More than a month had passed since Aida enlisted in the military. It was now mid-August. The years in this world were the same as in Ang's original world, with twelve months in a year. During this time, Ang and Aisha discussed and studied magic together, though more often than not, Ang simply recounted the contents of books for Aisha.
One evening, while studying magic, Aisha suddenly looked up at Ang and asked with some hesitation, "Ang, is my talent for magic just ordinary?"
Ang froze for a moment, unsure how to answer. He stroked Aisha's head and said softly, "Aisha, talent is only a stepping stone, an entry ticket. The fact that you have magical talent already puts you ahead of many people. You saw the magic talent test this time too. Including you, only three people had magical talent. The three of you were all about the same, so in that regard, you're already better than many others."
Ang paused before continuing, "Besides, talent can't determine a person's future. Even the most gifted people need to put in twice the effort to succeed. You still have a long road ahead of you, so don't dwell on this. Study more. Time will give you the answer. Even if you don't achieve anything great in the future, that's actually okay too."
Looking into Aisha's eyes, he said gently, "What matters is that you do your best at what you like and enjoy the process. No matter the outcome, we'll be proud of you. What do you think?"
Aisha nodded, a smile appearing on her face as though she had found new motivation. Ang also felt relieved. He knew that Aisha would continue working hard and growing on the road ahead.
From his conversations with Mary, Ang learned that mages often sought closeness with nature and traveled to many places. Since Aisha would be heading to the Mage Academy in River Bay City before mid-September, Ang decided to take her upstream through the River Bay region. The terrain there was higher than around River Bay City and lay along the edge of the Ula Mountains. The scenery was beautiful, and it would help Aisha get closer to nature and sense magical elements.
Before setting off, Ang explained the plan to his parents. His father Baron and mother were somewhat worried, but they also knew this was a good opportunity for Aisha to train herself. So, they agreed with Ang's decision and reminded them to be careful along the way.
Ang told Aisha that they had no real destination this time; it was more like a short trip. After preparing the necessary supplies, they followed the Ula River upstream. Along the way, Ang explained the origins of the Ula River to Aisha. He told her that the Ula River beside River Bay City was actually a tributary, and that after passing through River Bay City, it merged back into the main river. Although the main course of the Ula River did not flow directly through River Bay City, people generally still considered the city to be beside the Ula River.
During the journey, Ang and Aisha occasionally dismounted and walked. As they moved farther away from inhabited areas, the surroundings became more untamed. Ang had prepared in advance, mixing insect repellent and applying it to their clothes to avoid mosquito and insect bites. It was clearly Aisha's first time truly venturing deep into nature. Though she did not complain of being tired, her expression and movements showed that the journey was still somewhat challenging for her. However, Ang had no intention of turning back and continued forward according to plan.
Ang took out a map, pointed to their location, and said to Aisha, "Aisha, we're already at the source of a tributary of the Ula River. If we go a little farther, we'll see the real Ula River."
Aisha looked at the map, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement. She followed Ang and continued exploring ahead.
As they advanced, Ang and Aisha soon came upon the broader Ula River. The current was swift, and the river was two or three kilometers wide. The trees on the opposite bank looked especially short, which Ang guessed was a visual illusion caused by the great distance. The trees on this side were extremely tall, with many reaching seven or eight meters in height. The closer they got to the mountains, the taller and denser the trees became.
Considering Aisha's stamina, Ang found a flat, open patch of ground nearby and set up camp. He told Aisha that he had chosen the spot because it offered a clear view, was not far from water, and stood on higher ground, so they would not have to worry about rising water. After putting down their things and tying up the horses, Ang took Aisha into the forest to look for food. Since the area was far from human habitation, there were far more animals in the forest than around Oak Village.
Before long, Ang spotted a flock of six or seven Plumed Chickens, likely a small group. Using his strength, Ang aimed a stone at a Plumed Chicken's head and struck one successfully. The Plumed Chicken fell at once, while the others scattered in panic. Ang quickly threw two more stones and hit another one, while the rest fled away. He hurriedly grabbed the two Plumed Chickens, tidied them up a little, and hung them from his belt.
Afterward, they continued searching the forest for food, but they seemed to have disturbed the other animals, and Ang failed to catch any more prey. Ang and Aisha found a cluster of raspberries in a patch of low woodland. It was the ripening season, so they picked some.
Ang also found a kind of mushroom beneath several trees, but worried that it might be poisonous. He took out a geography travel journal and compared them carefully. Only after confirming that they were not poisonous did he bring the mushrooms and prey back to camp.
