During this moment, the thing that Jean was proud of, was that the trust between him and Casper seemed to be growing with each passing day. And since this was one of the key things for his survival in the area, he couldn't help but smile inwardly the moment Casper appreciated his act of trust towards him some moments ago.
'At least the journey isn't going to be as arduous as I anticipated. Thanks to the bike. But still, I need to know where he went and what he went to do.'
Jean mused before letting out a sigh.
"Please allow me to ask you a couple of questions."
Jean inquired in a friendly tone.
With a nod, Casper responded.
"It's fine, go ahead."
"Where did you go to and what did you go to do there?"
Suddenly, there was silence.
After a short moment of hesitation, Casper took in a deep breath before responding.
"That was exactly what I was about to tell you. After all, I was expecting this questions and many more from you, especially after what happened."
Upon hearing this, Jean scratched his head in embarrassment.
Just at that moment, Casper continued...
"I hope you remember me telling you something about the security barrier."
Jean nodded in response. And just at that moment, a wave of realization hit him.
'Could we have arrived at the security barrier?'
Just at that moment, Casper continued.
"The darkness you just saw some moments ago in the direction that I am coming from was caused by the barrier. Although during the day the darkness isn't noticeable. So, the only way one can identify it is through sensing."
For a moment, Jean was in a stupor.
'Sensing? If it is possible to sense this barrier how comes I didn't sense anything when we arrived here?'
Jean was about to ask this question Casper when the guy's next statement prohibited him from doing so.
"I know you must be wondering how that is possible, but by the time I share with you some information about me and this place, you will come to understand how. However, this would only be after our journey, probably the next day."
Although Jean was eager to know more about the security barrier, he still found it important to postpone this activity till they were done with their journey since it was equally important.
"That's fine with me. But now, what about my second question?"
Jean asked with a glint of curiosity flashing in his grey eyes.
During this moment, Casper's breathing was now stable.
With a sigh, Casper gazed at Jean's hands and suddenly, his pupils dilated.
"Before I answer you your question, if you can tell me, where is the helmet that I gave you?"
Casper asked as he looked at Jean with a serious face.
Suddenly, Jean was stunned as he realized that the helmet he was holding some moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed as if it had disappeared in thin air since he couldn't remember dropping it during his fall.
"What!"
Jean exclaimed as he immediately scanned the premises for the helmet.
When couldn't spot anything, he turned to Casper and frowned.
"Should we look for it? I think I dropped it when I fell."
When Casper heard this, he shuddered.
"So, you felt?"
And without waiting for Jean's reply he added.
"You were lucky, else you could have disappeared just as the helmet."
As soon as Jean heard this he gasped as he felt a chill down his spine.
Although he had purposed to search for the helmet, but from Casper's statement, it was clear that the helmet couldn't be traced.
He couldn't believe that he too could have gone through the same fate as the helmet. At this point, he was feeling a slight headache due to the mental stress he was experiencing for trying to digest Casper's statement.
A minute later, Casper gulped.
"Now to answer your question, all I can tell you for now is that I went to open the security barrier for our passage. So, all I can tell you is that we should harry out of this place before it closes."
When Jean heard this, he was forced to throw the ominous thoughts at the back of his head. In the next moment, he composed himself and glanced at Casper.
During this moment, the morning light was already coming out. It was almost 6AM already. So, it was clear that they had wasted a lot of time in the area.
Just at that moment, Casper who was now clearly visible, gestured Jean to follow him as he moved towards the bike.
When the two got on the bike, Casper didn't waste even a single second and ignited its engine before sending it forward.
When they passed the spot that the darkness was concentrated, Jean didn't feel anything different. But when they were like twenty meters away from the spot, Jean noticed the change in the atmosphere.
The atmosphere in this area was somewhat lively with wind blowing through the trees and some distant chanting of birds.
For a moment, Jean felt his mind clear up as if it was clouded with some mysterious feeling. He could tell that they were out of the security barrier. The undergrowths underneath seemed to increase the more they moved away from the spot.
While still pondering on the matter, Casper broke the silence that was hanging between them.
"We are currently out of the security barrier. I think you now know what we expect on our way onwards."
This statement from Casper could have piqued Jean's mood, but since the boy's aim was directed towards what lied ahead of them. And that was finding a way of returning to his home, he cared less about the possible dangers they were likely to encounter while on their way.
But this didn't mean that he couldn't be vigilant during their journey. In fact, he improved his sensory of danger since he knew very well at the back of his mind that, in order for him to make it to the destination, he needed to be safe.
'At least, I didn't come alone. I have him and I trust his ability in ensuring my safety.'
After mulling over, Jean decided to respond to Casper, who was still silent since his last statement.
"I know it is going to be dangerous out here. But I just hope we don't run into any fierce beast."
"No need to worry. After all, you have the best hunter with you."
Casper answered in contempt.
Jean could easily tell that he was trying to mock him but decided to ignore it.
Suddenly, a thought formed in his mind.
'What could have been the purpose of the pill?'
Just at that moment, he leaned towards Casper and lingered.
"Was the pill part of my treatment?"
Jean asked out of curiosity.
"It was for protecting you from the harsh conditions outside the security barrier."
For a moment Jean was confused.
"Which conditions?"
Lingering for a moment, Casper sighed.
"It is useful in resisting extreme low temperatures out here. Now you can't feel it because it is already in effect."
At this point, Jean's mind was in a maze.
It was not like he didn't notice this change, but the truth of the matter was that, he didn't know its real cause. Now that the real cause had been revealed to him, the memories of the warm current rushing through his body replayed in his mind.
Suddenly, he seemed to understand what had happened to him. But still, he had a question.
Does this mean that the coldness outside the security barrier were that low for the heavy clothes they were putting on not to be enough to protect them from it? And if that was the case, then how comes he didn't experience this the moment he fell from the plane?
During this moment, Jean was itching to ask Casper this same question.
But judging by the guy's mood, he felt that it was important that he gives the guy a break so that he would concentrate on the journey. Perhaps this way, they would be able to sense any danger in advance and also arrive at their destination faster.
The structure of the forest seemed to change with every kilometer they covered, especially in terms of spacing and height. The trees' heights seems to reduce and also the spacing between them seemed to increase.
With the spacing increasing, their riding speed saw a rise.
Their progress was somewhat slowed down during the start of their journey, due to having to meander through the trees and ride over precarious surfaces. But now with most of these reducing, their journey seemed to get better.
The morning light was brightening up and bird chants seemed to get louder with every meter they covered.
After traveling for approximately ten minutes, Jean saw the first group of birds. This were the first animals he was seeing since he stepped in the forest.
The feeling of seeing the first animals in the forest was soothing, to the point that he forgot that it was the same forest that was infested by dangerous beasts.
He shifted his from point to point trying to spot any different animal around.
When he noticed none, he almost cursed out loud. But just at that moment, Casper moved the bike to the side, avoiding a gigantic tree trunk before stepping on the breaks of the bike. In the next moment, the bike released a screeching sound before coming to a halting stop.
Just as the bike stopped, a bison like creature crossed in front of them, missing the bike by a whisker.
(;＞_＜;)