Starting The Grind [2.]

As Elias stepped back into the house, he was greeted by the scent of wood and earth but he ignored it as he finally gave the interior a proper look.

He hadn't had the chance to before—not when he'd just woken up, then dealt with the system, then Alia, and after that, the system's daily quest.

Now, as his eyes slowly scanned the room, he started to notice more details.

In one corner lay a bed made from dried Ashveil Grass, with a thin, worn cloth thrown loosely on top. It didn't look comfortable—but it had worked. That was where he'd woken up earlier.

Nearby stood a crooked table and a rough-looking chair, both clearly handmade.

On the table sat a chunk of dry bread and a water gourd—medium-sized, made of rugged leather, and clearly old.

That must've been what the original owner of the body had been living on for the past few days. Elias stepped forward and gave the gourd a little shake, only to realize there was barely anything left inside. He sighed and shook his head.

"No wonder this body felt so weak," Elias muttered. "Living on dry bread and almost no water…"

He turned again, and his eyes landed on a corner he hadn't noticed earlier—and finally spotted what he'd been looking for.

Leaning against the far wall were some tools.

Elias couldn't help but smile when he saw the pile of worn gear resting there. It felt oddly familiar.

"This must've belonged to the original owner of this body," he said quietly, stepping closer.

Most of it was useless to him now—but two simple knives tucked beneath the pile caught his attention. They weren't anything special, just ordinary steel blades that looked a little dull.

Still, it was all he had. And honestly? He'd take it over having nothing… or worse, taking that stupid loan from the system.

Elias grabbed the two blades and stepped outside.

Vael was already waiting by the door, arms crossed. Without saying anything, Elias handed him one of the knives.

Vael blinked, then reached for his own dagger instead. "I'm good. I'll use this."

Elias raised an eyebrow and sighed, covering his face with his hand. "No. You can't."

Vael tilted his head. "Why not?"

"Because your dagger's enchanted with poison," Elias explained, pointing toward the Ashveil Grass surrounding them. "If you use that, you'll mess up the harvest. I plan to store and sell this stuff later."

"Ah." Vael nodded thoughtfully, then returned his dagger to its sheath and took the plain knife instead. "Understood."

"Alright then. Let's get to work."

With that, the two of them moved out into the field, side by side, and began the slow, repetitive task of cutting and bundling the grass. They worked in silence—well, mostly silent on Vael's side. Elias still had Alia's voice in his head keeping him company.

Her soft, curious voice drifted through his mind like a light breeze, asking questions from time to time—even ones Elias didn't know how to answer.

But he didn't mind her presence. In fact, it was oddly comforting. Like walking with a curious child who saw magic in every little thing. There was something gentle and sweet in her voice that calmed him more than he wanted to admit.

Still… having someone with full access to his thoughts?

That part still bothered him.

Not her fault, of course. It was just—he wasn't used to it.

Back on Earth, trust was something he had given up on a long time ago. His younger years were full of broken promises and betrayals. Over time, he stopped trying. He pulled away from people, choosing silence and solitude over disappointment. It was easier that way—safer.

He got used to being alone. To not being seen. To not being needed.

But now?

He had two sentient beings sharing his mind.

Yeah. Saying it was "unsettling" didn't even begin to cover it.

Elias let out a long breath and stood up straight, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His eyes moved over the clearing. Around him, stacks of neatly bundled Ashveil Grass were piled in organized rows—each holding exactly one thousand blades.

He took a slow look around. Almost done.

It had taken longer than expected—not just because of the size of the field or how dull the knife was, but because they had to dig up the roots too. If even a few roots were left behind, the whole field would grow back in a few weeks. And that would ruin the whole point of clearing it in the first place.

Ashveil Grass was stubborn like that.

He remembered how players back on Earth had tried to grow it in their own territories for quick profits. But no matter what they did, it never worked. The grass only grew here—in the Ashgrave Ruins.

Nearby, Vael looked up from where he was crouching.

"Master, you should rest. I can finish the rest alone."

Elias shook his head. "No need. I'm not tired."

His current stats would be a joke if cutting grass should wear him out. That said… he was feeling a little thirsty.

Vael tilted his head. "Even so, there are only a few patches left. Take a break. I'll finish this."

Elias opened his mouth to protest, then paused. "…Alright. Go ahead."

He turned away and took a few steps before stopping. "Do you need water? Or anything else?"

Vael blinked. "I'm not actually alive, Master. Food, water—those needs don't apply to me."

Elias blinked as well. He knew that, of course. But Vael looked so human sometimes, it was easy to forget.

Still, the question had been sitting in the back of his mind. "So… how do you get energy then? If you don't eat, drink, or breathe—what keeps you going?"

It didn't make sense. Humans needed rest. Even someone like him—someone who could absorb mana—still needed food and sleep. But Vael? He was undead. He moved on his own, showed intelligence, followed orders.

Vael shrugged. "Simple. I can't absorb mana like the living. But you act as a conduit. Through you, I gain energy passively."

Elias blinked. "So… I'm like a walking battery?"

"In a way," Vael said.

Elias frowned slightly, his mind racing. That led to another question. "Then what happens if we're far apart? Like... we get separated for a long time. Do you weaken?"

Vael shook his head. "No. I can also draw energy from death. Killing things provides another energy source. As long as enemies are around, I can stay active—even if you're far away."

Ah.

That… actually made sense.

So even if Elias wasn't around, Vael could still function. As long as there were enemies to fight, he wouldn't shut down.

Good to know.

Elias turned and headed back to the house. Inside, he went straight to the table and grabbed the water gourd. He took a long sip, letting the lukewarm water slide down his throat. It was refreshing—but not enough. The gourd emptied far too quickly.

"Damn," Elias muttered. He needed more water soon.

Then something clicked in his mind.

Didn't the system mention something earlier?

"System," he said out loud. "You said I could earn Karma Points by trading with you, right?"

> [Affirmative. The system will purchase any item in exchange for Karma Points. Each item is appraised and priced accordingly based on rarity, quality, and quantity.]

Elias smiled. His eyes lit up.

"…So would you buy Ashveil Grass?"