Nulam Forest
Deep within the forest, on the road toward Atris, silence carried weight. Light filtered through the canopy like drifting golden dust, falling in slow intervals. The air smelled of damp earth and fresh sap. Raymond moved swiftly, yet he still paused from time to time—just to take it in. The quiet nature, the whisper of the trees, the subtle sounds of animals hidden among the foliage.
As he watched a squirrel disappear into its burrow inside a hollow log, Quincy asked:
[Master, why do you always speak in reflections and behave that way?]
—Quincy, I was born with a gift.
[A gift…? Are you serious? (ಠಿ_ಠ)]
—I owe it all to my great-grandfather and my mother. Sure, I have my own merit… but I want to remain honest with myself.
[Then… Master, what is this gift? (Ǒ.Ǒ)]
—Understanding, comprehension, and expression.
[THAT'S THREE THINGS!! Stupid Master (=.=)]
—They're actually the same thing. People just decided to give each one a different meaning.
[Please enlighten me, Master… because I understand absolutely nothing (°_°)]
—Understanding isn't comprehension, and comprehension isn't understanding… but both live inside expression.
[Huh? (ʘ‿ʘ)]
—When you express yourself, you reveal how you understand and comprehend the world.
[Like art, maybe? (. ° ⍨ ° .)]
—Exactly.
[Master… have you ever listened to the teachings of a scholar? (. ≖ ₒ ≖ .)]
—No… my grandparents don't count, right? Honestly, I haven't read anything at all. Not his works, not anyone's. (At most, manga, light novels… and the occasional book.)
[And who is this "him"? Do you dislike him? (ಠಿ_ಠ)]
—I won't tell you. And no, it's not that. He was an enlightened man… but I was raised believing that every human being is capable of thinking for a reason.
[And what reason is that? (ಠ̃ ₒಠ̃)]
—Purpose. If life were just coincidence, why would it torture itself by creating thinking beings? And if it had no meaning, why do most people desperately search for one where none exists?
[Master… what are you implying? ( ⊙ ㅅ ⊙ )]
—That humans have multiple needs they still don't understand… and that they themselves are incapable of seeing or fulfilling them.
[I will stop questioning now, because I understand nothing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯]
—That's fine. We're here—same place as the other day.
The forest opened before me, revealing a clearing alive with the sound of water.
I had reached the same river, the same waterfall where I first met Aphrodite and the nymphs.
Mist rose from the surface, glowing under the midday light. My plan was simple: I needed to speak with Aphrodite and have her reveal the location of Olympus.
Even though the mythology in this game was heavily distorted compared to the original, it was reasonable to assume there had to be a place where the Greek gods gathered. And Aphrodite was the key to finding it.
At that moment, I said to Quincy:
—Quincy, you know what to do… raise my charm to 50%, everything else to max.
[Understood, Master. (ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ)]
[Full adjustment complete.]
The air around me seemed to vibrate, a pulse of energy brushing against my skin. I had to rely on charm—and even though it disgusted me, even though I hated the very idea of manipulation—if I wanted quick results with a being like Aphrodite, I had no choice.
This was an inherent truth about physically attractive people:they know exactly how much power their appearance gives them.
All it took was clean wording and the magic of body language. The plan was ready—yet that didn't stop me from thinking:
"Damn it… I hate these low tactics."
I waited there for a few minutes, watching droplets fall from the waterfall like liquid crystal.
Eventually, a nymph appeared. According to her status window, her name was Nimue. When she saw me, she froze—her eyes widened with a wet shimmer, and her voice trembled as she spoke.
Nimue: —"I-is it really you?"
—Hi. Could you take me to Aphrodite?
Nimue: —"W-what? You want to see the Guardian Queen?"
—I want to ask her for a favor… will you help me?
Nimue: —"O-of course… b-but could you touch me?"
She said it with an expression I could only describe as provocative. Slightly embarrassed, I stepped back a few paces and replied:
—You do realize I'm still a child, right?
Nimue: —"N-no, don't misunderstand! I meant holding hands. Just as acquaintances, of course!!"
—No… where I'm from, walking like that means more than just acquaintances. (And besides, I'm still not convinced about what's going on with my body… and I technically have a girlfriend.)
Nimue: —"I-is that so…? Alright. I'll take you to the Queen."
—Before that… can I ask you something?
Nimue: —"Go ahead."
—Before being confined here… did you live in a lake?
Nimue: —"Yes. Why?"
—And among humans… were you known as the Lady of the Lake?
Nimue: —"How do you know that…? That was sixty years ago."
That confirmed it.
The name had sounded familiar for a reason. Nimue wasn't just any nymph—she was closely tied to the legend of Excalibur.
With my suspicions confirmed, I replied calmly:
—Stories I've heard.
Nimue: —"I thought those stories had been forgotten."
—Beautiful ladies are never forgotten.
Nimue: —"I see you're skilled with compliments."
—I'm just being honest… shall we?
Nimue: —"Of course."
We moved through the trees. The light dimmed—golden, almost liquid. The forest thickened, the treetops weaving together so tightly that barely any brightness slipped through.
The sound of the river faded, replaced by insect song and the crunch of leaves beneath our steps.
Eventually, we reached a clearing filled with lush vegetation and fruit-bearing bushes. A large group of deer grazed peacefully among them. The air smelled of nectar and fresh rain.
Finally, according to Nimue, we had reached the deepest part of the forest.
That was when I saw it.
A massive magical barrier shaped like a dome—luminous, pulsing, almost alive.
For some reason, Nimue looked at me with surprise.
Nimue: —"You can see it?"
—Is it a dome… or a magical barrier?
Nimue: —"If you can see it…"
—Shouldn't I be able to?
Nimue: —"This barrier was created by a goddess from the eastern continent."
—Wait—there's another continent? (So Noelle's story wasn't just a legend after all.)
Nimue: —"Yes. That's where the other three zones are located."
—Zones?
Nimue: —"Territories controlled by the gods… I'm sorry, but I can't tell you more."
—I understand. But why does the barrier glow that golden color?
Nimue: —"That is existential power. The gods call it that. Only they can control it… but humans know it as divine power."
—Existential power…
Nimue: —"You truly are incredible."
—Why do you say that?
Nimue: —"This barrier was specifically designed so no human could perceive it. Anyone who tries to cross it without being of the same race as those inside is instantly teleported to a random location in the forest."
—It should be painfully obvious by now that I'm not just any mortal.(I don't need this many explanations… too much information is going to give me a migraine—or an aneurysm.)
Nimue: —"I know. Not even an eighth-circle Archmage could sense this barrier."
I barely paid attention to that last part. I wanted to move forward—now. The magical hum of the dome pressed against my ears, a vibration that felt like it demanded answers.
So I asked:
—What now?
Nimue: —"Wait here. I'll go inform the Queen that you've arrived."
—Alright. (Oh boy… I'm about to see the sublime Aphrodite again. Yahoooo. Yay.)
The wind swirled through the clearing. Leaves danced as if the forest itself were celebrating the goddess's imminent arrival.