It's funny how life (or, in my case, the afterlife) can throw you into the most ridiculous situations. There I was, drenched to the bone, trudging through ankle-deep mud with rain pouring down like it was trying to drown the entire forest. What had started as a light drizzle had quickly escalated into a full-blown downpour, and I was caught smack in the middle of it.
"Really?" I shouted, sticking my middle finger up at the sky as if that would make a difference. "Is this the best you can do? Come on!"
The rain, in its infinite wisdom, responded by pouring even harder. Each drop felt like a slap to the face, soaking through my cloak and tunic, chilling me to the bone. Mud squelched under my boots with every step, threatening to pull me down like some kind of hungry swamp monster. I was drenched, exhausted, and thoroughly miserable.
I kept moving forward, squinting through the sheets of rain, hoping against hope that I'd stumble upon some kind of shelter. I couldn't see much in the storm—just more trees and endless mud. My boots sank with every step, and my clothes clung to me like a soggy second skin. At this rate, I'd catch a cold before I ever found food.
The storm showed no signs of letting up. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a low, menacing growl that seemed to echo through the entire forest. A flash of lightning illuminated the trees for a split second, casting eerie shadows that only made my surroundings feel more sinister.
I let out a defeated groan. "Is there anything in this stupid forest that doesn't want to ruin my day?"
As if in response, a particularly strong gust of wind blew through, nearly knocking me off my feet. I stumbled, barely managing to keep my balance, and looked around in desperation. I couldn't keep wandering aimlessly in this storm. I needed shelter, and I needed it fast.
Then, through the haze of rain, I spotted it—a large tree with a hollow at its base. The hole wasn't huge, but it was big enough to squeeze into, and it looked dry. I didn't need to think twice. With a newfound burst of energy, I half-ran, half-stumbled toward it, slipping and sliding in the mud along the way.
When I finally reached the tree, I practically dove into the hollow, scrambling to wedge myself inside. It was a tight fit, and I had to twist and contort myself to get comfortable, but it was warm and, most importantly, dry. The thick bark shielded me from the relentless rain, and the hollow provided just enough space for me to curl up and catch my breath.
"Thank you," I muttered, though I wasn't sure who I was thanking. The tree? The universe? My questionable luck? Either way, I was just grateful to be out of the storm.
I settled into the cramped space, hugging my knees to my chest and letting out a sigh of relief. My clothes were still soaked, but at least I was out of the rain. For the first time in what felt like hours, I allowed myself to relax, even if only a little.
But, of course, this world wasn't done messing with me just yet.
The sky let out a deep, earth-shaking rumble, followed by a crack of thunder so loud it felt like it was right above me. The tree vibrated with the force of it, and I flinched, pressing myself further back into the hollow as if that would somehow protect me.
"Seriously?" I muttered, staring out into the storm with a look that could only be described as a thousand-yard stare. "You're adding thunder and lightning now? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
Lightning flashed again, illuminating the rain-soaked forest in stark, white light. For a split second, everything was bright and clear, every raindrop visible as it fell from the sky. Then darkness closed in once more, leaving me alone with the sound of rain pounding against the tree and thunder rolling in the distance.
I slumped back against the inside of the hollow, resigning myself to my fate. This was officially the worst day of my second life. No food, no shelter (well, unless you counted my tree-hole hideout), and now I was stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm with no way out. I'd come to this world expecting adventure, maybe a bit of danger, but this was just cruel.
"Is this what you wanted, universe?" I shouted into the storm. "Is this my grand adventure? Sitting in a hole, wet and miserable?"
Thunder rumbled again, as if in mocking agreement.
I sighed, curling up tighter in the hollow. My clothes were still damp, and the cold was starting to seep in, but I did my best to ignore it. There wasn't much else I could do except wait out the storm and hope that it didn't last all night. At this rate, I'd probably end up catching pneumonia, which was not how I planned on going out in my second life.
Another bolt of lightning lit up the forest, and I took a moment to appreciate the irony. Here I was, a so-called "chosen one" with a mysterious power called Eternis, stuck hiding from a storm in a tree. Some hero.
With nothing else to do, I leaned back and tried to relax, letting my mind wander. Maybe I'd laugh about this someday, I thought, but right now it just felt pathetic. I couldn't help but wonder if there was some kind of cosmic being up there, watching me and laughing at my misfortune.
"Go ahead and laugh," I muttered, glaring up at the ceiling of my little hideout. "I'll get you back someday."
Just then, a huge clap of thunder rattled the tree again, making me jump. I pressed myself against the back of the hollow, half-expecting the tree to split open from the force of it. The storm was relentless, as if it had some personal vendetta against me.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the sound. My stomach growled again, reminding me that I still hadn't eaten, but there was nothing I could do about it now. I was stuck here, trapped by the storm, with only my thoughts and my growling stomach for company.
"Wonderful," I muttered. "Just…wonderful."
The rain continued to pour, drumming against the forest floor in a steady, relentless rhythm. Thunder boomed, lightning flashed, and I sat there in my hollow, feeling like the world's saddest woodland creature. It was hard to believe this was the same world that promised me reincarnation, adventure, and the power of Eternis. Right now, it just felt like punishment.
For what felt like hours, I huddled in the hollow, listening to the storm rage around me. Occasionally, I'd grumble a few choice words, muttering insults at the sky and the rain, but mostly I just sat there, waiting for the nightmare to end.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the storm began to let up. The rain slowed to a drizzle, the thunder grew fainter, and the forest gradually returned to a peaceful silence. I peeked out from my hideout, relieved to see that the worst was over.
"Well, that was fun," I said sarcastically, clambering out of the tree and stretching my sore limbs. My clothes were still damp, but at least I could move without fear of getting struck by lightning.
I took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, rain-soaked air, and looked around. The forest was peaceful now, the trees glistening with droplets of water, the ground soft beneath my feet. For a moment, it almost felt…magical. Like maybe this world had a gentler side, if I looked hard enough.
Then my stomach growled again, snapping me back to reality.
"Right. Food," I muttered. "One problem at a time."
With a sigh, I set off once more, trudging through the wet forest in search of something—anything—that might fill my stomach. The storm might have passed, but my luck was still as bad as ever.
As I walked, I couldn't help but shake my head, half-laughing at the absurdity of it all. Here I was, supposedly reborn in a fantasy world, armed with a mysterious power, and I'd spent the entire day battling mud, rain, and thunder. If this was the beginning of my grand adventure, I wasn't sure if I was ready for the rest.
But there was no turning back now.