The next day started unusually slow for me. Especially after those chaotic days. I slept about twelve hours straight. At least, that was what Emrum told me.

I was willing to believe it, since I, for the first time in three days, didn’t have a pulsing headache to torment me.

To be honest, I felt quite great, like I was overflowing with energy. It was a strange, but a welcomed feeling. On a whim, I focused my mind internally, attempting to feel up my mana.

The moment I did, I smiled at the joyful discovery.

My power has grown considerably under the pressure. I have already noticed that draining my magic daily, or perhaps simply using it, has previously expanded my capacity.

That still seemed to be the case.

The difference was not tremendous, but noticeable. Where I would have faltered after six lightning blasts previously. Now I could manage seven, maybe even eight.

This has further strengthened my suspicion that magic capacity worked somewhat similarly to muscles. It grows stronger under strain and weakens when unused.

I smiled at that, a sense of satisfaction and comfort filling my soul.

I feared that my powers will be constrained at my current state. Now, I knew that this was not the case, and even if there is a limit to my magic, it was not yet reached.

My spells were undoubtedly powerful, but they left me winded and weak too quickly as they were now. However, if I can but double my current power pool, it will open entirely new perspectives to me.

Seeing my growth in but a few weeks, I have almost already doubled my magical capacity once. In sight of that, doing it one more time might not be entirely impossible.

And even if I can’t, I will have to stretch it to the furthest.

Be that as it may, I have absolutely no intention of bringing another torturous headache on myself right now. When you got to my age, you learn a few things about patience, at least most of the times.

Rushing things without taking a proper rest rarely ends well, and I have no such intentions when not pressured by circumstances, at least.

I have also heard that the guys managed to set up the well yesterday. This means I am going to finally rid myself of all this dirt.

Gods be praised!

~oOo~

An hour later, I was sitting in the main chamber of the new outpost in the company of numerous dwarves. I felt refreshed. Being clean and rested for the first time in about a week was heaven on Earth… well, Rixa… I guess.

My hair was still wet, and I was wearing one of Emrum’s spare clothes, so I don’t have to wear my dirty clothes, at least not before they dry up. I have already washed them and placed them out to dry on one of the recently set up drying rack.

Apparently, it wasn’t only me who wasn’t enjoying being covered in dried blood and mud for days.

Since the place had a natural source of water, which wasn’t considered rare around here. Even in our travels, we often walked by minor water sources. One time, I even saw a real underground river.

The water here was shockingly clean, to the point that you could straight out drink it and would likely get away with it. In case if you even boiled it, then you had nothing to worry about.

I would have never even consider drinking water like this back on Earth. In my younger days… the water was a lot clearer, but even then it wasn’t clean enough. In my grandparents’ time, however, it was different.

Actually, it was a relief seeing that this world wasn’t covered in plastic waste. Nature was still thriving in this world, unsullied from the marks of industry.

“Oy lass, have you eaten anything yet?” — An unexpected shout scattered my thoughts.

I looked up and saw Tum and Skod walking in my direction. I was sitting on a rock that was covered with a thick blanket and placed around a larger rock, which was serving as an impromptu table.

There were many similar formations in this chamber. No surprise there. Rock was practically the only thing, aside from dangerous creatures, that we had in abundance here.

Therefore, it was a tendency to use them for any possible purpose.

Of course, in time, those rocks will be sculpted by the hands of these dwarfs into shapes that at times could be considered quite artistic.

There is much beauty in such simplistic forms, which are perfectly capable to fulfill their given purpose, while lacking unnecessary elements. Based on what I have seen from dwarven architecture, it is intrinsically minimalistic in nature.

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One could also say that dwarven buildings from grand to small are made to last. It’s not that surprising, since they are either melted from metals, or carved from stones.

I wonder how an actual dwarven city looks like? Is it similar, or those minimalist styles are nothing more but the consequences of circumstances?

I guess I will find out when we eventually get back to the kingdom.

Anyway, it was not the time to linger on such thoughts. I shook my head sideways towards my companions, indicating that I had yet to eat anything.

Skod snorted at that, saying to Tum intentionally loud enough for me to hear it. — “Of course she doesn’t. Just look at her, an elf princess, through and through. She obviously preferred to be hungry while clean instead of eating while being covered in grime.”

Tum mirrored his friend’s snort while shaking his head in amusement.

I was less amused by their banter. Just about to argue with them over that frustrating title, but when I spotted the plates of food they were bringing along filled with the familiar sweet meat which I have grown quite fond of over these weeks. I decided to do otherwise.

“I see that the hunt was finally successful.” — I stated with a smile. It has been a chore to get used to the new surroundings for the hunters. The men kept complaining about having to eat the less savory rations even two days after getting a foothold here.

