"This time they'd better go home."

"We saw trucks coming this way. They will come. ”

"This lawn is shit. No one mows the lawn now?"

"Attention. We're going to interrogate a suspect. ”

"If I ring the bell and no one answers, you invite me to lunch."

And so on. Did you hear anything?"

．..

"Sounds intense."

"Shall we knock?"

"No, keep listening."

"They stopped talking. If we don't leave now, they'll run away. ”

"Damn it. Well, let's get started. ”

All week, the forest was bitterly cold like winter. It's not that it's really cold outside; In fact, the weather is really nice at this time of year. But when you've just made it past the last few months of midsummer and suddenly fall begins, it takes a while for your body to adapt, even in almost the same climate. Just like two days, the feeling of heat can vary greatly depending on the season.

All of this is to say that I've been shaking for the past few days, but I don't want to give it to someone else. I wore light-colored clothes like everyone else – although Sara pointed out that I always wore dark-colored clothes and it was easier to blend in with the crowd. But I don't want to look like a freak and wear thick jackets everywhere. I was dealing with chills and runny nose at school.

So, when I tell you that, despite this, I still feel like the room is getting colder in a split second, you'll understand what I mean, it's like the North Pole there.

It didn't take long for me to understand why. As I looked away from Matt and Carl, who were still nervous, I saw the outline of a hand, just behind the curtain around the window of my front door. My instincts were right.

I told them to shut up. We stared at the door for hours, but after only a second, the first knock came. Someone knocked our door with a fist.

Matt was immediately in charge. "Jane, hide." He hissed. I don't have to listen to it a second time. I looked out of place in my hunting suit, with a quiver on my back and a bow on my shoulder. As I hurried upstairs, I grabbed the arrow from the railing, and in the process, a small piece of the arrow fell.

Matt raised an eyebrow. I shrugged and retreated into the shadows at the top of the stairs. Regardless, the staircase looks dilapidated and unobtrusive.

Well, it does; The scratches and abrasions are very different from the suddenly cracked hole I just tore, but what exactly does he want? I can't leave it there.

For a moment, I became strangely jealous, wondering why it was Matt who had sent me away, not Carl. But it didn't take me long to figure out the answer. Whoever was on the other side of that door might have heard people arguing – especially two people. If Matt had picked it up alone, he would have looked even more suspicious. I can disappear because I'm not yelling like an idiot, but we need to look like there's nothing to hide.

There's no way I won't listen, though. I lay on the corner at the top of the stairs and pressed my ears against the carpet, as close to the corner as possible so that no one could see me.

I heard the door click open.

"Hello, officers." Matt's voice rang out, rather calm. Someone leaned against the railing, and the stairs made a slight female voice. I thought it was Carl. His breathing was still heavy, even as he struggled to suppress it.

"Matthew Westin?" Typical police voice, direct and professional. I concluded that the man must have been wearing glasses, neatly dressed in uniform, and neatly dressed. Probably handsome too.

"Can I help you?"

"It's actually a detective," another voice said. Rough. He's going to be an unruly man, a cop who does his own thing. Ragged clothes, attitude doesn't matter. At the same time, I had to change the image of the first person in my mind to a plainclothes investigator. Still dressed modestly, but in a suit instead of a uniform.

Damn, are we watching some brother cop movie? God, why do I remember TV so clearly and nothing else?

If I hadn't been so scared, I could have laughed. Instinctively, my hand slid onto the knife close to my back. It's not that I'm going to assault the police, but there's no way I'm going to be forcibly taken somewhere.

I'll never see you again.

I try to focus on the conversation. My mind is always wandering on too many tangents. They still seem to be introducing, though, so I didn't miss too much.

“… We are here to investigate a case of missing persons. ”

"Missing persons? Matt said, still perfectly controlled in his tone. I know he won't say anything in front of the police, no matter what they do. I'm more worried about Carl, who still hasn't controlled his breathing. He won't be tired from fighting, will he? It's like two punches. He's not that out of shape. Must be nervous.

