With that thought, I finished packing and took one last good look at the place before heading toward the edge of the forest. Even though I could reach the edge in seconds but I decided to take my time. Recently, I developed a flying skill using wind magic. I can even fly at high speeds by enveloping myself in flames with fire magic or using Rock magic to erupt a piece of rock, flying on it with the help of wind and fire magic. However, I don't have a proper flying skill where I can soar like a superhero, I have to constantly use magic and focus my mind to stay airborne. Parallel Thinking is doing a great job of managing that.
After flying for an hour, I felt the need to take a break and recharge. That's when I spotted an enormous Bodhi tree in the distance, standing alone in a clearing. Its massive trunk stretched towards the sky, its bark weathered and cracked with age. There were no other trees near it—just this ancient giant, towering in serene solitude, as if it had claimed the entire area for itself.
I landed softly beside it, drawn to its presence. When I used my appraisal skill, the information stunned me: this tree was over 16,000 years old. For a moment, I just stood there, staring up at its sprawling branches. 'What stories could this tree tell?' I wondered. It had seen the rise and fall of civilizations, witnessed countless generations pass beneath its shadow. I placed my hand on the rough bark, feeling a strange sense of connection to this timeless being.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to rest here and take a nap after eating breakfast, letting the tree's quiet wisdom wash over me.
For breakfast, I decided to have roasted peanuts and fresh orange juice. With wood magic, I crafted a sturdy table and set out some oranges and peanuts from storage, placing them in bowls. Then, using Rock magic, I formed a deep iron pan, added salt, and heated it. Once the salt was hot enough to sizzle, I tossed in the peanuts to roast. The aroma of toasted nuts filled the air as they slowly browned, their skins crackling with a satisfying sound. When they reached a warm, golden colour, I scooped them out into a bowl to cool.
For the juice, I took out a hand juicer which I had crafted from wood. Making it had been tricky, needing every part made separately and then assembled with precision. After peeling a few oranges, I remembered to add some mint leaves. Using plant magic, I grew a small sprig nearby, plucking off fresh leaves and adding them along with the oranges. However, I noticed something odd, I could've sworn I'd set aside four oranges, but after peeling two, I only saw one unpeeled orange left. I glanced around, then shrugged, thinking I might've counted wrong. Returning to the juice, I poured it into a wooden glass and mixed in roasted cumin powder, a pinch of rock salt, regular salt, black pepper, and finally, the fresh orange juice.
Relaxing in my chair, I savoured the light yet refreshing breakfast. The warm, crunchy peanuts paired perfectly with the orange juice, which was bursting with flavour. The cumin powder brought an Earthy richness, while the salt and pepper gave a pleasant kick, accentuating the orange's sweetness. Mint added an extra layer of freshness, balancing the spices with a cool, crisp note.
After breakfast, I felt satisfied and decided to rest my eyes. Some times later when I woke, I washed my face with water magic, stretched, and prepared to set out toward the forest edge—a couple of hours away at a steady pace. I washed and dried the juicer, then moved to store the leftover peanuts. That's when I noticed something unusual that there were fewer peanuts left than I'd expected. Perplexed, I scanned the area, my gaze landing on the trunk of the ancient tree nearby. There, a small bag made from leaves, tied with a thin string and filled with peanuts, was slowly being pulled up toward a hole in the trunk.
I watched in amazement as the bag rose in tiny increments, held by a clever knot at the end of the string. Curiosity building, I concealed my presence and set a barrier around the bag. The bag jerked and stuck mid-air, the string going taut as the creature on the other end tried to pull it free. After a few more unsuccessful tugs, the string relaxed, and a small mouse cautiously poked its head out of the hole. I felt both astonished and intrigued—this was no ordinary mouse.
I was taken aback when I spotted a bipedal mouse, casually strutting around on two feet. He looked like a character straight out of a childhood cartoon but had his own unique traits: a spiral marking on his belly, subtle patterns across his back, and eyes that held a surprisingly human-like curiosity. His fur was a deep, dark brown, with small patches of white on his hands, feet, and the tip of his tail, giving him a distinct, almost whimsical appearance. To top it off, he was dressed in little clothes crafted from leaves, looking quite pleased with his handiwork.
Amused, I watched him trying to steal my food right under my nose. His tiny hands moved carefully, clutching at the peanut stash. Since he wasn't giving off any hostile vibes, I figured he wasn't affected by the abyssal energy that corrupted so many creatures in this forest. He was just after a meal. Deciding I'd share with him, I felt a playful urge to see how he'd react to a bit of mischief. I crafted a small prison of Rock around him, chuckling as he squeaked in shock, his tiny paws batting at the walls in confusion.