Tum nodded with a satisfied smile, while dropping down heavily on one of the blanket covered rocks placed around the larger rock serving as our table.

“Aye, it has. But don’t get used to it, lass. Those pests have practically hunted this region clean. It was sheer luck that we managed to capture two earthworms, big enough to feed us for a few days if we pair them up with rations…”

I was already eating from the plate that was generously tossed in front of me when my hand froze before reaching for the next bite.

“Earthworm?” — I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. — “Is this meat from earthworms? Now that’s quite interesting… I have never thought that earthworms would have such a sweet taste.”

The two dwarfs sitting across me exchanged a look, then I saw a few coins changing hands. Skod looking quite smug while Tum acted like he didn’t care at all.

I blinked slowly, realizing what was going on. — “What was the bet?” — I asked while biting into another piece.

Skod chuckled hearing my question, but answered just the same. — “Tumnus over there, was pretty sure that you will freak out when we told you what was the menu today. I told him that you are not that type of girl, and I was damn right about it. Earning me a fair bit of coin, too.”

Tum scoffed at the other end of the table, finally allowing his sour expression to be seen.

Skod turned towards him with an annoying smile. — “I told you, that someone who mends wounds like that won’t care about this stuff.”

Tum crossed his arms over his chest and said. — “And I told you, that this has nothing to do with that. My cousin Esli works as a body mender in one of the Marble Halls and she is still afraid of bugs. Last time she found a spider, I almost went deaf from the shriek.”

Skod chuckled at that, and even I snorted, listening to the man’s retelling of the unfortunate event.

“To be fair.” — I started. — “I was quite surprised that this food was harvested from worms. Especially because the texture doesn’t have any similarity to regular worms. I would think that it has to be softer, almost gelatinous?”

The two dwarfs laughed at that, drawing quite a bit of attention to our table.

After they stopped their unexpected fit of laughter, Tum attempted to explain while fighting down his jovial mood what was so funny.

“Lora… these beasts have nothing similar to regular worms… aside from their shape, maybe. Their length varies between ten and a hundred feet. A great source of food they are, since most of their bodies are made up from muscle and fat.”

Skod chose that moment to join the explanation. — “Aside from that, they are not too dangerous. You just have to watch out for the teeth.” — He added with a smile.

“The teeth?” — I asked, unable to contain my surprise.

"Aye,” — Tum continued the explanation. — “they have a circular mouth with hundreds of sharp teeth. Dark elves tend to use them as arrowheads.” — He stated with a grim smile. Then continued. — “They are quite easy to kill, the worms I mean… What is hard about capturing them is to find them. It requires specific hunting gear and a secret method to lure them out.”

I gave the man a look and said. — “A secret method, really now?” — I complained, thinking that I have shown them quite a few secret techniques as well regarding my magic spells.

He was mercilessly elbowed in his side by Skod.

He squirmed for a while under our unified stare, then nodded slowly. — “Well… if you are really interested I might teach you sometimes.”

I smiled at that and said. — “Thank you.”

To which Tum looked to the side and coughed lightly. — “Anyway, as you have noted, the taste is quite nice with the right seasoning, so it is a favoured dwarven cuisine even back in the capital.”

I nodded, accepting the explanation. — “Your culture is quite interesting. I must say, it’s a wonder how well you have adapted to these inhospitable mines and tunnels.”

They smiled at that.

Skod spoke up next after we silently continued our breakfast for a while. — “It’s nothing unusual. I bet you would have a few things to teach us regarding living in a forest as well.”

My smile flattened hearing Skod’s expectations. I must have made quite a sour face since both of my companions noticed how uncomfortable I have become.

I coughed lightly, seeing their worried exchange of looks. — “I wonder about that… I wouldn’t be that surprised if it was the other way around… You see… I have lived in a town most of my lifetime. Obviously, I have seen forests and even walked in them, but was never put into a situation that I had to forage for a living. Well, if you ignore the occasional fishing trip, or the opportunistic raiding of a blackberry bush, anyway.”

The men exchanged a surprised glance, then Tum asked with a teasing tone. — “Are you sure that you are really not a princess?”

I rolled my eyes, unable to contain my annoyance.

He smacked his palm on the table with a burst of laughter, seeing my reaction.

Skod chuckled as well, then added with a light shake of his head. — “Don’t sweat it girl, it’s not like she elves regularly track the forests and stuff. It’s not that they can’t, more like they prefer to stay home. It’s quite common, actually, aside from the wood elfs and the dark elves, as far as I am aware. Since you weren’t exactly raised by elves, but humans, I would say it’s even expected.”

“Either way, you are young, and have a literal eternity to learn.” — Tum added.

I stared into the middle of my mostly emptied plate. Let’s hope that you are right about that Tum…