1 | Training in the Woods

I started my day by doing my daily morning routine which includes doing household chores. I made up my bed, opened the windows, took a bath, and so on. As I finished all the tasks in my room, I headed downstairs and made my breakfast.

It's a simple bread omelet paired with a hot choco drink topped with marshmallows. As you can see, I am not a coffee person. So, I prefer any drink aside from coffee. It's not that I hate it, but caffeine just does not work well with me.

I happily munch my breakfast when I suddenly remembered that I have something to do this morning. I glanced at the wall clock above the counter and it says 7:12 A.M.

Oh jeez! I am super duper late.

Leaving my half-finished breakfast on the table, I hurriedly dashed through the backdoor and emerged in our backyard. I can see two figures standing impatiently in the middle of the clearing— waiting for me.

Uh-oh. I gulped down air as I approached both figures.

As soon as my sister saw me approaching she looked at me with her usual cold gaze. However, she looked away almost instantly. She was the first to see me since she is facing me while I nervously glance at my mom's back.

My mom is wearing a black long-sleeved top and a pair of brown baggy pants paired with her usual worn-out sneakers. She had her straight brown hair down and hands on her back.

She looked very stern at the moment, and I don't know if I should greet her or apologize first. But before I can say anything, she beat me to it.

"You're late," my mother said, turning around while giving me a grim look, indicating that she was not pleased by my lack of time awareness. Those two words were enough to send shivers down my spine.

I'm definitely doomed.

Sorry, it wasn't my fault that my body was really beaten up in the last training session. How would I even survive if my dear mother fired fake bullets at me? Take note, those bullets may be fake, but they still hurt like real ones. Although it actually wasn't that bad, she didn't have to go hard on us. I can still feel the pain, and the sensation of being hit multiple times in a second.

Even if she is my mom, she gives out harsh punishments especially to those who show up late or disobey the rules. And this was the only time I was ever late this year. But, it's the beginning of the year anyway so, there's not much to say about that.

I was never really enthusiastic about this ridiculous training session that she's so obsessed with teaching us. I'd rather bore myself to death in my bedroom or do house cleaning for the rest of my life.

I mumbled a quick apology before her scrutinizing gaze left me. I breathed a sigh of relief, well I guess I got away with just that. I immediately got into position and stiffly stood beside my sister.

She wore her usual outfit whenever we train. A black fitted long sleeve along with her black yoga pants which she paired with her combat boots. She tied her blonde hair into a neat ponytail.

Effortlessly flawless— as what I'd describe my sister.

Meanwhile, I am wearing my sweatshirt and sweat pants along with my sneakers. It's not as cool as my sister's, but I am very comfortable in it, so who cares.

I glanced at my sister whose face is fixed forward, not even bothering to look at me.

It's not like it's new, I've grown used to this kind of treatment since we were growing up. She minds her own business and I mind my own. We don't cross each other's boundaries and always stay in our respective spaces. But, I feel like she's a bit different today.

I averted my gaze when I saw mom talk in the corner of my eye.

"So, today we are going doing real-life training— in the woods," My mom stated, emphasizing the last three words.

She also explained thoroughly the challenges she thought of when we were on our 1-week break— which didn't feel like a break at all. She still made us read books about survival.

But since I liked books, it actually feels like a break to me. Throughout my life, books are my only best friend. There aren't any books that I haven't read in this town.

How I wish we're always on breaks.

Now, I know why Lilianna decided to explore the forest in the past week. She was preparing for this training session. But then again, I mostly knew my way around the forest since I've been going there recently. Although I don't really go deeper inside, I still feel like I won't ever get lost no matter where I go.

I am not very fond of the forest— well more like any outdoor activities. I'm not really a fan of such practices and activities. Since running, climbing trees and big rocks, and fighting some dummies are not my cups of tea. I'd rather stay at home and read some books or stay in my garden and tend to my plants.

Just listening to the explanation about this so-called real-life training sounds hella tiring and exhausting already. I may have been exploring the forest recently, but that was just walking around, occasionally looking at plants and climbing trees to look at the view from above. However, I don't ever plan to live there for a week.

But, I know someone who does.

I heard my sister mumbled under her breath, "This is exciting."

Yep, she is the only person I know who loves this kind of thing. It's practically her life. She started this hobby of hers when she was around 10 years old, and she never grew tired of it.

"These are the things you'll need," My mom started talking again, gesturing to the assortment of things beside her. "Make sure to bring all the things I listed in this paper within this week. If not, I'll think of some punishment," She continued, waving two sheets of paper in her hand.

She handed us one each and my jaw dropped at the words listed in it.

"Do we have to go home before dark or stay in the woods?" my sister asked while still examining her paper.

No doubt she's already excited to start.

"It's all up to you. You make your strategy. I've already taught you everything I know. Now, you apply it in real life," My mom said while pacing back and forth in front of us.

"What if we meet something dangerous in there," I asked a bit worried.

