The silence in the hut was broken only by the crackling of firewood in the stove and the Kitsune's even breathing. Azrael no longer felt tired. His body, renewed by the System's gift, was filled with a strange, ringing energy. He stood up, walked to the frost-covered window, and wiped it with his sleeve.
A blizzard raged outside. A white shroud hid the forest, the sky, everything around them. They were trapped, but now—in a warm and safe trap.
"Make plans..." he mentally repeated his own words.
He returned to the table, pulled a worn notebook and a pencil stub from his backpack—the previous owner's legacy. He opened it to a clean page.
— Alright, — he began aloud, addressing himself more than the fox. The Kitsune pricked up its ears. — Quest completed. Reward received. I'm alive. So far, so good.
He wrote in large letters at the top: **GOALS**.
— First. Survive. — He put a checkmark. — But that's not a one-time thing. Need to provide for myself long-term. Food, water, shelter.
Under this, he wrote:
* *Check supplies.*
* *Reinforce the door.*
* *Find a stable food source (don't rely on lucky hunts).*
— Second. Figure out this damn System. — His gaze became focused. — It gives opportunities but hides the rules. That's dangerous.
He made a new list:
* *Find out how quests are activated.*
* *Understand what "[UNAVAILABLE]" means and how to make it available.*
* *Test "Youthful Body" — limits of regeneration, speed.*
— Third. Strength. — Azrael put down the pencil and looked at his sword leaning against the wall. — Sixty-four percent... A lot for one fight. The System clearly encourages... using the skills. Need to train. Otherwise, I might not be lucky next time.
* *Daily training (sword, bow if I find one).*
* *Study the "Assassin's Skill" — what does it give besides the ability to strike accurately?*
* *Check if the percentage increases just from training, or only in battle.*
He leaned back in his chair, examining his plan. It all looked simple and logical. But behind each point were weeks, if not months, of work, risk, and uncertainty.
Suddenly, the Kitsune raised its head and let out a quiet yip, staring at the door. Its nose twitched, ears tilting forward alertly.
Azrael instantly fell silent, grabbed his sword, and froze, listening. His own senses, heightened by the recent adrenaline, detected nothing but the howling wind. But he had already learned to trust the animal.
A minute passed. Two. Nothing.
And then he felt it. A light, barely perceptible nudge somewhere in the back of his mind. Not a sound or a smell. Something else. A feeling of being watched. A sensation that outside the walls of this small, warm little world, something existed. Something big, cold, and indifferent that had simply glanced at their refuge and moved on, showing no interest.
An icy trickle ran down his spine. This wasn't like wolves or people.
The Kitsune exhaled, curling up again, but its tail twitched nervously.
Azrael slowly lowered his sword. He looked at his neat list of plans, then at the door, behind which a blizzard and something unknown lurked.
He picked up the pencil and at the very bottom of the page, under all the items, wrote another one in bold letters:
***SURVIVE AMONG THEM.***
***
Hm. Interesting. He received his reward. "Youthful Body." Practically instant regeneration. Useful. Very. Though not as spectacular as lightning throwing. But for his current... situation... far more practical.
He is satisfied. Good. Satisfied test subjects are less prone to rebellion and more prone to cooperation. His disappointment has turned into understanding. Excellent. Passed the acceptance phase without unnecessary breakdowns.
And now he's making plans. Cute. He's writing them down. Structuring his thinking. An attempt to bring order to the chaos of his existence. Commendable.
* Survive. (Checkmark. Overconfident. We'll see).
* Figure out the System. (Hm. Good luck. Many have tried).
* Become stronger. (Predictable. Inevitable).
Basic, primitive instincts of survival and curiosity. A stable foundation for further... development.
And there it is. The first real test of the environment. Not those wolves that charge head-on. Something else. Cold. Ancient. Something that simply *is*. And whose gaze slid over his shelter.
He felt it. And the beast felt it. Instincts kicked in. Fear. Primordial horror of something bigger, stronger, and incomprehensible.
He added a new item to his list. The most important one. "SURVIVE AMONG THEM."
The right conclusion, boy. The most correct one possible.
This world isn't just dangerous. It is *alive*. And it's looking at you. And not all glances will slide past.
His System, his regeneration... it won't make him the master here. It will only give him a chance to last a second longer. Is that enough?
We will find out.
He thinks he's making plans for the future. He is mistaken. He is preparing for the present.
The most interesting part is beginning.