Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

(*As for the reason characters may not yet be in Orario, that is because you are presently three years from the start of events in the story!*)&nbsp; Vahn kept repeating the words over and over within his mind, unable to comprehend the revelation Sis just gave him.&nbsp; "Sis, why is it three years? I understand it's my fault for not specifying a time, but what should I do now? I don't know anything about this world outside of what I had read in the manga!" he shouted.&nbsp; (*Relax Vahn. 'The Path' determined that your current strength was lacking for residents of this world. As it stands, a common thug would probably be able to take advantage of and even kill you. At best you would likely become an underling or supporter for disreputable adventurers. Without having increased your own strength, it would be difficult to join and survive within a Familia. You now have three years to train before the events of the story so you can be more impactful in your decision-making.*)&nbsp; Vahn took several deep breaths, ruminating over what Sis had said. He understood by looking at his stats, most of his parameters were far below the 'records' standards. There wasn't much he could do about that since he was never able to exercise or move freely in his previous life. And, since he didn't wish for any power from Klyscha, he would have to rely on his own efforts to become stronger.&nbsp; After thinking it over, he started to develop feelings of gratitude towards 'The Path'. It seemed to be making the best possible choices given his current lack of understanding. It also provided him with a companion he could talk to when he is feeling lonely.&nbsp; "I understand, Sis. 'The Path' was right to give me this window of opportunity to grow. Even I wouldn't want to accept someone into my Familia if they were to become a burden. At least until I become much much stronger..."&nbsp; He begins to look around the area once again. It's his first time seeing a real-life tree, much less being in a forest. After weighing his options, he is uncertain of the best course of action.&nbsp; "Sis, where do you think I should go? I don't have a map, and I've never been inside a forest. I don't know any edible plants, and the wildlife of this world is completely foreign to me."&nbsp; (*'The Path' has a basic mapping function which includes a compass. Though it can only map things within your line of sight, it will allow you to compile a map within the system of 'The Path'. I would suggest heading north. Note that when you first entered the world 'The Path' was able to make a basic map of the landmarks in your immediate vicinity for 50km. About 2km north, you should be able to find rock formations and water, which has a high probability of providing access to a cave which would be highly beneficial for your current situation. You can access the map by using the command 'Toggle Map' or 'Toggle Minimap'.*)&nbsp; After the explanation, Vahn tried using both commands. He noted that 'Toggle Map' showed a very large birds-eye view of the surrounding area. He could even see a large portion of the western section of Orario, though the buildings were presently unmarked. To the north, a distance that didn't seem that far, he was able to spot the 'rock formations' Sis had previously mentioned. Considering that much of the surrounding area was dense trees, he agreed it would be the best choice. He closed the map using a mental command, and then tried 'Toggle Minimap'. Within the peripheral of his sight, he could see a circular, somewhat transparent map, much smaller than the one he had used previously. It also showed his line of sight as a cone emitting from the arrow within the center of the map. He noted that, whenever he turned to look at objects they were immediately updated on the minimap, enabling him to see their presence even when turning away.&nbsp; "This is going to be a useful function. As long as I have this, any place I've been to I'll be able to return to without getting lost. But won't this be incredibly overpowered when I finally enter dungeons?" Though he didn't mind taking advantage of all the features provided by 'The Path', Vahn didn't like the ingenuous feeling lingering in his heart.&nbsp; (*You don't have to worry about that Vahn. Many of the Dungeons within this world are similar to living creatures. They are able to change their layout and alter their structure over time. Though you will definitely have an advantage in general mapping capabilities, it isn't to the extent where it will allow you to far exceed others. After all, anyone could draw up a map as they progress into the dungeon, it just takes more time compared to the map function of 'The Path'.