Noah Anderson stood in the cool embrace of the early morning, his breath visible in the crisp air as he gazed at the small sprout emerging from the earth. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over his backyard. The previous night's events replayed in his mind like a vivid dream—a dream that now took root before him, tangible and real.
The seedling, bathed in moonlight, seemed to pulse with a subtle, otherworldly energy. Noah had spent hours by its side since planting it, observing every nuance and faint glow emanating from its delicate, luminescent leaves. The world around him felt different somehow, as if the presence of this seedling had wrought subtle changes in the air, in the very fabric of his small town.
He reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the soft leaves. The connection he felt was undeniable—a bond forged in a single, inexplicable moment when he had planted the World Seed. It was a responsibility he hadn't asked for but now couldn't ignore.
As he crouched beside the seedling, Noah noticed a change in the atmosphere. The usual sounds of the outback—distant calls of wildlife, the rustle of leaves in the wind—seemed amplified, as if nature itself was acknowledging the seedling's presence.
A kookaburra perched on a nearby branch, its laughter echoing through the quiet morning. Noah watched as it cocked its head, its bright eyes fixed on the seedling with an intensity that unnerved him. He had seen similar reactions from other creatures—a kangaroo lingering near the fence, a flock of cockatoos circling overhead—as if drawn to the seedling's burgeoning energy.
Noah's thoughts drifted to the townspeople, to their reactions when they inevitably discovered the changes taking place in their midst. Would they understand the significance of what was happening, or would fear and misunderstanding cloud their judgment? The thought of trying to explain this mysterious plant and its significance weighed heavily on him.
Pushing aside his uncertainties, Noah focused on the immediate task at hand—nurturing the seedling. He fetched a watering can from the shed and carefully sprinkled water around its base, ensuring the soil remained moist. With each gentle touch, he felt a surge of connection, a shared journey unfolding between him and this fragile, yet resilient life.
As the sun began its ascent in the sky, Noah sensed a shift in the air—a subtle change that whispered of possibilities yet to unfold.
With a final glance at the seedling, Noah straightened up and breathed in deeply, the cool morning air filling his lungs. With its rundown charm and resilient spirit, the town awaited another day of revelations, of mysteries waiting to be unravelled. In the distance, another shooting star streaked across the sky, as if heralding the start of something extraordinary in the outback.
Noah glanced nervously at the nearby birds and kangaroos, worried they might try to eat the delicate seedling. In a rush, he sprinted to the shed and grabbed bird mesh stacks and a hammer.
Swiftly constructing a six-meter fence, Noah secured it with cable ties and duct tape. He then fashioned a makeshift dome-shaped roof, anchoring three of the taller stakes into the ground just as a kookaburra swooped towards the seedling. Noah intercepted it, his bare arm narrowly avoiding a peck.
"Motherf...!" he hissed, shooing away the bird as he hurried to complete the dome.
He sighted, staring at the makeshift barrier he created, feeling tired Noah looked around and saw a wooden chair near his cement deck, walking over he dragged it over into the shade of the nearby seedling, sitting down Noah looked at the seedling as it waved about merrily.
Noah was drawn back to the night's events planting the seed, and then the system interface display popped up shortly after, he recalled it back up again rechecking his stats.
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{-System Interface-}
Name: Noah Stirling
Age: 28
Location: Coolabah Springs, Outback, Northern Territory, Australia
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Basic Skills:
* Mechanic: level 1
* Survival Skill: level 1
* Carpentry: level 1
* Physical Fitness: Level 1
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Basic Abilities:
* Practical Problem-Solving: Level 1
* Resourcefulness: Level 1
* Adaptability: Level 1
* Perseverance: Level 1
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Quest Log/Quest Tracking:
Completed Quest: Plant the World Seed {Two Rewards Awaiting to be claimed.}
Ongoing Quest: Nurture the Seedling {Unknow Rewards}
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Inventory: 5x1
Tier 0
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Map: Coolabah Springs
Environment Scan: Available
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The interface had tabs labelled Skills, Abilities, Quest Tracking, Inventory, and Map, each with its subtabs. The Map tab included a subtab called "Environment Scan 1/1." In the Quest Tracking section, there was an outlined Quest Log and several blank tabs. Feeling thirsty, Noah closed the interface and went inside, glancing at the clock on the wall. It read 6:30 AM.
