At dusk, a few hours before a certain werewolf were to wear his fur, a certain plant sprouted from its seed. A darkly colored green plant with wide heart shaped leaves pushed up through the mud next to a large rock by a stream. Thin while veins covered the surface of the leaves in a multitude of spidery lines, almost like the veins beneath one’s skin. At first it was just two small leaves, barely a centimeter wide, but as the sun sunk and the deep part of the Pines faded into a whispering gloom several more little leave joined the first.

They were curious things those plants. A rare herb known only to those with a interest in healing and harm. If prepared correctly the sweet nectar of the flowers could energize the blood or mend simple wounds. Healing potions of the stronger kind often used ground up petals of this kind in them. The leaves on the other hand bled a white gooey substance that could paralyze or even kill if consumed in too large volumes, or if the plant itself had grown old and potent enough. Many poison brewers drew on these properties to create slow or fast concoctions that could slip past resistances and awareness alike.

These rare herbs were known as Alchemist Stalk in most circles, Lost Lanterns among witches, or simply as mandragora should they ever be influenced by Ilo and join her ilk. While all changeling Alchemist Stalks would be called mandragora, not all mandragora would have been Alchemist Stalks. Such a misleading name was used anyway due to the rarity of such plant based changelings. The mandragora were known to have started life in the form of plants, often mimicking a nearby plant to blend in with its surroundings. Only once it fulfilled some kind of condition, often growing to a certain size or reaching a certain age, would the plant stop pretending and dig itself up to wander around as a vaguely human shaped creature. They were most active during the night and typically fed on humans, like most other changelings. They also kept the properties of whichever plant they’d spent their childhood mimicking, thus making poisonous ones twice as dangerous as non-poisonous ones, and carnivorous ones even more dangerous yet due to their inherent hunger and experience in trapping other creatures. Up until they reached that stage of awakening they were practically impossible to spot in the wild.

This is why no one, not even the creatures living in the forest themselves, knew that among this cluster of Alchemist Stalks one single mandragora had taken root. Even less known was it that this particular changeling had inherited a very rare sort of soul. The witches had dubbed the plant Lost Lantern because of their glowing pink flowers, and for what was believed to be the remnants of the soul of someone that got lost and died in the wilderness. What they didn’t know was that nearly any kind of soul would do, from anywhere, not just lost people dying in the same area as the plant seeds ended up. As such some Lost Lanterns could gain odd traits and behaviours. A plant with the soul of a desert traveler would often seek sun more than water due to the familiar heat. The soul of a loner would rarely take root in the middle of clusters, but would thrive if it managed to grow far away from other plants. These odd quirks and preferences often made the plant nearly impossible to raise in a garden since they would wither away if they didn’t feel at home or their surroundings were too unsimiliar to what they were used to in life.

What set this herb apart, both as a Alchemist Stalk and as a Mandragora, was that unlike its kin that all only had shards of old souls within them, this one had a fully intact and aware soul residing in it. And it was ranting.

‘...Activate… Motherlode… Status open… ’

The plant had woken up from its comatose state as a seed only a few hours ago, and it had wasted no time after its awakening in trying to figure out a way to open some kind of menu. For one reason or another, the mandragora had decided that being reborn as a plant in a seemingly different world from its own, must definitely mean that its some kind of budding hero born with otherworldly cheat abilities meant to aid it in achieving a fate full of glory. To its great dismay such didn’t seem the case though. Unfortunately for whatever entity could hear its rambling thoughts though, the plant had decided that the ‘system’ was just extremely picky and strict. As such it had decided to try every command it could think of until something happened.

Which led to a rant that would drive anyone nuts.

‘... Set gamemode 1… Journal… Questbook…’

It wouldn’t be too farfetched to say that if some kind of otherworldly force was indeed listening it, it would be very tired of listening to the rant by now.

‘...Menu… Inspect… Skills… Skill list… Sesam opene…’

As in very tired. He’s been at this for hours.

‘Simalakazamkablam-’

The world decided that enough is enough.

Status opened. Welcome new user!

‘Wha- oh hey it actually worked! Let me see my status! Oh, and evolutions and skills and-’

We’ve updated our privacy policy. Please read through the new policy closely before proceeding.

