-Where am I? -Alex wondered as she looked blankly at the sight before her, instead of a forest canopy, before her is a ceiling. -What happened? Right, it was that huge boar back then, so I’m not dead yet? I just passed out, seems like I’m fated to pass out all the time.-

Alex sat up, she was expecting to feel very bad, but she feels more invigorated than before. As she was using her hands to prop herself up, she felt a hard metallic sensation, a familiar one at that. It was her dagger, the Gladius. She stared at the dagger for a while before picking it up, clutching it tightly like it was everything to her. She looked around her, only finding a few empty beds in a row next to the one she was on, and a window opposite her. She saw nobody outside, but instead she saw a flashing light in the corner of her vision, she tried to focused on it, and a window suddenly appeared before her.

<>

[Alexandria Leonhart has now reached level 2]

|6 are currently unspent,|

|Would you like to allocate them now?|

<>or <>

-What’s this?- Alex thought, she was surprised, this was something that she saw in videogames, she assumed that killing the Bronze Mountain Boar was the reason she leveled up. –Attribute points? Are those supposed to be used for my stats?-

She is very quick-witted, even though she had some doubts that her situation is what she thinks it is, she might as well try it, 'the only way to go is forward’ as she used to hear from others back then. She decided to allocate the points and the Stats Window appeared in her vision.

[Stats]

Strength: 50

Agility: 50

Intelligence: 50

Dexterity: 50

Luck: 50

Magic: 50

The stats are the same as she saw back when she was in the forest, what was different is that there are now arrows pointing upwards before each attribute. Alex concluded that those were to allocate points in an attribute. She didn’t know what to do, she cannot recklessly use all her Attribute Points either, considering what she has experienced previously, and there are many dangers, these attributes points are connected to her survival.

-I’ll never know what to do with all these unless I try, but what should be a practical choice? [Intelligence] maybe?-

As she was pondering about what decision to make, she somehow summoned another window when she thought about the Intelligence attribute.

[Intelligence] – Enhances the thought process, perception and memory of the individual. Also increases chances of learning new abilities and information. Some items need a minimum level of intelligence in order to be used.

-Then what about the others then?-

[Strength] – Enhances physical strength, physical damage, endurance, health, and resistances of the individual. Some weapons, armor and other items require a minimum level of strength in order to be used. (Due to the individual having inexhaustible stamina points, there will be larger enhancements in other physical aspects.)

[Agility] – Enhances the movement capabilities of the individual, increases speed, and flexibility.

[Dexterity] – Enhances the coordination, helps with performing meticulous tasks.

[Luck] – Increases the chances of finding materials, or items that will drop from monsters. Also increases the chance of learning new abilities and skills.

[Magic] – Enhances the magic power of the individual, increases mana, mana regeneration, and magic damage. Also reduces mana costs at certain levels. (Since the individual has an indefinite amount of mana, there will be large increases in magic damage and enhanced magical effects instead.)

-This is complex, - she sighed.She had no idea what would be really good, increasing [Strength] and [Magic] looks good, but what is [Magic] for? Spells? She doesn’t know any. [Strength] however looks plausible, but she doesn’t know how to fight. She then decided to put two points into [Intelligence] instead and then saved the remaining points for later.

[Stats]

Strength: 50

Agility: 50

Intelligence: 52

Dexterity: 50

Luck: 50

Magic: 50

|4 available.|

The Stats Window once again appeared before her with the increased data, she dismissed it and tried to grasp for any changes in her body. She felt that everything around her is clearer but the change is almost unnoticeable. After thinking for a while, Alex decided to leave the room, if she wants information, the only one she can ask is another person. She carefully got of the bed and stood up, making sure that nothing feels wrong she then looked for the door.

-I hope they’re friendly, if not I’m dead meat.-

Alex opened the door, revealing a cleared dirt path connecting to a main one outside. There are a few trees along the path, a few plants, and a few more buildings not for from her location. She did not see anyone else though. Thinking that it would look unfriendly for her to hold a weapon she decided to put the [Gladius] away, the dagger disappeared into her inventory.

The young girl walked towards the houses, but strangely enough, there is no human presence near her. Basing from what she read in books and from other stuff, there has to be a gathering point for them people living here, like a town square. There might be people there, and they might be able to help her understand her current predicament.

As she wandered around the residences, she begins to hear people talking from a distance, her face is filled with joy but it was dampened by the fact that they are talking about her, and it seems they are not very amiable towards strangers.

<> (passive) has been acquired

-Did I just get an ability by eavesdropping on people?- Alex thought while thinking that it was absurd.

“That girl that Old Man Rye brought back, something's suspicious.”

