As Anastasia's consciousness returned to her physical body, she was shocked to discover that her skin was covered in grime. She quickly took a bath, washing herself numerous times to remove the dirt and grime from her skin and hair. After cleansing herself, she felt refreshed and invigorated.
She then realized that the crystal was no longer in her hand but had transformed into a ruby tattoo on her chest. When she touched it, she felt herself being drawn back into the crystal world. She found herself standing in the same storage room she had left earlier, with no apparent passage of time.
As she reflected on her experiences, Anastasia realized that the water from the fountain in the crystal world had somehow cleansed her physical body. This revelation made her more curious about the crystal world and it's peculiarities, especially the time differences between the two realms.
But what truly amazed her was the rediscovery of her mental powers. She had been skeptical at first, wondering if she would be able to tap into them again after her rebirth. But as she focused her mind, she felt the familiar surge of energy and clarity. Her senses seemed sharper, and she could perceive her surroundings with greater precision.
With renewed confidence, Anastasia decided to test her powers. She spread her consciousness throughout the warehouse, and to her delight, it worked seamlessly. She could sense every detail, every object, and every corner of the vast space.
This was a significant breakthrough, especially since her powers hadn't worked when she tried them after talking to her parents the day before. It seemed that her connection to the crystal world was amplifying her abilities, and she was eager to explore the full extent of her newfound capabilities. She then realized the mystery of the fountain water and the probability of raising the chances of her family having superpowers unlike her last life.
As Anastasia's consciousness spread through the warehouse again, she confirmed her suspicion that it was a static, infinite space. Unlike Jordan's warehouse, which had a fixed size, hers seemed to stretch on forever, with no end in sight. This realization sparked a mix of awe and curiosity, and she wondered if Jordan had indeed received a broken or limited version of the space crystal.
With her mental powers working seamlessly, Anastasia expanded her consciousness to explore the rest of the castle. She discovered a dining room adjacent to the kitchen, its table set with fine china and silverware, awaiting the presence of its occupants. Moving on, she sensed the grandeur of the parlor, where the crystal on the central table now appeared cloudy, with vibrant colors dancing around it.
Her exploration continued as she sensed a cozy bedroom, filled with plush furnishings and soft lighting. Next, she discovered a study with an attached library, the shelves lined with ancient tomes and manuscripts that whispered secrets of the past. Beside the study lay a dojo, its walls adorned with an array of cold, ancient weapons, each one telling a story of battles long past. Among them, one sword stood out, its aura radiating power and significance.
Anastasia's curiosity was piqued, and she longed to physically explore these rooms, to uncover the secrets they held and understand the true nature of the crystal world. The possibilities were endless, and she felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect of discovering more even if her head hurt a bit due to overuse of her ability.
So she left the warehouse and went back to the kitchen where she took a ladle to fetch the spring water from the fountain, because she was inconvenienced the last time she took water there. After drinking two sips of water, she felt invigorated and her head stopped hurting, while her mental capacity increased a bit.
Anastasia was tempted to take more of the spring water but as someone who had been through the apocalypse, her wary side that had been honed through seven years of constant battle, and the betrayal that led her to stay in the research institute for five years, made her hold back. She returned to her physical body and realized that she could take things out of space because the ladle was still with her.
But her skin was dusty like someone who rubbed ash all over her body, she took her bath and realized her skin was smooth and there was no blemish on her face and her hair looked more healthy, strong and lush. So she came to a conclusion that the spring water has beautifying effects amongst other qualities.
She went into her room, took her phone and re-entered the space with her consciousness without touching the ruby tattoo. Armed with her phone in the crystal world, Anastasia tracked the time difference between the two worlds. She realized that time in the crystal world moved ten times faster than in Terra. This meant that if she spent ten years in the crystal world, only one year would have passed in Terra.
However, there was an exception to this rule - the static warehouse. In the warehouse, time was stagnant, and no matter how long she stayed there, time would not move. She left the fountain and moved to the bedroom.
The bedroom was a serene oasis, filled with plush furnishings and soft lighting that seemed to dance across the walls. The Persian carpets beneath her feet were a testament to the room's elegance, with intricate patterns and colors that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. As Anastasia approached the wardrobe, she was struck by the simplicity and yet, the opulence of the clothes that hung within.
The fabrics were a marvel, with a smooth, luxurious texture that seemed to defy the ordinary. Most of the clothes were black, with a few pieces in brown, ash, and grey, but what struck Anastasia was the unique property of these fabrics - they seemed to be impervious to everything. She held up a black jumpsuit, feeling the fabric between her fingers, and was amazed to find that it was like holding a second skin.
The clothes were designed for functionality, with a focus on hunting and survival. They were made to withstand the elements, and Anastasia soon discovered that they were indeed impervious to heat, cold, and even water when she returned to her physical body. She tested the fabric, stretching it, trying to tear it, but it seemed to be indestructible. She put it under hot water, and then cold water, but the fabric refused to yield.
As she continued to test the clothes, Anastasia realized that everything she had found in the house was a treasure. The fabrics were not just beautiful, but also seemed to possess properties that made them almost otherworldly. She felt a sense of wonder and excitement, thinking about the possibilities that these clothes could offer.