Short Trip

Aida had been in military service for over a month. It was now mid-August, and the year in this world, like in Ange's original world, had 12 months. During this time, Ange and Aisha had discussed and studied magic together, though more often than not, Ange would simply read from the books to Aisha.

One evening, while Aisha was studying magic, she suddenly looked up at Ange, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Ange, is my magical talent just average?"

Ange paused for a moment, unsure how to answer. He gently patted Aisha's head and said softly, "Aisha, talent is just a stepping stone, an entry ticket. The fact that you have magical talent already puts you ahead of many people. You saw the results of the magic talent detection this time; including you, only three people had magical talent. The situations for all three of you are similar, so in that regard, you're already better than many."

Ange paused again before continuing, "Besides, talent doesn't determine a person's future development. Even the most talented individuals need to put in exponentially more effort to succeed. Your path is still long, so don't dwell on these things. Keep learning, and time will give you the answers. Even if you don't achieve great things in the future, it's okay."

He looked into Aisha's eyes and said tenderly, "What's important is that you do your best in the things you love 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 if she had found new motivation. Ange felt a sense of relief, knowing that Aisha would continue to work hard and grow on her future path.

From his conversations with Mary, Ange learned that mages often felt a connection to nature and traveled extensively. With Aisha scheduled to attend the River Bay City Mage Academy in mid-September, Ange decided to take her upstream in the River Bay region. The terrain there was higher than around River Bay City, bordering the Ula Mountains, and it boasted beautiful scenery, which would be conducive to Aisha connecting with nature and feeling the magical elements.

Before they departed, Ange informed his parents of his plan. His father, Baron, and mother were a little worried but understood that this was a good opportunity to train Aisha. Thus, they agreed to Ange's decision and cautioned them to be careful on their journey.

Ange told Aisha that this trip didn't have a specific destination; it was more like a short excursion. After preparing the necessary supplies, they set off along the Ula River, heading upstream. Along the way, Ange explained the origin of the Ula River to Aisha, telling her that the Ula River near River Bay City was actually a tributary, which, after passing River Bay City, would merge with the main river. Although the main stream of the Ula River didn't flow directly through River Bay City, people generally considered the city to be located beside the Ula River.

During their journey, Ange and Aisha occasionally dismounted and walked. As they moved further away from populated areas, the surrounding environment became more primitive. Ange had come prepared with insect repellent, which he applied to their clothing to avoid mosquito bites. It was clear that this was Aisha's first time venturing deep into nature. Although she didn't complain about being tired, her expressions and actions indicated that the trip was somewhat challenging for her. However, Ange had no intention of turning back and continued to proceed as planned.

Ange took out a map, pointed to their location, and said to Aisha, "Aisha, we're now at the source of the Ula River tributary. After a little more walking, we'll reach the real Ula River."

Aisha looked at the map, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. She followed Ange, continuing their exploration.

As they advanced, Ange and Aisha soon encountered the much wider Ula River. The current was swift, and the river was two to three kilometers wide. The trees on the opposite bank appeared particularly short, which Ange attributed to a visual illusion caused by the immense distance. The trees on their side, however, were very tall, many reaching seven to eight meters in height. The closer they got to the mountains, the taller and denser the trees became.

Considering Aisha's stamina, Ange found a flat, open area nearby to set up camp. He explained to Aisha that he chose this spot because it offered a wide view, was not far from the water source, and was on higher ground, eliminating concerns about flooding. After putting away their belongings and tethering the horses, Ange took Aisha into the forest to search for food. Since they were far from human settlements, there were many more animals in the forest than around Oak Village.

Soon, Ange spotted a flock of plumed chickens, about six or seven in number, likely a small family group. Ange used his skill to aim a stone at the head of a plumed chicken, successfully hitting one. The plumed chicken fell to the ground, and the others scattered in panic. Ange quickly threw two more stones, hitting another one, while the rest quickly fled. Ange hurried to grab the two plumed chickens, tidied them up slightly, and hung them from his waist.

Afterward, they continued searching for food in the forest. However, it seemed they had disturbed other animals, and Ange was unable to hunt more prey. In a patch of low-lying bushes, Ange and Aisha found a cluster of raspberry bushes. It was the ripe season, so they picked some raspberries.

Ange also found some mushrooms under certain trees. Worried they might be poisonous, he took out a travelogue from a geography magazine and compared them carefully. Only after confirming they were not poisonous did he bring the mushrooms back to the camp along with the game.

