Chapter 10: Whispers in the Northern Forest

The sun peeked over the tree line as Nagomi stepped onto the northern road. The city of Estrellis slowly vanished behind him, its warm lights and chatter replaced by the tranquil hush of the wild. The road ahead was flanked by towering trees and thick underbrush, and the wind carried the earthy scent of moss and morning dew.

His assignment was straightforward—map out the trails deep within the northern forest and report back anything unusual. A perfect quest for a wandering adventurer. He adjusted the strap of his bag and smiled slightly. “No slimes this time, I hope,” he muttered to himself. “Or maybe just a friendly one.”

As the cobblestone path gave way to dirt and roots, Nagomi’s thoughts turned inward. He could feel the subtle tension in his muscles, not from fear, but from anticipation. This world still held many unknowns, and while he had read and watched countless fantasy stories in his old life, experiencing one firsthand was… different.

Occasionally, a rustle in the bushes or the distant cry of a bird would cause him to slow, hand resting near the dagger strapped to his belt. “Still not used to the silence out here,” he whispered, scanning the treetops. “Back home, it was car horns and vending machines. Here… everything breathes.”

Hours passed, and Nagomi ventured deeper. The trees grew denser, and sunlight filtered in through narrow gaps above. Patches of glowing mushrooms clung to rocks and tree trunks, lighting his path with a faint, ghostly hue. Strange paw prints crisscrossed the trail, unfamiliar and wide.

He crouched beside one. “Three claws… no pads… Definitely not a wolf. Something else.” He pulled out a charcoal pencil and his field journal—provided by the guild—and sketched the mark with a short note:
“Print found north of Estrellis—possible nocturnal predator?”

Suddenly, a soft rustle echoed behind him. Nagomi stood quickly, his dagger half-drawn. But what emerged from the bushes wasn’t a beast—it was a glowing green wisp, floating lazily between the trees. He blinked, his mind racing. A will-o’-wisp?

The little orb danced in place, then slowly drifted forward, as if beckoning.

“I know this trope,” Nagomi muttered. “Follow the shiny light and end up in a monster’s mouth.” Still, curiosity tugged at him. He followed cautiously, gripping the dagger tightly.

The wisp led him to a clearing, where the sunlight broke through more freely, revealing something odd: a massive tree stump, ancient and half-covered in moss. Around it lay bones—small ones, perhaps animal remains—but clean and weathered.

Nagomi knelt by the stump, brushing away moss. He found faint carvings in the wood—runes, spiraling in a pattern he couldn’t understand. They glowed faintly, reacting to the presence of the wisp.

“Okay… definitely something magical.” He backed away slowly, not daring to touch it. "I’m not stupid enough to poke ancient runes. Yet."

The wisp lingered, then slowly floated toward him. It circled once, then disappeared into the trees as suddenly as it had come. The runes dimmed.

Nagomi stood in silence for a moment before scribbling more notes in the journal. “Magical stump with runes. Wisp sighting. Location: north-northeast from entry path. Not hostile.”

As he turned to leave the clearing, he heard something—soft footsteps. He spun, expecting an animal, but instead he saw a figure—hooded, wearing loose forest-colored robes. A woman, her face partially shadowed, stepped into view. She carried a long wooden staff topped with feathers and bone charms.

They stared at each other for a heartbeat.

“You followed the forest’s breath,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

“More like I followed a glowing orb,” Nagomi replied carefully. “Didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You didn’t. The wisp led you because you’re not from here.”

His heart skipped. “You mean… this forest? Or—?”

She tilted her head. “This world.”

Nagomi's hand instinctively tightened on his dagger, but the woman raised a palm.

“Peace. I’ve seen your kind before—strangers lost between stars. The world accepts some. Rejects others.” She studied him. “You’re still being judged.”

He lowered his weapon slowly, unsure what to say. “I’m… trying to understand this place.”

“That’s good. But power in this land comes with a cost. Don’t try to rush what must be earned.”

He nodded, surprised by how easily her words settled in his mind. “I haven’t used any magic,” he admitted. “I don’t know how.”

“Yet.” She stepped closer and held out a small stone. It glowed faintly, just like the runes. “Not a spell. Just a key. For later.”

Nagomi hesitated, then accepted it. It felt warm in his hand.

“I don’t know your path, stranger,” she said. “But the forest has offered you a gift. Return it well.”

With that, she turned and walked away, vanishing between the trees as if swallowed by the forest itself.

Nagomi stood in place for a long moment, the stone in his palm and the soft wind rustling through the leaves around him. His thoughts churned.

“Judged by the world, huh?” he muttered. “Figures.”

He finally began the slow trek back to the guild, mind heavy with questions. But despite everything, he felt lighter. He didn’t need to cast spells or throw fireballs. Not yet. This world—its creatures, mysteries, and even its dangers—was offering him something greater: the chance to grow.

He looked down at the stone, then at the sky, now fading into twilight.

“One step at a time,” he said quietly, a smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s see what else you’ve got, world.”