B1C3: Before the Road to the Ernos Kingdom

When I’d woken up the next morning, the sun hasn’t even come up yet. The air was crystal cleared, it is full of mother nature’s natural mana fogs and morning dew. At this time of the morning, at around 5 in the morning, is when the air is at their clearest and purest, which is why I had long ago had started waking up at this time every day.

Usually, I would start to collects morning dew and use it as water to make potion but now that I am in Jenna’s body and living as her, I didn’t. That isn’t an option now. For now at least.

Getting out of the small sticks house, I’d make my way to the pile of meat that was left out in the air to air it out so it won’t start spoiling so soon. I don’t need to worry about other beast or animal taking it since there aren’t any left in this part of the forest. Gathering some extra dried wood that Luke and Lurin had gathered yesterday, I make a small campfire then gather the pot from yesterday and wash it with a little bit of water that I summon using water elemental mana. However, I found out that this body is still far too weak to start using voiceless incantation of magic. Just a simple single spell was already too much to control without using inscription to help.

Ah, there's nothing that I can do about it. No matter how much control I have over the elemental, this body isn't used to it so it didn't do much.

After that, I went to the water well and got a full pot of water. I take the pot of water and place it on the rock by the fire camp, forming a cooking stove. While waiting for the water to boil, I went back to the forest to gather some wild herbs, roots, and berries. Luckily, a part of the forest is still green and standing from the dragon fire breath that is also closer than the location that Jin went to yesterday.

It was darker than normal since the sun hasn't even raised yet so I took a while to find enough young tree roots, herbs, and berries but it was worth it. Why? Because I had found some low level rare herbs! That’s why!

There are a couple of herbs that are pretty rare but the ones that are most worthy of was a mana infused herb.

Misty Flower! You know what that is?!

Hehehe... I won’t tell you! You aren’t worthy enough to know...

Okay, fine. Misty Flowers are herbs that take in the forms of a 2 petal flower. Do you know the category of flowery herbs?

By the number of the petal that it has! And no, I am not talking about every herb out there. I am only talking about categories herbs, not common ones but those that are capable of drawing elemental energy into their bodies. Those are Categorized Herbs.

For example, a Crystal Leaf Flower, a one petal flower that growth near anywhere where the air is fresh and crispy, like a cliff. Crystal Leaf Flower have the properties of antiseptic and healing. One petal of Crystal Leaf Flower can be divided into 5 parts since the petal themselves are a bit large, about the size of an adult male palm. Which means that each petals is worth five portion in size. This is a One Petal Mana Herb. When one petal turns to two petals, it means that the herb is ready and old enough to grow to the next stages.

Only herbs that can increase or grow more petals are Categorized. Those that cannot grow additional petals are common herbs. Their properties and strengths are largely differences.

So these herbs were one of the common herbs that are used to make a health potion. However, once this herb reached a certain age, it turns into an elemental herb that can heal soul wounds. This is one of the advantages that common herbs have over Categorized Herbs. Categorized Herb does not heal Soul wounds, at least not much anyway.

The most common and low-grade Potion are Tier 1 Potion. If you put it in numbers, for a normal human, 1 low-grade tier can heal a broken bone in 120 seconds since, in numbers, normal human’s health are only about 100 magipoint, the magic essence in everyone. Some people called this life force or blood force.

But that’s only for this world’s recipe and their method, according to tales that this girl’s mother had told her long ago. Afterward, she had taught the former Jenna how to make that potion. Which she taken a couple of weeks to learn.

Normally, the recipe for a tier 1 Potion is: 1/5 Crystal Leaf Flower, 1 Low-Grade Elemental Water, 10 drops of regular honey, 1 petal of Morning Daisy and 10 milliliters of water.

However, in my own opinion, those ingredients in this recipe is incomplete. That recipe is missing two key ingredients. The first one is for taste while the second one acted as a catalyst for faster healing and stronger potion without leaving an after effects. Honey doesn't act as the catalyst for this recipe, it alone doesn't work.

If I would to change or modify the recipes, the quantity, and quality of it will change too. My recipe would be: 1/6 Crystal Leaf Flower, 1 Low-Grade Elemental Water, 10 drops of regular honey or sugar make from sugarcane or one gram of Silverleaf leaf, 1 petal of Morning Daisy, and lastly one petal of Peacebloom. Honey and Morning Daisy together work in harmony so the Low-Grade Elemental water and the Peacebloom’s properties can come out more efficiency. These work works together to bring the Crystal Leaf Flower’s abilities out more.

If I add 1/10 of Misty Flower petal into it then this recipe will no longer be tier 1 low-grade Potion. Just a tiny bit of Misty Flower petal can cause a catalyst in the potion that increases the tier from 1 to 3. Not to mention, Misty Flower have a mana property! Which mean that it can increase the rate which someone intake in mana into their body!

Now you know why I am so happy! If this is my old life back in Magus, I won’t care much for it since my magic level is far beyond what is consider a Grandmaster in both this world and my old world. However, this isn't my former world anymore.

