Warm

That was Alder’s first thought, as he slowly stirred from his sleep. His location, blocked by the expanse of the canopy, allowed for the filtered sunlight to dance on his face. The warm, bright sunlight contradicted his current sorry state.

“Mhm”

Alder breathed out as he slowly woke up. His eyelids were like thousand-ton stones that refused to budge. He relaxed and felt the condition of his body. Due to the final dash toward his current location yesterday, his body was still sore from overexertion. Forcing his eyes open, Alder attempted to stand up

“Fuck! @@@@”

A symphony of swear words surfaced as he moved his left arm, forgetting the critical injury. Sweat poured down his back and his face scrunched up in pain. Taking deep breaths, Alder turned his attention to observing his surroundings.

The dense overgrowth behind him led to a small clearing covered by a canopy of old trees. There seemed to be only one path leading out of the clearing. The trees and brush surrounded the path allowing for no deviations.

Although it was already daytime, with golden sunlight shining on the forest, the presence of living creatures could not be felt. No birds chirping, no insects buzzing, the only sound was the gentle breeze parting the leaves high above.

'Seems like they aren't giving me a choice. If God exists I would like to give them a punch right to their face'

Alder refocused on the sac that sat on the ground to his left. Twisting his body, he reached out towards him with his right hand. Slightly wincing in pain, Adler managed to pull the sac onto his lap.

Looking down as he rummaged through it. The filtered sunlight barely allowed him to identify the contents of the sac

Packed inside were some rolls of gauze-like fabric, a change of clothes, an intricate token of unknown metal, and an empty pale leather canteen

'Jesus Milos, at least pack some food and fill the canteen with water'

Disappointed with the lack of provisions, he silently lamented. All of a sudden sunlight bathed the surroundings. Alder looked up, confused.

The previously thick canopy had fully opened up, revealing the glaring false red sun. The temperature gradually rose, and the air around Aldet rippled.

'What is this phenomenon …. This is hotter than summer in Africa'

Alder mused sarcastically as small beads of sweat started forming on the back of the neck. Breathing in deeply

"What do you want from me?!!"

Alder screamed to his deathly silent surroundings. As expected there was no answer, the previous flowing breeze also disappeared like a lie.

"Fine you just want me to move ….. damn you all, you really know how to torture a man"

Mumbling, Alder struggled to push his overexerted body up. Ignoring his legs screaming from pain, he stumbled a few times before finally regaining balance.

Alder straightened and started stretching out his body. By now, sweat ran down his body drenching his clothing stained with dried blood.

With his remaining good arm, Alder tore off his coarse linen shirt, revealing his malnourished body. Not deathly sick by any measure, but his ribcage had started becoming visible, as skin clung to it like a membrane. A testament to the fact that he probably had not eaten in a few days. Maybe due to consecutive stressful events, the feeling of hunger had not hit him yet. On the other hand, thirst overwhelmed him. Lacking his dried, cracked lips, Alder picked up the sack and started stumbling his way forward.

'Surely there is a stream of some sort in this vast forest'

***

How much time has passed?

Alder continuously trudged along the singular path. Each step takes all his energy, leaving a trail of sweat.

The blaring sun is still high in the sky as if mocking him. Squinting, Alder tilted up his head and looked up at the sky.

Unbeknownst to him the sky had turned a Subtle shade of red, and the sun seemed to be larger and in a deeper shape shade.

"......"

Alder momentarily thought of mocking his current situation, before realizing his throat was as dry as the Sahara desert midday. Giving a light cough, he turned his focus back forward and continued on.

***

Did an hour pass? A day?

Time seemed irrelevant here, the sun was as hot and glaring as when he first started his march.

A wave of panic swept past Alders' otherwise expressionless face.

'Milos said this road leads to the so-called city of Nor …. am I even on the right path?'

Flooded by self-doubt, Alder became increasingly anxious. With no source of food and water, Alder’s parched throat burned, and sweat no longer precipitated from his skin.

