Chapter 115: Freedom

In our cave, we were having a good meal. We continued hunting acromantulas one after another, although at times there were dangerous situations where more than one came and we improvised.

The unicorn recovered quite a bit, the shine returned to her fur and her power was almost at 80% of its full power. I didn't have my old power, so I was very reliant on her and had a support role, but we still had good synchronicity.

We were taking our last breaks before leaving this damn place, although we did grow a little fond of it. Certainly, we were somewhat afraid of the outside world, but if we didn't take courage, we might never escape from here.

Agreed on our escape route, analyzed the number of spiders in the place, prepared contingency plans, and armed ourselves with as many useful things as possible as well as supplies.

...

"Ready?"

"Yes?"

"Well, then let's start" I said, walking closer to her.

Standing next to her, I took a deep breath and propelled myself into a jump to land on her back, riding her. My current body was small, but I was still able to sit on her and hold on to her crin.

With a flick of my wand, the entrance to the cave opened slightly and we slipped out. After a long time, both of us could feel the sun hitting our bodies with its rays.

Now we were outside, and in the bright light, we could finally see our true appearance after so long in the dark. We were both covered in dirt, disheveled but full of vitality.

My current body was that of a child, younger than my real age, but curiously I haven't grown since my change. I was only wearing a tied cloth that covered a little from my waist down, like a skirt.

My original clothes had been undone a long time ago and I was taking care of the ones I had in the inventory as gold. I haven't worn underwear or anything that covers my upper body for a long time.

After a long breath of fresh air outside, we took a serious look. With my hands and feet, I affirmed myself to my partner, exhaling a howl of affirmation and as if a great weight was lifted, she began to run quickly.

Holding her mane, I was leading her in the direction we were heading, out of this place. Spiders were not abundant, partly because this was the limit of their territory, and partly because their numbers were not as great as in our real-time.

We didn't stop and although we could see acromantulas along the way, we completely ignored them whenever we could. Using my weak healing, I restored the unicorn's stamina to empower it.

My body was very close to hers to avoid the slightest friction with the wind, and to reduce the chances of falling. Having short limbs, I had to hold on tightly to it.

This close contact did not bring the slightest discomfort to any of them. We spent a lot of time together and in very embarrassing situations. Maybe, before coming here this situation would be impossible, but now it was nothing.

I have fed her when she couldn't herself, we slept cuddled together several times, we helped each other with our wounds, we bathed together when possible, and I have even cleaned the insects that got stuck in her teeth. At this point, there is no rejection between us.

Our objective was fixed, to get as far away as possible from this place, even if that meant continuing to go deeper into the forest. We were completely focused, without the slightest hesitation.

As she ran, I would occasionally throw some of the cursed bones at the spiders that approached us, disorienting them. We were getting it, but it wasn't sure yet... at least until the next notice came out.

[Auxiliary Skill: "Mount/Ride" Acquired]

This was an eye-opening signal for both of us, we felt a kind of unusual connection between us that filled us with energy.

[Mount]

*Balance improvement (mounted)(Same effect for the mount)

* Acquired natural subjection.

*Vitality and Stamina shared.

* Symbiotic attributes.

*Sub-skill acquired: [Summon/Call Mount]

We could feel as if our forces were united into one, as if there was no distinction between mount and rider. The improvement was small, but it was like a spark in a powder magazine.

The speed increased once more and we moved further and further away from our pursuers. I no longer felt like I was going to fall, almost as if I was glued to her back, so I was able to act more freely to cover our backs. On top of that, our connection greatly improved my healing ability, it was like healing myself, without any hindrance, so the stamina recovery was much more effective.

...

We don't know how much we ran, we just felt that our hooves were burning and that we were breathing heavily. We slowed down and slowly came to a stop in the direction of a large pond ahead of us.

When our pace finally stopped, we indulged ourselves in turning back to look around us, and when we saw nothing chasing us, we gave a loud holler of joy, a holler that could easily have attracted some nearby creature but luckily it was not.

I jumped from her back to the ground and almost rubbed myself in it with happiness, and I wasn't the only one. We walked to the pond and put our heads without the slightest prevention to drink the water.

I dove my head all the way in and jerked it out, causing my now overgrown hair to cover my face. We were happy, we were finally free from that damn place and even though we knew that this would not necessarily be safer, we still decided to treat ourselves to relax.

"We are free!" (Unicorn)

"Yes!"(Red)

"..."(Unicorn)

"..."(Red)

"So... now what?" (Unicorn)

"We don't have to worry about those damn spiders anymore, we can go wherever we want..."(Red)

"Where to?" (Unicorn)

"Wherever we want... out of this forest if possible, or at least to a less dangerous place. It would be good to go back to the centaur camp if you're still there, to ask for directions, I just don't know where it is, my map was reset once I started this campaign because the future won't affect the past, if it were the other way around you might, but now..."(Red)

"..."(Unicorn)

"Don't you know where in the forest we are?" (Red)

"No, I've never been here" (Unicorn)

"So you don't have any idea where we can go?"(Red)

"No..."(Unicorn)

"Shit!... I guess we'll have to explore carefully, if you recognize any place let me know and we'll find our way back. And I thought that things were already taking the right path"(Red)

We sighed a little in disappointment. We decided to get serious again and contemplate the place where we were, it seemed uninhabited but it was not like that, only that the small creatures hid when they felt the arrival of beings whose auras were strong, although in opposite senses.

