Dreams and new starts.

John was running. He didn’t know where he was running to, he only knew that he had to make it somewhere. There was nothing chasing him, so he wasn't afraid for his life, but he felt that if he didn’t get to where he was supposed to be, he would miss something important.

The sky around him was an inky blackness that came with starless nights, and as he ran he relied on his other senses to tell him when to move and where, so that he didn’t hit obstacles. Like that candy colored tree, or those marshmallow rocks that he vaulted over. It was like he was running through the landscape of Candyland.

The woods grew denser around him. Dense enough that he had to slow down, but it was difficult to do so with the feeling that he was going to be late if he didn’t run at full speed. He began to clip his shoulders and hips on the trees where before he would be able to effortlessly dodge them, but he persisted, continuing to push his body as fast as it could go.

Suddenly he ran into a clearing. In the center of the clearing was a creature of pure light, so bright that he could barely make out the gender of the creature before him. The creature stepped away from him, and moved to a pool of crystal clear water. Whatever this creature was, she didn’t seem to mind that John was watching her, or more to the fact, didn’t seem to acknowledge that John was even there in the first place.

This didn’t anger John, as he chose to sit at the edge of the clearing and watch the feminine being with the other creatures that slowly began to filter in. Predator and prey alike watched in silent rapture as the being slowly submerged itself into the shallow pool. While she was under the surface john took a moment to look around.

Across the clearing another lady stood, shrouded in near darkness, and covered from neck to toe in armor, a sword dangling from her hip, and what appeared to be feathers, although John could have been wrong, it was awfully dark, coming from the backs of her arms. The head of the woman turned and stared at John as he stared at her, her red eyes gleaming slightly in the darkness, like a cat’s eyes might.

She gave John a nod before casting one last look at the being in the pool of water before turning away and melting into the darkness. John stared at the spot where the lady in armor had disappeared before turning his head back to the being of light in the water. He watched as whatever it was played in the water joyfully.

Suddenly a noise broke the stillness of the air and the being looked in the direction, away from where John was, and the armored lady had been. The being jumped out of the pool and flew off into the sky, her light becoming the moonlight shining down on the forest. John rose from his feet and turned to see what it was that had made the noise. He saw creatures that reeked of villainy and evil, pain and ****. One turned towards him and opened it mouth, screaming at him.

John woke up suddenly, his breath rushed in and out of his lungs desperately. John looked over at his alarm clock with a sigh and reached over to turn it off. As he sat up, he got a pop up.

Daily Quest
Survival 101
Survive until your next daily quest is awarded. Do not fall below zero health
+1 End
Optional: Don’t fall below half health.
Optional Reward: 1 Elemental Essence
Accept
<Yes> <No>

John shook his head as he clicked the accept button. John got out of bed and gave a mighty stretch, listening to the reassuring pops in his back as his spine realigned itself. With a shake of his body, John gathered up his clothes for the day and headed to the restroom.

John paused at the door to the restroom and cast a glance towards his mother’s shut door. Had he really seen what he thought he did, or was his mind playing tricks on him? Deciding that it was a question for another time, John went about his morning routine, even having enough time to rub one out in the shower before he dried himself and dressed for school.

As he entered into the kitchen, John saw his mother had left him a plate of eggs and bacon for breakfast, accompanied by a note.

Sorry that I am not there to give you a kiss goodbye, but there was an emergency in the office and I had to head in early. Have fun at school today. Love Mom XOXO.

John smiled as he read the note before he dug into the plate of food. The food tasted better than he remembered, but he chalked it up to all the near **** experiences that he had recently. The food gone, John washed the dish and set it in the drying rack when he got a pop up.

New Skill Unlocked
Washing Dishes
Passive Skill. This skill makes it easier to clean dishes in less time.
Skill level: 1

John laughed at the ridiculous skill that he had just gotten and shook his head. He checked his sheet before heading out the door, and noticed that he had gotten a bonus to his health and mana regeneration. Keeping an eye out for the changes that walking into barriers would bring, he checked what the actual regen rate was, and what it was from.

Regeneration Buff
Full meal
HP Regen rate increased by 20%
MP Regen rate increased by 20%
Buff time: 1:58

John judged that since the timer hadn’t gone down when he glanced at it, it must be a two hour buff that he got, just from eating a good breakfast.

Thankfully, John made it to the bus stop without running into an undead barrier this time. But John did find it a bit odd that there were no other barriers, when yesterday he couldn’t seem to go ten feet without running into one. John thought about it, but his musing was cut short by the arrival of the bus.