Julian followed Phatt as they went deeper into the forest. He felt calmer now that he had eaten something.
"How long have you been here?" Julian asked.
Phatt scratched his chin. "Three years… I think. Hard to tell. Feels like forever, but sometimes it also feels like I just got here yesterday."
"So where are you from?"
" I am from a place called Virel — a tiny backwater town. I'll take you there if I have the chance "
Soon, the trees began to thin, and a small house came into view ahead.
"That's where the manager stays," Phatt said, gesturing toward it. "We'll get your supplies from him."
Julian nodded and followed him inside. The interior was a mess. Books, herbs, and strange tools were strewn about the room, covering almost every surface.
"Keet!" Phatt called out.
Julian heard someone approaching, grumbling under his breath about disrespectful kids. A middle-aged man with a long grey beard stepped into the room, scowling. Phatt walked over and patted his back casually.
"Keet is the manager. Now give Julian his supply so I can show him around the garden."
Keet ignored Phatt and fixed his beady eyes on Julian, scanning him from head to toe.
"You're one of those from that planet that burst, right? How was it? Did the mana hurt?"
Julian shuddered as the memory returned. The pain still clung to him like a shadow.
"Just give it to me."
Phatt rolled his eyes, stepped forward, and snatched a small pouch from somewhere in Keet's robe.
"Let's go."
He grabbed Julian by the arm and practically dragged him outside. Keet's curses followed them out the door.
The air changed the moment they stepped past the last tree line. The scent of fresh soil and blooming herbs was thicker here, almost intoxicating. The light filtering through the canopy took on a faint green hue, as if the leaves themselves were glowing.
Rows of plants stretched ahead, but none looked familiar. Some pulsed softly like they had heartbeats; others whispered when the wind brushed over them. A cluster of orange bulbs twisted slightly as Julian walked past, tracking his movement like curious eyes.
He felt the hairs on his neck rise.
"Don't stare too long," Phatt muttered. "Some of them don't like it."
*****
A few minutes later, they stood before rows of what looked like blue celery.
Phatt crouched beside one of the plants, inspecting it closely.
"This is called tilla. They can be used raw to treat minor wounds and pain, but they're mostly processed into healing pills. Here, try one."
He plucked a leaf and handed it to Julian. The leaf was cold in his mouth at first, but a warm sensation quickly swept through his body. He leaned back slightly, letting the warmth settle.
All his worries melted for a moment.
"Wow," Julian said, surprised. "That felt amazing. And it tastes good too."
Phatt chuckled and popped a leaf into his own mouth.
"This is nothing. The ones deeper in the garden are even better. Though some can be dangerous."
He glanced around before leaning closer.
"But don't let Keet know that we ate this. He'll throw a fit."
Julian raised an eyebrow at him, considering if he should ask someone else to show him around.
Phatt grinned and handed Julian the pouch he'd taken from Keet earlier.
"Now open it. Let's see what you've got."
Inside the pouch were four walnut sized crystals—two dark red, one green, and one pure white. The colored ones were smooth and round while the white one was rough.
Julian turned them over in his hands. The red ones were warm, the green cold, but the white one felt ordinary, just like quartz.
"These are mana crystals," Phatt explained.
"The red and green ones come from beasts, so we also call them beast cores. The white one comes from a natural mana vein and is more valuable. You'll get only one white crystal monthly from next month."
"What do I do with them?"
"You absorb them. The white one contains pure mana—you can use it for a long time. The colored ones are weaker, but help you attune to elements. Red is fire. Green is air. Go ahead, hold the white one and try focusing on it."
Julian held the white crystal and focused. A faint, tingling sensation crept up his arm, like ants beneath the skin. It wasn't strong, but it was real.
As he concentrated, a strange shimmer appeared in front of him.
System activated.
Mana Detected.
User: Julian Cross
Core: Compressing
Talents: Mana sight, Mana Tongue
Julian's heart raced. The interface was simple—barebones compared to the stories he'd read back on Earth—but it was real.
He had a system.
How? Is this how things worked here? But Phatt didn't say anything about this.
"Julian?"
The screen blinked out.
Phatt was waving a hand in front of his face, frowning.
"Are you still tired from yesterday? We can do this later if you want."
So he can't see my system.
"I'm fine," Julian said quickly, steadying himself. He tucked the crystals back into the pouch and followed Phatt deeper into the garden.
As they walked, he experimented with the system, mentally summoning the screen again. It returned at will, hovering faintly in his vision until he dismissed it.
Eventually, they reached a shed where sacks of tilla leaves were stored. A woman with her hair tied in a neat bun was sorting them.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
"Phatt, is he the one joining us?"
Before Phatt could reply, Julian stepped forward, still in a buoyant mood.
"Good morning. I'm Julian."
"Well, aren't you polite?" she said with a warm smile.
"You can call me Madlyn."
Phatt nudged Julian with his elbow.
"You'll help Madlyn with sorting today. It's just the five of us working here—Keet, Madlyn, me, and now you."
He turned to leave. "I've got work to do, so I'll show you more of the garden later."
"Madlyn, take good care of him!" he called back, already walking away. "Julian, I'll pick you up later!"
"Okay," Julian replied, giving him a small wave.
Madlyn then showed him how to sort the leaves by both texture and color. It wasn't complicated, but it took care and focus.
As he worked, Julian found himself smiling.
Despite everything—despite the confusion, the pain, and the strange new world, he felt... good.
Maybe, just maybe, this new life wouldn't be so bad after all.