Kelly wasn't stupid. She knew what to do and what not to do. It would have been stupid to just walk away. But Jared had already said he wouldn't try to take care of her, so Kelly had to follow far behind them, following the path Jared and Caroline had cleared. Otherwise, a single wizard like her would have been devoured by the undead hungry for flesh.
Walking along the riverbed is a good idea.
In just one day's journey, the three of them saw a few pieces of ruins that at least seemed to be left behind by man-made objects, but even if they were stone bricks and gold towers, they could not withstand the corrosion of this cruel and merciless storm of time. In the end, all that could be seen was a four-square base and foundation, and it was hard to tell what it was supposed to be. Everywhere, Jared and Caroline searched for something in the shadows, but in vain.
Tawana didn't particularly care, she focused on Kelly, who was following her and the others in the distance behind her. Obviously, if Tawana could spot her, then Jared and Caroline would have already recognized her presence. But they weren't slowing down or speeding up, nor were they trying to lose Kylie. It was a sign of their attitude that Kylie was none of their business, and that they didn't need to be aware of or concerned about whatever action she chose to take.
As another corner was turned, Jared and Caroline stopped and held Tawana back.
The white bones that almost cover the ground are shocking, and from the collapsed ruins, it looks like this place was supposed to be a small village by the river. But now it's nothing but bricks, tiles and ashes. On top of the dust-covered stone tables were things that could not be seen anymore, as if it was an ironic irony of the small peace before the catastrophe. None of this was a problem, of course, but it was hard to tell what was walking slowly through it, covered in nothing but bones.
Silver light bursts out.
Fluttering and flowing silver snakes sprang out in a flash, circling and sweeping towards the slow-moving white skeletons. Luckily, they didn't look as tough as the undead knights we encountered earlier. Instead, they were like fragile building blocks that crumbled into dust and nothingness. Caroline retracted her sword and exhaled softly.
(These are relatively simple...)
"I don't think so."
Jared looked at the scattered white bones on the ground, and now they were gathering together again as if attracted by a magnet, and then reconstructed themselves into the white skeletons from earlier. But unlike just now, these guys had obviously noticed their attackers and were walking towards them with slow but firm steps. Obviously, anything that can endure hundreds of years of wear and tear and still be able to move today is not of the usual quality.
The silver snake whipped out again, but this time it didn't just twitch like before. Caroline flicked her wrist, and the chain sword in her hand turned into a circle that held the bones together. Then her left hand moved and pulled back, and as the sword flew back, the parts of the bones that had been bound and rubbed together began to crack, and then shattered. And this time, they didn't get up again.
(I'm saying these are easier...)
Caroline's beautiful bi-colored pupils held a hint of triumph, while Jared spread his hands helplessly in a gesture of surrender.
Then, their faces changed at the same time.
It wasn't the precursor to some more powerful monster, but a tiny figure that seemed to have been frightened by the battle that had just taken place emerged from the skull where it had been hiding, and it fled as quickly as it could, but it wasn't faster than something. It was as if something transparent ignored the speed so fast that it was almost invisible to the eye and plunged into its body, pinning it to the ground.
"Whew... we finally have food."
Jared picked up the rat's body, which had fallen to the ground, and breathed a long sigh of relief.
(Don't forget, wash it and watch out for germs.)
Caroline's prompting had a different focus, but it was clear that she had no intention of resisting. On the contrary, Tawana, who was watching them from the side, covered her mouth in surprise, gazing at the rat with greasy and dirty fur, feeling as if she was about to vomit in disgust.
"Brother Jared, are we ... going to eat this?"
"Better than starving to death, don't you think? Rats are not so bad. Caroline and I ate scorpions in the desert. Rat meat is a much better delicacy than that hard, indigestible stuff."
Jared was so excited that he didn't realize his comparisons were off by a wide margin.
"Eat scorpions?!"
Just by hearing those words, Tawana's face had already begun to turn blue. She couldn't imagine how that could be eaten?
"But, this ..."
(Just wash them, peel them, and use them on the grill. In this case, it's the only food we can eat.)
Caroline took out her handkerchief and explained to Tavana as she wiped her sword.
(There's no more picky now, we can only eat this if we don't want to starve to death ...)
Tawana stopped making a sound, although she still resisted, but still followed Jared's instructions, using magic to build a fire, and at the same time summoned a few water balloons. Then Jared skillfully removed the skin and bones of the rat, which was only a little larger than the palm of his hand, and then took a branch and skewered it on the fire and rotated it on the barbecue, and soon the smell of barbecued meat slowly spread out.
Though her heart resisted instinctively, her body was honest. Tawana, who hadn't eaten for a day, soon felt her stomach growl. She covered her stomach in embarrassment, but she couldn't take her eyes off the roasted rat. Although she knew that it was a rat, and that it was a horrible and disgusting thing. But in this situation, it seemed that she had no choice. Moreover, she even thought that it looked a little ... delicious?
"Tawana, here, this is yours."
Jared handed over the grilled rat meat, and Tavana froze, taking it carefully. She eyed the skewer uneasily and wanted to throw it away. But her body prevented her from doing so, it was a luxury to throw it away under the circumstances. What's more, the hunger in her stomach was beginning to eat away at her nerves, and eventually, the desire to live overcame her reasoning, and Tawana closed her eyes and took a small, almost relinquishing bite.
Then, she started to take big bites.
Soon, Tawana had eaten half of the already small skewer of grilled rat, and she even thought that there was nothing more delicious than this. When Tawana was about to eat more, Jared stopped her.
"Keep the rest."
Meeting Tawana's uncomprehending gaze, Jared shook his head and explained to her.
"What you just ate is all you'll get today. Save the remaining half for tomorrow."
"Eh?"
Hearing this, Tawana froze.
That's all for today?
But she hadn't even felt the slightest sign of filling her stomach yet!
"If we can catch more ... maybe we can still let you eat enough, but now we have no way, so we can only endure."
"... I know."
Tawana wanted to say something, but in the end she said nothing. Because then it occurred to her that Jared and Caroline had only caught this one mouse, and right now, half of it was in her stomach.
"Brother Jared ... Sister Caroline? Aren't you guys going to eat?"
She inquired in a low voice, while handing over the half-skewered meat in her hand with some reluctance.
"We're so used to it, it's okay not to eat now and then."
Jared looked unconcerned, while Caroline turned her umbrella and looked around. And then, with a start.
(There seems to be a castle there. Maybe we should go over there.)
Following the direction of Caroline's finger, the two of them saw the shadow of a castle among the mountains. It was like a silent giant leaning against the side of the mountain, its majestic and ancient figure revealing a bit of loneliness. Jared frowned and carefully estimated the distance. From their current position, it would take at least two days to reach the castle. Could they last two days in this condition?
Jared frowned, if he could actually find some kind of animal, or fungus, inhabiting the place. What if the castle was no different than the outside, almost in ruins? Where would they go from there?
But now it seems there's no choice.