*

What… happened?

Did I kill him? No—his heart is still beating. He must’ve passed out.

Thena’s thoughts raced as she tried to assess the situation.

I guess it hurts when I wiggle my tentacles. Sensory overload. Whoops.

She sent out a mental apology.

To the guy I’m inside—sorry for the pain!

Panic started to settle in.

What do I do? What do I do? I need to hide…

She pulsed out gentle sonar-like waves, mapping her surroundings from within Evin’s body, building an internal blueprint of his anatomy.

Alright, let’s see… If I make a small incision here, just enough to slip through—

With expert precision, she used her tendrils to slice a near-microscopic cut in the stomach lining, squeezing herself through while ensuring no fluids leaked out.

This probably hurts like hell. Good thing he passed out and won’t have to feel it…

Navigating further, she pushed deeper into his body, careful not to cause any more damage than necessary.

If I can reach his spinal cord…

A shiver of excitement ran through her. If she could latch onto it the same way she connected with the fungi, she might be able to communicate with him. Maybe even tap into his sensory input!

This is so exciting! But… if I mess this up, he could get paralyzed. I have to be very careful here…

Carefully, delicately, she extended a tendril, slicing a minuscule incision into the protective bone of his spine. Just enough to embed herself.

She anchored in place, sending out ultra-high-frequency pulses, heating her outer shell just enough to fuse seamlessly with the bone.

There. Perfect. He shouldn’t notice a thing.

*

Parallel to the subtle chaos unfolding inside Evin, the events on the outside were anything but subtle.

Allovilde had been brewing various herbal mixtures, but despite her efforts, she felt utterly helpless in the face of Evin’s distress. His body had been wracked with violent convulsions, though they had subsided some time ago. Now, he was gripped by fever, his skin burning hot as waves of sweat drenched him. Despite their efforts, neither she nor Laktor had managed to reach him.

Laktor had reacted instantly when Evin collapsed, moving like a gust of wind to catch him before he could hit the ground. As the seizures took hold, he ensured Evin wouldn’t injure himself—keeping his head steady and making sure he didn’t choke if he vomited.

“Has this ever happened before?” Laktor asked, glancing at Allovilde.

“No, never,” she replied, shaking her head. “It started right after he ate that mushroom. But symptoms from poisonous mushrooms usually take hours to appear—they have to be digested first. This… this doesn’t make sense.”

Hours passed, yet Evin’s condition remained unchanged. His fever showed no sign of worsening, but he wasn’t waking up either.

With little else to do, Allovilde and Laktor kept talking—about the forest, about traveling beyond their homeland—while keeping a close eye on Evin. For now, all they could do was wait.

Eventually, Evin’s fever began to subside, though he remained unresponsive.

Allovilde hesitated for a moment before deciding to voice the question that had been nagging at her. "By the way," she began, glancing at Laktor. "I saw how you moved when Evin collapsed. It wasn’t natural. One moment you were sitting over there"—she gestured toward the log he had been using as a makeshift seat—"and the next, you were behind him. I can’t fathom how you moved so quickly."

Laktor let out a quiet chuckle. "I was planning to explain this later, once we had covered the basics," he admitted. "But I suppose now is as good a time as any." He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms before continuing. "As you advance through the regions, the skills in your Pathway start evolving. The boons we receive can change things in ways you wouldn’t believe. What you saw just now—that was the result of an evolved skill."

Allovilde furrowed her brows. "Evolved?"

He nodded. "When I first started training, I focused a lot on dodging—avoiding attacks, slipping past danger, always keeping a step ahead. It became second nature. Then, when I reached Region Four—The Enchanted Glade—something changed. My Pathway Progress Status gave me an option to evolve one of my skills. The ability you witnessed? That’s no longer just ‘Dodge.’ It evolved into something called ‘Gust of Wind.’"

His eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "That moment was… eye-opening. It made me realize just how much potential there is in the Pathway system. And this," he gestured to himself, "is just a small taste of what’s possible."

At this, Evin let out a long groan. "Really? That is so cool… I can’t wait for us to get that far too," he murmured, his voice thick with exhaustion. Before either of them could respond, his eyelids fluttered shut once more, and he drifted back into slumber.

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Laktor and Allovilde exchanged amused glances before breaking into quiet laughter. "Well," Laktor said, stretching his arms, "we might as well make camp for the night."

As they settled in, Laktor took the opportunity to instruct Allovilde on essential survival tasks—skills that were crucial for anyone planning to spend long stretches in the wilderness. One of the most important among them was mending gear and equipment.

Though Allovilde and Evin already had plenty of experience maintaining their belongings from years of outdoor travel, Laktor’s techniques had been honed through sheer necessity. He demonstrated how to properly inspect their leather boots for wear, using a small awl and waxed thread to reinforce the seams before they weakened. He showed her how to waterproof them using rendered animal fat, rubbing it into the leather until it gleamed with a protective sheen.

For clothing, he had a method for patching wool cloaks and tunics using an overcast stitch to prevent fraying. He even had a small wooden loom in his pack for reinforcing worn-out sections of fabric with new weaving.

Their weapons and tools needed attention as well. He explained how to maintain the edge of a knife with careful strokes against a whetstone, emphasizing the importance of keeping the angle consistent. He showed her how to check the bindings on an axe handle, ensuring the head wouldn’t come loose at an inopportune moment. And for bow maintenance, he shared his trick of warming the bowstring slightly near the fire before applying beeswax to keep it from fraying.

