Several more days had passed since Rey Avalon had woken up in the Brownbeard clan of dwarves.
In these few days, he did nothing but focus on recovering back to full health, with the help of Uncas and his father of course.
Rey made remarkable progress, thanks to Uncas' father's magic that he received every single day and also partly owed to the special soup that Uncas made and brought for him three times a day.
At first, he did not like the soup because it was better but how it remarkably changed from bitter to delectable after a few seconds in his mouth left him marvelled.
The soup grew on Rey and became more comfortable eating it.
He was gradually recovering well over the days because of the level of care he received from these strangers he didn't even know.
Apart from focusing on his recovery, there was another thing that occupied Rey's mind during this period — the Cultivation System.
The system was awakened as soon as he became conscious and at that time, he had absolutely no idea what it was and what it could do.
The only familiar thing he recognised were the words, 'Drop of Life'.
It was something his father, Eragon had told him about during the day their village was invaded by a force of human knights led by Lancelot.
Rey knew that the vial he had consumed just before he was riddled by arrows was a magical tonic, one that Eragon told him not to consume unless it was absolutely necessary.
He owed the awakening of this system to the fact that he had drank from the vial and gained a second chance at life.
That was the only way everything right now made sense.
Rey knew that he would sooner than later have to learn about this strange ability of his, but for now, he had to rest and regain his strength.
He had gone through so much emotionally, mentally and physically in the past weeks.
His heart was heavy and grieving, filled with so much sorrow that gnawed at his mind and whitened his hair from the immense emotional stress he was put under.
Every day that came and passed was filled with the same routine — the same thoughts, Uncas visiting him three times a day for his meals and the former's father healing him with his magic.
He was used to this routine and at the same time becoming impatient with it.
However, the young half-elf was still very much grateful to the father and son duo as well as their clan in general.
He didn't know them, neither did they know him.
That meant they owed him no loyalty, much less going the extra mile to save his life when they did.
As Rey lay on the bed, hands clasped over his belly as he contemplated like he usually did every day, a knock came.
He merely turned, giving a knowing look at the door.
Rey could already tell who it was.
The door opened as Uncas entered carrying his lunch with him.
It was the soup as usual, steaming and enticing to look at.
Rey couldn't help but manage to smile as he watched the dwarf approach him.
Uncas had come at the right time because Rey was already famished.
The elf believed this to be a good thing because he noticed that the better he recovered, the hungrier he became. Along with this, his appetite was also increasing.
"I brought your lunch, Rey," Uncas announced, placing the dish on the wooden stool beside Rey's bed before turning to leave.
"Thank you… Uncas."
Uncas nodded his head, a wide grin spreading on his face.
As the dwarf departed his room, Rey sat up and began to eat the soup, ravaging the soup so fast that his tongue had no time to register the initial bitter taste it offered.
In a couple of minutes, he completely devoured the whole bowl, not minding that it was hot.
Eating quickly was a habit of his, something he was all too familiar with, thanks to growing up as a farm boy back in his thorp.
Rey would, most of the time, rush through meals when he was going for some farm work with his father back then.
After doing so over time, it became a part of him. Even when he was not rushing to head out, he found himself still eating very fast and in large quantities.
Rey made his way with the first bowl and then the second and the third. When he finished the third bowl of soup, he exhaled with satisfaction and rubbed his swollen belly, chuckling.
After a while, the young elf lazily laid back on his bed and breathed out as if relieving himself of a burden.
He examined his body and shook his head with disappointment as he noticed how fat he was getting.
'I need to make a full recovery soon,' he brooded, the thoughts of getting back into his envied and admirable shape filling his mind.
Pat-! Pat-!
He patted his tummy a few more taps. If only that would push back the fat in his belly, then Rey would be doing it every second of the day.
'Status.'
Following the mental command, his Cultivation System responded, pulling up the radiant green frame that floated in front of his eyes.
——––
Name: Rey Avalon
Race: Half-elf, Half-fairy
Divinity: [Fairy Goddess] [Elven Goddess]
Mana: 50/50
Health: 35/50
Class: None
—––
Skills: None
—––
Strength: 7
Agility: 7
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 10
Dexterity: 10
——––
Rey was happy as he looked at his character assessment profile. There was improvement but it was not yet perfect as he wanted it.
'A couple of more days and I will fully be back to optimal health,' he contemplated before his eyes glossed over his stats.
Looking at how low his agility and strength were compared to the others, he knew it was because he had been bedridden and it was something that he could build back up once he was back to his feet.
It was only a matter of time.
'Just a little longer…'