Ange collected all the feathers from the plumed chickens. The feathers were particularly beautiful and could be taken home for his mother to make into useful items. One of the two plumed chickens was roasted directly over the fire, while the other was stewed with mushrooms. Aisha added the cleaned raspberries and mushrooms to the soup pot, and the aroma of food filled the air.

The flames reflected on their faces as Aisha stirred the roasting chicken and carefully observed the soup in the pot. Ange prepared some simple seasonings on the side, ensuring their dinner would be both delicious and nutritious. As time passed, the skin of the roasted chicken gradually turned golden and crispy, and the ingredients in the soup pot slowly melded together, releasing a rich fragrance.

Finally, dinner was ready. Ange cut the roasted chicken into small pieces and gave them to Aisha. Aisha scooped a bowl of chicken and mushroom soup and handed it to Ange, then took a sip herself, a look of satisfaction on her face. The two sat by the campfire, enjoying the hearty meal and discussing their experiences and feelings from the day.

As the night deepened, the siblings nestled together by the campfire and fell asleep. Under the starry sky, the sound of the Ula River's water, accompanied by the gentle rustling of the night breeze, made the campsite feel exceptionally peaceful. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city and the cruelty of the battlefield, they were enjoying a rare moment of tranquility and warmth.

Time passed quickly. Ange took Aisha on expeditions in the surrounding forests, searching for plants and animals described in books. The edges of the Ula Mountains were rich in resources, and Ange even found several stalks of Hemostasis Grass. Not knowing how to properly harvest medicinal herbs, he could only roughly pull them up by the roots and pack them away.

While walking through the forest, Ange and Aisha encountered Kexuolin Deer. These deer were herd animals and considered low-level magical beasts. The Kexuolin Deer moved with incredible agility. When Ange spotted them, they had already noticed him. Before he could react, they bolted in the opposite direction, quickly disappearing into the depths of the forest.

Ange stared in astonishment at the rapidly vanishing Kexuolin Deer. He knew deer were fast, but he hadn't expected them to be this fast. From discovery to disappearance, it took less than 10 seconds; they were essentially gone in the blink of an eye.

"Aisha, did you see those deer?" Ange asked.

"Yes, brother, they ran so fast!" Aisha replied excitedly.

"Indeed, the speed of the Kexuolin Deer is well-earned. If we encounter them again in the future, we'll need to be even more careful," Ange cautioned.

They continued their exploration in the forest, finding more plants and small animals. Ange tried his best to correlate the knowledge from his books with reality, explaining to Aisha the characteristics of various plants and animals and their uses in magic and medicine.

One evening, they found a plant called Nightglow Grass in a dense thicket. This grass emitted a faint fluorescence at night and was a rare magical material. Ange carefully collected some, intending to take it back for study.

As time went on, under Ange's guidance, Aisha gained a deeper understanding of the various creatures and plants in the natural world. Although the days of their expedition were arduous, it was a valuable experience and an opportunity for growth for both of them.

After their time in the forest, Ange and Aisha returned to River Bay City with their findings. Both felt incredibly fulfilled and content, and Aisha was filled with confidence and anticipation for her future magical studies.

Ange hoped that through this trip, Aisha would develop some basic wilderness survival skills. During their journey, Ange and Aisha not only learned to identify and gather medicinal herbs but also mastered some fundamental wilderness survival techniques. Upon returning to River Bay City, Ange sold the Hemostasis Grass and Nightglow Grass he had collected, earning 1 gold vark.

Back home, Ange noticed that Aisha's stamina still needed improvement. To better prepare her for the challenges of future magical studies and practice, Ange proposed helping Aisha improve her physical endurance. The simplest method was running training. He decided to have Aisha undergo the same training regimen as Aida.

Every morning, Ange would take Aisha for a run. Initially, Aisha was somewhat resistant to this training, but with Ange's encouragement and companionship, she gradually adapted to the rhythm. Ange also often told her about the benefits of running for physical strength and endurance, making her understand the importance of consistent exercise.

After a period of training, Aisha's stamina had significantly improved. She could not only easily complete her daily running tasks but also had a renewed sense of vitality. Ange told Aisha that she should continue to exercise her stamina regularly because mages generally had weaker physical constitutions. He hoped that through continuous training, Aisha would become an excellent mage with both physical strength and magical abilities.

Aisha followed Ange's advice and began to pay more attention to her physical conditioning. Morning runs became a part of her routine, and she gradually discovered that improved stamina not only made her daily life easier but also allowed her to focus more intently and persevere longer in her magical studies.