page 25: Searching orb
Chapter 5 – The Druid's Signal and the Turning Sky
(Third-Person Narrative)
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With the orb secured in his backpack, Oliver took a steady breath.
The forest around him seemed to shift in tone—not in danger, but in intention.
The Vita, that ever-present metaphysical pulse of the world, stirred slightly. It flowed through the trees like an invisible current, gathering in the space just before him. For a second, the air shimmered—and then it appeared:
A green, glowing line across the forest floor.
Not a solid object. Not even light exactly. It was more like a painted streak in the air—soft, abstract, like chalk drawn on wind. The line curved gently northeast, weaving between trees and disappearing behind a cluster of thick roots and ferns.
Oliver hesitantly reached his hand toward it.
His fingers passed through the green glow without resistance. No heat. No texture. But the Systematic Guide buzzed in his mind as if confirming something.
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Systematic Guide – Sub-Quest Activated
"Return the Druid's Orb"
An abstract Vita-guided path has formed.
Follow the guidance to reach the rightful Druid.
Estimated travel time: Unknown
Estimated distance: Moderate to long
Caution: Terrain and weather may affect visibility and ease of travel.
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He exhaled slowly. "Okay... Follow the magic glowing trail through the woods. Got it."
The humor helped calm his nerves.
He stepped forward, following the soft green thread. Each step seemed to light the trail slightly more, the orb in his backpack responding with a barely-there pulse—like a compass syncing with the forest itself.
But as Oliver walked deeper into the woods, his thoughts were broken by a shift in the air.
The wind picked up. The trees swayed gently, and the light filtering through the canopy dimmed. Overhead, clouds began to creep in—gray and slow-moving.
The warmth from earlier faded.
Oliver paused and looked up.
Dark clouds. Thick. Heavy.
It was going to rain.
And rain meant more than just wet clothes—it meant slippery trails, muddy terrain, and difficulty seeing the Vita path. It also meant cold nights and less visibility.
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Systematic Guide – Weather Notice
Localized Weather Change Detected
Forecast: Rainfall approaching within the hour
Effect:
– Reduced visibility
– Disrupted movement
– Potential trail washout
– Higher wildlife activity in response
Traveler Note: Seek temporary shelter or reinforce camp equipment.
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Oliver gritted his teeth. The cabin was behind him now—too far to double back. The trail pressed forward, glowing faintly still.
But he had a goal now. And for the first time, a real reason to keep going.
He adjusted the rope on his pack, shifted his bow to his shoulder, and walked onward—hoping to find high ground or shelter before the downpour began.
Above him, thunder grumbled faintly.
And ahead, the forest deepened.
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Chapter 6 – Shelter and Submarks
(Third-Person Narrative)
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Oliver worked quickly.
The Vita path had grown dim with the thickening clouds above, and the wind was beginning to whisper harder through the branches. He didn't want to risk moving blindly through rain and unknown woods—so he did the only thing he could:
Build.
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Systematic Guide – Basic Crafting Detected
> 27 Wood Gathered
+15 Used for Wall Slot
+5 for Basic Doorframe
+5 for Roof Support
> [Stability: Low to Medium]
[Insulation: Poor – Suggest leaves/moss lining]
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With a stone axe he carved and stacked, creating a crude but functional shelter—a small cabin, no bigger than a bedroom, but enough to keep dry. Twigs reinforced the roof beams, vines and grass padded the corners, and the doorway was secured with a sliding plank.
It wasn't home. But it was something.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and stepped inside. The walls creaked slightly in the breeze, and the only furnishing was the small patch of dry grass he'd pulled in for a seat.
Just as he sat down, preparing to rest—
The orb began to glow.
Soft, green pulses lit the small cabin in waves, bouncing off the bark walls and sending patterns across Oliver's tired face. Then, in front of him—thin and spectral—submarks appeared. Floating Vita script, like subtitles of a voice not quite heard aloud.
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Submark Message Appearing...✨️
> "Uh hi there…"
"I was wondering if you could return that orb to me…"
"I kind of need it, thanks I guess."
– Druid Class Signature Confirmed – User Verified
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Oliver blinked.
He leaned forward. The message hovered midair for a few seconds, as if waiting for a response, then faded—leaving a faint sparkle in its wake. The orb's glow dimmed slightly but didn't vanish. It was as if it was linked to her now. Wherever she was… she was far, but watching.
He sat back, letting out a dry breath.
"Well... that's new."
It was the first real contact he had since leaving his dad at the roadside.
He wasn't just walking anymore. He wasn't just surviving.
Now he had a connection. A thread.
Something in the forest wanted this orb.
And maybe—just maybe—that someone could become an ally.
Outside, the first drops of rain began to tap against the leaves.
The small cabin creaked gently but held. Oliver watched the orb flicker in the dark, silent and pulsing with purpose.
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Chapter 7 – The Bridge Between Worlds
(First- and Third-Person Narrative Mixed)
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First Person – Oliver's Thoughts
The rain had a rhythm to it.
A calm, uneven tapping on the bark-and-leaf roof of the cabin. Some droplets slipped through the gaps and landed on my shoulder, others pattered on the stone beside me. I sat still, knees pulled in, back against the creaky wall.
Just watching.
The forest was quiet in its own way. Alive, breathing. Even the insects hushed during the storm.
I couldn't help but wonder…
What's going on back home?
Back on Earth—if that's what you'd even still call it.
Was it still 2025 there? Did time move the same here as it did back in that world? Was anyone thinking about me? Or had I vanished from the calendar like a misprinted page?
My phone had no signal—just the Systematic Guide, which seemed to know everything except the world I used to live in.
I missed... dumb things.
Like traffic lights. Grocery store aisles. The ugly carpet in my room.
But none of that mattered now. I chose this path—even if I didn't know where it would lead.
I pulled the Druid's orb from my pack. It pulsed softly in my hand. A green reminder that I had a new direction.
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Third Person View
Several hours passed.
The storm came and went like a sigh through the trees. The cabin, though makeshift, held its own. Damp in spots, but intact. Oliver stood and stretched, his clothes slightly clingy with lingering moisture.
He packed his things carefully:
– The Druid Orb
– Stone dagger
– Bow and sharp stick-arrows
– Two remaining granola bars
– Vita bottle (still lukewarm)
– Map scroll from the Systematic Guide
He stepped outside. Mist clung to the forest floor in patches like sleepy clouds. Birds began to chirp again, distant but cautious.
The Systematic Map activated on its own, projecting faint trails and glowing outlines in front of Oliver's vision. It zoomed slightly to reveal a wooden bridge not too far ahead—a manmade structure, weathered but standing.
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📘 Systematic Map – Trail Progression:
> ✧ Location: Outer Stonebark Expanse
✧ Destination: Druid Signal Detected
✧ Directive: Cross the moss-covered bridge and continue into denser forest sector
✧ Terrain Warning: Increased canopy density, wildlife activity, and Vita growth
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He could already see it ahead now. The bridge, made from Vita-stained timber, stretching across a shallow ravine. Moss hung off the sides like old banners, and ferns danced beneath it. Trees on the other side were thicker, taller, almost unnaturally green.
This part of the forest... was different.
Older, maybe.
He tightened the straps of his backpack, checked the orb once more—it flickered brightly as if excited—and started forward.
Each step toward that bridge…
was a step further from his old world
and deeper into the story that was unfolding now.
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End of Chapter 7
Next:
Chapter 8 – Echoes in the Thicker Woods
New terrain, new creatures, and the subtle first whispers of the Druid's voice...