*)&nbsp; Vahn was convinced by what Sis had said. He also understood that focusing on the map could distract him from things happening around him. Though he could mentally move the map around using his thoughts, it did take up a part of his vision.&nbsp; He began walking towards the northern direction. On his way, he made sure to look around his vicinity while trying to map everything he could see. Periodically he would use the 'Toggle Map' command to see the larger map. He noticed he was able to zoom in on the areas he had traversed, and the area of focus now had all the details he had mapped using his minimap.&nbsp; Though the area of the rock formation was only 2km away, Vahn noted that it was very physically demanding to move through the forest. His clothes would constantly get stuck on the various plants and shrubbery, and he began to develop rashes around the scrapes that began to accumulate on his arms and face. It took him an entire two hours to finally arrive at his destination, and he noticed that the sky was beginning to darken. On his minimap, he could see that the cone that depicted his line of sight had begun to shrink, and it became more difficult to map things as he progressed through the rock formations.&nbsp; After another half hour of searching, as the sun continued its descent, Vahn finally found a small cave near a creek. As he approached to investigate, he heard strange noises coming from the shrubbery to his left. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand, as a cold sickening chill crept down his spine.&nbsp; Turning towards the source of the noise, Vahn froze. Standing around 10m away, there stood a small emaciated green-skinned humanoid. The upper half of his body seemed to be covered in a leathery hide, while the bottom was entirely covered with dense fur. Its height was slightly under 1 meter, and its physique was similar to that of a small child. Vahn could see within its vicious red eyes a ferocity that shook him to the core.&nbsp; The monster, which Vahn recognized as a Goblin, looked directly into his eyes. It seemed to understand the terror he inspired as it slowly began to walk towards Vahn, waving a short serrated knife that seemed to be carved from stone.&nbsp; 10 meters...9 meters...8 meters...As the Goblin continued its approach Vahn stood absolutely still, unable to muster any thought of fighting or fleeing. Though he had spent his entire life in a lab having horrible experiments performed, he had never been in a combat situation. Though the eyes some of the researchers used to look at him were similar to the Goblin before him, it was nowhere near as vicious. Vahn knew, this Goblin genuinely wanted to kill him.&nbsp; 7 meters...6 meters...just as it began to reach the halfway point, Sis suddenly shouted out within his mind.&nbsp; (*Vahn, equip your weapons! The goblin has higher agility than you, so you have to fight back! You need to take the initiative or it will be too late!*)&nbsp; Vahn immediately snapped out due to the sudden exclamation from Sis. Just as he was about to equip his weapons, the Goblin seemed to have sensed his change and immediately lunged at him, aiming the small knife directly at his throat.&nbsp; Vahn twisted his neck back as quickly as he could, raising his arms to protect his face.&nbsp; The goblin continued it's lunge, impaling the small knife directly in Vahn's left arm before pulling it away, tearing away at his flesh due to the serrated qualities of the blade.&nbsp; Because of the sudden impact, Vahn was knocked off balance as a sharp pain coming from his left arm sent alarms ringing in his head.&nbsp; (*Vahn, you need to get up quickly. If you don't equip your weapons you won't be able to fight back!*)&nbsp; Vahn scrambled back, trying to right his footing as the goblin began to prepare another lunge. He crouched down, this time aiming towards Vahn's torso before jumping out at with murderous momentum.&nbsp; Catching the goblins movements in his eye, Vahn's mind felt a cooling sensation spread, seeming to dull the effects of the pain emitted from his left arm. He mentally tried to equip both of his weapons, causing the dagger to appear in his right hand while his left hand remained empty.&nbsp; Using the clarity brought about by the cooling sensation, Vahn shifted his weight and tried to use his now disabled left arm to absorb the oncoming lunge.