Upon stepping into Vivid Forest, Nate recalled the last time he was there with his group of friends. To mention this again, being in the forest at night rather than in the day is a totally different experience, not to mention also being alone.
Nate and his friends did consider staying in the hideout within the depths of the forest for a night or two, but it seemed that they really forgot about the plans for the "slumber party" in words used by the almost always joyful Cloey Taffel.
And besides, he remembered Manson mentioning he didn't want bugs next to him when sleeping overnight outside in the forest, and that only Sam and Cloey had their own camping tents. The rest of them wouldn't be comfortable sharing. But Nate understood their concerns so that he wouldn't bring up this idea to the group again.
Ah, if things really go crazy in here and stuff, that would force me to spend the night, then I guess it is a one-person slumber party, right? Yeah?
This is what it felt like to Sheila when she mentioned the dread and darkness coming from the deep within. Nate shuddered from the cold despite the overalls that covered his body, and a rising desire to go back home, away from any potential dangers that might awaken from even stepping into this forboding forest alone.
The place at night felt a lot more sinister compared to the daytime, as Nate repeated this thought in his mind, as though to distract himself by thinking of the same things over and over again.
Weirdly again, there aren't many critters roaming around here at night. There might be hunters around these parts of the Vivid Forest, or maybe they're all scared by a certain monster that was in the Volanten River that day.
During the bright and sunny day yesterday, Nate searched the Internet for the mysteries of Vivid Forest and its history.
First of all, Vivid Forest has recently seen many more visitors, especially to the areas near the edges of the forest, specifically the outer edges facing the Volanten River. Additionally, there was a wealthy family that recently bought a cottage, with its backyard extending into the forest, with no fence around the house.
Nate wished that he could see the building from outside, or even the interior. He wondered what it was like to live in such a secluded space.
If there was really a cottage in the direction he was going, he hoped that it would not be attacked by any more of the Fadens like with the thing at the Volanten River.
Nate ventured forward along the same path his group of friends had taken before, and he tried to consciously recall the way by drawing on his memories of the forest's surroundings.
Nate walked and walked, feeling used to the cold every second he spent outside, still wishing for the snug comfort of his thicker clothes back in his closet.
He also brought his family's camera, just in case something noteworthy happened on his trip. If Nate had to explain the truth of what he experienced for whatever reason, it would be easier with a bit of help from visual evidence.
While walking, Nate felt a heavy wind pushing at his front. It's almost like the forest itself was telling him that the way he is currently venturing towards is dangerous and that Nate should turn back away.
However, if the cold breeze didn't deter him from going away from before, Nate doubted it would have a major effect on him right now.
Besides, he felt that something truly scary lies deeper in Vivid Forest, something worse than the Volanten River Faden.
There is still an hour left before sunrise, and Nate has exhausted himself trying to find the green crystals in the dark with only a weak flashlight running on old batteries.
There's only so much time and space I have covered before I have to get to school, or I get late. If I can't find it after all this time, then is it really gone? Did I waste my time for nothing at all?
It was not unbelievable for the green crystals to disappear after several days, but it still felt demoralizing to think about it.
Maybe it is for the best. To move on with life in the city of the ordinary, and let the other people be more qualified to deal with stuff like this every day. It's not like Nate was strong or anything, even with the power he had awakened with when defending Cloey from that Faden. He didn't even kill it on his own; it just ran away... waiting for more victims to claim.
Maybe he should convince the others to find another potential hangout spot. Maybe his father's bookstore can be the place if he could convince Jakob to give up another room.
The night drew closer to its end, taking the late cold breeze from before. Though the cold had substantially become more tolerable than before.
Nate turned his back, intending to go back to the entrance and go home. Perhaps if he ran all the way back home nonstop, then he could still get breakfast and be on time by the time the gate closed.
The path was still available and even more visible after some time had passed. If he were lucky, then Nate wouldn't have to encounter anyone else on the way back home.
The trees and bushes around Nate were covered by the night's black aura... until... until a familiar glowing shade crept towards him in front.
Looking at it now more thoroughly, there is simply no mistaking it.
Nate couldn't believe it. The second time seeing the green aura from before is now here in his presence. And just when he was about to leave.
The glow remained vibrant, outlining the shadows of nearby objects.
Nate steered himself in the direction of the light.
