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[Location: Leoncrest Estate - Tower 1]
[Date: April 17, y. 486 of the Fourth Age]
April 17 turned out to be a free day at the Academy. The professors all had some conference that Headmistress Florence needed them to attend, leaving students to their own devices.
Zeke stretched and rolled out of bed as warm spring air drifted through the window, bringing with it the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass.
"What a wonderful day!" Ralph beamed as he pulled on his robes and headed for the door.
"You''re up nice and early," Zeke raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were physically incapable of rising before a certain time in the afternoon."
"On days where we have to learn stuff, yeah," Ralph shrugged. "This isn''t that. I''m heading down to the courtyards. We''re setting up a game of Mageball. Want to join?"
"Nah, I''ll pass," Zeke said, already mentally planning his day with Elise. "Got other plans."
"Suit yourself. Your loss!"
With that, Ralph raced out, leaving Zeke to get ready at his own pace. He splashed cold water on his face, pulled on his most comfortable set of robes, and grabbed a small knife that might come in handy for outdoor adventures.
He tucked it into his belt alongside a waterskin before heading downstairs.
The dining hall was busier than he''d ever seen it this early. Apparently, the lack of classes had everyone up and about. He spotted Elise at a table near the window, sunlight catching in her hair as she waved him over.
He waved back, then joined the line to gather his breakfast, a hearty portion of eggs, bread, and fruit that would fuel a day of exploration.
"Morning!" Zeke called as he sat down beside her. "Looks like everyone had the same idea about breakfast."
Elise grinned. "Free days are like that. You ready for our adventure?"
"Born ready," he nodded, tearing into his bread. "Where exactly are we going berry hunting?"
"I''m thinking the Front Woods," she replied, taking a sip from her cup.
"Front Woods?" Zeke considered this. The Front Woods were technically part of the Old Woods but referred specifically to the section running along the road toward the Capital. "Good choice. Safer than wandering deep into the Old Forest."
"Exactly," Elise agreed. "Plus, the sunlight hits different there. Better for berries."
Zeke took a big bite of eggs. "I''ve got to admit, I don''t know the first thing about picking berries."
"Well, the first rule is if you see a bear, don''t run," Elise held up a finger with mock seriousness. "But also don''t stand between the bear and the berry bush. Just slide off to the side and let it get to its food."
"Bears eat berries?" Zeke frowned. "I thought they just ate meat. Mostly people."
Elise burst out laughing. "They''ll attack if threatened, but they actually prefer fruits and plants. They love berries, though, so you sometimes have to watch out for them. I honestly don''t know if there are any in this area." She nodded toward his plate. "Finish up and we can get going."
Zeke scarfed down the rest of his breakfast in record time. Elise had several large sacks stuffed into a satchel, which she patted as they rose from the table.
They made their way through the main entry hall and across the broad courtyards, which buzzed with activity as everyone took advantage of the beautiful day.
Mages hurled colorful bolts of magic back and forth, their laughter ringing through the air. Shimmering sport balls whizzed overhead, guided by aura-enhanced players.
Warriors sparred in friendly competitions, wooden practice swords clacking rhythmically. The energy was infectious, and Zeke found himself grinning as they walked.
"Looks like we''re not the only ones with outdoor plans," he observed.
"But I bet we''re the only ones who''ll come back with something delicious," Elise replied with a wink.
They slipped through the open main gates and started down the wide road. Tall trees grew thick on either side, their branches creating dappled patterns of sunlight on the path.
"This part of the forest is technically a couple hundred years younger than the Old Wood," Elise explained as they walked. "When the Academy was first built, this was actually a small town, but it dissolved as the Academy became more prestigious."
"Really?" Zeke looked around with renewed interest, trying to imagine houses where trees now stood. "Wonder if there''s anything left of it."
"Not much above ground," Elise replied. "But that''s why there are loads of berry bushes throughout the area. Old gardens gone wild." She suddenly pointed to their right. "There!"
Zeke squinted but didn''t see any berries. He shrugged and followed as she plunged into the underbrush.
"Don''t worry, you''re not missing anything," she called over her shoulder. "I don''t see berries yet, but I do see something that makes me think they might be in this direction."
"What''s that?" Zeke asked, ducking under a low-hanging branch.
"Bear claw marks."
She pointed at a nearby tree where deep scratches marked the bark at about the height of Zeke''s head. His eyebrows shot up, but he grinned at the prospect of adventure.
Bears weren''t monsters after all, just animals going about their business.
"Perfect! Where there''s bears, there''s berries," he said, matching her enthusiasm.