He walked over to the fridge and found half a pack of sweet cider, a few bottles of water, and half a jug of apple juice. Grabbing a bottle of water, Noah returned outside, noticing a kangaroo in his backyard near the seedling. He watched it cautiously until it hopped away. Realizing he had been holding his breath, he exhaled softly and sat down.
Opening the interface system again, Noah navigated to the Quest Tracking tab and then to the Quest Log. He saw the option to view his only completed quest and mentally clicked on the World Seed interface. As a stream of information entered his mind, he blinked in surprise and walked within five feet of the seedling.
"World Seedling Interface," he said aloud.
A beautifully engraved interface appeared in front of him, glowing green and brown. It detailed the health of the seedling and had similar functions to the normal interface, with tags outlining different parts of the nurturing process.
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{World Seedling Interface}
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World Seedling Species: Unknown
Status: Growing, Thirsty, Defended, Hot
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Seedling Attributes:
* Growth Rate - Environment based: Extremely Slow
* Environment: Dry, Hot
* Magical Properties: Tear Drop
* Resistance: None
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Seedling Abilities:
* Nurture: Accelerate growth by providing resources. - Low
* Communicate: Sense and understand the seedling’s needs – Weak
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Passive Abilities:
* Healing Aura: Locked
* Vitality Boost: Locked
* Bioluminescence: unlocked.
* Protective Aura: Locked
* Bond: Forming
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Magical Abelites: Locked
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Magical Skills: Locked
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Looking at the information provided by the World Seedling Interface, Noah examined his latest reward. Opening it, a greenish-blue wheel with three white boxes appeared.
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Would you like to spin the wheel? Yes/No
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Sighing at the wheel-like system, Noah chose to spin. The wheel began to spin faster and faster. Slowly, the first wheel started to slow down, eventually stopping on what looked like a puddle of water. The second wheel followed, slowing down until it also landed on a puddle of water. The third wheel began to slow down as well, and after a few seconds, it too stopped on a puddle of water.
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Reward Magical Puddle [Endless]
Tier 0: Puddle
* Description: A small, shallow puddle with crystal-clear water.
* Size: About the size of a dinner plate, with a depth of a few centimetres.
* Location: None
Properties:
* Water Quality: The water is incredibly pure, clearer than any natural spring, and has a slight, refreshing coolness to it.
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Noah wondered what was magical about a puddle of water, sighing he had the option to place it himself or allow the system to place it.
Getting up Noah looked around, his backyard thinking of a place where to place it.
Noah looked around one of the best places was near his shed, but stopping Noah looked up at the rock hill that took a little bit of his yard.
“I will be just up there” Noah said to the seedling pointing at the top of the rocky hill.
Leaving his yard, Noah ascended the hill where his home perched. Below, a desolate wasteland stretched out, marked by dry, lifeless bushes scattered across the arid landscape. The land was parched and cracked under the relentless sun.
Nearby, an old riverbed wound its way, its course marked by dry, cracked earth that spoke of past waters now gone. Part of this riverbed passed near Noah's house before meandering into town. After ten minutes of hiking, he reached the crest of the hill.
Looking down Noah, measured the distance between the dry river bed and the rocky hill, opening his interface, trying to find where the puddle was, looking around in the rising heat of the sun, Noah finally found it in his Inventory.
Wondering why it was placed in there and not left as a reward in the quest log, he sighted trying as he began to test how to use the inventory system, garbing a nearby rock as he flew it in the air slightly, catching it again and again trying different words.
Finally, after half an hour, Noah grabbed the rock he had been throwing, he had one last thing to test and to his surprise, the rock disappeared as he pushed it in.
Holding the rock Noah, threw it away, as it bounded in the distance, standing up Noah pushed his hand over a small glass bottle filled halfway with water.
