The sound of crackling echoed in the forest.

"So, who are you?"

Kiara stared at the black haired girl.

"I... I am Lara."

The black haired girl said meekly.

The fire burned stronger.

= = = = =

"Phew. I'm finally out."

Kiara.breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the vast plains.

Just beyond the forest is a massive land stretching to the distance.

"I will definitely develop mental demons if I stayed there long enough."

Kiara muttered.

Now then.

Bursts of mental power spread to the surroundings.

Although her eyes couldn't see anything that moves, she made sure there there are no predators waiting for her.

After a moment, she breathed a sigh of disappointment.

Although she didn't want a trap waiting for her, she want a predator to feast on.

"I'm tired of fruits..."

Predators are mutated animals. They are tens, if not hundreds stronger after they formed their mana core.

There are many classes of predators, but Kiara didn't need to remember them right now.

She hadn't tasted meat in a long time.

Although the need of different flavours distracted her, it's just a short time.

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She reorganized the tasks in her head.

Although there are water inside those fruits, I need a source besides them.

Kiara started exploring the plains, the sun out in the open.

...

Twenty minutes later.

Here.

Kiara stopped walking.

Although the scene didn't change much, the temperature did.

Hmm. It's slightly colder here.

Kiara turned her head.

Mental power surged and concentrated in her ears.

This boosted the sensitivity and range of her hearing.

Come on...

After a minute of walking, she heard the sound of flowing water.

Kiara stopped to pinpoint the direction of the sound.

After a moment, she smiled.

"Finally."

She found the source of the sound.

Mental power flowed into her legs.

Crack——!

—Bang!

Kiara disappeared from the spot.

...

In just a minute, Kiara saw a small pond.

She slowed down and stopped.

Beside the small pond is a small wooden house.

Just beyond the house is another part of the forest.

The flowing water is coming from the pond into a hole connecting to the house.

There are also fences that surrounded a small garden of flowers.

This is the perfect retirement house...

Kiara thought.

"Well, I should be going then."

She walked to the door.

"Hello?"

Kiara knocked on the door.

No response.

She knocked several times, but no one answered.

She looked around the area and saw no one.

"Is there no one living here?"

Kiara muttered.

Well, if there is no one, then priorities first.

Kiara turned the knob and found that it's not locked.

Well, that's convenient.

She opened the door and went inside.

...

It's truly a small house.

Kiara explored the whole place.

She found a small kitchen.

A chest that has ice magic.

A guest room.

A bedroom and bathroom in one room.

There is also a book shelf, but she wasn't interested.

She found the container where the pond water is being delivered.

It was at the back of the house.

It wasn't really a container when she looked at it carefully.

There's a tube connecting to the container, then to the bottom of it is small hole with a filter connecting back to the pond.

Just below the filter is a button that released water.

"..."

Am I seeing a large water filter just for a small house?

Kiara was speechless for a while.

She didn't stayed still though.

She satisfied her thirst with the wooden cups beside it.

...

Kiara explored the house again searching for potential threats.

She planned to stay for a few days in the house.

The difference of being with her family or not didn't matter.

Although she planned on seeing them, she still focused on her goal.

The major change in the future threatened her plans breaking down.

She planned to look for the source of the change.

Before she does that though, she needed more strength.

The house is an excellent environment for awakening her mana core.

All her needs are already here.

"I will live in this house until I reach the second stage."

Kiara smiled.

...

Time passed.

"Well, I guess not..."

Kiara stared at the knife pointed at her.