Chapter 6: The Forest of Paradox (2)

After what felt like an eternity, Victor blinked his eyes open, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. His heart ached with a mix of sadness and pity as he replayed the memories he'd inherited. Edwin Lucius, the original owner of the body he had woken in, had a life that mirrored his own, but with even darker twists.

"Poor kid," Victor uttered, a lump forming in his throat. "He had such a good start – a loving family, great friends, and a pretty bright future despite not having useful ability nor a great potential in that dangerous world Edwin was born in. But fate had other plans."

Victor couldn't shake the feeling of kinship with Edwin. It was strange, considering how different their lives had been. But now, as he'd experienced Edwin's trials firsthand, he understood the weight of his suffering.

"What a cruel fate he to deal with," Victor murmured, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "He didn't deserve any of that."

At the tender age of fourteen, he was falsely accused of stealing a girl's belongings, a crime he had no memory of committing. The accusation, like a poisoned arrow, tainted his reputation, distancing him from his friends and casting a shadow over his once-perfect life.

Despite his innocence, the weight of the accusation proved too heavy for his young shoulders. His parents, though initially supportive, were eventually swayed by the tide of public opinion. The once-vibrant boy was forced to endure the humiliation of being shunned by his peers, his spirit slowly fading under the relentless barrage of accusations and bullying.

As if fate were determined to test Edwin's resilience, he faced another terrible ordeal at the age of seventeen. He was falsely accused of assaulting a woman, a charge that sent shockwaves through his community. This time, however, he was more determined than ever to prove his innocence. He tirelessly searched for evidence, his heart filled with hope that justice would prevail.

Alas, his efforts were in vain. The accusations, fueled by prejudice and misinformation, had taken on a life of their own. Edwin's reputation was irreparably damaged, and his relationships strained to breaking point. Even his parents, the pillars of his support, could not shield him from the storm of public condemnation.

The trauma of these false accusations left a deep scar on Edwin's soul. His once-bright spirit was dimmed, and his dreams shattered. He retreated into a world of isolation, his heart heavy with the weight of injustice.

"What a stupid father," Victor uttered, a hint of disdain creeping into his voice. He couldn't fathom how Daniel Lucius, Edwin's father, could have so easily abandoned his son in the face of such grave accusations.

The memory of Edwin's parents' divorce, a consequence of relentless pressure and stress, lingered like a bitter taste in Victor's mouth. It was a stark reminder of the devastating impact these events had had on his young life.

"I wonder what happened to the original owner," he muttered, his voice barely audible. As the thought crossed his mind, his ear caught a faint sound of something. It was barely discernible at first, but as he strained his ear, he could instantly recognize it. "This sounds like..."

"A river!" Victor exclaimed excitedly, his eyes lighting up. He knew that rivers were often near human settlements. Despite his aching legs, he decided to get up and push through, hoping to find a way out of this place.

After a few minutes of following the sound and pushing through the dense undergrowth, Victor emerged from the trees and found himself standing on the bank of a wide, rushing river. 

"What great luck," he uttered, a smile spreading across his face. He immediately followed the riverbank, hoping to find a sign of human activity like a bridge. Unfortunately, his hopes were quickly dashed as he saw nothing but trees and more trees as far as the eye could see.

"Fuck my life!" he exclaimed, collapsing onto the ground. With his legs trembling and his breath coming in ragged gasps, Victor quietly stared up at the sky, feeling a sense of hopelessness wash over him while his mind was in a fog of exhaustion and frustration. 

"If this is some kind of divine retribution meant for me..." Victor uttered, glancing at the river that had once been his only hope. "I don't want to think about that."

As he basked in the moment, the fatigue of his journey started catching up with him. A yawn escaped Victor's lips, surprising even himself. 

"Just a quick shut-eye for a moment won't hurt," he said, stretching his arms above his head. The sound of the gently flowing stream and the warmth of the sun lulled him into a peaceful state.

Before he knew it, Victor gradually drifted off to sleep. The soothing sounds of nature provided a comforting lullaby. "Alright…"

"I guess a few minutes," he mumbled, settling into a more comfortable position on the ground. And not before long, he finally fell asleep with his eyes completely shut.

As he was sound asleep, an unexpected occurrence suddenly happened. For some reason, a wisp of mist started emanating from every corner of his body. The smoke, neither appearing eerie nor majestic, swirled lazily around him, creating an almost hypnotic dance. 

Victor, however, remained oblivious to the situation and lost in his dreams as the smoke continued to emanate from him like a gentle mist.

