Crackle.
The fire crackled with a bright, burning brilliance, its warmth a welcome relief from the biting cold. I sat close, leaning into the heat, finally allowing myself to relax. Starting this fire had been no small feat, and despite all my prior thoughts of confidence, the process had felt like an insurmountable hurdle.
With the knowledge I had from Earth, I thought I could manage a simple fire. I'd read about unconventional methods, like using stones to create sparks. But when it really came down to it, I was losing my mind.
I had tried so many times that my entire arm ached, yet there was still no sign of even a single ember. Frustration mounted until I could barely think straight.
But thankfully, it worked—eventually. If it hadn't, the cold might have killed me.
I exhaled deeply, the weight of relief washing over me.
"Haah..." I smiled, basking in the fire's warmth.
Crackle.
The fire spat out tiny sparks as I tossed in more sticks. "This should do it," I murmured, turning my attention to the makeshift spit hanging over the flames.
The tantalizing aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, making my stomach growl. The meat sizzled, its juices dripping onto the flames. My mouth watered.
But then reality hit me.
How was I even supposed to eat this?
I glanced around awkwardly. No plates, no spoons, and definitely no time to make any.
I sighed. "Whatever."
Grabbing one of the roasted limbs, I pulled out a small dagger from my spatial ring. The ring had an embedded mana function, which was the only reason I had been so desperate to find it earlier. If I remembered right, it was a birthday gift from Christiana when I turned eleven.
Shink.
The dagger sliced smoothly through the meat. I stabbed a piece with the blade and brought it to my mouth. The second I took a bite, I froze.
"Damn!" I blurted out, wide-eyed.
This meat…
…was not meat.
HOW COULD MEAT TASTE THIS GOOD?!
[Um...]
The voice returned, interrupting my thoughts. I frowned.
"So, you finally decided to talk," I muttered, taking another bite before reaching for another slice of the meat.
[There's something I forgot to mention earlier,] the voice said, its tone annoyingly matter-of-fact.
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? What now?"
[It's about the point system. You can increase your stats with Life Points (LP).]
"What?" I nearly choked.
[Yes. You can improve your stats by sacrificing LP.]
I stared at the fire, unamused. "So, in other words, I can trade my life for power?"
[...Well, yeah, that's one way to put it.]
"JUST FUCK OFF... I AM NOT IN THE MOOD," I said.
[You do realize you're eating in the middle of a forest teeming with mana beasts, right?]
I paused, my chewing slowing as I recalled a nagging thought I'd dismissed earlier while making the fire. "...I do," I admitted reluctantly.
But as I said before—I regret nothing.
[Sigh. Whatever.]
And then I heard it.
A sound.
I froze, my senses on high alert. My hand instinctively tightened around the dagger—my sorry excuse for a defensive weapon.
"Did you hear that?" I whispered.
[The rustle?]
"Yeah," I muttered, scanning the dark forest around me as my heart pounded.
Rustle.
The sound came again, louder this time. Closer.
FUCK.
I couldn't tell where it was coming from. It felt like it was everywhere at once, surrounding me. I stood, dagger raised, unsure which direction to face.
"Show yourself! Whoever you are!" I shouted, my voice trembling slightly. I prayed it was someone—anyone—and not a mana beast.
And then I saw it.
A silhouette.
"Can I… have some?" a voice asked.
I spun around, my dagger raised, and my breath caught in my throat.
It was a girl—or something that looked like one.
"WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU?!" I demanded, fear gripping me.
How the fuck—
No. What the fuck is a human girl doing here?!
Humans shouldn't be outside the gates. This was impossible.
Which meant only one thing.
This girl…
…was no girl.
"I…? I am… Liliana," she said, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
I froze.
"Um… can I eat now?" she asked, her gaze shifting to the roasted meat.
I stared at her, stunned into silence.
Liliana.
You've got to be kidding me.