Liria was sound asleep, enjoying the blissful nothingness of unconsciousness, when a raspy voice pierced through her dream of a warm, fluffy bed back on Earth.
"Up! Up with you, lass!" Daena's voice was as unyielding as a mountain. "Unless you fancy breakfast in bed for the rest of your life, which I assure you, you won't get here!"
Liria groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. "Just five more minutes…"
But Daena was not a woman to bargain. In one swift motion, she yanked the blanket away and gave Liria a firm nudge. "Five more minutes, my left boot. Breakfast's getting cold!"
Liria rubbed her eyes, scowling. "Fine, I'm up, I'm up! No need to attack me, you tyrant."
Daena snorted, looking entirely unoffended by the title. "Hmph. Tyrant, am I? Well, this tyrant is cooking for you, so I'd mind my tone if I were you."
Great, Liria thought, shuffling to the table like a half-dead zombie. The breakfast spread was actually enticing: a bowl of porridge topped with wild berries and what looked like slices of toasted bread with a bit of honey.
As Liria ate, Daena sipped her tea and eyed her over the rim of her mug. "After breakfast, we're heading out for a walk."
"A walk?" Liria muttered through a mouthful of bread.
Daena nodded. "Yes, a walk. No better way to learn the lay of the land. You may have lost your family, but that doesn't mean you should forget how to survive. Best start learning your surroundings, don't you think?"
Right… survival, Liria thought, gulping down a mouthful of porridge. She supposed that made sense. After all, her knowledge of this world was limited to scraps from the novel she'd read, and even that was mostly about the kingdom's higher society. She barely knew anything about the land outside the grand palaces.
With breakfast finished, Daena handed her a sturdy stick. "Here. Just in case we run into anything… lively."
Liria looked at the stick, trying not to laugh. This is supposed to be a weapon? But Daena was already heading out the door, so she hurried to follow, the "weapon" slung over her shoulder.
They seemed to be in a thick forest, the kind that was half magical, half ominous. Birds chirped overhead, and a soft rustle from the bushes added an undercurrent of liveliness to the serene setting.
"So, where exactly are we?" Liria asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Daena didn't even pause. "We're in the northern part of Eryndale, far from the royal muck and much safer for it, I say. It's mostly farmers, woodcutters, and people who don't have much interest in the fancy titles or court politics. Though every so often, we'll get a knight out here trying to look 'adventurous' for his sweet noble lady. Just makes them more of a target for bandits, if you ask me."
Liria laughed. "Yeah, sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale."
Daena gave her a sideways glance. "You're lucky to be out here, honestly. Away from the noise of the kingdom. The King and his advisors seem to think diplomacy is just an excuse to insult other nations in the most formal way possible. Meanwhile, the real folk just want to be left in peace."
Liria nodded, filing away the information. Kingdom of Eryndale, full of knights and scholars, but apparently not the best diplomats.
The path wound through the forest, and soon Daena slowed, glancing around. "All right. Now, listen up, lass. We're going to do a bit of training." She pointed ahead, where something small and fluffy was moving in the bushes. "There do you see it?"
Liria squinted. At first, she thought it was just a bush rustling, but then she spotted a twitching pair of ears. It was a rabbit, nibbling on some grass, blissfully unaware of their presence.
Daena grinned, her teeth flashing. "That, my dear girl, is our lunch. If you can catch it."
Liria's eyes went wide. "You… you want me to catch that? With a stick?"
Daena's grin only widened. "Think of it as practice. Besides, it's not as simple as whacking the thing. You'll have to be fast, precise. And if you fail, we'll be having root stew for lunch, which is decidedly less tasty."
As Liria crept closer to the rabbit, her System kicked in, bringing up a panel with information.
Rabbit
Level: 1
Health: 10/10
Attributes:
Strength: 2
Agility: 8
Endurance: 3
Skills: None
Liria's eyes lit up with excitement. So this is what it's like to see an enemy's stats!
Then, another panel appeared with her own information:
Liria Silverthorn
Level: 1
Health: 20/20
Magic: 10/10
The rabbit wasn't strong, but it was fast. Liria took a deep breath, glancing back at Daena, who was watching with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly amused.
[New Mission: Catch the Rabbit! Objective: Successfully capture the rabbit using available resources. Reward: 5 experience points. Failure: Root stew for lunch.]
Root stew, here I come, Liria thought dryly. But she steadied herself and crept forward, stick raised, hoping for the best.
The rabbit noticed her just as she lunged, and it took off with lightning speed. She barely managed to swipe at it, missing by a good few inches.
"Come on, Liria, you can't let a rabbit outsmart you!" Daena called, grinning from the sidelines.
Gritting her teeth, Liria chased after it, her heart pounding. The rabbit zigzagged through the bushes, and every time she thought she had it cornered, it darted off again.
Finally, after what felt like ages, she managed to get close enough to take a swing with her stick. She brought it down with all her might and miraculously, it hit the rabbit square on the head, stunning it long enough for her to scoop it up.
"Gotcha!" she cried triumphantly, holding the rabbit aloft like a prized trophy.
[Mission Completed: Catch the Rabbit! Reward: 5 experience points.]
Liria felt a small rush of satisfaction as the System chimed in.
[New skill acquired: Swordsmanship (Level 1)]
Swordsmanship… with a stick? she thought, trying not to laugh.
Daena approached, clapping her on the back. "Well done, girl! You've got some fight in you, after all. Not bad for a beginner."
Liria couldn't help but grin, still catching her breath. "Thanks. I didn't think I'd actually pull it off."
Daena took the rabbit, giving it a quick once-over. "Now, remember: every hunt is a lesson. Whether it's a rabbit or something much bigger, never assume you've got the upper hand until it's over."
Liria nodded, and the System flashed another message.
[Experience needed for Level 2: 25]
She raised an eyebrow. I have to do this five more times to level up?
As they headed back to the cabin, Liria felt a sense of accomplishment. Sure, it was a rabbit, but it was her first real taste of combat in this world. She'd even earned a skill, though Swordsmanship (Level 1) seemed a bit grandiose for smacking rabbits with sticks.
As they reached the clearing, Daena glanced down at her. "You did well, Liria. There's more to you than I thought." Her face softened, and she ruffled Liria's hair with surprising tenderness. "Keep at it. You've got potential, lass."
Liria blushed, looking away. "Thanks, Daena."
In the back of her mind, she heard the System hum approvingly.
[Well done, Liria. Perhaps I underestimated you as well. We'll make a warrior of you yet.]
Liria rolled her eyes. I'm still getting used to holding a stick, let's not jump to conclusions here.
[Every journey starts with a single step. Or in your case, a single swipe at a very quick rabbit.]