My understanding of alchemy and herbs can’t be compared to normal people in this world but since Jenna’s body isn’t strong and doesn’t have a big vein of mana in her body, Misty Flower are just a perfect herb for me right now. This much is basics knowledge for me.

With no hesitation whatsoever, I take the whole Misty Flower and smash it into a paste like substance and then eat it. Eating it raw like this is very dangerous but since this body have an affinity with the Plant Elemental Law, it should be fine.

The next very seconds, I have to sit down and meditate. I can feel the blood veins and the mana veins in my body expanded. It is very uncomfortable in a very painful way since it feels like something is pulling and making the vein bigger forcefully. It’s only this much pain. I can bare it. However, what I don’t understand is why am I eating this herb? Do I still want to live?

Luckily, this didn’t last long since it is the first time that this body have taken in substance like Misty Flower in such a raw way without refining it. The next time will be more relaxing but also takes longer.

I opened my eyes and notice that the sun is rising up soon. Time to go back with the herbs. As I make my way back, I found a couple more safe mushrooms growing near a Timberling.

Timberling is planting type of beast that aren’t aggressive, as long as you don’t hurt them. A Timberling Beast have twisted mass of breaches as hands and arms, wines and leaves as hair, when it walk, the roots would drag leaves and earth with it, making rustling with each step that it took.

They aren’t that rare of a plant beast, it can be found anywhere where there is a large forest with dense air and mana. However, what it is doing here? Part of the forest is burned away already.

However, this Timberling isn’t moving at all.No movement were detached from him. The ground surrounding the Timbering wasn’t disrupted nor was there any hint of movement.

It looks very weak. It feels very weak. There was barely any mana coming from it.

Walking up to it, I could see that this tree beast was dying. The roots were pulled out, and the hair, which was made out of leaves and vines, was turning dark. Something that the old me would be very sad if since. Wait... I am sad right now.

Looking at the Timberling, with one glance, I can tell why it wasn’t moving and why it feel so weak. Lack of mana.

“It’s been poisoned with Blackmoss.” Blackmoss are mosses that are grown as the results of too much chaos mana, creating too much poison air, which the moss feed on.

“Grr...” The Timberling was quite old so it should already know human language.

“Great Tree Timberling, do you want me to kill those Blackmoss?” I asked. Helping plants are also something that I take pride in. If the trees are strong than the herbs growing near them will always be stronger once mature. As a Magician and Alchemist, this is something that I will always protect.

“...Human girl... how do... you know... that... of my... species?” The Timberling asked softly in pain. It has been years already that the black moss attached to him, which is why he moved his roots and self far away from his kin, not wanting them to catch the black moss.

“Great Tree of Azeroth, The King of Emerald Dream Forest, the Forest of Life, your kind are beings that I will always protect. No matter what world it is.” I answered. Tree beast is very wise and has high intelligent since they can live a long long time. It wasn’t a surprise that they know how to speak in human tongue.

“... You know of my King?” Asked the Timberling. It sounds quick shock. After all, Azeroth isn’t something that someone know of. Azeroth is the King of The Forest of Life while Azaroth is the Emperor of Wood Elemental, one of my soul summoned partner.

“You can say that although I doubt that he could tell by my appearance now,” I answered back. Azeroth was once a plant that I have taking care of. That is before the Door to the Emerald Dream Forest demand his return.

The Timberling was quiet for a while, thinking. Why would a human know of their kinds, not to mention their King? However, this young kid who wasn’t even 15 years yet, speaks of intelligent. As a Tree Beast, the Timberling knew that this kid isn’t what she seems to like. Not to mention, she knew that it was Blackmoss that is currently killing with only one glance. The Timberling, even if younger than it’s siblings, can tell that this little human girl isn’t scared of him, much less wanting to harm him.

She can be trusted. The Timberling decided.

“... You have... mention...that you... can kill... the Blackmoss?” He asked. He has nothing left to lose, if he died here near the burned field then the Blackmoss won’t be able to survive for long.

“Yes... Do you want me to?” I asked.

“... I have nothing left to fear or loss... Do what you want.” The tree answer this time with more life than before. It makes me glad that even near death, he didn’t give up.

“I can,” I said as I take out a couple of herbs that I have gathered. I then mashed them into the paste and went to collect some burned charcoal that was left from the dead trees.

I then grate them into a fine powder before mixing it with the herbal paste. Since there was no water near me, I have to summon a tiny bit of water using the magic spell that this body can handle. I stirred them together until the paste and charcoal powder turns into something that looks like batter.

Then I pour the batter of mixture onto the largest part of the black moss. Within seconds, hissing sounds could be heard as the Blackmoss slowly dying. Using a stick, I spread the rest of the batter to anywhere where there is Blackmoss.

Then I wait.

“Grrr...”” The pain that the Timberling feel as the Blackmoss died on him was making his slowly waking brain awake with a startle.

“In about 1 hours later, all the Blackmoss should be death. But before you go back to your kins, making sure to gather some Charcoal powder and mix it in water to clean that substance off first. Since I have to go now, take care of yourself, Timberling.” I said as I walked away from the Timberling. I can feel it's staring at me yet I didn’t stop.

