Tobi woke slowly.
At first, it was just the weight of the blanket and the dull ache across his feet, a firm reminder of his lack of shoes and time spent walking. The surface beneath him was much firmer than he was used to, but not entirely uncomfortable. Lingering in the air was the scent of old paper and polished wood.
For a few moments, it felt... almost familiar.
Then his eyes opened.
Everything was wrong, the ceiling too low. The bright sunlight filtered in through narrow windows, providing ample illumination. 'Where's my... I'm still here?' He turned on the ground, looking towards the shelves full of books. Around him, soft breaths rose and fell. Too many of them, too close, it felt like more than the previous night.
Tobi stayed still, allowing the weight of realization to wash over him. He didn't fight the feeling.
'This can't be...'
Careful not to disturb anyone, Tobi sat up quietly. He could see two figures awake, reading silently at a table. Some others stirred slightly, shifting under blankets as he moved. Liam, in particular, mumbled something incoherent as he rolled onto his other side.
Gently, he stood and passed by the secretive old man and Marie at a table. "Could one of you pinch me?" He asked in a hushed voice.
The old man actually responded, "There's no point, we are all stuck here."
Nodding, Tobi continued moving, pinching himself for good measure. Whatever panic he'd carried yesterday stayed behind on the forest floor.
He drifted towards the bookshelves furthest from the sleeping. There were some notable books on imperial history, farming methods, and even folk tales. It was a nice variety. Knowledge appeared to be highly prioritized in this village.
He took one and returned to the table, sitting as he opened it...
From the entrance of the building, loud creaking resonated, awakening nearly everyone who was sleeping. Michael jumped to readiness, fists clenched, and posture lowered.
Sunlight beamed through the now open door, initially obscuring the figure who entered. Only once she took a step forward did they realize it was the librarian from last night. "Well, that's one way to say good morning." Only then did everyone fall back out of alertness. Michael scratched his head apologetically and murmured something about being sorry.
The librarian went straight to a room in the back. Everyone, now awoken, reacted to waking back up in this world. Most of the reactions were ignored by Tobi, except for the lifeless stares into the ceiling from some of the younger ones.
Over time, each person was eventually reading something. It's not like it was comfortable. It was more of a comfort from having to really think. It was a good distraction. Everyone except Liam, who remained sprawled on the floor, was still asleep.
Another hour passed rather quickly for Tobi, torturously slow for those still waiting to wake up on Earth. During this time, Kiki and Kian had both finished thick books about the history of this empire around this village. They briefly summarized it as strict and bureaucratic, with no more details, stating that the others could read too.
Tobi wasn't nearly finished with his book on construction skills, but he had the gist of it committed to memory. Something else put his artificially created comfort on edge, the very first thing to pit them against one another, 'Quests.' He thought to himself.
[Quest: Survive]
[Objective: Remain alive for 24 hours.]
[Time Remaining: 8 hours and 22 minutes.]
[Reward: Situation dependent.]
The familiar spectral blue overlays looked like frosted glass. Squares materialized before him, smaller as if following his intent, and they covered the pages of the book.
It wasn't much longer until the quest would be completed. They had walked longer than he'd expected. Slept longer, too. His stomach growled quietly, grounding him. Breathing in deep, he calmed his nerves before using his inner voice, 'Transparent quests.' He thought to himself, only half certain of the results.
[Transparent Quest]
[Observation:
- Survival probability increased while within the current zone.
- Departing the zone carries an elevated risk.
- Interpersonal conflict restricted early phase, three days remaining.]
[Objective:
- Remain alive for 24 hours.]
[Reward:
- Dependent on decisions, environmental response, and continued survival.
- Outcome is most beneficial to the transmigrator.
- Outcome remains unpredictable.]
Shock colored his expression as new information showed. In three days, the one thing that allowed peace to appear so easily would fade. His gaze moved up to Kiki, wondering if he should ask her about this whole system thing. Her eyes eventually met his directly, blank and unreadable.
Tobi looked down first.
Internally calling to dismiss the menu, he allowed his fingers rest on the page until the blue light receded. The book returned to being just a book. He exhaled through his nose and closed it carefully, sliding it back into its place on the shelf.
