Zoe woke up in the cold morning, the dim light of the tavern room seeping in through the small window. The chill in the air hit her immediately, and she instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around her. As she shifted, she noticed Dust sleeping on the floor beside the bed, curled up and trying to make himself comfortable despite the hard ground. She sighed, seeing the uncomfortable position he was in.
*What the heck is he doing?* Zoe thought to herself. *Why did he sleep on the floor?*
For a moment, she debated waking him up, telling him to get in the bed where it was warm. But then, her face flushed. *What am I even thinking?*
She shook her head, letting go of the thoughts before they could spiral. Instead, she decided to just let him rest, at least for a little while longer. Zoe stood quietly, careful not to disturb him, and grabbed her blanket—*peřina*—before walking over to him. She draped it over his shoulders, covering him entirely.
*He's always so stubborn,* she thought with a soft smile, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. *Doesn't even know how to take care of himself...*
With one last glance at Dust, she quietly left the room, her stomach growling. The reality of the situation was settling in, but she was starting to adapt. Walking down the stairs of the tavern, the smell of freshly baked bread and the sizzling of food from the kitchen filled the air. It was just like any hotel or inn in the real world, except this was a game world, and she was still trying to process it all.
She felt a sense of normalcy that surprised her—like she had already begun to accept this strange new life she was living. Despite everything that had happened, she was here, and she had to make the best of it.
When she reached the counter, the same friendly tavern worker greeted her. "Good morning! What can I get you today?"
Zoe smiled back, grateful for the warm atmosphere. "I'll take some eggs, bread, and stew if you've got it."
"Coming right up," the tavern worker said, already getting to work.
While waiting, Zoe took a moment to look around. The room was filled with adventurers—some sitting at tables, chatting about quests and strategies, others grabbing food or getting ready to leave. The tavern was bustling, and for the first time, Zoe felt like she wasn't so out of place.
When her meal was ready, she took it back upstairs to the room, where Dust was still asleep on the floor. The sight of him there made her heart ache a little. He looked so peaceful, but she knew he had spent the entire night watching over her.
She set the food down on the small table by the window, the aroma of the stew and freshly baked bread filling the room. It smelled real—too real—and it made her think, once again, about just how immersive this game was.
Dust shifted on the floor, waking up as the smell of food hit him. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her, still groggy from sleep. "Morning…" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "Didn't realize I fell asleep down here…"
Zoe smiled softly but didn't say anything. She could tell he was trying to act like it wasn't a big deal, but she could see he was uncomfortable. She sat down beside him and handed him a plate.
"You didn't need to sleep on the floor," she said gently. "You could've just gotten in bed."
Dust shrugged, not meeting her eyes. "I didn't want to crowd you," he said, though the way he said it seemed more like an excuse than the truth.
Zoe sighed, half-exasperated, half-amused. "You're ridiculous, Dust," she muttered. But the smile on her face was warm as she handed him the food.
"Thanks," he said, finally sitting up and beginning to eat. The tension between them eased, and for a moment, everything felt almost normal. The quiet warmth of the tavern, the simple meal—they were just two people trying to survive in this strange new world.
As they ate, Zoe's mind wandered to the day ahead. They had their first real quest to tackle—a wolf hunt. She still wasn't sure how she was supposed to handle anything in this game, but Dust seemed confident. He had been around long enough to know what to do, and that gave her some reassurance.
"So, about today…" Dust began, breaking the silence. "We've got the wolf hunting quest. Any idea how we're going to handle it?"
Zoe hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I mean… I've never fought anything before," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "But I guess we don't really have a choice, do we?"
Dust looked at her, his eyes soft but serious. "We'll figure it out together. I'm not letting anything happen to you, Zoe. Not in this world, and not in the real one."
Her heart fluttered at his words, and she smiled, feeling a bit more sure of herself. The fear she had been carrying around since logging in started to lift, and she realized that with Dust by her side, maybe they could handle whatever came their way.
The two of them finished their meal in companionable silence, the weight of the upcoming quest hanging over them, but for now, they had each other. And for Zoe, that was enough.
They would face the challenges ahead together.
After finishing their breakfast, Dust leaned back in his chair and glanced over at Zoe, who was still nibbling on her food. He was thinking ahead, mentally preparing for the quest they would take on soon.
"Alright," he said, suddenly standing up and stretching. "If we're going to be ready for this hunt, we should get some training in. You know, working out and stuff—helps with the stats here. How about some yoga?"
Zoe blinked at him, her fork pausing mid-air. "Yoga?" she repeated, slightly confused. "Like... what do you mean?"
Dust grinned. "Yeah, yoga. It's pretty useful here, you know? Helps with flexibility, stamina, all that good stuff. Trust me. Just follow my lead, I'll show you."
He dropped to the floor and moved into a basic yoga pose, stretching his body in a way that looked far too natural for someone who didn't usually seem the yoga type. He held the pose, waiting for her to follow.
Zoe hesitated, glancing at him awkwardly. She wasn't sure if she could do this. But Dust had that confident, encouraging smile on his face, and there was a slight spark of determination in her chest. She was in this world now, and if yoga could help her, she'd try it.
Slowly, she set her plate down and got to her feet, trying to mimic his movements as best as she could. Her first attempt at the stretch was awkward, and she wobbled slightly, but Dust watched her patiently, a small smirk on his face.
"Not bad for a first try," Dust said, trying to keep the mood light. "Come on, a little more flexibility and you'll be a pro at this."
Zoe, still unsure but encouraged by his words, tried again, this time pushing herself a little more. She stretched her arms out and bent lower, feeling some of the tension in her body loosen up. It wasn't as graceful as Dust's movements, but she was getting there.