The kids will be waking up soon and the merchant group might notice that I am missing. That wouldn’t be good. So I rushed back toward the sticks house. When I made it back, holding two bundles of herbs, I can see that Clapton is already awake.

“Morning, Miss Jenna,” Clapton said as he washed his face with a cloth.

“Good Morning, Captain Clapton,” I said back as I went to wash the herbs.

“Oh, you went to gather herbs this early?” He asked curiously, yet there is an appreciate and approval tone in there.

“Yes, if I go late the herbs will be covered in morning dew and I won’t see them.” I make the excuses.

“Hm, that’s true. By the way, can you please just call me Captain or Clapton, I am not used to being called Captain Clapton,” he asked with a grin on his face.

This man is funny...

“Sure. Then please do call me Jenna, there is no need for formative.” I said.

“Okay, okay!” He smiles.

“Do you need help with that?” He asked after a while.

“No, that is okay. I am done with washing them anyway.” I said as I take the herbs and went to the boiling meat pot. By now, the meat should be tender.

“Hmm? Wait, Jenna.” The Captain stopped me before I could put them in the pot.

“Yes?” Why is he stopping me?

“Is it that Wild Peacebloom?” He asked with his eyes wide open.

Wild Peacebloom? No this isn’t. This is just Leavebloom. Far inferior herbs from Peacebloom. It's like weed comparing to an apple tree.

“No, this is Leave blood,” I said with my eyesbrow lifted up before making my face into what the original Jenna would considered her real face.

“No No No, that’s a wild Peacebloom! That is used in making health potion you know?! Just a gram of that is super precious! Don’t tell me that you been using that to cook?” He asked with his eyes wide open like he can’t believe what he is seeing. What is this man talking about? There is no way that a Wild Peacebloom would look this small and skinny!

“Captain, I know what a Wild Peacebloom look like. This isn’t a Peacebloom. Is a Leavebloom. A wild Peacebloom has a far stronger stem and the root is bright red. This root is white and the stem is too small. It isn’t a Wild Peacebloom.” There is no way that this is a Wild Peacebloom. I know what a Wild one look like, not to mention, a Wild Herbs have too much mana in their flowers and stems that they are far harder to pick than regular herbs. 'Wild Herbs' were called Wild for a reason you know?

“What? Then what was it that I have been buying and selling?” The captain looks like he was going to cry in frustration. If what Jenna said was right then have he been buying and selling the wrong thing all this time? Ah! His pride as a merchant! Wait, Jenna know about different kind of herbs?

I nearly sigh out loud before putting the herbs into the pot and stirred them. This man cracks me up. There is no way that a merchant like him should have mistaken these low grade of herb. Unless, of course, it was recognized world-wide. Then, that would only mean that this world’s grading of herbology isn’t up to my standard.

“I don’t know what make you think that a Leavebloom is a Wild Peacebloom but you have property being misinformed. After all, a Wild Peacebloom can only be found in the place that is dense with mana air.” I said while stirring the pot.

“Arg...” Captain look like he was going to pull out his hair, which isn’t a lot left if you asked me. This man’s so funny... noticed the sarcastic lacing in my thought.

The surrounding was quiet for a while as the captain thinks about what I told him.

After a while, I stopped stirring and put out the fire then turn to the captain. The captain was looking very gloomy... I can feel the sweat drops on my forehead.

“Captain, would you like to look at the hide now?” I asked as I tried to cheer him up. Oh my goodness, I feel like a mother trying to cheer up her child from a heartbreaking situation. I mentally shake my head.

“Ahh. Yes.” He answered softly.

I went to move all the meat into a wooden table, one that the merchant make, and place all the meat there before giving the hide to Captain. But not before he hands me a small cotton bag of gold coins. I didn’t even bother with counting it since I can pretty much tell by how heavy it is. This world’s currency and the currency of my world are pretty much the same from what Jenna’s memory told me, in terms of usages at least. Like Copper is worth less than Silver coins, which is worth less than Gold coins.

100 Copper coins =1 Silver. 100 Silver = 1 Gold.

However, does this world have Platinum coins and Elementium coins? What about Spirits Coins? Or Mana Coins for that matter? This world has to have one of those coins, aside from the primary coins, to use in school and sects, right?

The man’s eyes widen in shocks and bewildered at the animal hide on the group as he started to carefully inspects it. Seeing that the man is going to be out for a while, I went to wake up the other kids.

“Wake up people! Food is ready!” I called with a smile on my face. Just the mention of food was more than enough to make all the kids jerk out of their sleeping place and run to wash their faces. All except for one. Jin, who is looking my way with a someone puzzle looks in his eyes. This boy was the one that saved this body's former life for three years huh....

I have to shake my head at the sight.

“Okay, calm down! No pushing!” I yelled at them as they all froze before nodding and went in a calmer manner to wash their face.

“Wahhh Cold!” Luke yelled as his hand touched the water. I chuckle at the scene.