"Caught you, little thief!" I grinned, watching him scurry around. He tried to escape, then suddenly clasped his paws together, squeaking and chittering as though pleading for mercy. I couldn't hold back my laughter at the sight—this brave little bandit now reduced to begging.
With a snap of my fingers, I removed the prison. The mouse's face shifted from fear to cautious curiosity as I handed him a peanut, explaining he didn't need to steal. He cocked his head, then seemed to understand, nodding slowly. So, I decided to share a few more treats: berries, seeds, and some fresh fruit. His eyes sparkled, and, with a little smile, he extended a tiny hand for a shake, as if cementing our new friendship.
It struck me then, this was the first friend I'd made since coming to this strange world. There was something comforting in knowing I wasn't completely alone. Smiling, I shook his tiny hand with my finger, feeling his soft fur brush against my skin.
He scampered back to his tree trunk, but after a few moments, he returned, lugging a tiny box made of leaves, vines, and bark, nearly as big as himself. I knelt down to inspect it, realizing it was filled with golden honey. My heart warmed at the gesture; even in this wild world, kindness had its place. "Thank you, my little friend," I murmured, carefully placing the honey into my storage.
Then, an idea sparked. Being a Celestial, I had the ability to change my size. I focused, channelling Prana Energy and Magic Power through my body, and soon felt a glowing warmth as my form began to shrink. The mouse's eyes widened as he watched, his whiskers twitching in surprise. A moment later, I was his size, and thankfully, my clothes had shrunk with me.
I waved, grinning, and he responded with an excited squeak, racing over and wrapping his little arms around me in an unexpected hug. He pulled back, looking me over with a fascinated gleam in his eyes. I explained that my magic allowed me to grow or shrink, and he chirped happily, seemingly impressed.
We spent a while playing, darting around and tossing peanuts back and forth like a game. I couldn't help but marvel at this unlikely bond, feeling a strange comfort in his company.
After a few rounds, he squeaked excitedly, waving for me to follow him toward his tree trunk. Intrigued, I trailed behind, wondering what kind of home this little mouse might have created—especially given his human-like personality. As he scurried ahead, I used my appraisal skill, eager to uncover any hidden details about my new friend.
Name: Veeru
Species: Evolved Mouse
Age: 6 years
Gender: Male
Description: When cats became infected with abyssal energy, turning violent, mice adapted, evolving enhanced intelligence and physical skills with lifespan up to 50 years. Some even gained magical potential.
Level: 8
Rank: D
Attributes:
>Health (HP): 400
>Prana Energy: 100
>Mana: 450
>Abyssal Energy: 43
>Strength: 20
>Defense: 30
>Agility: 70
>Intelligence: 82
>Luck: 7/10
Skills:
>Sneak: Mastered ability to move undetected.
>Keen Senses: Enhanced smell and hearing to detect food, allies, and threats.
>Nimble Movement: High agility for quick evasion and swift movement.
>Tiny Burrower: Can dig small hideaways in concealed areas.
>Lightning Magic Lv 2: Can cast lightning spells for defense and offense.
>Basic Communication: Understands gestures, sounds, and can read and write in Rasvani.
Special Traits:
>Mutated Bloodline: Possesses unique lineage, enhancing intelligence, magic, and physical skills.
>Food Hoarder: Gathers and hides food for future use.
>Curiosity: Investigates unfamiliar objects, especially related to food.
Weakness:
>Low Physical Strength: Vulnerable to larger and stronger creatures in direct combat.
Seeing this confirmed that Veeru was extraordinary, with traits that set him apart from other creatures. The fact that he could use lightning magic and had a mutated bloodline made him far more intelligent than I'd anticipated. In fact, he is smarter than I was when I first arrived in this world, my intelligence only grew thanks to my cheat ability.
I was also amazed to discover that mice in this world had undergone such a transformation. When cats became corrupted with abyssal energy and grew fierce thousands of years ago, mice responded by evolving, gaining intelligence and agility. Over generations, some even acquired magical abilities, with lifespans stretching up to 50 years. I felt little bad for poor cats as I used to like playing with cats.
