Harvesting berries did take a bit of time.
Evan noticed some things during that moment.
The first of which, was that he probably should have started with something that wasn't berries.
He barely remembered which ones were the best quality ones that he had picked in the Simulation Zone.
He ended up using it again about halfway, both looking at the berries on the shrubs and making sure he didn't get anything that was bad quality in the basket.
He did get done soon enough. Then, he realized that the day barely progressed.
Evan sighs after he was able to sort out the smaller pile of berries he had just gotten on his basket. He was expecting to get a fully basket of berries like the one he got in the Simulation Zone, but because he had picked a lot of bad quality ones, he instead started sorting out the ones in the basket.
He looks at the small mess of low quality berries on the forest floor.
It was a waste, but if the Simulation Zone is saying it's not good enough, Evan looks ready to believe that it was doing it for his benefit somehow.
After the berries in the forest, it was the garden's turn.
Evan looked at it and even what Sylvia asked about harvesting mushrooms. The mushrooms were there, but Evan decided not to harvest them for now.
Another thing that he realized was that he can only get into the Simulation Zone twice.
He's not sure what why twice. Evan tried to call for it the third time but it wasn't working.
Yesterday, he only used it twice.
Technically, only once. Evan had said it without his prior knowledge on how to get in it. So, he just said out loud what he remembered it was called.
While the first one was when the voice, Iva, welcomed him in it.
Evan is almost completely sure that he wouldn't know anyone that would be aware of what he is experiencing. So, he didn't know if there is anyone he can turn to for the very specific problem he is having.
There was a voice in his head that is now, very quiet, just when he needed it to explain more.
Maybe he should just rest for now and try again later. That could work.
Evan glanced at the vegetables and fruits in their little garden. They needed to be watered and weeded.
There was nothing else to do other than that.
He decided to take care of that before resting. He watered and weeded the garden. It didn't take him too long to do that.
Soon, Evan finds himself going back inside the house, and now, lying down on his bed.
There's a lot more things that he needed to know.
Why twice? He could've done more if he can use it more than twice.
How could he get more usage?
'Silly! You lasted more than two minutes but less than three, so that's why you only get two use!' Iva finally spoke. There is a giggle in his head. 'Miss me, Evan?'
Evan sat up on his bed. "Iva? You're back?"
'Yep! Oh- someone has been busy.'
He nodded his head. "I have questions. Can you answer them all?"
'Depends on the question.' Was the reply he got.
That is a good enough response to try.
"What do you mean last for more than two minutes?"
Iva hums. 'The loud, high-pitched sound. You're actually really good. A lot of those before you only got one, barely two. And you barely got three! Congratulations!'
Evan sighs. "Okay... Then, how do I get to use it again?"
'Usage? Rest.'
Rest? Evan had a thousand yard stare on the blank wall of his room. What did that mean?
Did that mean sleep? Just a downtime? How long would the rest be?
'As long as you're not mentally tired, downtime is fine. Light activity, eating, the likes! If you're too tired, those won't work. Sleep time will be your best answer!' Iva added.
Evan sighs. "I used the Simulation Zone on the berries' harvest."
Iva giggles. 'So that's why your mental charge is depleted.'
"What's a mental charge and how can you tell it's depleted?" Evan asked, interested in the new terms.
Now that Iva is back, Evan is going to continue asking it a lot of questions.
Even the new ones it is telling him.
'Nope! You'll get that answer in due time.'
Evan sighs. "I thought you're my handy helper.
Ivan hums. 'Yes, I am. But there are questions you don't have the capacity to understand yet or have to find out on your own.'
Evan lays back down on the bed. "Like what? Like me finding out that there are conditions on how I could touch certain things while in the Simulation Zone and how the rest is just not accessible?"
There was a silence.
"Intention. That's it right? I need to think of doing something before using it and that's what its going to help me out with." Evan furrowed his eyebrows when Iva wasn't saying anything.
Did he get it wrong?
'You figured it out?'
Evan blinked his eyes. He's confused more than anything at the tone Iva had.
If Iva is a person like him, he would've thought that it sounded confused and amazed at the same time.
It's uncannily person-like. Evan tried to surpass a shiver.
"Is that how it really worked? I was experimenting on stuff..." Evan says, shrugging. "How am I supposed to know how things work if I don't try it out?"
Iva giggles. 'True. Keep that up then! The naturally curious ones are fascinating!'
Evan is too tired to point out what Iva meant by that. "So, I need to rest so I can use the Simulation Zone again."
'From how drained your current mental charge is, sleep is your only option.' Iva replied.
"Well then, I hope a little nap would be helpful." Evan says. He looks at the ceiling again, before turning to his side.
It's barely midday. But it did feel like he had done so many things already.
He should probably find a way to try and get his mental charge or anything to be larger so he doesn't get tired mentally easily.
How he's going to do that?
Evan has no idea.
Maybe he can ask his parents for help when they get back.
For now, a little nap does sound good.