Survival Priorities (2)
Until it hits you, that is. If you're dropped into the wilderness to survive, what's the most important thing? I say water. The human body is fragile yet incredible—it can endure days without food, but without water, you're done for quick. No wonder there's that saying: three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food. Willpower might be key, they say, but without water, it's all pointless. We have potions as a substitute, sure, but those are for emergencies only.
"Good thing we brought water. We can sip it sparingly."
Luckily, water was on our packing list, so no worries there. We skipped food, but water fits easy in a small pouch. Plus, Grace is a mage. She can conjure drinking water—just point at the air and say "water," and droplets fall. Of all things, we're lucky with hydration. Back in the forest, there was a stream near my hideout too. Still, better to ration it just in case. We each got a bottle, so that's my plan.
"Water's fine, but... what about lunch?"
Lee Yeonju asked cautiously after a sip. Time had passed; it was nearing mealtime. Grace pondered her question, then glanced my way. Deferring to the expert, naturally.
Honestly, we could skip a few days of meals no problem.
The body adapts to starvation like a champ. Endurance, basically. In the forest, I munched bugs and small critters to tough it out. But even that barely fueled me. Once I awakened my mana, I hunted bigger game—but mana drains stamina hard, so you need calories to match.
"...Sivar?"
"Yeah."
"Could you... maybe find us something to eat?"
Grace asked timidly. I paused at her words. Part of me wanted to toss them some fat grubs and call it done. But they wouldn't touch bugs. So, hunt an animal, cook it over fire. Emergency rations won't fill anyone up.
Plenty of game around.
Several beasts pinged on my senses right away. And we're in the safe zone, nice and relaxed. No other teams nearby—our presences are the only ones I feel.
"Yeah."
"R-really?"
After a beat of thought, my answer lit up her face. Mages like her burn mana fast, and mana use equals stamina drain.
"Bugs. Lots."
"......"
Her smile froze solid at the bug suggestion. Lee Yeonju went pale as a ghost. Joke, obviously. Fine for me, but to civilized folk, bugs are pure disgust. Grill 'em, maybe tolerable—but would they eat? Worth a shot. I scanned around, gathering fallen twigs.
Normally, I'd scout a cave for shelter, but we're not hunkering down here.
"...What're you doing?"
"Fire."
"Fire? To start one?"
"Yeah."
Grace caught on quick. She watched curiously. Sat there observing at first, but maybe felt awkward—soon she was collecting twigs too, handing them over. Lee Yeonju just stood there, blank-faced, clueless what to do. All an act, of course. For her image, she's playing useless. Her real self would've jumped in. I get it now.
Wonder what her real face looks like.
Soon twigs piled high, topped with dry leaves. Just need a spark. Could use Grace's magic, but save her mana. Snap! Flicked my fingers—friction sparked heat. Same as flint and steel. My body's built for this.
"...Samjae Jin Hwa?"
Lee Yeonju muttered in shock as flames caught. Some martial art name I'd heard somewhere. Nah, just brute body strength.
"Yeonju? What was that? Sounded Eastern."
"Oh, nothing. Just amazed Sivar sparked fire with a finger snap..."
"Hm. Yeah, makes sense. Who else could do that?"
Whoosh! Flames roared up from the kindling while they chatted. Fire's set—now for ingredients. I dug in my pouch, pulling emergency snacks: grubs from that rotten log hours back. Still intact, alive even.
"You aren't gonna... grill those... ugh..."
Crack! Midway through Grace's horrified words, something snapped a twig behind her. Fire masked it for most, but not my ears.
"?"
Lee Yeonju's sharp ears caught it too—turned with a puzzled frown. Pure instinct, no acting there. Grace, meanwhile, stared bug-eyed at my grub.
Wanted to roast it, but no dice now.
Rustle-rustle-crash!
"Squeeeal!!"
A wild boar burst from the brush, charging us. Like Marlboro said, one of the forest's nasties alongside snakes.
"Kyaaah!"
"Wh-what...!"
Both panicked. Yeonju's was fake; Grace's pretty face twisted in real terror—sharp eyes somehow making it weirder.
"Squeeeal! Squeeeeal!"
It barreled straight at me, signature shrieks echoing. Boars don't attack first usually—unless startled sudden. My fault? Beasts sense threats sharp. Saw me as danger, struck preemptive. Not some herbivore—it’s a mean bastard. Nothing in the woods messed with a raging one.
Crunch!
