103 Learning (Part One)

From the pale gray sands, a shadow of deep gray suddenly darted out, scattering grains of colorless sand in every direction—its perfect camouflage. The deep gray figure hugged the ground as it sped toward a small pool of clear water beneath a withered old tree. Yet, no matter how swift its movements, it could not outpace the eyes of its hunter—

A piercing cry descended from the sky, and a streak of blue lightning flashed out of nowhere, striking the sand with a crack. Tiny, delicate threads of electricity radiated out from the impact crater, spreading in all directions. The gray figure, caught unawares, was hit by these stray sparks, its body freezing for a split second. In that moment, its odd appearance became clear: about the size of a rabbit, with the head of a rat, the body of a dog, claws like some reptilian creature, and a tail nearly as long as its body, segmented like links of a chain.

Almost the instant the strange creature was paralyzed, a large blue eagle plummeted from the sky, its talons sharp and sure as they closed around the creature’s back. With a mighty beat of its wings, the eagle carried its prey into the sky. It wasn’t long before fragments of deep gray flesh rained down, the odd beast having been torn apart by the blue eagle high above.

When the eagle landed again, a little golden wolf—barely half the eagle’s size—came bounding over. The eagle lowered its head and dropped a shimmering, iridescent morsel before the wolf. The wolf snapped up the three- or four-centimeter piece, swallowing it whole, then licked its lips in satisfaction.

Watching the wolf feast, Theresa smacked her lips, her mouth watering as she imagined all manner of delicacies. The cravings only grew stronger, as did her frustration...

She licked her lips and forced herself to focus on the small pool of clear water not far ahead, staring intently... Suddenly, the tranquil surface began to ripple, as if a breeze had swept across it—

The current started slow, then gradually picked up speed. As it quickened, a little thread of water began to rise, slowly lifting from the surface. It twisted in the air like a water snake, then suddenly shot toward Theresa like an arrow loosed from a bow!

“Ah-woo!” Theresa opened her mouth wide and caught the jet of water. A shiver ran through her body—it was freezing.

As the water settled inside her, the chill melted into warmth. Theresa opened her eyes and resumed staring at the small pool. Again and again, water arrows shot forth and she swallowed them, three times in all. Then, with a hint of regret, she closed her mouth—too much of a good thing would be dangerous. Three sips were enough for her daily needs; any more, and she risked poisoning herself.

Throughout the whole process of Theresa “drinking,” the little eagle and the little wolf worked together seamlessly, fending off four or five waves of attackers. The eagle would strike, and the wolf would collect the spoils. Their teamwork was flawless.

With Theresa finished, the two creatures completed their tasks as well. The little wolf trotted back and sprawled beside her, pressing against her thigh to quietly absorb the day’s gains. The little eagle flew to the dead tree by the water and perched, eyes closed in rest. Without the eagle’s presence, odd creatures occasionally crept to the edge of the pool. Most were small, none larger than a cat. Each was highly vigilant and moved swiftly, but regardless of their shape or size, every creature only took a single sip of water before departing—remarkably disciplined.

After the “meal,” it was time for study. The book-spirit, who had been waiting for this opportunity, appeared without waiting for Theresa’s summons and launched into another day of instruction—

“Your talent is indeed impressive. In just a few days, you’ve become quite adept at ‘soft technique.’ Today, you can try using it to transform physical objects. Consider yourself lucky—normally, you’d need to reach the mid-stage of mental power to learn this, but since you’ve entered the ‘virtual realm,’ the usual constraints are greatly reduced, effectively boosting your mental strength. It’s the perfect chance to learn. Once you master it, you’ll be able to use ‘soft technique’ even after leaving the virtual realm.”

Theresa could only feel speechless at the book-spirit’s words—how could it call this “good luck” given her current state? If she were truly “fortunate,” that magical backlash wouldn’t have struck just as she was about to teleport...

Still, trying to find humor in hardship, she thought that surviving the chaos of spatial turbulence was itself a stroke of luck. Whether she could return to her own world was a matter for after her recovery.

With a wry smile, Theresa cleared her mind and focused, following the book-spirit’s guidance. She directed her mental power into countless fine threads, which reached out to envelop the dead wood she leaned against. Instantly, countless faint silver strands appeared around the wood—a manifestation unique to the virtual realm, tracing the movement of her mind.

The filaments penetrated the wood, and soon it began to change, as if shaped by an invisible hand. The rough bark was smoothed away, knots were carved off, and the rounded form slowly took shape, bit by bit...

...

Four days later, Theresa lay sprawled on a wooden bed, limbs spread wide, a thin blanket of woven plant fiber draped over her. She sighed contentedly—

A bed, even a hard one, was a blessing if it was flat and didn’t jab her. A blanket, even if it offered no warmth, was happiness enough if it gave her cover.

“My, you’re easily satisfied,” the book-spirit popped out, dousing her mood. “Just a bed and a plant-fiber blanket, and it took you four days. If you had to build yourself a shelter, who knows how long you’d take!”

“What’s the point of building a shelter? I’m not planning to put down roots here forever,” Theresa replied lazily from her comfortable perch. “Book-spirit, didn’t you say if we find the core of the virtual realm and gather enough power, we can go home?”

“With your current abilities, you dream of getting close to the core? Ridiculous!” the book-spirit retorted mercilessly. “Don’t think that just because the little eagle can kill anything here, you’ll be safe. Go any deeper, and even ten eagles wouldn’t protect you!”

Theresa, long used to its jibes, merely touched her nose and said nothing in reply.

The book-spirit grew more excited, shouting, “Up, up! Your legs may be useless, but your hands still work. Get moving!”

“I really wonder who’s supposed to be the master here…” Theresa grumbled under her breath, but obediently sat up and followed its instructions. After all, the book-spirit was her greatest hope of ever leaving this world, and its status had grown accordingly. (To be continued)