Chapter 96: Plans, Preparations, and One Really Annoyed Protagonist

Sam's retreat from the mysterious figure had been less than graceful. As he limped down the rocky trail, he couldn't help but replay the encounter in his mind, his frustration growing with every step. "I mean, who even does that? Just stands there all spooky and throws people around without a single word? What a jerk!"

He found a decent-sized rock to sit on and flopped down, rubbing the back of his head where it had met the ground—twice. The guy in the cloak had been like a brick wall, and Sam had bounced off him just as effectively.

Sam sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Okay, deep breath. You're not going to get anywhere by just whining about it." He took a deep breath, trying to calm the flurry of thoughts. "Alright, so... new plan. If I can't go through him, then I'll just have to figure out a way around him."