I smile for the first time since coming to this forest.
Hearing someone else's voice was something I didn't realize I would take so much comfort in. But, that comfort didn't last long. The unknowns that came with this voice quickly reminded me of the situation I'm in.
I stand in the middle of the clashing areas, silent.
Should I speak to her? What are her intentions? Did she heal me?
Despite only a few seconds passing since the voice last spoke, it felt like an eternity as I tried to come to some sort of magical explanation to everything that is happening.
The voice seemed to have noticed my pondering, she spoke again.
"I'm assuming you have questions? Go ahead, as my user I suppose there's no reason I shouldn't tell you all the things you need to know to live in this world."
'My user? So is this ring sentient?' I think to myself.
"No, I'm not the ring itself, the ring is more of an outlet for communication and other things."
I let a bit of shock show on my face and the voice giggles.
"Well, you know now, I can hear your thoughts. Just like how you're hearing mine right now."
I decide to speak out loud, despite feeling strange not looking at the person I'm talking to.
"So -- are you a person? Human? Where am I? How did I get here?", I bombard the voice with questions, expecting an answer for every single one. I need to find out where I am and what has happened. I need to find out where my family is.
"I don't know of the places you mentioned, but, right now we are in the Inusitatus Forest. I am not a human, I am a celestial, a type of spirit. How you ended up here is a question that I don't have the answer to. All I know is you picked up the ring I am fused with, and now you're my user, partner; whatever you would like to call it."
Celestial? Inusitatus Forest? An endless amount of questions filled my mind as she spoke. But, there were a few things I needed to confirm as fast as I could. However, before I could get any words out of my mouth, she answered my questions before I could speak.
"Yes, the sudden change in your surrounding environment was due to me. When we first bonded your body was unable to contain the new energy I provided you, resulting in this outburst."
I stood still, pondering all the new information I had been given. This world obviously wasn't the same one I lived in. All these fantasy terms being used slowly proved to me that this was a world similar to the ones I would read in novels. I always loved reading those.
I shake my head, letting my thoughts drift was the worst thing I could do right now.
I clear my mind and speak once more.
"What is your name? How will this relationship between the two of us work? How do we get out of this forest?"
"My name is Liliana. As I said before, we are now bonded. Meaning, we are connected through this ring. We now share the same thoughts, energy and basically everything relating to our physical, mental and spiritual physiques. Getting out of here will be quite a task, Inusitatus Forest is the center of this continent. It also happens to have an abundance of resources that all the surrounding countries use. These countries have soldiers stationed all around portions of the forest. Because of the importance of this place, these soldiers are usually high ranking, powerful individuals. Oh! One more thing, may I ask your name?"
Once more, information was being forced into my mind, I was never one to do good under pressure. I guess I will have to change myself drastically for this place.
"My name is Roman."
"Ok Roman! Also, don't worry, I know you don't know much about this world, but we have plenty of power to defend ourselves and get out of here." Liliana spoke with a hint of confidence.
I frown.
"The way you spoke before made it seem like we stood no chance."
"Maybe we do, maybe we don't, let's go find out!"
I laugh awkwardly. Her joke concerns me yet, I find a strange comfort in it. Only moments into meeting me and...Becoming one with me, she's making jokes. She is a strange...Spirit.
"One last thing before we set off, is there a way to have some more privacy in our minds? I'd like to keep my thoughts to myself." I ask. Please say yes.
Liliana is silent for a moment.
"Well, since you sadly asked, there is a way. I'll do it for you."
Thank goodness.
After Liliana speaks, I feel a strange tingling sensation in my head.
"There, now our thoughts will be concealed from each other."
"Are you able to reverse this on command as well?"
"Yes."
"Good." If we ever need to talk without talking out loud that would be a useful skill to have.
"Where should we start heading to get out of this place?" I ask.
"See that blue streak on that tree?"
I look around and can't find the streak.
After a few seconds of struggling, I suddenly feel an impulse to look at a certain place. I'm unable to resist it and I look at a tree with a blue streak.
"Figured I would help you out." Liliana said and giggled.
"So you can do that?" I ask with embarrassment.
"And so much more!" She said with what sounded like genuine pride.
I chuckle for a moment. She's funny.
"What about the streak is important?" I ask.
"It's a sign of one of the surrounding countries. They mark the trees to signify their territory to the other countries that explore the forest. The blue streak is the symbol of the Noctis Kingdom, a place I happen to be very welcomed to! Let's follow the streaks for a while and see if we come across any soldiers, hopefully they remember all that I have done for them."
I want to ask about her history with the place but I need some time for my own thoughts.
"Well, it's not as if I have a choice, lets go."
Once I leave the strange environment I was standing in and begin walking through the forest. I let my mind run free.
Liliana was a strange person. No, spirit? Celestial? I couldn't understand it all. My mind and body have just been on autopilot this whole time. I truly hadn't wrapped my head around all of this.
After a few seconds of deep thought, I realize I didn't want to be too deep in my mind in case we come across danger, I thought back to Liliana to distract myself.
She makes me feel safe. I don't know what's going on and I don't want to think about it. She helps with that. I also think about her personality.
She seemed to be a more introverted, quiet type of… Being? When she spoke at the beginning I heard much less emotion in her voice, but as only a few minutes had passed, she started speaking with a lot more emotion. I wonder why?
Liliana also had time to think to herself.
"Poor child, you've gone through so much so recently." She thought to herself with sorrow.