Ch - 8 I don't need friends, I have fungal growth companions!
At the top of the hill, the mysterious man gazed at the wide landscape below. A dense forest sprawled out, its leafy branches forming a beautiful, multi-colored tapestry of greens. The trees, adorned with raindrops from the previous night's shower, shimmered in the soft moonlight. Their sparkle cast elongated shadows that moved gracefully on the ground.
In the valley, snugly cradled between the hills, a small town rested peacefully. Its lights flickered like distant fireflies, giving the impression that the modest structures held the town's secrets within their walls. Occasionally, the gentle glow of lamplights hinted at the continuation of life in the tranquil night.
Above, the night sky stretched out its celestial canvas, adorned with a multitude of stars that shimmered like diamonds. The moon, a radiant silvery orb, bathed the surroundings in a gentle glow, revealing the contours of the landscape below.
As the mysterious man took a deep breath, the earth beneath him carried the lingering fragrance of the previous night's rain. The petrichor, a sweet and earthy scent, blended harmoniously with the aroma of moist soil.
Suddenly, a dazzling bolt of lightning struck the town, lighting it up brightly. In the aftermath, the mysterious man could hear the distressed screams of many people. The first lightning strike was quickly followed by more, each stronger than the previous one, gradually lessening the intensity of the painful cries.
"You know, this is a very forceful way of getting your attention, isn't it?" The mysterious man heard a child-like voice behind him. When he turned, he saw a small child, standing at about 4 feet in height, yet his eyes conveyed a wisdom beyond his apparent age.
Beside the child, a book floated, its pages half open. The child, suspended in the air, glided towards the mysterious man. The pages of the book flipped at an astonishing speed, faster than an ordinary person could follow, yet there was no end to do so.
"You're planning to go there, aren't you?" the man-child inquired. "Don't fret; they can't kill you, but they just want to hurt you. Unfortunately, they remain unaware of those green-red eyes of yours, don't they?"
"Can you please avert your gaze from that book? The future isn't always favorable. You haven't forgiven me for taking your wife's life in the future, have you?" the mysterious man addressed the man-child. "Now, you're about to break the vow we all took."
"You're quite adept at foreseeing the future yourself. Your book concludes today, that's all I desire," the man-child retorted, his cute visage belying the anger in his voice.
"Don't go down this path, Matu. I don't wish to engage in a conflict with you. You understand that if I make it through today, you won't be able to read me. The repercussions will be your wife's demise, and you'll remain imprisoned for violating the vow. You're well aware of how challenging it is to escape that prison, especially since you designed it yourself," the mysterious man implored his former friend, Matu.
"Sorry, amica."