Chapitre 31: My Eighth Birthday
Isadora's request seemed like an impossible feat, but I was determined to prove her wrong. My eyes were fixated on the illustration of the Moonlight Aster, admiring its intricate details and delicate petals. I knew finding it would not be easy, but I had never been one to shy away from a challenge.
As we made our way back to the village, our cart laden with provisions, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The thought of venturing into the woods alone in search of a rare flower that only blooms under moonlight was daunting. But I refused to let my fear get the best of me.
I was thinking about how to proceed with my quest. It will be difficult; there is no doubt about it. Luckily, thanks to our priest and his endless array of religious rituals, I knew exactly when the spring equinox was, even though there was nothing like a calendar at home.
The hard part would be convincing my parents to let me go. I threw a glance at my father. His imposing figure walked beside me with a dark face and heavy air around him. Yeah, no, there is no chance in hell I could convince my parents to let me go into the Forest in the middle of the night; no excuse in the world would work.
So I just have to do it and ask for forgiveness later. Not that I didn't do it before. Even though I will certainly be punished and probably forbidden to return to the Forest ever again, this is no time to be holding back. This is the moment I have been waiting for ever since I decided to be an apprentice in the city. I need to go all out.
The most important task would be to find the herb. I need to locate it well in advance since I will have only one chance to get it right. I guess I could cheat and just buy it already dried up and pretend to harvest it; not that I would mind, but given how rare it is, it would probably burn through all my savings, and I need the money to pay for my training and accommodations, so that is not going to work.
Shallow water... shallow water, immediately the image of a lake under the waterfall at the edge of the Forest comes to mind. No, it couldn't be that easy, could it?
As far as I recall, there was no herb like Moonlight Aster growing nearby, but I could be mistaken and finally have some luck. I just have to search the lake when we return to the village.
Drying it will be the easiest part. With my mastery of magic and plenty of experience drying umbrifila over the years, that wouldn't pose any problems for me.
The hard part will be doing it all without my parents noticing I'm gone. In addition, there is the small task of actually surviving the night in the Forest.
So with my mind made up, I decided to plan a course of action. First, I will search around the lake under the waterfall. If it is not there, I will search the rest of the forest come spring. Lastly, on the night of the spring equinox, I need to sneak out of the house, harvest the flower, and make my way back before anyone notices anything while avoiding being eaten by any monstrosity living in the Forest while doing it.
Easy, right? What could possibly go wrong?
***
As we returned from the city to our quaint little village, I could feel the chilly air and see the first signs of winter creeping in. The trees at the edge of the Forest were turning auburn, and the leaves were starting to fall. It was time to start preparing for the long, harsh winter ahead.
Our provisions were meager, but we had enough to last us through the season. However, with my father present this time, I couldn't use my money to supplement our supplies.
It meant that this winter would be even tougher for us than usual, but we were luckier than many of the other families in our village. I had to be grateful for what we had, even if it wasn't much.
Days stretched on with monotony, filled with the sounds of wood chopping. As I was now old enough, I was expected to contribute to the household, and one of my duties was to prepare firewood. I spent long hours chopping and splitting wood, the sound of the axe ringing in my ears, and sweat falling down my back.
It was hard work, but it allowed me to take comfort in the routine and gave me a chance to clear my mind of constant thoughts about my upcoming quest.
As soon as we returned from the city, I went to the lake by the waterfall. I searched every nook and cranny of that place but couldn't find any traces of Moonlight Aster anywhere. I was right, it couldn't be so easy. I decided to follow the small river that feeds the waterfall upstream to see where it led, but it abruptly ended after a few hundred meters.
The river completely disappeared without a trace. It must flow somewhere underground, but where does it come from? I wondered what I should do while I looked around for any signs of water but couldn't find any. It was getting late, so I decided to abandon the search and return home for now.
Alas, in the following days, I was overwhelmed with work and didn't get any opportunity to explore the forest some more before the winter arrived. Which leaves me in my current predicament. I have no idea where I could find Moonlight Aster or where to even look for another lake in the Forest. At least I managed to chop down a big pile of firewood, so we will be very warm during the winter.
Soon after, winter was here. Snowflakes danced behind the windows of our humble home, and freezing winds howled across the fields. I celebrated my eighth birthday in this world. I was growing taller and stronger, and my face was becoming quite handsome as I saw myself in the reflection of water—not that we had any fancy mirrors in our house.
I also noticed some other subtle differences. My skin was smooth and radiant without any scars or imperfections, and my hands were soft and perfect, not calloused and worn like everyone else's who worked hard every day.
I guess this is another side effect of being a mage; not that I'm complaining, but I'm glad that I will be going to the city before anyone notices that I look like some pampered nobleman who hasn't worked a day in his life despite being one of the villagers. That would certainly raise many questions any of which I want to answer right now. My family certainly noticed but they never thought about it since they see me every day and take it as a given.
The rest of winter I practiced my spells until my fingers were numb and my breath was fogged by the cold air. My determination fueled me, driving me forward even when my body begged for rest as I tried to improve as much as I could before spring. My quest to find the elusive Moonlight Aster was constantly lurking like some predator at the edge of my mind, filling me with nervous anticipation.
But as winter dragged on, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in my gut. What if I couldn't find the Moonlight Aster in time? What if my journey ended in failure? The questions circled in my mind like vultures, waiting to feast on my doubts and fears.
And yet, I refused to give up. I knew that I had to keep searching and fighting, no matter how long it took. Even if it meant sacrificing everything, even if it meant risking my own life, I would not rest until I had fulfilled my quest.
I will not be defeated by some stupid flower. I will find you, just wait!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone