The morning came quietly, sunlight filtering through the cracks in the cabin's wooden walls. Avi stretched, letting out a low groan as the stiffness from the previous day's exhaustion left his body. As he stirred, he noticed something warm and small nestled against him. It was Ellie, curled up in a ball, her tiny hands clutching the hem of his shirt as if it were her lifeline.
A soft sigh escaped his lips. Carefully, he shifted her slight weight into his arms and carried her to her cot. She barely stirred, her lips parting to mumble something unintelligible before settling deeper into her dreams. Avi placed a blanket over her, tucking her in.
"She's been through so much," he thought, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "She deserves a bit of peace."
Once outside, Avi took a deep breath. The forest air was crisp and earthy, a stark contrast to the stale scent of the cabin. He began his morning routine—light stretches to loosen his muscles, followed by a few practice drills with his daggers. His movements were smooth but calculated, each slash and thrust deliberate as he worked on regaining the combat instincts buried deep within him.
As he practiced, his thoughts wandered. Tyler's wounds had been healing remarkably well. Avi's clairvoyance confirmed the reason:
| Berserker's Might |
Effect: Temporarily increases strength proportionally to a decrease in intelligence during combat. Negates pain and fear. Enhances healing while at rest.
Before long, Avi moved to planning. By noon, they would head to the village. Ellie would guide them. If their friends weren't there, they'd find information that might lead them to the group. The plan was simple, but the unknowns made it dangerous.
Returning to the cabin, Avi decided it was time to prepare breakfast. He opened the system menu, navigating to the System Store, which only sold raw materials. Browsing through the items, he selected several thick, marbled steaks, fresh herbs, and other ingredients.
[Purchase: 36 SP for items?]
Avi didn't hesitate. He confirmed the transaction. Thanks to the waves, he was rich in SP. Thirty-six points were nothing compared to ensuring they ate well and regained their strength.
Back in the cabin, the smell of butter and garlic soon filled the air. Avi seared the steaks with care, the sizzle of meat hitting hot metal a comforting sound. His hands moved with practiced precision, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his work.
The tantalizing aroma roused the cabin's other two occupants. Ellie was the first to wake, her small voice breaking the silence. "Big bro, what are you cooking?" she asked, her tiny hands rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"It's a surprise," Avi replied with a smile. "But I think you'll love it."
"Surprise?" she repeated, her eyes lighting up.
Tyler groaned as he sat up, ruffling his messy hair. "How do you even understand her?" he asked, his voice still groggy.
Avi blinked, then remembered. "The [Universal Translator]," he said matter-of-factly. "It's in the system. You just have to activate it."
Tyler opened his menu, scanning for the feature. When he saw the price tag, he cursed under his breath. "One hundred and fifty SP? Just for a translator? Are you kidding me?"
Avi smirked. "Dude, Ellie here is proof there are other people in this place. You're gonna need that translator unless you enjoy being clueless when someone's cursing you out."
"What's a tanspoler?" Ellie asked innocently.
"Kid, It's translator, not tanspoler" Tyler corrected, making Avi chuckle.
"Be nice, jerk. We're guests in her house," Avi said.
As they sat down to eat, Avi carefully cut Ellie's steak into bite-sized pieces. He watched her face light up with delight as she took her first bite. Tyler, on the other hand, took one bite and groaned in exaggerated satisfaction.
"How are you this good at cooking?" Tyler asked, his tone incredulous. "And taking care of a kid, no less. Weren't you just a nerd hiding behind Ken before the system overwrite?"
Avi rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair. "First of all, that steak you're devouring like a wild animal? Not free. You owe me SP for it." He wagged his finger at Tyler with mock seriousness.
Tyler froze mid-bite, glaring at Avi as he chewed. "Seriously? You're charging me for food in a life-or-death survival situation?"
"Absolutely," Avi replied, smirking. "Good food doesn't come cheap, and I don't recall seeing you in the kitchen."
Tyler grumbled but took another bite anyway, clearly not willing to stop eating.
"Second," Avi continued, holding up another finger, "I'm not a nerd. My grades weren't even that high." He paused dramatically. "And third, it's none of your business why I'm so amazing. I'm just good at everything I do."
Ellie, seated beside him and chewing on a piece of steak with an adorable amount of focus, looked up and nodded as if agreeing with his statement. "Big bro is the best!" she said between bites, her voice slightly muffled by food.
"See? Even the Ellie knows," Avi said, flashing a triumphant grin at Tyler.
Tyler rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Cocky much?" he muttered, though his tone lacked any real bite.
"You bet," Avi shot back, pointing his fork at him. "Now, finish up. We've got a mission, and I'm not hauling your sulking butt all the way to the village." He turned to Ellie. "You're going to guide us there, right, Ellie?"
Ellie straightened up in her seat, lifting her fork like a sword. "MMM!" she replied enthusiastically, her cheeks still puffed with meat.
"Good to know someone's taking this seriously," Avi said, nodding at her approvingly.
"Yeah, yeah. Gotcha," Tyler mumbled, taking another bite. For a moment, he seemed torn between sulking about the SP debt and smiling at how good the steak was. Eventually, the steak won out, and he polished off his plate with a contented sigh.
