Soon, I left the house through a collapsed wall, nothing was in there, it was empty. Nothing but a few worn-out clothes that were covered in dust.
Still, it was something right? At least I now had change clothes.
I tried to be optimistic and dusted the dust off the clothes to wear it. After I was done, I saw Neph fly towards me. I had sent her out to inspect the surroundings as well, I knew there weren't any danger here since it looked pretty desolate. I knew that Neph can just always fly if danger were detected anyway.
I raised my head and saw that it was f
getting darker, I had to find a safe spot once again to rest, as well as recover my mana. It seems that the beasts around this area was much stronger and much in numbers than where I had been.
From heading here, I encountered a dozen or so peak-tier beasts. Among those, I only killed two, the others, I just avoided.
It wouldn't be surprising anymore if I faced a tier-2 wild beast any moment since I had already encountered one before that I had managed to kill.
Thinking about it now, I realized how such a fool I was. Heading here, I should have found some clues of other humans existence and there shouldn't be as many beasts around since if there were other humans here, they should have taken care of them.
The clues were right infront of me that I didn't even realize it. No clues were found, which meant, no humans existed. No clues existed of their existence.
Thinking more deeply about it, the map I got in the cave was old as fck! It was probably from hundreds of years ago. Plus, a village? existing in this godforsaken, beast-infested forest? It was simply impossible, the village was probably eradicated years ago by wild beasts.
I had been blinded by hope that I even missed this details that I should have, in no way, missed normally.
It was absurd that I had been so foolishly lead by my false hope. I sighed with melancholic light in my eyes. It seems that my goal of leaving this forest was gonna take quite the long time, but it didn't matter, as long as I can leave, it doesn't matter how long.
Once I can, I can also achieve what I had come here for, to unite with humanity
As much as how angry and disappointed I was with the outcome, I could only accept it as it is. Nothing good comes out from denial or staying hopeless.
With Neph not finding anything and me giving up on this village, I started to find a safe spot to rest, heading deeper into the mountains as the night began to descend.
Along the way to finding a safe spot, we encountered a few peak stage beasts, their numbers were much more abundant here.
I wondered about the existence of the village here. It was infested with powerful beasts, it was definelty not something that a normal village with normal people can survive.
Either they had someone very powerful to ward off the beasts or they were plenty powerful individually. Though, it doesn't matter how it's existence came to be as in the end, it was obliterated.
Still, it was curious.
Abruptly, Neph called out to me.
"Neil...something...over there." She pointed whilst levitating over my shoulders.
My guard shot through the roof, I held the short sword on my waist and was ready to attack if any occurrence permitted it.
Still, there was nothing there. I looked at Neph once more but she shook head.
"No...danger...something...check." Now that my mind was out of other thoughts and was completely clear, from my connection with Neph, I could feel something...definitely.
It was some sort of attraction — a calling?
Were we being lured by something? It was creepy that was for sure. Night had already arrived and it was dark. Something at a time like this is a perfect chance to attack from behind.
I don't know either, we haven't found any place to hide.
In the end just decided to follow whatever it was. It didn't seem to be danger, at least according to my senses — which have never been wrong. Also, Neph seemed even more convinced it was rather safe, she said so herself.
I am only able to feel this calling because of my connection with Neph, so she should be more sensitive towards it and feel it more clearly than me.
Anyway, as we neared whatever it was that was calling us, we also drew closer deeper into the mountains. It was dark and very dangerous but moments later, Neph lead me to a cave.