Chapter 4 Seeking Answers

Daniel had gone to bed early, so he woke up before his alarm even beeped. His body felt surprisingly alert as he pushed himself out of bed. The first thing he did was leave his room to head to the bathroom. It wasn't exactly close, but he'd learned the fastest route yesterday after asking around. Once inside, he went about his business, then washed his hands, all the while staring at the mirror, struggling to recognize the person in front of him.

In his previous life, he had ordinary brown hair, unclear blue eyes, and a face rounded from too many fast food meals. But now, he was staring at a stranger. His hair was jet black, almost unnaturally so, and his eyes were an intense shade of green, like polished emeralds. His face still carried traces of baby fat, but he could tell that in a few years, it would become sharper, more defined. 'I'll look good when I grow up', he thought, smiling.

After getting back to his room, Daniel had some time before breakfast, so he checked the skill he'd gained the day before:

[Running (Active) Lvl 7]

[- You will run 14% faster, but your stamina will be depleted twice as much.]

'Hmm, not bad', he thought, considering situations where this skill might come in handy. Maybe it'd help if he ever needed to escape from something or someone. As his mind wandered, the minutes slipped by, until a knock on his door broke his concentration. The caretaker's voice followed: "Breakfast is ready!"

He quickly stood up and exited his room. When he entered the cafeteria, he was relieved to see the line for food still short. 'Most kids must still be in bed', he thought with a small, amused smile. At least he wouldn't have to wait long.

When it was his turn, the cook greeted him. "Hello there, dear. We've got beans with toast and eggs today," she said as she handed him his plate. "Come back for another serving if you're still hungry."

Daniel thanked her and walked over to the same corner he had sat in yesterday. The food wasn't fancy, but it would do. As he ate, lost in his thoughts, he heard a chair scrape across the floor next to him. He looked up and, to his surprise, saw Victor sitting beside him.

"Hey, Daniel," Victor said, grinning.

"Oh, hello," Daniel replied, feeling awkward. He hadn't expected company.

"Will you play with us again? We're playing Simon Says today," Victor asked, his tone bright and eager, oblivious to the fact that Daniel wasn't in the mood.

"Not today, sorry. I need to speak with Miss Jones, and then I've got some other things I have to do," Daniel said, trying to sound polite but firm.

"Oh, is this your chore day?" Victor asked sympathetically.

"Yes..." Daniel lied, not wanting to deal with any more begging to join their games. I really need to figure out what kind of world I'm in, he thought seriously, wishing he could get some answers soon.

After finishing his meal and talking a bit more with Victor, Daniel noticed Miss Jones entering the cafeteria. She immediately raised her voice to gather everyone's attention. "Breakfast is over. You can go play now!"

Finally, I can get some answers, Daniel thought, relief flooding through him. He quickly dropped his plate in the sink and headed toward the caretaker.

"Hello, Miss Jones. Do we have a library here?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

She raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "You want to go to the library?" she asked, sounding a bit surprised.

"Yes," he answered simply, unsure what else to add. He just wanted to know more about this strange place.

"Hmm, we don't have a library per se," Miss Jones said, "but there is a room with a few books." Daniel's eyes widened with interest. "I can take you there, but you must promise me not to damage anything," she continued, a serious look on her face.

"I promise!" Daniel said eagerly, his excitement almost bubbling over.

Miss Jones led him through the hallways, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet corridors. After a few turns, they stopped in front of an unassuming door. If Daniel hadn't been paying attention, he might have assumed it was just another room for the other kids. But when Miss Jones opened the door, Daniel's breath caught in his chest. The room was filled with shelves upon shelves of books, their spines lined up neatly in rows, some of them looking old and well-worn.

The sight was both thrilling and overwhelming. Daniel's heart skipped a beat, but as he scanned the room, he felt a pang of disappointment. It wasn't as large or as impressive as he had hoped. Still, it was better than nothing. He could already feel a hunger for knowledge stirring inside him.

"I'll leave you here, then," Miss Jones said, her voice pulling him out of his thoughts. "Remember to come back for dinner."

"I will," Daniel promised, watching her leave the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Daniel felt a surge of anticipation. 'It's time to get some answers', he thought, already eager to dive into the books and uncover whatever secrets this place held.