Time passed slowly. Sophie read all the books, learning history, magic skills, medicine recipes and other skills. She improved the hut when she got tired of reading. Started a garden for food from seeds taken out of the forest. She hunted for meat when she needed to replenish her stock or materials.
Sophie practiced fighting skills with a homemade dagger made out of Bronze Oak Wood for the handle and Cherry Mithryl for the blade. Or she practiced archery with a homemade bow and arrows set. The bow was from a firm but flexible wood, called Emerald Pine with the string made out of carefully woven Steel Spider thread. The arrows were also made from the Bronze Oak Wood and Cherry Mithryl for the flint and Thunder Bird feathers for the fletching.
Sophie made her clothing out of Armoured Rinos leather. She usually settled for a tunic style top and some legging style pants. Shoes comprised of short booties made out of the same leather as her clothing with an inner sole of horned rabbit fur. She had never bothered looking at her reflection so Sophie had no opinion of how she looked. All she knew was that her hair was white with a kind of iridescent tone similar to milk opals in her old life. She mostly just brushed tangles out and tied it back with a thin leather strip.
She never met other humans during this time. Occasionally she would see them appear on her map in the outer quarter of Dark Shire Woods closest to North City. But they never usually ventured closer to the centre of the forest where she lived.
By the time she reached her fifth birthday, Sophie had reached Level 60. Each level was getting harder and harder to reached the required XP to pass.
Name: _________ (Sophie Baxton)
Species: Human
Title: Orphan. Reincarnator [x 10]. God's Blessed Child [x10].
Age: 5 Years. 0 months.
Level: 60 (369/600 XP)
HP: 6,754/7,000
MP: 30,560/35,000
It was on this day that Sophie came across her first human encounter since waking up in this world. She was hunting to replenish meat stock and collecting herbs for medical recipes when her map pinged an odd sound. When she looked at the notification on the map, she could see a pride of 8 Rank S Hydra Lions fighting with 3 humans approximately 3 kilometres from where she was hunting.
Sophie used a [teleport] command to near the location of fighting and took a few seconds to observe the situation. According to appraisal, the 3 humans, 2 men and 1 woman, were heavily injured and nearing the end of their HP. Hydra Lions have three heads each so shooting them in the head to kill them was not strategic. So she shot the ones closest to her in the heart with her favourite [wind bullet] command. The others were then alerted to her presence and turned to target her. Sophie threw up a barrier around the human party before shooting the rest of the Hydra Lions quickly.
Once she was sure that they were taken care of, Sophie released the barrier and offered the human party, who were collapsed on the ground out of exhaustion, a healing potion each. She rarely got injured so she had a huge stock left over from crafting practice sitting in her item box. They hesitated for a moment before drinking it down before looking at each other in shock at the fast recovery speed of the potion.
One of the men, with long golden hair and green eyes, turned towards Sophie who was collecting the Hydra Lions bodies.
"Thank you... Ummm... Are you by yourself? Where's your family?"
Sophie looked at them quietly before opening her mouth to reply.
"Ah... Um. Am alone. No family. Live here."
"By yourself?! But you look very young..."
The woman, also with golden hair and green eyes and looked similar to the first man enough to be related, spoke out shocked.
"You are.. the first.. I've met.. in memory."
"How old are you kid?"
The second man, who had short shaggy hair in a dark auburn colour with bright blue eyes, asked.
"5."
"... "
"How strong would a child have to be to live in Dark Shire Woods by themselves and able to kill a pride of Hydra Lions?" The golden haired man whispered.
"Rude... I'm still... here."
The golden haired man reddened in embarrassment. "Ah... Sorry."
"What's your name kid?" The other man coughed, also embarrassed.
"Shouldn't ... introduce yourselves.... first?"
"Oh... Yes... I'm Sally." The woman introduced herself. "This is my brother, Robert, and my husband, George."
"Sophie."
"Do you live near here, Sophie?" Sally asked.
"Close enough... Why are you here?" Sophie felt like it was getting easier to talk now that she was having a conversation. Up until now, there had been no one to talk to and so she didn't speak.
"We're adventurers. A party called Fire Storm. We're working a quest to find Golden Feather Parsley. But it's only found deep in Dark Shire Woods so we haven't found it yet." Robert answered.
