Chapter 1: In a Nutshell

Chapter 1: In a Nutshell

"I could be bound in a nutshell and count myself a King of infinite space - were it not that I have bad dreams."

William Shakespeare

Yes.

It seems that I am back in a shell so to speak or even further back. I'm in a womb again, reincarnated or being reborn with time travel. Either that or an incredibly complex organic sci-fi rebirthing technology. I'm trying not to think about it too much as it is either incredibly intimate or absolutely alien and all utterly confusing.

On top of that mind-bending conundrum, that my slowly healing or developing brain is trying to wrap its cerebrum around, is also the completely magical or futuristic fact that I appear to have a system!

I simply have to think about my status for it to appear in my mind. The words written in light on the inside of my brain, eyes open or closed they are there to see.

Level: 0

Experience: 0/100

Health: 10/10 Stamina: 1/2 Mana 10/10

Vitality: 1

Endurance: 0

Strength: 0

Dexterity: 0

Senses: 0

Mind: 44

Clarity: 0

Magic: 1

Skills: None

I might not be able to move or breathe yet and my current status seems a little anaemic but how cool is this going to be . . . eventually!

Provided I don’t actually die before I’m born.

Mortality rates are not particularly good for . . . well, actually, I don’t know what mortality rates are for infants here or wherever I am when I have no idea what the world is like and I am yet to be born.

Anyway, here I am, floating around, arms flailing a little as I come to terms with my situation.

. . .

Waiting, tick tock tick tock.

. . .

Waiting, nothing to do.

. . .

Waiting, all alone in here.The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

. . .

Wondering who or what I’m in and what I’m in for.

. . .

All alone, all alone

All alone, all alone

All alone, all alone

All alone, all alone

. . .

My eyes are still closed as I drift from side to side, up and down, still passing in and out of dreams and consciousness. Alone in my own private isolation bubble, alone with my thoughts as I tumble and turn. Worried that simply tumbling and turning could be dangerous, what with an umbilical cord floating around in here too.

Health: 10/10 Stamina: 1/3 Mana 10/10

Vitality: 1

Endurance: 0

Strength: 0

Dexterity: 0

Senses: 1

Mind: 45

Clarity: 1

Magic: 1

Free Points: 10

Skills: Time sense (LV 1)

Not only has my level increased with the experience gained through gaining a skill. I have also gained 1 stat for senses, so keep sensing, listening and counting I guess.

But first, a quick nap to regain my stamina.

. . .

I’ve woken up again, still warm, still content.

Still not really sure what’s going to happen next but at least I have a system! Something to engage my brain with. The problem is there is not a lot you can do here. I’m going to see if I can get a counting skill next.

In the end, I made it up to 3,600 again and nothing. 4,000 okay this is getting really boring 5,000. How long have I been counting for now?

60 seconds in a minute, 600 seconds in 10 minutes. If 10 minutes is 600 seconds then hundred minutes is 6000 seconds. So 500 minutes is . . .

I'm confused. Think I need a pen and paper for this but don't have any to hand right now.

Probably need to work on my maths. Let’s try again 60 seconds in a minute and 360 seconds in six minutes. So 3600 seconds in an hour. 3600! So if I count to 36,000 that’ll be 10 hours of counting. I think I will stick to my counting rather than the maths. Decimal time would be so much easier to count in here.

Yes!

I just got another 100 experience for levelling up my time sense, through continuing to count, although still didn't get anything like a counting skill. The bad news is the time it took doubled to 2 hours, 7,200 seconds. It’s clearly going to take longer and longer to level this skill. While it is a shame there is no counting skill at least I know how to keep improving the skill I do have. Plus I was able to count for twice as long this time without falling asleep.

My stamina and senses have risen but don't know if that is simply natural growth or experience gained. Either way, it is helping me to stay conscious.

Level: 1

Experience: 100/200 Age: 1 day

Health: 10/10 Stamina: 7/7 Mana 10/10

Vitality: 1

Endurance: 1

Strength: 0

Dexterity: 0

Senses: 2

Mind: 46

Clarity: 1

Magic: 1

Free Points: 10

Skills: Time sense (LV 2)

What should I do with these free points?