Cold.
Werf jolted awake, his body flinching as icy water splashed across his face. He gasped, his senses snapping back to reality, the sting of cold trickling down his neck and soaking into his shirt. Blinking rapidly, he wiped his face with his hands before glaring up at the culprit.
Jil stood over him, an empty wooden cup in hand, grinning ear to ear.
"What was that for?!" Werf sputtered, still catching his breath.
Jil just laughed. "You were out cold, so I thought I'd help wake you up."
Werf groaned and sat up, his head still slightly spinning from the sparring match. He barely remembered the moment Hild's fist had connected with his chin—only the sensation of his body giving out before darkness swallowed everything.
As he stretched, his muscles ached in protest. His entire body felt heavy, sore from head to toe. "How long was I out?"
Jil glanced up at the sky, where the sun had climbed almost directly overhead. "Long enough. Hild's making lunch. You should head inside before she comes out here and drags you in herself."
Fenr, who had been lying beside Werf, let out a small woof before hopping up and shaking his fur. Werf sighed, rubbing his jaw before pushing himself to his feet.
His stomach growled in agreement with Jil's words, and without another word, he trudged after her toward the orphanage.
Inside the dining area, the scent of freshly cooked food filled the air. The simple yet comforting aroma of stew and freshly baked bread made Werf's stomach rumble even louder. Hild stood by the table, ladling portions of thick stew into wooden bowls.
Werf, Jil, and Fenr took their seats, eager to dig in. The first spoonful burned Werf's tongue slightly, but the taste was worth it—rich, hearty, and filling.
The meat was tender, the vegetables perfectly cooked, the broth flavorful. His sharpened senses only made the flavors more intense, more satisfying.
Jil hummed in delight. "This is so good! Hild, you should cook more often."
Hild smirked. "If you two actually worked hard enough to deserve good food more often, maybe I would."
Jil pouted but kept eating, while Werf focused on refueling his body.
As they ate, Jil glanced at Hild curiously. "So, what's next for training?"
Hild took a bite of bread before answering. "I'll be heading into the forest after lunch."
Werf paused mid-bite. "The forest?"
Hild nodded. "I need to hunt for some beasts. The next medicinal bath requires fresh ingredients, and I'd rather gather them myself than trust the merchants."
Jil's eyes widened. "Wait, wait—you're just going into the forest alone?"
Hild raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Werf and Jil exchanged a look. Everyone in town knew that the deeper parts of the forest weren't a place for the weak. Dangerous beasts lurked beyond the treeline, creatures that even experienced hunters feared. And yet, Hild spoke as if it were a casual stroll.
"You're crazy," Werf muttered.
Hild smirked. "I prefer 'capable.'"
Jil frowned. "Can we come?"
"No."
Both children groaned in unison.
Hild chuckled, finishing the last of her meal. "You two need to rest. I left a list of chores in your room. Get them done before I get back."
Werf and Jil groaned again. Fenr whined in sympathy.
"Complaining won't make the list shorter," Hild teased as she stood up. "Now help me clean up."
Still grumbling, Werf and Jil pushed their empty bowls away and got to work. Even with their new strength, they knew better than to defy Hild's orders.
The training was tough, but the chores?
Somehow, those always felt worse.