“Hold on a second,” I told them as I went to the campfire and take out a couple of the very hot rocks on the campfire and then place them in my skirt as I walk toward them. I then place the rocks in the water, making a hissing sound as it heats up the water. Seeing the scene, Clapton have his eyes widen.

To think that this little kid who isn’t even 15 yet doing things that would take adults years to think of was something that makes him quite proud. What else does this girl know? She knew how to skin hides this good, knew different kinds of herbs, and very good at cooking. What else? This girl is a mystery.

“Captain, please do wake up your group. I make enough for them too.” I said with a small smile on my face.

“Sure.” The captain himself wanted to try the food that makes his 3rd seat so amazed. After all, Keith is a very quiet warrior for his age, even to his own group.

“Sister Jenna, I washed my face and hands!” Arise said as she shows her hands to me.

“Very good. Now, go set in places for everyone else. Okay?” I asked softly as I pet her head. This girl is very adorable. Even if she look like she was all bones. Her smile is very adorable. It reminds me of my own daughter, Masrin. No, don’t think about them. I squashed that thought.

“I’m done too,” Luke announced as he and Lurin went to grab the plates and bowl. Luckily, the village chief’s basement have a lot of wares that are made out of clay.

By the time that all the other adults came to the table, not the one that has all the meat on it but the long wooden one, all the kids were already waiting for them. Starz looks a bit embarrassed that he, an adult, wake up later than kids who were barely 10 years old. Some were even younger!

“Go wash your face and hands,” Clapton said with a smirked on his face, knowing exactly why his vice-captain is looking very shameful. Keith was the first one to go wash his face and hand following by his 7th to 20th seats. Looks like they all know what Jenna’s cooking is like.

Within less than 2 minutes, all of them were sitting and waiting for the stew. Jenna has to fight back the chuckle but clearly, Clapton isn’t that nice. He smirked at them all, causing everyone of them, except Keith, to blush.

I then distribute out the stew. Since I make more than enough for at least 70 people with two bundle of herbs, it was more than enough for everyone to get a second bowl.

After finishing breakfast, all of the merchants, including Clapton, went around the forest to the East, where Dragonet Mountain is. It seems that they are hunting a Rooster Snaketail beast for the feathers and meat.

The Rooster Snaketail is a huge chicken like Rooster with tails make out of snakeheads and have poison. However, from what I remember, their tails can be used to make an antidote for the poison. I don’t know if Captain knew that but oh well...

While waiting for them, I give out a task for the kids to do.

“Lurin, Luke, and Rebecca, you guys go gather as much of Balint Milk as you can. Vinna, you take Deana and Arise to gather those flower looking plants South of here. Don’t go too far, if you see red trees. Stop and come back. Samantha, Jin, Hilsa, and Minna. Come with me. Everyone, come back before the lunchtime,okay?” I asked.

“Okay, sister Jenna!” was all the answer. Jin has to smile as he looks at the child. Before turning to Jenna and then his expression change.

Jin looks like he's searching for something in Jenna before shaking his head and petting his sister’s head fondly.

“Remember, Luke, you’re group are to get as much as possible before lunch time. Vinna, your ground are to gather the petals of the flowers only, not the whole flower or plant. Just the petals. Okay? Good. take those, Luke. It should make it easier to cut the tree with this.” I said as I handed Luke a sharp Mana Stone that I had made. The edge was sharper but only on one side of the edge, which is about 10% of the round stone.

“Be careful with the edge, is very sharp,” I warned as Luke nodded.

“Let’s go!” I said with a cheer-like shout as we all went in different direction. Jin and his sister and the twins sister follow me as we make our ways toward the north. Why the north?

Base on location and geology along, I know that plants that are in the north grow more abundant. New plants that is.

A couple of miles along, I can feel Jin’s gaze on me. This kid is far too perceptive. I can tell that Jin knew that something is different about me. Sighing out loud mentally, I just keep going.

“What is it Jin?” I asked.

“What are we doing here?” He asked instead of acquiring what is on his mind. Maybe is because he didn’t know what is different about me?

“We’re gathering balk roots. We can’t always have Captain and his man feed us all the way.” I said and Jin nodded in agreement. We walked toward the north for another 20 minutes before we stop and I teach them which is edible and which is poison or not edible. I and Jin, we dig out the dirt while his sister and the twins assembly the roots into bundles using weaved grasses as strings.

We continue for another 5 to 6 hours before is lunch time and we have to come back. We also gather a lot of seeds from the older plants too. There was one that look oddly familiar to Jenna. No, to Megie.

When we come back, I have the sisters and Samantha help me wash the root while Jin smashed them into a fine paste or cut them into strips. Is best to prepare the root while is fresh and still young. After, I used some of the root, which I identified it to be really similar to the arrowroot from my former life, and the young leaves.

I cooked the leaves in the soup like and baked the root, which I will now call arrowroot, in the ashes and hot charcoal. There were some berries, which I had Jin smashed it to paste like and then stored it in a clay jar that they found from the village chief’s basement. After separating the leaves, as the vegetable, away from the soup, I cut three chunks of Bulbasaur’s meat and stew them in the soup before adding some herbs in it.