Carl was terrified.

"Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?" The professional asked. Everything was so calm and polite. The only thing that was abnormal was that Carl was out of breath.

"Of course. Come in. ”

Carl's breathing became rapid again. I could tell he wasn't ready for this kind of pressure. Matt, this is a mistake. I know you're right, but Carl can't handle it right now.

They walked into the lounge area next to the front door. When Matt sat down in the corner, I could only make out his face. The two detectives followed them and scurried through the gap, and Carl stayed on the stairs, looking up from the third step.

"When was the last time you saw Blake Swassem?" Dahan asked. Unsurprisingly, straight to the point. He acted exactly according to the rules. Even put "Sva."

tholm" misread.

"Blake...... Missing?" Oh, thanks to the stars. Matt, you're good. Without hesitation.

"When was the last time you saw him?" P

ofessio

Al-Guy asked again.

"Well, the night before yesterday." No, that's wrong. Matt, don't lie to them. You don't know what they know yet.

"Second Wednesday?"

"No, I'm sorry. I mean Tuesday night. "Or you always knew what to do. Well, I won't doubt you anymore.

"Then Tuesday." I heard a scraping sound. It may be that a professional takes notes on a yellow pad because the pad must be yellow.

"Did you know that no one has seen him since that night?" Rough-guy said.

"No, I didn't. I mean, I'm surprised I didn't see him at school, but I think he might be sick or something. ”

"What were you two doing that night?"

"Just hanging out. Nothing special. ”

Carl fidgeted on the stairs. These people are too good not to notice. "You can't be Carl Stockson, are you?"

He nodded nervously. I was surprised. It's ...... to see someone like Carl – with his accomplishments, the power he once had – being completely shaken by two real-world cops Lamentable. I feel sorry for him.

"Blake is your best friend, right?"

"Yes."

"Were you there that night?"

"Yes, I am." Karl's voice was low. Maybe he has a prejudice against the police? I don't remember, even though I tried. I still can't understand his gesture of defeat.

"Where did you go that night?"

"Here it is. Well...... Get out for a while. ”

"We drove for a while and went to a couple of places," Matt added. He wanted to lure them away from Carl.

"Is there anything special about it? The professional asked.

"Not really."

"Isn't it Serraville Park?"

Defecate. ,. We have been exposed to a lie. Well, sort of. This is enough to arouse their suspicions.

I kept my bow and quiver in the nearest room. The days when I watched too much TV with Sarah were going to pay off in big ways.

"Maybe." Matt said quietly, but I could hear his voice trembling a little. I doubt the police will not recognize it, but I don't want to let things go any further. I'm already on the move.

"Hey, Matt, what's going on?" I shouted and hurried downstairs.

"Jane?" He turned around in surprise. Karl looked up in confusion as well.

"Are you police?" I asked, hoping that my voice would be cheerful and optimistic. I tried my best not to let myself have any accent. I'm just a normal Oregon girl. As expected, I dressed them up perfectly. Disappointing, but what can you do? But what intrigued me even more was that the professional didn't look older than me. I didn't know the detective came at such a young age.

Obviously, not much older than I really am. Not cu

e

t-me。 Still, I think he's twenty-five or sixteen years old, and it's simple.

The professionals spoke. "Yes. Detective Portman and Detective West. ”

"Neat. Mind if I stay here?" I plopped down and sat down in the chair next to Matt. The professionals looked taken aback. I wonder if you can interrogate us in the presence of minors? This time, I'm really grateful that I'm seven years younger.

It's not the most elaborate move, it's definitely just a temporary solution, but it's enough to take the pressure off and give Carl some breathing room. I hope so.

"If you don't mind, we'd like to talk to your brother alone, please." The professionals are polite, but I don't want to leave it at that.

"No, I kind of mind. Has he been arrested?" Goodbye, Mr. Detective. Your moves. Are you bluffing, or am I going to do a game?

