I was surprised at what I’d been able to do with just my mind.
It’s because there’s magic in this parallel world. I couldn’t use it in the other one. I wonder if there’s, like, superpowerful wizards here and stuff? I kinda want to meet one... Nah, they’d be really scary.
Besides, it wasn’t like I could just go find one, not while I still had no idea where I even was.
The wolf stretched out, loosening the previously dirt- and shadow-encrusted limbs.
Oh, are you leaving? Guess you don’t wanna keep me company... I feel kinda sad. Hang on, what am I gonna do if you leave too? It’s not like I was called here on purpose. So basically, I’m stuck here for no— Yeah, probably better not to think about it too much. If I ever meet those apprentices, I’m gonna punch ’em into next week.
The first thing I needed to do was figure out how to get out of this forest. The problem, I immediately realized, was that all I could see in every direction (besides trees) was the shadows.
It must be a really strong vengeful spirit. Or is it a curse? Yeah, I’m gonna go with curse. So if the shadows are a curse, that makes this a cursed forest, right? Ugh, that’s a scary thought. No thanks! Wait, I’m already here... Get it together, me. Ah, the wolf left.
“Alone again...” I muttered, only to realize with a start that the wolf had stopped moving.
Is it...looking at me? Maybe it wants me to go with it? Is it gonna show me the way? Not that I know where I want to go... But it’s not like I have any reason to stay here either.
I started running—and, to my surprise, immediately overtook the wolf.
Uh, I’m not usually this fast—and especially not on a rocky uphill road. I decided not to question it. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, or something! I think. I have to look on the bright side—especially now.
The wolf watched me for a moment and started running again. Side by side, we dashed through the forest and soon came to a nearly vertical rock wall about ten meters high, which I scaled in less than four or five seconds. It felt good.
Yep, I’m not gonna think about anything too deeply. Just enjoy yourself, me.
We continued on in a decidedly uphill fashion, encountering several more sheer rock walls, all of which I scaled with ease. Finally, at the top of one particularly vertical scramble, a smooth cliff face loomed, and immediately in front of us, there was an entrance to some kind of cave. Despite how close we were, I couldn’t see a thing. The inside was pitch-black—more so than it should have been. It was more of those shadows.
Curse, you’re really freaking depressing, you know?
The wolf took another step closer but hesitated, looking back at me.
The curse must be troubling it.
“You wanna go inside?” I asked. It stared at me, unblinking.
Guess so... Oh, when it looks at me like that, I can’t help wanting to help it!
Which meant one thing: time for more purification.