I don't really know how long it was exactly, but by the time Viola worked everything out of her system, it was already 'morning' in the Forest. Although, with this place's distorted reality and time, who knew how accurate that really was.
The forest was already abuzz and alive somewhere far around us, but never close enough to disturb us. Or more importantly, Viola.
She laid on my chest, snoring peacefully. It might have been the first time I ever saw her sleep so soundly since we got here. Usually, she was always keeping watch or teaching me something.
Her naked body was pressed against mine, but I was a little too sore to feel anything about tha-
...well, nevermind. The morning really does powerful things to the male biology.
"Looks like somebody's awake already~..."
I felt a shiver run up my spine at that seductive, sing-songy voice. Viola's eyes were open, looking up at me with the same lustful intent they had all night.
"V-Viola...good morning?"
A smile grew on her face at my feeble attempt to greet her.
"Maybe I should make you go for some more rounds, just to help you calm down? Stay laid here a little longer while I ride you back to sleep...?"
I gulped...and then she laughed, shaking her head.
"No, just kidding! I can already tell you're done for for a while, after all. Instead, how about we just have a nice 'shower'?"
I let out a sigh of relief. Not that I really minded indulging in her body, but even I had a limit.
"You're still as unpredictable as ever."
-----
"Phew..."
I stood under the cold stream of the waterfall alongside Viola, using the clean water to wash myself. Viola stood beside me, allowing the water to fall over her body, as well.
...it was odd.
Before, it went unspoken that we should both have our own bath times, but now we were standing together, naked under the waterfall like it was only natural.
Viola, noticing my gaze, smiled and cupped her large breasts, showing them off to me.
"What is it? Feeling like you want to suck on them again? You really do need to be babied a lot, Alan..."
"Yeah, yeah..." I brushed her off by turning away, closing my eyes and enjoying the feeling of the rushing water. I did make sure to memorize that sight before I did, though. "More importantly, today is the day, isn't it?"
"'More importantly'? You're so..."
Her eyebrows rose in confusion as she began speaking, only to trail off. Some realization had set in. A melancholy realization, that made her turn away as well.
Hearing the silence that suddenly came between us, I decided to speak up again.
"...the day that I do that big fight you were going to prepare, I mean."
"Big fight...?" Her voice had confusion for a while. Then, as if she had another realization, she suddenly spoke in an unusual stuttering tone. "A-Ah, yeah! One of the last tests I can grant you. Well, I wonder if I'd call it a 'fight'...you'll see when we get there. For now, let's focus on getting ready."
"Suuuuure." I replied in a blank tone. Already acclimated to the extreme training, I instinctually began imagining what ridiculous Abnormality of the forest she'd lure out to fight against me.
If it was one of the mythical creatures, maybe I could do something. I'd definitely still die to a Pixie. But I could confidently handle things like Dinosaurs and other such regular creatures pretty easily.
I wish I had actually been looking at her a little closely. Maybe then, I would've been able to find out her real intentions before it was too late.
-----
Dressed up and back to usual, the two of us walked together through the forest. It was odd, after all, I'd usually be training myself to death at this time in the morning. Viola would be following along somewhere above in the trees.
The forest was still...quiet around us. At first, I hadn't thought it was weird. I had gotten used to most things fleeing Viola's presence.
However, at the very least, there should have been one or two things that crossed our path.
But no, it was just us, the sound of rustling leaves, and our almost totally silent footsteps.
"I want to quiz you on something, Alan."
Viola was the first to speak. She walked ahead of me with her hands behind her back. It was impossible for me to read her expression.
"A quiz? Like, on some of the knowledge you gave me about Abnormalities?"
She shook her head.
"Well...I guess quiz is the wrong word? It's more like, I wanted to ask you something." She didn't wait for me to answer before continuing. "What do you think an Abnormality really is?"
Even after she finished speaking, the silence remained. After all...the answer was seemingly so obvious, but the way she spoke made it sound like it should be a little more tricky...
Thousands of thoughts rolled around in my head at once. Why was she asking something so abstract? Why did it even matter at this point?
"Jeez...and I thought I whipped all those useless thoughts out of your head with the mental training. Don't overthink it like you always do everything." She sighed. I could see her shaking her head. "Just answer."
...
"If I had to use my own words, it's something that shouldn't exist...something that just isn't 'right'. For example...creatures that shouldn't be alive, mythical beings that should just be stories, concepts that mess with what we know. That's an abnormality. I mean...it's in the name. They're 'abnormal'."
Viola nodded, satisfied. "Right? It's obvious to tell just what constitutes an abnormality. It's a liiiittle bit harder to tell what they're based off of sometimes. It can be as obvious as a T-Rex, a little more obscure as something from some random religion, or waaaay out there like a thought or concept that someone's had before."
I listened quietly. This sort of thing was the knowledge that Viola had shared with me over the months. Before, I had questioned her source, but now I understood that it was just from her long time spent trapped within this Abnormality that hosted countless other Abnormalities.
At least, I thought that I understood that.
"So, where do they come from?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but she held up her hand, a gesture I found myself immediately closing my mouth to.
"Yes, I know they borrow the characteristics of things we're already aware of...but where does it originate? Do the Pixies bring them over? Do they travel here from some sort of weird dimension?"
Her words gave me pause. I found myself stopping. I felt...uneasy for some reason.
"Master...no, Viola, what...are you saying, exactly?"
Viola stopped in place as well. Slowly, she turned towards me. For the first time in a long time, her expression once again looked unreadable. Foreign. Inhuman.
"Tell me, disciple, have you ever actually seen an 'Abnormality' come into existence?"
That question...
I couldn't answer it.
That was because nobody had. We all just 'ran into' Abnormalities. They all just 'appeared', or we just assumed they were 'there already'.
The Pixies offered 'quests' and 'dungeons', sure...but nobody had ever seen the Pixies create anything. They just showed up and transported us into spaces that already held 'Abnormalities'.
The corner of Viola's lips turned upwards. But it wasn't that usual joyful, mischievous grin she had. It was a self-deprecating smirk.
"It's fine. I already know that you haven't. Actually, nobody has. And nobody ever will. Before I got lost in this place, I didn't, either. But, you see, something happened."
Suddenly, I felt a strong emotion. One I didn't entirely understand. I felt sweat suddenly draining down my body, my heartbeat quickened, my eyes widened.
Fear.
It was pure, unadulterated fear.
I didn't want Viola to say just whatever she was going to say next.
But I wouldn't - no, couldn't open my mouth to stop her. Without realizing, my body had become frozen. I couldn't move a muscle - not even able to open my mouth. I was only able to breathe and look.
"I became one. An Abnormality."
She said those unbelievable words with such a casual tone, that it nearly broke my mind.