I'm Contaminated With No Hope Of Recovery

Lem sat down while he waited for the simulation to recover.

The feeling after absorbing two spiritual berries worth of energy reminded him of the times in his childhood when he still had the strength to play in the fields.

It gave him confidence that he would eventually overcome the evil within him.

[Simulation: 5%]

…

[Simulation: 10%]

He noticed that the speed of recovery was slightly quicker than before, likely due to how early he had died in the previous simulation.

A few minutes later, he heard rustling in the brush. Even though he had expected it, his heart leapt in his chest.

“Come out, little fox,” he muttered, watching the bushes on his right.

A small fox head peaked out from behind a tree.

Lem could not help but smile.

“Are you here to keep me company,” he asked quietly.

The fox quickly dashed away, causing the bushes to shake again.

“Another deviation,” Lem said in self-reproach.

He knew that in the simulation he had kept quiet.

[Simulation: 23%]

The bushes rustled again, and Lem’s eyes shot up, as his grip tightened on his spear.

It was likely the fox again, but if it wasn’t, then he could be in danger.

A moment later, the fox head peaked out from the brush, and Lem relaxed again.

This time, he made sure not to talk.

The fox stared at him motionlessly.

[Simulation: 36%]

…

[Simulation: 58%]

…

[Simulation: 71%]

…

[Simulation: 88%]

…

[Simulation: 94%]...[Simulation: 95%]...

Lem looked over at the fox. He wondered if it would leave during the next hour in the simulation, or if it would stay as long as Lem had the berry in his possession.

[Simulation: 100%]

[Detecting Karma is small enough to extract energy from the environment. Run Simulation?]

Lem reminded himself to wait in place for an hour, before eating the spiritual berry and traveling in a different direction. Not northeast, not southeast. A new direction.

Yes, he thought with intent.

The breeze passed over him.

[+1 Energy]

[Starting simulation…]

[-1 Energy] [-100% Simulation]

[Simulation begins.]

Lem sank into the ethereal state.

[Day 1: You are abandoned in Lang Woods, waiting, while a small fox watches you. You decide to wait for another hour before traveling. You want to eat the faintly spiritual berry in your possession, but you restrain yourself…

You realize that you have waited for an hour, and you eat the berry, ignoring the bitter taste. You feel energized, but the effect is subdued.]

Feeling the changes within his body, Lem briefly wondered whether his current condition was how others always felt.

Was this amount of pain normal for those who were not affected by evil?

[You set off in a western direction. The fox follows you for a few minutes before running off…]

So, the little fellow ran off again, Lem thought.

He wondered if the west would be as dangerous as the southeast had been.

If it was, then perhaps he would have to reconsider returning to the original direction.

Even if there were no more opportunities for the first stretch, perhaps there would be some further along in the path.

In theory, with the berry, he could live significantly longer on subsequent simulations, and encounter more beneficial events.