Chapter 4 : A Rewrite of Flesh and Fate.
The moment Selena opened her eyes, she knew something was wrong.
The comforting warmth of the glowing shelter dome was gone. The faint hum of magical energy had vanished, replaced by damp air and the sound of morning birdsong. Dew clung to her cloak, and a thin layer of mist curled around the forest floor.
"Wait... where's my shelter?"
She sat up fast, heart skipping.
The blue dome—her only protection—had vanished. Disintegrated after a single use.
Nyx was curled beside her, unbothered, tail twitching lazily. He blinked sleepily, then nudged her with his massive head like "You expected more?"
"Okay, okay," she muttered, standing and brushing leaves from her pants. "No need to panic. We've got this."
> [Quest: Find Shelter] — In Progress
Reward: +2 Words
She sighed and shouldered her bag.
"Well, let's go find something before I become monster breakfast."
---
Thirty minutes later, Selena was panting like a winded squirrel.
Her boots squished in mud, her thighs burned, and sweat trickled down her back. Her upgraded stamina wasn't doing nearly enough.
Nyx padded silently beside her, perfectly relaxed. Occasionally, he'd glance at her with what could only be described as judgmental amusement.
"Oh, shut up," she growled between gasps. "I wasn't built for wilderness mode, okay? I'm a writer. I burn calories with my imagination."
She tripped over a root and stumbled forward, catching herself on a tree.
Her entire body ached.
"I can't do this with this noodle body," she wheezed. "I wish I was more athletic—"
Her breath caught mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened.
Slowly, she reached for the leather-bound notebook in her satchel.
She flipped to a blank page.
> Selena had an athletic body.
The words glowed.
And so did she.
A soft hum vibrated through her core. Muscles tightened. Her posture straightened. Her skin flushed with health. Her legs lengthened slightly, waist narrowing, arms toning, and her eyes… cleared.
Even her breathing changed.
Selena gasped and looked down.
"...Whoa."
Her body had completely transformed. Not bulky, but lean. Fit. Powerful. A dancer's grace with a fighter's strength.
Even Nyx did a double take.
"Okay," she breathed. "This is... amazing."
---
> DING!
> [LEVEL UP!] You have reached Level 5
All Base Stats Increased
Word Manifestation Skill Efficiency Improved
Reward: Inventory System (20 Slots) – Unlocked
---
> [STATUS]
Name: Selena Ward
Age: 18
Class: None
Title: None
Level: 5
Strength: 7 → 12 (Above Average)
Agility: 9 → 14 (Above Average)
Endurance: 5 → 11 (Above Average)
Intelligence: 7
Mana Affinity: Low
Aura Affinity: Unknown
Skill: Word Manifestation (Lv.1)
Inventory Slots: 20
Words Remaining: 0
---
She flipped open her new [Inventory] window and grinned as her gear blinked into the interface. Satchel—stored. Flint—stored. Cloak—stored.
"No more lugging everything around like a peasant," she muttered proudly.
---
> [Quest Update] • Find Shelter – In Progress
• Catch and Cook Food – In Progress
• Travel 5km Without Resting – 1.3km Completed
• Bond Further with Nyx – Progressing…
• Unlock Your First Skill Upgrade – Locked
• Discover a Landmark – In Progress
---
"Alright," Selena said, cracking her knuckles. "Let's survive some more."
She jogged forward—and nearly cried with joy.
She felt light. Her legs didn't ache. Her arms didn't swing like noodles. Her breath came easily. She could run!
"THIS. IS. AMAZING!"
Nyx barked out a sound that might've been a laugh and darted ahead of her, tail flicking.
---
Soon, they reached a bubbling stream, glistening in the morning sun. Dozens of silver fish darted through the shallows.
Her stomach growled.
"I smell breakfast."
Nyx was already crouching low beside the water.
"Oh no. I'm not letting you have all the fun—"
She kicked off her boots, crept to the edge, and focused. "Come on… just one swipe…"
SPLASH!
Nyx lunged, sending water flying—and flung a fish directly into her face.
"AH—cold! Ew! It slapped me!"
The fish flopped on the ground as Nyx strutted past her, clearly smug.
Selena glared, dripping.
"…You're lucky you're cute."
---
Selena quickly got busy trying to light a fire with the help of her Flint and Steel. She gathered some dry grass and brances and got to scraching.
After 15 minutes of smacking the flint into the steel....nothing.
"O my god ..." Selene groaned " How do those stupid survivalists do this shit in documentaries." And she did a one last slash.
Then sparks and her grass caught fire she quickly covered the grass so that the fire won't go, out under her palm and got to blowing.
Finally she had a campfir. And after a surprisingly decent grilled fish breakfast (Nyx refused to wait and swallowed his whole), Selena leaned back on a warm rock and watched the sun climb through the trees.
Nyx stretched out beside her, head resting on her lap.
"Thanks for helping me not die," she whispered, scratching behind his ears.
His purring rumbled through her bones.
In that moment, the world wasn't so terrifying.
---
She opened her notebook again, gazing at the blank page.
She could write almost anything.
But she knew her words could have potential consequences. She knew that one wrong word could effectively kill her.
So she had to be cautious when writting.
Just small, strategic changes.
She thought of the dark forest that lay ahead. The caves. The creatures.
"...Seeing in the dark would be nice."
" Hmm what harm could seeing in the dark bring." After pondering for a bit,"I should totally do it."
And she quickly brought out her book and quill from her inventory. But she she scraped the quill across the pages.. no words appear on the page.
Seeing this Selene was confused.
"Are u broken or something." She said. As she looked at the quill. She flicked the quill around and tried again.
But still nothing.
"Why aren't you working?" She said in helplessness.
"Could it be the words."
She quickly rechecked her status window.
-
> [STATUS]
Name: Selena Ward
Age: 18
Class: None
Title: None
Level: 5
Strength: 7 → 12 (Above Average)
Agility: 9 → 14 (Above Average)
Endurance: 5 → 11 (Above Average)
Intelligence: 7
Mana Affinity: Low
Aura Affinity: Unknown
Skill: Word Manifestation (Lv.1)
Inventory Slots: 20
Words Remaining: 0
---
And sure enough there it was written in glowing letters. "Words Remaining:0"
"Ooooo so that's how it works."
Well after finishing her meal she still had.....
No map. No allies. No idea what tomorrow held.
But she had Nyx.
She had her words.
And she had herself.
For the first time in her life, that felt like enough.
*******
Hi guys author here as i am currently writing this book so i am very open to suggestions right now.
If any of yall have any dont forget to leave them in the comments I'd really appreciate them oki. Chao