Grebbledel brought the cart to a rolling stop underneath the falling petals of a spring-budding tree. Its growing pink flowers danced gently in the breeze. The tall tree was growing in a shaded alcove half-mooned by a low rock wall. A stone fountain was built in the wall’s center, letting a peaceful flow of water run down and encircle the tree’s roots.


    The old Bogdweller hopped down, unleashed Revelas and led her to the fountain. “Rest now my dear Revelas. I will call for Sunflower to bring you some nice oats and a fresh apple. Miles, Finn. I must leave you now. Come to the inn at sundown if you wish to listen to my stories and relax to a wonderful song. Let your paws rest and your hearts warm by the hearth. I’ll even have a meal paid for you. Another act of kindness in return for your own. Enjoy the festivities.”


    Grebbledel gave Revelas a head-to-head embrace then bounded down a pebble-stone pathway towards a tall wooden structure with a triangular roof. Above its blue door was a carved acorn sign that squeaked in the wind.


    “Miles, I’ll have you stay here while I go get a healer. No sense in making you hobble about.” With a joyful wave and a few good hops to stretch his legs, Finn Ashburrow hopped away towards the center of town. I was left alone, sitting on the back of the cart listening to Revelas quench her thirst.


    The town of Aurleaf was built upon the rolling grass hills east of Goldmirror Lake, named for its metallic shine of the auburn leaves come fall. History I learned from listening to Grebbledel as we entered town. Though the weather was more akin to early spring, the lake did shine in the late afternoon light. Its surface did not reflect gold or bronze as Grebbledel described, but rather of blue sky with a ring of emeralds from the surrounding forest.


    At the center of town, in the Lore Keeper’s Square, I was told I would find a statue of the First Avatar. A gray statue carved from a single piece of limestone, mined from the Waterdeep Cave dungeon. The avatar who crafted it was said to have the highest-ranked crafting skill. A mastery he had obtained in the first three months of waking up in Phyrelia. The day after the statue was erected, he had left Aurleaf. Not a single animalkin had seen him since.


    The statue was the first place I wanted to visit in Aurleaf. Finn told me the name of the First Avatar was Cornelius. The same name my grandfather used as his account name for the game. It couldn’t be a coincidence. My grandfather was a very purposeful man. Everything he did in life had a goal and purpose. A mindset I had hoped to emulate in my own life when I left for college.


    As I sat and watched all the different animalkin walking around the square. I knew the names of several of the species I saw. A Riverpaw couple was holding hands while strolling down a nearby street. A family of Brighteyes, two parents and three children, were looking through a window of a bakery shop. A tough looking Shellback, with strong arms, and stout head, and a giant sword strapped to their back. There was an animalkin I hadn’t recognized. I pulled up my Insight and tried to inspect them but they were too far away. It looked like a six-foot-tall bird with white feathers dotted in gray. If I had to guess they were a Tenderbeak.


    After about ten minutes of enjoying the cool breeze, I got itchy to move. I felt like a little kid sitting on the back of the cart. My leg still hurt but since entering into town I had gained a few more hitpoints putting me at 16/25. Even my mana points had been recovering as well. I was sitting at a comfortable 24/34. I wasn’t entirely sure how the recovery process worked. The best I could tell was I received a few health points and mana points when I rested in some form. It didn’t seem to be attached to time or I hadn’t been resting long enough for an added bonus. Also, despite my health points recovering I still had an injury in my leg. Would the injury go away if I hit max health points? Questions I should have asked Finn before he bounded off.


    I decided I didn’t want to sit on the back of the cart anymore and I was getting pretty thirsty. I could use some of my rations but the sound of the fountain made my throat dry. I lifted my pack tight on my shoulder, gripped my staff and leapt from my seated position in the back of the cart. I landed on the ground harder then I intended and felt a shock of pain ride up my side. After it settled I walked around to sit by Revelas when a small Brighteyes girl skipped over to us. She had a little knapsack in her arms and a bright yellow flower tucked behind her round ears.


    “Revvy, I’m so happy you’re safe,” The little girl said. “Grebbledel told me all about those awful Nightflyers. You must have been so scared.” As if in response to the little Brighteyes'' worrying tone, Revelas dropped her head low and shook it. Looking at the horse, it almost seemed as if she blinked her eyes and frowned. “There, there you poor thing. Old Greb said you could have a treat. Here.”


    She reached inside her small pack and pulled out a carrot, orange, a bag of dried oats, and a clean green apple that shined against the setting sun. Revelas ate it with a nip and a whinny. The small Brighteyes wiped her hands on her short apron and then gave me a wide-eyed look.


    “Oh… I’m sorry I didn’t see you there. Wait! You must be Miles! You’re the one who saved Revvy! Thank you, thank you!” The Brighteyes girl jumped up and down while clapping her hands. In a final graceful leap, she landed squarely in front of me and wrapped her tiny arms around my waist.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    “Uh… You’re welcome,” I put my arms on her shoulders and gently pushed her back. I was never one for physical contact, especially from a stranger. “I’m guessing you’re Sunflower, right?”


    “Yep! But my friends call me Petal. If you’ll be my friend, I’ll let you call me Petal too,” Sunflower said with a bright smile.


    “Grebbledel doesn’t call you Petal?” I asked.