Ang collected all the Plumed Chicken feathers. They were especially beautiful and could be taken home for his mother to make into something useful. One Plumed Chicken was roasted directly over the fire, while the other was stewed with mushrooms. Aisha put the washed raspberries and mushrooms into the soup pot, and the air filled with the fragrance of food.
Firelight illuminated their faces. Aisha turned the roast chicken while carefully watching the soup in the pot. Ang prepared some simple seasonings nearby, making sure their dinner would be both delicious and nourishing. As time passed, the chicken skin gradually turned golden and crisp, while the ingredients in the pot slowly melded together and released a rich aroma.
At last, dinner was ready. Ang cut the roast chicken into small pieces and shared them with Aisha. Aisha ladled a bowl of chicken and mushroom soup for Ang, then took a sip herself, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. The two sat beside the campfire, enjoying the hearty meal as they talked about what they had seen and felt during the day.
As night deepened, the brother and sister leaned against each other and fell asleep beside the campfire. Beneath the starry sky, the sound of the Ula River mingled with the gentle night breeze, and the camp seemed especially peaceful. Far from the bustle of the city and the cruelty of the battlefield, they enjoyed a rare moment of peace and warmth.
Time passed quickly. Ang took Aisha to investigate the surrounding woods, searching for the plants and animals described in books. The edge of the Ula Mountains was rich in resources, and Ang even found several Hemostasis Grass plants. Since he did not know how to harvest medicinal herbs properly, he could only dig them up roughly, roots and all, and pack them away.
While walking through the forest, Ang and Aisha encountered Kexuolin Deer. These deer were social creatures and low-level magical beasts. Kexuolin Deer were extremely agile. When Ang spotted them, they spotted him as well. Before he could react, they sprinted off in the opposite direction and quickly vanished into the depths of the forest.
Ang stared at the Kexuolin Deer as they disappeared so quickly, thoroughly astonished. He knew deer were fast, but he had not expected them to be this fast. From the moment he spotted them to the moment they disappeared, less than ten seconds had passed. They had vanished in practically the blink of an eye.
"Aisha, did you see those deer?" Ang asked.
"I saw them, Brother. They ran so fast!" Aisha replied excitedly.
"Yeah, the Kexuolin Deer's speed really lives up to its reputation. If we encounter them again, we need to be more careful," Ang reminded her.
They continued exploring the forest and found more plants and small animals. Ang did his best to compare the knowledge in books with reality, explaining the characteristics of various plants and animals to Aisha, as well as their uses in magic and medicine.
One evening, they found a plant called Nightglow Grass in a dense forest. This grass emitted a faint glow at night and was a rare magical material. Ang carefully gathered some, intending to take it back for study.
As time passed, Aisha gained a deeper understanding of the various creatures and plants in nature under Ang's guidance. Though the days of training were difficult, this was a valuable experience and opportunity for growth for both of them.
After their time in the forest came to an end, Ang and Aisha returned to River Bay City with their harvest. Both of them felt immensely fulfilled and satisfied, and Aisha was filled with confidence and anticipation for her future magical studies.
Ang hoped this trip would give Aisha some wilderness survival skills. During the journey, Ang and Aisha not only learned to identify and gather medicinal herbs, but also picked up some basic outdoor survival techniques. After returning to River Bay City, Ang sold the Hemostasis Grass and Nightglow Grass they had gathered, earning 1 Gold Wack.
After returning home, Ang noticed that Aisha's stamina still needed improvement. To help her better handle the various challenges she would face in her future magical studies and practice, Ang suggested helping Aisha improve her physical strength. The simplest method was running training. He decided to have Aisha experience the same training method as Aida.
Every morning, Ang took Aisha running with him. At first, Aisha was somewhat resistant to the training, but with Ang's encouragement and companionship, she gradually adapted to the rhythm. Ang also often explained the benefits of running for strength and endurance, helping her understand the importance of keeping up her training.
After a period of training, Aisha's stamina improved noticeably. Not only could she easily complete her daily running routine, but her entire demeanor seemed refreshed. Ang told Aisha that she should exercise regularly in the future, because mages were generally rather weak physically. He hoped that through continued exercise, Aisha could become an outstanding mage with both physical strength and magical ability.
Aisha followed Ang's advice and began paying greater attention to regular physical training. Running every morning became part of her life. She gradually discovered that improved stamina not only made daily life easier, but also allowed her to stay more focused and endure longer in her magical studies.
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