“Don't be like that, the poor lass came from that forest you know? That place is dangerous, she must have been through a lot.”

“The fact that she managed to survive to be brought back here from that place makes her suspicious.’

“You’re thinking way to much, she's just a kid, and also, there is nothing other people will be interested in in this place.”

The seemingly paranoid person is a man, while the other who speaks in a carefree tone is a woman. It seems that the one that brought her here is named Rye, judging from the way they call him, it's the middle-aged hunter, but why do they call him “Old Man”? Alex wonders. She didn't think about it too much, what's important is meeting him first before the other villagers since they seem to have bad opinions about outsiders.

“Oh, you're awake, but why are you here, kid? You ought to be resting first right?”

“Who?”

Alex turns around quickly looking cautiously at the person who called her, it was the middle-aged hunter, Rye. He was looking at her with a worried look, coupled with a tinge of surprise at her recovery speed, Aunt Verna said that it will take a week before she wakes up, but she's already fine after three days. Alex, on the other hand, is oblivious at what the veteran hunter was thinking, but she takes his expression as a non-hostile one.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Anyways kid, let's go get back at Aunt Verna's clinic alright?” Old Man Rye stated. “She’s going to go crazy if she finds out I let the patient wander around.”

Alex just nodded firmly without saying anything and followed the hunter back to the building. So it seems the one who nursed her was called Aunt Verna, she should probably thank the two for taking care of her later. Old Rye led her to the room where inside was an old woman, older than the hunter. She gave a profound feeling and a sense of security to those around her. Alex thinks that her demeanor matches her role of treating people. She only gave a smile when she notices the two entering.

“Alright, lass,” Old Rye started introducing himself and the old woman. “My names Rye, you can call me Old Man Rye or Uncle Rye, and this is Aunt Verna one of our village elders, she's the one in charge of treating the sick and injured in the village.”

“Hi, my name is Alexandria,” Alex said in return, she has a good expression of these two people. She then followed up with thanking them for helping her when she was passed out with a slight bow of her head.

“Well hello there young one,” Aunt Verna said smilingly, observing Alex from top to bottom. “I wasn't able to get a good look at you back then, you are actually a charming young lady, and well-mannered too.”

Since Alex is an outsider, and she was found in the forest of all places, in a dangerous one in fact, normally Aunt Verna would be extremely cautious like the rest of villagers excluding Old Rye who is eccentric. But because of the number of spirits that are attracted to the girl, she let her heart at ease, after all, people liked by spirits are generally good people, and from Alex’s attitude proves that.

“So, kid, what were you doing in that forest, that place is dangerous you know?”

The middle-aged hunter asked, explaining how dangerous that place with those wolf packs and the occasional mountain boars that almost killed them. For certain, that place is not someone like Alex to be in, without any armor at all, in a dress even with only a dagger to fend for herself with. But how can she answer that if even she doesn't know the place? She is not even sure that everything is real, but everything that happened so far and all the things she felt ever since waking up from that place is nagging at her that ‘it's all real, deal with it'.

Alex only answered with a shake of her head, saying that she can't remember anything aside from her name and age and the dagger was only something she found when she woke up in the forest.They seemed to believe her, with only the thoughtful looks on their faces, yet it seems they have different thoughts.

Could she actually be--- The two of them thought, but apparently they are thinking in separate directions, but meanwhile Alex is completely oblivious to what they are thinking she's only worried that this excuse will not work, and lying to people who helped her leaves a bad taste in her mouth. But then again, who will believe that she's not from this world?

“Hmmm, that is not entirely impossible, after all, the Forest of Beginnings is mysterious after all.”

“True, after all, there have been people who lost their memories, although rare, you must have been through a lot young one.”

Old Rye and Aunt Verna said respectively, they didn't think too much of it, Alex looks like a frail young lady after all. Since Alex ‘lost her memories' they explained a lot of the basic matters to her, which to the young girl is a lifesaver. It's hard to live somewhere she doesn't know about, and if she really has to live in this world she needs knowledge, a lot of it. Ignorance is a double-edged sword, ignorance can be both bliss and a disadvantage. The lack of knowledge may be fine in a peaceful place but since when there is peace, in the world where she came from, wasn't she blown to pieces because of war?

The village where she is currently  is called Novus, a pioneer village located at the very edge of the kingdom of Etherina, almost isolated from every other place, the reasons are the abundance of danger in the vicinity, and the fact that the vegetation is thick, the flora near the Forest of Beginnings are full of vitality, the plants grow ridiculously quick, the trees are hard to cut down. But the advantages it brings that there is no shortage of food and the wood they gain is extremely sturdy, some merchants even travel far for them. The danger and somewhat harsh conditions were weathered by the very first settlers and in every generation, they kept adapting, they became more skilled, and stronger, every warrior in the village is as strong as the kingdom's elite soldiers. Even though they are like this they prefer their current lifestyle, they are very attached to nature and they don't really care about money that much, their goods are exchanged for things they can't get here and the gold they have are stocked for situations needed only.