"Nope."

"Then you can't force him to answer any questions now. They promised me a big lunch, so if you don't mind, I want my brother to go back to the kitchen. "I deliberately treated her like a little sister. As long as we can kick them out of our house, right away. Matt stumbled and I didn't want to think about what would happen if they started asking Carl directly.

It was clear that the professional doubted his legal place here and stood up. The guy seemed surprised, but followed his companion anyway. However, in typical detective style, "Big Man" pulls a business card out of his jacket and hands it to Matt.

"Call me if you think of anything."

"Of course." Matt replied, putting it in his pocket. His voice returned to a calm atmosphere, and I felt very relieved. The police were out of the house soon after, and I watched cautiously all the way back into their car before walking across the block and leaving. As soon as they left, I turned back to face my brother.

"That was too sloppy," Matt said.

I snapped, "Massa Daput." "Why are you lying?"

"I-" Matt began.

"We're finished," Carl said. We all looked at him, confused.

"I think it's a bit of a pre-emptive strike," Matt said.

"They've been to my house once. My dad told me that. ”

"So they know you're friends with Blake. It's not news," Matt explains.

"Yes, but the part about Serravel. They probably knew about it from my conversation with Blake. From Blake's computer. They'll know I'm involved. ”

Matt sighed. "It's not the end of the world yet, Carl. We'll figure it out. ”

Karl narrowed his eyes. "Think of a way," he said with a sneer. "You've always been like that."

"Yes, Carl." Matt said. His voice was much sharper now. "Just like I always do. You've held me accountable, and it's time for you to listen to me. "I was going to speak for Matt, but his tone reminded me that he didn't need to. I've forgotten what his voice looked like.

It really wasn't a good memory.

"They knew we went to the forest," Matt continued, and we were both silent. "We can't deny that. We can only stick to our story. When we got home, after midnight, we dropped Blake over. That was the last time we saw him. Jane, you've never been there. You don't know anything. ”

I nodded, but I wasn't sure if it would hold up. Better than nothing......

"Is this it? Are we just going to lie all the time? Carl asked.

"There's no evidence at all," Matt said. "They can never prove anything."

"What about Blake's parents?" Our friends? Are they supposed to believe that he is gone forever?"

"Well, he did."

"you, Matt." Carl snapped. "Blake deserves better."

"What are you thinking?"

"I ...... I don't know. However. Karl's voice lowered. He hesitated. "I don't know if we're going to be able to do that. Stay here. ”

"We had no other choice," Matt said. I could tell he was trying to comfort me, but it didn't work at all, and Carl didn't accept it. Matt wasn't the right person to help him. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but I can't think of anything better. So I'm silent.

Of course, this meant that Carl's face turned to me. He looked me straight in the eye. Don't stay out of it anymore.

"What do you think?"

I took a deep breath and tried to get my nerves back to normal. "I think Matt was right."

Carl looked dejected. Did he think I would agree with him? Matt?

"Carl, I need to know you can do it." Matt said. "They're going to ask you questions, we're not here. Can you do it?"

He didn't answer, didn't answer right away. I could see him thinking, calculating. He's a planner, just like Matt. Carl is definitely the smartest of us, the most well-read, the most cunning, and definitely the most successful of us. But he lacks Matt's self-control and ability to suppress emotions when necessary. Matt is an iceberg, floating steadily, hiding more beneath the surface. Carl is an open flame, bright and powerful, but once he is pushed in the wrong direction, he is ready to burn the whole world at any time.

Worst of all, I'm not sure which of them I really agree with. My own thoughts are confused, and I just support my brother by default. I believe he has a real plan in mind. I knew he would take care of me.

"Jen, can I talk to you?" Carl asked calmly.

I raised my eyebrows. What does he want out of a private conversation?

"Say it." Matt said sternly.

"Alone, idiot." Carl retorted.

"I'm just staying here," Matt said.

