The sun began its climb from the eastern horizon, golden light spilling gently across the flowerbed. Warmth crept over the blossoms, brushing against Evie's cheeks and stirring her from sleep.
"Hoam… is it morning already?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.
"It is. Time to wake up," Noxy's voice replied gently.
The sudden sound made Evie jolt upright, heart racing. Her eyes snapped open wide as confusion flooded back. "Waah! Who's there?!" she cried, still caught between sleep and waking fear.
"It's me, Noxy. How can you forget about me so quickly?" The voice carried a note of hurt that made Evie's chest tighten with unexpected guilt.
She pressed a hand against her racing heart, exhaling shakily as memory returned. "…Ah. Right. You were there." Her brows furrowed as she glanced around the empty clearing. "But can you make yourself visible? It's unsettling when someone just talks out of nowhere like a ghost."
"I can, if you prefer it that way. But it will only be a projection—something only you, or those I allow, will be able to see. And even then, you won't be able to touch me," Noxy explained patiently.
As she spoke, light began to shimmer in the air before Evie. Slowly, a figure materialized: a young woman with hair like flowing midnight, deep violet strands cascading freely and catching silver highlights as though touched by moonlight itself. She wore garments of soft violet-purple, simple in design yet carrying an air of quiet elegance. Her beauty wasn't overwhelming or flashy, but there was something about her presence that drew the eye—as if the world itself leaned slightly toward her.
Evie stared, mouth slightly agape. "What…? Just what are you? You can conjure clothes from thin air, and now you can manifest as a projection?" She paused, half-joking but with genuine nervousness creeping into her voice. "Don't tell me… are you a god?"
"Of course not. Don't compare me to those fools," Noxy replied, a sharp smile curving one corner of her mouth.
The dismissive tone was so cutting that Evie fell silent, momentarily speechless. Then, gathering her composure, she puffed out her cheeks in indignation. "Fine, do whatever you want. At least I'm prettier than you anyway." She turned away with a huff, then quickly added, "Can I drink from that pond?"
Noxy's eyebrow twitched at the beauty comment, but she answered evenly. "…You can. The pond's water has been purified and enhanced by the natural properties of this place."
"Properties?" Evie asked, curiosity overriding her petulance.
"This is one of the rare havens scattered throughout the forest. The ambient mana here soothes the body and accelerates natural healing. The pond has been blessed by the same energy—it can neutralize poisons, mend injuries, even restore stamina. Think of it as a natural elixir," Noxy explained, her gaze steady on the water's shimmering surface.
Evie's eyes widened with wonder. "No wonder I felt so peaceful sleeping here… Are there other places like this?" She rose carefully, still testing her body's balance as she approached the pond.
"Of course. This forest is far older than you might imagine. It holds many dangers… but also many hidden treasures," Noxy replied with a knowing look.
This forest still holds fragments of your former power, Noxy thought to herself, watching Evie's graceful movements. In one of your past cycles, you even achieved something approaching godhood in these very woods. If only you knew…
Evie knelt at the pond's edge and cupped water in her hands. She drank deeply, then gasped in amazement. "It's incredibly refreshing! My whole body feels lighter, like I could run for miles."
"You could bathe in it as well," Noxy suggested casually.
"Really?" Evie's head tilted, curiosity sparking in her golden-amber eyes.
"Certainly. It can strengthen your body, improve your skin, even enhance your natural beauty—though you seem confident enough about that already," Noxy replied with barely concealed amusement.
Evie's eyes lit up with excitement. "Then I'm going in!" Without hesitation, she began pulling off her simple clothes.
"Wait—" Noxy started, but Evie had already stepped into the water.
"Hyaah! It's freezing!" she yelped, immediately wrapping her arms around herself as goosebumps rose across her skin.
"Of course it is. The sun has barely risen. I can't believe you jumped in so impulsively," Noxy laughed, her projection flickering with genuine mirth.
"You're so mean! You could have warned me!" Evie splashed water in Noxy's direction, though it passed harmlessly through the projection. Her glare only made Noxy laugh harder.
