"Status," I whispered to myself, hidden in the shade of my parent's wooden hut. I glanced around to check that no one was watching. Left. Right. Behind me.
For now, I had to ensure my secret remained a secret. Over the course of my childhood, I had discovered that others could not hear, nor see the system. I couldn't risk abandonment when people discovered I was different.
A familiar chime resonated in my mind as a translucent light blue screen materialized in front of me.
My heart raced as I beheld the information that appeared. It was a glimpse into the core of my being, the essence of who I was. Lines of text formed and coalesced, forging a connection between the hidden truths of my existence and the tangible words that unfurled:
==============================
Name: Alex, Son of Gerald
Age: 2 years old
== Overall Stats ==
Strength: 4 (+3)
Agility: 3 (+2)
Stamina: 1
Mana: 1
Charisma: 5
== Traits ==
Infant, [■■■■■]
== Skills ==
[N/A]
==============================
As the words floated before me, I mulled over the numbers shown to me. I couldn't tell if they were high or low for my age, as I had not yet interacted with other children of my age. I was weaker than my mother, but that was normal, wasn't it? I was only two after all, hence the <
And, what was [■■■■■]? What did it mean? Did it have something to do with my rebirth? I couldn't shake an uncanny feeling that there was so much more than I had thought hidden beneath my existence here on Wardenas. Perhaps this had something to do with it. After all, something was off. But, with a tired sigh, I acknowledged to myself that I would be unable to answer this question as well. All I could do was add it to my growing list of mysteries I had to explore.
With a final, lingering gaze at the light blue screen, I blinked and the words faded, dissolving into the air like mist scattered by the wind. The chime that had heralded the appearance of the screen echoed in my mind, leaving behind a sense of possibility and a myriad of questions that begged to be answered.
....
By the tender age of four, my curiosity about the village had grown insatiable. I approached the village elders with wide-eyed wonder, pestering them for morsels of wisdom about our enigmatic village, Havenwood.
"Can you tell me more about our village? And what's beyond it?" I asked, my voice a mixture of innocence and eagerness.
One elder, their lined face creased in a knowing smile, bent down and ruffled my hair affectionately. "Ah, young one, Havenwood is a place of secrets and wonders," he smiled, leaving me hanging.
I sighed in frustration. What kind of answer was that?
"Now go play with kids your age. What are you doing here, with us? Make the most of your youth Alex!" the elder exclaimed as he gestured for me to join the other children, who were engrossed in a spirited game of tag.
Joining them, laughter filled the air like the tinkling notes of a hidden stream. Still, I couldn't shake a sense of isolation. I was an adult, not a child. I had faced countless hardships on Earth and survived; there was a knowledge gap separating me from my peers.
During a brief respite in the game, I couldn't help but muse aloud, "You know, I wish we could explore more of the world outside Havenwood. To discover what's beyond."
One of the other children, her eyes filled with innocence and joy, replied, "But Havenwood is our world, silly! Why would you want to leave?"
Ah, see? This was the divide I grappled with. I felt like an outsider in their world of games and giggles. Yes, they welcomed me warmly, but their aspirations were different - they were content within the safe confines of our village.
And so, I would frequently return to the elders, pestering them for answers. However, no one seemed to have me. And worse, they treated me like a child.
....which I suppose I technically am.
Damn it.
Worst of all, the forest is dangerous - it has wolves, foxes, and all manners of beasts. Additionally, Havenwood has been isolated for centuries; no one knows anything about the outside world.
As such, for now, I've postponed exploring beyond the village.
Just my luck.
....
One day, as I watched the children playing by the village pond, a girl of my age caught my eye. Her dark hair framed a dimpled face that radiated curiosity. She was by herself, engrossed in building a small boat from leaves and twigs, her concentration evident in the small furrow etched upon her brow.
I approached cautiously; curiosity piqued. I had not seen this girl before. "What are you making?"
Startled, she looked up, her blue-green eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, hi! I'm making a boat. See? It's going to sail all the way to the other side of the pond!"
I nodded, then paused. Why was I talking to this kid? "Good luck."
As I turned to leave, she flashed a shy, dimpled smile. "Thanks! I'm Lily. What's your name?"
