Chapter 50 - …the climb (1/2)

Whether you like it or not, the next morning will always come, to replace the night. It's a never-ending cycle. This is the same in the pocket world that was artificially created through mastery of various space, time, and most like other magic laws.

Although to be fair, talking about day and night at this place would be a bit of an exaggeration, there's not much difference. The sky is still red, just a shade lighter than a few hours ago.

As usual Lily was the first to wake up. Yawning cutely and as quietly as possible not to disturb her still sleeping brother, she got up and stretched her limbs while walking towards the still crackling fire. One positive about this place is that the wood here can fuel a fire for much longer than on the outside. She added a new piece of wood to make sure that the flickering flames can go on their crackling rampage, so she could cook a filling breakfast.

As she usually does, she picked up two small slices of meat that they prepared the previous night and skewered it with the same twig she used during dinner. Sadly, since they have no spices here, and all the vegetation they tried were god-awful, she was simply roasting the meat to give them that crispy feel that they both liked. She knew that Aiden would probably wake up in the next half hour, which was the perfect timeframe to get everything ready.

While the food was getting ready, she picked up the last bits of the berries and created two equal portions for both of them. However, when she portioned both, she realized that it would be better to leave some of it for the road as they are quick to eat, and they provide their bodies with a lot of energy.

'Hmmm… Yeah, I should leave half of it for the road, who knows how long it would take and if we could get something along the way? Yes… let's half it down.' With that, she halved both portions and saved it for the road that awaited them today. Returning to the fire, she started humming the familiar song while making sure all sides of their breakfast was cooked.

A short time later the boy at the opposite side of the fire started moving, showing signs of returning from the land of dreams. His eyelids slightly trembling, he was currently checking the system map for any new blips that the system might have marked during the night. Satisfied that they were safe, he slowly opened up his eyelids, revealing those mesmerizing golden irises that not even Lily could easily escape.

Sitting up, he yawned while stretching his arms. Then, he looked at her already busy-bee sister, and with a small smile creeping up at the corner of his lips, he greeted her.

”Good morning big sis! Is breakfast ready?”

Struggling to fake to be upset about the question, she 'angrily' snapped back

”Shameless little brother! Is that your first question to your dear sister? Nothing about if my sleep was peaceful, or what I dreamt about?!”

Not moved by the slightest, he didn't reply but kept staring at her. This was, by now, another routine, that Lily played every now and then, so he got used to it over the course of time.

Seeing that her attempt didn't gain the response she was hoping for, she quickly caved in, and with a cheeky smile and with the tip of her tongue pushed out and visible at the right corner of her closed mouth, she replied.

”Blee! You could at least play along with me just once, stupid brother! Breakfast should be ready soon. I saved half of the berries for the road, who knows if we will have any chance to sit down and eat along the way?”

”Yes, that's true. Nicely done sis! Hmm... We should cook an extra portion of the meat along the road. It wouldn't be as good as if we were to cook it fresh, but as you just said, we might not have the chance to sit down and relax once we start to ascend the mountain. Do we have any left?”

Checking her bag, she pulled out the last piece of meat they had prepared a few days ago.

”Yeah, one more. I'll cook it after these 2 are finished.”

Looking up at the mountain behind them, she couldn't see much, as after around a thousand meters thick dark red clouds were raging and hurling their reddish bolts of lightning non-stop.

”Do you have any idea what might await us? Or better, how will we get across that storm? We have been waiting for a week now, and that storm never ceased, it's the same as it was a week ago. I have a feeling that might be the first part of the test… It's definitely not a natural phenomenon.” she said.