Chapter 6 - Adapting
During the weeks her request was being made, Ilena was being as productive as possible. She would have to learn new skills to sustain herself. Maintaining a food source, living space and making sure access to her home was unnoticeable was just the beginning. Her main goal was to have the plot by her cabin started before she left again. In case her first attempt wasn't successful, she decided to plant only a few of the seeds that she had gotten. She thought to herself, I'm certain I'm doing this correctly. Hopefully something grows around the time I need to head to town or get back.
While working on the garden, Ilena began thinking about her food supply for the winter. There was no way she could maintain any type of cattle where she was. Asking about food preservation would be priority when she went to go pick up her request. When she was able to roam freely, killing small animals when she needed was convenient. On rare occasions when she was in a town for a mission she could just buy something to eat. Becoming totally self-sufficient was going to be a true task especially with there being so many variables to think about.
When she was done with the garden, Ilena thought of ways to secure her location. The main ideas she had were laying traps in the area and making the entrances blend in with their surroundings. Though when it came to humans, if they weren't trained, they likely wouldn't notice anything off in certain areas. Traps would be helpful for intruders but making sure the environment looks untouched should be enough. The best option for her would be to periodically check the perimeter of each entrance to make sure there were no paths being lead to them and cover them up. To be thorough, she would have to take plenty of time investigating a good distance away from the tunnels. There couldn't be any evidence for at least half a mile. It is fortunate that so far the woods seem to not have any sign of travelers. For the possibility of other warriors, all she really had to do was make sure she stayed hidden and focused on concealing her yoki.
Once she finished the few chores she had, Ilena decided to train with her sword. Her body felt well enough to attempt basic movements. I'll make sure to train myself frequently to keep up my reflexes. I must be prepared for any yoma or other warriors. After a few hours passed she began thinking about her situation. Once she got everything she needed and was able to sustain herself, her life would practically be nothing but an empty routine. As a warrior, she would be alone doing nothing to really entertain herself but she still had a purpose. Not every battle was the same. Sometimes her foes were clever, giving her a challenge. Even when her missions weren't as frequent she still had some form of stimulation. She started to consider that being stuck in one place for an indefinite amount of time may be more difficult than expected. Chores and labor could only keep her occupied for so long. Nothing to look forward to and nowhere to go at will. A future of solitude and repetition. It's inevitable as a deserter.