The river murmured softly beside them, a steady, soothing sound amidst the endless trees.

  Tessa stood at the bank, one hand resting on her hip, the other on her sword. Her eyes scanned the shimmering surface of the water.

  At least one problem was solved.

  She knelt down, cupped her hands, and drank. The water was cold, fresh, pure—no metallic taste, no murkiness.

  “At least we won’t die of thirst,” she muttered, letting the cool liquid slip between her fingers.

  Mike agreed.

  “One less issue. Now we just have to worry about the whole food thing…”

  Tessa grumbled, pcing a hand on her stomach as if she could will the hunger away.

  An Idea – Summoning Could HelpThen Mike spoke up, his voice sparked with sudden inspiration.

  “Wait… don’t you have summoning magic? Why not just summon a companion to hunt for you?”

  Tessa stood, her eyes sharp.

  “Hmm… maybe. But magic works differently here. I’m not sure if my summons are still… stable.”

  Mike sounded optimistic.

  “Only one way to find out.”

  He paused, then added:

  “While your summon hunts, you could set up camp—build a fire, craft a knife...”

  Tessa hesitated, then nodded.

  “Makes sense. I’ll try it.”

  The First Challenge – Summoning in a Strange WorldTessa sat down, one armored hand pressed against the earth. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

  Magic had always been her instrument—easily channeled, bent to her will. But here…

  Here it was like a foreign current.

  The flow of energy was there, but it didn’t obey.

  She called for it, tried to shape it—but nothing happened.

  “Uh… weren’t you summoning a wolf or something?” Mike asked.

  Tessa gritted her teeth.

  “I told you—it works differently here.”

  She closed her eyes again, this time trying to feel deeper. To understand the flow.

  Slowly—very slowly—she began to sense it.

  Magic didn’t respond to commands. It was wild. Untamed. Unpredictable.

  She had to adapt.

  And then—

  A soft hum filled the air.

  Shadows crawled across the ground, twisting, thickening—

  A rge, bck wolf formed before her.

  Golden eyes locked with hers. It was powerful, sleek, with a coat that shimmered like midnight.

  Tessa felt the bond. It awaited her command.

  “Hunt for me,” she said quietly.

  The wolf dipped its head, then vanished into the trees—swift and silent.

  Mike whistled.

  “Okay, that was seriously cool.”

  Tessa smirked.

  “I know.”

  Building a Campfire and Using Fire MagicWhile the wolf hunted, Tessa turned to the next task.

  Fire.

  She gathered dry sticks and branches, arranging them into a small campfire.

  Mike was impressed.

  “You actually know how to do this?”

  Tessa snorted.

  “I’m not some clueless noble. I built my empire from scratch. That includes knowing how to survive.”

  “Fair point.”

  She stretched out her hand. Fire spell.

  Nothing.

  “Uhm…” Mike prompted.

  Tessa narrowed her eyes.

  She remembered—magic had to be felt, flowed with, not forced.

  She inhaled deeply, reached for the energy.

  A tiny fme flickered in her palm.

  “There it is!” Mike cheered.

  Tessa guided the fme into the wood. Smoke rose—then fire.

  Creation Magic – Forging a KnifeShe exhaled. The fire burned. Now she needed a tool.

  She sat again, extended her hand.

  Creation magic.

  She pictured a simple knife.

  But it was like pushing through a wall.

  The magic wouldn’t bend easily.

  “That looks… hard,” Mike observed.

  “I’ll do it,” Tessa said, jaw tight.

  She focused harder.

  She shaped the image in her mind. Forced the energy to follow.

  Then—after multiple tries—a sharp knife appeared in her hand.

  Mike was thrilled.

  “Not bad!”

  Tessa examined it critically.

  “It took way more mana than it should.”

  “Then use it wisely.”

  The Wolf Returns with PreyLeaves rustled.

  Tessa looked up—the wolf had returned.

  It dropped a freshly killed hare at her feet.

  She nodded.

  “Well done.”

  Mike was impressed.

  “Efficient guy.”

  Tessa dismissed the wolf. It dissolved into bck mist.

  She took the knife and began to skin and prepare the hare.

  “You’re really good at that,” Mike said.

  “I’ve done it plenty of times.”

  She skewered the meat on a stick and held it over the fire.

  The First Meal – Memory and ConnectionWhen the meat was ready, she took a bite.

  The taste was different, but not bad.

  Then—

  Mike spoke, oddly excited.

  “Wait… I know that taste.”

  Tessa raised an eyebrow.

  “What do you mean?”

  Mike hesitated.

  “I ate hare once. Exactly like this.”

  A memory.

  His body was gone.

  But his memories were merging with her senses.

  They both fell silent for a moment.

  Then Tessa smirked.

  “So you are good for something after all.”

  Mike ughed.

  “Yeah, yeah. Let me keep borrowing your taste buds.”

  End of Chapter 7