Neither wind nor light can pass through the Dark Forest.
-...
-(Strange. I feel as if I was abandoned, and now someone has decided to look at me again.)
-(I guess it's just my imagination.)
-(Aaah! Why can't I even open my eyes?!)
I'm frustrated that I still can't move a single muscle.
….
…
..
.
-(What day is it today? Is it morning or night? How long have I been here? Why is the sky blue? What is the meaning of life? Why do we exist? For what purpose were we created? What is real? Why is there something instead of nothing? What is the speed of darkness, anyway?)
I want to sigh, but I can't even do that.
-(I'm going to go crazy like this.)
-...
-(What else did Eladreo say about this world?)
With nothing to do, I can only recall the conversations I had with Eladreo.. But, unfortunately, they grow more distant by the moment.
-(Come on, memories!)
Even though I forget some things, I remember the most important points.
-(From the beginning. The Source, the energy that every living being in this world possesses.)
-(Skills, a form of raw and overwhelming power, but one that carries consequences.)
-(Ancient Art, versatile and less potent.)
-(That's more or less it.)
-(...)
-(Now that I think about it… I should have asked how to obtain these powers.)
I get stuck on important questions. Beyond the basic explanations, Eladreo didn't tell me how to use or awaken these powers. My memories whisper that Eladreo had explained the reasons for not telling me. But I can't decipher whether that's intuition or certainty.
-(There's no way around it.)
-(I'll have to figure things out by force.)
-(Well, time is not what I lack, since I can't move and have no external needs… so… Focus!)
I clear my mind of all unnecessary thoughts and concentrate on feeling the Source.
I keep my mind clear.
-...
-...
-...
A thin white line brushes my senses, then vanishes.
-(?!?! )
-(What was that?! Could it have been the Source?!)
Before I think too much about that sensation, I decide to just concentrate again. Time passes without me noticing, until suddenly, I feel that presence again. I am certain this is the Source.
As my awareness sharpens, thin lines appear, passing around and inside me.
-(Wow! I'm even seeing the Source… Some Sources are white, others are light gray.)
-(Look at that. Indeed, objects like the ground and my clothes don't have Source, but they seem capable of absorbing it or being enveloped by it.)
And finally, with much effort and patience, I can not only feel the Source, but also see it, even without opening my eyes. A small achievement.
I would smile if I could move my lips.
-(The only thing missing is that screen.)
-(Status! Saying I've achieved something.)
-...
I wait for something to happen, but nothing occurs. I sigh mentally.
-...
I suppose that was to be expected. I discovered that this so-called "status" only exists in manga and anime. In real life, there's no way to see EXP, MP, HP, or any kind of attributes.
It would be good and bad at the same time. Good because I could see my maximum capabilities, understand dangerous plants, animals, and levels. But bad because I would end up dependent on it. And if the blue screen suddenly disappeared… It would be chaos for me. But denying that I wanted to have one would be a big lie.
-(Going back to the subject of the Source. Even being able to see it, I basically only see black and white… and a little gray.)
-(When will I get out of this place? What's the use of having super regeneration if I can't move a single finger?)
I sigh mentally again.
-(Well… I'll train more to feel the Source, then. Since it's the only thing I can do.)
….
…
..
.
I tremble my lips, but I don't notice it, as I'm focused and rejoice at the new achievement.
-(I did it! I improved!)
-(I can already see the Source with much more clarity and over a much larger field.)
After a long and patient training, I can see the Source far beyond a simple field of vision. If I concentrate, I can even see the Source behind me or beneath the ground.
….
…
..
.
Until, suddenly, on some day or night, I manage to open my eyes and move my mouth.
-Fi…
-Finally!
-After so much time, I managed to open my eyes.
-Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah! Yes!
-I can speak and see again!!!
I'm so happy that I start to cry.
-How long has it been since I last spoke? Since I last saw?
After long minutes of happiness, my spirits calm down. For it's still not time to celebrate. After all, my body is still paralyzed and I still need to think about how to get out of here.
So, I set aside the celebration and evaluate my situation. I analyze it in parts. My condition is still paralysis. There's not much I can do now, so the next step is to find out where I am.
Even without being able to move my head, I can still move my eyes. I see that I'm in the forest, I already knew that, but everything is dark. Yet it's a type of darkness in which I can still see, regardless of whether it's day or night.
Looking closer, I notice those black orchids clinging to the trees. They're the ones releasing the dark pollen into the air. I remember these orchids. They're the reason for my paralysis.
I notice that the orchids stretch from the base of the tree to the top.
-These orchids don't seem to belong to these trees.
-They look like vines.
-There are so many…
-That must be why everything is dark here.
I inhale through my mouth. I feel my tongue go numb, and my mouth become stiff.
-(It seems to paralyze anyone who breathes it in or touches the pollen.)
I look around. Hundreds of monster corpses. Some recent, some old. Bones everywhere.
-(Looks like a lot of creatures die here.)
-(Indeed!)
-(There are those wolves.)
I strain my eyes to see if they're still there, even though I know they would be dead. But when I look, they're gone.
-Hmm?...
-(Where are they?)
I scratch my chin mentally.
-Could they have freed themselves?
-That's impossible. They were badly injured, and I think many weeks have passed. They wouldn't be in any condition to escape.
-It's also unlikely that another monster took them, because the monster would have taken me too.
-But what if they had freed themselves? They would have eaten me.
-So… where are they?
I think of more theories, but none make sense. Then I notice the skeletons around me more carefully. I see two large skulls with cracks. The skulls look like wolves'. And there are some bones that seem to belong to quadruped creatures near me.
I quickly deduce what must have happened.
-The wolves are dead. Their bones are turning to dust.
-(The explosion that pushed us here must have mortally wounded them.)
-That's it.
-Wow… how long does it take for a body to turn to dust? Months, maybe.
-Well, it doesn't matter. But this answers my question.
I look around.
-Hmm… strange…
-I don't know why, but I'm talking, thinking, and giving explanations about my situation. It feels like I'm explaining myself to someone.
-...
I stare into the darkness, as if searching for something, but I see nothing unusual.
-I guess it's just my imagination, right?
-Well… But what I want most is to get out of here and see the world. How many adventures could be waiting for me?
My blue irises shine faintly. I've never fulfilled my dream of traveling. I've always wanted to see different peoples and cultures, but I never even had enough money to go to a nearby city.
My expression hardens.
-I have to get out of here!
I've been here for a long time. If I really want to see the world, I have to move and leave as soon as possible. Determined, I try to move my body again and again, without stopping.
I feel the fatigue, but my regeneration renews me.
-(I don't know how long I've been trying, but I won't give up!)
My body starts to tremble.
-Oh!
-That's it! Don't stop!
-I'm almost there!
My fingers begin to move, trembling, bending, stretching. After a lot of effort, I manage to move my body. Recklessly, I try to stand up all at once, but I fall. I'm still partially paralyzed. But I won't give up. Hope is right in front of me. I repeat it many times, always falling. I feel as if a huge weight is on my back. Realizing this method isn't working, I decide to stand up like I'm doing push-ups.
My legs try to balance me, wobbling, but I remain standing. My body is heavy, but I can walk.
I take a step, almost fall, but manage to steady myself.
I take another, and another. My balance improves.
I stumble, but manage to lean on a tree. I look at it. A black orchid releases pollen right into my face.
Consciousness fades, my body weakens. My fingers slide over the tree trunk. I begin to fall.
I wrinkle my face, grit my teeth, and my fingers bleed as they pierce the tree bark. My eyes fill with determination.
-I will not fall!
And I walk through the darkness of the trees.
….
…
..
.