Day 3

Shrieking, stabbing and getting ready. I am not getting into that, but that’s the order it happened in.

The part I am getting into is Maylon cleansing herself unfortunately other than seeing her backless I was dragged away by the Abbe. Let me tell you right here, she is a peerless beauty; her back was smooth and white as a pearl.... *imagination running wild*

It was only noon however today my resistance to heat increased by another 1%.

I also gained a new stat; Moisture Retention.

Memory blob levelled up; marginal improvement.

I tried talking to Abbe Faria, however the morning antics had worn him out already. I wonder if he noticed that I just became marginally stronger?

Our journey is quiet. We try not to speak to conserve our strength.

I have many questions; some for the Abbe and some for the creator of this game?

The Abbe ones pertain to magic and this world. However, if he isn’t interested in telling me about it, I am not interested in listening.

Let’s go with I just have that kind of attitude. To the best of my memories I have never pursued gaming to beat others. So do not think of me as a gamer who will make the most rationale gaming decisions. I am just an ordinary person. I play virtual reality for the adventure; to add to the spice that life needs etc etc. I think of hard core gamers like rats in a rat race. They are all competing to win....the problem is even if they win they still remain a rat....but that's just my analogy. Honestly, its each to their own. Everyone has a different reason for playing virtual reality games what counts is ones sincerity towards the game. If a gamer can answer that he/she has enjoyed every moment, which includes victories and defeats, then it is acceptable - but one who strives only to win will win superficially....too philosophical of me?

This brings me to the second part of my questions; questions to the creator of this game.

How long have I been logged in? I haven’t seen menu option. No add friends option. No log out button. I knew I was logging into a game…but I kind of expected a log out button…a prison cell would have been nice as well….I wonder if they have my body rigged up with IV fluids etc.

The day ends without any incident.

I am fairly content with my progress. However, there are some things that I have come to understand; it is more likely my progress is at snail pace if not slower compared to other players in this game.

I do not know the objective of this game; however every game is the same – becoming number 1…some sort of ruler….save the princess..I look forward to the last one if it is the objective of the game.

Night 3

I head out tonight as well hunting.

I notice Gustav heading out as well.

He doesn’t notice me.

I am not interested in him either.

I have my pride as a superior being. I am sure it is a matter of luck. Yesterday he caught something and today I might….. I caught nothing tonight as well.

The damned brat returned with a dead fox - very much similar to the one found in our world except it has four eyes. I want to ask Gustav; 'What did the fox say?'.

Anyways, there is always another night to go hunting.

Day 4

I woke up a bit early today. I didn’t like being burnt by the light. I certainly didn’t enjoy morning lung exercises. I also didn’t enjoy being punched.

I slid away from Maylon; somehow we just end up sleeping side by side each other....it really isn't me who curls up next to her and then transforms into a slime blanket....muahahaha..

I see that the Abbe is awake as well. He is simply sitting in a meditating like pose and doing some sort of breathing exercise.

The damned brat is thankfully asleep.

“You seem to be up early?” The Abbe asked.

“Yes, I didn’t want to be burnt today.”

The Abbe chuckled.

“Magic is related to feeling. Try to understand the nature of magic you are trying to bring forth.”

Did the Abbe just give me advice?

How do I react? Should I thank him? Should I ask more questions?

Before I can say anything the Abbe speaks on, “One question for today.”

Yes!

“So if you say nature of magic….if I put anger into my emotions would it mean I can summon fire?”

“If you associate fire with anger, then yes. However, everyone has their own way. Let me know if this does not work.”

I simply nod.

“I had another question…more to do with the child.”

“Ask.”

“Why does he listen to you? And not me, even though I am his Master?”

“Would you listen to a stone?”

Argh! Him and his metaphorical love for metaphors.

“No…” Just going along with it now….

“Would you listen to a desert rat?”

“No….”

“Then why should that boy listen to you?”

“Cause I am his master…”

“Sora, I doubt other than Maylon anyone here will really listen to your commands and she too listens because of her inability to cope with her fears.” The Abbe’s word stung me. “The weak listen to the strong. That is the natural order of the world. It can never be the weak giving orders to the strong. Do not underestimate him for being a young boy. He is a child of the Garzal tribe - an ancient powerful tribe. A tribe none for much bloodshed and violence.”

"But he is still a child right?" I argue back.

"In my eyes he is very much a warrior as you are. Be it monsters or humans, I treat all warriors the same."

This is what the Abbe's comments felt like: Sting. Sting. Sting.

So this is like the alpha male thing and I am not alpha.

As sunlight trickled through the clouds, the Abbe woke up the other two.

Our journey today continued like any other day. I didn’t get into practicing magic immediately. What if I accidently summon fire? I’d instantly kill myself.

Today was another good day;

Resistance to heat increased (Lvl 1) – 3%

Moisture Retention levelled up! – Level 2

Memory blob levelled up! – Level 2

Night 4

Both Gustav and I head out hunting again tonight. Our timing coincides; not by chance though – mostly me.

He notices me but ignores me.

I am not interested in him either – as usual.

I have my pride as a superior hunter. Yesterday he was lucky. Luck has its highs and lows. It’s not like coin flipping.….. I caught nothing tonight as well.

