Stepping through the portal I could feel the separation.
No longer was I holding Darwin's hand.
No longer could I see his soul.
It was disorienting but not unexpected. I insisted exactly for reasons such as this.
When I am caught unaware, in an unfamiliar place surrounded by what I perceived as enemies. So that I could defend myself.
The countless dying souls could attest to this fact.
Whenever one came past me I could see the resentment in the soul.
It was at that moment that I felt regret, not that I came here, no, but that I didn't prepare accordingly.
I had no weapon with me. My combat prowess was limited by not only the lack of weapons but the fact that I don't have any training.
'I need to find Darwin' I thought to myself, that was the only logical solution.
'Darwin can protect me' with that thought I started to look at the souls and their routes
After watching for a bit I found that there were places where those souls wouldn't go.
I don't know why but that was my route. I couldn't afford to engage with them so instead I would avoid them.
…
It was with a carefully planned route that I found myself wandering. With no way of knowing where Darwin is I had to just wander until I found the light of his soul.
While I couldn't avoid the natural obstacles of the realm I could plan a route where wherever I go would not be inhabited by any malevolent souls.
With wandering as my direction I wandered wherever I could. The only consideration I took was to stay out of the malevolent souls' sight.
While I was avoiding the souls I picked up a stick and tried to reinforce it like I saw Darwin do.
It was a difficult process, every time that I tried I would have to open a cut on my hand letting my white colored aether flow out in gaseous form.
Even once I had done that it did not get easier. To control the aether outside of my body took considerable effort.
Once I had enough control over the aether I let out into the air I carefully directed it to the stick.
*CRACK*
The stick didn't even last a second, the moment my aether had touched it the stick died.
It was weird for a second I could see a soul.
But immediately after I saw the soul my aether touched it and it was gone.
Trying again I pick up another stick but this time instead of trying to touch it with my aether I try to infuse it.
Slowly through the same cut the gaseous white aether flowed out but this time I put it under the tightest control I could.
This time I push the aether further into the stick I had picked up.
I could see a soul forming in the stick I had infused and I aimed exactly at that.
White edges appeared along the stick's soul slowly overtaking the stick.
By the time the white aether had completely taken over the stick, it had undergone a complete transformation.
Instead of the brown branch that it was, it now looked like a dagger.
The stick had shortened to about twice the length of my hand and the end of it was sharp.
It fit in my hand perfectly.
*WOOSH* *WOOSH*
Slashing at the air to test the blade I can hear the wind being slashed.
…
So caught up in my reverie of the blade I hold I fail to notice the soul sneaking up behind me.
The only warning that I had gotten was the flash of light in the otherwise black world that I saw.
It was trying to sneak up upon me and had succeeded in doing so.
By the time I had noticed it it was within arms length of myself.
The soul looked as if it was going to slash at my right so I preemptively dodged to the left.
*SLASH*
"AHH" I cried out.
It seemed that I didn't dodge correctly as I was still slashed at the hip, a long gash appearing at my side.
I turned toward my right swinging the dagger toward the soul. Adrenaline fueling my body I pushed the dagger with all my strength.
*SLASH*
The dagger cut through the soul like a hot knife through butter.
Before I knew it the soul was cut in half.
And in those half's I could see a dot. In a desperation of adrenaline I didn't let up in my attack and with both hands pushed my dagger with as much strength as I could towards the dot that was revealed.
*UUAAHH*
A shrieking cry was made the moment my dagger pierced the soul's dot.
And after a moment the soul completely disappeared.
…
"Hah" "Hah"
I panted my legs giving out on me dropping me to the ground.
A deep tiredness appeared as the dregs of adrenaline left my body
The slashing wound that that soul had given me was still bleeding though so I could not sleep.
Although I could not see the wound I could still feel it. Once I had a good grasp of where it is I tore a piece of my clothing off then wrapped it around the wound all the while giving pressure to the wound.
Slowly I breathed in and out. I could not black out here. The loss of blood was making me lightheaded and after I had bandaged the wound my body was starting to get more and more tired with no objective to fulfill.
Slowly my eyelids started to fall.
I held out as much as I could but I could not resist the pull of sleep.
…
*GROWL*
I didn't wake up normally, instead I woke up to the growl of my stomach.
Groggily getting up I try to call for Tama but then remember where I was.
Putting my hand back on my wound I apply more pressure hoping to kill the pain that was aching me.
"Aoif?!" Turning my head I see Darwin approaching me.
"Are you okay" fussing over me he checks my wound.
*GROWL* another growl of my stomach interrupts him.
I could sense a sly emotion from his soul.
Bringing his hand to my wound I feel his aether enveloping my wound and soon enough the torn muscle and skin are patched up.
Picking me up in a piggyback carry he whispers to me.
"Come on let's go find some food"