With the first ray of sunlight, August woke up only to find himself stuck in thick vines. The rope-like strings went all the way stretched between various trees.
It was a web indeed, he thought, looking up at the jumbled vines with blurry vision.
"Ah… where am I?" he pulled his arm that was stuck in a knot. "What is this?"
As he tried to escape the rough bindings August recalled the struggles he went through last night. The vines didn't let him go then, what makes him think they would now?
Once again, he tried to forcefully free himself. The green ropes dangled in a jumbled mess—still refusing to let him go.
Thankfully, he wasn't much farther from the ground. Even if he fell down, it would hurt him slightly at most. The night was too dark to figure that out.
But now, as he looked down below, the fall seemed manageable. Hence, he pushed through the mess, pulled wherever he found knots and did every motion that he could to set himself free.
Suddenly, some of the vines snapped, giving his heart a dangerous jump scare. Now, August a few meters above the ground lay inverted with his face to the ground.
There was not so much distance for him to risk another snap. Hence, August slowed his breathing down, careful not to make any rash movement.
With his legs tied to the green ropes, he swung slightly from the jumbled web.
However, that moment of steadiness didn't last long as not so long after another vine snapped sending him to the ground.
August greeted the moist soil with his face.
'Excellent'
After a moment or so, he finally gathered the strength and pulled himself to his feet. Wiping the mud off himself, August clicked his tongue—
"Of course this would happen."
He would've taken his sweet time to curse his fate but there was another issue of great importance before him.
Taking a deep breath August looked around himself. Tall trees towered high above him, their thick canopies blocking his sight. Even sunlight struggled to reach the ground.
"Where exactly am I?" He forced himself to recall any of the past events, anything that could explain what was happening or where he was now.
Unfortunately, it was as if someone had deliberately tampered with his memories. He remembered the most of his life but the gaps were also there. And for some reason, he was aware of that.
August shook his head, pushing the uneasy thoughts away. There was no benefit in digging up the past. Instead he had to look forward right now.
"Let's see"
He had no food, water and shelter nor did he recognise any part of this forest. Suddenly a thought surfaced in his mind. A vision he had seen last night while falling down.
"The lake"
It was the likely place where he could find humans or if not then food perhaps. Hence, August pulled his feet and started walking in the direction he thought might be a lake.
A familiar place or not, the forest was similar everywhere. Trees were as green as they could get, and the humid breeze blew every passing moment.
He only feared the creatures dwelling in the depths of woods. The same reason why he couldn't sleep peacefully last night—horrifying screams kept disturbing his peace after all.
August was dressed in loose clothing— so, he couldn't help but shiver every once in a while wind blew past him.
Being tied up the whole night, every step felt heavy. His feet pained, sore muscles refused to move along.
Walking inside the dense forest August pondered what could've happened if the vines didn't save him.
'I would've become a beggar by now. A beggar without anyone to beg to.'
That wasn't actually right, he had that screaming creature to beg to—that is only if it understood August's pleading. And God was also there.
Slowly, the forest was grew less dense, yet August couldn't help but be careful. One might never know what could happen in the next moment.
Though he had no sword, the instincts of a warrior never left him. Always vigilant.
"What do we have here.."
After walking for almost what felt like hours now, it seemed he had finally found water. Last night he had seen something reflecting moonlight back. He thought of it as water and he was right.
Before him, surrounded by trees from all sides—lay a water body. Large to be called a pond and small for a lake.
Feeling relieved suddenly August rushed towards the clean water.
A lake in the middle of a forest wasn't something unheard of but he had to remain careful. Finally cupping the cold water in his hands, he gulped it down greedily.
"Ah… heaven."
Of course a little sip wasn't enough for him, it took some time to satiate his thirst —and his hunger, for a while.
Taking a sigh of relief he then sat down and leaned on the green grass.
"Life is wonderful"
There were many things he had to take care of, many thoughts clouding his mind. Even so, getting out of this strange forest was an obvious priority.
After spending a night with the rough vines, he felt so comfortable leaning on the grass. Watching the canopies sway in the winds, his eyelids grew heavy and he finally fell asleep.
"Perhaps he's a merchant"
"Looks too poor for a merchant, My Lady"
"I think he's an assassin, we can't take the risk"
August woke up to the strange voices buzzing in his ears only to find himself surrounded by two human figures.
A cold blade pressed against his throat and two eyes staring down at him with murderous intent.
"I'm sorry but I can't spare you," said the young man holding a dagger to his throat.
August acted instinctively, quickly pushing his arm away and taking a few steps back.
He was still somewhat dazed but even he couldn't miss the sharp noise of the blade being pulled out of his sheath.
Rubbing his eyes August's vision finally cleared as he saw a young man pointing a sword at him.
The stranger looked at him with suspicion,
"Who are you?"
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