Around him, the library had shifted from stillness to quiet motion. Liam, with a loud yawn, slowly sat up, scratching his leg, "Ugh, I don't wanna go to school today..." He mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.
When he finished, he looked down and felt the hard floor beneath him, then looked back up. His face reddened with flush as he looked back down and wrapped himself back in the blanket.
Laughter rang across the room, and someone's chair scraped across the wood. Even the three newcomers who hadn't yet introduced themselves laughed. Once they finished laughing, the Librarian returned from the back room with black ink splattered on her right hand. Her smile was replaced with gritted teeth. She sharply 'asked' the group, "Aren't you all... hungry? And in a rush to leave here to get food?"
Everyone went quiet before Liam spoke up, "Yeah, I could go for breakfast, wait. Are we allowed to?"
She replied quickly, almost too fast, "The warehouse, we don't hoard, it's open. If you can't find it, ask anyone but me. Go." It felt like her eyes had flames in them, causing all the younger people to leave quickly. The older ones refused to listen to being scolded, so they moved calmly without urgency... no one but the librarian remained after a short moment.
Outside, the morning air was cool and light. 'I didn't notice it before, but each breath is so much... cleaner.' Tobi thought. People moved with purpose between low buildings, carrying tools, baskets, and crates. No one really cared about the ragtag group emerging from the library...
Three new names found themselves in conversation as they moved: Carlos, Yousef, and Vita. Two men and one woman, respectively.
With a point in the correct direction from one of the villagers, they found the warehouse easily. It was a broad, not-so-tall, box-shaped structure located near the lowest point of the basin.
Inside, there were shelves stacked with labeled jars. Some were stone, and others were clay. In the center was a stone pedestal with a white orb. An unnatural wind spawned from it, cooling the room like the bitter frost of a walk-in freezer.
While the group looked through, an older man entered the warehouse. He poured a blue powder onto the white orb and began to leave, only to be stopped by Michael.
"Hey there, can we get some help? We're a little new here. Do we really just grab what we need?" He asked the man.
Nodding, "Yeah, if that's all, I'm going to bed." The older man turned back around and left.
Tobi took the lead and lifted the lid to a jar of honey-preserved pears, a wooden spoon beneath the lid. As he looked into the honey and at the pears, he paused. There was no bowl. plate, or even a cup. Nothing to grab anything pickled or in honey.
Following the suit of the others, he grabbed some hopefully beef jerky and ripped off a piece of bread.
They went outside the warehouse, leaning against its wall, and they all ate. Some more than others. The villagers looked so at ease moving about, passing along different items like baskets without urgency.
"Hey," Liam said through a mouthful of food. "So… what now?"
No one answered immediately.
Michael glanced toward the center of the village, eyes narrowing slightly. Kiki had already begun walking in that direction, as if the question hadn't needed answering.
Tobi followed.
At the heart of Windhollow stood a fountain, stone worn smooth from the years. Ms. Jewelle stood beside it, listening to two villagers. When they finished, she nodded, offered a few words, and turned to the approaching group.
"I'm glad you all found the warehouse well. I hope this means you've chosen to join us for a while. Haha..."
Her gaze found Tobi first.
"You, the one without shoes," she said plainly.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. He hesitated only a second before continuing. "I was wondering where help is needed. I used to work in construction."
"There's a house being built for the newlyweds. It's over to the eastern border." She gestured the direction. "You're welcome to help the two builders in any way you know."
No ceremony or conditions beyond that.
Tobi nodded. "Thank you."
She began to turn to another. "Ask if you don't know something. Don't pretend you do."
He kept both in mind and moved over.
In no time, his hands were coated in clay and grit. The structure was simple but efficient. Mud walls reinforced with timber, straw prepared carefully for the thatched roof. What would have taken days with two people moved faster with three.
Tobi worked without speaking much, listening instead. Learning their methods. Adjusting where he could.
When the sun began to lower, their work began to cease. Each heading to their home, Tobi to the warehouse for a quick bite, then the library. Ignoring everyone there, he prepared to go directly to sleep. Vaguely feeling like he forgot something.
The blanket pulled tight around his shoulders, muscles aching familiarly, Tobi lay back and stared at the low ceiling.
He still hoped to see his room in the morning.