Once Serena received her potion of the roasted meat from Rex, she moved to the far edge of the campfire wanting to get away from the crowd. Everyone was eager to get their share of food and Serena didn't want to get caught up in it.
Kiro and her sat down on an empty log before Serena tore the meat up to split between them. The meat was tough with the outer layer charred. Likely to ensure no one got food poisoning from bacteria or parasites.
At least that was what Serena assumed.
Eating foods made from plants and animals was only reserved for the wealthy in the empire who could afford such a hobby. Everyone else lived off nutrient packs made in a lab.
They tasted like cardboard, but had everything a human body could need thus were chosen over trying to cultivate land for food. Not that there was much land to cultivate anymore.
Most of Earth's land was poisoned from decades of pollution and destruction and what did survive were put under strict protection. Not to preserve them, but to be a form of entertainment for the elite.
A piece of the past that they could collect and enjoy.
As for Earth's outer colonies, while they did manage to grow some things, most liveable planets had much different ecosystems. It was too expensive to modify food for their ecosystems.
Better to just cheaply mass produce food for everyone that guaranteed they would receive the maximum benefit from their food. If one managed to get a nutrient pack, but that was seen as a different issue.
Guess this is one thing I can enjoy about this world. Serena mused to herself as she took a small bite of the meat, some grease coating her hand. I can experience something my ancestors seemed to all like no matter the culture.
It didn't taste like much to her, but as she chewed the tough meat, there seemed to be a rocky texture. Serena guessed it was coarse salt, something that was used to flavor food and keep people alive according to the novel.
As she continued eating small mouthfuls of meat, Serena found herself unsure if she could understand why one would want such a hobby. Then again, the wealthy always did weird things.
Still, her body clearly craved the meat because she found herself quickly devouring her potion. And despite it being quite a big potion of food, Serena still found herself hungry after finishing the last piece.
She found her eyes wandering over to Kiro's potion and had to turn away before she let hungry win. It wasn't like she hadn't gone hungry before.
All she needed to do was distract her mind to overcome the voice in her head. She had done that countless times food had become scarce during missions.
Serena turned her attention to the campfire, watching as others ate and chatted. Most were condensed around the other two females on the journey likely hoping to gain their affection.
Which reminded Serena of something - entering the Forest City required her to take a mate.
The city would hold a banquet once the caravan returned where she would be required to pick a male to become her beast husband. Failure to do so would lead to her being kicked out of the city.
Something she didn't need at the moment.
She was too weak and had limited knowledge about this world to safely live outside the city walls. Serena needed the protection until she was strong enough to fend for herself.
However, she also wasn't interested in any romantic relationships. She had been burnt once and wanted to never touch the flame again. Nor did she want to burn anyone else.
She couldn't pick some random beastman and not expect them to not want some form of relationship. Sure most were desperate and willing to do what it took to have a partner, but Serena wasn't willing to exploit that.
Not unless it was absolutely necessary.
Her best bet was to find someone among the beastmen at the campfire and form a clear partnership between them. If there was any beastman out there willing to agree to a lifebond without love.
Serena let out a small sigh as she gazed at the merriment going on in front of her. I can't offer them love… Then the only reason they'd want to form such a bond is for children.
But could she even agree to that? Serena had no desire for children, not even when she was with Mark. Her hands were too dirty for that. Besides, she was only sticking around here until she got her chance to leave.
Having children would make things messy. Because one day she'd need to abandon them for her revenge and she was already being selfish enough to use and abandon her possible beast husband.
Either way, she was going to hurt someone at the end of the day, so it was better off she made that clear to the person from the start. Then they could make their own choice.
As she continued to gaze at the campfire before her, one thing was beginning to become clear - she wasn't going to find anyone among the group. They were all too keen for affection.
She could see it from the way they all kept fighting for a sliver of attention.
Suddenly, Serena felt her skin prickle. Someone was watching her. She turned to the direction of the gaze, eyes meeting icy blue ones. The same ones from that male earlier.
He was leaning against a tree some distance away from the campfire, moonlight casting a soft glow over his massive figure. He had his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at Serena with a blank look on his face.
Why does he keep watching me? Serena frowned, lifting her chin up to show she wasn't going to back down from his intense stare. First I catch him sneaking into the cave and now this… Does he want something from me?
She couldn't recall his face from any of Serena's memories, so doubted he knew her from before. Was he interested in her? No…
He could easily approach her like the others if he wanted to. A vein twitched in her forehead, annoyance filling her as she stood up.
"Kiro, I'll be right back." Serena murmured without looking away from the tiger beastman. "Just finish your food quietly while I go take care of something."