‘Are you for real?! You can’t be serious! Not here too! Come on you gotta be-’

We’ve updated our privacy policy. Please read through the new policy closely before proceeding.

‘Ok ok yes sure. Show me the policy. But seriously… Why?’

By continuing you agree that you can not, should not, and will not, use this system to contact Igor, Ilo, or Katrina.

The intent of this feature is to aid user in further survival and evolution.

Do you agree to these terms?

Yes No

‘Wait that’s it? Who’re Igor, Ilo, and Katrina?’

Yes No

‘What happens if I don’t? I mean what if I accidently do that or something.’

Yes No

‘That’s not very helpful.’

Y̵̢̝͎͌̂ȇ̶̦̫̆ͅș̸̘̽̽̔̕ Ņ̷̱̬͂̒͆̍o̴̮̒́

‘Ok fine! Yes! I agree! Why’re you making that noise?!’

Thank you.

The system will provide user with trivia and guidance when deemed appropriate.

Good luck surviving!

‘That is ominous… Hey system, what am I?’

You are a plant commonly known as Alchemist Stalk or Lost Lantern, often sought after by healers, potion brewers, poison brewers, and magic users.

Due to Ilo’s influence you have the ability to evolve into a Mandragora.

‘Wait I’m a crafting material?! If I’m turned into a potion I’ll die right?!’

Correct.

‘That’s bullshit! Can I move?’

The plant did his best to feel his own body, seeing if he could make it move. Aside from making his leaves flutter a bit, nothing happened. The mechanical voice of the system made sure to rub that fact in.

You cannot.

‘How am I supposed to get anywhere then?!’

If you evolve into a mandragora you will gain the ability to move around like a creature for short amounts of time. Further evolution and growth may strengthen or unlock entirely new traits.

‘Aight what’s a mandragora and how do I turn into one?’

A mandragora is a plant turned changeling due to the influence of Ilo. Mandragora roots are vaguely human shaped and able to produce sound. Mandragora keep the traits of the plants they started as.

‘Right so how do I evolve?’

...

‘System?’

...

‘Hello? Did you crash? Can I restart you or something? Hello? Why did you go quiet? System?’

Silence indicates that your question was deemed inappropriate.

‘Oh you’re still here. So you can’t tell me how to evolve?’

No.

‘This system sucks.’

The plant turned his attention back to his surroundings after that, still curious about what could trigger this evolution. He couldn’t wait to be able to move and explore! He didn’t even remember how he died, just that one moment he’d been alive, and the next not. It was all kind of a blur towards the end of his former life. Even his own name was hard to recall. He had a feeling he knew it, at least for awhile. The more time that passed the more of his old memories started to turn hazy.

‘Oh well, this is a fresh start. Adventure and glory awaits for the hero of flowers! No wait that sounds kinda dumb. Hero of herbs? Sounds like a drug dealer. Does this world have drugs?’

...

‘Fine, be like that then. Hmmm… Hero of legend… Hero of thorns? Hero of… What will I be the hero of? Or am I gonna become a demon king? That’d be kinda cool. Be a dark and brooding master mind with armies of demons and a harem of cute demon girls. Hehee…’

......

‘I have a feeling I’m being judged. Hey don’t blame me! That’s how these kind of stories are supposed to go! A normal human guy gets hit by a truck or something and reincarnates as the hero of destiny in a fantasy world with magic and monsters and cute girls to bring on his journey. That’s the script. I don’t make the rules. It’s just how it is.’

...

‘So first Imma start all weak and small like this, then I find a glitch or a way to kill monsters so I can farm xp and level up and evolve into something cooler like a plant dragon thing. I’ll get some cool power and learn to talk. Befriend some kingdom by saving them from disaster, or enslaving them with my awesome powers of doom and demanding tributes if I go the evil route.’

...

‘I dunno if I’ll go the evil route though. I mean it’s tempting, but that kinda means I need to kill people right? As badass as being a people eating dragon of doom sounds, I think I’ll decline and stay humble as a shining knight in armor or something.’

......

‘It feels like you’re trying to tell me something but not really at the same time. What’s up system?’

...