The name Veeru reminded me of a friend from my college days, who once developed a crush on a girl in our class. After they became friends, she began calling him Veere (means brother) in a playful way, which he didn't particularly love, given his feelings for her. When he shared this with our friend group, we laughed for hours. I even saved his contact's name as "Veere" as a friendly tease, and it became a running joke. Smiling at the memory, I looked at my newfound friend, a creature from another world who was somehow rekindling memories of home.
Veeru, on the other hand, was fidgeting happily, his tiny paws gripping his leaf-made bag filled with food. He turned to me, gesturing for me to follow him. As he scurried ahead, he looked back periodically, making sure I was keeping up.
Activating Appraisal again, I focused on Veeru, hoping to catch any other unique traits. This little guy had already proven himself clever and surprisingly courteous; I couldn't wait to see the kind of house he'd made in this towering tree.
Upon stepping into Veeru's home, I was so astonished that I could hardly believe my eyes. Tucked away within the thick, hollow trunk of a towering tree, Veeru's home was a marvel of natural ingenuity. Without human tools, he'd crafted a cozy dwelling, using every resource the forest offered. Small pathways connected four distinct rooms, and the air was filled with the rich, scent of fresh wood and forest moss. A small wooden slab acted as a gate, keeping other animals out. Near the entrance were small, carefully crafted weapons—a miniature crossbow and a rapier-like sword, the latter surprisingly made of metal. Is he defending himself with these? I wondered, both amused and impressed.
In the main room, Veeru had fashioned a surprisingly comfortable bed. Soft moss and dried leaves were layered to form a plush resting place, and pieces of bark and pine needles served as a blanket. By his bed, a hollowed acorn stood as a makeshift nightstand, holding a smooth pebble he used to grind food or crack seeds. The walls of the main room were decorated with treasures from the forest: vibrant feathers, iridescent beetle shells, and a few dried petals, arranged in intricate patterns. Each added splashes of colour and a touch of personality to the space. I couldn't help but smile, sensing that Veeru took great pride in crafting this room to feel like home.
Veeru's "kitchen" was perhaps the most impressive discovery. He'd created a simple yet clever storage system with acorn caps and nutshells, each holding carefully gathered seeds, berries, and dried herbs. He'd even stored these items in small hollows in the wall, covering them with bits of moss to keep everything fresh. A flat stone served as his preparation table, with various clay pots holding water. He had a full set of kitchen tools, including a small rock-crafted knife and wooden plates, bowls, and spoons—all carved with remarkable attention to detail. As I examined these, I wondered how much time he must've spent crafting each item. For a mouse, his kitchen rivaled any humans in functionality.
Deeper into the tree trunk was a loft area, accessible by a spiral staircase of woven twigs. As I climbed, I marvelled at the beauty of this structure—each twig held perfectly in place, sturdy enough even for me. Upstairs, Veeru kept his most prized items: a collection of snake skins, an unusually smooth pebble from the river, and a large owl feather. In the corner, he'd even set up a reading space, with a "book" of leaves stitched together by spider silk. So, this is where he practices his reading in Rasvani, I thought, admiring the patience and pride Veeru must feel in maintaining this skill.
Veeru's lookout window caught my attention. Cleverly nibbled out of the wood, it allowed soft sunlight to filter into the room without compromising the tree's strength. Here, he could peek out into the forest and watch for potential threats or interesting happenings. Veeru's living space was a blend of practicality and charm, tucked within nature's embrace. It was a world apart from human comforts, yet brimming with life, creativity, and warmth.
Near the kitchen, Veeru had created a small washing area, complete with tiny wooden and clay buckets. There were various herbs he used for washing and a towel woven from vines. A small cupboard held his clothes, all stitched together from leaves and vines, as well as winter clothes lined with monster fur.
Beautiful carpets made from the pelts of different monsters adorned the floor, and one in particular, sewn from the gleaming skins of golden Wendigos, lay under his bed, gleaming softly—a masterpiece that must've taken incredible patience to create.
The more I explored, the more Veeru's resourcefulness impressed me. His entire home was an intricate blend of nature and craftsmanship, full of warmth and life. In the corner of my mind, I began imagining how his clever skills and resourceful spirit might come in handy, if we travel together.
As I explored Veeru's cozy home, he suddenly grabbed my hand and led me over to a small table. With a gesture, he motioned for me to sit on one of the chairs. Smiling, I settled into the chair, pleasantly surprised by how well-built and comfortable the chair was. Veeru then scurried to his kitchen area, picked up a wooden glass and a tray, filled it with water, and returned to me, offering it with a gentle bow. I was astonished by the scene before me—a tiny mouse, not only welcoming me as his guest but treating me with such hospitality. It was endearing, almost surreal, and a far cry from how people back in my world treated guests these days. It felt like I was in a dream, and I wondered if I'd truly been transported to a place where kindness and warmth still existed.
