Re:Crafting in Another World-Chapter 149: Silence

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled light on the small campsite where Shennong, Romina, and Mandira sat. The air was thick with the scent of pine and the faint sweetness of the stew Shennong had prepared. The pot sat in the center of their makeshift camp, its contents barely touched, steam still rising lazily from the surface. Shennong leaned back against a tree, his broad frame relaxed, though his sharp eyes darted between the two women sitting across from each other, their silence louder than any words.

"Didn’t it taste good?" Shennong asked, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. He gestured at the stew, eyebrows raised. "I put some effort into this, you know."

Romina, her auburn hair catching the sunlight, froze mid-motion, her spoon halfway to her mouth. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she quickly averted her gaze, staring at the ground as if it held the answers to the universe. Mandira, older and more composed, coughed softly, her fingers tightening around the hem of her robe. The memory of the previous night—wild, reckless, and utterly unexpected—flashed through both their minds. Aunt and niece, entangled with Shennong in a moment of passion that now hung between them like a storm cloud. How could he act so normal?

Mandira cleared her throat, her voice steady but strained. "It’s... fine, Shennong. Really. We’re just... not that hungry."

Romina nodded quickly, her words tumbling out. "Y-yeah, it’s good! Just, um, full. From... earlier."

Shennong tilted his head, his dark hair falling across one eye as he studied them. The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts, and the two women avoided each other’s gaze. Romina fidgeted with a loose thread on her sleeve, while Mandira’s fingers traced the intricate embroidery on her robe, a nervous habit.

Finally, Shennong sighed, his broad shoulders slumping slightly. "Well, no sense letting it go to waste," he said, standing and brushing dirt from his pants. "I’ll store it in my inventory. You two can snack on it later while we’re on the road." He waved a hand, and the pot vanished into thin air, tucked away in the magical storage space he always seemed to have on hand.

Mandira stood abruptly, smoothing her robe with deliberate care. "Let’s continue the journey," she said, her tone brisk, as if movement could shake off the awkwardness clinging to them. "The Mage Sanctuary isn’t far now."

Shennong nodded, slinging his pack over his shoulder with a grin. "Lead the way, ladies."

Romina scrambled to her feet, her movements jerky, and the trio set off through the forest. The path was narrow, winding through towering trees and over gnarled roots. The air grew cooler as they ascended the gentle slope of the mountain, the terrain becoming rockier with each step. But the silence between Romina and Mandira was deafening, their footsteps the only sound breaking the stillness. Romina kept her eyes on the ground, her cheeks still faintly pink, while Mandira’s lips were pressed into a tight line, her posture rigid.

Shennong, oblivious or perhaps pretending to be, hummed a tune under his breath, his long strides eating up the distance. Every so often, he’d glance back at the two women, his expression unreadable but his eyes glinting with amusement.

Finally, Mandira couldn’t take it anymore. The silence was suffocating, and she needed to fill it with something—anything—to keep her mind from spiraling back to the previous night. She cleared her throat, her voice cutting through the quiet like a bell.

"The Mage Sanctuary," she began, her tone taking on the cadence of a teacher addressing her students, "is a place of great power. It’s home to the Sisterhood, a group of mages dedicated to the study and mastery of mana. You’ll see when we get there—it’s unlike anything you’ve ever encountered."

Romina glanced up, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "The Sisterhood? Are they... all women?"

Mandira nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Mostly. There are one or two men in the Sanctuary, but they’re rare. The Sisterhood has always been predominantly female."

Shennong, walking a few steps ahead, turned his head slightly, his interest clearly piqued. "That’s weird," he said, his tone light but curious. "Is there a reason why so many women are mages?"

Mandira’s lips quirked into a small smile, grateful for the chance to focus on something academic. "It has to do with mana absorption," she explained. "Women, for reasons we don’t fully understand, are inherently better at absorbing and channeling mana. It’s like... our bodies are more attuned to the flow of magic. Men, on the other hand, tend to rely on brute force and physical strength. They can be mages, of course, but it’s less common."

