Chapter 33: Luanne's Lake 2

Before the birth of the sun the next day, Leila notified her team to prepare themselves and start their morning rituals fast. Their destination is a distance away after all, if they still won't go now they will have some hard time making their camps later.

Luckily everyone in their team is used to waking up early. They woke up a few moments after Leila had prepared their baths. They were puzzled and weird out of the black haired girl's actions, which the girl only said that it's a habit and don't ask much about it.

Feeling strange about it, they just brushed it off as one of her quirks.

Greeting them good mornings after they are freshen up, Sophie tells the group of their current luggage status. The girl made it her duty to be responsible for their things. She felt that if someone won't centralize their resources, there will be some lapses sooner or later.

Leila nodded in approval of the girl's sense of duty. She then told her piece about their schedule after the short haired girl finished her report. Just in case they have something more to add or eliminate some now that they see their place of training.

"Well, I think we should just leave some of our luggages. Namely the food ones." Sophie said after she remembered the contents of their baggages. "They are not that many, but will probably cause us some problems with its smell and potential in making us attractive to the beast outside."

"But if we don't have them, how will we be able to practice my specialty?" Khelly said as she kind of understood the rationale. But she had to emphasize that she too needs to teach them about her own specializations.

"We can hunt for ourselves." Harvey said. He told them that they are bound not to go hungry in a forest such as this. Nature provides various food sources if you work enough and carefully enough.

Leila quite agrees with the suggestion and it's probable. With her own experience, it's no problem at all. It's like hitting two birds with one stone. One they can fully exercise their wildlife survival and they could just go straight to the cooking lessons without any pressure.

As they came to such agreement, they settled in just bringing necessary condiments and a few as emergency rations. There is nothing bad being too cautious in regards to one's own life.

"Okay. Anything else?" Leila once again asked.

The rest have nothing else to say and their little meeting was adjourned. They then gathered in the manor's entrance where they agreed with their teacher and Leila's grandparents.

The adults had been aware of their movements and had been waiting for them to appear in the agreed area.

"You kids have everything ready?" Grandpa Rodleo said as he saw them bringing a few bags than they had brought with them.

The children then told them that they already have everything. They also explained that some of their things were left behind for convenience sake.

The adults were understanding and left them in their own devices. It's good for them to think for themselves more than relaying to the adults nearby. This way they will grow independent and learn their own lessons.

As what was in their agreement with the school, Leila's grandparents took the responsibility as a guide and bodyguard. Since they set out very early, like the outside is still very dark, the elders told their guests some precautions in the place they will be.

As Leila had told them before, there are indeed many beasts around their village. Many people rely on hunting these beasts for a living. The income is quite good. Alchemy and Science had been studying about these beasts and were in need of various specimens to aid their undertaking. Not to mention some parts of these creatures are just too in demand and expensive in the market.

Rodleo family is considered one of the well-off ones in the village due their land and house. They also rely on this mood of income. But not necessarily reliant on this. Sometimes they also buy some of their fellow villagers' games from time to time to consume.

Every year for the annual beast tide, everyone in the village bands together to chase away the beasts heading their village. So the villagers are actually very experienced in dealing with beasts and alike. In some ways the people living in this village are masters and veterans in regards to fighting and living with precarious lives everyday.

Now the Rodleo couple is teaching these people based on their experiences. A very valuable piece of teaching, given that most children from the city seldomly encounter such opportunity. They also taught them of the culture and attitude in hunting the creatures in this forest. Forewarning them of many things should they over hunt and abuse nature's blessings.

Even Rebecca herself is learning a lot in this trip even if it's just starting. It can be said that the misfortune of the group's first choice is a blessing in disguise for both students and teacher. They had to stumble and learn everything in a much harsher situation if they didn't come over without such considerate guides with them.

Rebecca was only observing the children. If not necessary she will not say anything at all. The school stipulated that she could only help them when it's really needed. And so far, the children are still fine and dandy for her to step up.

The children had no thoughts about their advisor's actions. In fact they are thankful that she is not interfering with them much about their decisions. If she continue to be like this, they might be able to let loose some pressures that they bear inside.

The sun was high up in the blue skies over the mountains ahead, when they arrived at the edge of Lake Luanne. They are quite fast in their transverse as the elders had used an acceleration spell on them. But there was a delay over some other matters.

They met some troublesome beast along the way that prompted them to go to combat. It was these encounters that made the elders perform the spell to quicken their pace. If they dally more, they will not arrive at the lake by midday. And worse, they might need to settle on just anywhere should desperate matters come.

Of course, Leila made use of the opportunities in front of her. Everytime they encounter a beast, she slyly throws her teammates to have an encounter with the said animals. She carefully chooses who is whom to push forward in accordance to ability and power. Which is another reason why they arrived quite late in their schedules.

But if she sent their strongest on the early fight, how else would the group grow if none of them have the opportunity? That defeats the purpose of this trip.

So with the initial plan of arriving at sunrise became midday. And each of one of their little groups had amassed some experience 'fighting' with various beasts.

"Finally!" Ryan cried as he slumped upon the area the elders had told them to camp in. He tried his best not to let his tears flow.

His experience in their journey can be called tragic. Leila had decided that he is the weakest and in need of various training. So he ends up the best person to engage with the beasts they encounter.

In the whole period he was left questioning what sorts of luck do he have to be a constant target. If he somehow knew that all those encounters were in fact planned and staged, coughing blood is the least he could do.

"Well this place is beautiful." Khelly said as she set down her luggage to the nearest tree. "Is this why we are to stay here?"

Grandma Rodleo chuckled over the blond's speculation.

"Well one of the many reasons. But it's mainly this area is safest place in this forest region." Grandma Rodleo said as she reminded them to set up their camp the earliest they can, while motioning them that she or her husband will explain why later.

Harvey immediately spun into action and commanded his group to work. He suppose he should be doing his role as the leader now that they are in their training area. Gone is the days he will let his group go rampant in his watch.

The pair who didn't know of Harvey's overbearing self was still ignorant of the days ahead of them. Thankfully by the time they realised this side of his war they were already tuned to follow orders almost instantly.

With Leila's help they were able to build a satisfactory temporary shelter in just a few while. Though some incidents happened, they could proudly say that they learnt well.

The adults did not interfere with their activities and had also made their own dwellings. If they don't, where else should they stay? They are mindful not to impose the children to worry about them.

"Well now that our camp is set, the next thing we should do is secure our food." Harvey said.

Ryan looked like he lost his soul as he remembered that they agreed to hunt for their consumption. But now that he thinks about it, why didn't they kill those beasts and bring them over to eat back then? If they did they wouldn't need to hunt at this moment.

The boy then told them of this question and was given a cold stare from the former goddess.

"If you are fine having more beasts trailing us on the way or luring an even powerful beast, I don't mind not doing so." Was what the black haired girl's answer to his pondering. Strangely, Ryan could see a glint in the girl's eyes that sends him warning bells.

They wisely pretended that that episode didn't happen. Else they found themselves in a precarious situation because of someone's words. By now they all knew the tendency of Leila to incorporate whatever she hears into action.

After a few while the group have decided to divide their chores. Two people will stay at the camp and the other three will go. They will take a rotation system for all of them to have their turns. And because Leila is the specialist in their group on each hunting season, she will always go.

With that arrangement they set out to do their tasks.