Extract from the -{ Tome of the ‘Forgotten One’ }- Divine scripture of the Church of the ‘Forgotten One’.
"In the sanctuary of my eternal vigilance, find solace in the assurance of restoration. I shall rectify the distortions of truth and bestow upon mankind the gift of clarity and righteousness." (The Promise of Restoration 5:10)
................................................................................................
The cave's damp air clung to Asher's skin as he methodically skinned the Earthhide bear, his movements precise despite his exhaustion. The hide came away in large, heavy sheets, still warm from the beast's body heat. Asher's hands trembled slightly, a mix of fatigue and adrenaline coursing through him.
With the last of his strength, he dragged the hide to a corner of the cave. The coarse fur scratched against his skin as he wrapped himself in it, the musky scent of the bear overwhelming his senses. Exhaustion claimed him within moments, plunging him into a fitful sleep.
Hunger pangs jolted Asher awake, his stomach twisting painfully. The cave was pitch black, save for the occasional flash of lightning from the diminishing storm outside. Forcing himself to move, he crawled to the pool of bloodied water. The metallic taste assaulted his tongue as he gulped it down, fighting the urge to retch.
Stumbling to the cave entrance, Asher peered out into the night. The rain had lessened, but darkness still enveloped the forest. A chill wind cut through his damp clothes, causing him to shiver violently. Time had lost all meaning – how long had he been in this cave? Hours? Days?
Turning back to the skinned carcass of the Earthhide bear, Asher steeled himself for what needed to be done. His survival instincts overrode any squeamishness as he began to methodically butcher the beast. Each cut of his knife was a cathartic release, channeling his rage and frustration into the grim task.
"I'm not dying here," Asher muttered through gritted teeth, his voice barely audible over the wet sounds of flesh separating from bone. "Not like this. Not today."
As the first hints of dawn began to lighten the sky, Asher emerged from the cave. The rain had finally stopped, leaving behind a world washed clean. He dragged the bear's hide out, scrubbing it in a nearby puddle. The cold water numbed his hands, but he welcomed the discomfort – it kept him focused, kept him moving.
Back inside the cave, Asher set about making the space more livable. He swept away debris with makeshift brooms of leaves, trying to ignore the lingering stench of blood and death. As he worked, his mind drifted to the system notification he'd received earlier. Curious, he called up the skill description:
[ Skill: ‘Bloodlust Lv.1’ (Passive)
* The user lets out an aura of bloodlust during combat or a state of extreme anger or excitation.
* The aura increases the user's strength by 1%.
* Beings weaker than the user are inflicted by the status ‘Fear’ ]
Asher's brow furrowed as he contemplated the implications. How far removed from normal humanity had he become? The thought sent a chill down his spine, but he pushed it aside. Survival came first – existential crises could wait.
As the day wore on, hunger became an all-consuming force. Asher stared at the raw meat he'd prepared, his stomach churning with both desire and revulsion. With trembling hands, he selected a piece that looked relatively clean and stepped out into the light rain to rinse it.
"Forgive me, Julia Child," Asher muttered, a humorless chuckle escaping his lips as he steeled himself for what was to come. Praying to the French cuisine gods he took a deep breath and took a big bite.
The first bite was an assault on his senses. The meat was tough, resisting his teeth, but Asher's desperation won out. He chewed mechanically, trying to ignore the coppery taste and slimy texture. His body rebelled, threatening to expel the unfamiliar sustenance, but Asher forced it down.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Come on, come on," he growled, taking another bite. "You've eaten worse. Remember that gas station sushi?"
But even his attempts at gallows humor couldn't distract from the reality of his situation. Asher alternated between bites of meat and sips of the bloodied water, each swallow a battle against his gag reflex. By the time his stomach felt full, his face was streaked with tears of effort and revulsion.
Curling up in the bear hide, Asher prayed for sleep to claim him quickly. His stomach roiled, pain stabbing through his abdomen. Hours passed in agony before exhaustion finally pulled him under.
When Asher next opened his eyes, golden sunlight was streaming into the cave. For a moment, he lay still, relishing the warmth on his face. Then, with a groan, he pushed himself up and stumbled to the entrance.
The forest stretched out before him, vibrant and alive in the morning light. Asher squinted, trying to get his bearings, hoping to spot some landmark that might lead him back to civilization. But the endless sea of green offered no clues.