Now, all I have to do is watch over the arrowroot to cook fully, and not burned it, while waiting for the stews to finished cooking and the other kids to come back.

It didn’t take a long time when the kids from Luke’s group came back with the adults from that Clapton take to hunts.

“Hey Jenna, Jin, Samantha, Hilsa, and Minna! We’re back!” Called Luke as he waved toward us. The adult behind them also waves too.

Samantha and Hilsa both waves at them with a smile on their pale faces but I didn’t bother. Too lazy and too tired. Now all that’s left is Vinna’s group.

“Hmmed?” There they are, the slower kids were the ones that got the easiest job of picking flower petals. All three kids, Vinna, Arise, and Deana, were laughing and smiling between themselves. I knew that those girls will like the flowers that's why I have them went to plugs flower petals.

Those aren’t normal flowers, though. After all, the flowers that I have them pick are Sunbath Daisy. Sunbath Daisy’s petal are another great catalyst for the health potion. If you smashed them and dried them into powder, later on, you can smear them on the wound, it acted as an antiseptic and can stop bleeding very fast. Which is why I am going to have those three smashed it into a paste and dried them along with the others roots.

While for the fresh green plants and buds, I will make them into a bundle using leaves and then steam them near the fire to soften them and prevent them from drying or spoiling for a couple of weeks while we’re on the road.

Captain and his man also brought back a lot of Rooster Snaketail’s meat along with all the tails. They wanted to strips the skin of the tails and barbecue it to eat.

“I don’t see why not. However, we don’t have any salt or seasoning here, though.” I reminded the captain.

“Huh? Don't you have any salt? But the stew that we ate this morning was salty!” He exclaimed.

“That is because the herbs have a salty taste once it’s Blanched,” Jin answered with a grin on his face. Jin learns how each herb is different by watching Jenna works on them.

“Oh? I see. Does that include every herb that you guys had gathered?” Captain Clapton asked with a tilted of his head. Herbs that are found this far to the west isn’t his specialty, he barely knows any from here.

However, if there are any herbs that have natural salty taste, he would like to sell them later if possible to the commoners and town people.

“No,” I answered solemnly. There is a lot of plants that absorbs sea water, which made it salty and have high salt content but there is no way that there will be a lot of it this far inland.

True, there is a lot of trees that have a lot of salt contents but it was nowhere near this small village. You can probably find them nearer to the sea, which is farther south, like about 3 days walks away.

Anyway, there are a lot of things that Jenna didn’t know about this new world. There are also a lot of similarities but there are far more things that are different.

“Ah...” Clapton looks disappointed. Is not like Jenna can help him with that.

“Captain, Do you bring salts?” I asked. I need it.

“Salts? Of course. How many pounds do you need?” He asked.

“Hmmm... How much is a pound?” I asked.

“Depend on which kinds you one. Crystal Salt are 1 silvers per 2 pounds. Diamond Salts are 7 Silvers 50 coppers per 2 pounds.” The captain answered as he signals one of the Firecrown brothers to bring him his chart sheet.

Crystal Salt?

Diamond Salt?

This is different from my old world. There are 7 kinds of salt in my old world. There is Snowflakes Salt, Rock Salt, Elements Salts, Sun Salts, Pink Salt, Green Salt, and the regular salt that come from the sea, Sea Salt. All of those salt are as their name applied so there is no need for explanation. All except for pink and green salt. Those two are especially for meat and plant and or vegetable.

“Is those the only two?” I asked in hope for more.

“No, there is two more of other kinds of salts but we ran out of it when we hit the three other villages before this one.” Clapton looks kinda sorry.

“What are they?” Well, I still wanna know.

“Rock Salt and Mountain Salt. Rock salt is very good for preservation goods and Mountain salts are less expensive than Crystal Salt, which is why there aren’t any left. Sorry, Jenna.” Clapton said with a sad expression.

This dude... if I don’t know any better, I’ll think that he’s trying to hit on me.

“Hmmm, can I have two pounds of Crystal Salt,” I said as I handed him 1 gold coin. He took the gold coins and grab his pouch of coins before 99 Silvers was my returns. A couple of seconds later, one of the Firecraws brother, the younger one, I think he was called Aran? Both brothers look exactly the same so... bring a pouch of Salt. It is more than enough for now. If is not I can always buy later.

What?

Don’t blame me for not remembering which one is which~! No never mind, this is the older one since I recalled that he is the Mage while the younger one is a Priest.

Phew... I was starting to doubt my own memory... what? I am old!

Never mind...

I went back to instructing Vinna’s group to smashed the flower petals to paste and dry them under the sun. Of course, I helped too.

The merchants group when to rest so that tomorrow, we can start to take the journey back, for them anyway.

This will be a new journey for all us kids.

Well then, let’s get ready.

“Girls! We need to go wash before tomorrow. And boys. No. Peeking. Got. It?” I said with a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes on my face, causing all the boy, minus Lurin who is too young to understand.

