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Kline wasn’t so miserable. He hopped from rock to rock, smelling different plants. It wasn’t for fun. Whenever he smelled a poisonous plant, he meowed. I know because I read their descriptions.

Speaking of which, the amount of poison in the forest was staggering. It’s estimated that five to ten percent of the plants on Earth are toxic. Here, half the plants I saw had a degree of toxicity. Strangely enough, a considerable portion was noted to have medicinal or alchemic properties. It didn’t tell me more, and when I asked, it told me to buy books from the "Library" to upgrade the skill.

It was annoying.

There were also a staggering amount of plants that were labeled medicinal or "alchemical." I wasn’t sure what "alchemical" meant, but I had a feeling they were rare or valuable ingredients. If I wasn’t fighting for my life, I’d be stuffing plants into my pockets left and right.

Still, the poison outweighed the edible, medicinal, and alchemical plants by a mile, so I had to be careful. Most weren’t topically poisonous, but I ran into two that made it uncomfortable to walk around. One caused acute paralysis if it entered a person’s bloodstream through a wound or otherwise, and the other caused necrosis if ingested. I would normally be stoked to see them—but I was in survival mode.

During the two-hour hike to the river, I had time to reflect on my situation and the peculiarities, like how I was lying on the wandering reaper, but it only attacked me when I was up. Then, I remembered seeing that blue ray of light over the forest floor and concluded that there must’ve been magic protecting me. If magic could protect me from the reapers, that meant that it could protect me when I slept.

There was a way to live here. I could live.

Things continued like that until I heard the sound of running water, the sweet, sweet sound of running water. I thought about water’s crispness, the way that it was clear as glass when it was still, and the way that it turned white when it crashed over rocks. It was salvation.

I jogged with Kline, passing between rocks, as I moved to a clearing that was bright white like sunlight and looked like the gates of heaven.

Then I reached it—and my stomach fell.

The "river" was what I imagined the River Styx to look like on the way to the underworld. The water flowed normally, but it released white fog like dry ice that didn’t dissipate. It just flowed with the river, a permanent cloud above the water, shifting and morphing in ways that felt alive. Considering that nothing grew within ten feet of the water, it was clearly toxic.

That’s what I thought until I got the notification.

—---

Congratulations! You have found a sacred location.

Name: Diktyo River (Fourth Ring)

Summary: Don’t worry, Mira. That’s actually water, and it won’t give you frostbite. That "fog" that you’re seeing is actually a mass of souls seeking purification on The Path toward Grand Assimilation.

—---

"That’s worse!" I cried, making Kline hop backward. He was walking toward the river but looked back. "Just wait a moment," I said. "I’ll let you know if it’s safe."

Kline pouted and sat down. Then I kept reading.

—---

Souls are drawn to the river for its purifying powers—a fact that draws other animals as well. Not only is it drinkable, but it also increases healing and cleanses Second Evolution toxins and poisons. So just ignore the dysesthesia and drink it. You won’t regret it.

Description: A flowing river covered by fog. The water seems ethereal.

Important details:

Water must be removed from the souls to drink, or drank from underwater.

Evolved creatures cannot directly drink from the river, as they risk absorbing a stronger soul and experiencing soul damage. As you are unevolved, you are unaffected by this.

When separated from the stream of soul, the river houses normal water with additional effects.

The water cleanses Second Evolution toxins and poisons or lower.

The souls will not harm you but do cause synesthesia.

Soulmancy spells can utilize the souls.

Warning: Drinking too much can have adverse consequences. More information will be available through upgrading your Identify skill.

-

"What the hell is dysesthesia?" I asked. "Like synesthesia? That doesn’t sound good." I was certain I hadn’t heard it, but it was similar to synesthesia, and that wasn’t good news. I didn’t want it to distort my senses in strange and terrible ways. Still, Lithco or the Guide or the Oracle or whatever it was said that the souls couldn’t harm me, so I sighed. "I guess it’s safe."

Kline took two steps forward, and I stopped him. "Wait. I’ll go first," I said. "You’ll get soul damage if you drink from it directly."

He turned and hissed, then continued walking forward.

Did he just chastise me? I thought. That little shit just chastised me! Still, I did feel a bit fuzzy inside that Kline cared so much that he would check the river was safe to get near. But that feeling suddenly shifted to horror when I heard a splash, followed by the sound of him howling.

"Kline!" I rushed to Kline, who had fallen into the river, paws appearing and disappearing in the thick fog. "What are you doing?" I grabbed at his outline, but when I touched the fog, my mind exploded with sensations.

Birds screeched, wolves howled, creatures growled and hissed and boomed like thunder. I pulled my hands back by reflex, but creatures of countless descriptions formed in the fog, creating jaws that snapped at my hands. One clamped down on my wrist, and I screamed—but there was no pain. All that happened was me stumbling forward and crashing into the water.

That river was like a scene through hell. The water was crisp and refreshing, healing my aches and pains. But I could see images in the fog and hear stories play out and could feel the sounds. It was terrifying, and I only held on by focusing on my survival instincts and love for my howling cat.

It can’t hurt me, I thought. This is just syn… whatever. It’s an illusion. Um hmmm. It’s just an illu— A monstrous roar broke my concentration and almost made me piss myself.

"Kline!" I screamed through the fog. His outline was disappearing, so I closed my eyes and swam forward, fighting past my fear—yelling at the souls as I searched. But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find it. "Kline!" I yelled again.