    “He’s old fashioned. Says names are given for a reason and we should stick to them,” Sunflower waved her right-hand pointer finger in the air while she put her other hand on her hip. She scrunched her pink nose and puffed out her cheeks. She laughed at her own joke then looked me square in the eyes. “So, Mister Miles, you going to be my friend?”


    I simply nodded at her stern expression. She opened her eyes wide and put both hands on her hips while standing on the tips of her toes then asked me if I would be her friend again. “Okay, I’ll be your friend.”


    Petal twirled on her backfoot. Her apron blossomed like her namesake. She stopped fast and held out her hand for me to shake it. “Nice to meet you, Miles! We’re gonna be great friends and what do friends do? They help each other out and since you’re new here I can be your guide. Sound good? Yes? Perfect! Give me one minute to let my sister know. I’ll be right back,” Petal ran off around the edge of the fountain garden and into the Little Acorn.


    While I waited for her to come back, I helped Revelas finish the bag of oats Petal left by pouring them into my hand and letting her eat. I took a handful of the fountain water myself and drank. It was cool, refreshing and even seemed to feel me with a bit of energy when I finished. I looked at my stats to see if anything had changed. My health and mana points were still the same but I had a new notification. I clicked on it and was greeted with an updated Avatar Sheet.


    [Feat Complete: Buffs & Debuffs]


    [Reward Received: Character Effects]


    Below my title as a Novice Adventurer, and my health points and mana points was a new section to my interface. It showed effects applied to me. There was a section for Buffs and Debuffs. I had no idea what those meant. Never even heard about the term besides buffing out a dent in a car. There was a single line of text next to both of them. The one beside Buff said [Refreshing Drink]. I pressed on the text and was greeted with a simple description.


    Refreshing Drink: HP and MP recovery increased by 10% for one hour.


    After reading the text it was fairly easy for me to realize that having a Buff was a good thing. The refreshing drink buff didn’t seem to be very powerful but could be handy for people on the go. The buff made me curious about something. I took another handful of water and drank. Looking at the buff, it still said the same amount and time. So the buff couldn’t be stacked. I let the buff interface fade and brought up the debuff.


    Arrow to the Knee: Movement hindered by 25%


    So the debuff came from my injured leg and the arrow I took. Looking down at my leg again, I noticed where the salamander had bitten me was almost fully recovered. It must be healing from my basic recovery, but the injury to my leg wasn’t going to go away with a little bit of time. Maybe a few weeks of resting in bed could do it, but having a healer right now would be best.


    Petal returned a few minutes later and was no longer wearing her white apron. She was also not alone. Next to her was Finn and another Brighteyes female. The new Brighteyes was a few inches shorter than I was, with slick fur and a vibrant pink nose. She had on a robin-egg-blue dress stitched with white frills. Around her neck was a simple necklace with a sunflower charm.


    “Hey pal!” Finn said. “Managed to hop down huh? How’s the leg?”


    “Not as bad as yesterday but still hurts,” I replied.


    “Well I’ve got good news. Found us a healer. Anaia here is the best one in Aurleaf.” Finn motioned at the Brighteyes female.


    “I’m the only healer in Aurleaf,” Anaia said. “Which means I’m usually very busy. What running the Little Acorn and taking care of reckless adventurers who get in fights way over their heads.” She gave me a hard stare, folded her arms and seemed to be waiting for an explanation. When I didn’t answer she continued. “A level two avatar huh? So Finn wasn’t lying. What’s your name.”


    “His name is Miles!” Petal broke into the conversation. “He calls me Petal because were friends now. I’m going to show him around Aurleaf. I’m his official guide.”


    “You’re guide?” Finn said with amusement. “Well then you won’t be needing me. Works for me. I’ve got some business with the Hallkeeper. Miles, I’ll see you tonight at the inn. Have fun!” Without another word, Finn bounded down the street.


    “Let me take a look at your leg,” Anaia said. She walked over to me and lifted part of the bandage. It hurt when she lifted it and I had to turn away. Never been fond of seeing my own blood. “A minor injury. I’ll be able to take care of it quickly. But it will cost you.”


    “You’re gonna charge me?” I asked.


    “Normally I wouldn’t, but with how busy the inn is during the festival and the complete lack of self-awareness you and Finn share, it’s only best to do so. Think of it not as a charge for healing you but more so a tax on the stupidity of your actions. Let’s say fifteen gold.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled.


    “Seriously?” I said. “I don’t have fifteen gold. Also considering I’ve only been here a day. I think I’m doing pretty good so far.”


    “Oh sure,” Anaia said. “A level 1 druid thinks its smart to take on a bunch of fire salamanders and Nightflyers. What level did Finn say they were again?”


    “Okay… but I had Finn. He’s a higher level than those guys were.” I retorted.


    Anaia looked down at my leg again as she spoke. “Even with Finn’s higher level it was a stupid match up and he knows that.” I was about to argue back but her hands started to glow. A soft emerald green light extended from her palms and fell upon my injured. In a matter of seconds my leg was healed. The pain was gone, the blood disappeared, except for on the bandages, and checking my interface I was at max health again. “How about this Miles. Since Petal here considers you her friend you can pay me back later.” With a wave of her hand, Anaia had walked away without another word.