"You know," Dust continued, still in his pose, "I can't protect you in the real world, because I don't know you. But here? I can. And I will. It's the duty of a brother. To help you out. Even if you need yoga lessons."
Zoe gave him a sideways glance as she continued trying to match his movements, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Dust," she said quietly, her tone a bit more serious now. "I'm... glad you're here with me."
Dust caught her gaze for a moment, his grin softening. He knew she was still learning, still unsure of this world, but seeing her try, seeing her determination to keep up, made him feel like he was starting to fulfill his promise. To be her brother, in whatever way he could, in this strange, virtual world.
"Of course," Dust said, adjusting his position slightly. "Let's finish this yoga session, and then we'll go get our quest. The wolves won't know what hit them."
Zoe nodded, feeling a bit more relaxed, a bit more at ease with herself and the world around her.
As Zoe continued trying to keep up with Dust's yoga stretches, he couldn't help but watch her for a moment longer than he intended. The way she fumbled through each pose, her face a mixture of concentration and uncertainty, was somehow endearing. Her soft, almost bunny-like movements and innocent determination reminded him of something—someone small and fragile that needed protection.
He smirked to himself. *She's like a little rabbit. Cute, innocent... and definitely in need of someone to look after her.*
Dust adjusted his position one more time, pushing himself deeper into the stretch as he let his thoughts wander. He didn't know why he felt so strongly about protecting her. Maybe it was because she was so new to this world. Maybe because she had that spark of determination despite being so uncertain of herself. But whatever it was, it made him want to make sure she stayed safe.
She was his responsibility now. And he'd keep her safe.
Once they finished the yoga session, Dust stood and dusted himself off. "Alright, we're ready. Let's head over to get that quest," he said, motioning for Zoe to follow. "We'll get the wolves, maybe get you a better bow in the process."
Zoe gave him a smile, still a little shy but grateful. "Thanks, Dust. I'm ready."
They walked together to the quest board in the corner of the tavern. A woman behind the counter, an NPC by the looks of her, greeted them with a warm smile. "Looking for a quest?" she asked.
Dust stepped forward and nodded. "Yeah, we're here to take the quest to hunt wolves," he said confidently, though part of him was still a little unsure. He wasn't exactly the best fighter, but he'd manage.
The woman glanced at them both, then checked the quest board. "Ah, a hunting quest. You're looking to gather some meat for the city cooks, yes?" she asked, smiling in a way that suggested she was used to giving this particular quest.
"Yeah," Dust said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We'll just take a small batch of wolves. Maybe 14 or so. It shouldn't be too hard."
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with the number. "Fourteen?" She shook her head, and her smile turned a little more sly. "You'll need a lot more than that. The city needs more meat than just a handful of wolves. I'd say at least 50. Better yet, let's make it 100. The more you gather, the better the rewards, after all."
Dust blinked, momentarily taken aback. "A hundred? That's a lot of wolves. I mean—"
"Trust me, you'll be thanked in the end," the woman interrupted. "You might even get a special bonus for completing the quest with such a high number. Think of it as a challenge."
Dust glanced over at Zoe, who was standing a little behind him, still a little unsure of the whole situation. He felt an odd mix of pride and responsibility—pride that she was trusting him, and responsibility because she was new to all of this. He wanted to impress her, show that he could handle things in this world, that he could be the one to take on the tough challenges.
"Fine," Dust said after a moment, making up his mind. "We'll do 100. We'll show you we can handle it."
The quest giver nodded, clearly pleased with his decision. "Excellent. You'll find the wolves just beyond the forest. Be careful—there are more dangerous creatures in the area, and the wolves aren't the only threat."
Dust nodded, his resolve firm. As the woman handed him a small map to mark the wolf territory, he glanced at Zoe, who was looking at him with wide eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile.
"Alright, Zoe. Time to show these wolves we mean business."
Zoe gave him a hesitant smile, but there was a spark of excitement in her eyes now. "I guess... this is it then. I'll follow your lead."
With the quest in hand, they left the tavern and made their way toward the forest. Dust felt more determined than ever, not just because of the quest, but because of Zoe. She was counting on him, and he was ready to rise to the occasion.
As Dust and Zoe made their way toward the potion shop, the bustling city seemed to calm down a little. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the cobbled streets. The city was alive with people going about their day, but Dust kept his focus on what they needed.
Inside the small potion shop, shelves lined with colorful vials and strange ingredients filled the air with a herbal scent. Dust picked out a few basic healing potions and some antidotes, just in case they ran into anything dangerous out in the forest. Zoe, looking a little unsure, followed his lead, picking up a couple of potions herself.
"You sure we'll need all this?" she asked, looking at the small bottles in her hands.
Dust gave her a reassuring nod. "Better safe than sorry. We don't know what we'll run into out there, and we can't take any chances. Trust me, it's better to have too much than too little."
Zoe nodded, still looking a bit uncertain but trusting him. "Alright, I'll take them."
After paying the potion master, they made their way out of the city gates. The bustling life of the city behind them began to fade, replaced by the serene stillness of the forest. Dust took a deep breath, the fresh, earthy air filling his lungs.
"Let's stick to the plan," Dust said, adjusting his gear and preparing to lead the way. "We'll get those wolves, make it back, and be in and out of the forest in no time."
Zoe nodded, gripping her bow a little tighter. "I'm ready, Dust. Let's do this."
And with that, they began their journey into the forest, leaving the safety of the city behind. As they walked deeper into the woods, the quiet sounds of nature filled the air. They moved cautiously, always alert, knowing the real challenge was just ahead.