John's POV:

This is so amazing!

I'm completely out of breathe but I just can't stop laughing and running around!

I got a couple of square blue thingies in my vision sometime ago... I don't know what they said though... But who cares about that right now!

Running is so much fun!

Hah...ah...hah…

Can't run anymore... hah…

I finally had to stop and sit down to catch my breath. But I thought why not lie down in the grass? I lied down and the sky was so beautiful!

I had never seen the sky so completely before! It stretched out in all directions as far as I could see, there was no end to it!

Birds were also flying around, I wish I could fly, it looks fun!

I don't think I have ever been so happy!

If only the little blue square thingies would stop flashing in the upper right corner of my vision.

I tried to get them away but as soon as I touched them they expanded and covered my entire sight!

Congratulations!

Due to constantly pushing your body to the limits you have gained:

+1 Stamina

There were some words written on the blue square... But I don't know what it said. I wish I could read....

There were two of these squares but I didn't know what they meant!

I tried to understand some words but I have never seen a book before... This is starting to get annoying!

I angrily swiped my hand trying to push the squares away and it worked! Both the squares vanished!

I then noticed that I could see strange things. In the upper left corner of my vision there was a red bar and a blue one, with some letters on top of each but I couldn’t even understand that!

I don’t know if these squares and these letters on top of bars are important… they must be.

But I have no idea on how to understand them. Maybe I could ask someone?

No!

These must be basic things, and asking questions about basic things gets you hurt.

But I really need to understand these things… I should learn how to read!

Yes!

Oh no… But I don’t know how to learn?

I will have to ask someone to help me… But no one has ever helped me… Why would anyone start helping me now?

I guess I can just go on without learning how to read…

But then I remembered how I didn’t know the meaning of so many words that Mr. Leonard and Dr. Richard said…

And I also have to pick a name for myself! I don’t know many names, without learning how to read how can I pick a good name?

That’s it! No more time wasting, I have to get stronger and to get stronger I must first get knowledge about all the basic things so that I don’t make any mistakes!

I have to learn to get stronger!

Having made up my mind, I got up and turned to look towards the houses and buildings I had stayed away from so far… *Shudder*

Am I really going to go and ask for help from a person? It’s too scary… But no! I have to do it no matter what! I am tall now and I can also run, if someone starts to hurt me I’ll just run away!

With my heart beating trying to jump out of my chest, I walked slowly towards the houses…. slowly… don’t make any noise… don’t let people know you are here… someone’s coming! Hide!

I tried to find somewhere to hide but I was right in the middle of the field! No trees, no bushes… nothing to hide behind!

Before I could start running, a voice called out to me, “Hey there young lad! Mind giving this old lady a hand?”

Is someone talking to me?! I cautiously turned towards the voice and saw a very,very old woman with a walking cane on one hand and a bag on the other. Her hair was completely white, a face covered with wrinkles and she was also wearing glasses to help her see better I guess? Walking cane… If she tries to hurt me I can simply run away! Ok… I think this lady is safe enough… and what did she say? She needs my help? Maybe if I help her she won’t do anything bad to me…?

“What are you staring at boy? Are you going to help me or not?” the old woman suddenly said.

There was suddenly a DING! sound and another blue square appeared! But this time it didn’t stay on the right side flashing but automatically came up right in front of me!

Quest: Help Margaret

Help the old woman Margaret carry her heavy bag to her house.

Quest difficulty: F

Quest Rewards: 10 copper

I didn’t know what it said so I tried to ignore it and just answered the old woman, “Yes… yes I’ll help you!”

There was another DING! sound and the blue square vanished! Wonder what happened to it…?

But there was no time to think, I slowly walked up to the woman, keeping a sharp eye on her in case she would hit me… I slowly reached her and she handed me her bag saying, “Thanks, lad.”

Wow! The bag is heavy! “My name is Margaret, what’s yours boy?” the old woman then asked.

