The soft golden light of morning peeked through the cracks in the shed walls. Sylas opened his eyes to the scent of dry hay and old wood. His body still ached from the repairs, but it was a satisfying kind of pain.
He sat up slowly. For the first time since his reincarnation, he'd slept through the night without waking in panic.
"Not bad," he muttered, stretching. "Still rough, but… it's mine."
The system quietly pulsed into his view.
[Status Update]
Shelter: Stable
Condition: Basic (Dry, Uninsulated)
Title Active: Wanderer with a Roof
Perk: +5% Stamina Recovery while Resting Indoors
Sylas stepped outside and blinked at the sight before him. Ryn—the village boy—stood just outside the path, eyes wide.
"Woah," he said. "You actually fixed it."
Sylas grinned. "Didn't think I would?"
"I thought it'd collapse on you."
He tossed Sylas a chunk of bread wrapped in cloth. "Mira told me to give you breakfast. She said you've 'earned it, somehow.'"
Sylas caught the bread and laughed. "Thanks."
After a quick breakfast, he checked the system for new updates. He expected some generic survival quest. Instead, something else had appeared.
[New Quest Available: "The Forest Whispers"]
Type: Optional | Difficulty: 1 Star
A villager claims to have heard strange howling from the forest last night. Investigate the sound.
Reward: +10 EXP, +8 Copper, ???
Accept? [Yes] [No]
He stared at the message for a while.
"Of course it's in the forest," he muttered, selecting [Yes].
He found Garen near the blacksmith shop, already hammering away at a glowing iron blade.
"You're up early," the older man said without looking away.
Sylas explained the quest prompt and the howling noises. Garen stopped hammering.
"That'd be Olma. She's been hearing things lately."
"Who's Olma?"
"Widow. Lives near the old mill at the forest edge. Talks too much, but her ears are sharp."
Sylas headed toward the mill path. He found Olma stacking kindling outside her crooked house. She looked to be in her late sixties, her white hair braided back and her arms stronger than expected.
When he asked about the sounds, she frowned.
"Woke me up last night," she said. "Low, drawn-out howl. Not wolf. Not dog. Something worse."
"Did you see anything?"
"Not a thing. Just trees swaying wrong. Air went cold. Like winter came for a moment."
That gave Sylas pause. "Which direction?"
She pointed into the trees, beyond the mill.
"West side. Past the dead willow. Don't go alone, boy. Strange things live in that wood."
Of course, he went alone.
The forest welcomed him with rustling leaves and birdsong. The sunlight was warm, but something felt… off.
He passed the willow—its bark pale and gnarled like bone—and the air shifted. The birds grew silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Branches cracked behind him.
He froze.
Nothing.
Then, another noise. A soft scraping sound. Low, dragging.
He reached for the thick stick he'd carved into a crude club and held it tight.
A shape moved between the trees—small, hunched. Something animal, but not quite.
[Alert: "Forest Creature Detected"]
[Name: Mottled Fangling]
[Level: 2]
[Disposition: Cautious]
The thing stepped into view. It was half the size of a dog, with fur that looked like rotted moss and too many teeth.
Sylas's breath caught. He tightened his grip on the club.
The creature hissed—and darted forward.
Instinct took over.
He swung.
The club slammed into the Fangling's side. It yelped and skittered back, then lunged again, its fangs catching his arm.
Pain shot up to his shoulder.
He grit his teeth and struck again—harder. The beast squealed and collapsed.
He dropped the club, panting, his arm bleeding.
[Enemy Defeated: Mottled Fangling]
+10 EXP
+1 Copper Tooth (Item)
Minor Injury: Left Forearm (Bleeding)
[Use Basic Bandage? Y/N]
Sylas pressed [Y] and felt a strange warmth spread across the wound as the bleeding slowed. The pain dulled slightly, but the adrenaline still pumped.
He stared at the dead creature.
It had weight. Smell. Warmth. Blood.
Not code. Not pixels.
This was real.
He knelt beside it and looked into the woods beyond.
What else is out here?
By the time he returned to Olma's, dusk was creeping in.
He showed her the copper tooth and described the creature.
"Fangling," she said, nodding grimly. "Haven't seen one in years. They don't come close to the village unless something's wrong."
"Wrong?"
"Something bigger must've chased 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 night, Sylas sat outside his shed, staring at the treeline.
For the first time since his reincarnation, he felt fear.
Not of cancer.
Not of death.
But of the unknown.
Still, he smiled.
"Guess it's time to level up."