Sophie looked at her item box. She had a lot of Golden Feather Parsley. It was one of her ingredients in her healing potion.
"How many do you need?"
"The request was for a minimum of 10 of the herb." George responded.
"I have. I can give you. Or I can show you where to gather them?"
"I would prefer to gather ourselves. It looks better that way since the adventurers guild can tell if you completed the quest yourselves or cheated." George acknowledged. "Is it alright if you guide us?"
"Um.. Ok.. hold hands please..." Sophie held both her hands out.
"Ah? Why?" Sally asked as she grabbed her left hand gently. George held Sally's other hand while Robert held Sophie's right hand.
"Teleport."
The three adults stared at Sophie as a light flashed and the scenery around them changed. Soon they found themselves staring at a field of Golden Feather Parsley and other herbs not far from a hut.
"My home. Welcome to harvest what you need. I have plenty."
"Wow!" Sally exclaimed.
"Where exactly are we?" Robert asked as he looked around.
"Middle of Dark Shire Woods. I live here."
"Mi.. middle of Dark Shire Woods? But... The beasts are above SS Rank here! Is it safe?" Sally stammered.
"Barrier around clearing. Always maintained. It safe."
The three adults swallowed their shock before carefully harvesting the Golden Feather Parsley they needed.
"Hey George.. isn't that Tri Bell Herb? Wasn't there a quest for that too?"
"Ah yes, they needed 5 if I remember correctly..." George looked up at Sophie with an enquiring expression.
"Help yourself. Do you need anything else? I have a lot. If it's for healing potion ingredients then you'll also need Amber Foxtail and Silver Clubfoot too. " Sophie pointed the specific herbs out.
"Thank you so much!" Sally clapped her hands together in glee.
They quickly gathered some of what Sophie pointed out.
"Um. How do we get home from here?" Sally asked.
"I can take you to close to the edge of the forest. I can only take you to a location that I have been myself though. I can guide you out from there on foot though. I have a map skill that shows me the correct direction to go."
"That would be much appreciated, Sophie." Robert grinned.
"Um.. hands then."
The others quickly held onto Sophie who then teleport them all to where she first gained consciousness in this world.
"Exit is this way. Maybe two day travel? Is that ok?"
"That's fine. Will you come with us, Sophie?" Sally knelt down to Sophie's height. "It must be lonely living here by yourself. Don't you want to come explore North City with us?"
"Is.. it.. ok? I've never left the forest before..."
George patted Sophie on her head. "It's fine. I'm more concerned about leaving a small child like yourself here alone again. Please come with us."
"... Ok.."
The four of them headed in the direction that Sophie had pointed out previously. They travelled for 4 hours before deciding to stop for the night. The journey passed smoothly with only the occasional hunting of horned rabbits or goblins that came too close to their path.
For the first time since waking up in the is world, Sophie didn't have to cook for herself. Sally prepared the meal that night while the men sorted out the sleeping space. Sophie put up a barrier around the camp site before she turned to watch in fascination as Sally pulled all sorts of ingredients out of a small bag at her waist.
"What is this?"
"Hmm, this is a magic tool called a storage pouch. It's what we store our items in for carrying. Don't you use one?"
Sally looked at Sophie's waist. "I guess you don't, but where did you store the Hydra Lion carcasses and magic potions then?"
"I have a storage space called [Item Box]. It's not a magic tool but a skill."
The others stopped to look at her.
"Item box? A magic skill? It's the first I've head of it." George looked at Sophie inquisitively. "Can you show us?"
Sophie thought about it for a second.
"Ok. Open Item Box Screen."
The item box screen window opened in front of Sophie and the others came to have a look at it in confusion. Robert tried to touch the screen but his hand went right through it.
"I've never seen anything like this. You have a lot of stuff. How do you take things out and put them back?"
"I give a command. [Take Out] and [Collect]."
"But I didn't hear you say anything when you took the lions? Actually I don't recall you saying anything when you killed them either.."
"I don't have to say the command out loud. I can just think it. It's a skill called [Soundless Chant.]"
"I've never heard of that one either. It sure sounds handy though."