&nbsp; Once again, the goblin's knife pierced into his already mangled flesh. It lifted its foot to try and kick off of Vahn's torso, using the leverage generated to rend the knife from the arm.&nbsp; Vahn used the brief window before the goblin is able to recover to throw all of his weight into the small-statured creature.&nbsp; Taken by surprise due to the young boy's movement, the goblin tried to back away and create a distance between it and the human standing before him. The moment it began to open the gap, it saw from the left side of its vision the shadow of a dagger aiming directly at its temple. Due to the previously generated momentum of its lunge, the goblin was unable to change directions in time and could only watch helplessly as the lethal strike approached.&nbsp; Completing his strike, Vahn fell powerlessly on the now dead goblin.&nbsp; The moment he touched the ground, he could feel a painful throb coming from his left arm, which he was now unable to move. He could feel the sickening flow of his blood as it left his body, reminding him of the thousands of similar times he felt it in his previous life. The cooling sensation in his mind began to become more powerful, and Vahn was able to notice his heart, which was previously beating rapidly due to the flooding of adrenaline, was now beginning to slow.&nbsp; As he lay on the ground atop the corpse of his first kill, he began to take deep an heavy breathes. He knew that Goblins were among the weakest creatures in this world, and had he failed to land the blow at the expense of his left arm he most likely would have died, bringing an end to his journey before it even started. He began to lament at his powerlessness, as a fierce desire to become stronger awakened deep within the core of his being.&nbsp; Mustering what strength remained in his body, Vahn stood up, hunched over. He began to hobble towards the entrance of the cave, praying that the interior might offer him safe haven through the coming night. He followed the entrance and continued onwards for about 20 meters before the cave suddenly opened up. Vahn noted quickly that the cavern was about 8 meters in diameter, and the walls were studded with small crystals that emitted a weak light which brought a mild illumination to the dark interior. Vahn cuddled up next to the brightest crystal in an effort to use its light to examine his wound.&nbsp; Suddenly, his thought process was once again brought to an immediate halt. As he looked at the blood dripping from the wound on his arm, Vahn couldn't help but feel a peculiar sensation, like butterflies within his stomach trying to bore their way out. The blood dripping from his arm was a deep crimson...a stark contrast from the pale golden colored blood that haunted him in his previous life.&nbsp; Inspecting the wound, he could see through the mangled flesh severed blood vessels and tendons, which helped explain why he was now unable to move it.&nbsp; "Luckily the knife was small and didn't break any bones..."&nbsp; (*Yes, but you need to wash the wound and apply pressure quickly. Goblin daggers are usually unclean, and the wound they cause, if left untreated could fester and even result in death!*)&nbsp; Vahn followed her instructions as he flushed the wound using the Decanter of Replenishment. He also made sure to drink several mouth-fulls himself to prevent passing out and developing a fever due to dehydration. As someone who was very experienced with dealing with blood loss, Vahn knew several of the important steps in treating wounds. It was just the fact that others typically dealt with any injuries he sustained that caused him to slightly overlook it.&nbsp; After cleaning and dressing the wound using a strip he had cut from his tunic, Vahn found a relatively flat area within the cavern to lay down. He noticed that the crystals within the cavern not only produced light, but they also emitted a very moderate amount of heat which kept the interior of the cave warm.&nbsp; As he lay back staring at the top of the cavern, he began to fantasize that each of the crystals was the various 'records' within 'The Path'. He imagined traversing through the worlds, becoming stronger, meeting both friends and enemies, and eventually even finding his mother...&nbsp; As he began to drift off into unconsciousness, one final thought came to Vahn's mind which he felt an urge to speak aloud.&nbsp; "I'm dying...blehh."&nbsp; (*RIP*)&nbsp; -THE END-&nbsp; (A/N: Just kidding~Next part is the real quote.)&nbsp; "I'm home..." he whispered into the cavern as sleep overtook him.

