Submission (#6451) Approved

It took a few days for Mio to recover somewhat, little by little. The nightmares persisted for quite a while before gradually subsiding. The relationship between Mio and River remained a little distant; Mio wasn't sure how to tell River about his experience in the pocket dimension. It felt surreal... how could he ever convey to the other how frightening the ordeal had been? How it disturbed him to his very core? Mio didn’t know the answer, so he ended up isolating himself a lot.

Callisto was a very empathetic host; she gave Mio his space and engaged with River to discuss everything they needed to do and plan. The Nestling was fine with that. He currently felt incapable of doing anything; everything was just too much. Often he would lie for hours in the warm grass in the garden, watching the bees and butterflies, trying to forget the horror lurking in the farthest corner of his mind. Too exhausted to help with anything, too afraid to wander anywhere other than the house and garden.

He longed to return to the cities. His need for nature was satisfied throughout his life. It was as if he had peeked behind the picturesque curtain of Eyre and discovered the dangerous truth behind it - and what he found didn't really sit right with him. He would gladly forget what he saw, glady shake off this pressing feeling inside him.

Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple.

[...]

Eventually, one morning, River decided it was better to set out. He was determined to take Mio to a healer to help the younger one recover fully. Mios’ healing had been progressing very slowly and his condition surpassed Callistos’ healing abilities, at least with the limited resources they had here in the wilderness.
“It’ll be okay, don’t worry.”, River tried to cheer up Mio, who was not convinced, but not sure what else they could do either. “We will take a lot of breaks and take things slowly, so you don’t exhaust yourself. Callisto knows a safe path out of these woods. We will be Eiloen in no time, I promise.”

“...Okay…” Mio meekly agreed, while watching Callisto and River pack for the trip. Here and there they asked his Pomu to store a few things in his shadow, but Mio wouldn’t need to carry a bag. He carefully adjusted the scarf around his neck that Callisto gave him, as if seeking some extra comfort from the soft fabric, while River checked his backpack one last tmie, making sure they had everything they needed for the journey ahead. He gently nudged Mio, who softly purred in response.
Callisto observed them both, and her gaze held a motherly concern as she surveyed both young elnins. She hoped everything would go their way.

[..]

Callisto took the lead as they traveled through the ancient forest of Kyendi. Despite the dim light filtering through the dense canopy overhead, her experienced eyes seemed to navigate effortlessly through the labyrinth of trees and undergrowth. Her every step was measured carefully and she selected a safe path at a steady pace. Occasionally, a gentle breeze whispered through the leaves, and the dappled sunlight played on her fur. Small creatures, unseen but surely aware, rustled in the underbrush as they acknowledged the trios' passage. Every so often, Callisto would pause, her ears perking up as if attuned to the forests’ heartbeat. She scanned the surroundings, taking in the subtle cues that eluded the younger ones - her guidance was both reassuring and comforting and Mio and River followed closely.

As they continued their journey through the dense forest, Mio found himself struggling to keep up with the pace set by River and Callisto. The uneven terrain, combined with lingering fatigue from his recent adventures, weighed heavily on him. His steps became hesitant and his breaths grew more labored with each passing moment.
Realizing his limitations, Mio finally mustered the strength to call for a break.

"Wait…please... can we take a moment?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion.
The other two elnin halted and turned around, River already reaching for a water bottle.
“Here you go~”, he smiled. “Catch your breath.”
Callisto gracefully descended to a moss-covered rock, her eyes filled with understanding and she nodded alongside River. "Rest as long as you need, Mio. We're in no rush."

Mio sank down onto the soft forest floor, the coolness of the moss beneath him providing some relief. He took deep breaths and a few sips of the tea, trying to replenish his energy.
The sounds of the forest enveloped them – the rustling leaves, the distant calls of unknown creatures, and the gentle murmur of a nearby stream.

[...]

As the trio ventured into the forest, the atmosphere became increasingly mysterious and unsettling. The towering trees formed a canopy that dimmed the daylight, casting shadows over the forest floor. Callisto, leading the way, remained vigilant, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger, while River was walking next to Mio, who seemed lost in thought and distracted. The longer they were walking, the more Mio drifted in and out between the haunting memory of his dreams and the pocket dimension. With every step he took, he was afraid he would somehow get lost again and end up somewhere even worse.
It wasn't long before they stumbled upon unusual remnants – erratic trails of dark violet anima splinters, jutting out of the ground like jagged shadows. The dark violet anima, an unsettling blend of solid energy and pure mana, left a trace that was hard to ignore.

“Stop~”, Callisto called out softly, and River and Mio appeared beside her, looking over the scene unfolding in front of them. Mio instantly became distraught and a shiver ran through his body. Something deep inside his mind reacted to the sight of cracked anima splinters.

“What is that!?” His voice was shaky, but he was frozen in place, even though he wanted to turn around and run in the other direction.
River, with his calm demeanor, eyed the splintered trails with curiosity. "What do you make of this, Callisto?”

The oldest elnin nodded slowly, while she kept scanning their surrounding area. “"These splinters and floating bits of anima suggest the presence of a Daeva... They leave a distinct trail behind them, and the scattered anima fragments indicate recent activity. We need to be extremely careful now. The Daeva may have moved on, but we should remain cautious. They tend to linger and signs like these suggest they might not be too far away."

Mio felt like he was drowning all over again and his vision went blurry. The air was suddenly thin and cold and he gasped quietly. “River-”, he whispered, now shivering uncontrollably, and stumbling backwards.
Callisto turned around, alarmed and worried.
“What is it?”
“He’s been having nightmares of Daevas these past few days…”, River explained while quickly rushing to Mios side and trying to calm him down. He looked to Callisto, now anxious about what to do next. “Is it really safe to keep going?”

“We have to-” Callisto persisted. “We’re almost at the overwild border, things will be safer and easier once we reach it. You have to get Mio to the city. He can’t stay here any long, especially now with a Daeva this close.”

All these words rushed over Mio like a wave, hitting him over and over again. Fear was gripping him; how could they move on in a situation like this? What if they ran into the creature? He just wanted to run and hide and never leave the house again.
“Please-”, he pleaded. “Why can’t we just return to your home?”

“Because it’s not safe for you there. Not with your Nestling rank. The mana well and the protection spells might protect an adventurer if a Daeva comes too close to the house, but the effects it would have on you would be devastating. We need to get you out of these woods, Mio. I’m sorry. We just have to.”

Mio looked around in terror. The splintered trails of dark violet anima snaked through the underbrush, leaving an ominous impression on the forest floor. Some anima fragments, ringed by glowing halos, hovered in mid-air, creating an unsettling spectacle. The colors shifted between deep purples and ethereal whites, that seemed to defy the natural order. The air carried a faint hum, resonating with the lingering energy of the mysterious entity.
The ground itself showed a few signs of corruption, with patches of withered vegetation that seemed out of place in the lush wilderness.
Just standing here deeply unsettled the Nestling, and he had to fight against every fiber of his being.
All his instincts told him to run, but things would just get worse.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to shut out the rest of the world and took a few deep breaths, before finally being able to center himself again, and he slowly nodded.

“Okay then.. Let’s keep going.”