8 CHAPTER 8: AWAKENING 3

The cup of water was the last thing on the table. She felt highly mixed and confused emotions when she looked at the water in the cup.

Water has been a huge issue at the estate for about a decade, and even when it rains, the soil appears to be so artificial that it will lose all the water, converting the land back into a wasteland.

She didn't have to worry about those gossiping villagers as long as her water barrels were full.

And, now that she had the store space, she didn't have to worry about running out of water, especially because she reminded herself that water would always be available as long as the store existed.

However, as long as she intended to convert her land into what she wanted, water was very important for that plan to begin, and she didn't want to have too much hope of gaining it, especially after acquiring the earth's ability.

If she hadn't received that ability earlier, her chances of gaining the water ability would have been much higher, but she had to brace herself for the final letdown before making a celebratory dinner for acquiring an earth ability.

"Whatever happens, I'll just take it as it is," she muttered as she drew the cup closer to her. 'Learn to be thankful!'

She raised her palm and controlled her energy into the water after cheering for herself.

"Ripple, ripple," the water in the cup seems to have a grudge against her.

Shock spread on her face. Her mouth opened wide, eyes bulging and she just froze in place.

She was astounded by what she was witnessing, as if it wanted to slap her face and insult her.

'It's moving, it's really moving!' she exclaimed as water began to stream out of the cup as a result of her emotions.

Tapiwa broke off her thoughts, and the water calmed down immediately.

She willed the water again, and it all spilled on the floor, and seeing this, she burst out laughing.

Tapiwa sobbed tears of ecstasy while sitting on the floor, her eyes red, but the sense of happiness and satisfaction in those eyes couldn't be ignored.

'I have done it!'

That was all she could think of as she reflected on what had just occurred. Instead of gaining one ability, she unexpectedly gained two in just eight days; how could she not be jovial?

"Haha, the heavens certainly know how to reward hard work. This is undoubtedly my time, and believe me, I will not disappoint you. I will work hard and keep my pledge; this is something I will not violate under any circumstances."

She asked for a sense of stability and was given two; what more reasons did she need to make for not pursuing her ambition this time? Nothing.

Tapiwa sang a tune as she cleaned up the floor, delighted at what she had accomplished that morning.

She entered the store after washing up and took a pack of macaroni and some drumsticks from the chicken bag.

Speaking of food from the store area, she was previously concerned about finishing it and being unable to enjoy it once it was gone, but she discovered something quite remarkable that entirely changed her mind about being frugal.

It's been a month since she had that dream and received the store space. She pulled out some of the food items in the first seven days, which broke her heart because the food items were only discovered in single digits.

The essential food products she observed in the store were mealie-meal, white flour, rice, samp (crushed maize), sugar, cooking oil, macaroni, spaghetti, salt, powdered milk, soap, washing powder, bread, water, alcohol, cigarettes, toiletries and other items that people would need on a daily basis.

These items, however, appeared in 500g bags, 1kg or 1-liter containers, and small containers for canned goods.

After putting out the mealie-meal, meat, bread, juice, and other stuff in the first week, she was shocked to see another batch appear when the next week began. The food items she took were replaced, however, the ones she didn't use were now two instead of one.

Tapiwa's food insecurity issue dissipated after she discovered this, and she no longer needed to worry about food as long as the store space remained open.

So, if she wanted to eat something, she just had to pull it out, prepare it, and eat it.

That's why, in order to celebrate this joyous occasion, she didn't abandon herself and simply let go.

Tapiwa would have prepared a feast fit for a queen if it hadn't been for the lack of ovens and other modern-day appliances that would have made meals tastier.

However, because she was only one person, she simply cooked what she thought was best and ate to her heart's content. All the leftovers were wrapped and stored inside the store, keeping the meal fresh and warm.

She didn't have to bother about reheating her food as long as she stored it there.

Tapiwa, who had been stuck at home for over a week, could no longer handle being stuck at home, so she decided to go out, take a walk, and exercise at the same time.

She realized the value of exercise while experiencing the long dream. She didn't want to become a fat ability user, even though her existing body wasn't ideal.

For a thirty-three-year-old woman approaching thirty-four, her current weight was two and a three-quarter bucket, or around fifty-five kilograms.

She was far too thin for her tastes. She used to believe that being small and slender was the only way to live because men wanted their ladies that way, but her perspective has shifted.

She intended to have meat on her bones rather than just bones and skin. She wanted to be curvy and have clothes hug her body the way she had seen it previously in another world.

So, feeding herself was a necessity, but exercising was also necessary, because what she wanted wasn't all fat, but muscles with some fat to balance the equation.

And as she took this much-needed walk, she began to consider the next goal she needed to attain in order to get where she wanted to go in the future.