Feyra had been walking for a while now and finally she saw a bit of forest again. Till now the path had led her along the sea with a nice view on the mountains but the sun was starting to shine and Feyra wished for a little bit of shade.
It was spring and with the temperatures rising the sun would also shine more often. Plants were growing and the smell of Spring hung in the air.
This brings back memories, Feyra thought as the scent of spring drifted to her.
On the side of the path some flowers bloomed and the sea was reflecting the sun making for a great view.
If it hadn't been that warm or had there been a little bit of shade Feyra would've taken in the view a little longer.
For now she had time and didn't need to worry about anything. Her life wasn't like before where she had tasks. She was free.
"Is this what freedom feels like?", she asked herself aloud while looking at the sky. Not a single cloud was there, other than the day before.
Soon after however, as she was wondering about her own question trying to find an answer, the sun heated everything up and Feyra ran over to the shade of the forest.
"Better watch out...", she shook her head before finding a stone to sit down. She opened a bottle and drank some water before she looked at her wrists. She hadn't changed the bandages in the last week when she had helped out but now it was likely the wounds had healed.
Feyra took off the bandages and underneath was nothing suspicious anymore. All she could see was her wrist being normal again.
Now that I think about it... When I first saw those wounds I was unable to determine what was blood and what wasn't. Blood is red for most people at least... But if I remember right then Fallen Angels don't have red blood anymore.
But I won't hurt myself now trying to find that out. I don't even have anything like a knife or a sharp object with me.
With that she stuffed the bandages in her bag seeing that they could still be used for emergencies.
She wouldn't use them for other people but for herself. Given her wrists had been in a horrible condition before it was unlikely those bandages would cause her any harm should she use it again.
The sun was shining through the crowns of the trees and some hit Feyra's face.
She breathed in the scent of spring a few times again before standing up and continuing.
She occasionally looked at her map trying to figure out where she was and backtracking which path she had come from.
Luckily she hadn't gotten lost till now. Even if she got lost she had enough time now.
I've got time. I'm only a little worried should it start raining. I don't want to end up drenched. I don't think I'll get sick anymore... Wait... I never was able to get sick...
Feyra thought back to the times she had been sick but there hadn't been a single time. The princess had been more often sick lying in her bed with high fever but Feyra had never gotten a fever or a cold.
Even the king and queen hadn't been spared from fevers and colds.
The father said that Feyra needn't worry about such minor things and should just continue as always with the tasks she had.
Yet whenever she could she would visit the princess and try to find ways to make her feel better and help her recovery.
Those times were truly fun. Only later did I find this book about diseases and medicine.
Just who was it written by?
She stopped for a moment and wondered about the book and its author. Although she had read it countless times she was unable to remember the name of the author.
After a while she just shook her head slightly and sighed. She couldn't remember it at all. If she was lucky, and could ever go back to the shrine she had lived in, she may find the book. In hopes it had survived the long time that no one had been there.
After a while Feyra came to a fork in the road and looked at the map trying to find where she was. Sadly the map was only simplified and wasn't showing the fork.
Well I guess I can explore both paths.
Feyra put the map away for the time being and took the left side.
As she continued on this path she found various berries and plants. Some of them she picked and took with her knowing she could use them for medicine.
Most of the berries she found however were poisonous and Feyra better left them where they were.
I know my body doesn't react to a lot anymore but I prefer starving rather than trying to find out what effects they may have.
With that she concentrated more on the other things like mushrooms.
Only after a while did she come across a cave and various plants growing around it.
"A stone mushroom!?", she said in excitement.
Other than in other books she had read this was a mushroom that looked like a stone but was edible. It may have been a bit hard to cut but once it had been boiled it would become soft and savory.
In comparison to most other mushrooms this one also had a different texture and would often grow near large stones or in mountains.
In other words: Unless someone was living near such places it was hard to come by which made Feyra even happier. She picked up every mushroom she could find and looked at them.
The books often mention that a stone mushroom on other planets or in other places was something made from volcano or the like. I don't really know what this means though. For us a stone mushroom is a mushroom like every other and it's even edible! I love eating them!
