Chapter 62 - A waterfall

They walked through the forest for what felt like hours, maybe even days.

Kui had lost track of time, lost track of the place where they'd even started.

Day and night didn't seem to matter in this place. The sky was always a dull, greyish blur, and a thick fog clung to everything, making their path hazy and uncertain.

At first, he tried to mark their way by breaking branches or scratching tree trunks, but the fog swallowed the markers almost as soon as he made them.

It was no use—they were completely lost.

And their rations were running out.

Especially the water.

The gourd was nearly empty now, just a shallow splash at the bottom.

His heart sank as he glanced back at Aok.

The child had been sleeping a lot lately, too much—likely from the dehydration.

His breathing sounded shallow, strained.

Fear clutched Kui's chest tighter with each breath the boy took. I need to find water... His thoughts repeated, desperate.

With renewed determination, Kui pushed on, legs aching as he stumbled forward through the endless trees.

He kept walking, his mind focused on a single need—water. He even tried digging into the ground, hoping for some damp soil, but the earth was bone-dry, strange considering how the trees thrived in this place. It didn't make sense, but Kui didn't have time to think about that now.

All that mattered was Aok.

Panting, he finally leaned against a tree, his legs giving out beneath him.

He gently set Aok down, wiping sweat from the child's brow. His gills, dry and fragile, needed moisture. Kui poured the last drops from the gourd onto Aok's skin, watching helplessly as the water soaked in.

His own lips were cracked, his throat like sandpaper, but he didn't take a sip. He couldn't.

Aok's eyes fluttered open, just barely, and he tried to say something, his voice too weak to make a sound. Kui smiled, though his heart felt heavy. "It'll be okay," he whispered, brushing Aok's hair away from his face. "I'll find water. I promise."

Kui's head began to spin, his vision blurring as his steps grew more unsteady. His ears buzzed with a high-pitched ringing, and his body felt as though it might give out. Just when he thought he couldn't go on, a distant sound broke through the haze—the unmistakable rush of water. His heart leaped.

"I hear it! Waterfall!" he shouted in a burst of energy, eyes lighting up as he turned to Aok. Without hesitation, he hoisted the boy onto his back and stumbled forward, hope driving his weary body.

But Aok, slumped against Kui, frowned in confusion. He heard nothing—no rushing water, no sounds at all. The forest had been eerily silent since they entered it, not even the leaves rustling. Everything felt... wrong. But he was too weak to protest, too tired to speak, so he clung to Kui's neck, eyes half-closed, trusting him—until something caught his eye.

A massive banyan tree loomed ahead, its tangled roots and branches sprawling in every direction. Aok's heart skipped a beat, fear rising in his chest as his eyes widened in horror. No... he thought, panic seeping into his tired limbs. He tightened his grip on Kui's shoulders, weakly trying to pull him back.

"No..." he breathed, barely audible.

Kui barely noticed. His eyes were locked on the shimmering vision before them, a waterfall cascading from between the roots of the great banyan tree, the mist glistening like liquid silver. He smiled, picking up the pace. "There it is! Water! We made it!" he laughed breathlessly, rushing toward the tree.

Aok's weak protest became a frantic whisper, his voice hoarse. "No!"

Kui hesitated for a second, confused, but he kept moving forward. "What's wrong? The water's right there. Just a little further, Aok, and you'll be fine. I'll save you," he urged, his voice tinged with desperation. He could almost feel the cool water on his skin, imagine its relief.

Aok's pulse quickened. He mustered what little strength he had left, his grip tightening painfully around Kui's neck. "Danger," he managed to whisper, breathless.

Kui froze, finally hearing the fear in Aok's voice. "What are you talking about?" he asked, bewildered. "The water's right in front of us... I can see it. You can finally get well."

Aok shook his head slowly, his pale face creased with exhaustion and terror. "No... It's not real. It's an illusion."

Kui stared at him, confused. "What do you mean? I can see it!"

"It's an illusion banyan," Aok whispered, his voice shaking with urgency. He had read about them... they make you see what you want the most. And when you get close, their roots... they take you. They eat your bones!

Kui's heart pounded as he processed the words. His mouth went dry, and he glanced back at the tree, now with growing dread. The water—it was too perfect, too clear. His hands trembled as he took a cautious step back, his mind fighting against what his eyes saw.