Even with her prior knowledge, Allovilde picked up several useful tricks, while also sharing a few of her own. The discussion became an exchange of ideas—her experience with different stitching techniques for torn fabric, her way of tying knots to secure loose gear more efficiently. Laktor, in turn, seemed genuinely pleased to have someone to travel with who could contribute knowledge rather than simply receive it.

As they worked, the crackling fire cast flickering shadows on the ground, and the rhythmic sounds of stitching, sharpening, and oiling filled the quiet night. The tasks were small but essential, a steady ritual that ensured their survival in the untamed wilderness.

The following morning, they rose with the first light, stretching the stiffness from their limbs as they prepared breakfast. The scent of roasted grains and herbs mingled with the crisp morning air, filling the camp with warmth. As they ate, they took the time to assess Evin’s condition.

By now, he was fully awake and alert, though he moved gingerly, his entire body aching as if he’d spent the night wrestling a bear. "Feels like I’ve carried and stacked two seasons worth of firewood in one evening," he muttered, rolling his shoulders with a wince. "But otherwise, I think I’m fine."

*

Thena, however, had been anything but idle during the night. She remained wary—any sudden changes in Evin’s condition could make the others start searching for something unusual, and she wasn’t ready for that kind of scrutiny.

This turned out better than I expected! she thought to herself, adjusting her focus. The delicate membrane she had formed to pick up vibrations was proving to be surprisingly effective. The voices from outside filtered through clearly, allowing her to listen in on their conversations.

Though the noises in here are something else… she grumbled internally.

The prospect of listening—of observing real, living people again—sent waves of excitement through her. It had been centuries since she last had such an opportunity. The thrill of discovery was intoxicating.

But this is not a long-term solution, she reminded herself. At some point, I need a stronger connection with his nervous system. Just passively listening won’t cut it. I want to see again!

The hours passed as Thena soaked in every word exchanged outside.

She twitched slightly in frustration as yet another air bubble rumbled through Evin’s intestines. Void take me, if I have to hear one more gurgle! And his heartbeat—it’s like a war drum pounding right next to me! I swear, I’m going to lose my mind in here!

*

After breaking camp and ensuring nothing was left behind, they set off once more. The forest canopy gradually thinned as they neared its edge, the familiar embrace of towering trees giving way to open terrain.

The moment they stepped beyond the treeline, the world around them shifted. Sounds that had been muffled by dense foliage now rang clear and unrestrained—bird calls unfamiliar to their ears, the rustling of unseen creatures, and the whisper of the wind over open land. Shadows, once abundant beneath the trees, were now sparse, leaving them exposed under the broad sky.

Evin and Allovilde exchanged glances, both feeling a strange sense of vulnerability in the open landscape. They had spent so much time beneath the forest’s protective cover that the absence of it now felt unsettling.

Laktor, on the other hand, inhaled deeply, stretching his arms as he took in the unrestricted view. "Finally," he murmured, relishing the ability to see beyond a hundred paces in every direction.

After a moment, he turned to them, his expression thoughtful. "This is about where I planned for us to reach by the end of the first day. Before we go too far, I’d like to talk about our next steps." He studied them briefly before adding, "How are you both holding up?"

Evin rolled his shoulders and nodded. "I’m good," he said, glancing at Allovilde.

"Same here," she confirmed, though her gaze lingered on the unfamiliar terrain ahead.

Laktor gave an approving nod. "Good. There’s a river a few kilometers east," he said, gesturing toward the distant landscape. "It’s well-stocked with fish, and the banks make for solid ground to set up camp. Let’s head there for the night."

*

Let’s see… if I just thread a tiny tendril in here...

*

"Ahh!" Evin yelped as his left foot suddenly gave out beneath him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"What the—? I can’t feel my foot!" His voice was laced with alarm as he struggled to push himself upright.

*

Oops! Retreat, retreat!

The sensation returned almost instantly as Thena hastily withdrew her tendril from the nerve she had just tapped into.

*

Evin flexed his toes and gave his leg a few tentative shakes. "Huh. It’s back… That was weird." His face twisted in confusion.

Allovilde smirked, watching him. "Not used to walking outside the forest, are you?"

"Pfft, shut it!" Evin shot back, brushing dirt from his pants with an exaggerated huff.

The rest of the trek to the river was uneventful, and soon they were setting up camp along the bank. Without hesitation, Laktor fashioned a makeshift fishing rod, tying off a line and baiting the hook with swift efficiency. With a confident flick of his wrist, he cast the line into the water. "You two start prepping for dinner," he called over his shoulder. "Fishing is my forte!"

Evin and Allovilde exchanged skeptical glances, raising their eyebrows at Laktor’s self-assurance.

Three hours passed. Their stomachs growled. Their patience thinned.

Not a single fish had been caught.

With frustration creeping in, Evin and Allovilde decided to scout further downriver, leaving Laktor behind to his so-called forte.

A few minutes later, they rounded a bend in the river—and stopped dead in their tracks.

A small camp had been set up along the bank. Several humans were working by the water, rinsing out fishing nets while another stacked wood for a fire.

Evin lifted a hand in greeting, his mind already formulating a trade. His bags were filled with herbs and useful plants—surely they could barter for some fresh fish. "Hoy!" he called out.

The response was immediate.

The camp exploded into motion. Two women, standing near the fire, seized bows and nocked arrows with practiced speed.

The sharp twang of bowstrings rang through the air.

"Run!" Allovilde shouted.

They turned and bolted.