Upon waking up the next morning, the sky was still overcast with drizzle, which was a bit better than the outright downpour, but Lumian decided that it was best to wait out the drizzle before leaving the cave just in case it gets worse. While he was waiting, he decided that it was best to get in some training before he leaves, thus began with a basic workout of simple exercises such as sit ups, push ups, crunches and a little bit of shadow boxing. This left him pouring with sweat and muscle pain from the exertion.
Once the drizzle came to a stop, Lumian left the cave to a freshly scented forest with some semblance of mud developing on the ground and dew dripping from the plants.
After leaving the cave, Lumian decided to go hunting for a decent sized animal after that simple workout and came across a small boar pack travelling in his direction. This could be a suitable time to practice with my shadows. After having this simple thought, Lumian summoned Aethon, the spiders and the rats out of his shadow.
Issuing a mental command, Attack. Lumian sees that the rats ran into the boar’s hind legs nipping at them while Aethon flaps their wings against the boars faces causing a major distraction. Meanwhile, the spiders, crawled up to a couple of boars by the back and sunk their fangs into them causing them to drop down on their sides. However, amongst the confusion, Lumian felt that is mind was tearing a little from not being used to connecting with so many shadows at once, making him clutch at his forehead for a couple of seconds allowing some of the boars to run away in escape.
It seems that I will need to practice using multiple shadows without getting a headache from now on. Once the headache subsided Lumian was able to have this thought as he gazed at the boar corpses. Return, commanding his shadows, they came back into his shadow as he started prepping the boar for a quick and simple meal. The boar meat juicy and tender upon his taste buds, the greasy juices spilling from his lips.
Allowing the meal to go down, he continues on his next part of the journey through the forest as the temperature becomes a little more humid from the sun’s entry into the dense foliage. Along the way, Lumian practices some simple commands to his shadows every now and again to avoid the monotony of seeing tree after tree.
After a long period of time, Lumian decided it was best to take a quick break under the shades of a nearby tree for about half an hour. I wonder when I'll get to civilization, it’s taking quite a while after all. When the break was over, he figured that if the journey will take a long time, he may as well extend it by polishing his knife fighting skills for whenever he needs them.
Starting off with a jab in front, then a diagonal upward slash, followed by a thrust, slash and jab repeating these exercises changing his form, and which hand he uses the knife in case he finds himself unable to use one arm. Over time, Lumian works up a bit of a sweat, wiping it from his face using his robe before stretching his figure ensuring that his body stays limber and flexible.
Another change from his previous body knowing that this bodies flexibility was in exchange for his previous one’s strength, something that he has only just started to get accustomed to now.
This body isn't as bad as I thought it would be, at first it was a bit too much of a shock but I feel... Lighter? is that the right word? But I still find it a bit uncomfortable to look at after all I spent the vast majority of my time of the opposite gender. Lumian contemplates to himself, while assessing his arms skin which felt softer to the touch, much more than his old male body. Actually, I feel much happier but... why is that the case? Shouldn't I be freaking out wanting my old body back? but, it just never felt right unlike this one.
"Urgh so damn confusing!!!" Lumian exclaimed out loud as he used his fingers to scratch at his hair in frustration.
To take his mind off of this, Lumian's stomach growled making him realise he hasn't eaten anything in a while thus causing him to search the outskirts around the area he was resting, finally finding something to eat, a few foxes. Deciding to continue his practice of using his shadows to hunt, he eventually found that it no longer brings an absolute headache only a mere pain only when one of the summons die while trying to order each of them effectively.
Finding a place suitable to set up a fire in this damp atmosphere, Lumian thought it best to use the charcoal as the branches are too wet to use leading to a small fire. While this was going, he got his knife to skin the foxes and put the meat above the fire. While doing so a thought occurred to him, why not tan the fox fur and use it as a quilt to help him keep warm from the environment.
Coming to that simple thought, Lumian went ahead and did so whilst eating the fox meat which was a bit gamey to his taste buds. After a long period of time passed by, dusk was finally happening, and the fox hides were finally tanned enough that they no longer smelt so bad. When he climbed up a tree to do his ritual, he blanketed himself up in the fox fur immediately providing some semblance of warmth through the freezing night.
Rustle rustle
Waking up to a rustling sound, Lumian looked down at the foot of the tree to see a pair of rabbits. Looks like breakfast is prepared. Salivating at the thought, he summoned Aethon to snatch one of them and kill it.
Breakfast being served, Lumian decided it was best to get a move on and continued his journey north through the forest wondering what else he may come across during his time there.