Nathaniel knew that with the lampher beasts prowess, it wouldn't take long for it to defeat and kill its enemy. And he knew not to waste time. Immediately Nathaniel ran back to where he came from. He already made up his mind. Rather than going deeper into the forest and figuring where to go. He'd go back to the camp where he first woke up.
"Something keeps on going wrong. Everything's changed. I even started changing." Nathaniel muttered to himself with furrowed brows.
He had noticed since his conversation earlier with Hanes. Even if that person was after his life. He didn't know where he got the guts to ridicule the older man. His upbringing couldn't have done that. And the condescending manner? It was as if the body's muscle memory was kicking in. As if the arrogance was etched in Xael's bones.
As he ran, he quickly went past through the shrubs of fruits he passed through earlier. And not much longer, he saw in the distance the makeshift resting place where he spent the evening before. He slowed down to catch his breath.
[Escape the Pursuers who are after Xael's life]
[6 m]
Nathaniel grew vigilant. When he saw the mysterious text appear on the tree's bark. He immediately dove inside the pitch and covered the small entrance with leaves. He covered his mouth with his hands. Hoping to minimize the sound of his breathing as he heard footsteps approaching.
"Let's hurry towards the smoke signal, he probably caught that person." A gruff voice could be heard as he quickened his pace.
His companion also agreed as they ran towards the direction of where Hanes was. From a high place, it could be seen that there's a column of smoke rising up fiercely. It was a signal that they all agreed upon.
It wasn't that long before the footsteps were gone. Cautiously Nathaniel lowered his hands and breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned his back towards the dirt wall.
"That was two people. Good thing I retreated fast. If I stayed for a long time there, Hanes might've lit up the smoke signal and those reinforcements would've caught me." Nathaniel muttered under his breath. Feeling his throat a bit dry. He grabbed the gourd in the bag and took a drink of the water inside.
He couldn't help but think that it was a good thing he refilled the gourd with water earlier, the water would've been emptied by now if he didn't.
He licked his lips and stared on his now empty wrist. His mind whirring in suspicion. Gaining some time for himself to think. Nathaniel couldn't help but ponder on the information he has gained.
First of all the mysterious text. It guides him and gives him clues. Originally it was just warning him, but from meeting Hanes earlier, the information it showed also added the distance of the person or object involved. And that mysterious text.
"It knows that I'm not the original Xael." Nathaniel said with confirmation as his memories flashed of the text he'd seen. It clearly states that he must escape the pursuers who want Xael's life.
If so, was the mysterious text or the person behind it, is responsible for his change of body? What does it aim for? Why him?
Second is Xael's pursuer. He can't be so sure yet but from the letter he found on the pouch, it stated that he must be delivered to them yesterday. It doesn't specify whether he should be delivered dead or alive.
But Ravin and Kyle kept him alive, making it 70% that his pursuers want him alive. The 30% chance is that they want him dead. Judging from Hanes' intent and actions earlier of giving him a faulty rope and directing him to make an unsecured knot.
He could foresee that if he wasn't attentive earlier and crossed the gushing river earlier, either the rope breaks or the knot would've gone loose and he would've been fish food by now. Blame him for not knowing how to swim.
Although he discovered it thanks to the mysterious text. If he hadn't known that Hanes' was one of the pursuers, he wouldn't have been much more vigilant earlier.
Nathaniel closed his eyes as he gripped the satchel much tighter. He doesn't know what to do. In his 19— almost 20 years of existence, he was a law abiding citizen who lived in a safe environment. The only thing he had to be careful of was burglars in the neighborhood.
"How am I supposed to know what to do in this situation." He opened his eyes tiredly as he stared at gaps of the roots. He could feel his stomach rumbling due to hunger.
He opened the satchel and grabbed the flat bread that was wrapped in oil paper. Nathaniel broke it in half and wrapped one of it in oil paper and stored it again in the bag. He proceeded to eat the other one in small bites. Padding his empty stomach with the small amount of food.
Deciding that he'd be staying here for the day. Nathaniel brought out the notebook again. He flipped the pages and started writing down the new information he obtained from the magic to the academies.
