FOUR

That voice...

-Hey!

It just can not be! Now she too?

-Hi Lían -I turn and say with the most normal tone I can- how have you been?

They had a former battle companion, I met her on an expedition several months ago, we spoke often and you could even say that we are friends but since "the incident" I had not seen her, the truth is that I also avoided talking to so not to have to tell him goodbye.

-It's true? -She says while looking for my gaze- Did you do that to that woman?

I can't tell her that she was a trap, I know her, and I know that she would be capable of anything to protect her friends, I honestly don't know how someone like her is in the army. With this, I'll do you a favor ...

-That's right -I put on a cynical smile- if it hadn't been for the meddlesome idiot of the captain right now I'd be enjoying a beer in the city bar hahahahaha

-.......

That's look at me with distaste, swallow all that story, it's the best.

-Well, now you will excuse me, I have things to do -I turn around, and before disappearing I tell him- Don't provoke the superiors Lían, or you'll end up like me.

I do not know why I said that but what else does give, I will never see her again in my life.

I go to the entrance of the forest, I was about to collapse due to pain and fatigue but I knew that the outside was more dangerous than the inside. I walked as long as I could wanting to get to the cabin but I noticed that I was moving too slow, my body couldn't take it anymore until I fell exhausted among the trees ...

─────────────────❃ꕥ❃─────────────────

I slowly open my eyes ..... But what ?! I woke up next to my sword.

-She brought me? -I say out loud talking to myself, lately, that has become a habit- I don't think so, she shouldn't care the least what happens to me. Anyway, from here I'm close to my cabin.

-Lau Lau fukurou la la la la

I start to hear her, she seems to be in a very good mood today, I stare as the hooded woman hums a song while she caresses an owl in her arms.

-Two days right? -She says in a mocking tone- I see that you did not delay almost anything haha.

-Could you tell me what's up with this place? -I say as indignant as I can- When I left I appeared in Gridlar, which is impossible, this forest is surrounded by mountains, what is happening here ?!

-You should be grateful for having been able to leave, the forest is not usually so friendly.

-You speak as if this place has a mind of its own.

-He has it -he says calmly- anywhere has it, only this is something naughty.

- Trash you will say, is it one of those enchanted places that the books narrate?

-Oh! It is rare for a soldier to know about these issues - he says with anger in his voice - the truth is, I thought you were an illiterate alcoholic who solved everything with blows.

-Alcoholic maybe but as I told you during my "interview". I had a lot of free time and I was a little interested in ancient legends and the anatomy of beasts, so I know a little about cursed places.

-Cursed place, sounds very hard, don't you think?

-What do you want me to call a place that plays with people's perception to keep them trapped until they die?

-...

-What do you have in your backpack? -She said changing the subject- huh?

-Well...

-A change of clothes, a piece of cloth, rope, two stones? she asked very surprisedly, "what are they for?"

I don't know why you ask if you already know, anyway.

-Those come with this - I said, pulling the item out of my backpack-

-A lamp!

-They are special stones, they generate a spark in a simpler way than with normal rocks -I spread them in my hand so that I can appreciate them better- with this I turn on the lamp. Good thing it didn't break.

-Did something happen on the way here?

-Nothing ... nothing interesting

-You look terrible, did the beasts attack you?

- Yes, some very annoying

-Mmm ... - He stared at me for a moment- Well I have things to do, I'm going.

-Okay I'll get some sleep.

On the way to my cabin, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I missed her, without doing anything else I lay down on the bed, my body needed to rest from all this.

─────────────────❃ꕥ❃─────────────────

When I woke up, my body already felt less sore.

-I should finish marking the path to the river.

I continued my work of driving the stakes into the trees for a few minutes, I can hear the water, I am almost there. I need a good bath.

-I remember telling you not to bother the animals

Looking to the left I saw her, carrying a hare while her feet played with the water.

-Good morning

-The sunlight does not come here, how do you know that it is daytime?

-When I wake up it will be daytime and when I sleep at night -I tell him as if it were something obvious- that's it.

-I thought you would say something intelligent, I expected a lot from you -she says with that mocking tone that is already beginning to irritate me- I must remember that you are a simple idiot soldier who was deceived.

Sometimes I wonder: can I hit her? Then I remember that if I did, maybe she would kill me and that idea goes out of my mind.

-Catch this!

Suddenly she throws something at me

- Berries?

-They taste somewhat bitter but get used to it, it will be the only thing you eat while you are here

-Are you kidding? I'll starve to death if I just eat this, "I say in the most serious tone I can, knowing it will upset her," let me at least hunt.

She returned to look at me in such a cold way, even could swear that her eyes are a shade darker.

-Touch the smallest of animals and you will wish you had died that night.

-...

-...

-hahaha - I let go without being able to hold the laughter- only she was joking, you made the conditions clear to me the first day. Quiet I will not break my word.

-This river comes straight from the mountains -he smiles at me- the same mountains that you say you crossed when you decided to go out.

-Okay ...

-Why don't you explore a little upriver? Maybe you will find something interesting. -she points to me in front- and about the food, the berries here leftover so eat as much as you want.

Now she wants me to go upriver, what do you want me to see woman?

-I will only walk for a while, I still have not fully recovered from my trip.

-Good luck -she says with a smile.

I walked and walked but I couldn't find anything, maybe you want me to reach the base of the mountain? If so, it could take hours, I don't even know where I am in the forest exactly.

-That's ... the base? -I approach quickly- What's that over there? It's a cave -I get closer and at the entrance, I see a couple of peaks- a mineral cave? -this is very strange- who could extract minerals here?