Interlude: A Brewing Storm (Part One)

Chapter 100! Yaaay!

A/N: I wanted to write an extra extra long chapter to commemorate this milestone. In that process, I accidentally wrote ~6000 words. In the end, I decided to split it into parts.

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"Be careful!" The woman exclaimed with a helpless expression. She walked with a slight hunch, which wasn't helped by the fact that a massive basket was slumped over her shoulders, resting against her spine. Although she was only in her late twenties, her appearance was haggard and resembled someone who was well beyond. Her face contained many wrinkles and blemishes, possibly a result of poor skincare and overwork.

The person she called out to, a little boy carrying the same yet a more size-appropriate basket, stopped and turned to face her with a bright smile, "Mom, hurry! The fungus I saw last time is this way. We need to get there before an animal eats it."