Well Deserved Rest

Back at the cottage...

Everyone was tasked to do some house chores and gardening and whatever the masked girl told them.

Roan was tasked with gardening and chopping wood for the fire, holding a big axe he slammed it on several pieces of wood with ease.

Then there was the twins and the commoners.

The twins were tasked with repairing the old cottage and cleaning the rooms up, the masked girl would sometimes scold and punish them when even a spec of dust was left.

The commoners helped from time to time but they were usually tasked with hunting.

There were less of those ugly abominations and more natural and normal animals like boars, chicken, and deer.

They were near a river so it was their time to check the fishing hooks and nets they laid out to see if they caught a few.

Wang Zihan was tasked with cooking this time, the dishes served in their household was unique, making even the masked girl surprised and eat her plate clean.

The laundry and other little chores were then tasked to the two girls.

Cleaning dishes, laundry, preparing for adventures when the masked girl suddenly tasks them for dungeon raids, keeping training equipment clean.

And some more.

The two were the least to be scolded, along with Zhao Lina, and Roan. They did their part well enough to be off masked girls radar.

Surprisingly Wang Zihan was one of those who were scolded as well.

She was able to spout random nonsense and scold him for it, Wang Zihan tried to retort the first few times but gave up.

Though she may seem to have many reasons, it was actually just because she hated nobles and those high-class clans...

Zhao Lina was tasked with taking out the pests and the goblins who dared to come out of their den.

She was given a graceful amulet that helped produce fire, she was the successor of a mage clan after all.

Though everyone used to take turns having to deal with this task, she was the most proficient, and she wasn't awakened yet.

The second behind the task was me, only because I was "favored" by the masked girl, she puts me where danger is always at.

She also gave me an amulet, though I never knew it's purpose...

"Hyup!"

Swish!

The goblins that came out were in much larger groups than what Zhao Lina fought.

The amulet didn't help produce any elements at all.

The only reason I was able to finish the job was because of my proficiency with controlling Mana.

It's only been a week or two since the trials have started, I've been meditating non-stop.

"Since the amulet given to me can't help me produce any elemental magic yet, I wield my Mana, extending outward and shaping it. Not too solid and not too flat that it will become unusable."

I thought to myself as I flicked my hands and extended more Mana outwards, cutting a few more goblins while dodging two other slashes.

Then solidifying my Mana just enough to deflect and block the attacks, that cannot be dodged or avoided.

The Mana conjured up by my defense and offense moves were not visible to those who weren't sensitive, or not good with detecting Mana.

It only looks like a heat wave made the air ripple, but to those like Wang Zihan, Zhao Lina, the Twins, and the two girls...

Swoosh!

Swish!

Whoosh!

"Argh!!"

" Keuk!!"

"Bleurgh—!"

The Mana they must be seeing, and the way it moves through out my body, it must've been great enough to impress two people of high-class clans.

* * *

Pitter patter.

Pitter patter.

The sky was growing dark, and the rain has started to pour in. It wasn't heavy but it certainly wasn't light, either way the sounds of water droplets calmed Zhao Lina's mind.

She replayed the scene of her fighting the goblins in here head.

The swings were not accurate and had little to no power, in the end she had to aim for the joints and immobilized them first before delivering a killing blow.

A smart move for a young girl like her, as expected of someone from a high standing clan.

"That is what outsiders would think."

She wasn't wrong for switching styles of her combat, but doing so tired her out even more.

She was not awakened yet, and had to exert her entire body just to be able to kill some measly goblins of the E-Rank.

In the end she only got one hundred confirmed kills, the rest were dealt with by the two girls in her group.

Maybe if the masked girl have given her this amulet that produced flames, she would have done better...

"No, that's wrong. It's not about the weapon, it is the ability of the wielder that gives it it's use and purpose."

She let out a sigh, as she wiped her face clean.

She then looked at herself in the mirror.

She looked frail and weak, inexperienced and naive making people look down on her, like she was the kind of child that always needed to be pampered.

If only I was stronger...

The thought always crossed her head.

But right now she mustn't think of that, she had to get her current priorities straight.

And that was to go shopping for dinner!

The masked girl tasked her to go out and get tons of things from the list of items she gave her.

It is a must as she did not want to break her streak of not being scolded the longest.

...

Pitter patter.

Ploop.

Pitter patter.

The rain has gotten weak, but the chilly night air was still making her shiver.

She put on a raincoat and grabbed an umbrella and walked out of the cottage and followed the trail back to the village.

It was dark, with little to now light to guide her way.

But she's already memorized the terrain around here.

And she also has the amulet of fire to light her own path so she just kept walking and walking, she did not want to be late so her walking pace was rather quick.

Few more minutes in and she finally sees the village lights, she hurriedly went over even if it dirtied her legs.

Pitter patter.

Pitter patter.

"It's rather bustling today, and at the evening too."

She said to herself as she looked at the various people crowded in different places of the streets.

She weaved through the crowds, making sure she doesn't fall over and get trampled and looked for each ingredient and other miscellaneous things she needed to buy.

" Huh?"

Passing a familiar face, she grabbed the person shoulder and yanked the young man who she deemed her partner.

" What are you doing out this late?"

Still as expressionless as ever, Yoru looked at her and eyed her up and down.

" I could say the same."

" Don't give me that, just tell me why."

" Huff."

Yoru suddenly handed her a letter and took it from his hands.

She opened it and took the paper out and then read it's contents, it had elegant hand writing yet the papers material seemed flimsy and cheap.

– The damned twins are taking too long to hunt a boar for dinner today so go enjoy an evening walk.

– Still beautiful even with a mask on, Masked Girl.

She scoffed and handed the letter back to Yoru who has been standing Infront of her the whole time she was reading, not moving an inch.

" She sent you to deliver the letter?"

Yoru looked at her and shrugged, taking the letter back.

" I was told to accompany you."

Hearing this she raised an eyebrow, she wanted to ask right now but she still hasn't even bought one thing from the list.

She let out a sigh and started walking again, weaving through the crowds and finding the stores that might have the items on the list.

Yoru followed, though he didn't have to, he was probably just bored.

.

.

Finding one of the first few items on the list, she let out a triumphant smile.

Turning to Yoru, who's been following her like a dog with a seemingly spaced out look, she finally asked:

"Why did she tell you to do something like that?"

As if expecting her to ask the question, he answered simply:

"She said you had something on your mind, and that you needed company for a good rest."

"Oh?"

A bit taken aback by the answer, she chuckled and started walking again to find the next store.

" Well she was right about that, now come partner, join me on our little adventure of shopping."

Her tone was lighter and less soul piercing than usual, and her eyes softened for some reason.

She had a almost unnoticeable smile on her usually stoic face.

Seeing these sudden changes, Yoru decided to follow as to not make her disappointed.

He also had a weird feeling that if he were to refuse, something totally bad would happen...