Later that afternoon, Serfred came all dressed up, but not in his knightly uniform. He was dressed more like a hunter.
Just like Robin Hood.
Serfred bowed as he greeted the girl, "My Lady."
"Just call me Tina." Athena said as she felt the title was not necessary at all.
"I am your knight, it is wrong for me to just call you Tina." He rebuked with such a convincing explanation which Athena could not argue.
"Fine."
"Tina, are you heading out now?" Diana asked, bringing along a new company with her. "This is Tycho, his the craftsman and blacksmith in the village."
'I sense something fishy between them. Why is that guy blushing so much when Diana is introducing him. Hmm, could it be? Don't tell me...' Athena smiled meaningfully as she realized the two relationships. The girl couldn't help it, but question them, but in a teaseful way.
"Diana, are you two..."
Without letting the girl finish her question, the two arguably answered without knowing the question. Both were so flustered that they realized they have stepped into a trap.
"No!"
"Kind of..."
Both of them responded at the same time, causing an awkward silence after hearing each other answer.
'Oh, I just hit the jackpot.' Athena thought as she realized things are about to get interesting.
"What do you mean no?" Diana frowned as she looked furiously at Tycho.
"Diana, I-" Tycho was flustered and embarrassed at the same time. He does have feelings for the girl, but was not a man enough to admit it.
Before the man could explain, Diana had already walked away, leaving the man all disappointed.
"Don't worry, she was just teasing you…" Athena giggled as she was the cause of the man's heartache.
Tycho ignored what happened and focused on the task on hand.
"Do you have everything I asked for."
"Yes, I prepared some arrows as you asked, I made a small cart for us to carry our stuff." He explained, but was still clueless as to why they needed the arrows and cart, "If I may ask, where are we going…"
"To the place where we can find life and supplies."
Both Serfred and Tycho expression darken, they did not expect Athena will be leading them to their death.
Athena has found out from the old man that there are areas in the Northern Region which is full of life. But, hardly anyone ventures there since the place is full of wild and dark creatures, and if you stay for a long time, you'll feel suffocated since the place is too mysterious.
"Ma-my Lady, that place is dangerous." Serfred anxiously stated.
"Yes, Tina, there are wild monsters in the forest as well," Tycho added all pale from finding out where they'll be heading.
"I know, you won't need to worry. Once we get what we need, we'll leave at once."
In the end, they ended up following Athena to the forest. It was a few hours walk since it was quite far away from the village. As they slowly approached the forest, you could already sense all the malice in the air.
'To think this forest is filled with unspeakable treasure.'
When she was still back in the Empire, she read books about the Northern Region's Forest as well. Not only is it filled with monsters, but the forest holds quite rare herbs and materials. However, just like what everyone fears. The forest is home to wild and powerful creatures that you would need a small battalion just to make sure none of you die.
As they entered the forest, Athena prepared her bow and grabbed a few arrows from the cart.
"Fred, stay here and be careful."
"Wait, My Lady..."
However, Athena was not listening to him at all. She had already made up her mind to go on her own.
All of the sudden, Athena attached an arrow to her bow and released it. The arrow flew in a direction which surprised them both. Behind the tree, was a creature which groaned in pain and soon passed away.
'What the heck just happened? Did, did she really kill something in one hit?' Tycho looked dumbfounded by what just happened. He couldn't explain how it was possible to directly strike down the creature hiding behind the tree. He was curious as well what kind of creature did the girl shoot.
Serfred went ahead to check what it was, to his surprise, it was a deer. But a small one... He was blown away how precise the girl's arrow knocked the deer; it was a perfect shot in the head.
When Serfred returned with the dead deer, Tycho was completely speechless. As he places the deer in the cart, he couldn't help but be curious about the girl's identity.
Athena groaned in pain from what she did. 'Ah, my hands hurt. Gosh, this body is just too weak. Just one strike almost made me lose all my fingers.'
Despite she knows the owner does not have any talent with archery. She thought that maybe the skills she has mastered in her world would also materialize. In a sense she thought she'll also be talented in it. Since she still has her memory from her world, meaning all the training she did there, must be connected to this world.
"Alright, I'll be going now," Athena said, and neither one of them complained as she disappeared into the forest.
The forest was gigantic, foggy and budding. Its canopy was reigned by all sorts of trees and plants. Most of the trees and plants were enchanted, meaning they have special aspects in them than normal plants don't.
As she went deeper into the forest, she felt her chest tightening. It must be due to the malicious aura of the forest. Since the forest is home to wild creatures, they normally give off such strong and malicious aura which can sometimes be suffocating to those who are weak.
As she continues to venture around the forest, she notices some herbs. She has not studied the herbs of this world, but she noticed some of them were familiar to her world. She collected what she could gather because her vision started to be cloudy.
"I guess this is as far as I go."
The girl decided to head back as she felt her inside was being crushed. Her weak body might collapse any minute if she continue to stay deep in the forest.
Meanwhile, Tycho continues to circle around Serfred. He was anxious as to why the girl had not returned yet.
"Sir Serfred, do you think she's alright?"
"Don't worry, she was able to kill a deer in one strike, I'm sure she'll be fine." Serfred was confident that the girl would return in one shape. The fact she is a Divine Healer means if something happens, she'll be able to heal herself and escape.
It wasn't long when they noticed Athena's silhouette coming out behind a tree; she was dragging a fawn and some small animals.
Serfred hurriedly went to the girl as she grabbed the things she was carrying, "Let me."
"Thank you."
He also noticed her carrying a small bag, "What's that?'
"Some herb to make some potions, since I'm unable to heal anyone at the moment. It's best we get more people to work with us."
Serfred was confused about how the girl will make potions. Isn't she a Divine Healer?
"Then Tina, what's all these animals for?" Tycho asked as he helped Serfred place them on the cart.
"Since we need more people to help us, of course we need to feed them as well."