Hikari woke up.
The drizzling rain hit against the surface of her tent.
She felt a warm, furry body on her stomach.
"Lady Camilia."
The beast kin uncurled herself, her claws coming out of her paws as she stretched.
"Morning, Hikari! How ya doing! Did ya sleep well?"
Hikari's outfit, which she had been wearing for almost a week, was starting to feel slimy and itchy.
"I smell."
"Ya, ya. Me too. Brrr. But it's really warm here."
Hikari lay back down and closed her eyes. Her stomach growled.
The supplies hadn't arrived.
"Meow is hungry. The supply columns were attacked by wyverns."
Hikari continued her meditation.
The rain stopped.
She pinched Camilia's scruff and lifted her off of her, receiving a growl in return.
She assembled her boots and left her tent.
Mud everywhere. The soaked greyish surface of tents, stones around doused campfires.
The soldiers came out of their tents and stood around idly.
Their uniforms muddy and soaked.
"Meow… food cart still not here."
Hikari's stomach growled.
"Let's eat that."
"Again?"
"Hehehehe…..! " A creepy laugh came from behind Hikari's boot.
"Eeekk…! Zark! Since when were you standing there, meow! I didn't even see you!"
"Hehehe! I'm glad Hikari loves my concoctions"
"Oh well. Meow. Zark is showing some energy."
Hikari drew her claymore and dusted it off with a telekinetic blast before placing it onto a pair of stone supports.
Rotbenmore men in black robes and silver masks gathered around, along with several wind ranger beastkin in their fur coats and Razenheir scouts in their hooded coats.
They shoved piles of sticks and leaves from their tents, which kept them dry in the rain.
Hikari ignited the foliage.
The men queued up with sacks of grey tentacles, spreading them out on the broad face of Hikari's sword.
"Hehehe… that's it… let it shimmer… "
"Get on with it, meow…"
The robed men sprinkled a glowing green dust over the sizzling tentacles.
"Now Hikari… if you will… hehehe… "
Hikari grabbed the sword handle and channeled her mana. The claymore glowed with her flames, reacting with the dust and creating a brief but brilliant green flame.
Zark leaned forward, examining the tentacles.
"Good… Good! Hehehe…"
"Ya, ya, we can see it's cooked. Add the mushrooms."
Camilia dragged the zombie boy aside.
As the searing heat on the claymore dissipated, the beastkin and RazenHeir scouts emptied their harvest sacks of mushrooms onto the hot steel.
A sprinkle of salt and pepper.
The RazenHeir scouts used their swords to flip the grill.
It was done.
The knights of the houses queued to collect their breakfast and go back to their tents.
Hikari scraped her claymore. The tentacles were quite chewy and had a strange off flavor. The crispy skin and seasoning somewhat made up for it.
Five mouthfuls. That was her meal.
"Good morning, Hikari"
"Scout master"
The man removed his hood, revealing his unshaven face.
"I must apologize that the caravan hasn't arrived. I have a mission for you. There's a golem blocking the supply route on our left wing."
"Really? A golem, meow! Where is it? Shall we go?"
Camilia popped out of Hikari's tent, prancing around her boots.
Hikari assembled her armor and leaped off.
"Eh! Wait! Lemme come with ya! Meow…"
"Don't be so disheartened. Lady Camilia. In fact, I have another mission for you."
Camilia's ears sprang up.
The scout master held up a piece of cloth to Camilia's nose, which twitched at the smell.
"This is… Sniff* Sniff* It's Hikari's sock! Hey! Ya some kind of pervert or something!? "
The beastkin showed her claws. It looked like she was ready to scratch his face to bits.
"Well, I would say I have held out much better than most men. Track down the thieves and recover the socks."
"Okie bounty man. Meow." She pounced off.
...
Later, Hikari returned to the camp
Several men gathered around her tent.
A fat man in a theater outfit stood by her tent.
"Ah! The maestro Hikari. The brightest rose in the territory and the lands beyond. An immovable shield like the obelisks at Igar. A sword dancer, flowing like the rivers of Herdial. Her ladyship Ria has good taste to commission me to do a poster. Oh, and we were warned to take some Hortifern herbs so that we can focus."
A dozen painters started setting up their canvases around Hikari.
Another man in clothes too fine for the frontlines approached Hikari.
"Her ladyship Ria is much more concerned that her words reach the maestro. This humble scribe is honored to present a letter from her ladyship."
He said in an annoyed tone as he opened a letter and held it up with both hands for Hikari to read. It was in invisible ink coated in RazenHeir mana.
To Hikari,
Word has reached me that the campaign is near its close. I hope you will be home soon. I understand the deprivations you face and have arranged additional shipments of provisions. Your feats were nothing short of legendary. I have already found good buyers for the golem cores. Look forward to a feast when you are back.
"Ria's handwriting. Meticulous to a fault. Hmm… but the next paragraph isn't as perfect."
I have been following your training every day in your room. I hope you don't mind me using your room. It's really really spacious. I can feel my arms getting stronger. It's just rather unsightly to do this in the drill hall. I can't wait for you to return so we can train together. P.S. I sent you some painters. It's for recruitment posters. Please don't give them too much trouble.
Hikari turned her gaze at the scribe, causing him to flinch.
"Umm... do think of a response in the meantime." The scribe folded the letter and stuffed it into the flames under the boiling cauldron.
Hikari placed one finger on her lip. Several annoyed groans came from the painters.
"I'm fine."
"Few words as usual. Since there's enough space on the paper, I'll write it in boldface then. Helps to convey the force of your voice."
...
"Meow…"
The beastkin walked up to her with a bundle of cloth pieces strapped to her back.
There were several visible shot marks on her fur. She stopped and plucked out a musket ball from her fur.
"Meow! Can't believe they shot at me. Here ya go, Hikari, I found ya missing sock pieces."
"Thanks."