Back at the cabin, Daena wasted no time in preparing lunch. She expertly skinned and cleaned the rabbit, adding it to a pot of vegetables and herbs that she seemed to pull from nowhere. The smell filled the small space, warm and savory, and Liria's stomach rumbled in response.
As Daena bustled about, humming softly to herself, Liria's curiosity piqued. She had tried to understand this strange, tough-as-nails grandmother figure but knew next to nothing about her background. Something about Daena seemed otherworldly, like she wasn't just any ordinary, reclusive old woman living alone in the woods.
Hey, System, she thought, glancing sideways at Daena. Is there any way to check her stats?
[Attempting to display Daena's profile… Loading…]
Liria held her breath, staring at Daena from the corner of her eye. If the System could give her a glimpse into Daena's stats, maybe she could finally figure out how the woman could live all alone in the forest, scare off bandits, and still have time to cook rabbit stew without a hint of fear.
After a few seconds, a new panel appeared in her vision:
Name: Daena
Race: ???
Level: ???
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Skills: ???
Liria blinked, frowning. Wait, that's it?
[Profile data incomplete. Certain information is obscured.]
Obscured? Liria thought, raising an eyebrow. What does that mean?
[I am… not entirely sure,] the System replied hesitantly. [Typically, information about individuals within a certain range is accessible. For Daena, however, it appears I am unable to retrieve even basic attributes. This is… unprecedented.]
"Is something the matter, Liria?" Daena's voice jolted her from her thoughts. She looked up to find the old woman watching her with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, no! Just, uh… thinking about how good that stew smells!" Liria covered quickly, her cheeks heating up. Inside, her mind was whirling.
Daena shrugged, stirring the pot. "Aye, a good stew always clears the head."
That's not suspicious at all, Liria thought, eyeing the woman with renewed intrigue. The more time she spent with Daena, the more she felt like this "grandmother" was no ordinary villager. The fact that even her race was obscured made Liria's head spin. Could Daena be some sort of legendary warrior? Or maybe she was even part of an ancient species hiding among humans? Liria glanced at the System's panel again, feeling more curious than ever.
[Daena's background remains… elusive,] the System commented, as if reading her thoughts. [However, I will continue to monitor for any insights that may become available.]
Lunch was soon ready, and they sat at the table to eat. Liria's suspicions were momentarily forgotten as she tasted the rabbit stew, which was deliciously rich, with tender meat and a savory broth that warmed her from the inside out. They ate in companionable silence, and once they'd finished, Daena leaned back, giving her a satisfied nod.
"Eat up, Liria. We'll be doing a bit of exercise this afternoon."
Liria almost choked on her last spoonful. "E-exercise?" she repeated, thinking of the long chase after the rabbit earlier. "Didn't we just have a workout catching lunch?"
Daena grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You think that was training? That was just a warm-up. Now that you've got some food in you, let's see what you're truly made of."
After they finished lunch, Daena declared it was time for a nap, and to Liria's relief, they each took a short rest. Liria lay on the cot, still buzzing from her mysterious System findings and the strength she felt from a belly full of warm stew. Despite her curiosity, the exhaustion of the morning hunt caught up to her, and soon she dozed off, lulled by the gentle hum of the forest outside.
When she woke, it was mid-afternoon, and Daena was already by the door, stretching. She looked as fresh as if she'd just woken up, while Liria felt like a creaky old door hinge.
"Up and at 'em!" Daena said with a clap. "Out we go. Time to stretch those legs!"
Liria groaned, rubbing her eyes. "You're not serious…"
"Dead serious, lass," Daena chuckled, tossing her a water flask. "We're going to do a bit of endurance training. That's what builds character!"
Reluctantly, Liria got to her feet and followed Daena outside. They started with a light jog along the forest path, and soon Daena increased the pace, urging Liria to keep up. Liria's breath came quicker with each step, her muscles burning as she tried to match Daena's speed.
After only a few minutes, she was panting, gasping, and questioning all of her life choices that had led her to this. "You're… trying to kill me… aren't you?"
Daena only laughed, not even slightly out of breath. "This is only the beginning, lass! You're not even sweating yet!"
Liria threw a withering look her way, sweat already running down her face. She might have shouted an insult if she hadn't needed every ounce of energy just to keep going.
After what felt like an eternity, the System chimed in:
[New skill acquired: Endurance Training (Level 1). Strength attribute increased by 1.]
Endurance training, huh? Liria thought, trying to catch her breath.
[Congratulations,] the System said, in what sounded like a cheerful voice. [Your dedication to surviving this… "character building" exercise has resulted in improved physical capabilities. Small improvements add up over time.]
Small improvements? Liria wanted to snap at the System but held back. If this keeps up, I'll be a puddle before I'm strong enough to fend off another rabbit.
Still, she couldn't help feeling a flicker of pride. She'd gained a skill and even leveled up her strength. Her hard work painful as it was was paying off.
Daena stopped finally, letting Liria catch her breath, though she was grinning as if she'd just taken a stroll. "Good work, girl. Tomorrow, we'll do more."
"Tomorrow?" Liria wheezed, slumping against a tree. "Are you serious? At this rate, I'll be a pile of bones by the end of the week."
"Oh, don't be dramatic," Daena snorted, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "This forest has plenty of life left in it. And besides, you did well today."
Liria looked up, surprised to see a glimmer of pride in the old woman's eyes. It was the first genuine, unguarded expression she'd seen from Daena, and it made her chest swell with a strange warmth. Daena wasn't just a mystery; she was a tough, sharp, and oddly protective mentor.
For a moment, she thought about telling Daena the truth that she was from another world, that she could see her stats and those of other creatures, that she had a System in her head that seemed to know more than she did about this place. But she hesitated, knowing Daena was better off not knowing. This secret, she felt, was hers to keep.
The System hummed approvingly, as if it, too, understood the importance of her silence.
[You are progressing well, Liria. It may be hard now, but endurance will only serve you well in the days to come.]
She rolled her eyes. Thanks for the pep talk, oh wise System. How about next time you take a few laps around the forest?
[Unfortunately, I am not equipped with physical capabilities. My support remains, however, unwavering.]