Chapter 101

By the time Aria Bennett returned to the beehive with her gathered food, the bees had mostly vacated.

She pulled out the bamboo tubes she'd prepared earlier and began teaching the group how to extract honey.

"So this is why Aria had us make these!" Wesley Hart exclaimed, finally understanding. "I thought it was just for fun."

The others marveled. "Only Aria would think three steps ahead like this."

The trainees were especially impressed. "Professor Aria is amazing. We have so much to learn from her."

The massive hive yielded enough honey to fill everyone's bamboo tubes. For the first time, the director allowed them to keep the wild honey—a silent apology for yesterday's ordeal.

After lunch, they continued their trek, and Aria effortlessly sourced ingredients for dinner.

The director checked the livestream stats and was surprised to find that the audience preferred watching the guests coast along with Aria rather than struggle through survival challenges.

"Viewers are tired of the traditional survival format," the assistant director observed. "This lighthearted approach feels fresh."

The director slapped his thigh. "You're right!"

In the following days, the production crew broke from routine, letting everyone enjoy the island life under Aria's lead. The guests were stunned by the sudden ease, but the audience loved it. Aria's social media following skyrocketed by millions.

On their final night, the group stargazed and chatted until late.

At dawn, Aria was roused by faint cries for help. She sprang up and followed the sound.

Nearby, Damian Cross opened his eyes but stayed put. He trusted she could handle it.

In a moonlit clearing, a leopard clutched a tiny ink monkey in its jaws. Aria flung her machete, striking the beast with precision. The predator yelped and fled, leaving the barely breathing creature behind.

The ink monkey weakly pointed to the treetops. Aria parted the leaves and found a newborn monkey, trembling and alone.

"You want me to care for it?" she whispered.

The mother monkey nuzzled her hand before closing its eyes for the last time.

Aria buried the mother and recited a blessing over the grave. When she cradled the shivering infant, it immediately clung to her finger.

This was no ordinary monkey—it was a rare ink monkey, a cherished companion of scholars in ancient times. Aria gathered berries to feed the tiny sprite, already resolved to raise it.

Under the moonlight, she carried the new life back to camp, its steady breaths warming her fingertips.