Her mind couldn't stop thinking of the tasty soup she may have in the evening with these mushrooms. If she added some of the other plants she had found she would have an herbal mushroom soup.
Not all of the plants were herbs though but could also be used as seasoning.
After she was done picking all the mushrooms Feyra turned her attention to the cave.
Inside it was dark. Feyra took a bit of wood and started a fire to look inside the cave. Crystals lined the back of the cave leading further down into an even bigger cave with various crystals.
"Wow... Some of them can be used as Memory Stones while others would certainly be used for building various things. They can sell for high prices.", she exclaimed seeing the walls.
The light of the flame was reflected by the crystals and Feyra could occasionally even see her own reflection in them.
However, as nice as the thought was taking some with her and selling them she didn't have a that big bag and she also had no way of breaking off some pieces.
All she could do was look if there was anything good on the ground. Luckily she found some stones that could be salvaged and put them in her bag before she climbed up again and left the cave.
She went back to the fork in the road and this time she took the right path.
Feyra walked for a while until the sun and heat made her feel exhausted and she needed to find a stone to rest for a while.
In that time she took out a pencil and noted the cave on the map and the path from where it roundabout led to the cave.
I got quite a few stones. One of them is definitely usable as a Memory Stone. This one will fetch a high price as they're very rare. Some of the other stones can be used for jewelry or help in working with various materials.
I should let them be checked by someone who knows about crystals. Depending on the grade of the stone usable as Memory Stone it may fetch an even higher price.
After rummaging through her bags a bit she stopped and looked at all the herbs.
Some of them were usable for salves while other could be brewed and taken in as medicine.
I suppose this was a good find. I just need a few more things and I'll be able to put them to good use.
Feyra continued until it was evening and she looked for a water source as well as something that may resemble a pot for cooking.
If she couldn't find something then she wouldn't be able to eat the mushrooms she had found.
While I have found water I still haven't found anything to cook the mushrooms in. And my stomach slowly starts to be disappointed it hasn't been able to taste the mushrooms yet.
Her thoughts were merely going around food at this point and the mushrooms. This was what she had been waiting for but now it seemed even more like she may not be able to eat the mushrooms.
In the end she had to give up her search and found some edible berries she could eat. For basically everything she had found she would need a pot to heat it up, cook it or brew it.
So all Feyra could do was settle for some berries that she could find.
I'm disappointed... I wanted the mushrooms...
With her head slightly hanging she munched on the berries.
For the night she had found a place that was a little hidden and the weather couldn't disturb her. The place was in a small cave merely fitting one person and it wouldn't leave her suddenly drenched upon waking up should it rain in the night.
Before she would go to sleep though she looked through her notes again and also looked at the map more closely. As she looked further to the north she saw sea but the place next to it was marked as the Empire.
Between these two places however lay a mountain range that was described as the Uncrossable Mountain Range.
Feyra didn't know anything about this mountain range and was quite intrigued.
Was it called that way because the mountains were too high or were dangers lurking in this place?
She noted these questions down in the notebook too on a page she called 'Questions about the World'.
Feyra hadn't seen a lot of the world yet although she was that old. Even in her youth everywhere she had traveled was within the kingdom and often times when she visited she wouldn't see how the place looked truly.
People like to hide the truth and paint a more beautiful picture when there is an important figure or someone of high status coming. I'm glad I can see the world in all its beauty now.
Thinking about all the possibilities again she drifted off even more in her thoughts and also circled back to the question of life.
The question had been asked to her by Buck and Feyra hadn't known a definitive answer. What was life for her now? What was her definition of it?
Life? What does it mean now? I have no purpose anymore like in the past when the father had told me what I needed to do. And what about time? I live longer than others and have enough time to stay in places far longer.
Yet most humans will die at some point and may want to rush. Everything I knew gets turned upside down. I truly wonder... What does life mean for me?
She looked at her hands in thought trying to find at least a new hint to what life meant but nothing came to her.
Only when she wanted to give up and try to sleep did Feyra suddenly hear a roar from somewhere.
Could it be?