“Yes!” Luke and Jin was blushing bright red while Clapton, who was the only one that hasn’t been to sleep yet, was laughing.

“Hahahahaha!” He laughed as both Jin and Luke’s faces turn even redder.

“You too Captain.” I said in my ‘you best do what I say or I will make you wish you were death’, which cause the Captain to pale and both Luke and Jin to grin at his expense. I didn’t even need to use mana infused voice.

“Sister Jenna... we don’t have any clothes...” It was Vinna who voiced that out sadly.

I know... Ahhh... I wish that this girl’s inner heart isn’t this nice.

“Captain, do you have any fabrics? And thread. And needle.” I asked as I watch from the corner of my eyes on how all the kids have a hopeful look.

“Yes, I do. How many yards?” He asked with a smile on his face.

“How much for a yard?” I asked.

“It is 12 Silvers and 15 Copper per yard but for you, I will make it 10 Silvers per yard,” Clapton said with a smile on his face. I can feel my eyes widen in gratitude.

“Thank you, Captain!” All the kids bow with tears in their eyes. The scene makes Clapton’s eyes blurred with tears.

He nodded his head and then turned back to his tent, where he keep all the merchandise. A couple of minutes later, Clapton comes back out with four rolls of plain fabric. The first one was dark red, the second one was dark green and the least but not last one was dark navy blue. And then the last one was light grayish brown.

“Well, what color do you guys want?” I turned to asked the other kids.

“Er... I want red please?” Vinna said first and then all other kids said at the same times.

“Okay okay, stop. Which one of you want a red shirt? Move to the right. Green shirt? Move there. Navy blue? Over here, and light gray? None? Okay, then I will use gray as pants and shirts. Now, all of you girls, go clean yourself at the river. And boys, no peeking.” With a nodding of heads, all the girls were lead by Rebecca as the oldest - before me since she is a couple of months older than the current me - to the river with a piece of cloth.

I sighed out loud.

“Thank you, captain,” I said without looking at the man who was watching me, I can tell.

“Now then, Luke, Lurin, and Jin, all of you boys are to gather water from the well and wash over there,” I said as I point to a large area that was near the border of the burned forest and fields. They all nodded before leaving. Jin turned back to look at me but a glare from me cause him to nearly ran ahead of the two brothers.

“Ne, Jenna. Do you know that I am a priest?” Asked the captain with a solemn face.

“No, I don’t,” I answered as I turn to face him, only to see a look in his eyes that make my breath nearly caught in my throat.

“I am only a tier 3 Priest who has long give up being a priest and turned into a Merchant. How old do you think I may be, Jenna?” He asked with something in the depth of his eyes that make the air surrounding him suddenly got very hot.

“I... You look around 48-50 years old this year.” I said, trying to not sound nervous and failing very badly.

“Hahahahah 48-50 years old! Hahahaha! Oh, Dear Jenna. You make my mood suddenly turned very pleasing. But let me tell you, I have been a merchant for 70 years of my life.” He said with a somewhat solemn smile on his face.

My brows raised in surprise. That isn’t very surprising but what surprised me was that the captain was telling me this.

“Are you not going to ask me why I quit being a priest?” He asked with a look in his eyes that can’t be sadness but can’t be happy either, nor was it regrets.

“Why are you asking me this? Do I look like I wanted to know about your situation?” I asked, suddenly I noticed that my tone and body language had turn cold.

“Just humor me please.” He asked with a small and solemn smile.

“Fine... Why did you quit being a priest when you are so good at it? More than good, you should have been in a higher tier than 3. Why didn’t you?” Yes, I noticed. The first time that I met this man, I noticed that he have large reserves of mana in his heart, something that only tier 7 or higher priests should have.

“I quiet because I see far too many lies and betrayals with this eyes of mine.” He said without a smile. The looks in his eyes said that he is looking at me from the depth of my soul. Eyes... His eyes...

“Soul Resonance Eyes?” I asked shockingly. This is a rarity within a rarity!

“Huh? Soul Resonance Eyes? Is that what you called from where you came from?” Clapton was confused as to why Jenna called his Demon Eyes Soul Resonance Eyes.

“...” I narrowed my eyes.

“Jenna?” He asked a bit nervously.

“Your eyes. What do you call them?” I asked as he looks into his very eyes. My mana isn’t big enough yet to look that deeply into this man’s soul. Shit.

“Demon Eyes.” He said solemnly.

“?!!!” I have to blink my eyes a couple of times at that answer.

“Demon Eyes? You are a fool.” I answered.

“What?” His brows twitch.

“A Demon Eyes is when you have more than two eyes. It is when you have a third eye between your two ones. What you have isn’t Demon eyes. IT is Soul Resonance Eyes. What you see aren’t human’s superficial face but their soul.”

“?!!!” Clapton is quite shocked at how much Jenna knew about his eyes.

“What do you see me as, Captain?” I asked with a solemn voice.

“... I... I have never seen anything like you before. You... your soul looks far older than your body... What... How... Just who are you, Jenna?” After stuttering with his question, the only thing that Clapton can ask was that.

