They continued on their walk, their path lit up with the magical flashlight made by Elara. The forest was quiet, with the only noises being quiet hisses and footsteps of animals in the forest, walking away from Alex and Elara. Somewhere along the way, Alex felt cold, so he requested Elara to make him a new shirt, which she did.

“Point the flashlight to the forest.” Alex said, and Elara complied. She pointed the flashlight to their right, shining bright light upon the vegetation. There were no animals or monsters, simply bushes and trees.

“I thought that the forest would be more magical. But it looks like the most normal forest.” Alex said in disappointment. It was a world of magic and magical creatures, so why is the forest completely normal?

“You’re so stupid.” Elara said, pointing the flashlight back ahead of them. When she did, she illuminated the flowing river and its clear water.

“Go wash now.” Elara said as they approached the river.

“Turn around.” Alex requested, walking up to the river until the water was just short of reaching him. Elara complied, turned around and sat on a fallen tree, facing away from Alex.

“Make it quick.” Elara said. Alex tried to take off his shirt, but he had the scabbard belt strapped over both his shoulders going down his back before reattaching to the scabbard back at his hip.

“Why did you create so many straps?” Alex asked, which made Elara shrug her shoulders.

“Why not? Besides, you like being tied up, so where’s the issue?” Elara said teasingly. Alex could see the smile on her face despite her having her back turned to him.

“Excuse me? No, I don’t.” Alex denied, the buckles were on his back, and he tried reaching them as he spoke. Unfortunately, it was in a spot that he couldn’t reach with his hands.

“You so easily forget that I know every thought and memory you’ve ever had from your very birth in your old world.” Elara responded, at which Alex clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, shut it. Help me out.” Alex said as he approached her and turned around, also standing with his back to her.

“Not denying it anymore, are you?” Elara teased. It was clear from her voice that she loved teasing her friend. She stood up and turned to face Alex, quickly unbuckling the two straps on his back and turning back around and sitting on the tree. Alex hastily took off the straps and let them fall to the ground next to Elara. Then, he took off his pants and underwear, leaving them on the ground.

“I’m not denying it anymore because I know that arguing with you is impossible.” Alex said as he stepped into the cold water.

“You’re not denying it because you know that I’m right.” Elara said smugly.

“Just forget it.” Alex replied, the water around him turning a light red from all the blood being washed away by the flow of the river.

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“Hey now, don’t take it as me shaming you or something.” Elara said. Alex started washing his body with his hands, scrubbing away the blood and other grime stuck to his body.

“I know, but be quiet.” Alex responded, looking over his shoulder at Elara to make sure she doesn’t peek at him.

“How’s the water?” Elara asked after a moment of silence, looking around the dark forest as well as up at the starry night sky.

“Cold. You sure I won’t get sick?” Alex asked before submerging himself in water completely, his head reappearing a moment later.

“Not really, and even if, healing magic exists. And if I was in your place I’d watch out for that fish-like monster right next to your left leg.” Elara said casually. Alex looked down and through the transparent surface of the water he noticed a big, piranha-like fish with sharp teeth slowly approaching him. He screamed and immediately swam back to shore as fast as he could. Once on land, he sat down on the ground some distance from the water, breathing heavily. Elara started laughing loudly as soon as Alex sat down.

“HAHAHAHA! You lived on a farm, how are you so easily scared?!” Elara said through her fit of laughter.

“Why are you laughing!? I was about to have my leg eaten!” Alex yelled out, the light breeze blowing past his wet body and sending a shiver down his spine.

“Not really, that specific species prefers vegetation over meat, and the only time they would ever eat meat is if they were on the brink of starvation.” Elara explained, calmed down after laughing so much.

“Then why scare me?!” Alex asked as he stood up, water dripping from his body.

“And give me a towel.” Alex said, at which Elara created a towel out of thin air using Xen.

“Because you were clean already, staying in the water any longer would be useless.” Elara replied calmly as Alex dried off his body. Surprisingly, it also dried his hair completely.

“You could’ve just said so.” Alex said, putting on his clothes, including the scabbard, Elara helping him with the straps.

“Sorry, won’t happen again. But, where now?” Elara said as Alex finished with the clothes.

“Either we go to somewhere where we can earn money, or sleep under some tree since we don’t have any money for a room.” Alex responded, refreshed after the cold bath.

“We don’t need sleep, so let’s go and earn some money.” Elara said casually and started walking back the way they came from, the flashlight in her hand and illuminating the way in front of her, leaving Alex in darkness before he caught up.

“What? We’re in human bodies, of course we need sleep.” Alex said.

“These are clones that look human only on the outside. On the inside, there are almost no organs.” Elara replied, yet again casually.

“What? Then how are we even alive?” Alex asked, confused how their bodies could live without organs.

“The only internal organs we have are the brain and the mouth that leads to the stomach. And in the stomach, instead of there being the usual acids, there is the fluoroantimonic acid, and the stomach walls are protected by a layer of Xen. Anything you eat will dissolve in the acid and be absorbed by Xen and later transported to your brain, which keeps you alive.” Elara explained, her expression smug as she did.

“…That’s… cool, I guess?” Alex responded.

“Of course it is. I made it, after all.” Elara praised herself.

“Anyway, since we don’t need to sleep, we’re going to go and earn some money, yes?” Alex asked, a stick snapping under his foot as he walked over it.

“Yep, we’re gonna go to the guild and take on some quests.” Elara replied, her red eyes glowing dimly in the dark.

After that, they continued on their slow, quiet walk. The tall trees almost completely blocked the night sky, but occasionally through the gaps they were able to see a small portion of the starry sky, as well as the full moon.

“Hey, doesn’t it feel so romantic?” Elara asked, a small, teasing grin on her face.

“You’re making this walk more of a big deal than it really is.” Alex responded, not playing along with his friend at all.

“Oh come on, just think about it! Two people taking a leisurely walk under the night sky, ain’t that romantic? The only thing that’s missing is the hand-holding.” Elara said, extending her hand for Alex to take. Unfortunately for her, Alex slapped her hand away.

“I am not taking your hand. Not in a million years.” Alex said firmly.

“Aww, why not?” Elara asked, fake sadness in her voice.

“I have a feeling that the moment I take your hand you’ll do something.” Alex responded.

“That’s such a mean thing to say, Alex. You know I wouldn’t do anything.” Elara said, fake sadness still present in her voice as Alex didn’t want to play along.

“You absolutely would.” Alex said simply.

“I probably would, yeah.” Elara admitted, her voice back to normal. Alex shook his head and sighed before responding,

“You’re impossible.” Elara giggled at Alex’s words and smiled.

“Thanks for the complement.” Elara said, her hair swaying in the light breeze.

“Wasn’t a complement.” Alex replied.

“To me it was.” Elara responded, making Alex shake his head again.

“Whatever. How long until we’re out of the forest?” Alex asked as he looked at the mental map in his mind.

“About 4 minutes.” Elara replied, making one mark for the gate to the capital, and one marker for their location. Alex nodded and they continued on their walk.