"Hmm…" Arya murmured to herself.
"Come to think of it, whenever I use the Gathering Art, I feel some kind of power flowing inside me."
"Could this be… how magic works?"
The more Arya thought about it, the more it seemed possible. Curiosity and excitement bubbling within her, she focused on channeling the magic she sensed. With a subtle click in her mind, she 'saw' a small, cube-shaped space forming before her eyes—roughly a meter long, a meter wide, and a meter high.
"Could this be… a storage space?" she whispered, unsure.
Testing her theory, Arya carefully lifted a nearby supply chest and placed it into the magical cube. To her astonishment, it fit perfectly. She examined the dimensions again and realized it could probably hold more than ten chests.
"This isn't small at all," Arya said with a grin she could barely contain—almost as sharp as an AK.
Her thoughts immediately raced to the moonstone dagger she had obtained earlier, the weapon rumored to boost strength by +999. Eagerly, she placed it in the space.
[Moonstone Dagger (C)]
Effect: Damage +50, Strength +30
Description: A dagger crafted from moonstone by a master artisan. It is extraordinarily sharp, though prolonged magic loss has reduced its potency. Magic can potentially restore it to full strength.
"Excellent!" Arya beamed. "This should offset my weakness in strength… and maybe even restore its true power."
She decided to treat the dagger with care—breathing over it twice, wiping it clean, then placing a glowing mushroom atop it.
[Luminous Mushroom (E)]
Effect: Can be used for illumination or alchemy
Description: A light-attribute mushroom that thrives in dark, damp areas. Common across the continent and reproduces rapidly.
Arya considered planting it near the stream below, but the sunlight there would be detrimental. Reluctantly, she set it aside and returned to opening the supply chests.
Inside, she found food, drink, an air-conditioning quilt, and a small, fist-sized glass orb. The orb was cold to the touch, as if recently taken from a refrigerator, and seemed to contain something inside.
Curious, Arya placed the orb on her small identification screen.
[Sealing Orb (E)]
Effect: Used to seal large items; can be unsealed with magic
Description: Functions similarly to a universal capsule.
"So… it can store large items?" Arya asked herself. "Anything too big for a chest could be inside?"
Deciding to test it, she stepped outside, using magic to open the orb. With a resounding 'bang,' the orb vanished, revealing a full-sized mattress—two meters long, 1.4 meters wide, and 15 centimeters thick.
"Ah, I see! Anything that can't fit in a chest counts as a 'large item.'" She recalled the air-conditioning quilt and confirmed her suspicion: these supply chests had been sent in bulk from Blue Star.
Though slightly exasperated, Arya carried the mattress inside. Soft straw had been comfortable before, but now, with a mattress and quilt, she would finally sleep well tonight.
She set the mattress down but quickly remembered her current priorities. "I should brew the potion first. Sleep can wait—this is exciting!"
Arya fetched a bucket to gather water for the potion. The crucible she had resembled a small bucket and could hold about 20 liters, but it lacked handles. Fetching water with it would be cumbersome. She searched the supply exchange and found a wooden bucket of similar size for ten supply units. She purchased it immediately.
Once the bucket appeared beside her desk, Arya realized that large items didn't appear on the desktop interface, only smaller ones. Nevertheless, she was ready.
Carrying the bucket, Arya raced to the nearby stream. The bright moonlight made navigation easy, and she quickly filled the bucket. She returned to her shelter cautiously, ensuring no monsters lurked nearby.
Pouring the water into the rusty crucible, Arya noticed another problem: she had no stove. Not a serious issue—she gathered four stones of similar size and arranged them outside her door, placing the crucible atop them. A makeshift stove would suffice.
"One Apprentice-level Magic Potion requires 10 grams of kuxing grass and 10 grams of huangwei flower," Arya muttered, "but how do I measure it? I don't even have a scale."
She shrugged. "First attempt… if it fails, it fails. At most, I'll waste a few herbs."
Arya realized she also lacked ignition tools. A search in the exchange revealed a single kerosene lighter, available in exchange for one unit of food. She quickly contacted Natasha.
Arya: "Does the lighter have kerosene in it?"
Natasha: "Yes."
Arya: "I have a large instant noodle cake, 110 grams."
Natasha: "Okay, but you need to add a bottle of mineral water."
After sending 500 ml of beer along with the noodles, Arya completed the trade. The kerosene lighter now lay in her hand, ready to ignite the fire.
With everything prepared, she held handfuls of kuxing grass and huangwei flower, staring at the crucible. Without hesitation, she tossed both herbs inside. Then, using the lighter, she ignited a bundle of straw and wood beneath the crucible.
The flames licked the bottom of the crucible, casting flickering shadows across Arya's focused face. She watched intently as the herbs began to react, the mixture slowly bubbling and releasing faint, glowing vapors.
"This… this is it. My very first potion," she whispered, a thrill running through her chest.
Her hands hovered nervously, adjusting the straw to maintain steady heat. The herbs crackled, and the mixture's aroma filled the night air—a heady combination of floral and earthy scents.
Arya's eyes glimmered with determination. "Even if it doesn't turn out perfect, I'll learn. Next time, I'll do better."
Minutes passed. The potion gradually thickened, taking on a faint golden hue, and a soft hum of magic pulsed from the mixture. Arya's heart leaped.
"Yes… it's working!"
She carefully lifted the crucible, noticing the liquid shimmer under the moonlight. The Persistence Potion, even at its first attempt, had taken shape. The thought that this potion could restore strength, heal, and enhance magic filled Arya with boundless excitement.
"This is only the beginning," she said, voice trembling with anticipation. "Soon… I'll master all of this."
Exhausted but exhilarated, Arya leaned against the shelter wall. Her gaze drifted to the small magical storage space where the moonstone dagger rested, glowing faintly, waiting for her magic to nourish it further. The mattress and quilt beside her reminded her of comfort, but tonight, excitement kept sleep at bay.
With the Persistence Potion successfully brewing, Arya's mind raced with possibilities. She imagined experimenting with different herbs, combining magic and alchemy, and unlocking abilities far beyond an E-level talent.
She clenched her fists, smiling at the challenge ahead. "No more limits. This… is only the start."
Outside, the stream glimmered under the moonlight, reflecting Arya's determined expression. A faint breeze rustled through the trees, whispering promises of growth, power, and discovery.
Arya knew this was more than survival. This was her beginning, and nothing would hold her back.