Shennong nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Makes sense, makes sense," he said, though there was a playful edge to his voice. "So, you’re saying women are just naturally better at magic?"

Mandira rolled her eyes, but a faint blush crept up her neck. "Don’t twist my words, Shennong. It’s not about better. It’s about affinity. Men have their strengths too."

Romina, who had been silent until now, piped up hesitantly. "So... the Sisterhood. Are they, like, strict? Or... welcoming?"

Mandira’s expression softened further as she glanced at her niece. "They’re a family, in a way. Strict when it comes to discipline and study, but they take care of their own. You’ll see when we get there. It’s a beautiful place, carved into the mountain itself. The halls are lined with crystals that glow with stored mana. It’s... breathtaking."

The conversation seemed to ease some of the tension, and Romina’s shoulders relaxed slightly. But the awkwardness lingered, like a shadow neither woman could shake. Every so often, their eyes would meet, only to dart away quickly, as if burned. Shennong, for his part, seemed content to let them stew in their discomfort, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to their unease.

As the trio climbed higher, the trees began to thin, giving way to rocky outcrops and patches of stubborn grass. The air grew colder, and the path steeper. Mandira slowed her pace, her eyes scanning the ground carefully.

"This is my least favorite part," she said, her voice low. "The mages are... protective of the Sanctuary. They set traps along the mountain to keep intruders out. I don’t know what new ones they’ve planted since I was last here, so we need to be careful."

Shennong’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "Traps, huh? That’s interesting. We’ll get to see what your sisters are capable of before we even reach the place."

Mandira shot him a look, one eyebrow raised. "Are you that much of a battle junkie?"

Shennong placed a finger to his lips, closing one eye in a playful wink. "Call me curious."

Romina stifled a laugh, the first genuine sound she’d made all morning. Mandira shook her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. For a moment, the awkwardness faded, replaced by the camaraderie of their shared journey.

The path grew narrower, winding around jagged rocks and past sheer drops that made Romina’s stomach lurch. Mandira took the lead, her staff glowing faintly as she probed the ground for hidden traps. Shennong followed close behind, his movements relaxed but his eyes sharp, scanning for danger. Romina brought up the rear, her hands clenched into fists as she tried to focus on the path and not the memories that kept creeping into her mind.

"Careful here," Mandira called back, her voice steady but urgent. "There’s a pressure plate just ahead. Step where I step."

Shennong chuckled. "You mages sure know how to make a guest feel welcome."

"It’s not about guests, mages don’t welcome any unwanted guests." Mandira retorted, her tone dry. "It’s about keeping the Sanctuary safe. Not everyone who comes here has good intentions."

"Fair enough," Shennong said, his grin unwavering. "But I’m looking forward to meeting these sisters of yours. Sounds like they’re a lively bunch. Espcially the Grand Archmage."

Mandira snorted. "Lively is one way to put it, but you should be careful about Overseer."

"Overseer?" Shennong looked confused, but mandira wasn’t going to explain any further, after all she was curious about what kind of future would Shennong show her.

As they navigated the treacherous path, the mountain began to level out, and the first signs of the Mage Sanctuary came into view. Towers of smooth, pale stone rose from the cliffs, their surfaces shimmering with embedded crystals. The air hummed with latent magic, a tingling sensation that made Romina’s skin prickle.

"We’re almost there," Mandira said, her voice tinged with relief. "Just a little further."

Romina glanced at her aunt, then at Shennong, who was whistling cheerfully as if they weren’t walking into a fortress of powerful mages. Despite the awkwardness, despite the memories that still burned in her mind, she felt a spark of excitement. The Mage Sanctuary awaited, and with it, the promise of answers—and perhaps a chance to make everything right and bring great changes to the land that is on the verge of war.

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