"I wonder how life will treat me this time around?" Simon said as he leaned his back on a tall tree while overlooking a beautiful valley.
"A place like this is just outside of the confines of the Reaper City, who would have thought?" Simon smiled.
The wind gently breezed through, blowing away small leaves and cooling Simon's skin. The feeling of the wind gently tickling his naked body put Simon in a state of bliss as he relaxed under the demon world's glowing sun.
As to why Simon was lying there naked? He simply wanted to try sunbathing for once, since he had never really gotten to enjoy the outdoors in his first life. Being sick can really take one's time away from them.
'That brother of mine would be doing just fine on his own. I have already given him enough time to settle in the mansion and meet Hecate's father, now all I have to do is wait.' Simon grinned to the sky.
'I have been resting here for half an hour now... I should probably put my clothes back on before some pervert walks by and notices.' Simon thought to himself as he finally put his tailored clothes back on and sat down next to the tree.
"These clothes really have great insulation and heat regulation... even with the heat of the sun, I still feel chilled." Simon spoke as he admired his clothes.
"I wonder what cliche moment I will encounter as I go down to the riverbank to take a bath?" Simon laughed.
"If there is some beautiful woman, I might just punch myself! I've already had enough cliche moments for a day! One is already too much for me." Simon giggled as he leapt off of the side of the tall tree.
Like a speeding bullet, Simon quickly approached the same riverbank that he had stopped by earlier to clean his feet with. Storing his items in a hidden spot (in a thick bush), Simon felt safe and sound. Immediately afterwards, Simon jumped into the river and created a huge splash.
"Aaah yess... no trope!" Simon shouted joyfully.
He really liked the fact that he didn't have to participate in an overused trope every single time he did something. His life seemed much more real now, it was unpredictable but real.
"The sun meets the waters and cuts a blade thin~!" An elderly masculine voice echoed
"The horizon is formed and a divide is birthed~!"
"The Heavens and the earth are but where angels and devils lurk~!"
"Bring me to the land we call peace~!"
"So let this world's turmoil cease~!"
"So let it be~"
'Is this man a minstrel?' Simon inwardly questioned.
'This voice is very old... he sounds like he's nearing his expiration. I'd better check what he's doing here... before that, I need to dry up and put my clothes back on.'
'I am not one of those disgusting perverts that f**king go around and swing their d**ks around as they walk through the he wilderness.'
Simon quickly got out of the riverbank and dried himself out with the expert use of his Visionary power. Aftwards, Simon put his clothes back on and headed in the general direction of the voice that he had just heard.
As if he was in a horror movie, he witnessed as his surroundings got darker and darker. As he entered the tree line, the tree started to whistle with an eerie pitch, almost as if it was haunting him. Soon the branches of the trees became as desolate as the deserts of earth, baring no fruit and leaves. The ground became harder than stone and the sky was black from the amount of tree branches that covered him from the light. Almost like a cave, he felt himself going deeper and deeper into the wary eyes of the darkness. A cavern that felt somewhat warm, yet somewhat unwelcoming.
After walking for ten minutes, Simon decided to stop and turn back; unmotivated to continue walking down when he was unsure of the outcome.
"Even I am not sure about this. I never wrote about a elderly voice in this forest, so I cannot be absolutely sure that this route is safe." Simon said to himself as he turned back.
Thump
The ground briefly shook as Simon took a step back.
"Anyone there?" Simon asked.
"Of course someone is here. Why else did you hear my voice? Am I a figment of your imagination? A plea to your soul to make right with yourself? No! I am a simple man that wishes to pass on in the midst of my home." The elderly voice echoed into the darkness.
"Who...are you?" Simon pauses before asking again.
"Who knows? I just live in the forest! I am clearly a looney that revels in the company of dead trees! Why don't you ask Larry over their? Ow wait, he's dead!" The voice laughed.
"Again, who are you?"
"Why, kid, I am just another Devil. Why do you ask my name when you will never know what it means? Do you revel in mysteries? A detective of sorts? If so, you may not find a friend in me. I play no games, My answers are always straightforward."
"Ironic." Simon whispered to himself.
"I heard that!
The winds trembled as the voice shouted.
"I am the voice of my own person. I am the body of my own soul. I live in this forest, I care for this forest. I do not care for the politics of the Demon World, I do not care one bit. I sing my heart out and leave this world with my song! A song that will never be heard by my lover's ears, a song that I can only show her in death."
"I am Xander Beel! The keeper of my own destiny! If you wish to keep your destiny in your hands alone, you can find a great friend in me!"