After offering me water, Veeru dashed up the spiral stairs and returned moments later, his tiny arms full. Among the items he brought were a notebook made from leaves, a feather quill, and a small box containing a black liquid that looked like ink. He set them down, sat on a chair across from me, and began writing with his tiny hands. The sight was almost comical—a mouse, living like a human, writing with a quill. I was thoroughly impressed and couldn't help but watch in awe.
When he was done, he held the notebook out to me. "Hello, my name is Veeru," was written in Rasvani. It seemed he'd chosen writing as his way to communicate, and with that simple message, I found myself smiling at his ingenuity. Without thinking, I held out my hand to take the quill and respond, but he stopped me, looking at me as though I'd missed the obvious. Taking the notebook, he scribbled something again and handed it to me with an amused flick of his whiskers: "I can't speak, but you can, idiot." I felt my face grow warm, embarrassed by my mistake, and covered my eyes in shame. I'd just managed to show off my intelligence… to a mouse.
After a nervous chuckle, I said, "Sorry, I forgot about that. Hehe." I then introduced myself, telling him my name and admitting that I'd used an appraisal skill on him, which is how I already knew his name. Veeru's eyes widened in surprise when I mentioned my skill, clearly impressed. He asked me what had brought me to the forest, so I explained that I'd been heading toward town when I spotted this beautiful spot from the air, and decided to stop here for a good rest.
Veeru's ears perked up with curiosity when he heard I'd flown. Veeru then asked why a human would be in the forest alone; most humans usually travelled in groups when hunting monsters. I assured him I was more than capable of handling myself, given my strength, and I decided to tell him my full story.
I explained my journey from another world, the cheat abilities I'd acquired, and my goal of one day returning home. Veeru's expression shifted from wonder to disbelief, as though he thought I was pulling his leg. But when I showed him my status window, his expression shifted from disbelief to outright shock. His tiny jaw practically hit the floor, especially when he saw the "Cheat Master" title and its absurdly powerful traits. I could sense a hint of jealousy from him as he processed my abilities, which made me laugh.
As I told him about how I'd been separated from my family and friends, his expression softened, showing genuine sympathy. It seemed like he understood the pain of being alone. When I spoke of my goal to find a way back home and to explore this world, he cheered me on with a heartfelt smile.
Curious about his living arrangements, I asked if anyone else lived with him, given the size of his home. Veeru's expression grew somber, and he began writing again, his tiny hands moving a little slower this time. His body language changed; his ears drooping as he recounted his own story. He wrote that he once had a loving family—a mother and a father. Like him, his mother was intelligent and taught him to read and write in Rasvani, as well as basic math. His father taught him survival skills—how to use weapons, gather food, store supplies, and collect rainwater.
Four years ago, while they were out foraging in the forest, two Gorgogs attacked them. His father bravely gave his life to give them a chance to escape. As they fled, his mother set traps for the Gorgogs, injuring them, but she was ultimately caught and killed. Veeru survived by hiding in a rock crevice, helpless as his parents died to protect him. Devastated, he spent days without eating, paralyzed by grief. Then, one day something in him changed, he vowed to avenge them. For six months, he trained, leveling up gradually, and finally prepared a deadly trap. He dug a big and deep pit lined with sharpened wooden stakes and crossbows rigged to fire upon any movement.
One day, he encountered the two Gorgogs again and recognized them by the scars his mother had inflicted. With calculated precision, he lured them into the trap. As they fell into the pit, the spikes pierced their bodies, and the crossbows released a rain of arrows, injuring their legs so they couldn't escape. The Gorgogs thrashed in pain, but they remained alive, snarling in agony. Veeru channelled his lightning magic, paralyzing them just enough so they couldn't resist. Then he filled the pit with dried grass and coal, lighting it ablaze. As the flames rose, he watched as his enemies were finally consumed by fire, avenging his family's death.
After recounting his tale, Veeru sat in silence, his body still as the memories washed over him. He had survived alone in this tree for the past four years, honing the skills his parents had taught him, and today, I was his first guest in all that time. I could feel the weight of his story, the courage and resilience it had taken for him to make it this far.