Caught in a Hero Summoning: The Calm Life of a Plant Mage

The next day came quietly, the soft light of dawn filtering through the leaves of the great tree and slipping through the gaps in Carter's window. A gentle beam of sunlight landed on his face, warming his skin and waking him slowly. The sound of birds chirping outside was like nature's alarm clock, serene and persistent.

Carter groaned, turning over in his makeshift bed. "Ugh, already morning?" he mumbled, his voice groggy. He buried his face in the mossy pillow but couldn't escape the sunbeam persistently nudging him awake. Finally, he sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright, I'm up. Sort of."

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking sleepily like a zombie rising from the grave. A yawn overtook him, loud and exaggerated, as he stretched his arms out wide. "Man, I forgot how good it feels to sleep somewhere peaceful," he muttered to himself, sitting up. 

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Carter stood and stretched his whole body, reaching for the ceiling. "Okay, Carter. Time to start the day," he said with another yawn. 

He walked over to the balcony, pushing aside the curtain of vines that served as his door. Stepping outside, he took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. The view was breathtaking. The forest stretched out endlessly before him, the sunlight dancing on the leaves like glitter. 

"Wow," Carter whispered, leaning against the railing. "I could get used to this."

He stood there for a while, letting the peaceful atmosphere settle over him. Then, with a thoughtful look, he began to talk to himself again. "Alright, so… what's the plan for today? I've got this amazing treehouse now, but I can't just sit here doing nothing. I need to figure out what I'm going to do in this world."

He crossed his arms, his gaze drifting out over the horizon. "I could start with something simple. Gardening, maybe? I've always loved working with plants. Or I could try potion-making. Those skills would probably come in handy for adventurers. Hmm…"

Carter tapped his chin, his mind racing with possibilities. "A flower shop? A little stand selling herbs and remedies? Or maybe something bigger, like building a whole garden for people to visit. That would be amazing."

He grinned to himself. "The best part is, I can actually choose. No one's telling me what to do. This is my life now, and I get to make it whatever I want."

He straightened up, a renewed sense of purpose sparking in his chest. "Alright, let's start small. A garden. I'll gather seeds, find the best spot, and see what I can grow. Maybe that'll give me some ideas about what to do next."

Carter turned back inside, already thinking of where to begin. For the first time in a long time, he felt excited about the day ahead.

Carter pulled on the clothes he'd arrived in, wrinkling his nose slightly. "Man, I really need to find some proper clothes in this world," he muttered to himself. "Maybe I should go into the city later and check out what they've got. Something comfortable and… less worn."

He stepped into the living room and sat down in one of the natural chairs formed by the tree's magic. Leaning back, he tapped his chin. "Alright, the garden," he said. "Where do I even start? Seeds, right? Can I find them in the forest? Or should I try the city again and see if they sell seeds there? Maybe both? Hmm…"

As he mulled over his plans, a sudden animal cry echoed from outside. Carter froze, the sound sharp and plaintive. He jumped to his feet and ran to the window, peering out into the forest. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, but he couldn't see anything unusual.

"What was that?" he murmured. "It sounded like… something in trouble." He hesitated, chewing his lip. "Should I check it out? What if it's dangerous? Or… what if something needs help?"

The cry came again, louder this time. Carter's heart pounded as he made his decision. "Alright, I'm going," he said, hurrying to the door.

The magical stairs extended smoothly as he stepped outside, descending to the forest floor. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he dashed toward the sound, his pulse racing. The cries grew louder, guiding him through the trees. After a few minutes, he slowed, the noise now just a short distance away. He crouched behind a bush and carefully peeked out.

What he saw made him gasp. A snake-like monster, its scales gleaming dark green and black, had a small, trembling creature cornered against a tree. The smaller animal was unlike anything Carter had ever seen before—a little green fox with luminous fur, its wide, frightened eyes darting back and forth as it let out another high-pitched cry.

"What is that?" Carter whispered to himself, his mind racing. "A snake monster and… a glowing fox? That poor thing looks terrified."

He opened his status screen and activated a skill he'd noticed earlier. "Skill: Appraisal," he said quietly, focusing on the two creatures. Immediately, glowing panels appeared before him, displaying information about each.

