The forest was silent again, but my body still hummed with the tension from the fight. The rodent's body lay motionless, the final traces of life long gone. Despite the victory, I couldn't shake off the nagging sense of vulnerability. That battle had been far too close. If it weren't for Shadow's agility and our makeshift traps, I wasn't sure we would've made it.
As I made my way back to the hut, I thought about the injuries Shadow had sustained. His grazed wing still haunted my thoughts, even though I had treated it with the herbs I carried. He was resting in my spiritual space now, safe but wounded. He needed time to heal, and we needed to be more prepared next time.
I pushed the door open and slipped into the small, dimly lit room. The familiar scent of dried herbs filled the air, comforting but inadequate. I sat on the rough wooden floor, pulling out the pouch of herbs I'd gathered earlier. My fingers worked on autopilot, applying a basic salve to my own minor wounds. Nothing serious, just a few scratches, but every injury was a reminder of how fragile I still was in this world.
The adrenaline from the battle slowly ebbed, replaced by a heavy weariness. I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, my mind wandering to the fight and what we had gained. The Moonlit Flower. That delicate, glowing bloom now sat carefully wrapped in cloth, resting in my pack. It would be the key to Shadow's breakthrough once he recovered, but it also served as a stark reminder of how dangerous this world was.
"Too close," I muttered to myself, running my fingers through my hair. "We were too close to failing."
A soft chirp echoed in my mind, the only sound I could hear from Shadow within my spiritual space. He was weak but alive, and that was enough for now.
I sighed, standing up and walking over to my pack. I pulled the flower out, its silver petals still glowing faintly under the soft light of the hut. Carefully, I focused my energy and activated my system's appraisal feature.
[Appraisal: Moonlit Flower, Rank: Uncommon (Mid)]
[Appearance: Silvery petals that glow faintly under the moonlight. The flower only blooms during a full moon and holds spiritual energy capable of helping beasts or cultivators break through low-level bottlenecks.]
[Effects: Can be used as a key ingredient in elixirs that boost spiritual energy, aiding in breakthroughs. Effective for Iron and Silver-ranked beasts. Loses potency quickly once picked, should be used within a few days.]
I let out a slow breath as I read the description again. We had a limited time to use it before it lost its potency. My earlier plan was to have Shadow break through after he recovered, but the window was tight. He wouldn't be ready in time.
My mind shifted to the idea of refining the flower into an elixir. It would extend its shelf life, and the boost in energy might be even more effective. But I didn't have the knowledge or the tools for that kind of refinement. The herbs I had were basic, only enough to treat minor wounds and make simple remedies. To refine this flower properly, I would need better equipment and, more importantly, more knowledge.
That's when a faint memory surfaced in my mind—not my own, but one from the girl whose body I now inhabited. She had lived her entire short life here, alone in this hut, but there was one thing she knew, a rumor she had heard.
A village.
It wasn't far, maybe a day's walk. She had never been there herself, too scared to leave the safety of the forest clearing where the hut stood. But she had heard about it from passing travelers, spoken about in hushed tones—a village where skilled cultivators and herbalists lived. If I could find it, maybe I could learn more about the refining process. Maybe I could find better supplies, tools, and techniques to strengthen both myself and Shadow.
The idea took root quickly, and I found myself pacing the small hut, weighing the risks and rewards. I had never left this area since I'd woken up in this world, and the girl's memories were faint and incomplete. The path was unfamiliar, and the forest was dangerous, but what choice did I have?
I glanced at my pack, at the precious flower that could help Shadow break through.
"We can't stay like this," I muttered. "If I don't do something, we'll never get stronger."
I made up my mind. Tomorrow, we'd head for the village. It was a risk, but it was one worth taking. We couldn't afford to stay stagnant any longer. I didn't know what kind of dangers awaited on the road, but I had to believe that it would be worth it.
I crouched down beside my pack, preparing a few more essentials—food, water, and the herbs I had left. I was no stranger to scavenging, and if the trip took longer than expected, I could always forage along the way.
As I worked, the system's interface flickered in my vision.
[New Mission: Journey to the Village]
[Objective: Reach the nearby village and seek out skilled cultivators or herbalists for knowledge on refining spiritual plants.]
[Reward: 1 Gacha Draw, Information on Spiritual Refinement]
I stared at the mission for a moment, feeling the weight of the decision sink in. There was no going back now. I had to keep moving forward, for Shadow, for myself, for the future I wanted in this world.
When the pack was finally ready, I stood up, stretching my sore muscles. Outside, the moon had dipped lower, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The air was still, the danger of the previous battle long gone, but the forest never truly felt safe.
My gaze shifted toward the horizon, where the path to the village would begin. I didn't know what I'd find there, but I had no choice but to trust the faint memories I had inherited. It was time to leave this small patch of forest behind and face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Tomorrow," I whispered, "we'll set off. For both of us."
With that, I lay down on the rough bedding in the corner of the hut, my mind buzzing with anticipation. The moonlight still filtered through the cracks in the roof, casting soft light over the small space. I closed my eyes, letting sleep take me.