"Do you have a name?"
The sound of the crackling fireplace and the howling wind outside, made a good combination. It reminded me of when I was a child, tucked warmly in my room, as a storm raged.
I have slept more than eight hours, but I still awoke to a sleeping planet. It appears that the night also, like the day, was longer than Earth's.
Nevertheless, I treated myself to a breakfast. I roasted the leeks in the fireplace, and they tasted better. While I discovered that melons can be crafted into melon shakes.
As I ate, I took the time to ask the bot some questions. It was seated on another chair, right in front of me on the table.
"How about Caesar?"
"What is this place, Caesar?" I wasted no time beating around the bush and blurted out the question that have been bugging me.
Medreth was highlighted as the only planet that rotated around Thyria. Its depiction as a red planet, was consistent with my observation, Medreth was almost dead.
"Is this a fictional world?"
Based on my earthly knowledge, Medreth should not exist, nor Meladar. Alien civilizations were yet to be found. It could be that I was in a game, and the boy was an npc, created for the sole purpose of being the shell.
"What?" the single word could not contain my surprise, but there's no other word that comes near. Two thousand and eighteen, that was the year when I last looked at the calendar.
"Interstellar travel, you say." In my disbelief, I scoffed at the statement. "Who brought me here then, in this body, in this world? Was it you?"
I have abandoned breakfast and have shifted all of my attention to the conversation.
Caesar replied in the same monotonous voice.
"That is not an answer. How can I be sure, I'm not laying in a bed somewhere while someone's playing with my brain?" I retorted.
Caesar did not answer and instead left his seat. I thought he was storming off, perhaps overheating with my relentless questions.
Caesar led me outside, and we were greeted by the darkness and the cold. In the distance, distorted howling sounds could be heard and, with the chilling breeze, sent shivers down my spine.
"What do you want to show me? Are you trying to scare me?"
My brows pursed, confused as to what he was talking about. But the confusion would disappear, the moment I looked above.
It was then that I first saw, the night sky that covered Medreth. Millions of stars dotted the pitch-black canvas, painting it with different shades, some white, some blue, some red, and some green and all stunningly beautiful in their stations. Never have I seen such number or beauty, even in Earth's clearest night.
I can't help but agree with the bot. The strongest of game engines or the most funded studios could not possibly create such realistic graphics. The depth, the brightness, the seamlisness, it was something beyond machines could do.
[Bonefire
Crafting Materials:
Bone x4 + Rock x2 = Bonefire x1]
[Craft]
[Bonefire x1 Crafted]
[Acquired 10xp]
Enchanted, I wanted to see more and started a fire by the cliff. There, my hands propping up my back, and my eyes on the pearls above, I freed my mind from the thoughts of doubt and uncertainty. It was replaced by ambitious dreams.
"Is there a way to leave this planet?"
"I will build that." I said to myself. "No matter what it takes."
Before long, the first of Thyria's rays appeared, charging the darkness to flee. My second day in Medreth began, and I chose to start it with an early morning shooting practice.
I pulled out the Ghrut-50 rifle, several bullets that were oddly warm, and laid on my belly. My scopes at the same target yesterday.
Bam!
The sound of the bullet hitting the can, was music to the ears. A hole was punctured at the bottom right, not a bullseye, but it was the first time I have ever touched the barrel.
Heart wildly beating, I pulled the hammer back, then the breech block, and inserted a bullet. After reloading, I aimed again, while observing the wind.
Bam!
Another hit, and this time nearer to the middle of the barrel. I was overjoyed, having seemingly deciphered the wind.
Bam!
The bullet punctured the barrel just above what would be the dead center, and caused it to get knocked down backwards. And it was good enough for me. The real-life targets were big targets, after all, and missing by a few inches wouldn't be much of a deal and I could always improve.
With the target down, I stopped at three bullets. I plan to place the barrel right back up and maybe continue the shooting practice later in the afternoon.
"Any suggestions on what to do today, Caesar?" I jovially asked the bot as I dusted off my clothing.
the bot readily answered.
"Advanced Tutorial Tasks it is then."