‘Still grumpy. Geez. I’m just rambling ok, don’t take it too seriously. I’m new at this. I mean, I read a LOT of novels like this but still, kinda new at you know, being in it. That’s what’s going on right? I’ve reincarnated? I’m not just having a weird dream am I? It’s getting kinda dark… I swear if you turn this into a nightmare instead system Imma feel betrayed.’

This is not a dream.

‘Oh, you spoke. Aight… Well that’s good to know. I’m not having second thoughts or anything. I think this’ll be awesome! Adventure and magic and swords and stuff… As long as I don’t get turned into a potion. That’d suck.’

...

As the plant ranted on the forest ever so slowly turned pitch black, the sun far too low to get any light past the giant pines or the outer layer of smaller trees. The reincarnated human’s prattling about swords and magic and mythical companions slowly lost some of its enthusiasm as even his perception of the area started to black out due to the darkness.

‘Hey system… It’s VERY dark now. Is it supposed to be this dark?’

...

‘...Hey wha-’

A distant roar cut the plant’s thought off. The deep sound then turned into a hysterical cackle, so distorted and full of mirth that it made the plant’s leaves tremble. It sounded far off, but whatever made that noise sounded big.

‘...Do I have to do this? Are you sure it’s not a dream?... Couldn’t I die really easily if like a rabbit or something spotted me… System?...’

The system’s voice didn’t speak for a bit. It seemed to hesitate. The plant felt another chill as the laughter in the far distance stopped abruptly, leaving him in complete silence once more.

‘...’

...Common herbivores avoid eating Alchemist Stalk due to the poisonous leaves. Very few animals will dare try. Humans and other races able to use Alchemist Stalk are rare in this area.

‘...Oh! Ok… So I’ll be fine? Probably. Thank you. I’ll uh- yeah…’

The plant felt kind of silly as he fell silent, then a twig somewhere snapped and he felt his leaves tremble again. He felt as if things were moving just out of sight behind the large roots and bushes surrounding the clearing. Even the shallow waters of the stream seemed like they could hide things under the dark surface. If the plant had had a heart, it would be beating faster and faster as time went on and the nightly creatures woke up. He felt a deep sense of terror whenever something shifted in the dark. Then suddenly the other plants around him started to move and-

The bulbous buds tipping the thick stalks of the other plants opened up to reveal glowing clusters of pink flowers. Stuck in the middle as he was, the plant soon found himself surrounded by the warm light until only a little of the surrounding forest could be seen past the glowing plants. A gust of wind ruffled through the cluster of plants gently, filling the air with the calming sound of leaves brushing against each other. The sounds of the stream close by grew louder, just a bit. As the system spoke again, the plant felt a little more at ease.

You are young and hard to spot among the other plants. Barely any creatures have reason to approach Alchemist Stalks, and most creatures will actively avoid things that glow at night.

A sense of comfort and calm washed over the plant as the system spoke. The night got a little bit brighter. When he turned his vision upwards he noticed a nearly full moon slowly appearing high above where the pines gave way for the sky. It was a beautiful sight. When a distant bang rose up in the distance the wind blew again, blocking the noise off with the rustle of leaves and rushing water. The system’s voice followed not long after, sounding just a bit gentler this time. Somehow. It was still robotic and monotone, but the plant liked to imagine that there was just a little bit of warmth in the words this time.

Why don’t you choose a name? Names are important to you are they not?

‘Oh, well… I’m not that good at naming things. I kind of forgot… my own.’

Robin is a common name in these parts. Kara, Katra, Rina, and other names similar to Katrina are popular among humans that wish to be watched over by the goddess of humanity.

‘That’s who she is? Wait does that mean there’s a way to speak to gods by using this system?’

...

‘Right, not supposed to do that. My bad. Uh… what about some name meaning light? Will I glow at night too if I bloom?’

If you sprout flowers they will most likely glow.

Lucian, Luno, Lux, and Luhnan, are a few popular names among elves worshipping the moon and the sun.

‘I like Luhnan. Can that be my name? Does it mean anything?’

It is a name often given to children with light hair.

‘I’ll name myself Luhnan.’

Welcome to the world Luhnan.

‘...Thank you.’