"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. You can get out for now and try again later when it's warmer," Noxy said, raising her hands in mock surrender.
Shivering violently, Evie climbed out. Noxy conjured a gentle, warm breeze that helped dry her quickly. Once she was dressed again, Evie ran her fingers over her arms in amazement.
"Woah… my skin really does feel smoother. And that exhaustion from yesterday is completely gone."
"Of course. I wouldn't lie to you about something like that. But now we should think about food," Noxy said with a small smile. "You haven't eaten since you woke up yesterday. You may not feel hungry here because of the flowerbed's restorative effects, but once you leave this haven, the hunger will hit you all at once."
Evie glanced around uncertainly, her eyes scanning the sea of colorful blossoms. "Is there anything edible here? All I see are flowers."
"Not here. But the forest has many fruit-bearing plants," Noxy explained calmly, gesturing toward the shadowy treeline.
Evie's gaze followed the gesture, and her expression fell. The sun had only just crested the horizon, leaving the woods beyond still shrouded in morning gloom. "…Wait. You want me to go in there? Alone?"
"Where else would you find food?" Noxy replied matter-of-factly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Evie's voice became small and uncertain. "There won't be dangerous animals, right? I don't know how to fight. I don't even have a weapon."
"Don't worry. No beast or creature will approach this place for several kilometers in any direction. You're completely safe," Noxy assured her with calm confidence.
"That doesn't make sense though. Shouldn't a place this peaceful and rich in mana attract them instead?" Evie asked, studying the pond as if it might reveal its secrets.
"On the contrary. Havens like this naturally conceal themselves from such creatures. Beasts instinctively avoid them without understanding why. And if you venture too far from here, you might not be able to find your way back—only luck or exceptional magical sensitivity allows someone to stumble upon a haven. But we're only in the middle section of the forest. No creature here possesses that level of awareness," Noxy explained patiently, her arms folded.
Evie's mouth fell open in surprise. "The middle section? Then how did I end up here, if people need luck to find these places?"
"That's not something I can answer right now," Noxy said simply, though her expression suggested deeper knowledge.
Evie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Let me guess—because knowing certain secrets would only bring disaster, right?"
Noxy chuckled softly, genuine appreciation warming her voice. "It's refreshing to speak with someone so perceptive."
Evie crossed her arms with an exaggerated huff. "Make up your mind! First you say I'm annoying, now you say I'm smart."
"That's entirely your fault—being both annoying and clever at the same time," Noxy replied, tilting her head with amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Hmph." Evie turned away with an exaggerated pout. "Fine. I'll go gather some fruit before I starve to death. You don't need to eat, I assume?"
"No need. And I'll be watching over you the entire time," Noxy answered casually.
Evie froze mid-step, then spun around to shoot Noxy a sharp glare. "You sound like a stalker when you say it like that."
"A stalker?" Noxy folded her arms and lifted her chin with mock pride. "I am the great ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐."
Evie blinked rapidly, confusion clear on her face. "…What? What did you just say? I couldn't hear the last part."
"You don't need to know that yet. Focus on finding food," Noxy replied with an enigmatic smile.
With no other choice, Evie ventured past the flowerbed's edge and into the forest proper. The air grew cooler under the canopy, heavy with the earthy scents of damp soil and unfamiliar flora. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through gaps in the leaves, creating a dappled pattern on the forest floor.
---
She moved carefully, gathering anything that looked edible: pale blue orbs that glowed faintly in the shadows, spiky oval fruits with crimson flesh visible beneath their tough skins, clusters of golden pods hanging like nature's lanterns, and rough-skinned green fruits that felt heavy in her hands.
Hours passed before she returned to the clearing, arms full of her varied harvest. She spread the fruits carefully across the grass, arranging them by type and color.
She frowned as she studied her collection. "These fruits… they look nothing like what I remember eating before. Why are they so strange and colorful?"
"Because this entire forest is saturated with mana," Noxy replied calmly, her gaze drifting over the spread of unusual fruits. "The plants here have been transformed by magical energy over centuries—some becoming sweeter and more nutritious, others developing… less pleasant properties."
