The golden soft morning light seeped through the gaps between the shed walls. Sylas woke to the smell of hay and worn wood. He ached still from the repair work, but it was a good kind of ache.
He sat up carefully. He'd slept all night for the first time since his rebirth without waking up with panic.
"Not bad," he grumbled, stretching. "Still rough, but… it's mine."
The system hummed quietly into view.
[Status Update]
Shelter: Stable
Condition: Basic (Dry, Uninsulated)
Title Active: Wanderer with a Roof
Perk: +5% Stamina Recovery while Resting Indoors
Sylas emerged and blinked at what lay before him. Ryn—the village kid—stood just beyond the path, eyes wide.
"Woah," he said. "You actually repaired it."
Sylas smiled. "Didn't think I would?"
"I thought it'd fall on you."
He threw Sylas a wad of bread covered in cloth. "Mira said to feed you breakfast. She said you've 'earned it, somehow.'"
Sylas intercepted the bread and chuckled. "Thanks."
They had a brief breakfast, and then he reviewed the system for new updates. He was anticipating some standard survival quest. Something else had been added instead.
[New Quest Available: "The Forest Whispers"]
Type: Optional | Difficulty: 1 Star
A villager reports hearing eerie howling in the forest last evening. Check out the sound.
Reward: +10 EXP, +8 Copper, ???
Accept? [Yes] [No]
He looked at the message for some time.
"Of course it's in the forest," he grumbled, choosing [Yes].
He tracked Garen down by the blacksmith shop, already pounding hot iron onto a glowing blade.
"You're up early," the elder said without breaking stride.
Sylas described the quest objective and the howling sounds. Garen ceased hammering.
"That'd be Olma. She's been hearing things lately."
"Who's Olma?"
"Widow. She lives along the old mill at the edge of the forest. Talks too much, but has good ears."
Sylas walked towards the mill road. He came upon Olma piling firewood in front of her crooked hut. She appeared to be in her sixties, white hair braided back and arms more muscular than he had expected.
When questioned regarding the noises, she scowled.
"Woke me up last night," she stated. "Low, drawn-out howl. Not wolf. Not dog. Something worse."
"Did you see anything?"
"Not anything. Just trees blowing wrong. Air turned cold. Like winter visited for a second."
That stopped Sylas for a moment. "Which way?"
She gestured into the trees, beyond the mill.
"West side. Beyond the dead willow. Don't go there alone, boy. Weird things inhabit that wood."
Naturally, he went alone.
The forest greeted him with leaves rustling and birdsong. The sunlight was warm, but something seemed… wrong.
He walked past the willow—its bark pale and twisted like bone—and the air changed. The birds fell silent. Even the wind caught its breath.
Branches snapped behind him.
He halted.
Nothing.
Then another sound. A soft scrape, low, dragging.
He grasped the thick stick he had carved into a crude club and clutched it hard.
A shape emerged between the trees—small, stooping. Something animal, but not exactly.
[Warning: "Forest Creature Spotted"]
[Name: Mottled Fangling]
[Level: 2]
[Disposition: Cautious]
The thing came into sight. It was smaller than a dog, with fur that resembled rotten moss and too many teeth.
Sylas's breath stopped. He clenched his hand tighter around the club.
The beast hissed—and charged.
Instinct kicked in.
He brought the club down.
The club crashed into the Fangling's body. It yelped and scurried back, and attacked again, its fangs sinking into his arm.
Pain flashed up to his shoulder.
He ground his teeth together and swung again—harder, much harder. The animal let out a shriek and went down.
He let the club drop, gasping, his arm bleeding.
[Enemy Defeated: Mottled Fangling]
+10 EXP
+1 Copper Tooth (Item)
Minor Injury: Left Forearm (Bleeding)
[Use Basic Bandage? Y/N]
Sylas hit [Y] and could feel an odd heat seep through the wound as the bleeding eased. The ache lessened, but the adrenaline continued to flow.
He gazed at the dead animal.
It had weight. Smell. Warmth. Blood.
Not code. Not pixels.
This was real.
He knelt beside it and stared into the woods beyond.
What else is out here?
When he returned to Olma's, dusk was falling.
He displayed the copper tooth and told her of the creature.
"Fangling," she said, shaking her head. "Haven't seen one in years. They don't venture near the village unless something's amiss."
"Wrong?"
"Something bigger must've scared it out of its burrow. Or it's scouting for others."
Sylas swallowed hard.
[Quest Complete: "The Forest Whispers"]
+10 EXP | +8 Copper | Item: Copper Fang Token
New Questline Unlocked: "Shadows Beneath Haresh"
That evening, Sylas sat outside his shed, gazing at the treeline.
For the first time since his reincarnation, he felt fear.
Not of cancer.
Not of death.
But of the unknown.
Nevertheless, he smiled.
"Guess it's time to level up."