The day was barely beginning, but Estalyrion was already shining brightly in the sky. After getting out of the river, I shook my head to remove the excess water, put on my shirt, and resumed my tasks. First, I put more water to boil on the fire, which I had already rekindled, grabbed my fishing rod, a woodworm, and prepared to try catching a fish again, since my previous attempt had been thwarted.
- "This time, I doubt I won't catch something... " I murmured, while unraveling the line and preparing the hook.
I stood by the line, with it in the water, patiently waiting for a fish to bite the bait. A few minutes later, the rod began to move. Something had bitten the hook! Immediately, I started pulling, trying to bring the fish out of the water. Just like when I hooked the Fylarenn, the creature on the other side fought fiercely, refusing to be captured. However, I wouldn't give up either. After a battle of strength and patience, I emerged victorious.
With effort, I pulled my catch out of the water. It was a Rhomangarûn, undoubtedly an impressive fish. It was large, resilient, and, according to the books I read, known for its magical properties. Its meat was often consumed by soldiers, as it helped increase strength and muscle hypertrophy. For someone in my situation, a stronger and more resilient body was indispensable.
- "Hm, so this is a Rhomangarûn, huh?.. I remember they're famous among soldiers who need to gain strength and endurance quickly. Its magical properties accelerate that process... " I said to myself, examining the fish after finishing it with a blow.
After that, I reflected on the need to start training my body. I didn't know how long I would stay in that forest or what I would face. Finding such a valuable resource in the river could greatly facilitate my physical preparation.
- "...Honestly, I also need to start training my endurance and strength since I don't know how long I'll be here and what I'll go through... And from what I see, this river must be home to several fish like this, and this will help me a lot with quick gains in endurance and muscle strength... That's it, it's time to start getting stronger!" I said, perseveringly, to myself.
From then on, I began planning workouts that involved calisthenics, running, and swimming for strength and endurance gain. However, I realized this would take time, something I might not yet be able to dedicate since other basic needs had to be met. I didn't know the environment around me well, nor what was in the center of that forest, and the creatures I saw the previous night could be dangerous. Therefore, before starting any training, I needed to address these issues. I decided that, after ensuring my basic survival, I would organize a fixed schedule for the workouts. For now, my priority was to explore the forest and uncover the mysteries of Velanthar's center. To do that, however, I needed to be prepared. The closer to the forest's center, the greater the danger, and the encounter with the hippogriff had already been a taste of that.
First, I reviewed the items I had and considered what would be useful for the journey. The main difficulties were food and hydration, as I couldn't efficiently transport water or food. The food spoiled easily, and the water needed to be boiled to be consumed.
I decided to start by making a canteen to carry water. I remembered an abundant plant on the riverbank, called Talbûren. Its stems were divided into natural segments, and by cutting one end, it was possible to create a sort of bottle.
I looked for a well-conditioned Talbûren, cut it, and took it to my base. I cut one of the segments near the end, creating the container. However, I knew I couldn't use it immediately. The water would taste bitter, so I started the process to make it usable.
I filled the container with water and placed it to boil on the fire. Then, I discarded the water and repeated the process a few times until the bitter taste was eliminated. Next, I put some charcoal inside the container and let it act for a few hours. Finally, I washed the container again with boiled water.
When I finally finished, I filled the canteen with boiled water and tasted it, apprehensively.
- "Argh... C-come on, don't disappoint me... one... two... three... " I murmured, encouraging myself before drinking the water.
To my surprise, the taste was normal, which was a significant victory amid the challenges. After that, I built a lid for the canteen using the Talbûren itself and made an improvised strap with the rustic rope I had made. Now, my water storage container was complete. That achievement brought me immense satisfaction. It was a small mark of self-sufficiency in such a primitive environment, where many people, even older, probably wouldn't survive a single day.
With the canteen ready, I turned my attention to the food issue. After reflecting, I realized that food wouldn't be an immediate problem since the forest was abundant in fruits and animals, so there was no need to prepare provisions, at least for now.
As these thoughts took shape, the day gave way to night. Preparing the canteen had consumed much time, more than I had imagined. I leaned the container against the tree that served as my base, ate some fruits, drank some water, and lay down, eager for what the next day would bring.
I fell asleep quickly, but I was once again awakened in the middle of the night by cracking sounds coming from the forest. This time, my mind recognized the sound almost immediately. I got up quickly, looking for the source of the noise, and there they were: the same walking trees coming from the center of the forest towards the river, accompanied by animals glowing like ether.
The scene was as magnificent as before, perhaps even more so. Under a clear sky dotted with stars, the two moons and galactic structures, on that specific night, an aurora borealis also appeared. In Élaris, it was called Télasyenith, and its presence made everything even more mystical and fascinating.
However, just like the previous time, the silence was broken by a deep roar coming from the heart of the forest. The creatures abruptly stopped what they were doing and, once again, turned towards the sound, quickly disappearing into the forest.
Curious, I climbed even higher in the tree where I was, trying to see something beyond the dense vegetation. However, my view was blocked by the treetops.
- "Damn... What is this? Argh... I can't see anything..." I murmured, frustrated, as I tried to reach a higher point.
After several unsuccessful efforts, I gave up and returned to where I was.
- "Sigh... Okay, tomorrow I'll finish my preparations and head there... I'm sure I'll quickly discover what's making that sound and what those creatures are" I thought out loud, trying to organize my thoughts.
With this determination, I lay down again and, after a while, fell asleep. My mind, however, remained restless, imagining the secrets the center of that mysterious forest might hold.