I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. Could I trust her? She seemed straightforward enough, and she claimed to have been sent to help me. Korrok's warning echoed in my mind, advising caution in trusting anyone. But here, in this simulation, what harm could she really do? Besides, I needed help. After a moment, I nodded.

"Yes, I did," I admitted. "It failed, though, I think."

"What's your ability? And your class?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, barely containing her excitement.

"I'm not really supposed to tell people about it," I said, my voice low.

"Oh come on," she pleaded, her voice a mix of exasperation and charm. "How can I help you if I don't know what you're working with?"

Her argument made sense, and it nudged me over the edge of my reluctance. "Fine, I'll give you the gritty details. But don't go betraying me!"

"To who?" she laughed, her amusement clear.

"No clue, but somebody out there cares, I just know it," I replied, half-joking, half-serious.

She raised her eyebrows and smiled, a gesture that said, 'Sure, buddy, sure.' I took a deep breath and divulged my abilities.

"Level 1: Emotional Intelligence," I began, my tone more academic now as I explained the nuances of my powers. "It allows me to sense the predominant emotions of creatures within a 30-foot radius and project basic emotions like fear, calm, or anger. It's supposed to help sway battles or negotiations."

"Level 5: Telekinesis," I continued, feeling the weight of her attention on every word. "I can move objects or creatures of a certain weight within a limited range. It’s about manipulating the environment or disarming enemies. And my compass tattoo, it’s still there, just with half the power it used to have."

"And Level 10: Mindfury," I finished, my voice lowering slightly. "Whenever I take damage, there’s a chance I'll enter a Psychic Trance. My attack speed and power surge, but it messes with my head, makes it hard to think straight."

Her eyes widened with every detail, absorbing the information with an eagerness that was almost palpable. "Wow, that’s... intense. And incredible. You’re like a psychic or something!"

I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, it was infectious. "Yeah, something like that. It’s new to me, too. I’ve never used these abilities before, but I’ve got plenty of experience with the old ones. I just need to figure these new ones out."

She nodded, her expression one of understanding mixed with a hint of admiration. "Well, you’ve got some serious power at your fingertips. Let's get these books back to an inn, settle down at the bar and drink all night!”

I laughed and shook my head. "No way I can drink tonight, Maya. I have too much on my mind and I want to get more into this book."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Maya pouted and hugged my arm, her eyes pleading. "Please! I haven't had anyone new to hang out with in forever. I just want to forget my problems and have fun tonight."

Her begging was almost too much, but I stayed firm. "Tempting, but I really can't. I have a lot to learn and probably not enough time to learn it. But after I'm more comfortable, I'll have ONE drink with you."

She huffed and rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, SIX!" she said just as we arrived at the inn.

The inn had a welcoming, rustic charm. Wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling, and a large stone fireplace roared at one end of the common room. The air smelled of roasted meat and fresh bread, mingling with the faint scent of ale. Lanterns hung from the walls, casting a warm glow over the well-worn wooden tables and chairs scattered throughout the room.

The innkeeper, a burly man with a friendly face, greeted us warmly as we entered. "Welcome to the Silver Hearth Inn!" he boomed, his voice carrying the warmth of a crackling fire. "Name's Garvin. If you don't have any cash, you can stay for two days on credit. After that, you'll have to start paying."

Garvin gestured around the common room, pride evident in his eyes. "This place has been in my family for generations. Built it up myself, with a bit of help from the townsfolk. We offer the best ale in Braenor, if I do say so myself. The stew’s a favorite too, hearty enough to satisfy the hungriest of adventurers."

He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "And we've got the coziest rooms you’ll find anywhere. Each one comes with a feather mattress and wool blankets spun by my dear wife, Marla. She's the real treasure of this inn."

Garvin straightened up, a shadow briefly crossing his face. "Of course, running an inn has its challenges. Strange things have been happening lately—supplies going missing, odd noises at night. But nothing we can't handle. Folks around here are tough, and we look out for each other. I tell you what, if you can help me with this problem, I might be able to let you stay even longer, free of charge."

He paused, then gave us a hearty slap on the back. "But enough about that! You're here to rest and relax. Let me know if you need anything. Enjoy your stay at the Silver Hearth Inn."

We agreed, and as we headed to our rooms, I turned to Maya. "Broke in the real world and in VERTEX."

She gave me a curious look. "Didn't you win some tournament? How are you broke?"

"It was more like THE tournament, but I'm still broke," I replied. Seeing her confused look, I explained, "I used all my money on a spatial item just big enough for my dragon egg. So it doesn't hatch while we are flying."

She considered this for a moment before responding. "I guess that makes sense, but you should have just given up or sold the egg. Those things are nothing but trouble."

I shrugged. "Maybe, but I'm attached now. I can’t give up little Shelly.”

She looked at me quizzically. “Who’s Shelly? I thought we were talking about your egg.”

“We are.” I said defensively. “I like to call her Shelly.”

“Is it a girl?” She asked seriously.

“Um, I have no idea. I kind of just gave her a girls name, like a car.” I said back as if it was obvious.

“I’d like to learn more about your world sometime.” Maya said with sincerity.

After that we said our goodbyes, and I headed up to my room. The room was small but cozy, with a single bed, a wooden dresser, and a window overlooking the bustling town square. I set my book on the bedside table and sat on the bed, my mind racing with everything I had learned today. The weight of the dragon egg, the complexities of the System, and the uncertainty of my abilities pressed down on me.

As I lay back and stared at the ceiling, I couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. The thought of the journey ahead, both in VERTEX and in the real world, filled me with a mix of anticipation and dread. With a deep breath, I picked up the book and started reading again, determined to learn as much as I could before sleep claimed me. Just as my eyelids grew heavy and sleep was about to take over, I read the most interesting thing about Dragons....