4. The beginning of the journey

"I'm coming for you, Dae hyun joon!"

As I inched my way toward the cliff, my legs were shaking uncontrollably. I could feel the coldness of the rock beneath my feet when my toes curled around the edge in one last futile attempt at survival.

"It was good when I climbed up, but why am I feeling heavy again?" I sobbed internally as my heart raced like a trapped bird, desperate to flee. The gravity there seemed to work in a very peculiar way. Gazing down the sheer drop, I nearly fainted. I could hear stones breaking free and fiercely tumbling downside, plummeting into the dark abyss of the forbidden black water, splashing down the surface.

"At least there's water?" An awkward smile of fear curled into my face as I stared at the dark river at the foot of the border. The trees began to rapidly close in around me in a suffocating clench as I gradually climbed down, and the faint sight of the ground did ease the distress. The cool breeze felt like needles upon my bare skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps as I landed my foot on the ground. My whole body embraced the soil as if it was my country.

"Is this why people hugged the ground after climbing? Now I understand!" I mumbled as I closed my eyes to ease my breath and body.

According to the main story, Johan, Maria and others were lost in 'Magook', central to Baraddurn. Right now, I'm at 'Dreent', the place apace with the border.

"This doesn't seem like Earth at all. Where is this exactly? A lot of things aren't making sense." I muttered as I pushed myself to stand up and stepped towards the river.

The swift flow of the river rushed the south. The water looked sterile, but who knows what lies within it. I glared at it with suspension in my eyes. With small steps, I moved my face closer to the water and saw a pair of bright red eyes with a slight depth under them, the greasy neutral blonde and disarrayed hair resting on my nape, a small oval face and thin swollen lips with a hint of scarlet in them.

"...This is probably one of the livestock's body. I don't recall anyone with this kind of appearance in the novel." Seeing the reflection, my hand brushed against my shaggy hair, and it felt soft despite being unkempt.

"They had quite the beauty, I'll admit." I shrugged my shoulder while taking a piece of the cloth I was wearing, to check if the water was safe. As predicted, it vanished in a blink of an eye.

"Tch, Looks like I'll have to survive with the sapling fluids."

Seeing the colossal trees with their veiny teal leaves, they were Ragpaver. The hanging vines are useful as a weapon, but it wasn't necessary for me at that moment.

"If I meet him, all the needs would be covered. Let's see...How long will it take me to reach Magook?"

I scribbled all the roots I remembered from the novel on the ground with my finger making the soil sink into my nails.

The forest in front of me wasn't that dense. On the outskirts of it, there was a regal camp. I ought to be careful at that place.

"It might take two days to reach there," I let out a sigh while looking around as I brushed my hand against my waist to check if the bone was still intact and it was all set. "Let's move!"

________

The trace of the sun vanished, and the sky got dark purple with the sea-blue moon in the middle. Dark tree trunks, shadows, and overhanging limbs across the path were seen at the last second. The sound of my scrunchy steps was clearly heard. Tall shadowed pines stretching up like arrows beside the trees.

I paused at the sound of the growl behind me. Peeking from my left shoulder, I grabbed the bone to see Three vague massive shadows. There was no doubt, it was them.

"Why are they here? They were supposed to be further away!"

My feet slapped the grassy ground sending me jetting past the various figures that passed by me like the breeze of a cyclone. The steady pounding of my footsteps echoed into my ears. I felt a bead of sweat roll down my forehead and splatter to my chin. The fear I developed from seeing them after me added strength. The soles of my feet hitting the ground, I didn't give up. I halted as a jolt went down my spine, seeing one of them stepping towards me from the front.

"Where do you think you're going?" A tall figure with her arms behind her glared at me. Anyone would've thought she was a human if not for her horns and deep green skin. Even her clothes were human-like.

Her words thudded in my skull. "S-she's one of the regal members," I muttered as I was paralyzed in fear. Fear shimmered throughout my body. It was hard to breathe.

Something was telling me There was no way I could outrun her nor fight her. I misstep could kill me in an instant.

"So this is the escaped rat from Sullay?" She moved her face closer to mine, and my body vibrated like an alarm.

"Dispose of it!" She said as she passed by me while waving her hands. One of them moved closer to me with a giant hammer-like weapon with thorns wrapped around it.

"I can't die here. I don't even belong here!" I thought as I stood still and squeezed my eyes shut, waiting to get smashed.

Something like water splashed on my face. I slowly opened my eyes to see the head of the ogre with its tongue sticking out in front of my foot. I steadily raised my head to see a pair of dull-gray eyes covered in glasses and Black bangs covering half of his forehead. His hand pointed the sword at me. The soft breeze brushed against his hair, and the reflection of the moonlight on him made his cold face look breathtaking.

"Ah! Here he is- Dae Hyun Joon,"