Chapter 37: Why Would You Swallow It?!

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Why Would You Swallow It?! Just as Isabella was admiring her makeshift toothpaste—her little pile of ground charcoal and mint leaves sitting proudly on the stone slab—Shelia came jogging back from the forest, holding some thin branches in her hand. "I got them!" Shelia grinned, her usually mischievous face unusually proud. "Are these the right ones?" Isabella took the branches from her and inspected them. The size was perfect, the bark was smooth, and it had just the right amount of flexibility. She had even broken it cleanly, avoiding splinters. "Huh," Isabella nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Not bad at all." Shelia puffed up like a cat that had just been praised for a successful hunt. "See? I’m useful!" Ophelia, ever the gentle soul, clapped her hands together. "Shelia, you’re amazing!" Shelia gave a smug smile, tilting her head dramatically. "I know." Isabella rolled her eyes but smiled. "Alright, time to show you guys how to use this thing." She poured a little water into her powdered mix, using her fingers to knead it together until it turned into a thick, dark paste. It wasn’t exactly Colgate, but it would do. {+10 crafting points} Then, she turned her attention to the chewing stick. "This is how it works," she said, holding it up. "First, you chew one end until it gets soft and turns into little brush-like fibers." The girls nodded, their expressions curious. "If it’s too dry, dip it in water to soften it." She demonstrated, taking a careful bite on one end of the stick. The taste was... earthy. Bitter. Definitely not her usual electric toothbrush experience. Still, she pressed on. "Once the fibers form, you rub it against your teeth like this." She made slow, exaggerated motions, brushing the front of her teeth. Ophelia leaned in closer, her round face full of concentration. Shelia, of course, was already chewing on hers like it was a snack. "Are you even listening?" Isabella raised a brow. Shelia nodded, still chewing, then pulled the stick out of her mouth to inspect it. "I think mine’s ready!" She eagerly dipped it into the toothpaste mix and started brushing. Ophelia followed, hesitantly rubbing the stick against her teeth. For a few moments, there was silence as they all worked. Then— "Pft—!" Ophelia made a strange noise, her eyes going wide. Isabella paused mid-brush. "What?" "It... it tingles!" Ophelia’s voice was high-pitched in surprise. Isabella grinned. "That’s the mint. Means it’s working." Shelia, on the other hand, was happily munching away like she had just been handed a new snack. Isabella’s eyes narrowed. "Wait. Shelia, you didn’t just—" Before she could finish, Shelia swallowed. Swallowed. Isabella screamed, "YOU SWALLOWED IT?!" Shelia froze, her chewing stick still in her hand. "Uh... yeah?" Isabella grabbed her shoulders. "WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?" Shelia blinked. "I don’t know? I thought it was edible?" "IT’S NOT FOOD!" Isabella groaned, shaking her. "Are you okay? Do you feel sick? Are your insides dissolving?" Shelia smacked her lips a few times. "Nope. I feel fine. Actually, my mouth feels all fresh and cool." She grinned. "Tastes kinda good, honestly." Isabella buried her face in her hands. "I cannot believe this. I make a toothpaste and the first thing someone does is EAT IT." Then, she turned slowly to Ophelia—who, unfortunately, had that guilty look on her face. Isabella narrowed her eyes. Ophelia gave a weak, awkward smile, her chubby cheeks puffed out. Isabella gasped. "YOU TOO?!" Ophelia immediately turned her head and spat it out onto the ground. "Peh! Peh! I was just tasting it!" "Tasting it?" Isabella repeated, horrified. "IT’S NOT A SNACK!" Ophelia rubbed the back of her head. "It was minty..." Isabella groaned dramatically, rubbing her temples. "New rule. From now on, anything I make that isn’t explicitly food, do not swallow it!" The two girls nodded quickly, looking appropriately guilty. Isabella sighed and gestured toward the water gourd. "Now rinse your mouths. All of it. Spit. Don’t swallow." Shelia and Ophelia quickly obeyed, taking turns rinsing their mouths and spitting onto the dirt. When they finished, Shelia ran her tongue over her teeth and gasped. "Whoa. My teeth feel... smooth?" Ophelia nodded enthusiastically, her big round eyes sparkling. "And so clean!" Isabella crossed her arms, feeling very smug. "See? Genius at work." Shelia grinned. "Alright, I admit it. This weird paste thing actually works." Isabella smirked. "Told you." She tapped her chin, thinking. "We’ll need salt next time. It’ll help with gum health." [+25 points] {+5 Survival Points, +4 Beauty Points, +1 Health Point} Ophelia nodded eagerly. "We can get some from the storage hut! The hunters bring back big chunks sometimes." Isabella hummed. "Good. Because I am not letting my first-ever toothpaste experiment be half-baked." She surveyed the girls, who were still rubbing their tongues over their teeth with fascination. "Now stop gawking at your own mouths like you’ve just discovered them and let’s get moving. We have more work to do." And with that, Isabella’s personal hygiene revolution had officially begun. "We should definitely show my brother this!" Shelia said excitedly, practically bouncing in place. Ophelia, ever the supportive one, nodded eagerly. "Kian still thinks you’re useless. Maybe if he sees this, he’ll finally believe you know things." Isabella clicked her tongue, pretending to consider it. "Tempting... but not today. Tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" Shelia pouted. "Yes, tomorrow. Do I look like I have the energy to deal with an arrogant beastman right now? No, I do not." Isabella crossed her arms. "I just spent my precious time teaching you two how to brush your damn teeth. Let me recover first." Ophelia giggled, while Shelia rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. However, before they could continue, Isabella’s eyes flickered toward the dirt path leading to her hut. A group of ten beastmen—broad, tall, and looking far too serious—were making their way toward them. Their heavy footsteps kicked up dust, their sharp gazes locked onto her hut. Shelia noticed them too, but instead of frowning, she smirked. "Right on time." Ophelia perked up, glancing at Isabella. "They’re here to help, right?" Isabella exhaled, relaxing her stance. "Obviously. Did you think I summoned them for a staring contest?" As the beastmen closed the distance, their sheer size and serious expressions still made them look intimidating. Their presence alone thickened the air, but despite knowing they weren’t a threat, one thing was certain— If someone saw them, they’d think they were in trouble.