As I observed the small forest-like bathroom, a sudden cold and calculated voice invaded my mind.
["Attention!"]
["A human is approaching!"]
My body, always ready for any situation, froze for a brief moment. The lab didn't fail to alert me, but the warning came too late. The sensation of someone approaching had arrived faster than I anticipated.
I kept walking, feigning complete indifference, as if nothing unusual was happening. My gaze didn't waver from the crystal-clear water ahead of me. "Nothing abnormal, I'm just going to use the bathroom. Nothing to worry about," I thought, even as my heart began beating slightly faster.
"Boy! Why are you out of your room at this hour?"
The sharp, authoritative voice of a man sounded behind me. I almost failed to suppress my immediate reaction. My pupils contracted quickly.
"Extremely fast!"
At that moment, I realized I had failed to sense his presence approaching, which, for someone like me adapting to this new world, was a significant flaw. Yet, at the same time, I knew that if he had ill intentions, I wouldn't be in a position to resist.
I knew I needed to stay calm. Pretending to be surprised and scared was my best option.
"Ahh!! Oh my God."
I paused dramatically and slowly turned my body to face the intruder.
In front of me stood a man clad in leather armor, clearly a servant, but with an extremely muscular body, deformed by years of slave labor and horrendous abuse at the hands of his masters—who, in this case, were the mages. His name was Wirk, a high-ranking servant who was generally more tolerant of the youth aboard the airship, though still wielding an intimidating authority.
He stared at me with piercing eyes, awaiting a response. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the nervousness tightening in my throat. "I'll act like nothing out of the ordinary is happening."
"Hello… Hello… Helloooo… Mr… Mr…"
I stammered, swallowing hard and trembling slightly, as if utterly terrified. "Mr. Wirk! I… I felt a bit dirty and wanted to clean myself up!"
I paused, feeling the weight of my lie. My face was pale, and I felt completely weak, as if I were about to faint from fear, yet maintaining the appearance of someone utterly petrified.
Wirk furrowed his brows and wrinkled his nose.
He looked at me with a displeased expression, clearly detecting the stench emanating from me. It was an acidic smell, likely from my sweat mixed with the toxins my breathing process had released.
"Wash yourself?" he grumbled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Well! It's quite dangerous here at night, especially for young nobles like you! Get back quickly after washing up!"
He didn't linger any longer. Wirk, without another word, turned and began walking away from me, heading to the second floor where his quarters were located. The weight of his presence faded, but I could still feel his oppressive energy lingering in the air.
"Thank you for your warning, Mr. Wirk!"
I bowed, as a noble would, and spoke loudly, not caring if he was still close enough to hear. It had always been a principle of mine to show respect to those more powerful than myself, no matter who they were.
After my gesture of gratitude, I turned my attention back to the oasis before me. The sight of the forest and the lake brought me a certain comfort, as if I could recover from the tension of the moment.
.
"Wirk's Point of View."
.
"What a nostalgic feeling! Looking at these young ones reminds me of my inexperienced self in the past!" he said with a crooked smile, the kind that sent chills down the spine of any youth who dared to look. The smile, though devoid of joy, was the only proof that the man still harbored some humanity—or at least a faint echo of something that had once been human.
Wirk was a man who considered himself a blend of frustration and sorrow. "What a pity, though. If I'd also been born into nobility, I wouldn't have had to practice the warriors' breathing technique." His eyes darkened for a moment, as if recalling something far more painful—perhaps a life that could have been but never was.
He continued talking to himself, his tone filled with disdain for the naïveté that had marked his youth. "I even risked seducing a witch, offering romantic services in exchange for magical crystals, but I didn't realize how foolish I was. I ended up nearly dissected alive, turned into a puppet, and sold as a slave in a magical market…" The memory still haunted him, though it no longer filled him with anger. It was just another bitter recollection in a heart already accustomed to pain.