He was trying to protect me. I understand. Normally, I am grateful, but now everything is wrong. This is Carl, not the police, not Rainey's army, and not the Venant Potter Deathblade. Even if he really wanted to hurt me, I could have killed this weaker Carl at any time. No sweat.

"Then I think we're going somewhere else." I interjected. Carl glanced at it, surprised, but far less surprised than Matt. "I'll be fine. Go get us something to eat, okay?" He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Good. He still trusts me. At least there's something here.

Matt retreated to the kitchen, while Carl and I walked to the backyard. Carl began pacing almost immediately. Obviously, he was still too frightened by the police to calm down. I walked out onto the lawn and let my bare feet enjoy the grass. I sat cross-legged and stared at the clouds swirling in the sky. They look like huge buildings, miles wide. I wonder if I can reach them one day if I can enter etola again. Maybe you can use the wind to reduce my weight and let me float up to the sky. I think I'm enjoying it.

I can also see myself falling from a great height a few miles away and eventually dying young, but hey, no one is going to do a cool thing and act completely safely, right?

But it doesn't matter. I would never have had such a chance unless I decided to pursue a career in skydiving. Magic is a thing of the past, forever. I would die young, withering in my eighties, like a human being. I'll never be able to fly like a bird, swim like a fish, or shape like a tree, or merge minds, or hundreds of other things I haven't done yet. It's gone.

"We don't belong here," Carl concluded.

I sighed and fiddled with my toes on the grass. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know yet. But I'm trying to find out. ”

"What are you now?" I was cautiously interested. That's not to say I'm eager to find a way back. Even though I've just made a list of all the things, there are plenty of reasons to be happy coming back here. The jury is still out. I just like to have options. As long as you can make yourself less restricted in this world.

"I've been sending messages. Try to find anyone who may be having a similar experience. If this happens to us, why can't it happen to someone else?"

I shook my head. "It's magic, Carl. It doesn't need to be logical. ”

"I couldn't believe it. The universe works according to rules. We've just stumbled upon a new rule that no one has yet documented. ”

"So you think you can figure it out?"

"I'd rather someone else already knew about it and just kept it a secret for the same paranoid reasons as we did." Karl muttered. I started talking loudly, but he continued. "No, I think you're right, I'm not going to make it public. Our lives are going to get worse. But some anonymous posts on the internet do not cause any alarm. ”

I guess that makes sense to me. But Matt won't like it. "Did you find anything?"

Carl shrugged. "Most of them are trolls, or just pure fantasy. But I found a possible match. A man who claims to know something is clearly as scared as we are. I've been talking to him. ”

I felt a rush of excitement, accompanied by a healthy wave of defensive doubt. "How can you be sure you can trust him?"

"I can't. Of course not. This is the internet. But judging by the few prime ministers we've traded so far, he seems legitimate. ”

"PMS?" I asked, with a hint of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. Private Information. No one will see them. ”

"Okay," I said neutrally. I don't want to get your hopes up, but I'm sure Carl will be cautious. Especially about the web.

"If—" Karl wanted to say, but he suddenly interrupted himself. I glanced at him curiously. His expression was unpredictable, both worried and hopeful.

"What if?" I prompt.

"Would you like to go back with me?" If I find a way?"

I didn't answer right away because I really didn't have an answer, which seemed to open a floodgate.

"There's nothing left for me. I couldn't fit in with my family, school was worthless, and I couldn't imagine myself just going through the usual struggles. Go to college, get a job, whatever. After what did I do? It would be a step backwards. Nothing I have achieved in this world can compare to what I have achieved in Serraville. Karl's face contorted into a bitter smile. I still have a lot of unfinished business there. It's not right for me to leave, you know? I know you're still here. You have friends and family, but do you really belong here? Are you really going to be happy here?"

A few days ago, or even a month ago, I would have agreed. Today, I didn't say anything.

"You should be by my side as we reinvent the world."