Name? I don’t… Ah yes! I do have a name for now, “John is my name. Pleased to meet you.”

I hope I was polite enough, I don’t think I will be able to run fast enough with this heavy bag if she tries to hit me!

“My what a polite lad. Come this way John, my house is just over there.” Old lady Margaret then said.

I followed her silently while keeping a bit of a distance, I had planned to throw down the bag and then run for it if there was a need for it! The bag really was heavy, it was hard walking with it. Poor old lady had to carry all this by herself. I then noticed another small blue square on the right side of my vision, but ignored it for now. No use trying to see it when I can’t understand it.

We slowly walked in silence, and after about 5 minutes we finally reached her house. Luckily it was right on the edge of the fields so I didn’t have to go through the congested streets of the village. Lucky me!

She fiddled around with a key and then opened the door of her house and said, “Thank you for the help dear boy. Why don’t you put the bag over at the table there and I’ll give you your rewards.”

I have to go inside? No… that sounds dangerous… But I don’t think she wants to hurt me… Ah I’ll just quickly put the bag and run away outside again! I quickly went towards the table and tried to put the bag down quickly, but a book fell down out of the bag! Oh no! I now have to spend more time picking up the book and… wait… a book?

“What’s the problem John? You like the book?” asked Margaret.

“No…. Umm… that is… do you know how to read?” I asked hesitatingly

“Know how to read? Hahahaha! What are you talking about boy? I love to read! I have been reading books since I was a wee little las! That whole bag is filled with the latest books I just got from the library!” said Margaret with a proud smile on her face. “Now, enough chit chat, thank you for your help once again! Here come I will give you your reward.”

Library? What’s that? Eh… another basic thing I probably don’t know. That’s it! That’s too many things I don’t know! I have to learn quickly! This old woman seems a bit crazy but I don’t know she doesn’t seem harmful. I can always run away! And what’s this about rewards she keeps saying? Something in return for my help? Ooh! I have an idea!

“Miss Margaret, could you please teach me how to read as a reward?” I asked with a firm heart. This old lady might be the best chance for me to learn safely.

“Huh? Teach you how to read? Young man don’t say you don’t even know how to read at your age?”

I lowered my head down in shame. What could I say? I really was ashamed at how much I didn’t know. Before I knew it my eyes started to cloud over with tears…

“Ah.. don’t worry child. I was just surprised that’s all. No need to be ashamed about anything. I’ll teach you everything I know!” Margaret said with a kind smile on her face.

This is great! I wiped away my tears and asked excitedly, “Really? You promise?”

Laughing, Margaret said, “Yes yes sweet boy, I promise to teach you how to read.”

There was suddenly another DING! sound and my vision was once again covered by a blue square.

Quest update: Help Margaret

You have completed this quest!

I hurriedly swiped my hand to push the blue square away and excitedly turned to Margaret. Finally I will be able to start learning how to read! This is great!

“That’s the spirit! You remind of my younger days when I used to be so eager to read. Come over boy, I’ll start you off by teaching you the alphabet, do you know what that is?” asked Margaret.

“Ummm… no?” Another basic thing I don’t know… When will I start to be able to understand things! I’m more determined then ever now! Learning is a must for me!

“No worries, I’ll start you off right from the start then. But it will take a long time so you must not get tired no matter what, understand?”

I nodded, yes, no shortcuts while learning! Margaret beckoned me to come over to the table and I advanced firmly, ‘I don’t care how scared I am of being indoors, I have to push away my fears. I must learn!’

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Author's note: Sorry I have been unable to respond to some of the previous comments on the earlier chapters, I'll get to it soon.

Hope you enjoy reading this chapter, I'm still having a hard time deciding on a specific length for a chapter...

I wrote this in a hurry so if there are any mistakes please do let me know so I can correct them.

Thanks for reading!

Edit: Corrected some mistakes I spotted. Also, I think the previous font was a bit better...?