nebulitis, my mother became paranoid. She was convinced that every little thing could lead to sickness. Every day, she'd give me different pills, insisting they’d keep me healthy and safe. In reality, those pills were ruining me, both physically and mentally. I could barely keep my eyes open in class, always drowsy, always exhausted. The constant stomach aches were just the cherry on top.

In the nightmare, my mother would come home from work and force a pill into my hand, telling me to take it. She’d pat my head like she was doing something good, like she was protecting me. Then, out of nowhere, she'd pull a gun from her pocket. She’d say it was for our safety, to protect us from burglars, because she had these twisted dreams where I was kidnapped. As she was showing me the gun, it accidentally went off, shooting me right in the head. That’s when I’d wake up—every time.

I opened my eyes, heart pounding, the memory of that nightmare still fresh in my mind. I took a deep breath, staring at the ceiling before covering my face with my hands. I sat up slowly, trying to shake off the lingering unease. Judging by the light streaming through the window, it was probably around eight or nine in the morning.

“Okay…” I muttered, pulling my shoes on. “I’m still alive. That’s a good sign.”

I opened the door to my room and made my way downstairs. The common area was bustling with people having breakfast, waitresses weaving between tables, and cleaning up the empty ones. Sunlight poured in through the windows, and the fresh scent of rain lingered in the air, now replaced with a bright, clear morning.

"Sleeping princess is awake," Phoebe called out with a smirk from behind the counter. "Did you have a good sleep?"

I grunted in response, still groggy from both the nightmare and the restless night.

"Are you hungry?"

"How much for breakfast?" I asked as I walked toward her.

"One silver," she replied.

"Great," I said, sitting down at a nearby table. "I’ll take one."

"Sure thing. A simple meal comin' right up," she said, giving a quick nod before heading off to prepare it.

I pulled out all my coins and laid them on the table, counting them. Buying breakfast left me with four gold and six silver coins. I could survive a few days with that amount, but then what? I'd have to start taking quests again, doing all sorts of nonsense just to keep myself fed and sheltered. Back in my world, it wasn’t that different—I was always working hard just to pay the rent. But at least I didn’t have creatures lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

After a short wait, Phoebe returned with my plate, setting it down with a friendly smile before heading back to the counter. I picked up the fork and took the first bite of my meal, staring out the window. It was all too real—I was truly in a different world.

"Man…" I sighed.

The porridge was plain, but I wasn’t one to complain. I’d come from a life where hunger was a constant companion, so I could appreciate even the blandest meal.

I took another bite, then leaned back in my chair, slipping my coins back into my pocket. No point in tempting any would-be thieves. That mysterious translucent box thingy had at least given me five coins for completing a task, which was a lifesaver. I couldn’t help but wonder if I could find another quest from that thing, maybe earn a few more coins to keep me going.

Taking the last bite of my meal, I thanked Phobe and left the tavern, breathing in the fresh air.

“Hmm.” I muttered. “Now, onto the second quest; finding that dog.”