Re:of life
Chapter 54: Reawakened

Chapter 54: Reawakened

The sun was rising, casting long shadows through the trees, its rays blending with the morning breeze and the ocean wind.

Slowly, I sat up at the edge where I had slept, staring out at the distant ocean stretching far in front of me.

A morning couldn’t really get much better than this...

Though, after that thought, the back pain hit me like a truck.

Yeah—turns out sleeping on jagged rocks? Not the comfiest thing for a spine.

Beside me, the little furball was still laying there, snoring softly.

What the hell even is that... and why is it still here?

But those thoughts flew away real fast as the previous day slammed back into me—

memories rushing in like a crashing wave, everything that had happened... and what happened to me.

It wasn’t just some dream.

"I need to get going... I should’ve started searching yesterday. Fuck..."

Anger boiled in with confusion, frustration, and everything else jumbled up inside.

Like the day before, I’d just been walking around like some corpse in submission—

numb, aimless, and stuck in my own head.

It’s like I’ve been reawakened after death...

Though this time, it wasn’t physical death—rather, mental.

Maybe I’m overexaggerating, but remembering everything again... seeing memories of—

No.

Hastily, a hand slams against my face.

My own hand.

Slapping myself out of what I’m trying to think... trying to remember—getting stuck with the things I tried to forget and let fade away over the weeks.

Even months now.

And even now... it’s still hard.

I’ve done it before.

I just need to close off that part of my life.

I have a new one now.

I’m not willing to face it. I won’t look back at my past... not again.

I’m in the present. That’s what matters.

And I should be looking toward the future instead—

Chasing a life I want, instead of staying trapped in one I don’t.

Yeah...

"Now then."

Where were we?

Guess we’re starting this morning early, huh?

Yeah...

Let’s get going.

I rise up, glancing over the beautiful ocean view one last time before setting off—

searching for a village nearby... a town... or anything.

I need to find people.

Though it seems like I won’t be going alone.

A little figure stirs and quickly wakes up from its sleep, wobbling after me the second it hears my footsteps walking away.

It waddles to my side with its tired, round face—like it’s about to fall forward and doze off again mid-step.

"Why are you even following me?" I ask, as if the little creature’s actually gonna answer.

It tilts its head, staring at me in confusion.

I sigh and mutter, "No response, huh?"

Well... to be fair, why would

Guess I’ll head into the forest.

This rocky coastal path doesn’t seem to lead anywhere.

Honestly, I can’t even remember how far I walked yesterday.

Did I actually get anywhere?

Or did I just wander in circles like some lost idiot?

Whatever. I’ll head off now either way.

Hopefully it won’t take too long before I find a town or something.

Though...

Seems like I should hurry up.

The clouds are creeping in fast from the ocean—

Didn’t even notice them a second ago.

That means they’re forming quickly.

Could get worse as the day goes on.

Let’s set a goal for today:

Find shelter.

Whether it’s a town, a cave, or some random overhang—I really don’t care at this point.

The bigger problem though?

I’m starving.

Like, really starving.

At this point I’d eat just about anything.

First priority: food.

Well... I could...

No.

I shake my head quickly.

I’d just feel bad.

"Sorry about that, buddy. Got any better ideas for food?" I ask, glancing back at my fuzzy little companion.

It stares at me with that same blank, confused look again—

Like a dumbass, honestly—

As it gnaws on a leaf like it’s the peak of gourmet dining.

"Well thank you..." I mutter sarcastically.

With a sigh, I start wandering deeper into the forest, eyes scanning the trees and ground for anything edible.

Birds. Just birds.

Not helpful.

I hear some rustling in the bushes nearby, though—

...but whatever it was, I’m too slow to catch a glimpse of it.

However, the little dude who’s been following me since yesterday seems to hear the rustling bushes too. He suddenly wobbles off to check it out.

Maybe he hunts?

That’d be great... Really great.

But as he disappears behind the bushes, the silence hits me again.

Lonely.

As if this whole morning hasn’t already felt lonely.

...I kinda hope the wobbly little guy comes back.

I keep wandering forward. Not that there’s any actual path to follow.

Then—

A sound nearby.

Very nearby.

Just around the corner of the tree next to me.

A weird, unpleasant noise.

And then, only a second later, a strange smoke starts spreading from behind the tree. It drifts toward me slowly...

Slow enough that I can move away.

But the smoke—

It doesn’t look normal.

It has this weird green-ish yellow tint. Poisonous-looking.

The center of it is dense, like fog. But as it spreads out, it fades... Can’t travel far, thank god.

Just when I think I’ve stepped far enough away, another puff of that smoke explodes out.

Bright green at the center again.

Then another.

And another.

Two more. Three more.

In just a few seconds, seven—maybe more—smoke bursts have gone off around me.

...Not good.

I whip my head around, trying to figure out what the hell’s causing this—

And there, right at the edge of one of the smoke clouds... I spot it.

A mushroom.

A massive one.

Scanning the area quickly, I realize they’re everywhere.

Different sizes.

At least eight that I can count.

That’s the last thing I clearly see—

Before my vision goes blurry.

I start coughing, ears ringing, eyes stinging.

I stumble forward, crashing through bushes, nearly slamming into trees as I try to escape.

Sharp turn.

Think. Think!

I lift a hand and start chanting—

A spell, wind swirling around me as water particles gather in the air.

Mana flowing through me like a final push before collapse.

I aim forward and fire.

Not a perfect spell. The shape’s off, more a burst than a clean shot.

But it does the trick.

The blast of water cuts through the poison, pushing it back—

Not all of it, but enough to breathe again.

Still... I’m already running on fumes.

One more hit from that stuff and I’ll be out cold.

And I really don’t wanna know what happens if I pass out in the middle of this spore-ridden hell.

...Luckily, it seems they’ve stopped.

No more clouds.

Maybe I wasn’t even the target.

Or maybe I was.

Either way, I’m alive.

Note to self: don’t get close to any more mushrooms.

Yeah.

Maybe walking through the forest wasn’t such a good idea after all.

Probably would’ve been safer sticking to the coast.

Whatever.

Too late now...

Well—not really.

But I’ll stick with this.

I can’t even find my way back at this point.

Going back might just take too long.

I still need to hurry...

With that, I keep walking.

No thoughts. No care. Just one foot in front of the other.

This time, way more careful—eyes darting to every corner, every shadow.

...It’s looking bad.

Really bad.

Every animal I see bolts the moment I step too close.

I’ve got no energy left.

No strength.

No magic.

Still starving. Still exhausted.

And my damn stomach’s still twisted up from the poison earlier.

Fuck.

At this rate... I’m done for.

As if things weren’t already garbage—

I hear it.

A familiar sound.

Small, dumb voices. Goofy, chattering, arguing in a language I can’t understand.

I grit my teeth and brace myself.

With what? Hell if I know.

My instincts scream at me, and I reach down—

Grab a stick off the ground.

It’s short. Thin.

Would snap in half the second I swing it.

Wait.

I glance at my waist—

Right.

I toss the stick aside and grab the hilt of the dagger Ronan gave me.

Fingers tighten around it.

"...Thanks, man."

I brace myself.

I already know what’s coming.

I know.

And right on cue—

Something stumbles out of the bush ahead.

A Nusk.

Small. Grotesque. Knife in hand.

Looks like it got shoved out by the others behind it.

Figures.

Cowards never come alone.

I can hear the rest now—

At least a dozen of them behind the bushes, voices rising.

Well...

This sucks.