White field (3)

"W-Wait! Child, I can give you power, so much power!"

"…"

"Silly! You think you can deny me now? Trying to grab freedom with your schemes exposed?"

Inside the whitefield, the black entity stood up, struggling to manifest energy. But it was no use. The boy understood this was his domain now and he wasn't about to give it up.

"I can-"

"How many knights did you kill?"

"Oh~"

"...Only two survived."

"If my body hadn't given out... you would've hunted them down, wouldn't you?"

"Damn right, he would!"

"...Damn it."

Knowing there was no point denying it, the entity dropped to the ground and awaited his fate.

"Alright... Nymph. Go!."

"Close your eyes. Think about restraining him."

Two black poles rose from the ground on either side of the entity. Chains followed, snapping tight around its arms and torso.

"Hah… Did I do it?"

"Yeah. Not bad, for a human."

"You... You dare?!"

The entity's presence flared. Black energy erupted around it like smoke licking for air.

"Wh-what?! I thought you said I was in control!"

"You are. But he's burning his power to break free."

"Break free of what, my body?"

"He doesn't want to be imprisoned. He wants to return."

"F*ck!"

One by one, the chains snapped, falling away. The boy stared, helpless.

"Kid! Close your eyes again! I'm jumping in too!"

"...Fine!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the bindings back. Two more poles slammed into the ground. Fresh chains lashed around the entity.

"You think chains can stop me?! HRAAGH!"

The demon surged again. Power poured from him like fire through a crack in a dam. If they could just hold him until he burned out...

"You demons are so uncivilized!"

"Huh?!"

The boy opened his eyes. Only two chains remained. The nymph now hovered, her body wrapped in golden, sun like energy, rushing toward the entity.

"You! Damn nymph! Don't you dare!"

"You hooligan! You're not getting out!"

She dove. Energy exploded as she hit the ground. A massive tree erupted from where the poles had stood, its trunk thick, leaves gold like firelight.

"Whoa... Nymph?!"

"I'm inside the tree!"

"How do I-?"

"Just walk!"

"...Okay?"

He stepped forward, expecting bark against his face, but instead, found himself inside. A quiet chamber. The nymph stood at the center beside a floating crystal, warm and glowing.

"Come on! Watch this!"

"Crazy..."

It wasn't just any crystal. Inside it, trapped, was the black entity. Its mouth moved furiously, but no sound came.

"Hahaha! Talking to himself!"

"Does he know we can't hear him?"

"Who cares!"

The boy just stared. It was strange, how carefree spirits seemed. But at least the monster was caged now. When he woke up, his body would be his again.

"Hmmm~ I had my fun. Pleased to meet you, contractor! I'm Lilo!"

"Wait... Contractor?"

"Of course! I literally created a tree in the middle of your world."

"Wait... Are you also...?"

"Interlinked with your soul. So I'll make myself comfortable!"

She snapped her fingers. A floating bed of leaves appeared. She flopped onto it with a grin, facing the crystal like she was watching a show.

"So what's next?"

"Hmm~ I guess your body wakes up. Then we find a way out of the forest."

"We?"

"Of course! We're partners now!"

"You're not leaving?"

"I would! If that hooligan hadn't dragged me in. But since I engraved myself into your world, I can't."

"Engraved?"

"Yeah. Forest spirits need to engrave their existence to stay. Before that cursed storm, I had a huge tree to live in."

"A tree? What happened to it?"

"It got blown into the air."

"Oh…"

"But it's alright! I can't wait for our adventure~"

"..."

The nymph was definitely... something. This journey was going to be wild.

A loud bang echoed inside the tree.

"He's really trying to get out."

"Ignore him. That hooligan deserves it."

"You really hate him."

"His existence reeks. Destroying the forest, tainting everything he touches!"

"Yeah…"

"By the way, what's your name? I'm not calling you 'kid' forever."

"My name…"

"Yeah, everyone's got one! Like me, Lilo, named by the Spirit King!"

"I can't remember… I'm trying, but..."

"Oh. Like a void?"

"Yeah. All I remember is being kidnapped. Caged."

"Maybe it's a spell, those demonic fanatics again!"

"You mean the worshippers?"

"Yeah, those guys."

Suddenly, sharp cracks sounded in the air.

The boy rushed outside. The nymph followed close behind.

The domain, the whitefield was crumbling. Cracks ran through the ground, spreading fast.

"H-Hey! What's happening!?"

"Relax. You're waking up."

But the world kept breaking apart. The ground split beneath him, and he fell into darkness.

"Graah!! N-No!"

"See you on the other side, human."