The small cup-sized bottle disappeared from Noah's inventory as he held it, feeling cool against his palm. Unsure of what to expect, he scanned the terrain for a natural depression in the ground, finding one slightly off from where he intended. Walking over, he knelt and uncorked the bottle, carefully pouring the water into the depression. Slowly, the water seeped into the dry soil.
Noah patiently waited, watching as a small puddle began to form, gradually rising. His smile widened as he observed the water's progress until it finally stopped, having reached its maximum size. An idea sparked in his mind. He carved a small channel into the earth, about an inch away from the puddle's edge, leading it towards the edge of the hill.
With dirt on his hands and satisfaction in his eyes, Noah dug the final part of the channel, allowing the water to flow freely. To ensure it filled properly, he removed a bit of hard-packed dirt, allowing the channel to fill with water.
The water slowly soaked into the earth, causing the puddle to rise slightly over the course of five minutes before enough of it began trickling down the rocky hill. Noah walked back towards his backyard, noticing that the seedling appeared to be drying out. Quickly grabbing a jug of fresh water, Noah poured it near the base of the seedling, watching as its leaves regained their healthy green hue.
"I've got to make sure you have water nearby," Noah muttered to himself, glancing at the path where the water was dripping down the rocky hill. Some drops were slightly dirty, catching his attention. Nodding to himself, Noah dug a small hole about three feet wide and a foot deep. He tested the depth with the glass bottle, finding it just right to fill from the slowly forming puddle nearby.
Satisfied with the hole, Noah placed the glass bottle down and walked away, checking on the seedling as it seemed to wave merrily at him once more.
As Noah watched the seedling sway gently in the breeze, he couldn't shake the feeling of awe mingled with the responsibility that now anchored him to this small patch of earth. The morning sun cast long shadows across his backyard, illuminating the lush green of the emerging plant and the makeshift protection he had hastily assembled that morning.
He leaned against the fence, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the past day's events. The discovery of the World Seed had turned his world upside down, thrusting him into a role he never anticipated. "What am I supposed to do with all this?" he muttered to himself, staring at the interface, he pulled up before him.
The interface shimmered softly, its glyphs and symbols dancing in response to his thoughts. It was both a source of guidance and a reminder of the mysteries he found himself in. Noah had spent hours deciphering its functions, learning to navigate through its quests and logs with a mix of curiosity and determination.
The only thing he hadn’t checked so far was the map tab, opening the Map.
A holographic map unfolded before Noah, projecting a top-down view of his house and the immediate surroundings, with about one meter extending in every direction. Outside the mapped area, a mist or fog dissipated as Noah approached the edge, revealing more details of the terrain.
Nodding to himself, Noah observed various elements on the map, including a marked water source situated above the hill. With a mental command, he activated the water tab, causing it to highlight potential impacts the water could have on the land and environment. An outline appeared showing the current path of the water and projected effects in three small boxes.
The first box detailed potential ground effects, highlighting processes like possible water erosion on the terrain.
The second box provided suggestions for mitigating such effects, suggesting methods such as planting native or elemental plants capable of land protection.
The third box showcased a selection of recommended plants, ranging from mundane species to magical varieties suitable for the local environment.
Stepping away from the holographic map, Noah noticed the seedling was parched once more and in need of water. He quickly fetched the glass bottle and poured it around the base of the seedling, ensuring it received adequate hydration. Satisfied, he returned the bottle to its place.
As he walked around the corner of his house, Noah saw the glass bottle was now half filled, and a small puddle had formed beneath it. Retrieving the bottle again, he stowed it away and began planning the next steps to create a water channel. Noah dug the first channel, extending it closer to the shed, but the earth was dry and resistant.
Grabbing a shovel, Noah continued digging until he had excavated a small, puddle-sized hole near the seedling. He then dug a second channel, leading from this puddle to the dried-up riverbed. With his work complete, Noah opened the channel from the puddle, watching as water slowly trickled its way down toward the seedling and the hole nearby it.
It took a few hours for the puddle-sized hole to fill up, but Noah was glad to see it providing a constant supply of water for the seedling. As he observed, he noticed something peculiar—the water was crystal clear, flowing freely without a single hint of dirt.
