I searched through the belongings I had taken from the bandits.
Among them, I found a map.
It was easy enough to read.
Since I was following the river, all I had to do was continue downstream.
Eventually, I would reach the nearest town.
Templora.
So that was its name.
I had no idea what awaited me there.
At least it wasn't the mining town where I had grown up.
According to the map, it would take several days on foot.
I decided to rest before continuing.
Looking around, I found a cave.
"Ugh..."
"I hate caves."
Still...
It was much better than sleeping out in the open.
The cave stretched deep into the mountainside.
Out of habit, I placed several torches along the walls.
Then I dug a small chamber into the rock and sealed the entrance behind me.
Old habits die hard.
"GRAAAAHHH!"
A deafening roar jolted me awake.
I quietly peeked through a small opening in the stone wall.
Outside...
A massive bear-like monster stood at the cave entrance.
Beside it was a cub.
The mother kept roaring toward the cave, clearly reacting to the light from my torches.
Looking closer, I noticed several long spears lodged in her back.
Her body was covered in wounds.
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The cub whimpered beside her.
Even without understanding their language...
I could tell they were starving.
I sighed.
"What am I thinking..."
I tossed two fresh fish through the opening.
The mother roared again.
She searched the darkness for whoever had thrown them.
But found nothing.
Only the fish.
She remained on guard.
Yet hunger eventually won.
She and her cub quickly devoured them.
It wasn't enough.
I threw another two fish.
The mother roared once more.
This time, she immediately grabbed them.
After finishing those...
I tossed another pair.
This time...
She didn't roar.
She simply picked them up and quietly shared them with her cub.
I smiled.
Then lay back down.
"Good night..."
"Mama Bear."
"Baby Bear."
I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
Those names were childish.
But somehow...
They fit.
The next morning, I removed the stone seal and stepped out.
The mother instantly moved between me and her cub.
The little one hissed at me.
Without saying anything, I tossed them two fresh fish.
Both bears immediately relaxed.
I sat down nearby and cooked one for myself.
They watched me cautiously.
Eventually...
They began eating as well.
I had planned to continue my journey.
Unfortunately...
A violent storm raged outside.
Traveling now would be dangerous.
So I decided to wait.
Hours passed.
Eventually, I found myself sitting just a few steps away from the two bears.
This time...
I tossed them a piece of Ravihen meat.
The mother sniffed it carefully.
Then happily ate it.
The cub quickly followed.
A few moments later...
The little bear cautiously approached me.
It began licking my hand.
"Hahaha!"
"Stop!"
"That tickles!"
For some reason...
I felt more comfortable around these two monsters...
Than I ever had around most people.
The mother slowly approached as well.
There was no hostility in her eyes.
Instead...
She turned her back toward me.
One of the broken spears still protruded from her shoulder.
"...You want me to remove it?"
Looking around, I found a natural depression in the stone floor that resembled a bowl.
I filled it with Miracle Water.
Then pointed toward it.
The mother cautiously sniffed the strange liquid.
After a moment...
Both she and the cub began drinking.
While she was distracted, I gripped the spear firmly.
Then pulled.
"Grrrr..."
She growled in pain.
But she didn't attack.
The moment she finished drinking the Miracle Water...
The wound closed before my eyes.
Not only the spear wound...
Every injury on her body disappeared.
The mother looked at herself in surprise.
Then let out a joyful roar.
The cub happily rubbed against her side.
Watching the two of them made me smile.
Soon afterward, they curled up together and fell asleep.
I returned to the entrance of my shelter.
The storm still showed no sign of stopping.
With nothing else to do...
I reached into my Storage Space.
The book Uncle Carl had given me appeared in my hands.
Blink Knight Arts.
Just from the title...
It sounded impossible for someone like me to learn.
After all...
I didn't possess a Blink Rune.
Still...
Who knows?
I slowly opened the first page.