FVN Chapter 5 Rabbit-Powered Endurance Training
Chapter 5 Rabbit-Powered Endurance Training
Back at the cabin, Daena wasted no time in preparing lunch. She expertly skinned and cleaned the rabbit, adding it to a pot of vegetables and herbs that she seemed to pull from nowhere. The smell filled the small space, warm and savory, and Liria's stomach rumbled in response.
As Daena bustled about, humming softly to herself, Liria's curiosity piqued. She had tried to understand this strange, tough-as-nails grandmother figure but knew next to nothing about her background. Something about Daena seemed otherworldly, like she wasn't just any ordinary, reclusive old woman living alone in the woods.
Hey, System, she thought, glancing sideways at Daena. Is there any way to check her stats?
[Attempting to display Daena's profile... Loading...]
Liria held her breath, staring at Daena from the corner of her eye. If the System could give her a glimpse into Daena's stats, maybe she could finally figure out how the woman could live all alone in the forest, scare off bandits, and still have time to cook rabbit stew without a hint of fear.
After a few seconds, a new panel appeared in her vision:
Name: Daena
Race: ???
Level: ???
Strength: ???
Agility: ???
Skills: ???
Liria blinked, frowning. Wait, that's it?
[Profile data incomplete. Certain information is obscured.]
Obscured? Liria thought, raising an eyebrow. What does that mean?
[I am... not entirely sure,] the System replied hesitantly. [Typically, information about individuals within a certain range is accessible. For Daena, however, it appears I am unable to retrieve even basic attributes. This is... unprecedented.]
Liria threw a withering look her way, sweat already running down her face. She might have shouted an insult if she hadn't needed every ounce of energy just to keep going.
After what felt like an eternity, the System chimed in:
[New skill acquired: Endurance Training (Level 1). Strength attribute increased by 1.]
Endurance training, huh? Liria thought, trying to catch her breath.
[Congratulations,] the System said, in what sounded like a cheerful voice. [Your dedication to surviving this... "character building" exercise has resulted in improved physical capabilities. Small improvements add up over time.]
Small improvements? Liria wanted to snap at the System but held back. If this keeps up, I'll be a puddle before I'm strong enough to fend off another rabbit.
Still, she couldn't help feeling a flicker of pride. She'd gained a skill and even leveled up her strength. Her hard work painful as it was was paying off.
Daena stopped finally, letting Liria catch her breath, though she was grinning as if she'd just taken a stroll. "Good work, girl. Tomorrow, we'll do more."
"Tomorrow?" Liria wheezed, slumping against a tree. "Are you serious? At this rate, I'll be a pile of bones by the end of the week."
"Oh, don't be dramatic," Daena snorted, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "This forest has plenty of life left in it. And besides, you did well today."
Liria looked up, surprised to see a glimmer of pride in the old woman's eyes. It was the first genuine, unguarded expression she'd seen from Daena, and it made her chest swell with a strange warmth. Daena wasn't just a mystery; she was a tough, sharp, and oddly protective mentor.
For a moment, she thought about telling Daena the truth that she was from another world, that she could see her stats and those of other creatures, that she had a System in her head that seemed to know more than she did about this place. But she hesitated, knowing Daena was better off not knowing. This secret, she felt, was hers to keep.
The System hummed approvingly, as if it, too, understood the importance of her silence.
[You are progressing well, Liria. It may be hard now, but endurance will only serve you well in the days to come.]
She rolled her eyes. Thanks for the pep talk, oh wise System. How about next time you take a few laps around the forest?
[Unfortunately, I am not equipped with physical capabilities. My support remains, however, unwavering.]