Surviving The Beast World With My 'Sassy' System-Chapter 64: Luxury Level Stone Vessel

Lavayla rinsed the diced greens once more and placed them into the stone pot with fresh water. This time, the scent that rose was greener and lighter, carrying a clean, earthy note. She let them cook until the fibers softened completely, stirring gently and testing their texture between spoon and pot wall.

Once they were tender enough to break apart easily, she removed the pot from the fire.

Only then did she combine everything.

She poured the vegetables and their cooking water into the tuber pot, then returned it to the fire. The mixture warmed slowly as she stirred, the softened tuber dissolving into the liquid and drawing the vegetables into a smooth, pale blend.

Lavayla crouched beside the fire, adjusting the stones beneath the pot to keep the flame low and steady. She stirred at regular intervals, patient and focused. This was food for a baby. It needed time, not force.

As the porridge thickened, she leaned closer and began mashing deliberately, pressing the remaining tuber pieces against the side of the pot until no solid chunks remained. The texture grew even, soft, and cohesive, holding together without being heavy.

Satisfied, she removed the pot from the fire and set it on a flat stone nearby.

She waited.

Steam curled upward as the porridge cooled. Lavayla stirred slowly, watching the surface until it stilled completely. She dipped the tip of the spoon into the mixture and touched a small drop to her wrist.

Warm.

Perfect.

Lavayla released a quiet breath and lifted the pot, carrying it back into the cave with careful steps so not a single drop spilled. The soft crackle of the fire faded behind her as she passed through the curtain of water.

Vai was still asleep when she returned to the resting area.

She knelt beside him and set the pot down within reach, then simply watched him for a moment without waking him. His breathing was slow and even, his small chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

After a few seconds, Lavayla stood up.

She moved back toward the cave entrance and began cleaning up. The used leaves were gathered and discarded far from the resting area. She washed the metal pot thoroughly, scrubbing away any remaining residue before returning it to her space vault. The bone knife was rinsed with equal care and set aside safely. Before leaving the entrance, she checked on the Velvet-Web Moss and the Cloud-Silk Moss she had laid out earlier. Both were drying well, their surfaces clean and intact.

Only then did she return to Vai’s side.

She hesitated for a brief moment, then dipped the spoon into the porridge and tasted it herself.

Her eyes widened slightly.

It was soft, naturally sweet, and unexpectedly refreshing, the tuber’s sweetness balanced perfectly by the vegetables. She took another small spoonful without thinking, then a third, before catching herself and letting out a quiet laugh.

"Okay, stop," she murmured to herself, setting the spoon aside.

She turned her attention back to Vai, listening to his breathing and the distant echo of water filling the cave.

After a short while, he stirred.

His eyelids fluttered as his small body shifted, a soft sound escaping his throat. Lavayla leaned closer immediately, her expression gentle.

"Hey," she whispered. "You’re awake."

His eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, then brightening when they found her. His fingers curled as he stretched, letting out a quiet sound.

Lavayla smiled and lifted the pot slightly, letting the faint, sweet scent drift toward him. She carefully picked him up and settled him on her lap, supporting his back with one arm.

"Smell that?" she murmured, gesturing toward the porridge beside her. "I made something just for you."

She scooped a small amount of porridge with the rounded spoon and blew on it lightly before bringing it closer. Vai’s gaze locked onto the spoon at once, curiosity clear in his wide eyes.

She touched a tiny bit to his lips.

For a heartbeat, he froze.

Then his eyes widened.

A soft sound escaped him, somewhere between surprise and delight, and his mouth opened instinctively for more.

Lavayla laughed quietly, relief washing over her. "You like it?"

She fed him slowly, one small spoonful at a time, watching carefully to make sure he swallowed each mouthful properly. There was no rush.

With every bite, Vai grew more eager, his small hands lifting as if to grab the spoon. A bit of porridge smeared at the corner of his mouth, and Lavayla wiped it away with her thumb.

Minutes passed, and the pot grew noticeably lighter.

Lavayla leaned back slightly, her shoulders relaxing as she looked at him. "There we go," she murmured.

Vai let out a happy sound, leaning against her as he continued to make soft, satisfied noises.

Lavayla held him close, playing with him until he slept.

When she stepped outside to wait for Mirek, she walked only a few steps away from the cave entrance before a faint sound reached her ears.

Her head turned instantly toward the forest.

Moments later, Mirek emerged from between the trees. In one hand, he carried a stone pot far larger than the one she had seen earlier. With his other hand, he dragged the heavy body of a beast across the ground.

It was the Ironback Ridgebeast he had mentioned.

He stopped in front of Lavayla and released the beast’s body, letting it fall to the ground with a dull thud. Then he lifted the stone pot and held it out to her.

Lavayla’s gaze dropped to it, and she froze for a second.

The pot was impressive.

Not only was it well-shaped and evenly rounded, but it also had a fitted lid and a sturdy handle carved directly into the stone. The surface had been smoothed carefully, free of cracks or rough edges. By the standards of a primitive beast world, it looked almost luxurious.

No. It was more than that.

It was a genuinely well-made cooking vessel.

Lavayla accepted it with both hands, testing its weight. Her arms dipped slightly before she steadied herself, eyes widening in understanding.

Even with Soft-Core stone being lighter than normal, the increase in size made a clear difference.

Still, it was far lighter than she would have expected.

"You really did great," she said sincerely, looking up at him. "Thanks."

Mirek shook his head. "There’s no need to thank me." His voice was calm, but his gaze lingered on her. "I should be the one thanking you for always taking care of Vai."

He paused, then added quietly, "Thank you very much, Lavayla."

The seriousness in his eyes caught her off guard.

Lavayla blinked, then lifted a hand to rub the back of her neck, suddenly embarrassed. "Okay, okay, you’re welcome," she said quickly, waving her hand. "But you don’t need to thank me like that. I also care about Vai."

She smiled faintly. "I may not have known him for long, but he’s really lovable. He kind of... grew on me. So yeah, I like him a lot."

With that, she turned toward the cave.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and turned back to him.

"Wait," she said. "You haven’t absorbed the primal energy today, have you? You’ve used a lot of strength already. You should hurry and absorb it."

She gestured toward the cave. "Come on, let’s go inside."

"I will," Mirek replied. "But first, I need to bring back the boulder I made the stone pot and spoon from. If I bring it here, I can make tools whenever I need to without returning to the forest."

He looked at her steadily. "You can go ahead. I’ll be back soon."

Before she could argue, he had already turned around and headed back into the trees.

Lavayla watched him go, then smiled softly.

She carried the large stone pot into the cave and set it down carefully before returning to the resting area. With Mirek gone for the moment, she settled herself and resumed cultivating her physique strengthening manual, letting her breathing slow and her focus turn inward.

Time passed quietly.

About forty minutes later, she felt a familiar presence approaching.

Lavayla opened her eyes and immediately stood, heading outside at once.

"Mirek?" she called.

He emerged shortly after, and this time, her steps slowed.

Behind him was the boulder.

It was massive, nearly as tall as her chest and wide enough that two people would struggle to wrap their arms around it. The surface was a muted gray with faint, natural patterns running through it, and even at a glance, it looked dense and solid.

Mirek dragged it steadily across the ground, muscles shifting beneath his skin as he maneuvered it closer to the cave.

Lavayla stared at it in awe.

"So that’s the Soft-Core stone," she murmured.

Mirek nodded. "Yes. This is what remains of it."

Lavayla stepped closer, eyes shining with curiosity as she reached out and touched the stone’s surface.

Her curiosity towards the stone deepened