“It’s so hot!” Ciela smiled laying at the ponds’ edge. “I wish we had a cow for milk, or watermelon.”

“What is a cow?” Auna asked confused.

“You don’t know what a cow is? It’s an animal that gives us milk, and meat.”

“So, like a goat? We used to have those on my world.” Auna smiled remembering the ice-cream made from goat milk.

“Cows are much bigger; they eat similar foods though.” Ciela was splashing her feet.

“Oh, the caves of my world didn’t have a lot of space, or food, maybe that’s why we didn’t have cows. I wonder what they taste like. Do you think we could get some?”

“No silly, how would we feed it? We grow and hunt enough food for us four to eat reasonably. We would have to grow like at least double the food I think.” Ciela seemed unsure.

“Okay, say do you want anything for your birthday?” Right now, it was the beginning of Summer, Yuccen. There was about two months left before the young girl’s birthday on the 20th of Sunen.

“I don’t know, what do 6-year-olds really like?” Ciela asked.

“Hmm, I got kicked out of my house, so I am not sure. Maybe a toy?” Auna sighed.

For a few minutes neither of them spoke. It was early morning, soon they would have to begin their daily chores. Auna had to hunt, check the clearing, then process their food. She was in charge of butchering the meat, which included drying the furs. They realised the past winter they did not have enough. They spent a lot of time huddled together with the wolf pups. They also got sick enough they feared they would die.

Ciela spent her days managing the farm and the small orchard. She had to weed the farm often, as her skill cultivation also helped weeds grow. She spent time nurturing the trees, making sure they would bloom fruit. She also did the yard work, cooking, and candy creation.

Neither girl had much time for toys, nor playing. Their spare time spent training had hit a wall. They weren’t gaining anymore experience for their jobs and increasing their stats had slowed down. That was why instead they were just relaxing at the pond. It was obvious they would need actual teachings to grow from this point. Though they could potentially learn new skills.

You know that it would be much more relaxing if you stopped for like a minute Auna sighed while thinking about her amazing world voice skill.

“I’m going to go hunt.” Auna needed to hunt every day because the prey she could safely catch were small, and not easily found. The Great Monster Forest had many strong monsters, and few actual animals. This meant she had to be careful, though her now-1-year old Theodore did help her hunt. Soon they should be able to take on smaller monsters.

Auna started out by checking the clearing. It was a very hot day so she would come back in the afternoon as well to make sure no one new came. She soon began to hunt with her not so little anymore Theodore. Theodore and Willow were now large enough to ride. When they stood their backs were over Aunas’ head. Moon and Sun wolves grew big enough for grown warriors to use as mounts. That would be a few more years still. They grow to roughly to the size of a horse. Of course, Auna didn’t know for sure what that was, though it was mentioned in her books.

Aunas’ general education books she had were all about high society rules, and basics of math, language, science and geography. There was one with the very basics of magic as well. She had been bought magic books by the Jade estates’ staff, and the children gave her their old books as well. Once they didn’t need them, she was free to have them.

“Theo good job!” Theodore had been tasked with chasing small prey towards Auna to slay. They now had 5 rabbits, and a bore. Auna was unsure why the status screen that logged her kills wrote it as bore not boar. It was their first time catching a bore, it was a bit smaller than fully grown ones they saw around though. Still, it was exciting to catch something with more fat, they could create soap with it. Their supply from Aunas’ storage was decreasing, they had yet to find a good replacement. With this they could make lye soap, to make lye they would need to leach their wood ashes. Auna was familiar with rendering fat into lard as on their old world they would use every part of an animal. Waste was frowned on.

She also knew how to make bird feeders and candles from lard. The candles were not needed as they used light magic, and glowing stones for that. Auna thought about putting bird feeders near their closed tunnel. It could entice birds to nest there, which in turn could provide eggs. She had yet to find any ground laying birds this deep into the forest. Her old world raised many smaller animals to sustain the population, mostly due to the surface being almost baren. She wanted to raise animals again.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“I think this is enough, we can’t really dress it fully out here. We can let the blood out though.” Auna bled the bore into a hole, covering it up with dirt. She then placed the bore over Theos’ back, slinging the rabbits over her shoulders.

Soon they arrived back at the clearing. “Let’s take a quick rest!” Auna said as she put down her rabbits, and Theo laid down for a rest. She needed to check the bags so giving Theodore a rest was a given.

“There really is a safe zone here! Thank the Gods! My Ladies are you okay?” Auna was caught off guard when three men, a woman, and small girl came rushing into the clearing while a monster bear chased them. The bear was unable to pass the stones. One of the three men was bleeding from a claw attack to his side.

“Mom!” The little girl pointed to Theodore, as she did the two healthy men pointed their swords at him.

“STOP” Auna acted on instinct sliding in front of Theodore.

