2 A Place to Call Home

So I decided to begin my checklist, which should have been expected since I have nothing... Wait, I never checked my inventory.

This world is at least slightly forgiving at least, since they gave me some copper tools to use (Pickaxe, Ax, Shortsword). Now where was I...

Oh right, the checklist.

Since I am in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a set of tools I decided the first thing I needed is shelter. And it was quite the enlightening experience trying to build one, especially the part where I gathered materials.

I was prepared to suffer through the trouble of cutting a tree down, but apparently if you just touch any part of the tree with enough force, the tree just starts cracking like you were using an excessive amount of force to cut it down. I immediately tried doing that with the large rocks lying around, but to my surprise, the ax just went through the rock like it wasn't there.

I immediately switched to my pickaxe to test if it worked on the rocks, and it did the opposite of the ax, cutting through stone yet phasing through wood. I do not understand this world in the slightest, and it is at times like these that I wish I did.

After sating my curiosity, I immediately went back to cutting down the tree, which had taken several swings to break. I braced for the tree to fall over, and it took me a few seconds to realize that the tree had effectively just collapsed into a pile of thick wooden planks, as well as acorns the size of my head. My only thought when I saw that was to exclaim "What the hell?" somewhat quietly. I really am starting to doubt my sanity when it comes to this, and I have so many reasons to start having another existential crisis, such as the green slime bouncing over to me right now.

...

WAIT WHAT

Oh my, I should have guessed it since I have an inventory. Slime are literally staple monsters when it comes to fantasy.

So apparently there are slime that just roam the forests around here, and they are possibly aggressive. This day just keeps getting better and better...

After carefully stepping out of the way of the slime, I began collecting the wood that had 'dropped' from the tree. It had to be used to craft at least something useful, right?

I could not be more correct.

I could make a workbench to make wooden items, or even a furnace or anvil. But the real find was that I could make doors and furniture for my home, so I can feel at least somewhat safe in this plain.

While I was going on a lumberjack spree, I found my second great find of the day: a cave. it was a little dark, but I could see a few glittering stones hidden in those shadows.

For the moment, the cave is a low priority compared to a home.

Well enough about things other than my progress on building a home, lets get right into things.

This is where I truly began questioning reality, because apparently gravity is only applicable to living beings. I only found this out because I began building the house without any supports, only to realize this when I saw a 5 meter long square being held up by a pillar situated in the corner of the 'home-in-progress'.

After seeing this, I decided to test something, and broke the pillar holding the roof up.

...

Yup, gravity is broken.

The roof stayed floating in the air, without even the slightest hint of it being supported. I was expecting something more akin to a houses roof falling down, so I was definitely startled by the fact that wood does not abide by the laws of gravity.

Doing my best to ignore the fact that a piece of wood has easily destroyed one of Newton's laws of physics, I continue to work on the house until late in the day.

After finishing my house, which honestly just looks like a giant block of wood with a door, I realize that I forgot one key thing when it comes to houses: Lighting.

With that thought in mind, I head up to the local expert on everything... 'I never actually asked for his name... Huh.'

Well with that thought in the back of my mind, I walked up to the only other person in the area and asked how to create the most rudimentary lighting instruments I could think of: torches. I also asked what his name was too. He responded within the moment of my question with near mechanical precision.

"To make torches, you must first obtain both wood and a gel that is found on slime, and proceed to put the two together to create a torch that will burn forever. Slime does not burn, but it can be lit on fire. And since you did not know, my name is Jacob, but you can just call me guide."

'Oh no... I have to fight a slime just so I can get some torches. This day literally cannot get weirder than it already is.' As I thought that, I looked up at the sky with a look that just emanated resignation, only to begin furiously blinking in surprise.

"wait... is that an ISLAND?"

Jacob apparently overheard me talking to myself, and added a comment of his own.

"Yes, that is indeed an island."

"Why the hell is it in the sky?!"

"Because it is a floating island."

"Yes, I know it is floating, but why?"

Jacob only responded with a single word.

"Magic."

I could only sigh in defeat. Based on what I have seen today, the response seemed to be the most logical thing ever.

"Well, I guess I'm off to fight a slime."

And with that, the hunt for gel begins.

And ended about 20 seconds later due to the discovery of a green slime.

Since I had no idea what i was doing, I just grabbed my copper shortsword and slashed at the slime, which prompted a look of confusion on my face because of how easily it split into 2 pieces. It was dead just like that. As the slime died, I noticed that it started to uh... coagulate into small pieces of gel about the size of my fist. (7.8")

As it was coagulating, I noticed that it also had several copper coins inside of it. I don't even want to think about where it found them.

After killing the slime and collecting the coins, I immediately hurried home so that I could get some well deserved rest after everything that has happened today. I finally crafted some torches, which to my surprise were similar to burning hand sanitizer when comparing the temperature.

Finally, after what seemed to be days, I was finally able to get some rest. As I drifted of to sleep, I never even noticed the shuffling sounds of feet being dragged across grass, or the groans of the zombies dragging those feet. If I hadn't been asleep, I may have been able to see the guide pull out a bow and walk out of the house to hunt zombies.

it was a peaceful night, an uncommon occurrence on this world, but it is a well deserved respite from the horrors the world has yet to show.