Wirk's murmurs, heavy with sadness, echoed through the walls of the airship as his shadow crept down the corridors. The disillusionment had consumed him so deeply that he no longer cared about the choices he had made. When he finally entered his room, closing the door behind him, his heart felt lost, devoid of hope, as if there were no longer any reason to fight or seek redemption. He was condemned to live with the ghosts of his own failures, trapped in a cycle of regret until death came to visit him one day.
.
.
.
I knelt amidst the vegetation, holding a simple blade of grass between my fingers. "Let's see if there's anything useful here." My gaze fixed on the plant as I activated the virtual laboratory in my mind.
["Initiating analysis."]
The familiar light passed through my ocular orbits, a warm and pulsating sensation, as it began scanning the blade of grass. In my vision, a detailed hologram of the plant emerged, slowly rotating as the data was collected.
["Analysis complete."]
["No beneficial properties for the host's body can be detected."]
I sighed, disappointed. "Another useless one." Without hesitation, I tossed the blade of grass away, letting it disappear among the leaves.
I picked another plant, a slightly thicker stem with serrated leaves. "Remove the shape and qualities of the previous plant and save it. Now let's proceed with another round of analysis!"
The command was instantly processed, and the lab responded:
["Initiating quality analysis."]
As the process unfolded, I could clearly observe the lab's steps in action. It was like watching a precision machine dismantle the natural world, layer by layer, exposing its secrets.
["Beep!"]
["Experiment completed."]
["This unidentified plant has a mild paralyzing effect."]
I immediately became alert. "Paralyzing effect?" A distant memory surfaced—ancient stories about plants with similar properties.
"This must be the famous 'Goodnight Cinderella Grass.' Lab, rename it to 'Goodnight Cinderella' and save it in the database!"
["Beep! Save completed."]
A satisfied smile appeared on my face. "This could come in handy later."
I stood up, brushing the dirt from my hands, and my eyes landed on a nearby bush laden with small red berries that gleamed under the faint light. They were tiny, about the size of my thumb, hanging delicately on thin vines. "Berries... this looks promising."
Carefully, I avoided the thorns guarding the bush and plucked one of the berries. Its soft, shiny texture indicated it was perfectly ripe. Holding it between my fingers, I brought it to my mouth and bit into it gently.
A crisp sound echoed as the sweet juice burst onto my tongue. "Hm! The flavor is amazing... it tastes like strawberries, but even sweeter."
While savoring the berry, I sent a command to the lab. "Analyze this berry as well. I want to know if there's more to it than just the taste."
["Initiating analysis..."]
.
.
.
After saving data on more than 20 types of plants and herbs, I sighed, disappointed. "So much variety... and yet, no practical use." But that wasn't enough to make me give up.
I walked toward the small river, guided by the sound of flowing water. The gentle noise of waves breaking against rocks echoed in the environment, breaking the almost absolute silence. It was as if the garden had found a new voice.
I stopped at the riverbank, observing the crystal-clear water dancing under the pale light. "Lab, scan the surroundings!" I commanded mentally, as my eyes scanned the shadows of the trees and the hidden corners of the artificial forest.
["Beep!"]
["The surrounding area has been scanned! There are no dangers within a 130-square-meter radius."]
I let out a relieved sigh. "Well, it's good to know there's no danger. The last thing I want is to run back to my room... especially naked." A quiet laugh escaped me. "That would definitely make me the target of laughter for months."
With that lighthearted thought, I began removing my clothes, folding them neatly and placing them on a nearby rock. Finally, I set aside my undergarments, exposing my skin to the cool night air.
I stepped into the river, letting the cold water engulf my body. A shiver immediately ran down my spine, and my breathing quickened for a moment before stabilizing. "Cold..." I murmured. "This water is so cold it's refreshing. But I won't lie, I'm starting to miss the water heater from my past life!"
I submerged myself up to my neck, allowing the current to wash away the accumulated fatigue of the day.
...
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