“You really want to know the answer to that question?”

“I... yes... I do.” He said determinedly. This man...

“Fine. Follow me.” I said as I turned away from the camp, causing Clapton to quickly put away the rolls of fabrics on his arms and then ran after me.

A couple of minutes away from the camp, I stop and he stopped two meters away from me.

“Jenna?” He asked. There is patient in the voice. He won’t force me to answer him if I don’t want to.

Fine. You dig your own grave.

“I am not Jenna, Clapton Vario. My name is Megie. The one that you called Jenna is dead. She accidentally ate a poisoned leaf and killed herself. My soul was forced into this body when I tried to kill myself.” I said with as much of information and as little of information as possible.

Silence... There was no sound within the kilometer of us. It seems like I shock the captain.

A couple of silence minutes later, the captain slapped himself awake. Literally.

I blinked and he got a hold of himself with a sighed.

“How old are you when you died?” He asked finally.

“5123 Years old,” I answered.

He blinked. He did it again and then suddenly gasped out loud before calming himself down.

This man has a really quick reaction...

“5-5-5123 years?!” He whispered harshly, not believing what he is hearing. I really wanted to roll my eyes at this man...

“I’m a Grandmaster Magician who achieves a Godly Body. I was one of the immortal humans that reaches the Divine Creation Realm in my former world.” I won't mention that I was the only one that had actually met the Creation High Creator Emperor in the Universal Creation Realm.

“Immor... What? Grand... what is that?” It seems like Clapton tends to skip details that he didn’t want to think about at this moment.

“How do you cultivate mana in this world?” I asked instead.

“Huh? Oh. The first stage is called Beginner, which is tier 1 to tier 3. Next is tier 4 to seven, that’s Expertise. And then from 8-12 are Master. Each tier has a between of 10 Stars as the measurement. For example, tier 1 warrior can be from Tier 1 One Star Ranks to Tier 1 Ten Stars Rank. After that, he or she will hit Tier 2 and so on.” Clapton explained.

“Hmmm, so you are Tier 7 Rank 5 Stars?” I asked as innocent as I can. Which isn’t very successful considering that my eyes are probably very amused right now.

“Arg... So you noticed.” Clapton was signing in resignation.

“Yeah. However, there're only two insignias in your chest. Why?” Usually, the insignia is used to tell the rank of a soldier rank within a country but the warrior, mage, priest, hunter, and assassin are different. They have their own insignia that tells their tiers and rank.

“I told you that I quit being a priest right? So I can’t take or more like, I don’t want to let them know that I got stronger now. Just in case they will do a recall on me. Those hypocrites.” Clapton’s expression isn’t very pleased. In fact, the captain’s expression looks more like he can’t wait to shreds these people to tiny pieces of nothing.

Politics... One word and it was already enough to make my brain hurt from all the possible outcome. Living 5 thousand years was was more than enough for I to learn what it means to engage in political wars. I don’t like it. At all.

The struggles for power and greed are a few of the things that Megie didn’t want to participate in. Still that doesn’t mean that she have never struggled for power. I did.

Greed? Nah... if I don’t need it then I don’t want it. I only take what I need and will never take something that isn’t mine.

There are a couple of times when I did have greedy thoughts but that’s when I was still so young and immature. Living for thousands of years had I learned more than enough morals and ethics.

“I see.” was the only thing that I said as I started to walk back toward the camp.

“Jenna- no. How should I call you from now on? Are you afraid that I will tell everyone else about you?” Clapton asked as he follows me.

“I trust you. You don’t seem like the kind to do that. You can just call me Jenna from now on. My previous life is already over.” I answered. It is kind of sad, to parted from my world and all those that I know of. Not to mention, if I truly had died and my old body is no longer in that world, then that’s better for that world and I. It doesn’t need someone like me in there, that world.

Although... if Azaroth, Benihime, Sol and Lilia know that I had successfully- or fail- to killed my soul and instead, my soul transfer to this body... Things will be very bad... They’re all very possessive... Those partners of mine.

Hearing what I said, Clapton is probably shocked but I could also feel that the mana surrounding him is very happy too. Does that mean that he was happy that I trusted him?

“Very well. I will keep you secret to my grave.” He promised, more likely to himself than to me.

“Let’s hurry back, I need to finish making those clothes for the kids,” I said as I hurry along, not waiting for Clapton’s respond at all.

After that, I brought 50 yards of different colors of fabric, threads, needle and scissors for a total of 4 gold coins total. With my skills and proficiency/experiences from my former life, making a couple of child’s clothes was easily done. It didn’t even take me 3 hours to cut and sew all of them.

I was tempted to make embroidery designs on the clothes but that would take sometimes and I still need to go wash, so I didn’t.

However, it is it far too long for the children to wash themselves? It has been more than 3 hours! Did something happen?

I make my way to where the shallowest part of the river is. The scene that meets my eyes makes me smile. The three oldest girls make a small pool of water farther toward land using rocks. Vinna and Hilsa were watching the fire and making hot stones using rocks. It seems like they wanted to heat the water by copying what I did before.