My mom just glanced at me. "Fight and survive," she replied and made eye contact with me. "See you in a week," My mom finishes and dismissed herself.

Wha— Is she just gonna leave us like that?

She walked inside the house leaving the two of us behind. I glanced at my sister and she was already preparing her things.

She put all the survival kits inside a big backpack and put in some extra clothes— I didn't know when she had the time to get it. I didn't even see her get it. She also picked up her sword and grabbed a few daggers from the rack. Maybe as a backup weapon.

As expected of her, she loves this thrill in her life. While I'm already dreading what is about to come. I began preparing my things and started to think of a plan to survive in the wild.

I'm not as headstrong as her so I'm not even gonna think of charging headfirst. So, I have thought of some ideas on how to spend my week inside the forest and survive.

And that's how we began our bloody training.

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

It has already been 3 days since we started our practical training. I don't know why we have to do this though. My mom suddenly forced us to partake in this so-called real-life training.

Is she not worried that something will attack us and might kill us?

Sometimes, I wonder if she really cares. Well, she did do a prior exploration on her own in our 1-week break. If she decided to train us there, then it's pretty much safe but DO WE REALLY HAVE TO?

I grumbled as I almost fell over due to a tree root that's sticking out— camouflaged like the ground. Ugh! I guess you could say, outdoor activities are not my strong suit.

I'm so exhausted, I have not had a good night's sleep since three days ago. But I need to go to this cave before nightfall since the herb that I am currently looking for is not visible if it's nighttime. It's not actually inside the cave, but it only grows outside a cave.

This is currently one of the two hardest ones to find on my mom's list. Ghost Orchid is pretty much useless without the Moonlight Nectar— which isn't included on the list. So, I don't get why my mom needs it.

It consisted of one rare plant and one rare rock. While the remaining eight are just common herbs.

I decided to find the hardest ones first since I can easily locate the commons ones. And if I pick up the common ones first, then the herbs are not gonna be as fresh.

After half an hour of walking, I arrived at the entrance of the cave. I should make haste since that cave is so creepy. I got goosebumps just thinking about the things that might be lurking inside that dark cave.

I roamed around a bit, looking for the Ghost Orchid which should be here somewhere. But, I have no such luck.

I knew it! They are very hard to find. It's not like it's a guarantee to exist if a cave is near them. Usually, the most common place they grow is up in the mountains. But have you seen the distance I will have to travel if I went there? It's a 3-month hike just to get to the foot of that big mountain. It's just impossible so might as well forget about going anywhere near it. Plus, going deeper in the forest is 100% suicide.

Mt. Zeata is the biggest and tallest mountain on this continent. It is smack down in the middle, separating the North, South, East, and West land of the continent. Surrounding the mountain is the forest called Zulu Forest.

The Zulu Forest has different levels or stages. The outskirts is where I am now and the least dangerous— but occasionally there are wild animals found in here too. The next is the Core which is separated into two— the Outer Core and the Inner Core.

Since I only read this information in books, I don't know how accurate it is.

The Zulu Forest is different in each area, and the creatures of the dark lurk in those areas. Also, the books stated that the North is the land of the wolves, the West is the land of the devil, the South is the land of the human monsters, and the east is the land of the humans. But, no human ever came back alive after exploring those lands, so no one knows the real truth. All those mentioned in the book are theories that may or may not have been proven true.

Legend says that something evil lurks in the forest, something indescribable. And that isn't completely wrong.

My grandmother used to tell me the story of the 6 famous hikers that fearlessly explored the forest and climbed the mountains. All of them entered the Zulu Forest on the Western part of the Northnuria Province and only one came back alive. He couldn't even describe the evilness that killed his friends. After a few days, he began changing, more like he became crazy and the people couldn't risk him hurting anyone so they took him down for the safety of the many.

I wonder what may have happened to that one person in the legend. What made him crazy to the point of hurting someone?

The night is almost upon me, and the surroundings are turning dark— I could barely see. These thick leaves are not helping me much. I guess I might need to stay the night and continue tomorrow.

I climbed up the biggest and thickest tree I could find, and set up my sleeping bag in the flattest branch. I will not sleep on the ground and risk getting attacked by a wandering wildling. A bear or a wolf could come and kill me while I am sleeping. No one knows, especially with my luck at the moment.

[Survival Tip #4: Never sleep on the ground, always have the high ground]

I opened my bag, and got some bread for my dinner. It's not the best but I've got no choice. I tried to conserve resources as much as I can since it's just my third day, but I'm already on my last 3 slices.

Life is tough.

[Survival Tip #3: Conserve as many resources as possible]

I finished my bread and placed my backpack on the upper part of my bed to create a makeshift pillow. I lay on it and covered myself with the blanket I brought with me. Even though I am exhausted, my mind keeps wandering and thinking of the future and some useless things.

I wonder how Lilianna is faring. She's probably enjoying the thrill of running wild. Honestly, I don't envy her, I liked staying indoors but there's this feeling of longing. Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to run wild and to go wherever you want.

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TO BE CONTINUED...