Chapter 19
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The pleasant song of a nearby water source danced in his rounded oval shaped ears. Symphonies of nature composed of intricate notes weaving together to form a harmonious melody
The soothing lullabies resonating from the earth's pulse calming the organisms resting on its luscious soil.
Fowls of the sky added its own chorus that harmonized with the mellow voice of the water. Their rustling wings created a gentle percussion as they caught the breeze.
Delayed bleats resonating in the air with the help of the broad cuffing leaves branching of the treetops. Like a delicate poem each bleat carried a soulful melody bringing a feeling of peace and tranquility.
This vastly contrasted with the hollow deathful shrieks that haunted each brittle corner of that dreadful prison.
As Ivan gradually gained consciousness, the rustling leaves and snapping branches, breaking under the weight of large creatures, enveloped his awoken senses.
His eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the unusual filtered light streaming through the emerald canopy above his resting body before he shortly raised from the ground.
This feeling had felt unknowingly unfamiliar but oh so longing. The warmth not too hot, just enough to nourish him, the light not too bright allowing his eyes to intake his surroundings.
Confusion took place as he processed the tall, slender trees adorned with vibrant foliage stretching skyward, their branches intertwined to form the very same verdant canopy sailing above his head.
Moss covered rocks and babbling brooks wind their way through the unbrush, adding a melodic symphony to the tranquil ambience.
Wildflowers of hue carpet the floor, their delicate petals swaying in the gentle breeze like a sea of colors.
The air, alive with the sweet scent of blossoms, mingling with the earthly aroma of damp soil and ancient wood. An endless amount of mana abundant in the atmosphere and the in plants themselves.
His entranced gaze shifted downward catching something he never thought he would have missed.
Something soft that also felt sharp.
It was something that's green pigment was known wherever you were.
A once forgotten privilege which Ivan took for granted.
Grass
The soft vegetation on the ground tickled the bottom of his feet. His heart raced as he gazed upon the blades of grass, a sight he had lost all hope of seeing again.
Overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment he dropped to his knees and reached out tentatively, his fingers trembling as they brush against the soft texture of the grass.
Tears welled up in his eyes as a soft laughter escaped from his mouth. Slowly ascending in volume his laughter shimmered a tiny light in his heart but it was quelled by a sudden sad feeling washing over him.
His hands trembled more, his hands gripping the grass. Memories of their time together flooded his mind; her smile, her laughter, the way she scolded him when messing up on an instruction and countless others they shared together.
The boy wanted to bawl but he couldn't, he had already done so much of that and if she saw him now she would surely mock him.
All he could do was live on and fulfill her last wish.
Sniffing backup running snot and wiping the tears from his eyes, Ivan slowly rose to his feet, feeling the weight of his loss still heavy in his heart.
But as he looked down at his bruised and battered body, he gasped in astonishment. The bruises and cuts that once coated his body moments ago were miraculously gone.
Leaving faint traces of existence behind in the forms of scars.
``Aria`` Ivan murmured realizing this was Arias doing and her final act of kindness.
``I forgive you`` said, clasping his hands and raising them to the heavens.
A weight lifting of his chest, Ivan could move on without the feeling of gratefulness in his heart.
After taking a moment Ivan began to wander around in this strange environment, knowing not where he was or what to do.
With each tentative step, the boy ventured deeper into this woodland domain, hunger gnawing at his stomach.
Despite the fact he was deeply hungry Ivan could not stop himself marveling at the scenery around him.
He reached out to touch the velvety leaves feeling their lush texture under his calloused fingertips. Every inhalation brought a symphony of scents - earthy musk, floral sweetness and a tang of dew kissed ferns.
Innate Primal instincts drove him to search for anything edible, his hunger needing to be satisfied.
He scoured the floor for any edible roots or berries, his senses heightened by deprivation.
Unsuccessful, Ivan decided to search higher.
With the agility of a woodland sprite, the boy began his ascent up the towering tree. Each handhold and foothold seemed to materialize beneath his touch, as if the tree itself welcomed his presence.
As he climbed higher, the world below transformed into a patchwork of vibrant greens and earthy browns.
The canopy above swayed gently in the breeze, whispering secrets of ages past to those who dared to listen.
With practiced grace obtained from his time scaling heightened stone walls, the boy leaped from branch to branch, his movements fluid and effortless.
On each branch a ripe fruit bore for the starving boy. He took no time to prune them from their hanging ropes and move on to the next.
He felt the pulse of life thrumming through the ancient tree, connecting him to its timeless wisdom and boundless energy.
At last, he reached the highest boughs, where the air was crisp and the view breathtaking. From this vantage point, he could see an endless audience of trees similar to the one he hung on.
Ivan had managed to wind up in a forest with not even the slightest sight of a civilization before him.
His head aimed downward before he made his descent, backtracking the previous moves made.
With eager anticipation, the boy cradled the strange fruit in his hands, marveling at its otherworldly appearance. Its skin shimmered with hues of iridescent blue and purple, adorned with delicate swirls and patterns that seemed to dance in the dappled sunlight.
Carefully, he brought the fruit to his lips, inhaling its sweet, exotic aroma—a tantalizing blend of citrus and spice that tickled his senses. With a sense of wonder, he took his first bite, feeling the juices burst forth in a collage of flavor.
The taste was like nothing he had ever experienced before—sweet and tangy, with hints of tropical paradise and sacred mana. Each mouthful was a revelation, a journey into uncharted territory that left him craving more.
``Its so good``; Ivan shouted out, a look of satisfaction beaming of his face
Juice dribbled down his chin as he devoured the fruit, his hunger forgotten in the blissful ecstasy of the moment.
Each bite filled him with renewed vitality, as if the very essence of the forest itself flowed through him with every swallow.
As he savored the last succulent morsel, the boy felt a sense of gratitude wash over him—a profound appreciation for the bountiful gifts of the natural world and the simple joys of nourishment and sustenance.
With a contented sigh, he leaned back against the mossy trunk of the tree, his heart full, his hunger satisfied, his thirst quenched by the juices and his spirit rejuvenated by the mana of the enchanted fruit.
This feeling felt good, Ivan felt at peace for the first time in a while. In this moment unknowingly Ivan drifted to sleep, hoping to take a couple of minutes for himself.