After they finished eating they started to prepare, Avi tightened the straps of Ellie's pack and glanced at Ellie, holding the small bag with determination. He knelt down so he was at her level, his expression softening. "Ellie, you're going to be our captain today, okay? You lead the way to the village," he said gently, his tone light and encouraging.
Ellie hesitated for a moment, her small hand clutching the strap of her bag tightly. She still seemed nervous about the village, her lips pressing into a thin line as she avoided Avi's gaze.
Noticing her apprehension, Avi gave her a confident smile. "Captain Ellie," he emphasized the title playfully, "we need you to guide us. Now, which way does the captain think we should go to?"
At the sound of her new title, Ellie's eyes lit up, her small chest puffing out as she straightened her posture. "Ellie goes this way!" she declared with newfound confidence, pointing a tiny finger to the south.
"Excellent choice, Captain," Avi replied with mock seriousness, giving her a salute. He reached out and scooped her up effortlessly, settling her onto his shoulders. "Aye, Captain! Lead the way!"
Ellie burst into giggles as she perched on his shoulders, her earlier worries seemingly forgotten. She tapped his head gently. "That way!" she said again, pointing, her voice full of excitement.
Behind them, Tyler hefted his oversized axe-hammer with a grunt, slinging it over his shoulder with an exaggerated motion. "This trip is already going to be so cringe," he muttered, shaking his head as he trudged after them.
The mismatched trio ventured southward, the dense forest swallowing them in a sea of greenery. Towering trees with thick, twisted roots spread across the uneven ground, their canopies filtering the sunlight into a soft, golden glow. Vines hung low, some adorned with tiny blue flowers that swayed gently in the breeze. Ellie's small hand pointed ahead from her perch on Avi's shoulders, her voice cheerful as she declared, "That way!"
Avi adjusted his grip on Ellie's legs to keep her steady. "You're doing great, Captain. Keep us on track."
"Are we there yet?" Tyler grumbled from behind, dragging his axe-hammer across a patch of loose dirt. His boots squelched in the occasional muddy spots, earning an annoyed groan each time.
"Stop complaining," Avi called over his shoulder. "You're not the one carrying a whole human on your shoulders."
"Yeah, but I'm the one carrying this massive thing!" Tyler retorted, hoisting his weapon with exaggerated effort. "Next time, I'm leaving it behind."
Ellie giggled, leaning forward slightly. "Mister monster is strong like Grathûn."
"See? Even Captain Ellie thinks you're strong. Stop whining," Avi said with a smirk, dismissing the fact that he didn't understand what a Grathûn is.
Their path soon narrowed, forcing them to navigate around thick roots and under low-hanging branches. In some areas, the trail disappeared entirely, replaced by clusters of dense undergrowth. Ellie pointed at a particularly narrow passage between two large trees. "That way!" she chirped.
Avi stopped, staring at the tiny gap. "Captain, I hate to break it to you, but your first officer can't fit through there."
Ellie pouted but quickly perked up. "Ellie can check first!"
"Nice try, but you're staying right here." Avi sighed, carefully setting her down. "Wait here for a second."
He turned to Tyler. "Help me find a way around."
They circled the thicket, eventually finding a larger opening that led back to the same path Ellie had pointed out. As they regrouped, Avi noticed movement in the bushes nearby. He tensed, instinctively shielding Ellie behind him.
From the foliage emerged a squat, fur-covered creature with a snout like a boar and legs resembling a frog's. Its glowing yellow eyes fixed on them as it let out a low growl.
[lvl 1 Jumpboar]
The Jumpboar crouched, ready to pounce, but Tyler stepped forward confidently, gripping his axe-hammer tightly. "You think this is a challenge? Watch and learn."
The creature lunged, its powerful hind legs propelling it toward them. Tyler swung his weapon in a lazy, wide arc, meeting the Jumpboar mid-air. The creature let out a pitiful squeal as the impact sent it flying backward, crashing into a bush before vanishing into shimmering particles.
Avi blinked. "Well, that was... anticlimactic."
"What can I say?" Tyler grinned, resting his hammer on his shoulder. "I make it look easy."
"Yeah, because it was easy," Avi replied dryly. He crouched to check on Ellie. "You okay, Captain?"
Ellie peeked out from behind the tree, nodding. "Ellie is okay. Mister monster is super strong!" she said, her eyes wide with admiration.
Tyler puffed out his chest. "See? Told you I'm the muscle of this group."
Avi rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his grin. "Alright, Captain, lead us on."
Ellie climbed back onto Avi's shoulders, her cheerful chatter filling the air as they continued. The forest around them seemed more alive with every step. At one point, a flock of shimmering, bird-like creatures with translucent wings flew overhead, their melodious calls echoing through the trees. Ellie clapped her hands in delight, pointing at the sparkling birds.
"Pretty!" she said, her earlier fears forgotten.
"Enjoy the view while it lasts," Tyler said, trudging along. "Something tells me that there's gonna be a lot of fight today."
"Thanks for the optimism," Avi replied, shaking his head. Avi knows that Tyler is right. Sooner or later they will face a more difficult hurdle, based on what Avi experience the past two days, this is a guarantee. This ain't gonna be a walk in the park.