Her father struck her at that ti, for she showed vulnerability. And her heart indeed turned a little bit colder, but it was towards her father.
...
Lara erged from the water, the coolness lingering on her skin as she wrapped herself in the blanket she had brought earlier. She carefully removed her three-piece inner garnt, washed each piece thoroughly, and laid them out to dry under the warmth of the morning sun.
While waiting for her clothes to dry, she turned her attention to the southern part of the plateau. This side was lush, far greener than the barren northern region. The difference, she surmised, was likely due to the presence of a cascading waterfall that spilled life into the surrounding area.
The house, perched strategically at the plateau’s center, struck her as deliberately placed. Was the old man obsessive-compulsive? The precise positioning of the house suggested he had ticulously asured the plateau, ensuring it served as a perfect midpoint. Shrubs and bushes bordered the southern edge, interspersed with dium-high trees. One of them, a dium-sized moringa, stood out against the backdrop of green.
Yesterday, when she viewed Galeya’s Throne from Ourea’s slope, other than the waterfalls which she had seen clearly, the house and the large mango tree partially obscured her view of the southern part.
Now, as she surveyed the area more thoroughly, she noticed the old man had cultivated a small herb garden on the southwestern side, near where the water flowed from the plunge pool. Among the plants, she recognized turric, garlic, chives, peppermint, and yarrow.
How long had the old man been here? Did he have a family sowhere? What had driven him to this secluded existence? These questions lingered in Lara’s mind as she pondered the enigmatic figure who was now her master—a term unfamiliar and sowhat unsettling to her.
Lara was curious to know about her new master. He was the first master she ever had. While she had a long list of teachers and coaches, she did not consider them her master, just as they did not consider her their disciple. To them, she was just a source of their inco.
"Sister! I’ve filled the jar with water. Can I take my bath now?" Sandoz’s cheerful, childish voice broke her reverie.
"The water is cold and deep. How about you take your bath in that small pond behind that bush?" Lara replied, pointing in the direction of the pond.
Sandoz nodded eagerly and dashed toward the pond. Since they had been abducted, it had been days since he’d had a proper bath.
"Take off your clothes, and I’ll wash them for you," Lara called after him. "That way, you won’t have to wait long for them to dry."
Sandoz hesitated, his cheeks and the tip of his ears flushing red.
"What’s the matter?" Lara snapped, her voice impatient. "You’re just a boy. What are you embarrassed about?"
Turning his back to her, Sandoz reluctantly undressed and handed over his clothes. Lara was about to head to the area she designated as their ’laundry area’ when Reya ca rushing over.
"Miss Lara, let handle it," Reya insisted, eyeing Lara from head to toe. Lara was still wrapped in the blanket, her only covering.
"I found so needles and thread in the cabinet," Reya added. "When Grandpa cos back, I’ll ask if I can use them to make extra clothes for you and Sandoz."
Reya was heartbroken. Her miss was truly pitiable. She did not even have a change of clothes.
Lara handed Sandoz’s clothes to Reya without a word and returned to the house. She inspected her straw sandals, which were so worn out that they could no longer protect her feet. After rummaging through the garnt that she stole from the human traffickers, she found a tunic made from thick fabric. Stripping its hemline, she wove strips into makeshift shoes. An hour later, she stepped outside, her feet now protected by her crude creation.
"Miss Lara, your clothes are dry," Reya said, holding them out carefully to prevent her dripping hair from wetting them. She had just taken her bath.
Lara took the clothes, went inside the house, and, after a few minutes, erged fully dressed.
"I’m heading out for a while," she announced.
"Miss, where are you going?" Reya asked, alard. "Why not wait for Grandpa?"
"I’m going to find sothing to eat," she replied while tying the jungle knife around her thigh. She also slung an improvised backpack made from a piece of cloth over her back.
"There are still so sweet potatoes left. It’s dangerous out there, Miss." Reya tried to persuade her.
"Don’t worry. I’ll be fine," Lara assured her. "Keep an eye on Sandoz. Don’t let him wander near the edges of the plateau, especially on the northern side.
Reya hesitated for a mont, her heart heavy with uncertainty, before reluctantly nodding in agreent as Lara set off toward the towering slopes of Mount Ourea. As Lara strode confidently across the swaying hanging bridge, its wooden planks creaking softly beneath her weight, she thought of a stream they passed yesterday. She hoped to catch so fish.
It was not long before she arrived at the stream. Indeed, there were fish swimming.
The water was clear, revealing trout, catfish and a lot of small fishes swimming below. Spotting a papyrus-like plant, Lara unsheathed her knife and cut several leaves. She weaved them into two baskets with cone-shaped mouths designed to trap fish. Her hands moved fast. She made a lot of baskets before when she was left in the forest for survival training.
She subrged the baskets in the water and left them there while she foraged for wild fruits. She was hoping to have a bountiful catch when she returned.
She soon ca across a cluster of ripened wild bananas. Though sweet, the fruit’s large seeds made her spit them out. Farther along, she spotted a tall velvet apple tree. Its low-hanging branches allowed her to pick a few, which she tucked into a makeshift cloth backpack. Nearby, she found a longgan tree heavy with fruit, adding to her collection.
The mountain’s bounty amazed her. It was a pity that the forest was not as dense in modern tis and there were fewer fruit-bearing trees.
A sudden movent ca from above as she prepared to return to the stream.
"Who’s there?"
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