Vahn awoke several hours later with a powerful lethargy settled within his body. It was similar to the times when he was very young and the Doctors had been a little too ambitious and had drawn too much blood from his body.&nbsp; "How long have I been asleep Sis?"&nbsp; (*It's been 14 hours Vahn. It is currently 8:21 AM.*)&nbsp; "Fourteen hours..." sighed Vahn as he made an effort to stand. It took several tries, but eventually, he had managed to upright himself, albeit with a lot of difficulties. He put his hand along the cavern wall and began to make his way towards the exit.&nbsp; *noises made by a stomach when you haven't eaten a single bit of food your entire current life*&nbsp; Vahn removed his hand from the wall, leaning his body against its cold surface. He uses his free hand to massage his stomach in an effort to soothe it's hunger pangs&nbsp; "Sis, what do you think I should do for food. With my injured arm, I don't think I'll be able to hunt easily. I need food to recover my strength or my arm won't heal easily."&nbsp; Mentioning his arm, Vahn took a better look at it. He noticed the blood hadn't spread nearly as much as he expected. Perhaps the waterproofing qualities of the tunic managed to stimy the flow of blood&nbsp; (*I would recommend picking various plants and berries. One moment...I've marked areas on your map that you had passed previously. Though I cannot say at present which are edible, 'The Path' is able to analyze and identify the properties of items placed within. It may take time for higher quality items, or items that possess magic, but it should be able to easily identify if something is edible.*)&nbsp; Vahn sighed, this time with a bit of relief in his voice. "That's great Sis. It makes sense that 'The Path' would be able to make up for my lack of survival skills and information. Though the fact my inventory can analyze items seems pretty incredible, the fact it shows descriptions of my equipment should have been an indicator of that capability."&nbsp; He makes his way out of the cave and looks towards the area where he had previously slain the goblin. The body seems to have vanished overnight, and the only evidence of his mortal struggle was the small knife, a dull crystal that emitted a small light, and his blood which had dried into the ground.&nbsp; Vahn walked over, once again drawn to the presence of his own blood. He noted that it had not turned to ash, even though it had been outside of his body for so long without being stored. Most importantly is the fact that the blood, like the stains on his makeshift bandage, was a deep crimson red.&nbsp; "Sis, when my body was reconstructed, was my blood changed as well?" he inquired after thinking of the best method to ask.&nbsp; (*That is not entirely correct Vahn. Though I can't go into the details of what exactly happened, your blood still possesses similar qualities to what you had in your previous life. The primary difference is the existence of 'source' energy within this world, whereas your previous world had nothing comparable. Eventually, your blood will dissolve into dust, but the process will take much longer since the 'source' energy maintains it's vitality for an extended duration.*)&nbsp; Vahn was somewhat disappointed with her response. He had hoped that the changes to his body would make him normal...&nbsp; Noticing his demeanor, Sis remarked: (*Vahn, the uniqueness of your blood isn't something to be ashamed of. It is the fault of those that tried to use you for their own convenience that has caused you to feel this way. Remember, your blood is something that only exists because your mother had been willing to birth you even knowing it would likely result in her death. You should see your blood as the embodiment of her love for you, and use it and all its benefits to assist you in your growth.*)&nbsp; Startled, Vahn raised his head and looked towards the sky. Gripping his hands, he cursed inside himself at his weakness even though he had sworn to become strong.&nbsp; "You're right Sis. They used my blood to do whatever they want, but now I have the opportunity to use it as I see fit! I will show them their foolishness, by living freely and saving even more people than their cruelty allowed!"&nbsp; *hyper-aggressive omega tier stomach rumbling sounds*&nbsp; With a blush on his face, Vahn began to move into the forest to investigate the areas marked on his map. After gathering several different types of herbs, nuts, and berries, the system had managed to identify those that were edible.