In the early mornings before the sun had yet to rise into the skies, Xiao had decided to leave the village early. He had a hearty meal of Bistek and Rice, with a refreshing Starfruit juice that was fresh from the trees themselves. He headed onward into the forest, the leaves overlapping so densely, it felt like the sunrise was just a fanciful dream. His blunt nails clacked together as he struck his index and thumb fingers, a ticklish sting was felt as sparks flew and a cold fire grew. 

He flicked the fire away, watching it float slightly above himself. Deeper he went into the darkening forest, where not even the sound of prey could penetrate. It felt unnerving to Xiao, the immense silence was stifling. As he jumped across a dry ravine, a branch snapping to the left of him caused him to move his body to face the sound but his action caused him to twist his ankle and crash into the clusters of dead foliage.

Bracing himself for impact, he felt a warm arm wrap around his waist and stabilized him from falling. Xiao looked at the face of his savior despite the fact that his features were hidden by the shadows, he managed to vividly recall warm amber eyes. “Okay, ka lang?” The man asked, stepping away from Xiao and thus leaving the area cast with the fire’s glow. Dazed, Xiao barely managed to stumble out an affirmative. The man gently guided him upright, his warm touch ebbed as they separated. 

“Be careful, these woods are quite difficult to navigate even with the aid of a light source.” Xiao slightly pursed his lips, noting the stranger’s avoidance of the light. Regardless, he decided to not be hostile to a potential companion and engaged with him in light conversation.

“Thank you for the warning, though a sign at the foot of this dark abyss you folks call a forest would have been much appreciated.” He quipped. The stranger chuckled, a hand attempting to muffle his laughter. “You think the Agyl and Estoru haven’t tried? Something lurks in the forest that really hates signs.” 

Xiao looked at him stunned, the stranger must have seen his face in the flickering light as he quickly retracted his word. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just rumors honestly, no one really knows why the signs that the nearby towns put up keep getting destroyed.”

“Rumors do have some semblance of truth to them. It might not be too far-fetched to think that a beast is in the forest.”

The stranger kept quiet as though mulling over his words. “True, though frankly speaking as a messenger, not even a troublesome varmint has graced the forest.” Xiao snorted and shook hands with the stranger as their conversation waned and they slowly bid goodbye.

“Hopefully we can count ourselves lucky that it will stay that way,” Xiao shouted to the evanescent figure of the stranger.

“I have no doubts that both of us will make it out safely. I guarantee it.”

He trudged onwards, pace quickening and eventually the sun’s rays broke through the dense foliage of the forest. It was midday and the nearest road was crowded with merchants and travelers. 

“Hello, sir, do you know what road I’m currently traveling on?” Xiao asked as he bartered goods with the merchant. A cold drink to soothe his throat from a long trip was exactly what he needed right now.

“Yeah, this road is Luntia highway, it’s the main passage to Bahandi.”

“Ah, I see.” Xiao took a sip of the Mango-Green tea fusion he purchased from the vendor. “I was worried that the forest had caused me to lose my bearings.”

“You went through the Perpetual Night Forest?” The merchant yelled, aghast. The nearby listeners also had shock plainly put on their faces. 

“I had no idea it was that famous. I even saw a stranger walkthrough, though he went to Estoru.” Xiao told the merchant, although he was confused, he was beginning to think that it might be best to not add any further details.

The merchant sputtered, the mere idea that not only 1 but 2 people had safely traveled the forest was an unheard-of feat.

“Only the royal messengers have dared to travel through the forest and even then it’s been said that they had great difficulty passing through.”

“Hmm, well, I was almost lost but the kind samaritan helped redirect me. The forest is quite daunting to travel.” Xiao told more tales of his ‘treacherous’ journey. The merchant listened along with the other resting travelers of his arduous and grueling travel and deeds. 

Eventually, Xiao bade goodbye to the travelers, declining the offer to hitch a ride on the caravan with a kind woman. He enjoyed the open fields and fresh air. It was a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the smog-filled cities of his original world. It was nice to breathe in clean, untainted air for once. Not even the countryside had that surety of clean air anymore. The progress of man was slowly stifling any of mother nature’s gifts.

The bright glow of the sun slowly dipped, receding, as though being swallowed by the darkness of the land. The sky consisted of a beautiful spectrum of shades, a blend of soft reds, oranges, and yellows. Clouds absorb the coloration of the sky. Xiao admired how the sun's rays glinted off the polished rooftops and highrise buildings despite the long distance he had to the capital.

To him, it seemed as though Bahandi was a palace kept aloft by the clouds. It looked both intimidating and whimsical. As he traveled alone, with nothing but the cool breeze and the gentle greenery swaying. He had a lot of time to reflect. About his past life, what he was going to do in this life, and whether the gods would grant him the opportunity of another life instead of being sent to waste away in Diyu and never to find peace.

‘It seems that when my brain is not being kept busy with menial tasks, it decides to fill my thoughts with nothing but negativity.’ Xiao mentally facepalmed, a heavy sigh leaving him.

‘And it seems as though I also talk to myself when my head’s empty.’

Xiao slowly reached the outer town that eventually led into Bahandi. The sky was now more purple than red, emphasizing the transition from the warm daylight to the cold evening.