Over a bowl of porridge, I checked all the goodies I've collected over the past few days.
[Novice alchemy: level 4 *New*]
Having learnt how to identify, process and refine ingredients into tonic and tinctures, by a trained alchemist, you have begun your journey into mastery and know your way around alchemy tools.
[Mana manipulation: 4]
Agility: 10 – 11
[Tonic of regeneration x 4]
A tonic increases the body's natural healing factor. May be ineffective if the consumer has sustained heavy damage.
[Tonic of stamina x 4]
A tonic that helps recover from minor fatigue. However, consuming multiple in a short period can cause side effects and build toxins in the body.
[Antidote x 2]
Purges the system of poisons. However, the effectiveness is determined by the health of the consumer.
[Tonic of rejuvenation x 1]
Relieves the drinker of the effect of lack of sleep for a while. However, if consumed multiple times, may lose effectiveness and can cause toxins to build up in the system.
I looked at my haul while slightly salivating, 'This was a frightening haul, for only a few days of work. But it was quite draining, both mentally and physically. Stein is such a taskmaster,'
But I gained something even more tasty.
[Flame control: level 1]
A spell that allows the user to control fire, the higher the level, the higher the control.
[Water control: level 1]
A spell that allows the user to control water, the higher the level, the higher the control.
On the first day of concocting, Stein taught me how to manipulate my mana to create an element. Though, it was difficult to do as it requires you to have enough control over your own mana and I didn't. So, I spent most of the first day learning how to have finer control, but once I did, it was well worth the time investment.
But these two spells were crucial for an alchemist. And will become a building block to create more spells, at least I hoped it would, or it would have been a waste of time.
For now, I finished my porridge and asked the innkeeper to fill my waterskin before I left, heading towards the general goods store. After a quick shopping trip, I bought myself ten days' worth of travel rations, and a travel cloak, in case it rains. A thick blanket and a travel pack, even though I had an inventory, sometimes it's best to not clutter it with disposable things.
And with that, I was ready to set out.
Following the road north, I will reach Novrad in three days. It sounded simple enough, but not only are there monsters and beasts on the road, there are bandits as well. Because of this, not everyone dares to travel alone in this harsh world. Players would soon realise that soon enough. However, it'll take then a fair amount of time to leave the beginning village anyway.
As time went on, I was starting to feel sluggish from the lack of sleep, even though I took a tonic of rejuvenation. So, I played it safe by sticking to the road. That way, I would greatly reduce the danger I would bump in to.
By the time the sky started to be stained with a myriad of oranges, I began to drag my feet from exhaustion, I was fully ready for bed.
Turning off the road and into the dim forest, I planned on finding someplace far enough away from the road, but not too deep where monsters roam for their dinner. As I was walking, my eyes spotted a particular grass growing next to a fallen tree.
'Lydal grass, perfect.' I celebrated to myself as I stumbled across a patch of grass. When dried, you can burn it like incense, and it produces smoke that keeps insects away and a scent that monsters with strong noses hate. And not to mention, it goes perfectly with a roasted joint of meat.
However, it'll take me most of the evening to dry, using my [Flame control]. Luckily, the first level of [Flame control] allows you to manipulate temperature. I'll only be able to use it tomorrow onwards, which was better than nothing.
It didn't take too long to find a nice spot for the night. But starting a fire was out of the question, I might as well fire some fireworks and scream and tell everything where I was.
Instead of doing that, the safest way to camp on your own is to climb a tree, if you have balance enough not to fall out of said tree and break your neck in the middle of the night. Luckily for me, I had many years of training in sleeping in trees. I was practically a sloth.
Climbing the tree, I took out the blanket I had bought and wrapped myself in it. Not only does it get cold at night, as it was autumn, but it's also easier to forget a solid mass than a humanoid figure in the dark.
After a quick meal of rations, my heavy eyes forced themselves closed.
Suddenly waking up in a small, enclosed space dimly lit in neon blue light is always a little jarring. But the familiar headache was enough of a distraction for that thought to fade away.
There wasn't much to say about my time in the real world. However, I did need some new clothes, as I couldn't keep wearing the same old, tatty clothes I had been wearing. Plus, I did plan to increase the fitness of my current body, and I don't think that these will fit me soon enough.
It was late morning by the time I had washed myself of the suspension fluid and left the capsule café. Luckily, the café was in the middle of town, so I didn't have to walk for too long before I arrived at a clothing store. And not being one that cares about fashion, I simply bought a few outfits that were comfortable to wear and affordable.
However, even with my shopping escapades, I still had less than half an hour left until my character wakes up. So, I decided to have an early lunch at a popular fast-food restaurant, which was as disappointing as it sounds. Still, it was nice to have junk food once in a while as I had been working myself to the bone, in both my old life and the life I had in this young body.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Aunty Jean. Though she wasn't my actual Aunty, she was my old next-door neighbour, back when I lived with my parents and after her husband and son passed away, I helped her out with chores and such. And before I knew it, we bonded. Sometimes, I feel that I talk to her more than my actual parents. Though, that wasn't surprising as they were both workaholics. Sometimes, I wonder if they got married and had kids simply to give off a more family feel for work.
"Hey Aunty, how have you been?" I answered the phone as I left the busy restaurant.
"Don't give me that. How long were you planning on not telling me that you quit your job?" I could hear the frustration in her voice. But I was more amazed at how fast she gets her gossip, considering it had been a little over two days.
"Well, there isn't much to say, I found a better job and this time, I'm not worked to the bone." I lied. It didn't feel good to lie to her, but I can't exactly tell her the truth, I'll be committed to some institute somewhere.
"Hah, fine. As long as you're happy, then I guess it's ok." She sighed and gave in. She would never tell me what I should or shouldn't do, but I knew that she worried because she cared.
We chatted for the next ten minutes, as I headed back to my capsule room.
"Aunty, I have to go now, as my lunch break is almost over."
"Alright. Make sure you go and visit your parents soon, you haven't in a while, and they must be missing you." Aunty would never say that she actually wanted me to visit her, even though she knew how my parents were. But she's the type of person to see the good in everyone.
"I'll try. You know how they are with work."
"I know. All you can do is try." I could almost hear her dry smile.
After a few words of parting, I ended the call.
I sat thinking for a while after. In the future, I knew the land around my hometown, where my parents and Aunty Jean lived, would be ripped apart during the evolution event. The only people to survive it were those who had not been in the area that day. That is to say that both my parents and Aunty wouldn't survive as well as most of everyone I knew as well.
Coming out of my stupor, I once again climbed into the capsule and began to focus once again on my task of getting stronger.