Elise smiled approvingly at his attitude and pointed to a small trail barely visible among the ferns. They wound deeper into the woods, with Elise confidently leading the way.
She seemed to have an innate sense of direction, which Zeke appreciated since he would have been completely lost within minutes. Occasionally, he caught glimpses of the Academy towers through the trees, but these sightings became less frequent the further they traveled.
"You sure we''ll actually find berries?" Zeke asked after they''d been walking for nearly an hour. The forest was lush with greenery, vines, shrubs, and flowers everywhere, but nothing that looked particularly edible.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Absolutely certain," Elise nodded confidently. "I did my research before suggesting this. There are clearings up ahead that we''re looking for. I''m using the trails and signs to find them, but I know they''re, Hey!"
She pointed ahead excitedly. Beams of sunlight shot down through the canopy several hundred feet ahead of them. They picked up their pace, pushing through the undergrowth until they emerged into a large clearing that made Zeke''s jaw drop.
The open space stretched at least a hundred feet across in every direction, filled with bushes covered in brilliant blue berries. The fruit glistened in the sunlight like tiny jewels.
Elise plucked one and popped it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully before breaking into a wide smile.
"Mmm, yes! This is perfect. Try one!"
Zeke picked a plump berry and tasted it. The juice burst in his mouth, sweet with a hint of tartness he couldn''t quite place. It was delicious.
"These are amazing," he said, already reaching for more. "What are they called?"
"We didn''t have these where I lived," Elise admitted as she started filling one of her sacks. "I don''t know their name, but they taste wonderful."
"Wait," Zeke paused, suddenly concerned. "If you don''t know what they are, how do you know they''re not poisonous?"
"Poisonous berries rarely taste good," Elise explained, continuing to pick. "Plants make things poisonous because they don''t want to be eaten, and along with poison usually comes bitterness or some other unpleasant taste. These are delicious, so I''m not worried."
That made sense to Zeke. He took a sack from her and they spread out across the clearing, staying close enough to talk but giving each other space to work efficiently.
The sacks filled surprisingly quickly. At first, Zeke barely noticed the weight, but soon his arms began to feel the strain as the bottom bulged with fruit.
By midday, the berries at the bottom were getting slightly crushed, turning the sack''s bottom a deep purple.
"Alright!" Elise called out. "Time for lunch!"
"Great!" Zeke grinned, then realized something. "Did you happen to bring anything?"
"Nope," Elise shook her head as they walked to a nearby tree and sat down in its shade. "That''s the best part about berry picking. It''s time to lighten your load a bit."
They both laughed and dug into their sacks, eating the fruits of their labor. Their fingers, lips, and tongues were soon stained purple.
Zeke found he didn''t mind at all, there was something satisfying about the visible evidence of their work.
「?????????? ??????????????????」 【Progress: Excellent】 【Purple Stains: Acquired】 【Berry Identification: Incomplete】
"This is the best lunch I''ve had in ages," Zeke declared, leaning back against the tree trunk.
Elise sighed contentedly, gazing up at the sky. "Thank you for coming with me," she said after a few moments. "When I agreed to leave home for the Academy, this was what I was afraid of missing more than anything else. I mean, I knew I would miss my family most of all, but as far as things I could do, this was top of the list. I was dreading spring coming around and not being able to get out berry picking."
"I''m glad we''re doing this," Zeke replied sincerely. "It''s really nice out here. Away from all the politics and training and expectations. Just us and what the forest gives us."
"Exactly," Elise nodded. "You get to escape the hustle and bustle and just harvest what nature has grown for you." Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she pointed across the clearing. "Look!"
Zeke followed her gaze. On the far side of the clearing, a large, dark form was emerging from the trees. A bear, massive and covered in black fur.
It snuffled along the bushes, its huge tongue flicking out to strip berries from branches. It would pause to chew, move a few steps, then pause again.
Behind it came a smaller bear, a cub that tumbled and played, batting at butterflies and rolling through the grass.
"Oh!" Elise whispered excitedly. "It''s so cute!"
The mother bear looked in their direction, seeming to notice them for the first time. Instead of running or showing aggression, it began moving toward them at a slow, deliberate pace.
"Stay calm," Elise murmured, though she didn''t seem worried herself. "It''s just curious. If it was angry, it would be charging, not walking so casually."
Zeke nodded, watching with fascination as the massive creature approached. When it was just a few feet away, its upper lip curled slightly, revealing impressive teeth.
Elise raised a hand calmly.
"We won''t hurt you," she said, her voice taking on a melodious quality Zeke hadn''t heard before.
The bear instantly seemed to relax. It stepped closer to Elise, took a long sniff, and then, to Zeke''s amazement, licked her across the face.
