Chapter 4 - Workout

The first thing she feels when she wakes up this morning is the heavy thump of her head. Yesterday, she knew she saw visions, well, the memories of Pheia.

It showed how she was, as a person. And as far as she was concerned, they are way too opposite. She's kind, she's helpful, generous, and all good characteristics of a lady. While Maiden couldn't even compare to her goodness. She can't even make good friends before. But one thing that she knew she outweighed Pheia was her confidence.

Pheia was not at all confident in herself. She couldn't even take a single glance at her body without being upset. She often bowed herself in front of many people because she was so fat, even though people around her would hardly comment on it. But she still felt upset and discriminated against.

Don't worry Pheia. I will bring you confidence. Like the old me, Maiden, was.

That's why after she woke up,  she eats her meals with Pheia's... well her mother. She got changed into something comfortable to wear while jogging. And what she requested from Pheia's mother was for her to wear the clothes of Pheia's late father.

At first, her mother hesitated on what she would wear because how come a woman, a lady, will come running with a man's attire, right? But soon, her mother compromised and let her wear the clothes especially when she gave her a feasible reason which is for her to exercise and changed into a healthy lifestyle.

The clothes were actually dusty and torn but it will do.

Way back in her previous life, she doesn't even bother whether her attire is big or barely hanging at her body. It is her workout gym after all.

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As she heads outside, wearing her father's attire. All inquiring eyes are on her. Maiden thinks that they might be confused why Pheia dresses like this after a long week of staying at their house with her injuries.

Maybe, some of them think she's crazy. Possibly because she just recently bumped her head hard. Maiden ignores those people and comes jogging right through the forest where Pheia often went as her secret place.

It was a huge forest with luscious green plants. All around it has thick bushes and tall trees, you can barely see where you're going and where you are from because of the repeating flora. If it wasn't for Pheia's memories, she'd be completely lost. Thankfully she regained most of Pheia's memories last night.

She jogged for just a couple of minutes but soon stopped as she catch her breath while panting heavily.

For God's sake, it is just a couple of minutes. Where is my endurance? I can run for hours before. Maiden whined in her own thoughts. Is she in her own body? For her to feel that way?  Now, she knew how every plus-sized woman is experiencing even with small jogging movements, she can hardly do. What more are those who experienced beyond what she experienced? Now, she has another reason to exercise more because she doesn't want to do small things with great difficulty. She sighed knowing that this would be a hard task.

After a few seconds of calming herself, she continued to jog and came to a small clearing.

Ahmm. Would be nice for training.

The small clearing showed a lot of flowers heavenly arranged at the side. If her understanding of Pheia's memories is correct. This is her secret place. She ran all around it. Until she feels Pheia's body was exhausted and out of breath. She lay down on the lawn while heavily catching her breath.

She looked up at the sky which was colored with blue hues. There were merely no clouds and it was such a wonderful day. She closed her eyes and feel the sounds of nature. It's more calming than she thought. She never once was in this kind of place. This is so new to her.

As she continued to enjoy nature she heard a slight movement coming at the bushes overhead. She silently turns her head towards noise.

She thinks, It might be some beast. Well, I need some training. My aiming range is not so sleek now.

She grab the small knife she'd tucked inside her boot earlier and hide at the nearest tree.

The motion continued nigh the clearing. As she was about to throw her knife, a poor wounded young man came across her sight. She was momentarily shocked and held back her knife, and studied the gesture of the man. He's clutching his wound right on his abdomen. He keeps on leading at the other end of the clearing. Looking back and forth for any possible threat or movement. And as he was about to reach Maiden's side his movement swayed and suddenly slumps to the ground, unconscious.

Maiden waited a little longer before she walks towards him. She grabs him on his back and sees the man wearing something Pheia's memory can't decipher. She can't pinpoint what kind of dress code is he wearing but she knew it was top-class clothe.

God, I need to recall and comprehend every bit of Pheia's memories. This man could be an enemy of this place.

She sees no sign of threat from him because he's unconscious after all. So the best thing she can do for now is to scoop him on her shoulder..  the advantage of a heavy lad.. and brought him to her house.

Before she reached her house, a lot of market people come rushing beside her.

"Who is that Pheia?" asked a woman in the vegetable shop.

"What is wrong with him?" asked a man in the butcher's shop.

...

They asked her a lot of questions but she can only answer them that she doesn't know. And because Pheia was known as someone very helpful, the people around her did not continue to ask further as they knew exactly that she just did what she thinks is best.

They help her carry the man and even called out the nearest healer to their house. Her mother came from their kitchen holding what she thinks is a ladle and worriedly asked her. "What happened?"

I think she needs to put that ladle first.

"Mother, I think you need to put that saddle first or finished your cooking. I can handle this." She smiled towards her mother relaying that she was fine and she can handle it. Her mother smiled back at her and went back to the kitchen as she settle the man into her bedroom.

Sad to say. We have two bedrooms in this house. One for my mother and another one for me.

They put the man down and the healer came with herbs with of.. well I don't know what are those.. she's used to antibiotics, not those. The townspeople head back to their living room and she stayed in her room. She watched as the healer and her company tore down the man's clothes.

Well, nice chest and abdomen. If it were not soaked with blood.

The healer chants more of a Latin phrase to her and went down touching those herbs in the man's wounds. Later than that, the herbs show what she thinks are sparkles of light which have taken her a bit aback. If she didn't have Pheia's memories she would have been dashing out of this place. Right here and right now.

Well, I haven't told you that this world I'm in, holds a LOT of secrets. One of those secrets is people with powers. Literal powers. Like one who holds fire without even burning themself. Or one who holds water like it has shape. Unfortunately, only nobles have these strong powers. Peasants or commoners like Pheia doesn't have any though sometimes miracle happened. Some commoners were bestowed with powers but only a few of them have.

The healer searched for a possible wound around the man's body. If this man is what she thinks he is. He might be grateful with her generosity and helpfulness that he came back alive.

I hope so.