Silora opened her eyes to the sound of running water. Unlike yesterday, the sound was loud enough to wake her up. she hadn't yet left her tent as het thoughts were elsewhere. It seems that last night's dream was just an exception; she didn't dream of it again tonight. The old dream returned, giving her some comfort and false security. Since she have no expectations regarding dreams, this helped her forget the experience quickly.
With a deep breath, Silora cleared her head and got up form her sleeping place, not forgetting the security of the silver dagger inside her clothes. And only then she stepped out into the serene world of the rainforest.
Silora attention immediately swifted away to the vibrant dance of dawn's colors. The trees, like guardians of this peaceful world, stood tall with their flaming red leaves, creating a stark contrast with the calm blue sky peeking through their branches.
First and foremost, Selora tendend to the priorities on this beautiful morning: tidying up her camp, feeding father's old horse, and feeding herself before heading towards the soothing sound of running water.
Once she was finished with these daily routine, Selora gathered all her belongings, accompanied with the items mother had left for her on the horse and headed towards the soothing sound. She didn't need to use the ill-drawed map as she was clear of her way. she also couldn't ride the horse over she had already lost that privilege due to the rough terrain.
Selora wandered through the peaceful forest, surrounded by a strange calm. Giant trees with silver-white trunks as white as snow rose above her, their roots intertwining above to form a canopy that blocked the dawn's rays while allowing a little to pass through. Each leaf was colored in bright shades of red, creating a stark contrast with the pale bark.
With each passing second, the sound of running water grew stronger. In front of her, a cluster of seaweed swayed in the gentle breeze. Selora used her trusty stick, which had proven effective, to move the seaweed aside enough for her and the horse to pass.
What met her gaze on the other side brought a smile to her alluring face.
A gentle stream flowed through the rainforest, its waters sparkling under the dawn's rays filtering through the canopy above. The wet rocks adorning its path were covered in red algae and a small cluster of hand-sized red fungi, a testament to the life provided by the pure water.
The air here pulsed with a symphony of rustling leaves and flowing water, creating an atmosphere of tranquility that spoke to the soul.
Selora lifted her gaze from the stream towards the soft glow illuminating the horizon. The thin mist rises from where the water meets the ground. Silora's breath formed clouds in the cold air as she happily announced, "I'm close."
Although Silora found the water, she hadn't yet reached the Old Lady River, but this stream was proof of her right path. All left to do was to follow, though this would be challenging given the rough terrain and the many differently sized stones in sight. But selora never expected it to be easy. As mother says, "To walk the path of progress, don't lighten your steps."
A small smile formed on Selora's lips at the memory in sight. Dear mother says many things, some clear, some mysterious, and some insulting. But everything she used to teach Selora and her six siblings, proved effectiveness in one way or another.
However, this also reminded her of the dawn of the previous day, as she sorted through everything mother had left for her with father's horse. Selora couldn't do that on the night of her failed stealthy departure. she was still tired by the conversation she had with mother that night.
But the next morning, Selora got all the time she could ever need.
Selora understood that long journeys required several crucial items. She now realized how foolish it had been to think she could manage with only her small preparations at the time. Still, she couldn't entirely fault herself—after all, her plan had been to slip away from home unnoticed, with no chance to gather what she truly needed, either secretly or openly.
But dear mother covered this aspect with everything she prepared for her. Whether personal gear: a variety of clothes suitable for different weather conditions Selora might face, plus four pairs of sturdy and comfortable shoes. She also left for her a collection of lightweight, non-perishable food, some dry and some salty, so she could continue carrying it even after selling the horse. Water wasn't a big problem given the nature of her travel, with water pools of various sizes scattered everywhere in the rainforest.
Although Selora brought her own provisions bag, compared to the comprehensive provisions bag from mother, her's seems much more modest. Mother's bag contained small, travel-friendly cooking tools like a pot and a pan, also some repair and maintenance tools.
There was also horse care tools, a brush for cleaning and tools for repairing and maintaining the bridle and saddle. Selora didn't see the necessity for these last items, but if she were to get the best price for this horse, "appearances have their own power," as mother says. Selora could also sell them along with the horse or separately at the rivers mouth town.
As for survival tools, she left her with a tent for protection against the weather, a firestone for lighting fires, and a complete map, unlike the poor sketch she had prepared for herself, though she haven't opened the latter yet. There was also a compass for direction.
It's embarrassing to say, but Selora hadn't prepared any of these things. she was relying on the forest as cover instead of a tent, but how long would the forest last for her? As for the fire, it wasn't a problem; she could use her fragile power to cover that aspect. Her mother knew this too, but she left the firestone just as a precaution. As for the map and compass, they were a necessity. Selora tried my best to redraw the map at the farmhouse, but she always has been a terrible artist. As for the compass, she was relying on the Old Lady River and still does, but that value won't last when she moves to an unknown island.
Regarding security, mother left her a way to store money safely. As for something like a weapon for self-defense, she didn't leave anything like that. Selora didn't know if she knew about her possession of the silver dagger; she probably did, but in any case, she wouldn't encourage her to carry a weapon.
All these things would help ensure Silora's comfort and safety during this long journey. But that wasn't all. She also left her something very strange. It was a box half an arm's length long and shallow in height. It didn't look special in any way. But it had its own peculiarity; the wood it was made of was dark brown, if it could even be called wood.
Although Selora had heard of something like this from mother, seeing it was a unique experience compared to the silver-white wood she grew up seeing every day.
Five of the six sides of the box were well-polished, without any impurities, but the top side bore crudely and roughly engraved writing, suggesting that the person who did it had little experience.
Silora don't want to make any assumptions, but she's quite sure this was done by dear mother, and there are many theories to support this assumption. First, mother isn't good at wood carving; no one in the family is, and the writing style clearly shows this. Second, mother was the one who placed this strange wooden box with the other items. Third, to be honest, mother is a mysterious person; she always has been, and this seems like something she would do. And the last and most important reason that makes Silora so sure this was done by mother is simply what is written on the top side of the strange box.