On the contrary, his skin seemed dry and cracked like land after a drought. Alder ran his dry touch on his cracked lips and tried to swallow saliva.

'What a weird forest. The expanse of healthy green trees must indicate the existence of a source of water …..'

Alder's mind swirled as he panted heavily. His body was now beyond heavy, and sending him signals for him to rest. For the thousandth time, Alder looked around. Although trees were lining both sides of the oath, they cast no shadows as if they were illusions.

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Stopping momentarily, Alder neared the edge and reached out to one of the many trees. Reaching out with his left hand, he caressed the bard.

'It is hard …… seems real enough …'

Reaching higher, Alder tried grasping at the leaves on the lowest branch. Just as his fingertip touched a leaf, the view in front of him flickered. Alder saw two distinct objects superimposed onto each other. The image of trees in front of him seemed to exist at the same time as sharp jagged rocks at the same place.

"Ouch!"

Exclaiming in surprise, Alder suddenly extracted his hand and stumbled back a few steps.

Bloodshot eyes widened with surprise, and Alder stared blankly at his finger. The leaf had pierced through his thin skin, leaving a noticeable gash. After a few seconds, blood started glimmering from the wound.

'Sharp leaves ….. or is it stone? What a weird plant, they seem different from the plants at the clearing when I was resting'

"Dogshit! An endless road and sharp ass leaves on both sides, who the fuck designed a road like this …. fucking psychopaths"

Confusion instantly turned to rage before calming down into despair all in an instant. His face darkened, with downcast eyes, Sighing with helplessness, Alder started walking forward again.

As if answering his prayers, a faint gurgling and flowing sound could be heard in the distance.

'..... water?'

Faint hope brightened his eyes. Like seeing an oasis in a desert, Adler felt drawn to the noise of flowing water.

Following the source of the noise, Adler walked towards the unending road like a starving man.

***

The gurgle of water is still there. The noise is as distant as before. Adler's head was drooped down, his blurry vision reflecting the never-ending grassy gravel road. By now blisters have formed on the bottom of Adler's feet.

The exposed wound on his left arm has started festering. Yellow pus covered the exposure, clearly infected. His feet and skin have also blistered. The blisters constantly popped and reformed, leaking viscous rotting fluids.

By now Adler had relieved himself multiple times into the canteen and drank it to rehydrate himself.

Weakly raising the canteen, the sloshing of fluids could be heard inside. With shaking hands, Adler popped open the cap and brought the canteen to his mouth.

Blarghhhh

Adler retched as the strong salty and sour ammonia smell entered his nose. Dry retching, the little amount of moisture in his mouth fell to the ground.

"Ahhhh…."

Regret on his face, Adler forced himself to ignore the smell, taking a sip of the dark yellow liquid. Immediately regretting it, he spit it out right away.

Adler's already bloodshot eyes turned even more red. He wanted to fall to the ground and cry.

"Why must all this happen to me! I have already been wronged in my past life, why must I suffer here as well"

"Is it too much to ask for some food and water and a place to rest?"

"I'm human god dammit …. God…. right ….. that God motherfucker ….. yes it must be that bitch of a god"

Adler started ranting with a raspy voice like a madman. With his remaining energy, he started laughing maniacally, occasionally coughing up blood from his dried-up throat.

Just as he was about to fall into a tantrum of self-pity, the sound of flowing water became clearer, along with the sound of voices.

Shutting his mouth. Adler tilted his head left and right, trying to determine the direction of the noise. As if possessed, he walked towards the right of the path.

The trees to the right of the path opened up as a small path leading to the unknown appeared.

'...... surely there is water there ….. but maybe I'm at the end of the original path ..'

Adlers turned his head left and right between the original road and the newly opened path. Hesitation gripped him as he debated his next choice of action.

Sleep-deprived with a body like a mutilated corpse, Adler steeled his resolve and chose to follow the new path

"Even if it's only a chance …… I don't think I can last any longer without any water ….."

Adler coarsely whispered to the wind.

***

Not long later the trees along the new path thinned and a clearing appeared at the far edge of his vision.