Curious, Noah approached the nearest channel and observed the dug earth slowly filling in, creating a natural bed for the water to flow through.
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Hidden Quest: Competed
Life Giving Water Competed:
Reward: Skill Book and Magical Seed
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Noah wondered what a magical seed was, he couldn’t see anything that dropped nearby him, so he checked his inventory seeing a pouch and a greenish-brown book.
Taking out the seed pouch, Noah felt roughly three or four bead-sized seeds inside. Opening the bag, he saw four small seeds with a silvery colour. Carefully placing them back into the pouch and storing them away again, Noah pulled out the book.
Opening the book, Noah discovered detailed information about the seeds he had received, including several methods for crossbreeding the herb once it was fully grown. He absorbed the information like a sponge, understanding how to care for the new seeds. With four seeds, he had four attempts to grow the herb.
Looking around, Noah backtracked up the small channel he had dug earlier. He found a spot near the rocky hill that seemed ideal, providing enough sunlight for the herb to grow. Reaching down, Noah dug a small fist-sized hole in the ground. He took out one of the seeds from the pouch, placed it in the hole, and covered it with dirt. Then, pulling out the glass bottle, he watered the area thoroughly.
Satisfied with his work, Noah put everything away and headed inside, noting that the time was 2:37 PM. After washing his hands, Noah prepared a late lunch, grabbing the last of his ham and cheese to make sandwiches. Sitting down with a drink, he ate his lunch and pulled out the book again, making sure he hadn't missed any important information.
Yawning, he stood up and went to check on the seedling, which seemed to wave merrily at him. The nearby puddle of water was clear and looked drinkable. Checking the channels, Noah walked up to inspect the little puddle he had created earlier in the day.
Seeing that the main puddle was full and the overflow system was working, Noah felt a sense of accomplishment. He walked over to the dry river bed and noticed a smaller puddle forming in its centre. This was a good sign; the water was making its way down, slowly revitalizing the parched land where the water touched.
Noah crouched down to examine the small puddle, watching the clear water trickle in. It wasn't much yet, but it was a start. The water was clean and seemed to carry a hint of vitality. He could almost envision the dry river bed coming back to life, with plants and animals returning to the area with the backdrop of the tree casting a shadow.
Standing up, Noah took a deep breath, feeling the tiredness biting at his body, and the heat not helping him much. turning back toward his house he walks back into his yard, checking the seedlings again. Happy with how it looked, Noah headed back inside to sit down putting on the TV as he enjoyed an icy cold drink, the feeling of the cool drink washing away some of his heat felt good.
“what I would do for an aircon unit” he muttered as the fan hit his skin again slightly cooling him, noah closed his eyes enjoying the cool scenery.
Noah woke up, a tiredness in his bones as he yawned stretching his limbs. Rubbing his eyes Noah noticed it was almost sunset the last few rays of light about to disappear, “Shit” he said in shock as he bolted up and rushed outside to check on the seedling.
Looking outside as the last rays of sunlight disappeared, Noah saw a sight out of his dreams. Around the seedling were what looked like fireflies and their soft glow of luminescent light.
Noah watched in awe, as the lights danced here and there, seeing the seedling was alright, Noah headed back in knowing that it would be alright for the night.
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Walking out of the bush, a small child, carrying a stuffed teddy bear, stood near the edge of the backyard, seeing the seedling wavily merrily at her, she walked closer, standing above it looked down in pure wonder and joy. “Well, hello,” she said couching down to the plant, smiling at it “I see you make it safely here” She beamed merrily at the seedling.
“Please look after this world with its upcoming trials and challenges, as Noah is Dorian's bestie friend,” she smiled as she garbed a small amount of water from the puddle nearby, spreading some of the water over the seedling, the blueish glowing water reaching the seedlings roots.”
Standing up she turns away, walking back towards the bush before stopping. Turning back to look at the seedling, “You picked an odd place to grow, but it’s suitable for what you can become” she smiled before pausing again “And Kate sends her regrets as well, she wants to apologise for the events of earlier in the week.” She said disappearing into the darkness.