The forest where Naomi and Zia lived is located in the quietest part of the uptown. It’s also the most deserted place in Town Zero. Because of the sparse habitation, the forest has been abundant with thousands kinds of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Whenever they need some food or medicine, going to the forest is always the best and cheapest option.

Zia needs a large quantity of “Vat I”, a flower that’s necessary for making the shifter liquid. Shifter liquid is a thing that is stored in every citizen’s shifter earing. In Town Zero, when a citizen is born, he or she will be taken to the Central Church for the High priest’s blessing, in which the new born will be given an exclusive earring that will form a magic connection with them. Each earing works with the shifter liquid to help a person transforms to his or her “Wizard” state, where they can wield certain type of magic and fight with other wizards for power, however, the shifter liquid has to be refilled constantly as the earing quantity will be used up after one transformation. Zia needs to make lots of shifter liquid refills to sustain her adventure tonight.


“ Vat I” only grows on white clay, a mud that covers the cave wall of the Spring Valley, a place hidden in the deepest part of the forest. Zia walks through the bushes and reaches a plain rimmed with thick beds of reeds. Then she takes out a piece of potato and leek cake and throws it to the ground. All she needs to do for now is wait.