“Put your swords away only a tamed monster, or a captured one would be able to cross the stones. Sorry child is this your fathers tamed monster?” The woman asked.

“No, he is my friend.” Auna answered.

“Why are you here?” A man asked.

Slowly Auna pointed to a lone bag in the clearing, it was not as old as the other bags. “I left my bag.” Is all she said, while she started gathering up her kills.

Auna moved to the moon door not wanting to stay in the clearing with the adult strangers. The strangers were too stunned and exhausted to move into action quick enough. Auna was through the gate out of sight before they registered, she was leaving. Concerned the women ran after her. However, the women would only find a stone door carved into a stone facing the outside of the clearing.

Auna came out inside their house. She then placed their kills on the butcher table. Heading to the farm to notify the little farmer she was home. The sun was still high in the sky, early afternoon, Ciela would still be working on her chores.

“Auna! Something odd is happening!” Ciela could be heard near the trees, Auna jumped on Theodore, and they dashed forward.

“What’s wrong?” Auna called nearing the moon door by the trees where Ciela was standing.

“Listen.” she said. Both girls quieted down and listened closely.

‘Knock, Knock, Knock’ “Hello? Little girl?” The lady from the clearing was knocking on the gate door from the other side. It was very weird to hear.

“I didn’t think this was possible?” Auna said mentally exhausted.

Her handy dandy skill world voice came to the rescue. Explaining clearly that the doors would remain connected even while not in use. This was why the mana cost was lower to activate it. It also meant that even though no one could use the door without permission they could still knock if they infused the door with mana. All doors would hear the knock. Basically, the woman was using her magic to communicate through the door.

Quickly Auna explained to Ciela what was going on, including how the people in the clearing had reacted to Theo.

“I don’t know, do we really leave a bleeding person in the clearing alone?” Ciela asked.

“He has his friends though?” Auna shrugged.

“Do they have healing spells?” Ciela asked.

“How would I know?” Auna shrugged again and sighed seeing the glare from Ciela.

Auna opened the door, she could now see the women. The women could see her as well. Both were a little startled as Auna had been planning to walk through not knowing this was possible. “Do you need help with the bleeding man?” Auna asked glaring back at Ciela.

“Can you help us? We don’t have any healers we were separated from the rest of our group.” The lady looked between both the girls.

“Why should I? It’s people like you who know about that clearing that caused us both to be here.” Auna spoke as Ciela hid behind her, having lost all earlier gusto.

“We were traveling to meet my husband, near the Jade estate. We were asked to come and introduce our daughter to his son. We really did not wish to as they are a few years apart in age, however the Count insisted. My husband Duke Bloodwave thought it would be a good excuse to audit his lands for the king. He went a few days ahead of us. We were attacked by people and driven into the forest. We lost the rest of our escort running in the forest. We only survived because I know about this safe zone. We have never used it, I promise. Please give us a hand?” The Lady Bloodwave was pleading seriously. “I can give you another friend if you want.”

“What does that mean?” Auna asked thinking this woman meant to abandon her child after all.

“Before we were attacked, I tamed a slime near the edge of the forest, to show my daughter how to. I was planning on releasing it back to its habitat, however if you like you can have it. I will also bring a different reward after we escape the forest, you have my word, anything you want.” Lady Bloodwave pulled a small almost glowing yellow slime from her coat. It was about the size of her palm.

“Seeds for the farm? Or ground laying birds.” Ciela asked tugging on Aunas’ tunic.

“We can do that easily, both.” Lady Bloodwave said. “We won’t hurt you promise.”

“Fine, come through.” Auna said.

All five people came through the door into the tree field.

“My Lady is this a good idea the clearing is at least safe.” The injured man said through gritted teeth.

“Big sis made safe stones here as well!” Ciela said puffing out her chest proudly.

“Come this way, I don’t know how well my magic will work during the day though.” Auna smiled.

All five newcomers were very quiet. They saw the small farm through the trees, near the pond. They moved towards a huge fire pit between a house, and what looked like a training field. They were in awe. There was another wolf laying in the shade of the house. They seemed to understand that hurting these girls, even if they wanted to, would not be easy. The men were guided into the house, past the storage room area, past the kitchen and work bench. They ended up in Aunas’ room. She told them to place the injured man on her bed.

“My skill is called healing moon. I am not sure how well it works during the day” Auna had picked the skill up during her meditative dancing during the night. It could heal moderate wounds. The man was injured but it didn’t look too serious.

“Go ask Ciela to bring the herbs for wounds.” Auna said activating her magic. At first the men when to move to find this Ciela however, Theodore left quicker, bringing back the small farmer who had a few clay pots in her arms.

With her magic, and the herbs the wounds were cleaned and mostly closed.

“I will heal him more when the moon comes out.” Auna took Cielas’ hand and left the room. She took the little farmer into the butcher area not wanting to let her out of sight.