When they arrived at the flower field Quinn had mentioned, Sasha's eyes widened. Countless yellow, white, red, and pink blossoms bloomed brilliantly under the morning sun. A soft fragrance drifted over, intoxicating and gentle.
The vast sea of flowers looked like a paradise on earth, filled with butterflies fluttering through the vibrant colors.
Sasha noticed roses, lilies, and sweet briar roses scattered among the blooms — perfect ingredients for perfume and cosmetics.
She plucked a red rose and brought it to her nose. The scent was rich yet soothing. Since her cosmetics were running low and would eventually run out, she could use these roses to make her own lipsticks and skincare.
They continued toward the center of the flower field, only to spot Skylar and the others gathered in the lily bushes not far away.
Skylar wore a green snakeskin skirt again today, though this one was smaller. The scales lacked their usual luster, and aside from a tiny tube top, the skirt barely covered her hips.
Sasha also noticed that Skylar had copied her style — her long hair, which reached her waist, was braided similarly.
But Skylar's outfit as a whole — the snakeskin skirt paired with the rose tucked at the end of the braid — made the red-and-green combination look far from flattering.
Still, considering Skylar's lack of aesthetic sense, the braid at least looked better than her previous frizzy hair.
When Skylar saw Sasha and Quinn approaching, she shot them a disdainful glare, grabbed the other females, and strutted away as if they were something filthy.
Sasha could only stare, speechless at the unprovoked hostility.
"Sasha, don't bother with Skylar. She's always acting self-important. She thinks she's amazing," Quinn snorted in annoyance. She clearly disliked Skylar's arrogance.
Sasha nodded. She had met plenty of such self-centered types.
The two continued wandering through the flowers, chatting as they walked, occasionally picking blooms they liked. As they spent time together, they grew noticeably closer.
Sasha wove a floral crown and gifted it to Quinn. Quinn beamed, placed it on her head, and spun in happy circles.
Her carefree smile was infectious, and Sasha soon found herself letting loose, chasing and playing with Quinn among the flowers.
After they grew tired, they lay among the blossoms to rest, finishing all the fruits in the basket.
When they finally resumed walking toward the far end of the flower field, Sasha was surprised to see several soap trees — not just one, but more than ten.
Her smile rose uncontrollably as she turned to Quinn. "Quinn, could you lend me the basket?"
"You want the basket? Oh. Then take it. I'll give it to you," Quinn replied generously.
"Thank you," Sasha said brightly, taking the basket and walking toward the soap trees, delighted.
Seeing her collecting the leaves, Quinn offered to help. They worked together until the basket was full. By then, the scorching noon sun hung overhead — they had stayed in the flower field all morning.
Sasha carried the basket in her left hand and a bouquet of roses in her right, while Quinn held several bunches of lilies and roses. Together, they made their way home.
Still puzzled, Quinn asked, "Why did you gather so many leaves?"
Sasha adopted a mysterious tone. "You'll know in a few days."
Quinn was left confused.
After returning to Sasha's stone house, Quinn set down the flowers, said goodbye, and headed home.
These days, since Sasha had clearly shown less interest in barbecue, Nolan intentionally searched for different kinds of food for her. Besides various fruits, he also brought back several unusual things he thought she might like. Among them, Sasha eventually discovered grain crops such as sweet potatoes and soybeans.
After gathering the small handful of beans and soaking them in a wooden basin, she took the basket to the river to wash the freshly collected saponins and left them under the sun to dry.
Once the saponins were nearly dry, she placed them into a stone pot, arranging them neatly from bottom to top, making sure there were no gaps in between. She had no other tools available, so the stone pot could only serve as a temporary container.
Using the bone knife Nolan had especially crafted for her, she cut the saponins into pieces, mixed them with rose petals, and began pounding the mixture with a wooden stick until it turned into a paste.
After pounding for a while, her arms felt sore, and her stomach had begun to grow empty. She lifted her head to look at the sky. The sun was already setting, and she realized she had spent the entire afternoon working without noticing.
The physical labor had made her perspire, and several strands of hair clung to her cheeks. Setting down the wooden stick and stretching her aching wrist, she stood up to take a wooden bowl filled with clear water from the table, drinking a few sips. Only then did her dry throat feel eased, and her body became a bit lighter.
For some reason, Nolan still had not returned from hunting today, so she could only prepare something to eat on her own. There were no ingredients left at home; only a few sweet potatoes remained.
Wiping off the sweat from her forehead with a paper towel, she gathered some dry firewood nearby, lit a fire with a flint and steel at the doorway, and placed several sweet potatoes into the flames.
After doing this, she returned to pounding the saponins in the stone pot. By the time the sweet potatoes' aroma drifted through the air, she was almost finished, and the mixture had already become smooth.
She pulled the roasted sweet potatoes out of the fire, peeled their skins, and ate them once they had cooled a little. Nolan still had not returned even after she finished her meal.
From a distance, she saw the male orcs carrying an abundance of prey, and it was clear that today had been a successful hunt.
After Nolan received his share of the food, he headed back with long strides. He had returned much later than usual, and he wondered whether Sasha had already been hungry.