Hours of fighting had left her chest heaving, arms sore, and legs trembling. Even with newfound strength, she needed rest. Her mind, clever and curious, scanned the forest. Somewhere nearby, a soft glow hinted at a clearing. Perhaps she could claim it as a temporary shelter.
Her boots sank softly into moss as she walked carefully, wide hips swaying subtly, chest slightly heavier with each step than she would have liked. At the edge of a small brook, she found a flat patch of land surrounded by floating mossy stones and thick lilac bushes. It was small, safe, and sheltered from wind. Seraphina dropped to her knees, brushing moss from her clothes, and began examining the area.
"This will do… for now," she whispered, shyly surveying her new little home. Her exaggerated chest rose and fell, but she adjusted her posture to avoid tripping or straining further. She set down her small bundle of gathered moss and leaves, imagining a bed for herself. Even in this strange world, she felt the need for comfort and order—small, necessary luxuries for survival.
Next came the question of supplies. Her system shop hovered faintly before her eyes, blue and translucent, glowing softly. The 1.0 SP she had earned could finally be put to use.
> [System Shop: Available]
She tapped lightly, reviewing the options: a small water container, a tiny fire starter, a few rations of magical fruits she could use for energy, and some moss blankets. Her shyness showed as she hesitated at the more expensive items, but her mischievous side urged her to get whatever would make life easier. She selected a water container first, then the moss blankets. Each selection blinked softly, subtracting SP from her balance.
> [Purchased: Water Container | Cost: 0.3 SP]
[Purchased: Moss Blankets | Cost: 0.4 SP]
[Shop Points Remaining: 0.3 SP]
Satisfied, Seraphina began arranging her small home. She layered moss blankets for a soft bed, placed her water container near a flat stone, and cleared a tiny area for herself to sit. Her body was still tired, but the thrill of creating her first home filled her with quiet pride. Her exaggerated curves made bending and placing items slightly awkward, yet she adapted slowly, her movement now less clumsy than before, though far from perfect.
By the time she lay down on the moss blankets, the sun above the floating islands had dipped lower, casting golden light across her small clearing. Her chest rose and fell with each deep breath, hips aching from the day's exertion. She traced the contours of her new home with careful fingers, a shy, mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
"This… is mine," she whispered softly, imagining herself here for the coming nights. She felt safe, ready to recover, and prepared to hunt again tomorrow. The first step of survival—a place to rest, food, and water—was complete. Her SP balance reminded her that she could continue improving her home as she accumulated more.
Lying back, she glanced at the faintly glowing system screen. Her body was stronger now, her exaggerated proportions less of a hindrance, and her mind already ticked with ideas for the next hunt.
[Cultivation: none]
Her heart raced with anticipation. Tomorrow, she would venture further, test her newly leveled strength, and confront slightly stronger beasts. But tonight, she could rest, recover, and savor the satisfaction of her first real home in this strange, magical forest.
Even as her eyelids drooped, a sly, mischievous grin lingered. Seraphina Vale was ready. The forest, full of challenges and opportunity, would not know what hit it.
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