However, I knew I couldn’t stay here forever, despite the warmth and peace the werewolf had offered me. I still had a more important mission to fulfill.
I needed to complete the wizard’s trials and rescue my Senior, who was still trapped in an unknown predicament, waiting for my help.
When I mustered the courage to tell him I was leaving, his eyes filled with sorrow and reluctance.
In that moment, his gaze dimmed, like stars obscured by dark clouds.
He lowered his head and remained silent for a long, long time. The air around us seemed to freeze, with only the soft rustling of grass in the breeze breaking the stillness.
But in the end, he lifted his head and looked at me with determination, nodding to show he understood my decision.
His throat moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only let out a deep sigh.
The day before my departure, he busied himself all day for me. He left early in the morning to prepare an abundance of food and water.
The food was carefully selected and prepared—crispy roasted game, freshly picked sweet wild berries, and water drawn from a clear stream, stored in clean bamboo containers.
Not only that, he also made me a protective charm from fangs and vines. The fangs were white and sharp, polished by his hands until they were smooth and gleaming.
The vines were intricately woven, a testament to his care and focus. He hung the charm around my neck, his eyes brimming with blessings and concern. His fingers lightly brushed my cheek, as if trying to etch this moment of me deeply into his memory.
The next day, I set off on my journey. He walked with me all the way to the edge of the forest, silent but staying close by my side.
When we finally reached the forest’s boundary, he stopped and watched quietly as I walked away.
I continued forward through the forest, the mist still thick around me. The fog seemed alive, coiling around me and obscuring my vision.
Every step felt like breaking through an invisible barrier.
After walking for what felt like an eternity, I found myself standing before a massive trap. The pit was bottomless, lined with sharp wooden stakes—falling in would mean certain death.
The edges of the trap were cleverly concealed with leaves and dried grass. If I hadn’t noticed a slight irregularity, I might have already plunged to my doom.
I carefully skirted around the trap, each step taken with extreme caution. My heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on my forehead.
But fate didn’t seem inclined to let me off so easily. No sooner had I escaped the trap than I encountered a stretch of swamp.
The swamp was like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, reeking of decay and making my stomach churn.
The muddy ground bubbled with murky water, as if mocking my audacity.
With every step, I could feel the earth greedily sapping my strength, trying to drag me into its endless depths.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. I scanned my surroundings for anything I could use to help me cross.
Luckily, I spotted a long branch nearby—sturdy enough, perhaps, to be my lifeline through this treacherous mire.
Gripping the branch tightly, I plunged one end into the mud ahead, testing my path before taking each cautious step.
At first, progress was slow but steady. Though my steps were heavy, I hadn’t yet sunk into real danger. But as I ventured deeper into the swamp, the situation grew worse.
The ground beneath me grew softer, each step sinking deeper into the muck.
The muddy water had already risen past my calves, its icy chill creeping up my legs and sending shivers through my body.
Clenching my teeth, I pressed on. Then, suddenly, my left foot slipped, throwing me off balance.
I screamed in terror, flailing the branch wildly, trying to find something to hold onto. But it was useless—my body was sinking fast.
The mud swallowed my knees in an instant, and I felt an immense force pulling me down.
Fear surged through me like a tidal wave, my mind going blank.
But then I forced myself to remember the werewolf’s encouragement and the survival skills he had taught me.
I took another deep breath and steadied myself. First, I stopped struggling—I knew fighting would only make me sink faster.
Then, I slowly lay flat, spreading my weight across the surface.
This slowed my descent, but I could still feel myself sinking bit by bit.
I gripped the branch with both hands, laying it horizontally above me, hoping it might help halt my fall.
But the branch, too, began to slip in the mud, and my heart leaped into my throat.
Turning my head, I spotted a slightly raised rock nearby. It wasn’t large, but it might be my last hope.
Painstakingly, I inched my body toward the rock. Every movement was a battle against the mud’s resistance, my progress agonizingly slow.
After what felt like an eternity of effort, I finally reached the rock.
With all my strength, I grabbed its edge, trying to pull myself free.
But the rock was slick with algae, and my hands slipped again and again.
Despair threatened to overwhelm me, but I refused to give up. I wiped the mud from my hands on my sleeves for better grip, then clutched the rock once more.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I hauled my upper body out of the mud.
By the time my torso was free, I was gasping for breath.
But I knew I couldn’t stop yet. Bracing myself against the rock, I slowly worked my legs free, each inch a struggle against the clinging mud.
Finally, my legs broke loose. I collapsed onto the grass at the swamp’s edge, panting, drenched in sweat and filth.
My body was exhausted, but my heart swelled with relief at having survived.
After resting briefly, I forced myself to stand. My legs, numb from the cold mud, felt like walking on cotton.
But I told myself I couldn’t stop—I had to keep moving.
Step by heavy step, I dragged myself away from that dreadful swamp.
Looking back, the mire still loomed ominously, as if taunting me. But I knew I had conquered it, armed with unwavering resolve and the courage the werewolf had given me.
As I pressed onward, my steps remained weary, but the fire of hope in my heart burned brighter than ever.
I know there is still a long road ahead, with more challenges waiting for me, but I am no longer afraid.
Because I believe that as long as I persevere, I will surely fulfill my mission and save my Senior.