*Swish* *Swish*

It curled around him, forming delicate patterns in the air that had been going on for some time before it gradually dissipated into the surroundings. After a while, Victor soon woke up, blinking his eyes rapidly as he took in his surroundings. "Hhmmmmmmm...." 

He then sat up, feeling surprisingly refreshed from his nap. Stretching his arms above his head, Victor let out a satisfied groan, "Ughhhhhh….."

"Oh man, what a power nap," he said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He then absentmindedly glanced around, noting the peacefulness of the area. The stream continued to babble nearby, and the gentle rustle of the leaves in the breeze was calming.

Looking at this calm and serene situation, Victor couldn't help but wonder about something.

"How long have I been asleep... Oh?" he muttered under his breath, feeling curious. But it didn't last long as he casually looked up and quickly got his answer. 

In his eyes, he saw that the sun seemed to have moved across the sky, probably indicating that he had been asleep for longer than he intended. "Looking at the sun's movement, I guess roughly... 30 minutes, maybe?"

"Well, either way..." he said while getting up, feeling invigorated. He quickly stretched his entire body to get rid of the stiffness from his nap. "That was the best nap I ever had."

As Victor stood up, he took a deep breath, the crisp oxygen filling his lungs before a sudden pang of thirst hit him. 

"Man, I'm parched," he uttered, his tongue feeling like sandpaper. He involuntarily glanced at the river, its waters sparkling under the sunlight.

Victor started walking towards the river, the sound of the flowing water becoming louder with each step. As he got closer, he knelt down and peered into the water. The current was strong, and the water was crystal clear. He knelt down and traced his fingers at the stream's edge.

"Man..." Victor blurted out, unable to resist licking his lips while looking at his reflection, distorted by the ripples. He scooped up a handful of water, letting it trickle through his fingers before furrowing his brow. He knew appearances could be deceiving.

"Is it even safe to drink? It looks pristine, but I've watched enough survival shows to know that not everything that sparkles is safe to drink," Victor uttered, racing his mind with thoughts of waterborne diseases. He contemplated the decision in his mind, weighing the risk of quenching his thirst against the potential dangers.

After a short moment of contemplation, Victor decided to test the temperature of the water by carefully extending his hands over the stream, his fingers lightly skimming the cool liquid. 

"First test, temperature check. Not too cold, not too warm. Just perfect," he commented, raising an imaginary scorecard that had 10 out of 10 written on it.

He then cupped his hands, scooping up some of the clear liquid. Holding it up to the sunlight, he squinted, inspecting for any unusual particles. 

"Alright, second test, visual and odor test...show me what you got," Victor said, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

After a few moments of scrutiny, Victor seemed satisfied. 

"Looks and smells clean enough," he remarked with a grin. But when he brought the water to his lips, he hesitated for a moment. "Up next is... the taste test now, I guess."

Taking a cautious sip, Victor carefully savored the taste with his tongue before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and declaring, "Well... not bad at all."

"Looks like I won't be dying of thirst anytime soon." He chuckled, the sound echoing in the peaceful surroundings. Without wasting any more time, Victor scooped up a handful of the water and brought it to his lips. The cool liquid was refreshing, and he couldn't help but let out a content sigh.

"Ah, that hits the spot," he murmured, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I really hit the jackpot with this." Victor continued to drink, scooping up more water with his hands and gulping it down. The sensation was pure bliss. After quenching his thirst, Victor wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before turning his attention to his surroundings, getting up.

"Time to hit the road again," he declared with his voice full of energy. Looking around, Victor scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward. "Which way should I go now?"

Victor pondered for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. He knew he needed to make a decision, but he was unsure which way to go. The forest seemed to stretch out endlessly in every direction.

"Well, I could try to follow the river again," he muttered, glancing at the river but quickly shook his head. "Nah, it would just lead me in circles."

After a brief hesitation, a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Why not let fate decide?"

"Well, here goes nothing," he muttered, closing his eyes and pointing a finger randomly into the distance. "That way! Let's go!!"

With a deep breath, he set off in the direction his finger was pointing, hoping for the best as the stream gradually faded into the background. After a while in his journey, Victor stumbled upon a clearing, a small meadow bathed in sunlight and cautiously stepped into the clearing. 

"Wow…" He blurted out, feeling the grass was pretty soft beneath his feet before looking around while letting out, "It would be nice to rest here with this beautiful yet peaceful view here."

To Be Continued