"It would certainly be a great benefit in a fight. You could cast magic without the opponent being able to prepare beforehand." Robert spoke excitedly.
"Well.. I guess that's true... I've hunted a lot of beasts that way, though it was originally because I had trouble speaking the command out loud properly that I started using it."
"Oh... When did you start using magic anyway? Actually, don't most kids learn magic skills at 8? But Sophie is only 5..." Sally was curious.
"Um... I've been able to use it as far back as I can remember? I've been in this forest since before I was 2 as far as I know..."
"No way... You're a little prodigy. How did you come to this forest anyway?" George looked a little serious now.
"I don't know. I just remember waking up here. In the location that I took you to before we walked here. There was nothing around me at the time other than plants and rocks."
"I wonder who your family are?" Sally looked sad.
"My status screen says I'm an orphan though?"
"Status screen?" George looked confused.
"Um... Is that possibly another magic skill you've never heard of?"
"No... I know what a status screen is, but we usually have to either go to the church or a guild to see it. Can you see your own screen?"
"Um... Yes..." 'Close Item Box Screen. Open Status Screen..'
The item box screen closed and her status screen opened instead.
Name: Sophie (Sophie Baxton)
Species: Human
Title: Orphan. Reincarnator [x 10]. God's Blessed Child [x10].
Age: 5 Years. 0 months.
Level: 60 (428/600 XP)
HP: 5,250/7,000
MP: 28,473/35,000
Magic Affinity: Water. Fire. Wind. Earth. Ice. Lightening. Space. Time. Light. Dark. Creation. Life.
Magic Skill: ...
Physical Skill: ...
The 3 adult reacted very strangely to Sophie's status. Robert fell over onto his backside. George seemed to turn into stone and Sally appeared to have fainted as she stood.
"Wa... Wha... What the hell is that level?!" Robert exclaimed as he finally stood back up.
"What do you mean? Is it unusual?"
"I'm only around Level 30, you know? George has the highest amongst us at Level 38 and Robert is Level 35."
"Is that so?" Sophie looked confused. "It was Level 0 when I woke up here though. This is the effort of living here all my life I guess."
"You have God's Blessing? So lucky! But what is Reincarnator?" Robert asked.
"Um... I have memories of another life? I guess it refers to that?"
"I suggest hiding that part of your status, Sophie. It's not a normal title. But this explains why you have unusual magic skills."
George patted Sophie's head to her shock. She raised her hand to her head as she looked up at him.
"Um ok... So I should hide anything that indicates that title?"
"Yes, I would, for your personal safety."
Sophie looked at her status for a few minutes. 'Hide Reincarnator title and previous name.'
Name: Sophie [Hidden: (Sophie Baxton)]
Species: Human
Title: Orphan. [Hidden Title: Reincarnator [x 10]]. God's Blessed Child [x10].
Age: 5 Years. 0 months.
Level: 60 (428/600 XP)
HP: 5,250/7,000
MP: 28,473/35,000
Magic Affinity: Water. Fire. Wind. Earth. Ice. Lightening. Space. Time. Light. Dark. Creation. Life.
Magic Skill: ... Hide Status.
Physical Skill: ...
"Should I adjust the Level as well? Since you said it's not normal for a 5 year old? What is a normal level for a 5 year old anyway?"
"Ermmm, I don't know. Most 5 year olds aren't usually hunting or training you see, so they probably would still be only a couple of levels if any.."
"I don't think I can make it look that low. Not when I've been living here in Dark Shire Woods. What if I make it around Level 15 or 20? Would that be acceptable?"
"Make it Level 25. That way we can add you too our party without too much drama." George advised.
"Ok."
Name: Sophie [Hidden: (Sophie Baxton)]
Species: Human
Title: Orphan. [Hidden Title: Reincarnator [x 10]]. God's Blessed Child [x10].
Age: 5 Years. 0 months.
Level: 25 (30/250 XP) [Hidden Level: 60 (428/600 XP)]
HP: 3,500/3,500 [Hidden HP: 5,250/7,000]
MP: 17,400/17,500 [Hidden MP: 28,473/35,000]
Magic Affinity: Water. Fire. Wind. Earth. Ice. Lightening. Space. Time. Light. Dark. Creation. Life.
Magic Skill: ... Hide Status.