"If that's right then... Xael's identities could be one of the academy students. I can also concur from Hanes' statement earlier that only those who are privileged or who have the money can attend it."
Nathaniel flipped the pages back to where Xael's name is. On the side he added information. Student of the academy and rich??? As he stared at the notebook at hand, he started wondering if he could use magic too.
He stared at his hands and made a kame-hame motion. "Fireball!"
...
There was nothing. Nathaniel's lips twitched in embarrassment as he lowered his hands and patted them on his pants. He was glad that no one was here to actually see what he did earlier. His face was beet red due to shame.
"Fuck, why do I feel like I'm some sort of chuunibyo with what I did earlier." Nathaniel muttered to himself as he covered his face. He wasn't an avid fan of anime or reading fictional books. However his brother and sisters are. They'd act all strange and justifies that it's pretty normal and that he wouldn't understand since they weren't on the same level.
He shook his head before gazing down again. His eyes staring at the sketch of Xael's face. "What have you done to deserve this Xael?"
He asked himself, his fingertips grazing over the page. It was still unbelievable for him that he was inside someone else's body. Plus where has the original Xael gone to?
He closed the notebook and stored it safely within the bag. He then started thinking to himself. Since he's planning to go back to where the wagon was, he was hoping that the Lampher beast didn't eat the horses too. It could help make the travel faster in this forest.
Plus he also has to think of countermeasures with the beast and Xael's pursuers. It wouldn't surprise him if he encountered them along the way. It would've been great if he had any other clothes at hand or a wig. He could've disguised himself.
"Disguise is out of the question, upfront confrontation also doesn't help. I don't know how to use the magic of this body or if it has any at all." Nathaniel scratched his chin.
He wasn't able to come up with anything still. Hours have passed as he stayed inside the pit, almost bored to death. The sun has started setting and the environment in the forest has slowly gone dim.
Through the span of staying inside his makeshift resting place, he didn't encounter the Lampher beast or any pursuers to pass by his current location. As he was nodding his head off due to drowsiness, he felt something nudging on the back of his palm.
He opened his eyes wearily and was surprised to see a very familiar deer. He couldn't mistake it for something else, it has the same fur pattern with a blotch of white in its head.. It was the same deer that led him to the berries and the small creek.
"Hey bud, it's good to see you again." Nathaniel felt happy to see that the deer was alright. He reached his hands to rub the deer's head.
The deer rubbed against his hand for a bit before turning to the side and munching on the fruit he picked up earlier. Nathaniel glanced at the fruit and noticed that the satchel was now on the ground with some of the fruits he picked littered in front of it.
He also noticed that the deer had already eaten three of the fruits with the leftover core on the side. Nathaniel's eyes lit-up. This only implies that it is really edible.
Without hesitation he grabbed one and cleaned it with his shirt before taking a bite. His eyes sparkled after tasting the juicy fruit. It really tasted like mango but the texture was the very same as an apple.
"Thank goodness you're here." Nathaniel muttered as he pretty much gobbled up the fruit in a few minutes. He placed the core on the side and grabbed another one of the fruit. He pretty much ate five of those before burping in satisfaction as he sat by the side.
His stomach finally felt full for the first time. During the time he was here, all he felt was constant hunger which he chose to ignore since his stock of food was near to nothing.
With a small smile on his face he reached for the deer to rub its fur. However his hands paused mid-air. His eyes blankly staring at its fur.
[ Let Xael Kill his Pursuers - 1/20 ]
Nathaniel sat dumbly on the ground, his hand fell stiffly on his side. His mind was in chaos in what he saw. Kill? Was that right? Did he really see that the mysterious text said to kill Xael's pursuers?
"This must be a joke." Nathaniel's voice trembled as his fists grabbed his hair.
What changed? Why does the mysterious text want him to kill his pursuers? This is strange. It only gives warnings or clues before. So why is it issuing a task now.
"No. I will not do it." Nathaniel replied in defiance. Yes he trusted the mysterious text. He also doesn't like those people who are after his life but no matter how you twist the situation and ask him. He will not stain his hands in blood.