But lunch is lunch. Didn't expect it gift-wrapped. Ignored the charge, hurled Ragnarok axe-first into its skull. Dead center. Fire blazed between us—gotta protect that, or forest fire's a headache. I'm fine, but rules.
Thud-thud.
Skull-axed, it dropped dead instant. Momentum carried it to Grace's feet before stopping. She gawked, pale, eyes rolled back. Wanted to speak, mouth frozen. First time, makes sense.
I left panicking Grace, stood, and yanked Ragnarok free. Schlup! Tossed light, still one-shot. Solid gear—handy ahead.
"Hm."
Inspected the boar. Some grow house-sized, exaggerated. This one's small—juvenile-adult middle. Academy probably tuned it down for safety.
"A-are you okay...?"
"Y-yes? Oh, yeah... I-I'm fine..."
Grace staggered up with Yeonju's help, legs jelly. Real scare. Meanwhile, I'd checked the boar, turned to them, pointed.
"Lunch."
"Huh?"
Grace blinked wide. Glanced past me at the boar. Still processing, eyes fluttering.
I repeated firm.
"Lunch."
"...That boar's our lunch?"
"Yeah."
She eyed it again—tongue lolling from the corpse. Soon her purple eyes quaked like an earthquake. Better than bugs, sure, but wild boar? Civilized nightmare fuel. Upset stomach justified.
"B-boar should be edible. I heard domesticated pigs came from them."
Yeonju piped up as Grace stewed. She was hungry too. This size could feed 'em full, plus smoked leftovers.
"...Okay. But how do we butcher it?"
"Uh... Sivar'll handle?"
"He lived wild—probably doesn't know butchering."
Prejudice. I rough-butchered plenty. Grabbed the boar, hauled to a clearing. Can't do it here. Normally craft tools for ease, but not my forest. Just need enough to last till day 2, 7 PM.
Crunch!
First, lop the head. Axe down on thick neck. Red mana'd slice easy, but Lord's advice: hide it. Avoid hassle. Extra effort it is.
Crunch! Grind!
Three swings, head severed. Hot blood gushed. Now hang inverse, drain full.
Handy tree nearby.
Oh. Nothing to tie with.
Tricky. Thought a sec, turned to them.
And caught a hilarious sight.
"Urk!!"
"You okay?"
Grace hurled, limits breached. Yeonju patted her back, worried. Act or no, Grace looked rough. Just a beheading, and she's wrecked.
I scratched my neck, baffled, asked. Gutting party's next—this is weak.
"What're you doing?"
Civilized folk, man.
*****
While Sivar's team barreled toward total chaos, others survived via their strengths. Best balanced? Kara's squad.
Kara, Tatar princess, hates hierarchy. Her team obeyed her orders meekly.
"Not eating? Gonna be rough."
"Grilled bugs? No way!"
Food issues persisted. Unlike Kara, they refused. Bugs as meal? Obvious rejection. Kara couldn't fathom.
"Tastes good, though? East folks grill silkworm pupae. Why not you?"
"That's Eastern culture! Different from ours!"
"Weird."
She popped a gutted, roasted bug. Nutty flavor, no grossness. Tatar desert breeds unique cuisine: bugs, rats, beasts—fire-cookable, fair game.
Sivar'd eat anything given.
Ignoring their disgust, Kara moved on. They probably saw her as barbarian. Fine now, long as they don't say it. Call her that, test over—friends or not.
Rustle.
Bush ahead stirred. Team tensed, eyes locked. Kara stayed chill, like she expected it.
"Found it! Here, here!"
Out popped survivors—Antonio, Luna's teammate. Kara frowned puzzled. Why greet a rival team warmly? Everyone but hers was competition.
"...Sis."
Luna emerged shy, glancing wary. Fight? No—Antonio spoke first.
"Princess Kara, not here to fight."
"Then what?"
"Tempting proposal."
"Hm?"
One brow arched; eyes to Luna. Whatever scheme, Luna bought in—not ordinary. Hear it out.
Shouldered her curved sword, nodded: speak.
"It's like..."
Antonio explained, like to Luna: eliminate Sivar first. Unbeatable in fights; test's unfair from start. Ally with others, boot him.
"...Sounds good."
"Yeah, with him, we're screwed."
Her team nodded, convinced. Kara? Same flat disinterest.
"Interesting pitch."
"Right?"
"Yeah."
Antonio beamed, thinking sold. Luna relaxed too. Kara as ally? Solid...
"Heard there're many suicide methods. This one's fresh."
"...Pardon?"
"Sis?"
Her reply: simple, drawn-out rejection.
"Easier making friends with a tiger."