Physical Skill: ...
"That is still an insane looking status but at least it won't shock the guild too much now." Robert nodded in approval.
"I don't know... Maybe she should hide some of those skills and affinities. Most people don't have that many..." Sally tilted her head as she studied Sophie's status.
"What is a normal amount of affinity?"
"I guess most of us have only 3 or 4 affinities? I have fire, water and light. Robert has water and earth. George has ice, water and wind."
"Hmmm ok. So maybe... Like this?"
Name: Sophie [Hidden: (Sophie Baxton)]
Species: Human
Title: Orphan. [Hidden Title: Reincarnator [x 10]]. God's Blessed Child [x10].
Age: 5 Years. 0 months.
Level: 25 (30/250 XP) [Hidden Level: 60 (428/600 XP)]
HP: 3,500/3,500 [Hidden HP: 5,250/7,000]
MP: 17,400/17,500 [Hidden MP: 28,473/35,000]
Magic Affinity: Water. Fire. Wind. [Hidden Magic Affinity: Earth. Ice. Lightening. Space. Time. Light. Dark. Creation. Life.]
Magic Skill: Wind Bullet. Appraisal. Map. Flame. Water Fill. Clean. Wash. Dry. Dismantle. [Hidden Magic Skill: ...]
Physical Skill: Walking. Running. Jumping. Cleaning. Archery. Knife Skill. Hunting. [Hidden Physical Skill: ...]
"How's that?"
"Much less shocking. Although it will still be shocking to the guild when they see it the first time." Robert gave Sophie a thumps up.
"Thanks for your advise. I guess I don't have much in terms of common sense for this world yet."
"That's not surprising, since you've lived here your entire life so far. But not to worry. We'll be with you this entire time."
"Yes. Thank you."
Sophie smiled up at her new companions only for them to turn their faces aside slightly and hide their reddened faces with a hand.
"""Cute!"""
The three of them whispered to each other.
Although Sophie was confused at their reaction, she shrugged her shoulders and turned away to look at the forgotten ingredients that Sally had pulled out earlier. There were some strange looking vegetables amongst them and she prodded at them curiously. They kind of looked like miscoloured potatoes, cabbage and carrots.
"Sally, what are these? I've never seen them before."
"Ah.. this is a tuber. This is a spinet and this is a junroot. I'll be making a stew out of them with some horned rabbit."
"Can I watch? I've only been able to roast my food over a fire with some herbs for seasoning since I didn't have much in terms of other food to eat all this time."
"Of course!"
The girls spent a happy time discussing cooking and food as Sally prepped the stew and began to cook it. After eating, they settled down for the night isn't he sleeping area that the men had finished setting up earlier. Sophie slept next to Sally and the two men slept next to each other. They were a little concerned about having someone keep watch until Sophie explained how the barrier worked.
When everyone woke up the next morning, they were all well rested for a change. After a quick meal of leftover stew for breakfast and everyone quickly cleaning up their camp site, Sophie checked her map before pointing at the correct direction to exit the forest. The four of them quickly began their journey.
They stopped briefly for lunch and small battles but there were no real interruptions to their journey. By the time they got to late afternoon they had reached the forest edge. Sophie stared out at the flat yellow ground that stretched for miles with only the occasional tree or hill breaking the monotony.
"Wow...."
"It's the first time you've seen this, right?"
"Yes... It's a little scary."
Sally bent down to pick Sophie up. She could no longer resist the urge to hug the small girl.
"We'll be with you. There is no need to worry or be frightened. We won't abandon you."
Sophie reddened in embarrassment as she sat stiffly in Sally's arm. She looked to the side to avoid staring at Sally's chest.
"Thank you, Sally. Um.. I'm not used to being held... So..."
Sally pouted but put Sophie back down on her feet.
"No fair! I want a turn!"
Robert bent down to grab Sophie, only to miss as she teleported a few steps to the side. He sulked as they others laughed at him.
"Ignore him Sophie. Shall we continue walking while it's still light or stop here for the night?"
"The nearest town is a day's travel from here so why don't we camp here for the night and head there tomorrow." George decided.
Sophie decided that George must be the party leader. As he usually made most of the decisions related to the parties actions over the time she'd met them.