He said this in such a way as to try to make people feel solemn, and I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But seriously. Reshaping the world?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know. It seems crazy to say this to a couple of kids from Oregon. ”

Karl shook his head. "It's crazy, but we've done it once. The four of us overthrew the entire empire. ”

"We have helpers," I said contemptuously.

"Tell me you like the world more than Serraville." Carl snapped.

"You know what? Not everything is good," I shot back. My own temper is also rising, and at the moment, I really don't want to control it. "As cool as your city, your guilds, and daphut are, they treat me like shit."

Carl's belief didn't seem to waver, so I kept going. "I'm not talking about the pit. You've got it covered. I mean after we won. They still don't want me to be around them. I can walk down the street and be spit on by anyone who passes by. It's just because of my origins. ”

"I didn't—" Carl was startled.

"No, you don't. Because I don't want you to know. I was going to deal with it. It's tough enough to be a girl living in a medieval fantasy world, and what's worse is that there's a heavily racist kingdom and my half-elf blood. "When I'm still trying to learn a language, it's hard to make a good presentation." I know you and Matt intend to bring everyone together. But is it honest? I almost left you two and went back to my sun hut. ”

It's something I never thought to tell them. If Matt had known, he would have collapsed. I never wanted to hurt him like that. But Carl's view of the world is too optimistic, and he needs a serious wake-up call.

When he spoke again, his voice was calm and restless. "What makes this world so good?"

"I don't know yet," I honestly said, "but I didn't give up either." ”

＊＊＊

It didn't take long for Carl to leave. He confessed everything that happened in his house and why he couldn't go home. But I (finally) got his phone number, and we promised to see each other again soon. He'll camp in public places with internet access until we find a way to deal with the police. I feel like at least now I've calmed him down. I can only pray to the stars that we will soon find a more lasting solution.

But when he left, I could feel something missing. Carl doesn't trust me that much anymore. It's the bond we once had, forged through shared experiences and the many days and nights we've been on the run alone outside of Venanpoter. It was suddenly separated by a wall. I can still feel the connection between us, but it's weak, fragile, and I don't think he's going to contact me anymore. Unless he finds a real solution, one way or another.

The stars really don't do anything for me anymore. I blamed it all on the night sky I didn't recognize, a void full of strange patterns and a moon that was ridiculously large.

Do I want to go back to the sky of my memory? I can't tell. What I said to Carl is true, but ......

However, I have found that I can barely live in this world either. As I said to Matt, I was almost hanging from a twig. I wanted to go back, but at the same time, I didn't want to leave. I was caught between two worlds with things I loved and things I feared.

Eloquent, I know. If only I could use Etoli

e write it out and it will sound better, but you can't read it, so it's the best you can get.

In that moment, I remembered my mother. She has been hovering on the edge of my life, but for one reason or another, she has never really been the center of my life. She and I are family, and I will love her until the day I die, 80 years from now or hundreds of years from now. Mom and Matt always had a closer relationship than mine. I don't resent them for that. Matt has taken care of both of us for many years, ever since Dad abandoned us. He had more time with his mom before she was busy working two jobs at the same time to support us.

It made me basically a solo adventurer. I spend most of my time with my friends, playing with Sarah, like a kid. Home is a place where you can come back in the evening in search of food and shelter. I never bring my friends over, I stay there as little as possible.

I think it's stupid to do that now, but I've always felt ashamed. I never wanted my friends to find out that we were poor. Whenever we go out, I do everything I can to avoid making people feel like I don't have money to spend. If we went to eat, drink some water or suck Sarah's blood when no one was looking, I would say I'm not hungry. When we go out to buy clothes, I buy a beautiful dress, wear it once, and then trek alone through the city the next day to return it. Movies? I slipped into the cinema more than once. I'm also pretty good at sneaking in past the ticket inspector. No one has ever been to my house. I never had to face such a judgment.

So ridiculous. So much effort was wasted. I don't care at all now.

