Chapter 17: Quiet Days and Whispering Roots
[Day 25 — Location: Tanvin's Base | Weather: Mild breeze, clear skies]
The sun rose gently over the Emberlight Garden, casting golden rays over the valley. The Ember Tree shimmered with its usual soft glow, leaves rustling faintly with the wind. Tanvin stirred from his makeshift bench-bed, stretching slowly as the birds began their chorus.
No urgent quests.
No caverns.
Just... a peaceful day.
He grinned, brushing the sleep from his eyes.
"Let's enjoy today slowly."
---
[Morning Routine: A Calm Beginning]
Tanvin walked to his storage barn and pulled out his trusty stone hoe. His wheat field had grown tall during his time underground, golden stalks swaying in rhythm. He hummed a quiet tune as he harvested them row by row, placing each bundle into his chest for later crafting.
[You have harvested: Wheat ×32]
He also picked a few carrots and potatoes he had planted weeks ago.
"Gonna make a nice stew later," he said to himself.
After watering the soil and replanting fresh seeds, Tanvin wandered to the Emberlight Garden. He dipped his feet in the small hot spring and took a deep breath.
For the first time since arriving in this world, the base felt... complete. Not finished, but alive.
---
[Visitors: A Peaceful Flock]
Just before noon, Tanvin noticed movement near the southern fence. A group of animals had gathered—two sheep, a cow, and a pig.
He blinked.
"That's new."
He opened the gate slowly and pulled out a handful of wheat.
"Come on, buddy. You hungry?"
The sheep trotted over immediately. The cow hesitated, then followed. Soon, Tanvin had guided the small group into a newly-built fenced pasture beside the garden. He gave each a name in his journal:
> Fluff (white sheep)
> Cloud (gray sheep)
> Moolah (cow)
> Snout (pig)
He built a simple shelter for them, adding hay bales, a water trough, and even used red wool to stitch a decorative flag above the gate.
[Achievement Unlocked: Gentle Shepherd — Tame 4+ animals at once]
Tanvin chuckled. "Nice."
---
[Afternoon Crafting and Small Joys]
In the afternoon, Tanvin decided to craft decorations. He sheared Fluff and Cloud for wool and dyed the wool using lapis and dandelions. Then, using the loom he had built earlier, he created a banner:
A glowing red tree on a warm brown background. The emblem of the Ember Tree.
He placed it proudly on his house's front wall.
Afterward, he made lanterns using iron nuggets and torches and hung them around the garden path. He even added glowstone dust from the cavern to his fountain to create a sparkling shimmer in the water.
[Base Upgrade: Emberlight Garden — Level 2]
As evening approached, the entire garden began to glow like a cozy firepit. The animals rested quietly. The wind was still.
But then—
---
[Whispers Beneath the Tree]
Tanvin sat near the Ember Tree, sipping carrot stew from a wooden bowl. The world had grown quiet again.
And that's when he heard it.
A faint sound. Like a hum. No, more like a whisper. It came from the soil—beneath the tree.
He pressed his hand against the earth.
thrum... thrum...
It wasn't threatening. It wasn't loud. But it pulsed—almost like a heartbeat. Like something buried was slowly stirring.
[System Message: Root Signal Detected — Unknown Structure Beneath Base]
He blinked. "Wait… there's something under the Ember Tree?"
There was no cave. No entrance. Just solid dirt. But now that he listened carefully, he could hear the faintest hum through the roots. It wasn't words, but it wasn't random either.
A pattern. A signal.
> Left... Pause... Left... Right... Right... Pause.
Tanvin grabbed his journal and scribbled it down.
> Ember Signal Pattern - Day 25
> Could be coordinates? A message?
He stood, staring at the tree, unsure if he should start digging yet.
"Not today," he muttered. "Let's wait. You're not going anywhere."
He gave the tree one last look and returned to his house, mind already spinning with possibilities.
---
[Nightfall: Peace Before Discovery]
That night, Tanvin lit a campfire just outside his door. He sang softly to himself, an old Minecraft parody from his childhood echoing in his mind:
> "I dug straight down, just for fun...
> Now I'm stuck in lava, on the run..."
> "But up above, the sky is blue...
> I'll build a world that feels like new\..."
His voice was quiet, but steady. The stars shimmered above, and the Ember Tree pulsed gently beside him.
Maybe this world wasn't just a survival challenge anymore.
Maybe it was a home.