Lilly cried all day and did not want to leave me alone. I did finally convince everyone that I needed sleep. Everyone gave me gifts of parting. I got a sewing kit, some new tools, seeds, and toys. I put most things in an empty chest. I knew taking toys would be weird if I only had a backpack, I don’t want to leave them though.

The rest of my stuff is already full. I have enough food and water for a little while at least. I have heard the great monster forest is very dangerous. I actually have a book on it that has maps, monster information, diagrams, and even information on the plants in the forest. I should sleep a bit as well. I have stripped my room of nearly everything. All that remains is some old clothes, bedding, and a few broken toys. There was nothing else left to do.

I wake up before the sun. I am a bit nervous I have never left the estate. I have maps of the world, and our region. They aren’t the same though as real-life experience. My last world we lived underground. Unground doesn’t have many animals and plants so this will be a new experience for me.

My bag that I was given has a hunting knife, water bottle, dried meat, some bread, and matches. I put the matches and bread in my storage instead. I do not want them getting wet by mistake.

“Are you ready?” Lilly asks me after I have changed into a shirt and pants. My shoulders, elbows, and back are exposed. My legs are fully covered. They are green clothes that are light in material. My long hair covers my back most days, however today I put on a light mantle. Lilly helps secure my sword to my waist.

“Yes, Lilly” I smile as I take her hand. She walks me to the front of the estate. My uncle, brother, father, and a woman are standing by a wagon. Lilly bends down and gives me one last hug before turning away, leaving me alone with them. Seth is holding onto the women by her dress. She must be my mother. Her gaze is cold as she stares in front of her.

“Count Jade” I greet father as I walk towards the wagon. There are a few men sitting in the wagon. They seem to be a part of the adventurers’ guild.

“We have come to see you off.” My father nodded as I climbed into the wagon. “Do not come back if you know what is good for you.”

That’s the last thing I heard before the wagon begins to move. Uncle looks sad, and my brother looks happy. He really did not like being compared to me.

We rode for many days, about 12. We camped out along the main roads. I overheard many conversations. Most were centred around how they had to leave me in the forest and say I walked away from them. Then everyone would presume I was dead. They were paid a handsome amount of money to do this. All 7 of them were older, they need the money to retire.

I understood why they were doing it. Money speaks more than morals at times. I just don’t get why they had to do it this way. They rode 2 days into the forest, then in my sleep put me in a bag. I was then carried for at least 2 days, they blended together. I was filthy as I was not allowed out of the bag I could not relieve myself properly.

My hands had been bound together as well, so getting out of the bag was going to be hard. They were surprised how little I struggled. What could someone as small as me do anyway? I was smaller than most kids my age, I had been told that often.

Eventually they set me down, said goodbye and left. I listened for a while. It seems they really left me here in a bag. They must have been told to make sure I do not live. I wiggle for a while until I am sitting up. I can see through the bag to another spot, teleporting outside of the bag. My hands are still tied though as I teleport with my clothes. It was a gamble though as I didn’t know if a bag was clothes or not.

Looking around I see other bags like mine, though they are unmoving. Some are fairly old as well. It seems this place is a dumping ground for children. I wonder why no monsters have taken the remains. Looking around I notice we are in a clearing with a lake. Around the clearings edge are rocks with runes carved in them.

First, I need to untie myself and wash off. Calling a chest from my storage I grab a knife I stole. My sword and bag with the hunting knife were taken from me. I am happy I stored the matches away. I use my water magic to clean my body and change clothes. I don’t trust the lake just yet.

Now, what are these rocks? They have runes in them, the runes are for protection. They keep out monsters, this place is a ‘safe zone’. Safe zones are man made areas that allow people to rest in dungeons. They are difficult and expensive to make though. I take out my map of the forest.

The safe zone is not on this map, it is also not in the book about the forest either. It seems this is a hidden safe zone. There are a few camp sites here as well. It might be a place for the people ditching kids to rest. The lake is on the map though.

The lake is unique with yellow water due to the stones. The map shows it is near the middle of the forest, which is the most dangerous area. No one ventures this deep into the forest anymore. Many armies have been lost trying to conquer this forest. The safe zone must be a secret to make disposal worth it to paid dumpers.

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I stuff my bag with rocks and grass. I do not need anyone thinking a child escaped. I can’t leave this zone though. I decide to use my tools and basic earth magic to create a cave in one of the big stones in the clearing. I am fairly small so it should be fine.

After a few long hours I have a cave facing the lake. The clearing is protected however, the lake is not. The runes stop at the lakes edge. No one should come from this angle. Still, I make sure to seal the entrance leaving only a small hole in the top.