Name: Forest Serpent

Type: Monster

Level: 5

Health Points (HP): 150/150

Description: A large and aggressive snake-like monster native to dense forests. Known for its stealth and deadly venom, the Forest Serpent is a skilled ambush predator. Its dark scales provide natural camouflage, making it nearly invisible in shaded areas. Approach with caution.

Skills:

Venomous Bite: Inflicts poison on the target, dealing damage over time.

Constrict: Binds and crushes prey with immense strength.

Stealth: Moves silently in forested areas, making it difficult to detect.

Name: Verdant Fox Pup

Type: Beast

Level: 2

Health Points (HP): 30/30

Description: A rare and gentle creature found in magical forests. The Verdant Fox Pup's glowing fur is a sign of its connection to nature. Though timid, it possesses remarkable healing abilities, often sought after by healers and mages. It is highly valued for its natural affinity with plants and restorative magic.

Skills:

Healing Glow: Emits a faint light that gradually restores health to allies within its vicinity.

Quick Dash: Allows rapid movement to escape predators.

Forest Camouflage: Blends into foliage to avoid detection, making it hard to spot in its natural habitat.

Carter's eyes widened as he read the information. "The snake's strong," he muttered, "and it's got poison. But that fox… it has healing powers? That's amazing. Poor thing's too scared to use them, though."

He gripped the edge of the bush, his mind racing. "Alright, Carter. What are you going to do? You can't just sit here and watch. That fox needs help."

Taking a deep breath, he began to form a plan, glancing back and forth between the two creatures. "Let's hope I don't regret this," he whispered, steeling himself for action.

Carter crouched behind the bush, his heart racing as he watched the snake slowly coil, its predatory gaze locked onto the trembling fox. He muttered to himself, trying to calm his nerves. "Alright, think, Carter. What do I do? I've got magic, but I've never actually used it in a real fight. Do I distract the snake? Try to grab the fox? What if I make it worse?"

The fox let out a plaintive cry, its tiny body trembling as it tried to find a way to escape. It darted its eyes back and forth but was cornered against the tree. The snake hissed, its scales shimmering in the dappled light, and began to rear back, preparing to strike.

"Oh no, no, no," Carter whispered frantically. "This is bad. Real bad. Come on, Carter, do something!"

As the snake opened its jaws, revealing glistening fangs, something inside Carter snapped. He shot to his feet, throwing out his hand instinctively. "Skill: Root Bind!" he yelled.

In an instant, the ground beneath the snake erupted. Thick roots shot out from the soil, wrapping around the serpent's body and pinning it in place. The snake hissed violently, thrashing and struggling against the binds, but the roots held firm.

The fox, frozen in fear moments ago, now looked up in confusion, its wide eyes reflecting the tangled scene. Carter grinned nervously. "Gotcha," he muttered. "Alright, time for the next move. Skill: Earth Spike!"

The ground trembled slightly, and sharp earthen spikes burst upward, piercing the snake's body. The serpent let out one final hiss before it stopped moving, its body going limp in the grasp of the roots.

Carter exhaled deeply, his hands shaking. "Holy… that actually worked," he said, blinking at the scene. He turned his attention to the fox, which was still crouched against the tree, its glowing fur dim and matted. 

Kneeling down, Carter spoke softly. "Hey, little guy. It's okay now. The big scary snake is gone."

The fox flinched, its tiny body trembling as it tried to back away but couldn't move far. Carter kept his voice gentle. "Hey, hey, it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you." He extended a hand, palm up, but the fox let out a small whimper and shrank back.

Carter sighed, then said, "Skill: Healing Touch." A soft green light emanated from his hand, washing over the fox. The light danced across its body, mending wounds and restoring its glow. The fox opened its eyes wide, looking down at its healed body, then back up at Carter, confusion flickering across its face.

Carter smiled warmly. "See? You're fine now. Good as new."

The fox tilted its head, then suddenly jumped up and down, its energy returning in an instant. It let out happy squeaks, running in small circles around Carter. He laughed, his earlier nerves dissolving. "Hey, slow down! You're gonna make me dizzy!"