The ground changed from a luscious grass field to rough rocky terrain. As Adler approached the clearing, the temperature suddenly dropped.

A wave of euphoria swept through Alder as a vast expanse of darkness spread before him. The darkness churned and waves could be seen in the distance. Alder only had one thought in his mind looking at this scene

'Water!!!!'

For the first time, a smile spread on his face. Tripping over his feet, Alder scrambled towards the seemingly infinite ocean in front of him.

Pushing against the harsh cool wind made Alder appreciate his current situation, relieving his burning hot body.

As Alder neared the body of water, there was a line of beings as far as the eye could see. Alder could not be bothered, running past with only the goal of approaching the water.

The ground moistened up as he got closer, causing him to finally lose his balance, falling to the ground.

"Water … water … water, water, water"

Chanting incessantly, Alder dragged his body with the use of his right arm. Inch by inch, he pulled himself to the shore's edge.

Upon arriving, Alder dunked his head in the dark sea without hesitation. The water had no resistance as his head entered. A cool sensation enveloped his face.

Pwah

Aldet lifted his head and started desperately shoveling water into his mouth with his only functional arm. The ice-cold weightless substance seemed to phase between a liquid and gas as he scooped it up.

A chill of relief ran down Alder's spine. The ice-cold liquid contrasts his body's internal heat, bringing his body temperature back to equilibrium.

As Alder indulged in the cold water, he lost track of his surroundings. Unaware of a quickly approaching boat, Alder attempted to fully enter the water to bathe his wounds. Just as he was about to pull himself in, a large oar struck his head, forcing him sprawling back.

'Huh ….. what hit me'

Slightly dazed from the impact, Alder’s focus sharpened, and noticed the boat docked at the shore. Annoyed, he glared at the owner of the boat, before abruptly retracting his gaze. The tall dark figure aboard the boat gave off an indescribable aura of oppression. Like the weird trees on the path, the figure also seemed to phase between corporeal and incorporeal. His entire body seemed to be covered by layers of thin mangled black cloth, and his head area was covered by a low-hanging hood. A truly horrific spirit-like creature.

"A sinner like you has no right to enter these waters, go back to where you belong … alongside those disgusting beasts"

The figure's voice was low and coarse like wind blowing through the dry reed, with a tone of obvious hostility. Quivering, Adler worked up the courage to initiate a conversation

"Do you …. I mean … sir … where am I right now? How do I get back to where I was? Am I crazy? You have to believe me, this is not my body! I want to go back, anything is better than this …. Please please please …"

Perhaps shocked by the barrage of questions, the tall figure stayed silent before debatably opening his mouth

"...... I don't have the authority to answer all your questions ……"

"........anything pleas-"

"This isn't Earth, at the same time it is Earth"

" ….. haha is this a riddle? That's not a very funny joke sir…."

"......"

"....."

The dark figure let out a sigh

"You should have received a token. Go to Nor and take it to the lord of the first circle and wait to be judged"

"I don't know where Nor is …. And who should I look for, what is the name of the lord?

"Take out and hold onto the coin and walk in any direction, the coin will bring you to Nor. As for …."

The tall dark figure hesitated for a long time before answer

"There are some things that you are not worthy of knowing"

"Not worthy?......"

The figure scoffed at Alder's confusion

"Only other lords are worthy of uttering Her name, not some worthless mortal like you"

"......"

Alder paused at the mention of mortals. Referring to me as a mortal, are they immortal beings? ….. Gods?

"Let's see, let's see, I guess it might be hard for you to understand Her greatness … hahaha"

"Is it 'Her' fault that I'm in this situation?"

The hidden eyes turned chilly as the aura of hostility intensified, his voice turned heated with fanatical worship. The sea crushed and the entire area became shrouded in pulsating light gray fog.

"You put yourself at the same level as a lord? Listen well, She is the first battalion, the ruler of the first circle, the origin of the inextinguishable primordial flame, the angel of redemption, scale of damnation, and the embodiment of War!"