I stepped out into the yard and moved toward the water jars, splashing cool water over my face and neck to refresh myself before heading to the open kitchen area.
The kitchen sat beneath a thatched roof, its round clay chimney rising like a squat cylinder from the center, steadily releasing thin curls of smoke into the morning air.
My aunt, though already in her late thirties, appeared no older than her early twenties. She sat gracefully on a low wooden stool, slowly stirring the morning tea in a clay pot set atop a simple clay stove.
She carried the quiet beauty of a village woman—the kind of effortless loveliness that could brighten an entire day with a single glance.
On a hay mat to one side of the kitchen sat my potbellied, tanned uncle, a stark contrast to her grace. Strands of white already threaded through his dark hair, though he was not much older than my aunt. He looked far more like her unkempt father than her husband.
I paid it little mind.
My uncle glanced up at me with his usual stern expression and spoke in a gruff, clipped tone.
"What were you doing? Getting up this late? Don't you know we have to go fishing before the other villagers take everything?"
This was how he had always spoken to Kell. Now that I was Kell, I would have to endure the same treatment.
It didn't bother me. My old managers and bosses had done far worse than stern words—they had laced their speech with profanities—and I had tolerated it all for a paycheck. Here, in this new life, it was simply another Monday.
"Okay, okay, don't scold him the first thing in the morning. You are at fault here for tiring him until late night carrying those hay bundles. Of course he would sleep more."
My aunt's voice was gentle and sweet as she defended me. Though this was the first time I had truly seen her with my own eyes, Kell's memories painted her clearly as the kindest soul in his world—and now in mine.
She was older than me, both by my past life's measure and in this one, yet her beauty remained undeniable, and she had always taken my side. That was enough.
My uncle wasn't pleased. He grumbled under his breath, "Because of you he is becoming lazy."
My aunt turned sharp eyes on him. "What did you just say?"
He quickly quieted. "Nothing," he muttered, and returned to eating his breakfast.
I lowered myself onto the hay mat beside him, settling into a lotus position as my aunt served my meal—warm bread, sweet eggs, and steaming ginger tea.
I lifted the clay cup to my lips, took a slow sip, and let out a deep, involuntary sigh. The warm liquid seemed to lift a heavy burden from my shoulders. Looking at her, I said softly, "This is really delicious, Aunt."
My aunt raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving her lips. "Oh my, does something good happen to my Kell for praising his aunt like this, hmm?"
I chuckled. "No, it's just really amazing."
We continued talking as she slipped easily into gossip about the villagers. I nodded along, offering occasional replies, while my uncle remained mostly silent. Eventually he rose, brushing crumbs from his hands.
"Okay, come help me with the fishing sticks once you are done."
The moment the words left his mouth, the system—silent until now—flashed into view before my eyes.
[Bram Feldren desires the Host to help him with their fishing tools.]
[Fulfilling Difficulty: Rank-1 Low]
[Fulfilling Reward: 2 Desire Points]
I raised a brow at the notification, then quickly schooled my expression back to normal. I finished the last of my breakfast in a few swift bites and stood.
"Yes, I am coming."
With that, I rose from the mat and gave my aunt a small nod before turning to follow my uncle toward the tools room. I had taken only a few steps when I paused and glanced back at her. She was already gathering the empty dishes, stacking them quietly to wash later.
"Oh, Aunt, do you have anything you need? Like something we can get for you?"
She looked up, clearly surprised by the sudden question. After a moment, she shook her head. "No, we have everything at home."
I nodded and tried again. "Then what kind of fish do you desire to eat?"
My aunt met my gaze, then let out a soft laugh. "What is going on? You are acting weird today."
I forced a chuckle in return, though the sound came out more nervous than I intended. For a brief second I had forgotten I was not the real Kell, and that Kell would never have spoken like this. Still, I pressed gently. "Just tell me."
She considered for a moment, then answered with a wistful smile. "Well, it would be nice if you can catch a red belly catfish. I really wanted to eat them for quite some time now but wasn't able to find any in the village market."
The moment the words left her lips, the system chimed with another notification.
[Serene Feldren desires the Host to get her a Red Belly Catfish.]
[Fulfilling Difficulty: Rank-1 Medium]
[Fulfilling Reward: 10 Desire Points]
Seeing the reward, I couldn't help but raise a brow. I quickly smoothed my expression back into neutrality. The pattern was clear: higher reward came with increased difficulty. Yet it also sparked a quiet flicker of hope—enough points might one day be enough to keep this body alive.
The poison had already claimed Kell's life. Now the body was technically dead, sustained only by the system. To truly cure it would cost two hundred Desire Points. Otherwise, I would have to spend one point every twenty-four hours just to keep breathing.
It was, without question, a scam.
I turned back to my aunt with a warm smile. "I will try and see if I can catch one for my beautiful aunt."
The direct praise caught her off guard. A flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks as she waved me off. "Okay, now go. You are acting weird now, really."
Seeing her sudden shyness, I laughed softly and continued toward the tool room to help my uncle. Behind me, my aunt grumbled under her breath about being called beautiful and other such nonsense.
As I walked, I drew in a slow, steady breath and silently willed the system to spend one Desire Point to extend my lifespan. I had no intention of forgetting and slipping away without warning.
[1 Desire Point is deducted and used to increase Host's lifespan.]
[Current Desire Points: 9]
Watching the balance drop sent a quiet pang through my chest. But the discomfort lasted only a moment. It was swiftly replaced by a strange, refreshing energy that washed over me from the inside out—flowing through muscle and vein, leaving me noticeably more alert and invigorated than before.
I raised a brow, surprised by the pleasant surge.
"Well… that's not bad."
I hadn't expected such a perk. With a slightly quicker step, I entered the tool room where my uncle was already waiting, pulling out the fishing sticks—simple lengths of bamboo fashioned into basic rods, lacking any reel.
Well, let's see how it works.
I moved to help him untangle the fishing lines, quietly watching for the system's notification that would signal the completion of a fulfilled desire.
----
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