My leg hurt like hell as I somehow tried making my way down the cavern. As I had planned, I was following the stream into the darkness. Well, it wasn't exactly dark (yet) but writing that does contribute to a dramatic effect with a grim yet romantic shadow to the situation. Yeah, you don't have to mention it, I understand that I might have lost all lose screws up there. But hey cut me some slack I just barely made it out alive.

You know what's the difference between me and you right now? If you make a mistake, you may lose a day's pay or perhaps get detention at school. But I, I don't have that liberty. If I fuck up, It's game over for me with no scope of respawning. God! What would I've given to be back playing video games in my room back in Delhi? I could keep on respawning till I beat the boss (or just rage quit and sleep till lunch). By the way have you ever thought about it? If we actually respawn if we die till, we achieve whatever goal we were set to achieve? And the world just resets back to the last save (will that mean everyone else is an NPC?) Yeah, this is your host and welcome to this week's episode of "Crazy Conspiracy Shit Podcast". No matter how tempting it may appear, I'm not going to test that idea. I need to get the hell out of here, that too alive!

A walked for a few more minutes, and I faced what seemed like a bifurcation in the path. Out of two paths one seemed to be blocked by what felt to be by human interference. Human interference? This deep in the forest? Isn't this the core reserved forests? No human should be allowed this deep! Well, I swear I could imagine Aeindri giving me the looks like "Dude, are you sure you are saying that when you are standing there?" It's true, this is not somewhere I should be, but the Pharma Lobby is quite powerful, at least powerful enough to get you access to core reserves with magical herbs.

I thought about studying the closed path, but then rejected it instantly. Well curiosity can wait a while; I need to make it out of here alive. A few more meters down the path the cavern opened into a light forest with ample sunlight penetrating through the sparse tree canopy. Finally! I exclaimed.