"Gross!" Elise giggled. "Go say hello to Zeke!"
The bear turned toward him, and Zeke held perfectly still, more from awe than fear. The creature took a step forward and gave him the same treatment, a long, slobbery lick across his face.
It was warm and rough and nothing like he''d expected.
The bear then snorted and sniffed at Zeke''s sack of berries.
"It wants some," Elise whispered. "Share your bounty!"
Zeke grinned and reached into his sack, pulling out a handful of berries. He held them out flat on his palm, and the bear delicately licked them up with a surprising gentleness.
The animal looked at him expectantly, and he laughed, offering another handful.
Meanwhile, the bear cub had trotted over to Elise and climbed into her lap, sniffing and rolling about. Elise beamed with pure joy, stroking its fur gently.
The mother bear noticed and grunted, suddenly alert to her cub''s position. She snarled softly.
"Don''t worry," Elise said in that same musical tone. "We''re not going to hurt either of you." She paused. "But it might be best if you move along now."
The bear turned back to Zeke, sniffing hopefully. He fed it one more handful of berries, and with that, it seemed satisfied.
It ambled back across the clearing, its cub scampering after it. Zeke watched, entranced, as they disappeared back into the forest on the far side.
When they were gone, he let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding.
"That was AMAZING!" Elise exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. "I''ve never had that happen before! You actually fed a wild bear from your hand! And the little cub was in my lap! This is the best day ever!"
Her enthusiasm was contagious. Zeke laughed, wiping bear slobber on his robes. "I never thought I''d get that close to a bear and live to tell about it. How did you do that thing with your voice?"
"It''s part of my gift," Elise shrugged. "Plants respond to it best, but animals sometimes do too. I never know when it will work."
"Well, I''m glad it worked today," Zeke said. "That''s definitely something I can tell my grandkids about someday."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, simply enjoying the sunshine and the lingering excitement of their bear encounter. Finally, Elise stretched and stood up.
"Break''s over! Back to work!"
Zeke nodded and rose, and they returned to the berry bushes with their now-lighter sacks. They avoided the areas the bears had visited and soon had their containers filled to bursting once again.
As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, they decided it was time to head back.
"So what happens with all these berries?" Zeke asked as they made their way back toward the Academy. "They won''t last long once picked, right?"
"That''s tomorrow''s project," Elise explained. "I''m working with Ericka on canning everything. You''re welcome to join if you can, but I had to get special permission to skip classes for it. It''ll be an all-day project, not something we can finish in an hour or two."
"I''m not sure I can commit to the whole day," Zeke said, "but I''d like to stop by if I can. Depends how my schedule works out."
"I''d love that!" Elise replied, her face lighting up. "Even if you just come by to say hello."
As they walked through the dappled forest light, Zeke found himself wondering if this was what normal life was like for people who weren''t born into noble houses with ancient legacies to uphold.
This simple joy of gathering food, spending time outdoors, and sharing the day with a friend, it held a different kind of magic than aura manipulation or combat training.
"What''s that look for?" Elise asked, noticing his thoughtful expression.
"Just thinking about how different this is from everything else at the Academy," he answered honestly. "You know a whole different world than what most of us nobles grew up with."
"Better or worse?" she asked, curious.
"Just different," Zeke replied. "But days like today make me think that when all this is over, all the trials and training, I might want to spend more time doing simple things like berry picking."
"You''d be welcome in my berry patches anytime," Elise said with a smile.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of their berry-filled sacks a pleasant reminder of their successful day. The sweet smell filled the air around them, mingling with the forest scents of earth and pine.
Seeing the bears had been thrilling, but what struck Zeke most was how naturally Elise had handled the situation. She brought a different perspective to Leoncrest, one unburdened by the weight of noble politics and ancient rivalries.
It was refreshing.
Of course, Zeke knew he had responsibilities that couldn''t be set aside. He had to become the warrior House Godfrey needed.
But perhaps when that was done, when the trials were complete and his brother''s legacy secured, there would be time for simpler pleasures.
Assuming, of course, that he survived long enough to see that day.
But as they approached the Academy gates, the towers gleaming gold in the late afternoon sun, Zeke pushed that thought aside. Today had been perfect. Tomorrow would take care of itself.
"Same time next spring?" he asked Elise with a grin.
"You bet," she replied. "Though next time, bring a bigger sack. I think you''ve got natural talent for berry picking."
Zeke laughed, already looking forward to it.
[Scene Close]
[Earned Emblems:] Heart of the Warrior, Endurance, Cunning, Golden Touch
[Active Quests:]
[Just Stopping By: Visit Elise while she''s canning the berries]