"Alex," I replied with a smile of my own.
"Alex," she muttered to herself. "What a boring name," she exclaimed to me as she reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards her grass boat, which had already begun sinking.
And thus, somehow, I had made my first real friend. A friend who, like me, was enchanted by this otherworldly world and its intricate beauty.
….
From that instant onward, a connection unfurled between us. We were an inseparable pair, getting into all sorts of trouble together.
We would often spend the entire day exploring and satiating our curiosity. I smiled as I remembered one of my first adventures with Lily; we had stumbled upon a plant with vibrant red leaves and small, bell-shaped flowers. Lily crouched down, her fingers tracing the delicate purple petals as a frown of concentration appeared on her face.
"Why are these leaves red, Alex?" she asked, fixated on the plant.
I admitted my lack of knowledge with a shrug. "I'm not sure. Maybe it's just how they grow?"
Unsatisfied, Lily sat back on her heels, lost in thought. Then, she turned to me, unsatisfied with my halfhearted answer. "I've seen red leaves in books in the village. I'm going to go see if they have an answer. No one ever gives me answers in this village" she huffed as she strode back to the village.
Her words surprised me, I would've never pursued my curiosity this doggedly on Earth. What an interesting girl.
I sighed to myself; she wouldn't find any answers in the village. After all, the few books they had held no information of interest to either of us; I had searched them.
But, I digress.
As we were returning that evening, Lily asked me about stars – those twinkling diamonds in the night sky. I caught myself wanting to tell her about the vastness of the universe, about galaxies and constellations. About explosions and creation. But instead, I found myself telling her a tale of dreams and wishes, of angels and demons. A story that made her eyes light up with wonder.
Lily often asked me such questions.
....
As we continued exploring the space around our village, Lily shone. She was in her natural element, becoming a part of our surroundings. She noticed patterns in creatures' behavior, predicting their movements. Once, encountering rabbits, she whispered to stay still. We watched as the rabbits hopped around, their mother leading them to clover. Lily explained the mother rabbit's survival lesson, learned from her own careful observations.
Her curiosity and wisdom drew others too, encouraged by the fresh wonder and joy she found and brough to the world. It was impossible not to be captivated. I watched over her as we explored the woods, but, in the village, she often was bullied for her adventurous spirit. I did what I could to make sure she felt safe and heard, but I could visibly see her wither sometimes.
Every day was an adventure with her; I could no longer imagine beginning my day without her messy, dark-auburn hair and her exuberant personality.
She truly fueled the child within me, making my each and every day more interesting.
....
As Lily's fourth birthday approached, a shadow of concern grew from the depths of my mind. I could see that the gap between us was wide, our experiences and knowledge vastly differed. It was sometimes difficult to relate to her world and I worried that I might unintentionally hurt her with my attempts to bridge the gap between our experiences. That I might quench the mischievous gleam in her eyes, losing something truly precious.
On the day of her birthday celebration, the village square was adorned with colorful decorations. The air buzzed with excitement as villagers gathered to celebrate Lily's special day. Lily's laughter pealed through the air, cutting me.
As I was absentmindedly gazing at her, she blew out the candles on her cake and locked eyes with me joyfully. I briefly returned a smile and then looked away - when I turned back, her eyes were shining with something. Maybe it was pain. Or longing. But, she was four. What did she know about these topics? I was imagining it.
Amid the festivities, I continued to quietly watch Lily from a distance, my heart heavy with uncertainty. Would our friendship withstand the changes that were sure to come? Could I continue to protect her while keeping our connection intact?
As the day drew to a close and the villagers began to disperse, Lily approached me with a careful expression. "Alex, promise me something?"
I nodded, eager to hear her request.
"Promise me you'll always be my friend," she said earnestly, with youthful innocence. "No matter what happens, no matter how things change."
Slightly touched by her simple words, I smiled wryly. "Lily, I promise to always be there for you."
Her smile lit up the twilight, and we walked home together, hand in hand. At least for a moment, I knew that our bond was stronger than any obstacles that might arise. Our friendship was a delicate thread, woven through the fabric of time, and it was a tapestry I was determined to protect – even if it meant dying once again.