He brought back more “big meat chunk” as Maylon called it. It sounded so lewd when she said it.

My pride is taking a hammering but I am not going to give up.

Day 5

I tried the whole magic feeling stuff…it didn’t work. Will need to work on that; on the other hand -

Resistance to heat increased (Lvl 1) – 4%

Moisture Retention levelled up! – Level 3

Memory blob levelled up! – Level 3

Night 5

I must be doing something wrong. It wasn’t a mismatch on timing last night....we both went hunting at the same time….then it might be location.

Gustav notices me and snorts...it’s the kind of snort that said you suck.

I have my pride as a monster….however I retain the intelligence of a human. Tonight I simply follow Gustav.

He notices me trailing him and begins running fast.

I can’t catch up. If I try running, I might end up leaving a leg behind. This body is still new to me and requires getting used to. I give up on him and return back.

There are others things that can be done during this time...I tried to talk to Maylon and the Abbe about this world. However, Maylon is too terrified to reply. When she is scared she looks extra cute. The Abbe as usual is dead tired. I am not bothered about not acquiring information on this - I would like information but I know as long as I am alive I can get all the information I need by simply living in this world. Also, its not like the Abbe is going anywhere.

That night Gustav returned with more desert rats.

I wonder if he has a hidden stash somewhere?

Day 6

Magic stuff still not working….our progress is as slow as ever…I am beginning to wonder if this desert ends….it seems pretty endless to me….

Resistance to heat increased (Lvl 2) – 5%

Moisture Retention levelled up! – Level 4

Memory blob levelled up! – Level 4

Night 6

Gustav is trying to out run me, however with my memory blob levelling up, I am finally able to keep up with him …. All of me is able to keep up with him.

Neither he nor I have vastly different stamina.

He seems to be tired and upset….mostly upset that I am following him.

It seemed like he was going to cry so I explained myself.

“I just want to see how you hunt. Even I want to hunt…”

Its like buy a hungry man a fish and satisfy is hunger for a day, teach him how to fish - satisfy his hunger for a lifetime? I did learn cooking in Royal Road - I wasn't the best cook but I recognized early on hunting and cooking were essential skills if one wanted to get by in Royal Road. Especially earlier on in the game acquiring ingredients was such a pain....but that is a story for another time.

“Too much blood thirst.” Gustav relented and finally spoke to me!

I didn’t understand what he meant at first.

However, as I followed him it became clear.

He was following something….some kind of tracking skill…and that something seemed to know we were coming after it… every time he thought he caught it…it was gone…and then he would look at me and say “Too much blood thirst!”

Hmmmm…. I think I finally understand what he means….my blood thirst is scaring away my own prey.

Monsters are different from Humans; humans have a on and off gauge when it comes to something like blood thirst. Monsters don’t.

I returned to the camp for tonight. I care more about food than spoiling the hunt.

The Abbe was awake and he seemed to be doing some sort of a ritual.

“What are you doing?” I ask him casually.

“Casting a ward…”

“For?”

“So that we don’t become someone else’s late night snack.”

That night I came to truly appreciate my guardians without whom I am 100% sure I wouldn’t have survived.

Day 7

I have come to understand why the Abbe tires out so much. In the morning he has to cover me with ice magic which is active all day and at night he casts a ward which is active all night. The old man is practically working 24x7.

The usual level ups followed:

Resistance to heat increased (Lvl 2) – 7%

Moisture Retention levelled up! – Level 5

Memory blob levelled up! – Level 5

There was an addition to my stats:

Enhanced memory blob – Level 1

I can finally focus on slightly more detailed features of my body. For example: I can now make legs of the same height and width…that’s about it.

I also learnt a new skill: Stealth.

I am not entirely sure how I learnt it, but it helps me cloak my fighting spirit and also my presence. Maylon better be aware…I think if I level this up sufficiently…I can catch her taking a shower and she wouldn’t even know it….either ways it a long way to go before I can actually hunt. I am certain even if I went hunting now it wouldn’t work.

Another skill I plan to learn is tracking. The brat used it pretty well and it seemed to be a very important skill. Once again I am not sure how I will learn it but these skills are very similar to those found in Royal Road. Although majority of the times players learn skills such as these from NPCs etc there are times when repeating actions also results in learning skills. Like when a player uses a bow and arrow, although one may not be an archer it doesn’t restrict their use of using the bow and arrow proficiently.

I am making no progress on the magic front. I want to ask the Abbe more questions however I find myself hesitating. The old man is just giving it his all and I am being a prickly pain in his rear by asking him more questions. Furthermore, as his student it’s shameful I am making no progress …. No more than that….I am ashamed it’s taking so long to learn magic. Worse still I fear I am incapable of using magic because I am a monster….

Other than that, I have created a power which I have no idea how to activate.

My assessment of my self – poor. I am progressing far slower than I imagined.

Night 7

Something unexpected happened at the end of our journey today. The Abbe collapsed; he had fever and not an ounce of energy left to stand. The poor old man drained himself.

I am not worried but Gustav seems to be frantic and panicking. I think the young child became attached to the alpha male.

I didn’t guess it was the monstrous worms who had been trailing us for the last so many nights.

The only reason they hadn’t attacked us till now was because every evening the Abbe would cast a ward to conceal our presence….that is until tonight.