"It's time to learn my second spell."
I focused, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. The first spell I had used, –- Breeze — , had been instinctive—something simple, yet it had still required concentration. I needed to replicate that now, but with something more offensive, something that would at least give me a chance to survive.
"Feel the mana particles around you," I recalled from the instructions.
I crouched down, pressing my fingers against the ground, letting the cold, damp earth mold itself to my palm.
Closing my eyes, I focused, trying to sense the energy around me. The mana particles flowed invisibly through the air, the leaves, and the soil. It was like trying to sense a subtle breeze in the middle of a hurricane of thoughts.
'This time, I need something simple, but effective enough to make a difference,' I thought, rummaging through the fragments of knowledge flickering in my mind. The ring's functions began to respond to my silent command.
An interface appeared, presenting a list of basic spells. The evaluation feature was still locked, but the other functions remained active—a glimmer of light in the darkness.
I searched through the available spells until I found something that seemed fitting: Earth Element: Harden.
'Simple, efficient, and exactly what I need,' I thought, weighing its potential. It was a reinforcement spell, perfect for transforming a useless branch into a viable tool. The ring provided the instructions directly into my mind. The process seemed clear, but executing it would demand focus.
I stood up, gripping the branch as if it were already a true weapon. Closing my eyes again, I visualized the energy around me, channeling it into the branch. My hands were steady, but a part of me still trembled—whether from anxiety or the mounting tension, I wasn't sure. The wind blew, carrying dry leaves that danced around me like silent witnesses.
"Move the mana," I murmured to myself, trying to guide the flow. I concentrated on the ground, on the steady, heavy energy emanating from it. I felt something connect, like an electric current running through my body and into the branch.
— "Harden!"—
The command left my lips as a whisper, but it carried the full weight of my intent. The branch glimmered faintly for a moment, its surface darkening and solidifying as the spell took hold.
I raised it in front of my face, testing its weight. It was surprisingly sturdier, heavier—almost as if it had turned into a crude yet functional weapon. A relieved smile spread across my face.
'Finally', I thought, spinning the branch to test its balance. It wasn't perfect, but it was something—something that could mean the difference between life and death.
I looked around again. The forest seemed quieter, as if it was watching me. The shadows shifted with the breeze, but my heart no longer raced as it had before. The improvised weapon in my hands brought a small sense of comfort—a reminder that I wasn't completely defenseless.
"All right," I whispered to myself, fixing my eyes on the path ahead. "If this is how it's going to be, then so be it."
With the hardened branch in hand and a renewed sense of determination in my chest, I took the first step deeper into the forest, plunging further into the hunters' trial.
"First, I need to find a place to spend the night and look for food," I muttered, moving cautiously through the dense woods.
......
The forest's darkness was punctuated only by the faint glow of the moon, struggling to pierce through the dense canopy above. The air was thick with the smell of damp wood and decaying vegetation. Every distant sound—the rustling of leaves, a branch snapping far away—seemed amplified in the vast stillness of the night.
As I walked, weariness began to set into my muscles, each step demanding more effort than the last. So far, aside from small insects, I hadn't encountered any animals, beasts, or monsters.
At last, I reached a more rugged area where the ground sloped upward slightly. Here, the trees were spaced farther apart, and I could see rocky formations that might offer some semblance of shelter. Even so, none of it seemed safe enough.
'I must have been wandering aimlessly for hours', I thought, frustrated. Leaning against a tree, I took a deep breath, my chest heaving. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and the cold night air began to gnaw at my skin.
"They didn't even bother to tell me where in the forest we are or which direction I'm supposed to go," I muttered, irritation bubbling inside me. I had no idea how much longer I'd need to stay in this forest or where to find the elusive crest I was supposed to retrieve.
At that moment, my stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder of my growing exhaustion. I hadn't eaten anything since late afternoon.
'What a terrible hunger,' I thought, clutching my stomach with one hand. 'But where am I supposed to find food in this place?'
Hunger was clouding my thoughts. I leaned against the tree for a few minutes, trying to regain some strength. The accumulated exhaustion weighed heavily on me, but I knew staying still would only increase my chances of starving or being caught off guard by something lurking in the forest.
"Let's go," I whispered to myself, forcing my body to move. Each step felt harder than the last, but I pressed on.
After a while—or maybe it was sheer luck—I spotted something that caught my attention: low bushes with oval leaves, their edges soft and rounded. Small white flowers with deep red anthers adorned them, and nestled among the blooms were pale, nearly whitish fruits. My eyes widened as recognition struck: pale mulberries.
'Morus albiflorum', the scientific name surfaced in my mind, drawn from Alexander's memories. These fruits, known for their delicate pale hue, were native to the Black Forest.
They were used in various elixirs, potions, and even some flavorful recipes, but most importantly—they were edible and nutritious enough to sustain someone for a while.
I crouched down quickly, examining the berries to ensure they weren't spoiled or contaminated. The plant appeared healthy, and the fruits were ripe, their texture firm and juicy.
'Finally, some good fortune!' I thought, as my hunger and exhaustion gave way to momentary relief.
I picked a few berries and ate them hastily, their mild, slightly sweet flavor filling my mouth. They weren't particularly delicious, but at that moment, they were the best meal I could imagine.
As I chewed, I scanned my surroundings, eyes sharp for the slightest movement. Though relieved to find food, I couldn't afford to let my guard down. The forest was no place to relax.
'I need to find shelter soon', I thought, gathering more berries and wrapping them in my blazer, improvising a makeshift sack.
With my stomach slightly fuller and my mind somewhat clearer, I refocused on the trail ahead. Finding a safe place to spend the night was now even more urgent.
The forest seemed to mock me, with shadows that shifted and sounds I could never quite identify. But, at least for now, I had a little energy to keep going.