Smiling, I make my way toward them.

“What is taking you girls so long?” I asked loud, causing they to jerk in surprise.

“S-sister Jenna!” They all exclaimed in surprised.

“So? What are you guys doing that is taking so long?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

“W-well... We were going to clean ourselves but the water was too cold and since we haven’t take a bath in far too long a time, Vinna said she wanted to make a bath and here we are... hehe..” Rebecca answered nervously as she plays with her hands behind her back.

“Oh? How large is it going to be?” I asked with a particular interest.

What? I haven’t bathed in 2 days! Or if you asking about this body then it hasn’t bathed in a week and a half... Arg...

“This big!” Vinna chuckled as she makes her arms in a large circle.

“That big? Okay, I will help too. I will be right back so make that hole wider.” I said as I turn back to the camp, leaving the girls to do their jobs.

At the camp, Clapton was seating on the wood table and was examine the children’s clothes that I made with a very intense expression.

“Captain, can you look after the boy’s clothes? In fact, can you take it to them? I will be joining the other girls. I to need a bath.” I said as I grab a couple of herbs and a pouch full of flower petals that I have Vinna’s group collect. This will be used as cleaning soap since they aren’t any. Now that I remember it...

“Sure.” Clapton smile as he gives me the girl’s clothes while keeping the boys clothes for them. It all look similar but the girls have two pockets each on their belly while the boy’s pocket are on their pants.

“By the way, do you have any bathing soap?” I asked, just in case. You never know. According to Jenna’s old memories, there is bathing soap called Bathing Powder that dissolve in little water and make bubbles like any other kind of soap but this is very expensive. Or so her memory had told me anyway.

“Bathing Powder? Yeah, there still more left but on the way here, we met with a rain shower and the product isn’t working anymore.” Clapton said as his expression have a ‘too bad’ look in this eyes.

“That’s fine. If it isn’t working anymore, how much it is?” Maybe I can recover it back to its property if it’s made the same way as the way that I made it in my former life. I hope so.

“Hmmm, I never sell products that can’t be used before. I honestly don’t want to sell it as a merchant but since is you want it you can have it. Is free. Wait a minute, I will go get it for you.” Clapton said as he went inside his tent. After a minute or so, he returns with a large packet in his arms.

“This is all Bathing Powder. I was going to throw it away when I get back to town but since you want it, you can have it.” Clapton said as he hands me the large packet of powder in a fabric bag.

I have to blink a couple of times as I accepted the packet from the Captain. It is heavy but not too much. About 10 pounds. I opened the packet and a smell that I had identified it to a solution that you can find in any soap. However, there’s a citrus smell that I also recognize as things that shouldn’t be used in making soap.

No wonder it got damaged in the rain. There is too much lye solution and there’s also an anti-soap making acid in there.

Good thing there is something that can recover these powder. But first, I need to make them into a dense trace liquid. However, before that, I need to make something that will cancel out the lye in these powder. Good thing that these Foxy Flower Petals and these Bee King Flower Petal both have properties that can cancel the lye in the powder. Those flowers petal have a lot of uses, making soap was one of them. In fact, Foxy Flower Petals can be used as an antiseptic once you boiled it in water while Bee King Flowers have a mana property that can heal and nourish your skin, making it stronger and healthier by a lot.

The next 40 minutes, I smashed the petals and then mixed it with the powder then stirred it until it looks very creamy and then heats them up by the fire.

What I got was a paste like creamy trace of substance. Hmm, this is good enough for now.

This is all I need for now since I will be using it soon. It’s a good thing that the petal have a mana property that will protect human’s skin once it meets with water.

Perfect. Done.

Time to go take a bath. I wonder if the kids are done with making the small pond of hot water?

When I left, I can feel that Clapton was looking at me weirdly before he closed his eyes and sighed out loud.

This man... is too funny.

By the times that I made it to the kids, I can see steam coming out of the water in the small handmade pond. Next to the pond is a campfire that has lots of small size rocks in the some of them I could tell that is Mana rocks. I smile.

“It is ready?” I asked them. Vinna and all the younger kids were already asleep in the hot water but Rebecca was still up.

“Welcome back Jenna. What do you have in that bowl?” She asked with a small contented smile.

“Soap,” I answered as I place the girl’s clothes in a dried space.

“Soap?” Rebecca was very surprised. Bathing Powder is very expensive after all.

“Yes,” I said as I started to take off my not-very-clean clothes off and moved the bowl of paste soap nearer to the edge of the pond. The next hour and a half were spent teaching them how to use paste soap to clean themselves and wash the kid's hair. Of course, this was after me and Rebecca wakes them up. The water got colder a couple of times since it is in the evening but adding more hot stone to it make it all better.

Too bad I have to get out first so that I can make dinner. Tomorrow we are leaving early.

The kids were happy that they have new clothes and are clean now. So after eating dinner, which the merchant shared their newly make bread- made by one of the girls in the group- with us. And then we all went to sleep.

My eyes were closed even before my head hit the jute blanket.