He couldn't even tolerate killing an animal with his own hands! And yet the mysterious text tells him to actually kill a living person!
The deer just stared at him for a few seconds before leaving the pit, trotting to who knows where in the woods.
Nathaniel stared as its figure disappeared in the forest. His original light mood turned gloomy. He made up his mind at this moment. Once dawn came tomorrow, he'd set out towards the wagon's area to see if the horses are still there. And if not, then he'd be walking by foot out of this forest. Since it's only been almost a day. The tracks would still remain. He'd follow their tracks to escape this forest.
Nathaniel sat in the pit, alert all night. Waiting for the hours to pass by as he stared outside. It was a night of battling drowsiness for Nathaniel. Though fatigued, he wasn't as tired as he was yesterday.
The food and the drink probably helped with providing energy. Not to mention he didn't run for long in the forest and got plenty of rest for his body to recover.
DAWN finally came, the environment started lighting up. With satchel at hand, Nathaniel went out the pit and started treading his haw back amidst the cold morning air.
It wasn't as dark when it was during the evening. He could easily see the silhouettes of the trees. With the compass at hand, he generally followed the way south.
Good thing his memory was still fresh and he could still identify the familiar places he's been. It took him 20 minutes treading carefully till he passed by the small creek. Then another 30 minutes before he could see a clearing in the distance. He could see that there was a camp there, with faint lights from the torches. Some people were walking around in circles, scouting the area around while some were sleeping on the side.
Nathaniel held his breath, as he crouched down. Minimizing his presence. He gazed at the horses in regret. The camp was guarded with 19 people, so he had no choice but to give up on the horse.
"A trail!" Delighted. Nathaniel exclaimed under his breath when he saw a path on the opposite side.
With determination, he went around while crouching. His motions were slow to avoid causing noise and being detected. Halfway there, he saw the deer again. With the same text still ominously written there.
[ Let Xael Kill his Pursuers - 1/20 ]
Nathaniel couldn't help but pause before sighing. "Look I am thankful for you guiding me all this time, but I really can't do it. I can't find myself killing another person."
He passed by the deer and continued further on as the deer's eyes stared at his back motionless. He bit his lips. It wasn't that he was an ingrate, however his morals and clear conscience as a 21st century person couldn't allow him to do such thing.
Successfully he went to the opposite side. He didn't take the path but the woods on the side to stay hidden. His heart started beating in excitement as he stopped crouching when he was a few distances away. He started running along the path.
He couldn't wait but to finally be free from this godforsaken forest.
BAM!
Suddenly he crushed against a hidden wall. His eyes widened as he pounded his fist. It was as if a partition was placed making it impossible for him to go through.
"No no no no. Please just let me out of here I—" Nathaniel begged desperately but paused when he saw something written on the air. It was glowing as if it was written using fire.
[ Let Xael Kill his Pursuers - 1/20 ]
Nathaniel kneeled down as he grabbed his hair. He could hear countless voices all whispering or shouting inside his mind. All saying one thing.
"Kill!"
He gasped as he find it hard to breath, he stared at the mysterious text one last time.
[You must kill. In able to achieve your hidden role. Compliance is a must.]
[Punishment is in progress...]
Nathaniel was shocked when his body suddenly stood up and started walking back towards the clearing where the camp was.
No matter how much he tried to move or screamed in his head. It was as if this body was not his own. Like a puppet being controlled. The raging voices still ongoing in his head. His breathing quickened as he finally stood in front of the camp. The people on guard also took notice of him.
On the path's entrance, Nathaniel stood gloomily, his face devoid of emotion as his hands gripped on a small kitchen knife. As dawn came, mist could be seen spreading in the woods.
"Hey isn't this Xael? Hahahaha finally chose to give up hiding?" One of the guards asked. Walking towards Xael, with a smile of ridicule. He leaned down to taunt the boy.
"Huh?" The guard was shocked when his vision rolled and then stared blankly on the ground. His eyes stared at his standing body in confusion. He wasn't able to utter another word before losing his breath as he saw how his headless body fell.