How To Survive A Calamity

After regaining composure a few seconds later, I gazed down at the rippled surface of the stream and solemnly observed my reflection.

Pale cheeks and deep sunken gold eyes. Even my brown hair was disheveled and seemed thinner. My appearance was in every letter terrible and frail, like a bum without a roof over his head forced to work the streets and pass the nights at the park.

"How long exactly was I out for? ' I asked Meta after a while.

[Almost an entire day, by the standard outside world time.]

My lips parted as I heard that, but inadvertently closed shut again.

Did I lose that much blood? Meta's words had stirred my thoughts inside me, I was much closer to dying that I actually realized. All of a sudden, the idea of having Meta take control of my body and moving me here almost didn't seem as despicable as I initially thought.

Almost.

"I see." I simply said and held my stomach. My wound thrubbed but I thought I was slowly begining to feel a comforting cool spread through it.

Perhaps the water was beginning to take effect. Or I was just imagining things. I was low on blood, so I wouldn't be surprised if i saw stars floating around.

I had quenched most of my thirst, but my body was still weakend and frail. I was starving and it felt like my stomach would kiss my back from inside. Coiling my rams round my stomach, I felt it growl with a low rumble, and i exhaled a deep listless sigh.

But just as I raised my gaze past the small stream of rushing water before me, my vision crossed a peculiar sight on the opposite side.

'...Is that? '

There was...an odd tree at the other side.

It was odd, because this was supposed to be an underground cave. I'm not denying the possibilities of a tree being underground also, but this one was just so...

Stunning...

It was a mysterious tree with broad, twisting branches. The smooth stem was made of polished dark ebony that shone mesmerizingly.

The tree held up a full crown of gem-like sapphire leaves that resembled fragile stained glass.

The lustrous leaves glistened with a soft ethereal radiance that filled the entire surroundings.

When I focused a little towards it, I felt the Aether in the air draw and bend towards its outstretched branches, and the crystal-like leaves shimmered and resonated like a silent heartbeat.

Its visage was enchanting.

I was enthralled, and something kept pulling me towards it.

"What is that?" I asked warily, gulping.

[An Aurora. A mystical tree birthed from a high concentration of Aether.]

An Aurora... I hadn't heard of it.

[That's because it is a rare occurrence, far rarer than usual. Auroras are mass amalgamations of Higher Aether and only exist under extreme conditions, in most cases. Every part of that tree is considered priceless in the outside world.]

I blinked my eyes.

"How priceless are we talking?"

[It varies in size and quality. But this is good. Perhaps this is the chance you need so badly to escape the dungeon.]

It appeared I had stumbled upon something rather important without realizing it.

No. Perhaps Meta knew, and that was why she brought me back here specifically.

I could feel a higher degree of Aether concentration swirling around the blue leaves.

I also took notice of a bit so small detail while Meta explained the nature of Aurora.

'...a chance I need so badly to escape the dungeon.'

In other words, something to make me stronger.

I drew my attention back to the Aurora, standing not too tall and glistening with an otherworldly radiance. After confirming there was no danger in approaching the strange and mysterious tree spiraling with energy, I crossed the small flowing stream and walked up to it.

The closer I got, the more I felt a strange and mystic pull towards it. Its sapphire leaves had an almost hypnotic effect the longer I stared, as if something inside me recognized the true nature of the Aurora.

I shuffled my unsteady feet against the rough ground and arrived just beneath its long, brightly colored branches. From where I stood, it seemed much larger, and the twisting branches appeared to represent separate worlds of their own.

Just then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed something glinting brighter among the dazzling leaves. It was a spherical fruit, dripping with crystalline moisture.

"Is that...?"

As soon as I recognized it as fruit, I suppressed a gulp, and my stomach rumbled again.

The strange blue fruit was alluring, and I felt like I could smell a pleasant, welcoming fragrance waft past my nose. I found myself unable to look away, and the longer I stared, the more my mouth watered.

Another rumble from my stomach shook me out of my salivating reverie. I shook my head the wiped the trail of spit that trickeld down the edges of my lips, and quickly activatedy Appraisal skill.

---

[Fruit of an Aurora Tree.]

Grade: ???

[Description: A fruit containing the refined essence of higher Aether in its highest form and quality. Rarer than an Aurora itself, it is a fruit produced once every thousand years.]

--

So, it's edible then.

That was all that mattered to me at the moment.

Perhaps the fruit would have some effects, considering Meta's earlier words, but I didn't care.

I didn't linger too long on the details of the description.

What I felt was indescribable hunger and void; nothing else seemed to matter. The longer I lingered without doing anything, the more crazed I felt I would become.

I quickly reached for the fruit and, after a few attempts, plucked it off the branch.

The strange fragrance I imagined smelling became instantly more prominent. The cold moisture of the Fruit of Aurora trickled down my right arm, making it even more tantalizing. It was as large as my fist, perhaps even slightly larger.

I gulped one more time and quickly took a big bite out of the fragrant fruit.

A myriad of sweet juices filled my mouth.

The Aurora fruit was delicious; with a single bite, I felt my hunger lift subconsciously. It tasted like honey at first, then like cinnamon with the next bite.

When I took a third bite, it reminded me of ice cream from Earth. I slowly concluded that the strange fruit projected the taste of whatever my mind desired or remembered.

Viscous, transparent, shimmering liquid trailed down my arm as I messily stuffed my face, abandoning all grace. My hunger was ravenous, and the large fruit was quickly shrinking, faster than I would have liked.

It felt like the first meal I had had in days, so I ended up rushing through it and choking on a few bits and pieces. I got up, ran back to the flowing stream, scooped a handful into my mouth, and then continued to devour the fruit.

As i devoured the last and final bite, I felt something light deep inside of me. My body was raided by a cold raising sensation that was intoxicating.

'O-oh, Meta, what's going on?! ' now that I had regained some energy, I could panic again, and panic, I did.

But Meta's synthetic voice promptly reassured me, echoing in my mind,

"[You're beginning to digest the essence of the fruit, earlier than expected. It seems your talent extends beyond Aura sensitivity to a high aptitude for Aether control.]"

I had heard this before.

Back when Meta took control of my body to stir my Aura, she mentioned I might have had talent for that aspect because I quickly grasped the idea behind the technique of channeling Aura throughout my body.

The icy sensation inside me, like being submerged in cold water, was strangely pleasant. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, doubled over, and gritted my teeth.

It wasn't painful or uncomfortable; rather, it felt oddly enjoyable, akin to soaking in a cold, refreshing bath after a long day's work—only colder and more refined.

The transient sensation spread from the depths of my gut and made its way to my heart, sending a jolt through my body.

I gasped.

Just as I was about to truly panic, the strange feeling slowly diffused and receded until it was just a memory.

Before I could fully recover from the experience, Meta's voice resounded once more in my head.

[Amazing. You have digested most of the energy, your core has expanded. You have experienced a minor breakthrough, your body has been refined in a single moment that would take a number of level ups.]

Was she praising me? Somehow...her tone felt more like she was expressing amazement for a test subject or guinea pig.

I gritted my teeth and slowly got up.

"You knew this would happen, didn't you?"