I stood over the wild boar's carcass, thinking about what to do next. Taking it to the slums was too risky—there are plenty of hungry people there, and if anyone saw me with such a trophy, they might try to take it from me. Remembering how I was beaten for bread in the past, I decided not to risk it and simply wait for nightfall. Fortunately, it was already getting late. After sunset, the slums became more dangerous, but if I was quick and careful, I could avoid unnecessary encounters.
When it got dark, I took the butchered carcass and headed back to the city.
Moving through narrow alleys, I avoided crowded places, trying not to attract attention. From time to time, I sprang forward, using my springy legs to cover the distance faster. Eventually, I managed to sneak back into my house.
I quickly packed the meat into one of the baskets, covered it with cloth, and hid it in a corner. The main thing was to keep the rats away.
Now, I could rest.
I wearily sat on my crudely constructed bed and stared at the ceiling.
"If I leave the meat like this, it'll likely spoil by tomorrow. I need to cook it—there's no other option."
I got up and approached the makeshift stove. There were still glowing embers from the previous cooking, but it wasn't enough. I grabbed a few dry twigs, threw them inside, and waited for the fire to flare up again.
While the makeshift stove heated up, I took out a frying pan.
The pan was too small for a whole boar, so I cut the meat into large chunks and placed them on the hot surface.
SSSSSSS!
A juicy piece sizzled, and in a few minutes, the air was filled with a wonderful aroma.I couldn't hold back and swallowed.
I couldn't resist, so as soon as the meat was cooked, I threw it in my mouth, not even waiting for it to cool down.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! — my mouth was on fire!
But it was sooooo good!
I gasped for air, waving my hand in front of my mouth, but it didn't help—the meat was too hot.
"Damn, I should have waited a little!"
I grabbed the jug of water and took several large gulps. The fire in my mouth began to subside, but even through my burned tongue, I could feel how delicious it was.
The meat was juicy, slightly salty, with a faint smoky aroma.
Not waiting for the next piece to cool down, I took another bite, this time more carefully.I didn't even need to chew much—I just swallowed one piece after another, enjoying each bite.
When I finally felt full, I leaned back, feeling the pleasant weight in my stomach.
"Now this is what I call food! It's been a long time since I've eaten this well."
But it was too early to stop. I got up and continued cooking.
One by one, I fried the boar pieces, spreading them on a cloth to cool. The smell spread throughout the room, and I worried that the neighbors might smell it or, worse, the rats.
"I need to figure out how to preserve the meat longer. Maybe salt it? Or smoke it?"
But I didn't have enough salt, nor the proper conditions for smoking. So the only option was to eat it all before it spoiled.
When the last piece was browned, I wiped the pan and placed the meat in an old basket, covering it with cloth.
"Done. At least now I won't starve in the next few days."
I wearily dropped back onto the bed, listening to the sounds of the night outside.
In the distance, I could hear the barking of dogs, the footsteps of passersby, and, far away, a scream followed by eerie silence.
"Slums… it's never quiet here."I pondered.
If I want to get stronger and live better, I need to make some changes.
Today showed me that I can already stand up for myself. I've learned to use the power of my fruit, started making money, and now I'm not even starving.
But what's next?
"I can't trade fruit forever. I need something more."
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.
"Tomorrow... Tomorrow I'll start moving forward."
With these thoughts, I fell asleep.
The next day
I sat on my bed, surprised by how I managed to eat a quarter of that huge wild boar carcass in one evening.
And there's no heaviness in my stomach... What should surprise me more?
But now, I needed to quickly head to the forest to gather more fruit, I thought, grabbing the net.I didn't go through any morning routines since there was simply no place to do it. Water had to be carried in a bucket, and where could I get it when there wasn't even a decent well in the slums?Today, I would start preparing to move, I decided, throwing the net over my shoulder and leaving the house.
It was just starting to get light outside. The air was cool, and the streets were still empty of people, with only a few passersby dragging themselves on their errands. I walked quickly toward the city gates.
As I walked, my thoughts were focused on the upcoming move. Staying in the slums was dangerous—sooner or later, people would notice I had food, and then the problems would start. I could hide in the forest, but without proper shelter, I wouldn't last long."I need to build something reliable. Ideally, in a tree. That's safer."
But first—fruit.
I left the city and headed deep into the forest, to the familiar spot where I found good fruit yesterday.
Soon, I arrived and looked up at the tree tops.
"Alright… time to get to work!"
I bent my legs, tensed my muscles, and then pushed off, soaring upwards, straight toward the first branches.
SNAP!
In an instant, I grabbed a branch and pulled myself up, climbing higher. Climbing trees was becoming easier, and I even started to enjoy it.
The fruit was already in sight. I stretched out my hand, picked the first one, and tossed it into the net.
I quickly gathered a dozen fruits, then another dozen, carefully placing them in the net. I could feel the weight, but it wasn't overwhelming—my body was definitely getting stronger after I started training with the springs.
When the net was full, I sat on a sturdy branch and looked around. The forest was calm, with only the distant chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves.
"Well, seems like that's it…"
I muttered, preparing to descend.
Moving along my familiar route, I easily crossed the forest and was already entering the busy streets of Notis half an hour later. The market was lively, but not as crowded as it would be during lunchtime.
I headed to the stall of the same old woman I had made arrangements with. She was at her usual spot, sorting through her goods, but as soon as she saw me, she looked up.
"So, back again with some fruit?" she said, nodding toward the net in my hands.
"Yeah, twenty pieces, as agreed."
I placed the net on the counter, and she immediately began inspecting the fruit.
"Good quality, just like last time."
She pulled out some money from her pocket and counted out 1300 belli.
I took the money and nodded.
"If you need more, I can bring some more."
"We'll see how well they sell. Come by tomorrow—if they sell fast, I'll order more."
The deal was simple and profitable, so I didn't linger. I tucked the money into my pocket and headed back.
It was time to start preparing for the move to the forest. But for that, I needed something…
An idea came to me—go to the city dump.Notis wasn't a large city, and its dump wasn't particularly big either. It wasn't a giant landfill like in the capital cities where trash piled up for years. Bellamy had been there already, and after that trip, he got a frying pan and a knife, so I headed out of the city.
Time to leave the city behind.
With each step, I moved further away from the city hustle. First, I passed old fences and half-destroyed houses, then came across a field with sparse bushes and overgrown grasses, but still, nothing that caught my interest.
When I reached the dump, the first thing I noticed was the smell—let's just say it wasn't pleasant, but it was bearable.
The trash wasn't scattered across the area as I had expected. Everything was organized, though in a rather shabby way. The majority of the dump was in a specific area, and though there was no one around, there was a distinct feeling that it was being watched.
I looked around. The piles of garbage were neatly arranged, not blocking the pathways, and I realized that something valuable could be found here if I was careful. However, it didn't really look like an ordinary dump—it seemed more like a warehouse of old, unwanted things, where people didn't dare toss their waste.
Mostly, I noticed things from ships—old sails, torn nets, barrels, and crates. All of it gave the impression that someone had tried to salvage not just one ship, but several. Among the garbage, pieces of wood stood out—possibly remnants of old ships—but still strong enough for construction.
I began to search the dump more thoroughly. Digging through the piles of debris, I came across a few good planks, clearly once part of a ship's deck, and a couple of ropes that had once been used for hoisting heavy loads or supporting sails. Seeing this, I felt a little more hopeful.
Yes, there wasn't anything perfect here, but I had found what I needed: a dozen or so sturdy planks, ropes, and a few tools.