Isabella blinked at the small creature, trying to process what just happened.
It trusted her? Already?!
"Wait, wait, wait." She rubbed her temples. "I literally just met you. How do you trust me this fast? Do you have trust issues the other way around? You’re supposed to be scared of strangers, not throwing yourself at them."
The creature let out a tiny chirp.
"Oh, don’t give me that. You don’t even know me!" Isabella crossed her arms.
But as she stared at its big, round, trusting eyes, something inside her softened.
She exhaled. "Alright, fine. Let’s do this."
[Initiating binding process.]
A soft, golden glow surrounded the little creature. The air hummed with energy, sending a faint vibration through Isabella’s skin. The light grew brighter, wrapping around them like a warm cocoon.
Isabella felt something tingle in her chest. Like an invisible thread pulling between her and the creature.
Then—a surge of warmth.
It wasn’t painful, but it was... overwhelming. Like something deep inside her shifted—as if the universe itself acknowledged their connection.
A soft ding.
[Binding complete.]
The golden glow faded, and the small creature let out a content purr.
Isabella opened her eyes slowly.
"...That’s it?" She wiggled her fingers, expecting something dramatic. "No lightning? No ancient chants? No ’you are now bound forever’ speech?"
[Would you like a speech?]
"No!" Isabella quickly waved her hands.
The creature rubbed its head against her leg again, looking utterly pleased.
Isabella sighed. "Welp. Guess you’re my problem now."
Isabella scooped up the small creature, cradling it in her arms as she finally prepared to leave. But then—her gaze snapped to something in the dim light.
The herbs and crystals she had noticed before.
She hesitated. They looked... too perfect. The way they shimmered faintly in the darkness, the way their colors were so rich, almost unnaturally vibrant—it set off alarm bells in her head.
"Something’s off," she murmured.
[Do you wish to analyze them?]
"Obviously. But from a distance." Isabella narrowed her eyes, shifting the creature in her arms. She wasn’t about to be reckless.
Step one: Observe.
She crouched down, scanning the area. The crystals were embedded in the rocky ground, glowing with a soft, enchanting light. The herbs around them were lush, untouched, as if no hand had ever disturbed them.
Step two: Connect the dots.
They looked... familiar. But she couldn’t remember where she’d seen something like them before. A past life? A documentary? A dream?
Step three: Ask the system.
[You must touch an item before I can analyze it.]
"Of course." Isabella sighed. "That’s how people in horror movies die, Bubu. They touch things."
[Then do not touch them.]
She scoffed. "I never said I wouldn’t. I’m just being dramatic."
She stared at the herbs again, lips pressing into a line. They really did look suspiciously magical.
For all she knew, one touch could make her grow a second head, or worse—give her permanent body hair like a werewolf. There were no razors in this era. That was a real risk.
Taking a deep breath, Isabella reached out toward the least threatening-looking herb and plucked it.
A sudden wave of knowledge rushed into her mind.
[Item: Moonflower Herb.
Use: Natural shampoo ingredient. Strengthens hair, prevents breakage, adds shine.]
Her eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
Curious, she grabbed another.
[Item: Starlit Fern.
Use: Skin cleanser. Removes impurities, enhances glow.]
Then another.
[Item: Glimmerroot.
Use: Natural soap base. Lathers well, leaves skin soft and fragrant.]
She slowly blinked.
"...So, I’m standing in an ancient fantasy Sephora?"
She slowly blinked.
"...So, I’m standing in an ancient fantasy Sephora?"
The creature in her arms made a soft noise.
Isabella’s lips parted in awe. She had stumbled upon a goldmine.
A place where beauty products grew naturally.
She gently shook the small creature. "Did you know about this? You’ve been living here, right?"
The creature just tilted its head.
"...You totally knew." Isabella sighed. "You could have told me."
The animal blinked.
"What do you mean, ’you can’t talk’? That’s no excuse!"
She continued picking—not everything, just enough. The system had already confirmed the area wouldn’t run out, but still, hoarding was now a habit.
What if she needed to bribe someone in the future? Who could resist a rare glow-enhancing face cleanser?
She reached for a particularly striking herb, only to pause. "Wait. What if this one is secretly poison? Like, what if this is fantasy Botox, and I just erase my ability to smile?"
[You can touch it to find out.]
"See, this is why I hate you."
Isabella grabbed it anyway.
[Item: Velvet Vine.
Use: Hydrating lotion base. Leaves skin baby-soft and prevents dryness.]
She gasped. "It’s lotion?! Oh, this is a blessing. I refuse to be ashy in any timeline."
At this point, she was grinning like a lunatic. This was better than finding gold. She was going to smell good, feel good, and if she played her cards right—become the ancient era’s first beauty mogul.
By the time fifteen minutes had passed, Isabella’s storage space was filled with rare herbs and glowing crystals.
{Congratulations on leveling up to level 3 foraging skill}
"Hell yeah, that’s right" Isabella smiled flipping her perfect hair victoriously.
She dusted off her hands and stood up.
"Alright. Time to leave."
The creature in her arms wiggled, as if it had no idea she had just secured their future in luxury.
Then she left the space and planned to come later in the future, but for now she was happy with what she had.
Isabella barely made it a few steps before she heard it—footsteps.
Heavy. Numerous. Approaching fast.
Her breath hitched. Not good.
She turned back, heart pounding, just in time to see a group of warriors enter the space she had just left. Tall, broad, armed. Their movements were sharp, efficient, the way only trained hunters moved.
Her grip on the small creature tightened as she pressed herself behind a large boulder. Not a sound. Not a breath.
One of the warriors strode forward, eyes scanning the scene. His gaze landed on the massive, bisected body of their fallen comrade.
Silence. Cold, suffocating silence.
Then—rage.
A guttural growl ripped through the air.
"Who... did this?" one of them snarled, stepping closer to the corpse.
Another kneeled beside the body, pressing his fingers into the deep, clean cut. A kill too precise. Too smooth. His expression twisted.
"This wasn’t done by a beast," he muttered. "This was done by a weapon."
Tension crackled between them like a storm about to break.
"Find them," the leader ordered. "Whoever killed him is still close."
Isabella’s stomach dropped.
Crap.
Then—
"Wait."
A warrior raised his head, ears twitching. Listening.
For a second, nothing.
Then—the sound of someone running.
Isabella.
She froze.
"Someone’s here!"
Too late.
The warriors snapped their heads in her direction, their sharp eyes locking onto her retreating form.
"After them!"
A chorus of snarls erupted as they lunged.
Isabella bolted.
Her legs burned as she sprinted through the uneven terrain, weaving between trees, lungs screaming for air. The small creature in her arms trembled, its tiny claws clinging to her.
"Bubu, this is not funny! I need a way out!"