Kline answered me with a meow, but it was soon drowned out by the sound of the cacophony of the river. Suddenly, I looked around, and that’s when a branch above the river hit me in the head like a tall person walking through a short door. It knocked me down and made me fall into the water. Then, things turned from bad to worse when the rapids pulled me underwater.

I barreled through the river until I slammed into a rock and snagged on something, lodging me there. My mind was dazed and fading—my heart and bones ached.

Kline…

An ethereal voice answered me:

Your companion is safe. He’s trying to save you.

I didn’t even question who was speaking. I just chuckled inwardly at the absurdity.

How ironic.

The voice chuckled back. It is. So just get to shore.

How? I can’t even think.

Aren’t you thinking now?

I shivered. Yeah…

The souls are on the surface. Surface, breathe, and then go underwater again.

My eyes snapped open, and I realized that I was underwater—and my lungs were filling with water. I tried to breathe, but only bubbles came out.

Primal instincts took over. I looked down and saw a vine wrapped around my ankle. I pulled, but it tugged back.

Get… off me!

I grabbed a rock and pulled with all my strength. It stole my boot, but I didn’t care. I immediately rushed to the surface, crashing out of the water like a breaching whale.

A world of animals whooping, howling, and hollering entered my mind as I coughed out water, shooting spurts out of my mouth as I choked. It was so intense that I didn’t even care about the animals.

"Shut up!" I screamed, being pulled down the rapids. Then, I took a deep breath and went underwater.

It was dark underwater, milky white from the white light coming in. Still, I could see the silhouette of the shore. So I swam fast to fight against the rocks and rapids until I got to the bank, where I thrust hand over hand, forcing myself onto the bank as I coughed out water.

Kline yowled in the maze of animal voices. "Kline!" I yelled.

Suddenly, Kline shot to my side, grabbing my sleeve with his teeth and trying to pull me out of the souls. I had to chuckle at the futility as I army-crawled forward. Then, after five more feet, the world turned silent again.

Kline meowed, jumping on my back and then hopping up and down. I grunted. "What are you—"

I suddenly coughed, spitting out water, feeling my lungs clear air. Then I passed out.

—---

I awoke to the feeling of Kline against my face. He was hugging my skin, but his face was alert—watching his surroundings to protect me.

"That… sucked," I groaned.

Kline yowled dramatically and jumped on my back.

"Kline!" I yelled. "Come on!" I chuckled as he walked up, snaking his tail as he looked at me. My emotions melted when I saw him. "Thanks."

Kline meowed emotionally. I took a deep breath. Then I rolled on my back and thought about what had just happened.

What was that voice? I silently asked. It was under the water. If it was a human soul, it would be on the water with the rest of them. But I heard it under the water. This place is seriously creepy.

I slowly got up and took stock of my situation. My jacket was triple knotted so it was still on me—but I lost my boot. That was a problem when half the plants around me were toxic—medicinally or otherwise.

I patted down my pockets.

Jacket, check.

Lighter, check.

Probably-destroyed smartphone, check.

Lip Balm, check.

Knife, check.

I looked down at Kline. Cat, check.

Everything was mostly in order. If I weren’t severely traumatized, I’d feel refreshed and healed.

"Map," I sighed. The Map popped up, showing me where I was. To my surprise, I found that we had moved toward the Water Sack Plant and were almost there.

I took a deep breath to catch my bearings and looked at Kline. "You good?"

Kline meowed.

"I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s go."

——

The walk to the water sack plant was smooth and gentle. There was a sandy beach next to the river where nothing seemed to live, and the sand felt good under my sock. And the water… It was so refreshing. I imagined that I would start shivering from the breeze, but it felt like I was wrapped in a blanket that made it impossible for me to ache or shiver or be harmed.

No wonder the souls love this, I thought, magically accepting that souls existed and that they loved the river that almost killed me. The only thing that I couldn’t believe was that voice under the water.

Suddenly, I saw a strange plant beside the river. It looked like a vase, clear and transparent, full of water. It was growing on a pineapple-like stalk, standing erect. The moment I laid eyes on it, I got a notification.

—---

Congratulations! You have found the Water Sack Plant.

Common Name: Water Sack Plant

Type: Plant

Summary: Wow, you’ve finally found a plant that’s not trying to kill you. Not only that, it’s perfect for helping you survive. Just as the name implies, it holds water, and the moment you cut off the stalk, it turns into a sack that is remarkably resilient, like a water skin. Too good to be true? Obviously. Make sure to listen to the warnings this time.

Species: Floga Syllogi

Description: Vase-like bulb filled with water on a white stalk. It’s transparent and hard when erect but loses its stiffness after being disconnected from the Diktyo River.

Key Facts:

Water sack plants are one of the only plants that can be exposed to Diktyo water for extended periods.

The plants have evolutionarily evolved to provide a drinking bowl for animals in exchange for the animals drinking and spreading their seeds through dung.

Animals and spirit beasts alike drink from the water sack plant as a watering hole.

…

Warning: Spirit beasts mutually protect the water sack plants. Damaging or stealing a water sack plant will make you a shared enemy until you’re dead or provide recompense.

—---

I got a bad feeling as I looked at the water sack plant. Water was the most important resource that humans and cats needed to survive. Kline and I would die within three days of dehydration, a week at most. Without it, we were dead.

That said, the warning basically said that if I took one, the entire forest would turn against me. Things had gotten serious.