Day 2 in the clearing I spend my time going over my situation and resting. I look over the other bags to check for anything of use. I found a few bracelets, necklaces, and toys. There were some clothes on the remains though they were too gross. I did not need the other things either, so I left them. I feel warmer than I should, most likely getting sick from my travels.

As I go into my cave to rest, I hear voices coming near. I seal up my cave as quickly and quietly as possible. I listen to the voices I can not figure out who is talking.

“Wow there really is a rest area here, like that damn noble said. Let’s rest here.”

“Yeah, lets drop the kid here as told. We will have to rest here tonight.”

“We can head out in the morning. They are expecting us back next week”

“I can’t believe the kid didn’t even get a name, she is only 4 as well.”

“Yeah a 4-year-old being thrown away is a bit harsh they usually wait till at least 8.”

“Well apparently she was being raised in secret by her mother. Her mother died though.”

“Her mother was a farmers’ daughter; she was her fathers first born child though.”

“Yikes a half noble child as the first born”

“Yup, he thought he wasn’t able to have kids because of his wife never having any. However, he just got a second wife now, and she is with child.”

The child seemed to also be of noble blood. Unlucky for her she was not wanted either. Poor kid. Can I really take care of another child? I can’t take care of myself.

The morning comes quickly. The people who dropped the child off left as well. I wait until I could see the sun through the hole in the rock. I climb out. I feel a bit dizzy today, the cool nights taking a toll on my small body.

Looking around the clearing I spot the new bag. It is not moving much; she seems very calm. I walk over to the bag and open it. I can’t leave her here. Even if it might doom me to die, I won’t have a regret.

“Hello?” I say to a small child with bright blue hair and eyes. She stares at me not saying anything at all. She doesn’t even try to leave the bag. I take her out myself. She is not even tied up. I fill her bag with grass and rocks as well.

“I don’t think we should stay here any longer.” I think that too many nobles are thrown out here to stay here. What are the chances we are both dropped off close to each other and this place isn’t used often? She still doesn’t speak. Looking closer I see she has many scars, and bruises.

I leave her in the clearing, I saw on the map we are close to the crater at the centre of this forest. It should be defendable enough; I could possibly move the rune stones.

I’m exploring the area, trying to find a way to the crater. A way I can bring the younger girl with me. I am used to navigating cave systems, not dense forests. After a few hours I am tired, dizzy, and cold. I must be sick; I have to power through though if I want to live.

I hear a rustle in the bushes not far from me. I tense up, the last dozen times it was small animals that didn’t bother me. I can’t fully keep my tension at bay though. I even killed a few low rank monsters, like bunnies. This time though a huge bear comes running at me.

Bears in books look almost cuddly, this one looks angry. Very angry. I start to run, having never seen a bear in my last world, we had small cattle and some pets. Rodents as well. Not big bears. I continue to run.

Damn it, damn it! Running isn’t going to work. I must make it back to the clearing.

I won’t make it back. I gained one level though! Every level I get 4 points to use on my stats. I can also increase my stats naturally. Right now, I need everything in agility.

Jumping into a tree ahead of the bear I wait. The bear is too big to move as easily as me. Exhausted and bloody. I almost had made it to the creator. It would be a nice spot to try and make a camp. This damn bear is in my way.

As the bear came under the tree I dropped. Digging one knife into his neck I put the other into his eye. It is a stupid idea, but the only one I can think of in my dizzy state. He thrashed a bit and then died the knifes being long enough to hit his brain.

It gave me 134 points which levelled me up. Animals don’t give experience unless they are full of magic. Basically, this bear must have been close to changing into a monster. If he had done that, I would be dead.

I dressed it as best I could putting everything in an empty chest. I bury the rest with my earth magic. I don’t want any other monsters or animals to be drawn here, we need meat though. We also need furs; the nights are cool.

Once I get back to the clearing the girl was still in the same place, I left her. At least she won’t wander off I suppose. My true friend skill isn’t helping me to figure out anything. It didn’t even signal to me anything was wrong when the men brought me here. It was just a lie detector right now, and she had not said anything yet.

I pull the girl into my stone with me. I have to seal it up just in case anyone else comes. I have a few blankets in the stone already. I can feel my warm blood leaking out of my body, making me colder. Her warm body crammed against mine helps fight the cold.

I think about how a healing skill would not have been too much of a cheat. Though in this world the healing magic I knew in stories doesn’t exist. Apparently healing magic is rare, and usually at the level to heal broken bones. Sometimes people can heal sicknesses they know how to heal. It takes a lot of mana/magic as well. I’m still not use to the terminology. Still healing magic can be very useful, the church has high healers that can almost do what stories of my last world did. The books on magic, general education, and staff had burst my bubble on having a fix all healing magic.

I should have asked for a healing skill anyway. I think about how my body is supposed to be. I think about when I am healthy and not bleeding. I fall asleep thinking about this.