Chapter 2: A Peaceful Morning in Blockland
The warm sun peeked over the treetops, casting long shadows over the square landscape. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, and birds chirped in short, digital-sounding bursts. The night had passed, and Tanvin Khan was still alive.
He stretched his arms outside the tiny wooden hut, letting out a yawn. The crisp morning air filled his lungs, carrying with it the familiar scent of grass, wood, and a faint hint of cooked pork from last night's meal.
It was quiet. Calm.
No groaning zombies, no skeletons lurking in the shadows. Just the sound of wind and the occasional grunt of a nearby pig.
Tanvin smiled to himself. "Still weird as hell, but… I guess I'm getting used to it."
[Day 2: Status — Hunger: 80%, Health: Full]
[Tip: Establish sustainable food source]
The system message appeared and vanished quickly, but Tanvin was already on it. Last night's pork chops had kept him fed, but if he wanted to survive longer, he'd need a steady food supply.
"I guess it's time to start farming."
He grabbed his stone tools and got to work. First, he dug a small trench near the pond beside his hut. It was only four blocks wide but perfect for a starter crop field. He used a few oak planks to craft a hoe.
[+1 Wooden Hoe]
Then, he broke some grass blocks around the forest clearing, gathering seeds.
[+8 Wheat Seeds]
He smiled. "Just like the early days of a survival world."
After tilling the soil beside the water, he carefully planted the seeds in a neat row. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
He stood up, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. The sun was already climbing higher.
For the next hour, Tanvin explored the surrounding area. He discovered a small hill with coal veins sticking out the side and a cave entrance just beneath it. He made a mental note to explore it later—right now, his focus was on peace, not danger.
Returning to his hut, he spotted a group of sheep grazing nearby.
"Beds," he muttered. "I need a bed."
He walked over slowly, not wanting to scare them off. With a quick swing of his sword, he gathered wool from three sheep and crafted his first bed.
[+1 White Bed]
He placed it inside the hut, in the corner opposite the furnace. It made the place feel a bit more like home.
Then came the building.
Tanvin had always been a creative builder. Back in the real world, his Minecraft houses were famous for being cozy and efficient. So, naturally, he started making improvements.
He extended the walls using cobblestone, replaced the dirt roof with oak planks, and added a small front porch with fences. It took time and effort, but slowly the hut began to look less like a panic shelter and more like a rustic cottage.
"Not bad," he said, stepping back to admire his work.
A new system message popped up.
[Achievement Unlocked: First Home]
[Reward: +5 Wheat Seeds, +1 Bucket]
The bucket appeared in his inventory with a faint shimmer. Tanvin grinned. "Alright, now we're talking."
With the bucket, he carried more water to expand his farmland. Soon, he had three rows of crops—wheat and some wild beetroot he found on a nearby hill. He even spotted a chicken wandering close and managed to trap it in a fenced pen.
[New Objective: Establish a self-sufficient homestead]
He built a simple composter from slabs and began tossing in extra seeds and plants, watching the bone meal collect slowly. His garden grew greener by the hour.
The day passed quietly. He caught a fish or two from the pond using a makeshift fishing rod. He cooked them over the furnace flame and sat on a wooden block near the porch, enjoying the slow crackle of fire and the calm swaying of pixelated grass.
"This isn't so bad," he murmured. "Kinda… peaceful."
He spent time watching the clouds drift overhead. Square-shaped, slowly scrolling across the sky. The colors of the world deepened as sunset neared. A golden glow bathed everything in soft, nostalgic light.
Back in the real world, he never had time to just… sit and breathe. There were always exams, pressure, expectations. But here, all he had to do was survive—and maybe thrive.
He laid down on the bed, eyes tracing the wooden ceiling.
"Am I the only one here?" he wondered aloud. "Are there other players stuck like me?"
No answer came. Only the gentle hum of the furnace and the soft chirp of crickets outside.
Still, his heart felt strangely at ease.
He drifted into sleep, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he dreamed.
---
The next morning, Tanvin awoke to a pleasant surprise.
[Day 3: Wheat has grown! Harvest ready.]
He rushed outside to see golden wheat swaying in the wind. With a grin, he harvested it and crafted his first loaf of bread.
[+1 Bread]
[Achievement Unlocked: Farmer Life]
[New Recipe Unlocked: Cake]
"Cake, huh?" he chuckled. "Maybe I'll open a bakery next."
The thought made him laugh. A city, a bakery, maybe even a cozy inn. He could build it all. One block at a time.
He spent the morning crafting stone bricks and plotting the outline of what would be his town center. Just a circle of cobblestone for now, but he could already see the vision taking shape in his mind.
Later, he wandered into the woods and discovered a small patch of sugar cane by a river. He carefully harvested a few pieces and brought them back to replant near his pond.
He paused and looked around.
Small wooden house. Wheat fields. A chicken coop. Sugar cane by the water. A fishing rod leaning against the wall. Smoke rising from a furnace. The soft rhythm of footsteps on tilled soil.
It was peaceful.
And for now, peace was enough.