Astrea awoke with a groan, a sharp pang twisting his stomach. Ugh… is this my stomach or a black hole?
He rolled over and peeked at the basket of food Michaela had left. His eyes widened well, widened even more than usual—and he bolted upright. "I… I can't… survive like this! I'm dying… for food!"
He dashed to the basket, only to realize he had already eaten most of it the night before. He slapped his forehead. "Goddammit… I guess the system didn't account for actual hunger!"
With a dramatic groan, he stumbled toward the narrow alley leading from his hideout.
Emerging into the morning light, he spotted Michaela walking through the village streets, her basket slung over her back.
"Hey! Michaela!" he called out, waving awkwardly.
Michaela turned and smiled. "Astrea! Are you awake already?"
"I… uh… yeah," he said, trying to sound casual while his stomach growled. "I… um… saw you and thought I'd say hi."
She chuckled softly. "Well, I'm heading to the mountains to gather medicinal herbs. You can come along if you want. After all, you mentioned yesterday that you were looking for a proper job."
Astrea's eyes lit up. Mountains… herbs… and a chance to explore potential academy sites? "Sure… I mean, yes! That sounds great."
Michaela nodded. "Good. But first… you really should clean yourself. You're… well… a bit stinky," she teased. "I'll wait for you at the entrance of the village."
Astrea groaned dramatically, muttering under his breath, and hurried to the fountain. A few minutes later, he emerged, clothes straightened and hair damp but tamed. Michaela waved cheerfully at him.
"Much better," she said with a grin. "Here, take this," she added, handing him a fresh loaf of bread. "Eat before we go. You'll need your strength."
"Thanks," he replied, taking it gratefully and munching quickly.
"Listen," Michaela said as they prepared to leave, "keep your senses sharp. The mountain is full of hidden dangers, and a careless person can get hurt. Stay alert, keep your mind clear… and eat properly."
Astrea nodded, tucking the bread into his pack. "Got it. Sharp senses, clear mind, full stomach. Noted."
Together, they set off toward the slopes of the back mountain. Astrea's eyes scanned the forests, streams, and hillsides along the way. Hills… forests… streams… isolated enough… but accessible enough for villagers… this could work.
Michaela hummed as she walked ahead, collecting herbs and chatting occasionally. Astrea followed silently, balancing his curiosity, hunger, and excitement.
Step one complete… Step two: survive the climb… Step three: maybe find a perfect spot for the academy.
With each step, Astrea felt the world of Astoria becoming slightly less foreign and the thrill of shaping a future far greater than himself pulsed quietly in his chest.