The kettle was left to simmer as James stripped off his clothes and lowered himself into the refreshing yet painful waters of the stream. His body shivered as he tried to relax in the stream, the dirt and blood from previous days only being washed off just now. He began to clean his entire body, scrubbing with care at recent wounds that ranged from the tips of spears to small cuts from sword edges.

He then filled his lungs full of air before diving underwater and swimming against the current, which was quite strong today. His muscles ached and protested against the exercise after only half an hour. He was still sore, but he would only get stronger by this training, and continued at it for another half an hour before he couldn’t withstand it anymore and brought himself back up onto land from the stream.

James began to dry himself off with a towel he carried in his pack and set it aside, making a mental note to wash it later on in the day. Picking up his sack-cloth shorts and red-cotton shirt, he began to redress himself. Slipping his long arms through the sleeves of his shirt and guiding his black hair through the open hole. He then grabbed his leather cowl, gloves and leggings, fitting the cowl first on his head.

Returning to the kettle, he held out his hand and spoke the words “Ember Auras Gaius” and grabbed the handle. James then sat the kettle on the soft Earth nearby and sat down on the fallen tree. He lifted the pewter mug to his lips and drank the sweet tasting water, a hint of cinnamon filling his mouth and wrinkling his nose.

The air was a cool and refreshing wave against his face as he looked about. The grass swayed as the wind blew past and the little creatures of the forest scampered along, unaware of his presence it seemed. He looked up to the clear blue sky and smiled to himself. It was a beautiful day.

James relaxed and let his mind wander back into times of when he had been a child in the town of Junosa. He saw the waves of the ocean collide against the rocks of the shore and felt the familiar place of home pass over his body. He sighed with a longing to return to such a place, but more pressing matters were at hand for him to do such.