There was still a chance that he wouldn't find the green crystals ever again, so that is why Nate continued. Regardless of what might happen if he went forward, Nate steeled his resolve if he were to encounter various types of dangers, potentially a Faden if he was really unlucky.
But to remind himself, Nate did practice his sword swings the night before today in the morning with a wooden stick, in case he got the sword again.
Still seeing the glowing green, Nate swiped away the blocking foliage and marched through.
After a moment of entering, he stopped in his tracks because of something that occurred.
"Uuuuggghhh... ughhhhh..."
A low groan had escaped from a creature's throat. The sound of it was like a wild creature gnawing in the air after a successful hunt.
Nate didn't move after hearing it, afraid that it would somehow sense him.
Are there people here in Vivid Forest at this hour? Or was it just the woodland creatures around these parts? There was a high chance that those people searching by the Volanten River made their way here.
But the worst-case scenario would definitely be a monster like the Faden at the river before.
Alright, I'll just sneak away, getting away before whatever it is doesn't notice me. However, the noise was toward the green light.
Whoever it might be might find the crystal and keep it to themselves, or maybe destroy it entirely. If it happened, then who knows when he will find the next green crystal in Nate's life.
So... Nate made a risk... to get the crystal before anyone or anything else would claim it for themselves. He rushed in as quietly as possible, while noting the familiar explosion marks and the shattered wood bark spread out on the grassy floor.
Definitely knowing that he was near where he'd left before, Nate prepared his flashlight and pointed towards his surroundings, still cautious of what might happen.
Nate couldn't believe what he was seeing. A man holding the green crystal as even more shining waves echoed throughout the surface of the earth. It wasn't like anything he'd ever seen, except maybe the green aura in the sky when viewing the whole thing on television.
And the man right there, somehow holding it, is Pallnem, the person Nate encountered when he was trying to go by the shopping district.
He carefully inched closer to the man, not wanting to irritate him further, just like he did with the other townsfolk from before.
"No way..." he muttered under his breath. "Now seeing it more clearly than before, now that is definitely the light I saw during that time."
Pallnem quickly veered towards the direction of Nate. The old man sneered with saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth.
"Hey! Aren't you that kid with all that stuff he was carrying on with him, and you go to that damned school too?"
"That green crystal..." Nate softly spoke, "It was really real this whole time. I thought it was something like a dream after I got hit by that explosion from the green crystal, but it is now here, right now, with my eyes set on it."
"Huh?! You mind speaking up! I'm having a hard time hearing after getting my fortune for my glorious return to life!"
Pallnem stomped towards Nate, and the fallen leaves from the trees circled from the movement's breeze.
Nate immediately backed off, uncertain about the man's purpose for being in the Vivid Forest at this time of the day.
"Whoa, hey Pallnem, let's just keep our distance here. Let me ask this: what the heck are you doing here in this place?"
He made his words mix with a tone of worry, trying to calm and convince Pallnem not to do anything rash, as last time Nate found the green crystal, the light shone so much, and a forceful wave of energy knocked him down and made him out cold.
It might even be stronger than before if it were to explode right now.
Nate began to talk to Pallnem, "Listen, I don't know what you are trying to do with that green crystal, but you have to give it to me. I am actually being serious, you don't have any idea what you are holding on to right now."
"What! Who are you to tell me what to do, huh?" Pallnem shrieked.
The green crystal shone a bit more, but somehow Nate felt more uneasy from just looking at it.
"I'm saying you'll die if you are not careful with it!"
"You don't know what the hell you are talking about, so shut up! Everything in this city is so stupid that it ruined my life. You think you and the others want me to accept that everything's okay in this city, well, guess what, you're wrong! Something bad happened in the past, something bad happened with all those green gases in the city, and you know damn well that something will happen in the city in the near future!"
"W-wait..." Nate had tried to say, but Pallnem kept on rambling on.
"But then I found this beauty on the ground when I was trying to find a different place to sleep. The way it shines its green tone towards everything, I just had to keep it for myself. Somehow, this thing brings me happiness and joy into my heart; it is like magic, man!"
"Pallnem!"
"I just want a normal life and wellbeing, and if you want this thing, then take it from my dead body!" he shouted immensely.
The green crystal in his hand shone ever brighter, and something inside of it made a noise so loud it made Pallnem stop in his tracks and look at it with a fearful look. Nate stepped back instinctively.
Nate and Pallnem stumbled from the glistening glow, and Nate can now understand what the green crystal was trying to do: to explode like last time.