The fox stopped and looked at Carter with bright eyes, then leapt into his arms. Carter caught it, chuckling as the little creature snuggled against his face. "Alright, alright, I get it. You're welcome," he said, stroking its soft fur.

After a moment, Carter set the fox down gently. "Okay, buddy. You're all better now. I've gotta go." He turned to leave, but the fox squeaked loudly and darted in front of him, blocking his path.

"Huh?" Carter said, looking down. "Are you alright?"

The fox squeaked again and rubbed its head against his leg. Carter blinked in surprise, then laughed. "Wait… are you saying you want to come with me?"

The fox nodded, jumping up and down with excitement. Carter smiled, crouching down. "Alright, little guy. If you want to stick around, I guess I can't say no." He paused, tapping his chin. "But if you're going to be with me, you need a name. Let's see…"

The fox tilted its head, watching Carter intently as he thought aloud. "What's a good name for a glowing, happy little fox? Something nature-y… Oh! How about Ivy?"

The fox's eyes lit up, and it jumped in excitement, running in happy circles around him. Carter laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. Welcome to the team, Ivy."

Carter walked down the forest path with his new partner, Ivy, the glowing green fox trotting happily at his side. The morning sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Carter glanced down at Ivy, a smile tugging at his lips. 

"You know, Ivy, it's nice having some company," Carter said, his voice light. "You're a good listener, even if I'm doing most of the talking." Ivy tilted its head at him, letting out a soft chirp in response.

As they walked, a thought struck Carter. He stopped for a moment and looked at Ivy. "Hey, Ivy. You've been living in these woods for a while, right?" Ivy nodded, making an excited noise. 

Carter crouched down to Ivy's level, his expression thoughtful. "Do you know where we can find any good flowers, seeds, or herbs nearby? Something useful for a garden or maybe potion-making?"

Ivy chirped again and nodded enthusiastically, darting ahead a few steps before looking back at Carter as if to say, "Follow me!"

"Alright, show me the way, buddy," Carter said, standing and brushing off his pants. Ivy led the way, bounding ahead but always staying within sight, its luminous fur glowing faintly against the green of the forest. 

As they walked, Carter muttered to himself. "Let's see, I'll need some seeds to start the garden, maybe a few medicinal herbs for potions. Flowers would be nice too—something colorful for decoration. And who knows, maybe I'll find something rare or magical around here."

Hours passed as Carter and Ivy ventured deeper into the forest, discovering a wealth of items along the way. By the time they turned to head back to the treehouse sanctuary, Carter's bag was bursting with leaves, berries, flowers, and seeds of all kinds. Ivy pranced happily at his side, clearly proud of their haul.

"Alright, let's take stock of what we've got," Carter said as they walked. He adjusted the strap of his overstuffed bag, glancing down at Ivy. "First, we've got these Verdantberries. Enough to make, what, a dozen pots of tea? Plus some paste for healing. Not bad."

Ivy chirped, nodding as if in agreement. 

"Then there are these Sunspire Blossoms," Carter continued, patting the pouch holding the delicate petals. "Great for energy potions. I bet they'll sell really well if I ever decide to start a shop."

He looked down at Ivy, who was sniffing the air as they walked. "And let's not forget the Spikemoss," Carter said. "Perfect for traps and defensive spells. I mean, I'm not exactly an adventurer, but you never know when a little extra protection will come in handy."

Ivy let out a cheerful noise and ran a small circle around him. Carter chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're the real MVP today. What else did we find? Oh! Those roots back there. What were they called? Flamevine roots?" He paused, rummaging through his bag. "Right! Supposedly good for heat-based potions or maybe even starting fires. Pretty versatile."

As they approached the edge of the clearing near the treehouse, Carter grinned. "I think that's everything. We've got seeds, herbs, flowers, berries… enough to start a garden and stock up for a good while. Not a bad day's work, huh, Ivy?"

Ivy yipped in agreement, its glowing fur catching the last rays of sunlight. 

Carter looked up at the massive tree that housed his sanctuary, a warm sense of accomplishment settling over him. "Alright, let's get this stuff sorted and figure out where to plant everything. It's gonna be a busy evening, but I think we're off to a great start."

With Ivy at his side, Carter climbed the magical staircase back to his treehouse, ready to begin the next phase of his journey in this new world.