The Empty Mirror
Chapter 13: Cat's cradle
Without delay, I immersed myself once again in the density of the forest, my mind tormented by the urgency to find branches and dry leaves, the necessary ingredients for my, perhaps, somber undertaking. Although the inherent monotony of this task was despairing, I understood the inexorability of each step. However, doubts began to whisper in the deep abyss of my reason: To what extent was this prodigious effort imperative? Was it worth surrendering with such fervor for a specific goal? Despite not having made significant progress so far, that was not truly the core of the issue that troubled me...
My exhaustive exploration of the intricate woodland surroundings led me to meticulously trace every dry branch and leaf. As I collected a sufficient amount of material, a strange sense of security seized me in that place, which, despite fostering my perpetual disorientation, seemed to be a refuge where true loss had no place.
I returned to the edge of the water with my precious collection, aware that the time had come to put it into practice. Using a rock as support, I proceeded with great care to split the long branch into two parts. Subsequently, I meticulously joined both sections using the bark of the tree. I was fully aware that it was not the most suitable option, as the bark lacked flexibility, creating palpable tension. Nevertheless, I did everything in my power to ensure I achieved an optimal result, even if it didn't reach ephemeral perfection.
Surprisingly, it seemed to have an effect in the circumstances I found myself in. In this way, I fashioned a rudimentary yet fully effective bow. However, I still needed to find a solution to create a sort of drill. I took the slenderest branch from one end and sharpened it to obtain a precise point. The collected stones revealed their valuable utility at this critical moment. I decided to move away from the water not to defile it; that conviction firmly settled in my mind. I gathered a small pile of previously selected dry branches and leaves and placed the sharp tip of my improvised drill upon it.
Amidst the dimness of the forest, shrouded in an unsettling atmosphere, I began to drill into the pile of material. Each rotation of the drill was accompanied by a discordant crunch, as if I were violating the very mysteries of nature. Sweat beaded on my forehead as an anguishing uncertainty took hold of me. What hidden forces was I summoning with my actions? Was I disturbing an ancestral balance that should remain buried in oblivion?
The process unfolded like a laborious and overwhelming odyssey. The echo of the rudimentary drill delving into the veins of the dry branches and leaves seemed to reverberate in the air, infusing a disquiet that rooted itself in the deepest recesses of my being. The forest, in its unfathomable mystery, seemed to whisper enigmatic secrets as I continued with my task. My hands trembled slightly, and my mind was overwhelmed by unanswered questions. To what extent was I willing to delve into my quest for knowledge? Would I be able to face the relentless consequences of my actions?
Gripping the upper part firmly between my right fingers, I skillfully wielded the bow and made it dance around the drill with millimetric precision. Fully aware of the intricate laws of friction, I placed my trust in the perpetual movement to generate the latent fire needed to kindle the dormant embers of the dry branches and leaves, which would assume their role as fuel. However, amid my tireless effort, a disturbing unease rooted itself in the depths of my being, like an ominous foreboding lurking from the profound abysses of my mind.
I rubbed with increasing intensity, displaying a technical mastery acquired through countless hours of study. Despite my meticulous efforts, the result remained elusive, like a shadow slipping through my fingers. Minutes slipped away fleetingly as I tried different tactics and stratagems, seeking to unveil the coveted success that resisted revealing itself.
Furthermore, my injured hand, akin to an open wound escaping its confinement, exuded a burning pain intertwining with the persistent discomfort of my task. Nevertheless, my will, unyielding as a lighthouse in the midst of a storm, stood ready to defy the limits imposed by adversity, eager to uncover the mysteries lurking in the shadows.
And finally, like a glimmer of light in the unfathomable darkness, a tiny spark ignited in the obscurity, defying the abyss of uncertainty. I did not pause; I moved forward with a mix of hope and fear, for the nascent fire seemed to breathe life into the desolate landscape, as if its ancient flames had been stirred by an ancestral breath.
I endeavored to keep it alive, battling the voracity of the hostile environment seeking to extinguish its glow. The triumph, however, was mine... I achieved it. In the midst of the abyssal vastness, I stood in a small victory, where shadows cowered, and fears faded before my indomitable determination.
At the outset, seeds of uncertainty sprouted within me, threatening to undermine my faith in the forthcoming success. Nevertheless, I prevailed over the confines of despair, rising in a small triumph against the vastness of doubt, like a lone captain finding their course amid the disorienting mist.
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Despite this, an unfathomable question rooted itself in the depths of my tormented thoughts. What would have happened if I had yielded in my effort just a few moments earlier? Would it have altered the course of events?
However, in that moment, the quest for answers was overshadowed by the urgency of the present, by the imperative need to continue the tedious task looming over me. The acorns once again claimed the intimate embrace of the fire.
With utmost care, I impaled the acorns on a branch again, ensuring to handle them cautiously while holding the branch in my left hand. Although the discomfort persisted in my hand, I deemed its utility far outweighed any momentary inconvenience.
