After putting Kiro to bed for the night after dinner, Serena finally got a moment alone to look at her field guide. And it was a great chance for her to see if she could get more information on the herbs the healer had gotten her.
That way she could find the herbs herself instead of having to constantly rely on healers. Because her requesting those herbs could raise questions about her well-being.
The bear healer was nice enough not to question why I was having such horrible nightmares, but it might not be the same for other healers. Serena thought to herself as she opened up the leather bound book.
A small fire in the corner of the room created a dim light for Serena allowing her to read the guide without straining her eyes too much. It also kept the hut warm and smoke would leave through a circular chimney.
It took Serena several minutes of browsing through the book to find the first herb. Under a drawing of the flower, Serena read the following:
Sleepy Flower
A small flower with white petals and a yellow center. Grows in bunches and has a long green stalk. Sometimes will have a few small leaves on the stalk.
Main Use: Flower that makes one sleepy. Helps calm nerves. Also good for soaps
How to Use: Dry flower and seep with hot water for five minutes. Only drink once a day. Flower and oil extracted can be added to soap. Gives a calming scent when used
Side Effects: Sleepiness. Not to be used by pregnant females or for long term when made as a tea…
As Serena read the notes under the drawing of the herb, she found it was mostly the same information as what the healer had given her. She was to use the dry flower to make a tea, however only when she had trouble sleeping.
He had given her only five flowers, clearly not wanting her to use it all the time. Sadly, the book didn't explain why it was bad for long term use, but Serena guessed it might be that the knowledge was limited.
Still, it's good to know that it can be used for soaps. Serena mused. The one I used this morning had a different scent so it must have had another flower in it.
Serena was glad that soap did exist in this world. She wasn't sure how she was going to survive so long without being clean when possible. Shaking her head at the thought, Serena turned her attention back to the field guide.
Once she was done reading though all the notes on the Sleepy Flower, Serena suddenly received a system notification:
[Plant Skill Activated]
[Botanist Level 1]
[Gain Knowledge on Plants: 1/600]
[Reward: 10 Coins]
Seems studying plant life here will be useful. Serena mused as she saw the notifications. Although the amount of coins is quite low. Still beggars can't be choosers.
Of course, seeing as the knowledge limit was six hundred, it made her wonder if the reward amount was only for plants she learnt about from her field guide. It would explain why the more advanced ones were more expensive.
They had more knowledge for her to gain and thus a possible bigger reward amount. Too bad it would cost her to learn from them and she wasn't sure if that knowledge would be necessary.
Knowing the basics seemed good enough for her for now.
She also wasn't quite sure what a botanist was, but figured it had to do with plants. Perhaps she'd gain some useful ability from increasing the level. Not that she was quite sure how to increase the level.
Shaking her head, Serena turned her attention back to the field guide, wanting to look up the other four herbs she had been given. As she read about each one, her knowledge count increased along with getting 10 coins per herb.
After looking up all five herbs, she carefully packed the leather bound book along with the herbs. As much as Serena wanted to use the herbs, she decided to be sparing with them.
She wasn't sure how long they'd be on the road for or when she'd get a chance to find or get more. Best for her to only use them when absolutely necessary.
Serena heard rustling as she was settling down on the straw bed. The blanket covering Kiro shifted and the cub sleepily raised his head.
"S…sister…" The cub yowled in his beast form.
"Go back to sleep." Serena murmured softly, gently patting his head. "I'll be right here."
Over these past few days in this world, Serena had picked up that Kiro seemed to have attachment issues. He'd sometimes wake up at random times during the night to check that she was there. And when she left him, it couldn't be for long.
Kiro settled back down, but not before crawling into Serena's arms. She let him do it, knowing it would bring some comfort to the young kid to be held to sleep.
Serena figured he was like this because he had lost his parents and litter siblings at such a young age. And with Serena being his only family, he held onto her like a lifeline.
Losing her would destroy him like in the novel and he would totally rogue.
Guess we both have issues. Serena thought to herself as she lay down on the fur covering the straw bed.
Bits of the straw poked her back, but Serena ignored the feeling. She had slept in worse places before, so this was a bit of luxury. She gazed up at the thatch ceiling, her thoughts wondering.
Life in this world was so different from what she experienced in her world. But at the same time, they felt so similar. She was still fighting to survive, even if that fight seemed different.
As she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, open thought lingered on her mind - I want a peaceful life.