Pushing The Limits.
It has been more than a month since Ray and Lina entered the Calm Plains.
Two weeks since they found the camp.
They did not stop at any point and kept moving on.
Since those two weeks, Ray managed to get a little bit of food. Some birds, some moles, and even some fruits from the only two apple trees they found since entering the Calm Plains.
Ray walked slower than usual. Hunger getting the better of him finally.
Lina was in perfect condition. She was eating properly because Ray has been starving in her stead.
The way Ray limped while walking, his pace slower than usual, anyone would know something is wrong.
Lina did too. "Papa," she said as she looked up at him while holding his hand. "Are you alright?"
Ray looked down at her. She seemed to be worried about him. Which, for Ray, was unacceptable.
"I'm okay, kiddo. No need to be worried." He replied, trying to reassure her.
He then picked her up into his arms.
"How about you take a nap? Kids who sleep a lot grow big and strong."
Lina smiled, her eyes shining. "Okay! I will grow big and strong and help Papa with everything."
Ray couldn't help but smile at the statement.
"Help me with everything, she said." he thought. "Look at her, so confident. Don't worry. I won't let you become like me."
After that, he kept moving with Lina sleeping in his arms, her breathing slow and steady, her small frame enveloped by Ray's big build.
The only reason Ray is still able to keep on moving even after not having eaten anything for more than a month is because he's pushing his body.
Mana is a source of energy, sure. But it cannot be a substitute for any sort of nutrients.
Ray does possess the ability to create anything using his mana. But he does not possess the ability to create nutrients.
At least, he did not.
Ever since coming to the Calm Plains, he has been constantly working on creating them. And he has managed to do so. But it's not very efficient.
He can only make enough in one day that someone would get from a little kid's snack.
"It's better than nothing, I guess." Ray said to himself in his mind. "It means I can at least keep going for a little more."
Even through that breakthrough, it's not possible to survive this long. He's been here for approximately five weeks.
Apparently he's been using his mana internally to force his body to function.
If he uses his mana to force his body to function, he won't be needing to use his own energy and he can save energy for when it matters.
Ray kept moving. He kept going like this for days. And a few days later, he ran into a problem.
"Papa, I'm hungry." Lina said while clenching her belly.
They ran out of food.
Ray stayed calm on the outside, but on the inside, he was panicking. Because he doesn't care if he starves, he wants Lina to eat properly and grow up healthy.
And they've run out of food now. And they're nowhere near the end of the Calm Plains.
He was lost in thought when Lina's stomach growled. So loudly that he could hear it.
Which hit him harder than any attack he ever received from a bounty hunter.
Knowing that his chil-... Lina was starving was the biggest torture for him as her fath-... father.
And he knew he couldn't do at this moment. He was powerless.
Or... was he?
Can Ray find a way to feed Lina?
Can Ray keep pushing himself until he gets out of this place?
Or will hunger get the better of him first?