Furthermore, an incipient fatigue took hold of me, leading me to yearn for the possibility of immersing myself in a rejuvenating bath. Since my arrival in this forest, I had been deprived of this regenerative experience, and now I felt an urgent need to revitalize my body and spirit…
However, as the flames danced and eagerly consumed the fuel, something subtle yet disquieting gestated in the profound depths of my being, in stark contrast to the moment of my arrival in this place.
A disturbing sense of impurity infiltrated my being, as if the fire itself were searing me from within, craving to relentlessly devour everything in its path. However, its voracious desire was constrained, unable to satisfy its insatiable appetite autonomously.
And thus arises the next question, looming like a specter on the horizon of reflection: To what extent is the recommendation to live in society justified? Each individual fulfills their function inevitably, nourishing each other in a tangled web of interactions. But where is the threshold at which such interaction strips itself of its benevolent value and becomes a prison for the soul? I even venture to ask if it ever truly possessed genuine value... Could it be that this reality imposes restrictions on our humanity, turning us into captives of a lifestyle that constrains us?
In my unyielding endeavor to unravel these mysteries, aware of the impossibility of attaining absolute knowledge, I find myself compelled to inquire and explore relentlessly. As my mind delves into the richness of the surrounding natural environment, I experience a sense of fearless protection under the majestic mantle of its splendor.
I plunge into a dreamlike universe, wrapped in the celestial loom, as if it were a garment of flowers unfolding before my astonished eyes, inviting me to delve into the hidden realms of the unknown.
Once my ritual was complete, I meticulously extinguished the flames burning in the campfire, and carefully gathered my belongings. The acorns, I placed in the improvised wrapping, aware that they carried with them a deep and arcane symbolism. The bow and drill, silent witnesses to my limitations in efficiently lighting fires, I left resting at the feet of a nearby tree.
That latent limitation became a tangible manifestation of my inexperience in this hostile and mysterious world that surrounds me... To whom am I superficially showcasing my worth in this profound desolation? Once my task was fulfilled, I raised my gaze and was overwhelmed by a terrifying sight: the Sun had completely disappeared. A chilling shiver ran through me as my eyes searched for any trace of its existence. Desperately, I hurried to find it, but I found not the slightest vestige on the horizon.
Anguish seized me, enveloping me in unfathomable unease. Despite the absence of the sun, the sky appeared clear, as if it were still morning. However, that clarity was ominous, a deceptive veil concealing the darkness that had taken dominion over the planet. I couldn't determine how much time I had spent on my duties, but it was evident that a temporal span still lay ahead. A somber time, alien to normalcy, urging me to explore and unveil the truth behind this aberrant anomaly…
I decided to venture into the forest in search of any vestige of life, some manifestation of sanity amid the prevailing insanity. My steps echoed with a disturbing resonance as I ventured among the trees, which seemed to whisper dark secrets among their twisted branches. The atmosphere became dense, saturated with an oppressive silence that intertwined with my own labored breathing.
My hopes dwindled rapidly when, after a meticulous search, I only found a few scattered acorns on the forest floor. The scarcity of resources was palpable, a gloomy reflection of the reality enveloping me. However, I was not willing to succumb to despair. Seizing the peculiarity of the situation, I strode with determination along the path, hoping to find some trace that would shed light on this supernatural enigma.
Once there, I delved into every nook with a scrutinizing gaze, aware that the veil between darkness and revelation was becoming increasingly fragile. My mind, caught in a disquieting duality, wrestled between the fear nesting in the unknown and the curiosity driving me to unravel the hidden secrets. And then, in a shadowy corner, my gaze stopped at something out of place: scattered mushrooms on the surface of some trees.
Their presence, as subtle as it was unsettling, seemed to emerge from a hidden dimension, intertwined with ours in a macabre dance. Despite my limited expertise in mycological identification, I immersed myself fervently in the task of acquiring knowledge in this enigmatic field, aware that my eagerness for understanding challenged conventional and cautioned norms.
The specimens unfolding before me exhibited a morphology undoubtedly reminiscent of mushrooms. Their convex, smooth-surfaced caps seemed to invite the unwary to delve into their dark abysses. The cylindrical and slender stems widened at the base, as if concealing a dark and ancient secret. As I examined them closely, an undeniable conviction seized me, confirming that they were indeed mushrooms. Their color palette, dominated by beige and brown tones, resembled the typical appearance of this species, but a hint of strangeness permeated their coloring, like an indication of the influence of sinister forces on their existence.
I took one of the mushrooms between my fingers, scrutinizing the gills beneath its cap, a crucial distinguishing feature for the proper classification of these beings. These gills, with a pearly hue and subtly separated, revealed a firm and fleshy texture, hinting at a mysterious essence that eluded the bounds of discernment. As for the caps, they appeared solid and velvety to the touch, as if hiding ancient cautions beneath their seductive surface.
Nevertheless, my attention wasn't solely confined to visual and tactile aspects; I paid particular care to the fragrance they emitted. The mushrooms exuded a penetrating yet gentle aroma, earthy in nature, evoking memories of forgotten lands and paths buried in time. With caution, I dismissed those specimens emitting intense or unpleasant odors, aware that they could be indicators of insidious and deadly toxicity.