Aflra squinted her eyes, gazing at the roaring flames, her heart filled with excitement. In her time, the most popular games were those that included magic and wizards, while warrior or knight games were less favored. Technology had made everyone capable of fighting beasts bare-handed, turning everyone into powerful warriors.
Therefore, in any Western fantasy game, almost everyone chose to become a mage. Magic, unlike technology, represented personal power, a power that was captivating and symbolized freedom.
Without needing any tools, Aflra could summon a ball of flame in just a few seconds. Compared to the rigid casting bars in games, she could feel the surge of magic within her—this feeling was incredible.
Gradually, the blood in the meat dried up, and the fat dripped, filling the air with a delicious aroma. Phoebe, drawn by the scent, came closer, her throat moving up and down. Aflra tore off a piece of meat, finding the muscle fibers clearly defined, indicating it was well-cooked. She placed the meat in her mouth, savoring her first experience eating real meat.
For someone who had only eaten nutrient bars, the texture and flavor were unprecedentedly delightful. She recalled an ancient record about a man named Bear Grylls who ate various meats and even insects. Back then, she had craved such experiences, but the law forbade eating animals, even a mosquito. Now, even without seasoning, the meat was incredibly satisfying.
Seeing Aflra enjoy the meal so much, Phoebe couldn't resist rubbing against her. Aflra tore off a large piece of meat and offered it to Phoebe, who devoured it greedily and even licked the grease off Aflra's fingers. This reminded Aflra of certain scenes in adult games, but she quickly dismissed those thoughts and continued to pet Phoebe.
After finishing the meal, Phoebe lay contentedly in Aflra's arms, purring with satisfaction. Aflra thought, having a pet was truly a joy, more interesting than playing games.
After a nap, Aflra undressed and waded into the lake for a bath. The natural air and water felt incredibly refreshing. After bathing, she put on her clothes, sat on a rock, and hummed a tune, letting the breeze dry her wet hair.
At that moment, there was a slight rustling in the bushes. A large, colorful tiger watched Aflra's beautiful silhouette, its heart stirring with desire. As a predator that preferred to attack from behind, how could it resist such an opportunity? Especially since this human had touched its butt.
The tiger charged out, its massive body bounding towards Aflra with great force. However, Aflra had already sensed the danger. Her face hardened, and she prepared the [Frost Jet].
As the tiger leaped, Aflra suddenly turned, letting out a sharp scream accompanied by a blast of icy wind. The sudden cold in the summer heat terrified the tiger, making its fur stand on end. It let out a shriek and fled with its tail between its legs.
Watching the tiger's panicked retreat, Aflra couldn't help but laugh, holding her stomach. The white powder on her face fell off, revealing her beautiful features.
After a good laugh, Aflra opened her system and found that she had captured something, recovering a bit of magic and gaining a new skill and some experience. After leveling up, she received an attribute point and chose to light up the [Meditation] proficiency.
[Meditation] would speed up magic recovery, restoring two points per hour, and long-term practice could increase the total magic capacity, up to five points.
Personal Attributes
Name: AflraLevel: 1 (1/2)Health: 10/10 (+1)Mana: 1/10 (+1, +2 in Meditation state)Talent: Lightning ReflexesProficiencies:Meditation (1/10)Quick Casting (1/5)Skills:Frost Jet (1/100): -1 mana per second, casting time 2 seconds, range 3 yards in a cone, weak attack, effect: freezeFlame Jet (1/100): -1 mana per second, casting time 2 seconds, range 3 yards in a cone, moderate attack, effect: burnShock (2/100): -5 mana, casting time 5 seconds, range 0, moderate attack, effect: paralyzeFear Spell (1/100): Use any method to frighten the enemy, capturing their fear and converting it into mana upon success
Aflra looked at her new skills with satisfaction, ready for the adventures ahead.
A small white rabbit perked up, ears alert as it scanned its surroundings. Satisfied that there was no immediate danger, it began to nibble on the grass. A gentle breeze caused the grass to ripple like waves. Suddenly, the rabbit felt a cold draft behind it and turned to see a giant, ghostly face emerging from a cloud of white mist, reaching out with sharp claws.
The rabbit's eyes rolled back, and it collapsed, stiff and lifeless. Aflra emerged from the mist, feeling a bit awkward. She had only intended to say hello to the cute little rabbit, not to scare it to death. She crouched down and poked the rabbit, finding it rigid with green liquid oozing from its mouth.
Poor little rabbit, its fear had literally killed it. No wonder her mana had recovered by two points—she had frightened it to death. Aflra mourned for a few seconds before picking up the rabbit by its ears and heading back to the campfire.
After a thorough search, Aflra found a salt-rich stone and managed to extract some salt. She decided to use it to season the roasted meat.
Phoebe, who had initially planned to stay away from Aflra, couldn't risk venturing into unfamiliar territory in the dense forest and returned to the campfire, drawn by the aroma of the roasting meat. Aflra's cooking skills were surprisingly good; her first attempt was decent, and her second even more aromatic.
As Phoebe was about to pounce, a low growl made her freeze. Turning around, she saw the large tiger, the forest's apex predator, eyeing her with a warning glare. Phoebe immediately cowered, tucking her tail between her legs.
The tiger, satisfied with Phoebe's submission, approached the campfire, circling it cautiously, wary of the flames. It decided to take a chance, extending a paw slowly toward the meat.
Phoebe's throat bobbed, drool dripping onto the ground. Suddenly, a wave of heat rushed in, and a fiery figure charged towards them, spreading flames rapidly. Phoebe yelped and leaped into the lake, followed by the startled tiger.
A shrill laugh echoed, and both the tiger and Phoebe resurfaced to see Aflra laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face. The flames around her faded as her mana support waned.
The tiger, humiliated and furious, glared at Phoebe, considering whether to silence the leopard. Phoebe, sensing the tiger's gaze, quickly ran to Aflra, feeling safer there. Despite Aflra's dangerous nature, she at least wouldn't kill her, unlike the unpredictable tiger.
The tiger gave a reluctant smile, clearly wary of Aflra. Though they hadn't fought, the tiger could sense her formidable presence. Aflra sat there, ungracefully tearing off a piece of roasted meat and savoring it, her eyes closing in enjoyment. The taste was mediocre, but after 25 years of nutrient bars, it was heavenly.
Phoebe hesitantly approached Aflra, licking her chin and looking at her with pleading eyes. Aflra, undeterred by Phoebe's wet fur, tore off a piece of meat and fed it to her. The tiger, seeing this, climbed out of the lake, shook off the water, and came to Aflra, giving her a haughty look before lying down on her other thigh, purring and casting a threatening glance at Phoebe. Phoebe, feeling wronged, moved to the side.
"Do you want some too, Kelly?" Aflra asked, smiling at the tiger, noticing the "king" mark on its forehead.
The tiger, not understanding "Kelly," simply stared at the meat in Aflra's hand.
As night fell, the full moon rose, and the sounds of insects and frogs filled the air. About ten kilometers from the lake, in front of a cave, Kelly turned and left without a second thought, showing no loyalty. Phoebe, trembling with fear, remained behind.
Aflra forgave the two "traitors" and entered the cave alone. In truth, it wasn't entirely their fault. While Kelly was strong, the creature in the cave was a being that surpassed ordinary beasts—the face-spider.