Lin Shuyao reached the riverbank. The place was quiet. No one else was around.
The river flowed calmly, its water clear and smooth.
She stepped into the shallow part of the river. The cold water made her flinch, but she kept going.
She held her weapon and crouched down, scanning the water. Her eyes followed the shadows beneath the surface.
A fish swam by.
She raised the stick slowly.
"Stab...stab...stab"
She struck.
Splash!
The fish slipped away.
She sighed. Her arms were too slow. Her body felt heavy, and every move made her muscles ache.
Still, she kept trying.
Another fish came close.
She aimed again.
Splash.
Missed.
"Alright, alright... third time's the charm, aaand here!" She struck again with all her might, and bingo — she finally stabbed a fish.
She lifted the stick with the fish still wriggling on it and waved it in the air like a trophy.
Her eyes sparkled, as if she were holding a rare treasure instead of just a fish on a stick.
"One more.." she muttered.
Soon, she was able to catch another fish and placed them both in her basket.
Her body ached, her clothes were wet, and her stomach was loud, but she got what she needed.
___
She returned to her cottage, spotted the flint and steel lying in the corner, and hurried over. With a few strikes, sparks flew, and soon a small fire crackled to life.
She roasted the two fishes and ate them. They weren't tasty at all — no seasonings, not even salt. But she had to eat. There was no choice.
___
After eating, she sat back, rubbing her sore arms. Her body still felt weak. Just eating wouldn't be enough.
She took a deep breath and entered her space again.
The moment she stepped inside, the pain disappeared. Her eyes wandered around the library before she walked straight to the medical section.
There were rows and rows of shelves, and everything was marked properly. She scanned the spines of the books until her eyes caught something useful — "Herbs for Strength and Recovery."
She picked it out and flipped through the pages. Some herbs were familiar, others strange. After reading carefully, she noted a few that helped nourish the body and build strength.
"Alright. Time to check the supplies room," she said to herself.
She exited the library and walked into the supplies room. As expected, the herbs listed in the book were all there— neatly arranged and labeled.
She quickly grabbed the ones she needed and came out of the space.
Back in the cottage, she made a small concoction using the herbs. She crushed and boiled them carefully in a clay pot she found in the corner. The smell was strange but not bad.
Once done, she let it cool a little and then drank it all in one go.
It tasted bitter — like really bitter — but she didn't care.
She wiped her mouth and leaned back against the wall. It was now late noon. A few hours had passed since she came to this world. She isn't sure how to feel about her situation yet... With the library, she's basically a living home of knowledge. Not to forget the unlimited supplies also... With so much potential, she's overwhelmed on what to do next..
'Ahh let's not think about it now.'
Her body was still weak, and she needed proper rest to heal.
So, she laid down on the so called bed and within minutes, she fell into a deep slumber.