&nbsp; Since he had no methods to create a fire, he was forced to use stones to crack the nuts so they could be digested. It turns out, eating with a single hand is quite difficult, but it's amazing what you're able to do when starving.&nbsp; Vahn spent until 5 pm solely gathering any interesting or unidentified items he could find. He even collected various types of rocks and minerals in hopes the system would be able to analyze them over time. His progress was halted periodically since he made an extra effort to investigate his surroundings before moving on. He knew that if he were to be attacked by a monster at this time, it would likely be the last fight before his death.&nbsp; Eventually, he made his way back to the cave before sunset and took note of the days' harvest&nbsp; 'Display Inventory'&nbsp; Small-sized rock x 3, Medium sized rock x 1, Acorns (3kgs), Apples x 49, mulberries x 103, tayberries x 98, Unkown Mineral x 1, Unknown Mineral x 1, etc...&nbsp; He was grateful that the inventory allowed him to store similar items within the same slot. It was only when the object had unique qualities that it seemed to separate them, such as in the case of the 'unknown minerals'. He was also informed by Sis that items within the inventory didn't spoil, which was his original motivation for collecting so many different things.&nbsp; He was also able to fashion a sling for his arm after cleaning and changing the bandages. To his surprise, when the bandage was removed he was able to clearly see that it had begun to heal. There was also a slight tingling sensation traveling through his wrist, and when he made an effort he was able to wiggle his fingers slightly. After inquiring with Sis, he learned that it was due to the secondary effects of his blood, combined with the skill 'Yggdrasil's Favor'. Even though he hadn't learned any healing skills, it was able to enhance the effects of his blood and accelerate his natural healing. After scanning his body, Sis even informed him that his blood had completely prevented any possibility of infection from occurring, something which he should have known from his previous experiences. It seemed like Sis had been a little flustered at the time when she had urged me to tend to the wound, and that thought made him a little happy.&nbsp; After 10 days Vahn was surprised to learn his left arm had completely recovered. Now there was just a light scar tissue as the only proof the wound ever existed, and even it had begun to fade.&nbsp; Confirming he had stored an adequate amount of food during the 10 days, Vahn started considering methods to become stronger.&nbsp; "Sis, is there any way I can improve my stats without fighting monsters? I don't want to have to sacrifice body parts just to be able to kill a single goblin."&nbsp; (*I would recommend converting the crystal you had obtained from the goblin, as well as the iron and copper ore you had found into 'Origin Points'.*)&nbsp; Before he could ask, Sis continued.&nbsp; (*'Origin Points', or OP for short, is the currency that can be used to exchange for items using the system function 'Shop'. Please note that not all items can be converted into points, and converting items that do not belong to you requires a great deal of time and will result in the accumulation of negative karma.*)&nbsp; Vahn nodded his head in response.&nbsp; "I don't want to rely on stealing from others to grow strong anyways. People that take advantage of others are the type I hate the most, so I want to avoid becoming a person like that."&nbsp; 'Display Shop'&nbsp; Similar to when he had used the 'Display Records' function, a seemingly infinite list of items and their cost began to appear within his mind. Without being prompted, Vahn quickly made a mental command to only display items suitable for his soul tier.&nbsp; He noticed in the top left of the screen a value called OP, which was currently displayed with a domineering 0 points. After sorting through his inventory a bit, he found the only items that could be converted through the shop were the crystal and ores previously mentioned by Sis. After asking, Vahn learned that the shop used the 'source' energy found within the objects to create the Origin Points. After using a mental command for the exchange, the items turned into a dust so fine that it seemed to vanish into the air itself.&nbsp; The crystal had been exchanged for a total of 17 points, while the ores both sold for 5 OP per kilogram respectively. Since he had accumulated a fair amount over the last ten days, he managed to have a total of 47 points after the exchange concluded.