Chapter 3 Adapting to a New World

Daniel turned toward the door as it slowly creaked open. Standing there was a middle-aged woman with tired brown eyes and loosely tied brown hair streaked with gray. Wrinkles lined her kind face, and her worn dress, paired with a soft yet weary voice, spoke of years spent caring for others.

For a moment, she just stared at him, her expression one of surprise. "Daniel, when did you wake up? Are you feeling well?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Daniel froze, unsure of how to respond. He didn't even know who she was yet, much less how to act around her. So, without thinking, he instinctively used Observe to gather some information.

[Celina Jones - Orphanage Caretaker - Lvl 7]

"Yes, Miss Jones, I'm feeling alright," Daniel said, his voice quiet.

"You had quite the fever yesterday. I was worried you'd be sick the whole weekend," she said with a soft sigh, her eyes showing genuine concern. "But if you're feeling better, you should come with me to have breakfast with the other children," she added, her tone warm yet authoritative.

Daniel didn't know what else to do but follow her. The corridors leading to the breakfast hall were well-kept, though the old wooden floors creaked under his weight. The walls, while clean, bore the signs of age. The faded paint had peeled in some places, and the once-bright colors now seemed dull in the morning light.

When they reached the breakfast hall, it was bustling with children, all gathered around the long tables, eating and chatting. It was clear that most of them had already gotten their food. Miss Jones led him to the cook, a large woman who smiled warmly as she handed him a plate with what seemed like the standard fare: eggs, bacon, and toast.

Daniel turned around, looking for a place to sit. His gaze scanned the room, but nearly every seat was occupied. He didn't feel like talking to anyone yet, so he quietly made his way to an empty seat toward the back, a little apart from the rest. He sat down and began eating.

The meal itself was nothing special, but it was enough to satisfy his hunger. As he finished, he sat back in his seat, unsure of what to do next. That was when Miss Jones raised her voice, speaking loudly so that all the children could hear her.

"Now that breakfast is over, you can all go play in the yard, but don't go outside the fence or you'll be grounded for a week!"

Daniel sighed in relief. 'I could get some fresh air', he thought. He took his empty plate to the sink and stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against his face. Most of the other children had already gathered in the yard, running around, playing, and shouting. But Daniel just needed a moment to think.

He scanned the yard for a quiet spot and spotted a lone bench at the edge of the property. This should be a good place to think, he thought.

He sat down and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. 'So, I'm an orphan in this world...' He paused, his mind swirling with questions. 'It may be better than having parents. They'd think it suspicious if I started acting differently, and I should have more freedom as an orphan'. He leaned back on the bench, staring up at the sky. 'Everything looks the same as my old world, but somehow... older. Did I reincarnate in a normal Earth world from the 90s?' He frowned, his mind racing. 'I need to ask someone for the date, and maybe I should check the library for more information about this place...'

Just as he was getting lost in his thoughts, a voice broke through.

"Hey, Daniel! Wanna play football with us? We need one more player to complete the team."

Daniel blinked, his concentration broken. He looked up and saw a boy standing nearby, a broad grin on his face. The boy was burly, with light brown hair and blue eyes, his posture confident and casual. Daniel used Observe to check his name.

[Victor Brown - Orphan - Lvl 3]

Victor Brown. Another orphan, but Daniel wasn't sure if he was ready to socialize just yet.

"Umm, not today, Victor. I'm not in the mood for playing," Daniel said, his voice quiet and hesitant.

Victor wasn't discouraged. "Oh, come on. What are you gonna do, just sit there and stare at the sky?"

Daniel frowned, feeling a little annoyed for a moment. 'Can he just leave me alone?' he thought. But he didn't want to be rude, so he sighed and gave in. "Okay, I'll go play with you. Don't be grumpy..."

Victor's grin widened as he clapped Daniel on the back. "Great! We're gonna win this game for sure now!"

The next hour passed quickly, the game of football being a chaotic mix of running, laughing, and shouting. Daniel was surprised at how much he enjoyed it despite his initial reluctance. Then, as he sprinted down the field, he felt a strange sensation wash over him, followed by a sudden notification from his system.

[You have obtained a skill through continuous effort [Sprint (Active) Lvl 1]]

[Due to continuous exercise, agility and vitality increased by 1.]

Daniel's eyes widened in excitement. 'Oh, a new skill! And you can get stats by exercising?' he thought, feeling an adrenaline rush that pushed him to play even harder.

After a couple more hours of playing, followed by dinner, the caretaker's voice echoed across the yard.

"Playtime's over, kids! Go back to your rooms; it's almost time to sleep!"

Daniel trudged back to his room, his body sore from the game. He sat on the bed, his mind racing as he opened his status screen to check his progress.

[Stats]

[Name: Daniel Wilson

Level: 1

XP: 0/100

Class: The Gamer

HP: 140/140

MP: 100/100

SP: 150/150

Strength: 13

Agility: 15

Vitality: 15

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 10

Charisma: 10

Luck: 10

Stat Points: 0]

He stared at the screen for a moment, amazed at the results. His stats had increased just from playing football for a few hours. The idea that he could get stronger through ordinary activities like this was exciting.

He wanted to check his new skill, Sprint, but his body was exhausted from the day's exertion. As he lay down on the bed, his eyes closed almost immediately. The events of the day swirled in his mind, but sleep overtook him quickly, and he drifted off into a deep, peaceful slumber.