Evie's brows furrowed as she examined the different piles more carefully. "Noxy, are all of these safe to eat?"
"Absolutely not," Noxy said firmly, pointing to each group in turn. "The black-skinned ones are highly toxic. The golden pods may look beautiful, but they're deadly poison. The pale blue fruits are called Lunaberries, and the spiky red-fleshed ones are Thornfruit—both are safe and quite sweet. The rough green fruit is known as Stonebark. It's edible but still unripe."
"I see…" Evie bit her lip nervously as she sorted the fruits into categories: safe, unripe, and poisonous. She glanced at the darker ones with obvious worry. "Should I throw the poisonous ones away?"
"No," Noxy shook her head definitively. "Keep them. You may need them later."
"For what?" Evie asked with growing unease.
"For hunting," Noxy explained simply. "You don't want to survive on fruit alone, do you?"
The word 'hunting' made Evie freeze completely, her hands clenching into small fists. "H-hunting?!" She tried to puff out her chest and sound brave, but her voice wavered. "Then why don't we just stay here? It's safe and peaceful. I don't need anything else—"
"If you want to recover your memories, you cannot remain here," Noxy interrupted, her tone cutting through Evie's protests like a blade.
Evie's lips trembled, and her voice became small and vulnerable. "…Do I really need to find them? I could just… make new memories instead. Start fresh. Forget whatever happened before…"
"No!" Noxy's voice cracked like thunder, startling birds from nearby trees. "You must recover them!"
Evie jumped backward, genuinely frightened by the sudden intensity. "O-okay! You don't need to shout at me!"
Her hands shook as she bit into one of the Thornfruit, sweet juice running down her chin. The familiar taste helped ground her racing thoughts and calm her hammering heart. She ate until her stomach was full, then leaned back against the soft grass with a heavy sigh.
"So… what's our actual plan?" she asked, wiping sticky fingers on the grass.
"Simple," Noxy said, her tone returning to its usual calm certainty. "We need to leave the middle forest entirely. In your current state, you wouldn't survive against the creatures that live deeper in these woods."
Evie's shoulders tensed at the mention of dangerous creatures, but then her gaze drifted hopefully toward the inviting pond. "…Okay. But can I bathe again first? Please?"
"It should be much warmer now. Go ahead," Noxy replied with a small nod, her expression softening at Evie's almost childlike eagerness.
Evie quickly set her clothes aside and stepped into the pond again. This time the water felt pleasantly cool rather than shockingly cold. She sighed contentedly and sank deeper, her silver hair spreading across the surface like liquid moonlight.
"This feels absolutely wonderful. I could stay here forever," she whispered dreamily, closing her eyes as gentle ripples lapped around her.
As she relaxed, she noticed faint trails of light dancing across her skin before fading away. The small scratches on her hands from gathering fruit disappeared entirely. Her muscles, still sore from sleeping on the ground, loosened and strengthened. Even her skin seemed to take on a subtle, healthy glow.
She lifted water in her cupped hands and watched it sparkle in the sunlight. "The effect is incredible… I can actually feel my body getting stronger."
"As I mentioned before," Noxy replied with a knowing smile. "It doesn't merely cleanse you. It helps your body recover and adapt, and yes—it does enhance your natural beauty, though I suspect that aspect particularly appeals to your vanity."
Evie blushed and splashed water toward the projection. "I'm being serious! My body genuinely feels more capable. Like I could run twice as far without getting tired."
Noxy tilted her head with an impish grin. "And more radiant as well. Your skin is practically glowing, your hair shining like spun silver. You'll end up dazzling anyone who looks at you too long."
Evie groaned and sank into the water until only her nose and eyes showed above the surface. When she resurfaced, she was pouting magnificently. "Stop looking at me like that. It feels like you're undressing me with your eyes."
Noxy chuckled, the sound rich with affection. "Undressing you? You're already completely naked. And you're the one who chose to bathe while I'm here. I'm simply making observations—call it a guardian's privilege."