"Right," he muttered, running a hand through his matted hair. "One step at a time."
Asher set about gathering wood, his movements slow and deliberate. Each bend and stretch sent waves of nausea through him, a reminder of his ill-advised meal. As he worked, a system notification caught his attention:
[ Physical limits surpassed Poison resistance increased. Vitality +1, Mind +1 ]
"Fantastic," Asher grumbled, rubbing his aching stomach. "Nothing like a little food poisoning to toughen you up."
The task of starting a fire proved to be a frustrating ordeal. Asher's hands, once skilled at delicate computer work, now struggled to coax a spark from wood and stone. An hour passed, then two, with nothing to show but blistered palms and frayed nerves.
"Come on, you worthless pile of twigs," Asher snarled, his patience wearing thin. "What I wouldn't give for a damn lighter right now."
Finally, changing tactics, he used his knife to create fine wood shavings and dust. As he worked, memories of camping trips with his grandfather surfaced – lessons on survival that he'd never imagined needing. The pang of homesickness that accompanied these thoughts was almost overwhelming.
As the afternoon sun beat down, Asher laid out his tinder to dry. The wait was excruciating, each passing minute an eternity. But finally, mercifully, a spark caught. Asher's heart leapt as the tiny flame grew, fed by his carefully prepared kindling.
"Yes, yes, yes," he whispered, gently blowing on the embryonic fire. "Don't you dare go out on me now."
Slowly, painstakingly, Asher built up the fire. The warmth it provided was a balm to his battered body and spirit. As he constructed a crude spit for cooking meat, a ghost of a smile played across his lips. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
With the immediate needs of fire and shelter addressed, Asher's restless mind turned to other concerns. He ventured out into the forest, this time with purpose. His eyes scanned the undergrowth, searching for anything that might be useful.
The forest was a riot of unfamiliar plants and sounds. Vines that whispered when touched, leaves larger than Asher's torso – it was a constant reminder that he was far from home. He collected what seemed useful, all the while fighting the creeping dread that threatened to overwhelm him.
When he came across a bush laden with red and blue berries, Asher's mouth watered. His hand reached out instinctively before he caught himself. Caution overrode hunger as he used a charge of his "Eyes of Odin" skill:
[ Thristle berry bush (uncommon): a shrub that produces small, sweet berries colored red and blue. The pin-like leaves of the bush are prickly and contain mild healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The berries contain mild paralytic poison which is not detected by the animals which are distracted by its sweet taste, once they consume a large amount they find themselves incapable of moving and eventually are killed by other predators. The plant then feasts on the blood spilled and the flesh that remains and decomposes around it.
Current status: the plant is healthy and craving a meal of flesh and blood. ]
Asher recoiled, his hunger instantly replaced by revulsion. "Jesus," he muttered, wiping his hand on his pants as if he'd already touched the deadly fruit. "Note to self: trust nothing in this godforsaken place."
Despite his disgust, Asher forced himself to collect a handful of berries and leaves. He couldn't afford to waste potential resources, no matter how grim their nature.
Inside the cave with bloodied walls that reeked of bear piss and shit., Asher set about making his shelter more habitable. The stench of death and decay still clung to the walls, a constant reminder of his brutal fight for survival. Using broad leaves as makeshift buckets, he gathered mud from nearby puddles and began plastering the cave walls.
"Home sweet home," he said sardonically, smearing another handful of mud over a particularly gruesome bloodstain. The physical labor was exhausting, but it kept his mind occupied, preventing it from dwelling on the precariousness of his situation.
As night fell, the scent of cooking meat filled the cave. Asher's mouth watered as he watched the fat drip from the improvised spit onto the fire below. When he finally took a bite, the flavor was a revelation after days of raw meat and blood-tainted water.
"Gordon Ramsay, eat your heart out," Asher mumbled around a mouthful, a genuine smile crossing his face for the first time in days.
With a full stomach and a warm fire, Asher allowed himself a moment of cautious optimism. He'd survived this long against impossible odds. Whatever challenges tomorrow brought, he'd face them head-on.
As the fire crackled cheerfully, Asher turned his attention to his final task for the day: addressing the contaminated healing spring. The gentle trickle of water from the cave wall seemed to beckon him, promising relief if only he could restore its purity. With renewed determination, Asher set about devising a plan to clean the life-giving pool, knowing that his continued survival might well depend on its restorative powers.