Only two people understood. Matt was the first, and one day he found my clothes. After I finally explained it to him, he offered to drive me back every time to get the return, without judgment at all. That's when I knew I could entrust my life to my brother. It's a bit silly, but seriously. Since that moment, we have been a team.

The other person was, of course, Sarah, and we've been best friends ever since.

Obviously, I should let more people know about this secret. It was a success two times in a row.

I got up from the grass and walked back into the house, where Matt was stirring something in the bowl. It already smells good. "What are you doing?"

"Well, you said we needed more cookies." Matt smiled.

"Chocolate?" I asked eagerly.

"You're right."

Well, maybe it's not that bad today.

＊＊＊

A few hours later, we sat in cheap plastic chairs in the backyard, munching on freshly baked cookies.

"Is it really necessary for you to shoot an arrow at us?" Matt asked with a grin.

I shrugged. "This seems like the quickest way to shut up both of you."

"How are you going to explain that hole to Mommy?"

"Oh, I guess we can put the blame on you. This is probably the third time you've broken the stairs, right?"

Matt raised an eyebrow. I laughed. It's true – he had caused noticeable damage to our staircase twice before. Once, I knocked down the bracket of the same railing and threw a ball with my friends. With heavy basketballs and thin, old wood, it's not hard to see it all coming.

The second time, he tripped and hit his head at the end, knocking it off completely. In retrospect, those times weren't so interesting. More hea

t-

ushi

g-te

ifyi

g。 It was also the first and only time I called 911. In the end, it turned out to be okay, but...

It feels good to reminisce like this with my brother. I feel ...... Calm. Happy, even.

So, of course, Matt had to spoil the atmosphere.

"Carl's getting sicker, isn't he?" He asked calmly.

I had to clean a cookie from my mouth before answering. "Yes," I said at last. "He's trying to figure out how to get back."

My brother...... Reacted. I can't tell what that means, but I saw his eyes twitching. His voice remained steady. "What do you think?"

"Me?" I asked, surprised. Was he asking me for my opinion on going back? Or is it Carl's business?

"I think you know him as well as I do now. At least you've spent more time with him in the last year. His eyes scrutinized me. I hated that feeling, but I knew Matt didn't have any ill will towards me. "What do you think?"

I hesitated. "Carl is about to break down. He can choose either path. I don't know what I can do to guide him. ”

Matt sighed. "It's ...... Unfortunately. ”

"No kidding."

"I'll try to talk to him again."

"After all the best today?"

He frowned. "What else can I do?"

"Let him go now," I said. I'm not sure if that's right or wrong. This is what I want. Time alone, time for contemplation. Maybe, just maybe, I hope his search will be successful. He will find his way home. Options.

"Okay." Matt said, with a final determination. He adjusted his chair slightly, then leaned forward, braced himself on his hands and elbows. "Now, let's talk about Sarah."

"Handsome, how's your date?" I made fun of him. I'm glad I changed direction completely...... But Matt, of course, is still on business.

"You told her," he said. It doesn't sound like an accusation, but I still feel like he's trying to express disapproval. I really don't feel like I'm worthy.

"Yes, I did."

"We'll say yes, Jane."

"If there's anyone, absolutely anyone in the world we can trust—" I was about to speak, but he raised his hand.

"It had to be her. I understand. In fact, I think you're doing it right. ”

"So the World Health Assembly—"

"You should have told me."

He tried to act so calm and understanding, which only made me angrier. It feels too condescending. I put caution behind me. I've had enough. Now we're home. "Matt, you're not my dad."

"What?"

"Tell her it was my decision. Everything I do doesn't require your approval. We are in a group, but we are equal. Brother and sister. ”

"That's not me......" Matt said in a low voice as I stood up. I need to leave. I need some space.

"Think about it." I picked up my bow, which I had brought with us to the yard. I feel very attached to it now. It's a symbol of my status, even if it's not a bow I made with my own hands, sweat, and magic. The bow was already loose, so I put it in a bag and hung it over my shoulder. I checked the arrows in the quiver again and the knife on my belt, and pulled my coat tight. "I probably won't be home for dinner, okay?"