She teases me like she's known me for years… but we only met yesterday. So why does this feel so natural? Why do I trust her laughter more than my own confused thoughts?
Evie hugged her knees in the water, staring at her wavering reflection with troubled eyes.
Noxy's expression softened as she watched. "That's good. Just relax for now. You won't have opportunities like this again for quite some time."
"What do you mean by that?" Evie asked, lifting her head with renewed worry.
"You'll understand later. For now, just enjoy this peace," Noxy replied with a gentle smile, though her eyes held shadows of knowledge she couldn't share.
"Fine," Evie muttered, puffing her cheeks before leaning back into the water with a small splash.
She spent the next several hours simply floating and relaxing, letting the magical waters work their subtle healing. The sun climbed higher, warming both air and water until everything felt perfect and dreamlike.
After her extended bath, Noxy conjured another warm breeze to help Evie dry completely before she slipped back into her clothes. Once dressed, she settled by the flowerbed and ate more fruit to satisfy her renewed appetite.
"What's our plan for the rest of today?" she asked between bites, tilting her head curiously.
"There is no other plan for now. Simply relax and enjoy this haven as much as you can, because we depart tomorrow," Noxy answered with quiet finality.
"Eh? So soon? I thought we'd stay for several more days at least," Evie said with a disappointed pout.
"No, we need to leave quickly. The sooner, the better," Noxy replied firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
"But why such urgency?" Evie leaned forward, unease creeping into her voice.
"Because this place will disappear," Noxy explained seriously. "We don't know exactly when, but if it vanishes while you're still here, there's no telling where—or when—you might end up."
Evie's eyes widened in alarm. "This place will disappear?"
"Yes. Why do you think havens are so difficult to find? It's because they're not truly stationary—they shift through space and time, never remaining in one location for long. That's why we must leave soon," Noxy said with a shake of her head.
Understanding dawned on Evie's face, followed by acceptance. "I see. Well, since there are still several hours until nightfall, I think I'll… explore around the flowerbed a bit. Stretch my legs before we have to leave all this beauty behind."
"That sounds wise. I'll dismiss this projection for now and return tomorrow morning," Noxy replied with an encouraging smile.
"Alright," Evie whispered, though her shoulders slumped slightly at the thought of being alone again.
With that, Noxy's projection shimmered and dissolved like morning mist, leaving Evie alone with only the gentle rustle of flower petals and the soft murmur of the magical pond.
---
The next morning, Evie woke to find Noxy's familiar projection already waiting beside her, violet hair catching the early light.
"Good morning," she murmured with a sleepy smile as she stretched like a contented cat.
"Morning. Are you ready to leave this place?" Noxy asked, studying Evie's face for any lingering reluctance.
"If I said no, you probably wouldn't let me stay anyway," Evie replied with a resigned sigh, puffing out her cheeks in a way that was becoming familiar.
"You're absolutely right," Noxy said with an unrepentant smirk.
"I was hoping for one more bath in that wonderful pond, but I suppose that's not happening," Evie said wistfully, casting a longing glance at the shimmering water.
"Afraid not. It's time to go. Eat some fruit first to give you energy for the journey. And don't forget to pack extra for later—including those poisonous ones for hunting," Noxy reminded her.
"Understood," Evie said with a reluctant nod.
She quickly ate her fill of the sweet Lunaberries and Thornfruit, savoring what might be her last taste of such magical sustenance for some time. Then she carefully gathered supplies for the journey, wrapping the ripe fruits in large leaves and securing the poisonous ones separately in her sash, being extra careful not to let them touch anything else.
"I'm ready now. We can leave whenever you think best," Evie declared, standing tall despite the nervous flutter in her stomach.
"Then let's go. We head east," Noxy said with quiet determination.
Evie took one last, lingering look at the flowerbed that had been her sanctuary—the place where she'd awakened to a new life, met her mysterious guardian, and found the first fragments of peace in her confused existence. Then, with a deep breath to steady her nerves, she stepped beyond its protective boundary.
Her true journey was finally beginning.