Oh, that's right. Serah thinks as she stops and turns around. Forgot my stuff! I can't go around walking normally like a regular person, anymore. I have to carry a sword and shield! I'm a warrior now! She thinks as she struts back to the chest.

She puts down the kitty and digs out a cylindrical red object from the chest, and, assuming it was the rod of fire, she puts it in her pocket. She also found a leather traveling backpack. Smiling, she puts it on before strapping the sheathed sword onto her belt and lifting the round shield.

Let's go world! I’m ready for you! She thinks with a small fist pump.

With a little kitten following after her, she walks into the forest with bright eyes.

…

…

After half an hour of walking towards what she thinks was Northeast, she was starving. She was sort of hoping for a small monster to attack her or a bunny to pass by and offer its flesh, but there was nothing.

“Psst. Hey. A little further to the South.” A voice suddenly says in the surroundings.

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“What?” Serah says with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t call you. Did that previous call even end or was the dial tone a lie?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Let’s just say I called you. Anyways, forget about that. A little bit to the South, there’s some berries you could fill up on.” The voice says again.

Serah’s brows creased with suspicion, before she shrugs and decides to walk South.

In a small clearing was a bush dotted with deep red berries.

Serah stands before the bush with a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure these are safe to eat?” She asks. Normally, she would try to avoid random things from a bush, but if her hunger was to continue, she might risk eating these even if they were poisonous.

“Of course you can eat it! Just trust me! I won’t lead you astray!” The voice says, trying to sound convincing.

“Hmmm… That sounds awfully suspicious. But I’m pretty hungry. Just one, won’t hurt.” She says as she plucks out a berry.

She puts the fruit on her mouth and was immediately beset with a mouthful of flavor. “Oh my god.” She exclaims with a strange expression on her face. “I think I just had a mouthgasm.” She says, the flavor causing a shiver to run down her spine.

“Yeah, you like that, don’t you baby. What’d I say? Mommy will treat you right.” The voice says, sounding amused.

Annoyance appears on Serah’s face. “Can you go? I’m trying to eat here!” She says as she stuff more berries into her mouth.

“Sorry. You’re right, babe. I’ll talk to you later.” The voice says before a fake dial tone once again resounds.

Serah continues to eat, delighted at the fresh and deep flavor.

After she had her fill, she didn’t hesitate to pluck the bush clean and store the rest of the berries in her backpack.

…

…

Eventually she found the river. As instructed, she tried to use the rod of fire to boil some water. There happened to be a saucepan in her backpack that she was able to use, and the rod of fire seemed to work automatically. She just dropped it into the water and the water began to heat up.

With that she was able to fill the waterskins in her backpack.

Then, she was off once again. Following the river East.

But unbeknownst to her, she happened to be walking in the same direction as two hunters in the woods.

The deity of war throws some popcorn into her mouth. This should be fun. She thinks with a smile.