Entering the clearing our friends slowly walked towards the giant tree right in the middle of it.
The place looked the same as it did a week ago. It did not seem like anyone or anything else entered or neared the tree's area.
But this time they did feel something different. Previously they probably did not notice because of their hunger but right now they were flooded with a sense of warmth.
The tree radiated gentleness and comfort in such massive amounts that they were tempted to moan.
The feeling disappeared instantly and only a subliminal comfort was left behind. Attempting to move forward they were surprised. Their bodies were back in top shape. They still felt a bit hungry since they had planned to eat here but the pain from their bruises and cuts disappeared.
Checking their injuries and wounds they were astonished to see them disappear. The scars flattened and gave way for smooth skin and cuts closed and denied the existence of any blemish on their skin.
Looking over to the tree gently swaying in the wind they knew he healed them. They already had a feeling that the tree "liked" them after Emma told them about the weird perimeter around the tree.
Judging by the number of skeletons they found below the tree, there had been enough fools foolishly attempting to climb the tree. As evident by their remains none succeeded.
Any successful person would have looted the bodies before leaving. No way they would leave all that money lying around.
Walking over to the tree they felt tempted to once again climb its trunk. Moving over and touching the rough bark they felt the energy coursing below the skin of the tree.
A gentle constant flow streamed through the tree.
As if feeling their touch, the tree swayed and its leaves and branches rustled, creating a comfortable music.
Climbing onto the tree and sitting down on one of the bigger branches, they relaxed and waited for Emma and Lar'ge to escort them into the city.
Idan went and fetched a few fruits, handing some to his companion they started eating.
They would take some with them before they move to the city.
They were beneficial for their body and cultivation but they would also help them during a financial shortage. As far as they could deduce from Jack's behavior the fruits would be hella expensive in the city.
The basic rule of an economy: The demand decides the prize.
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Leisurely sitting on the tree and munching on fruits they simply relaxed. No task to complete, no appointment or anything that might stress them. Under the safety of the Eternal Tree, they felt wholly comfortable.
What they had to painfully learn during their hunt was the importance of vigilance and night watches.
They thought they were vigilant but they experienced how wrong they were.
Idan was better off. He often managed to notice something off about the situation but our protagonist was completely inexperienced. No chance for her to notice anything.
She tried to raise her awareness through the sound filtering but often the beasts had learned to mask their presence and sounds, even their smell, to an unimaginable degree. She did find them sometimes, but her technique was too weak and insufficient for most veteran hunters.
And night watches! They thought it would be easy. You just have to stay awake for a few hours and watch your surroundings.
Bullshit! The constant vigilance drained your mental energy much more slowly but keeping that awareness for hours and hours was harder than anything she previously did.
Fighting was hard in its own right but the night watch is horrible. Silence, coldness, and the desire to sleep. They weigh on your mind and body, but you have to persevere through.
She had to admit. Doing this for a few days has helped her. The time she can spend focused increased a lot and she does not get "bored" so easily. Patience is a valuable gift, on many occasions. She, too, learned that during their hunt. Stalking your prey and waiting for the right opportunity to strike.
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Watching the swaying branches and leaves dancing in front of their eyes, they simply wait for Emma and Lar'ge to arrive. Subconsciously they stay vigilant. They are not on full attention but they will not be surprised. A good amount of patience that would avoid any panic ensuing out of a surprising turn of events.
Some time passes. While relaxing they talked about whatever came to their mind. During their hunting "trip" they did not only hunt. They talked and strengthened their relationship. Mostly Idan tried to make our protagonist talk. The longer she lived the more those "emotions" started to surface.
At first, she saw them as useless. As a bother and confinement of her mind. Over time this view changed. Happiness and other such feelings felt good. Of course, she did feel fear but she realized how important fear is.
Talking and talking they spend their time waiting. After half an hour Emma and Lar'ge had yet to arrive.
Idan started to think about why they might be late.
"You think they meet a strong beast?"
"Could be. The pendants and amulets they carry suppress their aura. I guess a bunch of beasts think they're easy prey. I would say we wait for half an hour and if they don't arrive we start walking into the towns general direction."
"I agree. If something can delay them that long it must be at least equal or stronger than them."
Deciding to wait for half an hour our protagonist decides to make herself useful. Climbing up and down the tree she gathers as many fruits as she can get. Packing them into the torn clothes she has in her storage ring she tries to utilize every last millimeter of space.
She had sorted through the ring during their hunt and had thrown out some stuff. Some of the items inside were broken and did not seem to be worth a lot. She made space for some of the cores and in the thought of packaging more fruits. They were delicious and beneficial to her body.
Who said medicine has to be bitter to work?!
Packing fruits and thinking about whatever went through her head she revised her vocabulary. Latin. She trained her spell casting. While she could not use mana as of now. She could at least prepare.
Training her pronunciation would help her when actually using spells.
[Fuldur erit percusserit et laminis inimicos meos]
Reciting the spell, the surrounding mana moved but could not find an anchor. It gathered for not even a second and dispersed. Settling back into the stream of mana flowing through the air and earth.
[Tenebrae! Devorandum.]
Mana once again congregated and this time a small black dor appeared in the air. It appeared for less than even a millisecond but a smile crept onto the girls face. She knew this would happen.
When she previously trained her pronunciation she achieved a similar effect.
It only happened with lesser Darkness and Lightning spells.
It is similar to an indicator. It showcased that her affinity for those elements is ridiculously high.
Happy she continued. Reciting spells and packaging fruits, the time passed and half an hour has passed.
Locking up to Idan who sat near the crown of the tree she sees how he shakes his head. He cannot see either Emma or Lar'ge.
Sighing she knew they would have to leave without an escort.
Normally she would have liked to stay and wait but they had no time.
She had suppressed her breakthrough for a few days now and she could not keep her energy in check for much longer. An estimate would be a few hours at best. Based on the equipment Emma and her group carried with them the walk to the town would range from anything between half a day to a full day.
Grabbing her stuff and moving as much into her ring as she could they gathered near the tree.
Hugging the tree she sends a small wisp of energy into the tree.
Think of it as something like a farewell.
The tree responded to the gesture by sending a wisp of energy into both Idan and the girl.
(Farewell. We might meet again.)
Turning around they started running into the forest. The west was their goal and they started heading there.
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Trees passed beside them while they jumped over broken trees, thick bushes, and thorns.
The forest was nowhere near silent. While the surroundings looked like they came straight out of a picture book the sounds were of a different nature.
Roars and growls resounded. From time to time a piercing screech could be heard.
They were still in the inner territory. Only low-level beasts resided here and they could rush through.
They wanted to use this to their advantage and get through as fast as they could.
In the outer territory, they could potentially meet beasts above the fifth stage.
Beasts at the Refining Stage or Exalted Stage would be more than happy to get a small snack.
Her advancement and evolution would make her into a lighthouse that screams,
"Hey, I'm a rare race that would boost your bloodline and strength by a shit ton!"
So they had some hours to get through the forest. The inner circle was easy. Just rush through and avoid everything.
In the outer circle they would slow down a bit and Idan would go ahead to scout and find a route.
(Let's hope this works... I really shouldn't have listened to those humans...)