A Refreshing Day

As I stood watching the clear river water, the first thought that crossed my mind was to strip off my clothes and jump into the refreshing water. Fortunately, I was able to suppress this unwise idea. There are many things I need to do before thinking about relaxing, besides, this is a riverbank, and the likelihood of encountering people here is high, and it increases the longer I stay.

So, I can't think about entering the water as long as the sunset light is present. At least I have to wait for nightfall. If I'm lucky, there will be a moon tonight. If not, I'll wake up early and get it done.

First, I need to take advantage of the sunset light and quickly complete the tasks awaiting me. I tied my father's horse near a tree within sight and headed towards the edge of the forest. I started gathering dry fallen branches and also picked up some dry leaves. I found a good spot sheltered from the wind, placed the branches and leaves randomly, and set them on fire. After ensuring the fire wouldn't go out, I left the spot and returned to where I had tied the horse.

The first thing I wanted to finish was taking care of my father's horse, as it would take the longest time. I untied the rope and removed the bridle as well. I led him slowly near the river where the water was calm, and he didn't make it difficult for me. After making sure he was calm, I brought the necessary equipment my mother had left for me: a brush, a small bucket, and a towel.

After ensuring my father's horse was comfortable, I began brushing him lightly to remove any grass or dirt stuck in his fur. Then, I used the brush to clean his fur thoroughly. To reduce the dirt, I filled the bucket with river water to wash the horse well. This step took a long time as I had nothing to rinse him with, so I used water repeatedly.

With heavy and tired breaths, I used the towel to dry the horse as much as possible. I couldn't slack off in this task; if I didn't dry him well, I would suffer later if he got sick. After making sure I was done, I put his bridle back on and tied him in a warm and dry place to avoid the cold. I even lit a fire for him, just to stay on the safe side. I expected to get a look of gratitude, but he just ignored me, probably still holding a grudge for dragging him on this journey.

With tired breaths, I returned to the spot where I had lit the fire earlier. I couldn't rest now; there wasn't much time left before the sunset disappeared on the horizon. I had to make the most of the remaining time.

Beside my feet lay a cold pile of fine ash. I knelt on one knee and collected the ash in the bucket from earlier.

I headed to the camp I had set up upon arriving at this riverbank and changed into clean clothes. I prepared all the clothes I had worn in the past few days and sorted them by their level of dirtiness. I chose a spot near the river where the water was flowing, avoiding places that animals might use or drink from.

I soaked my clothes in the water to remove the large dirt particles and used a large rock to scrub the clothes with the ash I had collected earlier. I repeated the process for each piece of clothing to remove any visible stains. After scrubbing, I rinsed all the clothes well in clean water to remove the ash and dirt.

I tied a rope between two nearby trees and hung the clothes to dry in the open air. In my humble life on the farm, I was always skeptical when my dear mother forced me to do various tasks that seemed boring to me at the time. I made every effort to avoid these tasks, but now I am grateful for my mother's strictness. What would I have done without the skills she taught me against my will? I would probably look like a dirty, homeless beggar.

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I refocused and forced my tired body to move; there was still one last thing to do. The sun had already set; I could no longer see it on the horizon, but its faint light still illuminated my surroundings enough to prepare a modest dinner to end the day. I couldn't rely on the moonlight, as it was an uncertain factor. Preparing my dinner early wouldn't hurt me anyway, and I would also get some time for myself.

***

Darkness gathered around the simple camp I had set up under the shade of a massive tree. The fire's threads illuminated the surroundings with its warm orange glow. I sat on the ground, leaning against the silver trunk of the tree, and soon began preparing my modest dinner.

Skillfully, I took out a set of simple ingredients from my bag: slices of salted fish, some red fungi, and vegetables I had gathered from the forest over the past few days. The rainy forest's scent mixed with the smell of the fire gave me a faint sense of connection to the nature around me.

I placed the fish slices on a metal grid over the fire, then added the fungi and vegetables around it, and began cooking them slowly. There is something enjoyable and soothing about turning and mixing the food from time to time without thinking about my next step, a pleasure in the simplicity and the time the fire grants me.

After a while, the food was ready. I sat in silence, nibbling on my meal, enjoying the warm and simple taste. It wasn't as delicious as my dear mother's cooking, but I wasn't that bad either. After all, she taught me how to cook and everything else I know.

I gathered all the tools I used to prepare this modest meal and headed to the river to clean them. The silver moonlight reflected on the calm river, greatly aiding my task. I washed all the food residues from the tools with great precision and discipline.

Once I finished, I returned to my camp, put all the used tools back in their place to avoid any randomness and neglect. For someone who doesn't stay in one place for more than a day, organization is crucial and makes packing each time relatively easy. I went to check the clothes I had hung to dry earlier; they were swaying back and forth in the cold night breeze. I touched their edges with my fingertips, and as I expected, they were still wet. I would probably have to leave them overnight.

I walked away with a light sigh; all I wanted was to fall asleep, but I hadn't done the first and last thing on my list yet. The moon was high in the sky, just as I had hoped. Now is the best time to take a cold bath to wash away all the accumulated fatigue and dirt from the past days. First, I entered my humble tent and took out the silver dagger from the folds of my thin clothes. I didn't want to ruin my mood, so I didn't give it much attention, just placed it in my bag with some other items. I left the bag inside the tent, closed it behind me, and made my way to the river.

As I approached the riverbank, the faint moonlight colored the water's surface with cool, calm hues. I gazed at my clear reflection in the river's water. My fiery hair cascaded in waves, unlike the usual braid I wore every day. My hair shimmered with a bright crimson under the silver moonlight.

My body's features gradually emerged in the water's reflection as I slowly unbuttoned my clothes. My bright red eyes gazed at the image reflected in the water. The clothes piled up on the red grass beside the river with each piece I removed.

I took a step into the calm river, the cold sensation of the water causing a shiver on my skin, with the small cold pebbles deepening this feeling. I felt the water gradually rise to my ankle, then my legs. The deeper I went into the river, the more the cold water wrapped around me, engulfing me with a beautiful sense of cold and refreshment.

My reflection in the water appeared complete, my red hair catching the light and seeming to ignite with every movement. My red eyes captured the remaining light, reflecting a calm and relaxed look.

As soon as the water fully submerged me, I felt a sudden sense of cold and refreshment, while the small waves made every sensation more pronounced. I felt the burden of the past days wash away with the river's gentle current. The quiet night surrounded me with a sense of mystery and liberation.

I don't know how much time passed while I was in the water, but my sleep-heavy eyelids forced me to get out and go to sleep.

I slowly emerged from the river, droplets of water glistening on my body in the faint light. The cold that touched my body after leaving the water was strong but refreshing, and the sight of the calm river and the shining sky made me feel completely renewed and deeply relaxed.

After dressing, I glanced at my father's old horse; he was also looking at me while sitting. With measured steps, I headed towards my humble tent to bring an end to this refreshing day.