&nbsp; After setting a filter for items that could improve his strength that cost less than 50 points, Vahn was annoyed to see the list was still very large.&nbsp; "Sis, what should I exchange for using my points? I need something that can help me grow stronger in a short period of time to remove the risk to my life while living in this area."&nbsp; (*Many of the items in the current list can only increase your stats for a short period of time. Some of the stronger ones even have side effects that could damage your foundation, which would make it harder for you to grow stronger. I would recommend you exchange 30 OP for three vials of 'body-tempering liquid'. You should also exchange 15 OP for a 'Beginner Close Quarters Combat Techniques Manual'. The remaining two points can be saved for now, or you could exchange them for 'Simple Linen Mat' and 'cracked firestone' to make living in the cave more comfortable.*)&nbsp; "Okay Sis, I trust your judgment. Please purchase all of the recommended items, including the mat and 'cracked firestone'.&nbsp; (*Acknowledged...Purchase complete. Items have been automatically added to your inventory Vahn.*)&nbsp; Vahn looked into his inventory and read the description of each item, as he was unable to see any information prior to the purchase. This is also the reason he was unaware of the temporary, and even negative effects of some items.&nbsp; Body Tempering Liquid&nbsp; Rank: (D)&nbsp; Use: Can be mixed into bath water. Soaking in the water after strenuous training accelerates recovery speed and promotes the strengthing of bones and muscles. *Caution* Causes immense pain.&nbsp; He shuddered a little bit at the 'causes immense pain' description.&nbsp; Beginner's Close Quarters Combat Techniques Manual&nbsp; Rank: (E)&nbsp; Use: Gives the user knowledge about close quarters combat techniques and auxiliary body training methods.&nbsp; The mat and firestone were self-explanatory, but Vahn was confused by how to use the techniques manual. After inquiring about it from Sis, it seemed to be a consumable item that could be placed into his chest similar to 'The Path'.&nbsp; Upon using the manual, a rush of information flood Vahn's mind. Images of various people performing martial arts and training cycled through his vision for roughly two hours until he passed out. Unfortunately, he was unable to use the mat he had just purchased and ended up sleeping on the hard floor...&nbsp; After awakening the following day with a mild migraine, Vahn organized the information in his mind and decided to put it to use. He asked Sis to create a training regiment that would allow his body to improve unilaterally. After reviewing it for about half an hour, Vahn was satisfied as it had accounted for his rate of growth and became more difficult as time progressed.&nbsp; He spent the first week performing basic physical exercises and stretching routines. He would awaken in the morning at sunrise. After half an hour of stretching, he would begin running around the around the largest rock formation in the area for about an hour. Though he wasn't able to run quickly, he noticed that his stamina was increasing rapidly due to the effects of his blood on his recovery.&nbsp; After finishing his run, he would bathe in a pool he had dug from the main flow of the creek. He had filled the pool with various crystals he had dug out of the cave, so it always maintained a moderate temperature even in the mornings. Following his bath, he would begin foraging in the woods to increase his food store, since Sis had warned him about the dangers of winter.&nbsp; Around noon he would begin his real workout. He spent another thirty minutes stretching before lifting rocks of different weight and moving them between two circles he had drawn out on the ground. The circles were 20m apart, and the exercise didn't end until he managed to move all the rocks from one point to the other. After this, he would be completely exhausted, and all the muscles in his body would protest against each movement. Fortunately, with the 'Pain Tolerance' skill, he was able to work through the pains and finish the exercise.&nbsp; Using some of the points that he had obtained by trading in various ore found within the creek, Vahn had managed to buy a metal basin which he stationed outside the entrance of the cave. He had originally wanted to use the 'body tempering liquid' in the pool he had dug, but Sis informed him that the essence would drain through the rocks into the ground.