Searching for civilization (Part 2 - A week in the forest)

The entire process only took him an hour or so, Edvard stored all his modern items at the bottom, sewing them shut to hide them should someone go through his bag. Having also added extra padding to make it hard to feel from the outside. Finally, he placed the cloak inside along with the food and waterskin.

Next, he fastened the blade on his side, enjoying the quality of the scabbard and how sturdy it kept the blade in place. With that, Edvard felt ready to move out, pausing as he saw the crystal still laying there.

'What are you?' He wondered and reached out to take it. Throwing it into the backpack without much thought.

Ready to set out he looked at the sun to determine his position. As he walked he suddenly felt his backpack pulling back.

"The hell?" He mumbled as he moved back and forth, trying to figure out what was going on. After a minute or so he finally managed to see the distortion of the air. He also realized the tugging was always on his backpack, even though nothing was touching it.

'So, I have to leave the crystal?' Edvard sighed and did just that, finding himself now able to leave.

'Too bad, I was certain it would sell for something.' Edvard sighed once more as he set out. Doing his best to play out what could possibly happen, while also quickly falling into his routine way of moving.

Staying low and quiet, moving slowly and nearly undetectable as he pulled a few flowers and leaves from the plants as he passed. Stuffing them into his clothes and rubbing them on himself.

Just minutes into walking Edvard was reminded that his body was back to normal. Back to the start. He tired quickly and his muscles ached from the crouching position.

After just an hour he stopped and leaned against a tree. He knew when to rest, knowing that he had to keep a certain amount of energy should something come for him.

'Here it comes!' Throwing the backpack down and pulling out his sword he crouched down and waited. Realizing after a few minutes of waiting just how used he was to the illusion. While the memories had faded, his instincts had not.

His internal clock had told him it was time for a fight, so he had gotten ready for one. Standing up he returned his blade to its scabbard as he carefully made sure that there was truly nothing coming for him.

A few minutes later, however, Edvard stopped again as he saw a blur of movement in the corner of his eye. Repeating the last actions he readied himself for if a fight would come, this time wondering if he was discovered.

'There it is again,' Edvard thought as he saw a streak of black and red between the foliage of the forest. The speed of the beast was incredible and made him nervous about if he would be able to react in this average body.

'What are you?' Edvard questioned as he stayed as low and quiet as possible. Not wishing to fight something so fast he could barely see when his body was back to square one. After a few minutes, he breathed out and relaxed. Certain that it must have moved on.

Sitting down he tried to calm his heart that was beating like crazy. 'Not having the safety of being able to die really makes it far scarier.' He thought as he tried to push down the adrenaline running through him. Knowing that it would drain his energy wastefully.

This kept happening as he traveled, each time Edvard was forced to hide and wait. What he could cover in an hour, he ended up covering in six. The next time, the sound filling the air was not that of the rustle of leaves. Rather the rough sound that orcs communicate with, their guttural coarse language.

'Orcs, around seven.' Edvard thought as he picked up the different pitches in their voices. Over the years of fighting orcs he had become able to identify them just by sound. Understanding the language, however, was not a thing he could accomplish just from hearing them during fights.

Edvard stayed low, not wishing to be discovered. From under the leaves of a particularly thick batch of plants, Edvard spied at the orcs as they moved through the forest like they owned the place.

They were all without clothing, other than simple loincloths, with the leading orc carrying a massive rusty greatsword on his shoulder. The others all had one-handed weapons, half of them not even having swords, just simple clubs instead.

Not long after they passed the sounds of fighting filled the air. Edvard sighed in relief and decided it was time to move on. Setting out quickly to make some space before slowing down again to not be discovered.

This continued for days, Edvard quickly running low on the food and water Ilvisar had left for him. The constant stopping and hiding made what could have been a day's journey, turn into a week's.

However, Edvard was happy he had decided to be cautious. Having more than once seen the monsters of the forest in action. Their speed and strength were not something he could contend with his current frail body.

Maybe, maybe if it was the body that had survived 5 years of constant fighting. But not this one of a scientist. His mind would tell it to do something and he would die before it could accomplish its task.

He needed a few months, at least, to build up some muscle before he would even think of trying. Though he would prefer not to. The beasts were not just quick and fast, their hides were also extremely sturdy.

During one of the many stops, Edvard had spied a few orcs fighting a particular pitch-black beast. All the orcs had died. But that wasn't the most shocking thing, that would be that one of the orcs had hit it squarely with his club.

The club had even snapped, yet the beast had barely been hurt.

A club that Edvard knew could nearly destroy the trunk of a tree.

A club as thick as his thigh had snapped like a twig and while the beast had been sent flying, it had stood up just a few seconds later and charged at the orc unharmed.

Finally, the splashing of a river could be heard. Edvard's first wish was to rush over and sate his thirst, but his instincts kept him grounded. Emptying his mind, he listened to confirm there was nothing other than water. Even then he kept moving slowly.

Not wishing to mess up at the end, Edvard was extra careful. Knowing that all creatures required water to live. As such he spent a good hour making sure the area was safe and he had a plan of retreat. Moving only to fill his waterskin and then getting back into the cover of the trees and undergrowth.

'It should be easier now,' Edvard thought as he drank a few mouthfuls to sate his thirst. 'With the river's roaring, I should be able to move faster, though I should still stay low.'