I climbed on top of it once more and we took a slow and cautious tour of the surroundings looking for any potential danger, be it some creature or signs of them such as nests or footprints.

After making sure we had a leeway to escape from any mishap, we headed back to the water source for a well-deserved swim to wash off the grime. We didn't go too deep and we tried to do it as fast as possible, helping each other. Here I also cut a little of my hair, since it was quite in the way.

After cleaning up we went back to the march, it was early in the morning when we left so we still had a lot of daylight to take advantage of. We walked slowly and with my skills I made sure to pay attention to every little detail and watch out for any nearby risks.

Although weakened, skills like [Sense Life] and [Hunter Essence] were very useful in this forest, at least to keep us out of trouble. We also have to give a lot of credit to the [Ride] skill, which made our attributes complement and enhance each other.

We explored in a certain direction for a while, dodging possible difficulties we didn't want to have, until about noon we stopped for lunch. They were some of the supplies that I kept in my small inventory. They would last us a while but we will have to replenish them, it will be easy now that we are abroad.

The rest of the day was not very different, we found some small creatures like bowtruckles and a herd of thestrals, but we didn't interact much. When night came, we hid among some trees and took turns sleeping.

...

We managed to spend several days in this forest. Being cautious, we didn't explore much, but we still encountered some problems from time to time. We weren't easy prey, a unicorn and a blood mage aren't things the creatures wanted to deal with, but it happened.

Our tacit understanding improved a lot, our connection allowed us to understand each other's intentions more easily, and with that our rides were much more efficient.

Since we didn't stop much we couldn't supply ourselves with tools or power-ups like when we were in the cave, this made some escapes and ambushes difficult but we went out with all our limbs and that is appreciated.

...

We spent a lot of time wandering in the forest, already getting used to the dangers outside. We have had to escape from a Welsh Green Dragon once, pure adrenaline.

Hardened and strengthened ourselves, physically and psychologically. My map was completed from zone to zone, we went through different places trying to find the way. The [Map] skill even received the [Compass] upgrade.

Knew more or less the right direction, but we had to avoid some places, so we couldn't cut through the forest in a straight line. It was fun to a great extent, with my partner recovered and me supporting her, there were a few things that made us feel dangerous.

We continued deep into the forest but we were sure that it wasn't long before we found the path, it was a feeling... and the corpse of a centaur that we found.

...

"How about we pick a name for referring to you?"

"Why?"

"I don't like to always call you 'unicorn' or 'you'"

"But that's what I am"

"Yes, but I don't want to address you for what you are, but for who you are"

"Is that necessary?"

"Maybe..."

"Well, what should it call me?"

"I don't know... let's think..."

We debated for a while, she was giving weird names, usually literal actions or objects, and me giving complex and just as weird names. In the end, it was I who ended up with the final decision, after all, it was me who suggested it.

"How about Elise? And we'll call you Lys or something similar"

"I have no problem, although I don't see any use for it"

"Well... Red and Lys... or Lyz... or liz...?"

...

After naming my partner, we moved on. Just like when we were in the cave, we told each other stories to train and learn a little more about each other's world. Thanks to those stories, I learned a little more about the forest and I was able to recognize some things that helped us along the way.

Finally, we managed to get to a place that she identified, it wasn't near Hogwarts castle, but we knew which way to go. We galloped with the wind and enjoyed life in nature with what was left of the trip.

We traveled until she informed me that she could recognize the path to where her pack usually dwelled. I explained to her that this was another time and that they might not be here, but she still wanted to check it out.

We take a detour again to the depth of the forest. I didn't care, I came to this campaign by accident and had no plan, I didn't even know what year it was. The only thing that worried me was that I would possibly separate from my partner, with whom I spent a lot of time and shared many secrets.

She was very excited to meet her relative, but the difficult life we ​​had recently taught us not to rush things. We went slowly, taking about a day and a half to get close to the place.

At one point, we both felt the power of the unicorns, in my opinion, it was suffocating but it's because of who I am. We stopped at my request, I didn't want to go any further, now I'm a weak kid and they are a lot of unicorns, with the damage bonus that my alignment gives them they would probably char me very fast.

When I got out and explained that I wasn't going to go through with it, it created an awkward moment. We had never been apart and we were too used to each other, moving away caused us a certain feeling of fear. She tried to convince me that it wouldn't be a problem and that I would be fine with her, but I still didn't accept.

"I remind you that this is only temporary, even if you can find your home here, this is momentary. After a while, I don't know how long, like it or not, we will both return to our time and we can't avoid it" I explained.

"I know, you already told me, but still... I want..."

"I won't stop you if that's what you want. I'll stay here for a while, I still don't know the way and I'd better prepare some things. I don't want to say that this is the moment when we will definitely part ways, but I can't say otherwise. If in the end, you decide to stay here, and I haven't left yet, give me some sign to say goodbye... and we'll meet when we have to return to our world in this place..."

"Humm…" she nodded with some resignation. We get attached to each other but she couldn't help wanting to be with her family again, even more so when she found out about the possibility of meeting her mother once again.

She turned and walked towards where she felt her comrades were, I... I prepared myself to survive alone in the forest. This place being close to the unicorns was quite good, without very strong creatures, maybe I could have some quiet time even if I was alone.

Find a place to hide and began to prepare for my temporary stay. After stocking up on food and a few other resources, I'd be on my way out of this forest again... with or without her... but I wish she was.