&nbsp; After emptying one of the vials of body tempering liquid into the basin, the once transparent water became turbid and evil boiled slightly. Using his leather belt as a gag, Vahn would submerge himself into the basin.&nbsp; The moment his foot touched the liquid, it felt as if the blood within his body became thick, stagnant, and heavy as lead. Gritting his teeth, he continued to submerge his body as the feeling spread to each area the water came into contact with. By the time the liquid had reached up to his neck, his body had begun to convulse slightly as a result of the pain racking his body.&nbsp; It was at times like this that Vahn actually hated the 'Pain Tolerance' skill because even though it prevented the pain from 'distracting' him, it actually made the experience worse since he was able to easily focus on the pain as it spread. He would periodically submerge his head while holding his breath, repeating the process over and over until his body was able to absorb the full medicinal effects of the liquid.&nbsp; Vahn continued this process for the entire 10 days until Sis informed him that the body tempering liquid would no longer have an effect. He would have to buy higher quality medicines if he wanted to continue, but she advised against it since building a foundation using medicines could lead to problems in his growth later on.&nbsp; Vahn was fine with this, as no matter how much time he spent in the basin it never got any easier.&nbsp; 'Display Skill Pain Tolerance'&nbsp; Pain Tolerance&nbsp; Rank: (S)&nbsp; The more damage the wielder sustains, the greater the effect this skill has on the mind. Does not inhibit pain, but prevents the wielder from being distracted by it. Gives a slight increase to attack power based on pain threshold.&nbsp;

After cementing his new-found conviction deep within his heart, Vahn continued inspecting the functions of the 'The Path'. He noticed there was a new function labeled 'View Affection' which he remembered obtaining from the 'Beginner's Package'. He decided to inquire about how it's used later, but for not focused on his 'Inventory' as suggested by Sis.&nbsp; Vahn stated within his mind, 'Display Inventory'&nbsp; Within his view, he could see a grid that, after counting, contained 27 empty spaces. To the left of the grid was a very rudimentary image of a human body with a total of 13 empty spaces. There was a single slot allocated to each of the: head, neck, torso, waist, legs. And there were two spaces each for hands, feet, wrists, and fingers. He could see that everything he was currently wearing was displayed on the image of the man. Upon closer inspection, he noticed he could even view the details of the items.&nbsp; 3-Layered Wool Tunic (Brown)&nbsp; Rank: (I) Torso Armor&nbsp; Slots: 0&nbsp; P.Def: 3 (Physical Defense)&nbsp; M.Def: 1 (Magical Defense)&nbsp; An insulated tunic that provides protection against the elements. Its three-layered function gives it basic waterproofing capabilities.&nbsp; Common Linen Trousers (Black)&nbsp; Rank: (I) Leg Armor&nbsp; Slots: 0&nbsp; P.Def: 2&nbsp; M.Def: 1&nbsp; A pair of trousers commonly worn by humans within the continent of Eden. (A/N: No pockets!)&nbsp; Tempered Leather Belt (Brown)&nbsp; Rank: (H) Waist Armor&nbsp; Slots: 2&nbsp; -Decanter of Replenishment&nbsp; P.Def: 1&nbsp; M.Def: 0&nbsp; A belt made from the hide of a minotaur. Possess a moderate durability and can hold two attached items.&nbsp; Decanter of Replenishment&nbsp; Rank: (B) Auxilary Waist Attachment&nbsp; Special Status: Indestructible&nbsp; A Decanter made from a mysterious entity at the bottom of the ocean. Blessed by the Goddess Amphitrite to replenish up to one liter of water per hour.&nbsp; Common Sheepskin Sandal (x2)&nbsp; Rank: (I)&nbsp; Slots: 0&nbsp; P.Def: 1&nbsp; M.Def: 1&nbsp; A common sandal that is worn by humans on the continent of Eden. Manufactured from sheepskin and hemp.&nbsp; Vahn was surprised, especially at the information about the 'Decanter of Replenishment'. With it, he didn't have to worry about finding a clean water source, and if he finds containers he can fill them with fresh water for bathing.&nbsp; As he continued inspecting what he recognized as his 'Equipment', he noticed there was an icon in the bottom-right corner of each equipment slot. It looked like two arrows which were following each other to draw a circle. When he thought about pressing it...&nbsp; "What on earth!?" Vahn exclaimed, noticing the Tunic he was previously wearing was now gone, leaving him bare-chested in the clearing. He noticed that the slot was now 'empty' with the faded image of the tunic behind it. When he thought of pressing it again the tunic immediately re-appeared.