It's a very prosperous place in a certain perspective, and with prosperity comes danger from ill-willed people, bandit groups sometimes came here before but were crushed before they even got in, this made their reputation stronger and hence they gained respect from the kingdom to the point that the kingdom gave them this land officially in exchange for preventing monsters from the forests from flooding out and attacking the nearby towns and cities. The village was fine with it, the kingdom literally gave it to them for free, if the monsters would attack, Novus would be the first casualty, whether there's a decree or not they would’ve kept the monsters in check anyways.

Aside from that, they told her about many other things, the culture, races, laws and many other things she will need to know, apparently this is literally a fantasy world, there are elves, dwarves, giants etc. Compared to her old world, it seems strength held a lot of sway here, it is not absolute but you will still earn some respect if you are powerful enough. The government seems to be of a feudal system, there are nobles, and royalty, the nobles, and royalty pretty much hold a lot of influence, some of them use it for very ill reasons and there are some who are decent in morals.

For classifying strength, it seems there is a level system, like a game, they didn't talk about EXP, but it seems when you fight, kill monsters, or do certain tasks you can raise your level, giving more power, the fastest way is killing monsters. There are also Skills, Titles, Jobs, etc. Similar to Alex's situation, but it seems they cannot see their stats, they can only look at theirs through the Pedestal of Power, when one puts their hand on top of the pedestal a projection will show the person's statistics, every city has one, Novus has one too, given by the Kingdom ten years ago. They also do not have Inventory like Alex does, and regarding her status, those with level 50 attributes are mostly level 20, and normal people cannot choose what attribute will increase, it will only increase naturally depending on what you focus on.

This got Alex thinking, she is certainly overpowered, especially the unlimited SP and MP, if they see her stats she's not sure whether it will be bad or good for her. Whether she becomes strong or not, unlimited SP and MP is not fair, unless everyone is in the same situation as her. Thinking that she asked if how big is the mana pool of most people.

"Everyone has mana, but not anyone can use it," Aunt Verna explained. "It still depends if one can control it or not. They are not rare, but not that common either, in the village there are only a few who can use magic. Most of the people here are muscle-brains anyway."

"What do you mean by muscle-brains?" Rye retorted, seemingly offended, but he cannot refute that, they are mostly physical combat oriented. It was because of the fact that not anyone can learn how to manipulate mana without anyone guiding them, learning on your own is very difficult. "As if magic is omnipotent, spell-casters won't survive if there are no physical combat personnel, they're just sitting ducks without them."

"Magicians are glass cannons, they need to be in a group, only those absurdly powerful or idiot mages will fight alone. Aside from that being a mage is profitable."

Without minding Rye's remark, the old woman continued explaining. They still kept talking but never answered Alex's question, seeing her expression Rye gave a light cough and gave her the answer.

"Aside from being unnaturally fragile, mages will become useless after running out of mana. Compared to a non-magician, mages have about five to ten times more mana."

Doesn't that mean I'm like those cheaty novel characters?  Alex remarked in her mind. Still even with this amount of mana, if she is not skilled enough, she will still die. If she's planning to lead her life here, will she learn to be a warrior or a mage? She's not going to consider any job outside of combat if she wants to protect her little life she will need to learn how to fight.

"So kid, what are you planning to do then? Without your memories you're a blank slate, you can live your life here in the village, and even if those old fogeys won't agree I'll make them."

"The 'old fogeys' he's referring to are the village elders, I'm one of them but I do not care about whatever they do, but if they try to pressure you I can put a word in for you."

After Rye made a dangerous statement, it seems the gentle looking Aunt Verna said something more ominous in the young girl's point of view. It seems they genuinely look out for her, was it because of the fact that she lost her memories, or because they are just like this. Alex felt guilty for claiming she's an amnesiac, but not telling anyone would guarantee not only her safety but others as well. 

"Thank you," Alex said from the bottom of her heart. "Then can I be a hunter? I want to be able to fight."

The two people looked at each other, wearing surprised expressions, but then looked at Alex with warm understanding. But unbeknownst to Alex, they had different understandings to what she said.

I knew it, this kid's a fighter. Thought the hunter.

Anyone loved by the spirits are definitely special after all. The old woman thought while smiling at Alex.

Starting from that, the life of the seventeen-year-old girl had a new start.