The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the entrance of the White Mountain Cave.
The peaceful forest echoed with the cries of birds and distant beasts.
Leaning against the cave wall near the entrance, Ankit slowly opened his eyes.
He stretched his body and smiled.
“So…
it’s morning.” “Time to get back to work.” He walked over to Rain and gently shook her shoulder.
“Rain…
wake up.” “We have a lot of important things to do today.” Rain slowly opened her eyes.
Still half asleep, she mumbled, “Silfi…
bring me my morning tea…” Ankit blinked in confusion.
“Tea…?” “Where am I supposed to find tea out here?” Rain suddenly realized what she had said.
She immediately sat up.
“S-Sorry!” “I remembered home without thinking.” “Silfi always brought me tea every morning.” Ankit tilted his head.
“Was Silfi your maid?” Rain nodded.
“Yes.” Ankit smiled.
“I figured as much.” “Judging from your clothes, I already guessed you were the daughter of a noble family.” Rain smiled proudly.
“You’re right.” Ankit clapped his hands.
“Alright then, Madam.” “Come help me work.” Rain’s face instantly turned red.
“D-Don’t call me Madam!” Ankit burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright.” “I won’t.” Rain crossed her arms.
“So…
what’s today’s work?” “Nothing much.” “Only two or three small jobs.” He pointed toward the vines they had collected the previous day.
“First, we’ll leave these vines out to dry.” After spreading them under the sunlight, the two children climbed down the mountain once again.
This time, Ankit stopped in front of a tall, thin tree.
He pointed at it.
“We need to cut this one down today.” Rain’s eyes widened.
“What?!” “Again?” Ankit laughed.
“Forget it.” “I’ll do it myself.” Rain immediately puffed out her cheeks.
“N-No!” “I’ll help.” Ankit grinned mischievously.
“I just didn’t want a noble lady getting tired.” “What if you have me executed after we return home?” “You…!” Rain glared at him.
Ankit quickly raised both hands.
“I’m joking.” “I’m joking.” Rain couldn’t help smiling.
After that, the two children worked together and finally managed to cut the tree down.
By the time they finished, Rain was completely exhausted.
She leaned against another tree, trying to catch her breath.
Ankit looked at her.
“You’ve done enough.” “I’ll handle the rest.” “You should go back to the cave.” Rain shook her head.
“I can still help.” Ankit smiled.
“You’ll have plenty of work later.” “Go and rest.” “…Fine.” After Rain left, Ankit used the stone tools he had crafted to cut the tree into smaller pieces.
One by one, he carried the heavy logs back up the mountain.
By the time he returned to the cave, his clothes were completely soaked with sweat.
Rain looked at him in admiration.
“You work so hard.” Ankit smiled.
“This is nothing.” “My father’s training was much tougher.” “So that’s why you’re so strong.” After wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ankit looked at Rain.
“Can you show me your magic?” Rain looked surprised.
“My magic?” “Why?” “I just want to see it.” Rain hesitated.
“Alright…” “But don’t laugh.” She stretched out her hand.
Closing her eyes tightly, she gathered every bit of mana she could.
Several seconds passed…
Finally…
A tiny drop of water appeared above her palm.
It floated for only a moment before falling onto the ground.
Drip.
Rain lowered her head in embarrassment.
Ankit, however, wasn’t laughing.
Instead, he watched very carefully.
“The problem isn’t you.” Rain looked up.
“Huh?” “The problem is your teacher.” Rain blinked in confusion.
“What do you mean?” Ankit crossed his arms.
“You don’t understand how your mana flows.” “Once you understand that…” “Your magic will improve.” Rain stared at him.
“How do you know that?” Ankit only smiled.
“You’ll find out later.” “For now…” “Let’s finish today’s work.” The vines had completely dried under the morning sun.
“Rain, bring those vines over here.” She carried them inside the cave.
Ankit picked up a stone tool and carefully scraped away the outer layer.
Rain watched curiously.
“What are you doing?” Ankit held up one of the dried vines.
“Look closely.” “Now that it’s completely dry, the outer layer peels away easily.” As he peeled it apart, countless thin fibers appeared inside.
“See these?” He gathered the fibers together and rubbed them tightly between his palms while twisting them.
Little by little…
The fibers became long, thin threads.
“We can use these threads to make blankets…” “…or even stronger and lighter ropes.” Rain’s eyes sparkled.
“So that’s how it’s done…” The two of them spent the next several hours making thread together.
When they had enough, Ankit carried several pieces of wood into the cave.
Using his stone tools, he carved small holes into the cave wall.
He inserted sturdy wooden poles into the holes and tightly tied them together with the ropes they had made.
Then he began weaving rope across the frame like a giant spider’s web.
After a while, he stepped back proudly.
“There.” “Our bed.” Not long afterward, he built another one beside it.
Rain stared in amazement.
“You even know how to build beds…” Ankit simply smiled.
Next, he picked up a flexible branch.
With practiced movements, he carved it into a simple bow.
Then he crafted several wooden arrows.
Rain looked puzzled.
“Why do we need those?” Ankit’s expression became serious.
“Last night…” “I saw several Magic Beasts wandering through the forest.” Rain’s face turned pale.
“Magic Beasts…?” “Don’t worry.” “They can’t climb all the way up here.” He then picked up two long wooden sticks and handed one to Rain.
“Starting today…” “I’m going to teach you swordsmanship.” Rain pointed at herself.
“Me?” Before she could say anything else— Ankit suddenly stepped in front of her.
“Dodge!”