&nbsp; "So I can freely wear and remove the items I've placed into the equipment slots?"&nbsp; (*Thats correct Vahn. I'm impressed you were able to find out on your own so quickly. You should also take note of the equipment slots for each of your hands.*)&nbsp; Taking the advice given by Sis, Vahn noticed that there was a faded image behind each of his hand equipment slots. In the right slot, there was a dagger, while the left slot held a small hatchet. Toggling each, both the dagger and hatchet appeared in his hands. He inspected them.&nbsp; Common Steel Dagger&nbsp; Rank: (H)&nbsp; Slots: 0&nbsp; P.Atk: 90(+10)&nbsp; M.Atk: 10&nbsp; A dagger forged with a unique refining technique to give it increased durability. The blade has been polished thoroughly to give it increased attack power.&nbsp; Common Steel Hatchet&nbsp; Rank: (H)&nbsp; Slots: 0&nbsp; P.Atk: 110(+10)&nbsp; M.Atk: 0&nbsp; A hatchet forged with a unique refining technique to give it increased durability. The blade has been polished thoroughly to give it increased attack power. Gives an enhancement when felling wood.&nbsp; After reading their description, Vahn weighed each of them within his palms. The dagger was relatively light, even for Vahn, and it had an excellent balance even though the blade was about 20cm. The hatchet was much heavier, which was the likely reason for it's increased physical attack prowess. He noted that the blade was only about 13cm long with a thickness of around 4cm tapering into a wedge along it's blade-ridge. He also experimented with swapping the two items between his hands and noticed it immediately updated within his equipment slots.&nbsp; "This is so cool," remarked Vahn as he toggled the equipment over and over, watching as it vanished and re-appeared instantly within his hand.&nbsp; (*Ahem.*)&nbsp; Vahn was surprised at the sudden coughing sound within his mind, resulting in him dropping the dagger onto the ground. Since he was so focused on toggling the icon, he noticed that when he dropped the dagger the image within the slot vanished.&nbsp; Picking up the dagger, Vahn remarked, "Sorry about that Sis. It's just really cool seeing something disappear and re-appear like that. It's almost like a magic trick, and I just got distracted."&nbsp; In an almost apologetic sounding tone, he heard Sis reply.&nbsp; (*Thats fine Vahn, but remember your priorities. Right now it is around 3PM, so you need to begin looking for shelter and food before the sun sets.*)&nbsp; "Yes, Sis. Thank you for your reminder, but what happens when the sun sets?" inquired Vahn while looking at the bright orb floating within the sky.&nbsp; (*...When the Sun sets, the world becomes dark making things difficult to see. It's also when dangerous, nocturnal creatures begin hunting for food. If you are unable to find shelter before the sun sets it will become very dangerous when you're wondering about, much less trying to sleep.*)&nbsp; Vahn was shocked at the information. Since he had spent his entire life indoors, he had never seen what the actual sun and moon look like. All the information he had about he came from manga and anime, where even though it was slightly darker everyone seemed to be able to see and move about freely.&nbsp; "I understand. I'll begin looking for shelter immediately! But...where should I begin searching? I've never been in a forest before, so should I start heading towards Orario? Maybe I can find some of the characters from the story, or even join a Familia and start my journey!"&nbsp; As his excitement began to build, he was once again alarmed by what Sis said next.&nbsp; (*That will be impossible at present Vahn. Even though 30km isn't that far, you wouldn't be able to make it there before the sun sets. There is also the fact that entering the city requires money, so without items to trade or barter you would be unable to gain entrance to the city. But the most important factor is that many of the characters from the story may not even be in Orario at the moment.*)&nbsp; "What do you mean Sis? Why wouldn't they be there?"&nbsp; (*It is due to the fact you entered this world without designating a point and time of entry. To compensate for this, 'The Path' determined it would be most optimal for you to arrive here in the outskirts of the Western Forests. As for the reason characters may not yet be in Orario, that is because you are presently three years from the start of events in the story!*)

Chapter 8: First Blood : New Home