“…… All right. ”

＊＊＊

I took the bus again to the forest. I covered the bag in a blanket so that no one could see the arrows sticking out of the bag. I don't need other passengers to look at me casually, not today. Also, the blanket kept me warm, and like I said before, it felt cold outside.

Even so, I need to go to the Serraville Forest now. Something about this place drew me back. I went there this morning, of course, just to get out of this world for a while. I found myself needing to go there just to get a proper rest. On this thought, I created a strange disconnect between my mind and my body.

My heart clearly longs to go outside, to nature. In my sun, we usually slept outside, covered with only a thin layer of covering, to block out rain and fallen leaves, and slept on soft beds in the cracks of the trees. I've had trouble sleeping every night since we came back. Industrial noise in the suburbs isn't a big deal – I can keep it out if I need to. It's the wall. Imprisonment. Cut off from the world around you. I feel like I can't feel everything anymore, and it makes me uneasy.

At the same time, when I walk into the woods behind the house, or when I come to Serraville Park, my body tells me a different story. It was almost screaming for me to wrap myself up and protect myself from the elements. It wasn't until now that I realized it was because of a lack of magic. When I sleep, I can't use Etovira to protect myself from exposure, maintain a comfortable temperature, and stay away from the harshness of nature. My body needed a bed and a roof above my head, and strong walls to keep out the wind and other dangers that might lurk out of sight.

Between the two of them, I was trapped physically and mentally and completely helpless.

The bus arrived at the stop bound for Serraville Park. I thanked the driver and set off, jumping over the bushes with ease. The memory of Sarah tripped over the roots of a tree popped up in my mind. I giggled. Yes, I admit, I've been spying on them. Come on, if you have my skills and find them roaming your forest together, you will do the same.

I learned how to walk through the dense forest carefree. There are rules to how natural forests grow, how the roots of trees take root, and how they shape the landscape. Once my brain has chosen the pattern, I know where each step should be placed, and where each fulcrum of each branch should grow. Of course, there were some surprises, but for the most part, I always knew exactly where I was, and everything around me.

In other words, I immediately noticed traces on the forest floor.

I didn't recognize the footsteps at first glance, strange zigzag lines and evenly spaced grids. It took me a while to remember that the pattern would appear on the soles of real-world shoes.

This can be interesting. I haven't tracked anything in a while. After all, it's hard to find in the cobblestone streets of Kandel. A little practice would be fine.

I set off, fading into the bushes along the path. There were a few times when I almost lost my track, but other clues kept me on the hunt. Broken branches, trampled bushes. An overturned stone in the creek, wet. I followed it like a wolf hunting its prey. I was determined to find the other end, if only for the sake of my self-esteem.

Instead, I ended up finding something that really changed my life.

The trail extended into a small clearing, smaller than my height. Still, it's a perfectly round shape, a brown patch in the rolling lush greenery that surrounds us. This can't be a natural occurrence. I stopped to take a closer look, because the rails seemed to end here anyway.

Underneath a fern at the other end, there is a pure white rock. It seemed to glow, and a beam of sunlight shone through the trees above. I crouched in front of it curiously.

I was so scared that I almost fell. There, undoubtedly etched on the surface are scratches carved with Ettolin - in its original form. There is absolutely no one else in the world who can read the words engraved there. I looked up at the sky, at the stars in the universe that didn't even exist, and I wondered.

This stone describes in great detail how precisely the three men traveled to the Serravel. Nothing more, nothing less. Forever.

I sat down in the clearing. My brain is still dizzy. As if to remind me that I was still in Oregon, a shadow obscured the sun, the air was filled with the smell of Petrick, and soon, the world around me became dim in the drizzle, and raindrops snapped down from the leaves.

"What the am I going to do with this," I asked Sky.

The stars are smugly carrying out their cunning schemes, unwilling to deign to answer.