Isekaid into the Wilderness

Ch11: River's Dance

For two more days, Kazuki continued his journey through the untamed wilderness. He walked the same routine, finding wild onions and sustaining himself with jerky. His thoughts danced around memories and hopes, much like the flickering firelight that accompanied his evenings. Yet, as he traversed the dense woods, the impending arrival at the clearing he sought gave him a sense of anticipation.

On the third day, the forest began to shift. The trees seemed to grow more distant from one another, allowing a sliver of sunlight to pierce the canopy. Birdsong greeted his ears, and the ground beneath his feet became softer as he ventured closer to his destination. With every step, the path seemed to lead him further into a different world.

Finally, as the foliage began to thin, he emerged into the clearing he had longed for. But his hopes of a tranquil paradise were dashed by a disconcerting sight. Before him stretched a vast expanse of dry, cracked earth. The clearing, instead of an oasis, seemed like a forsaken wasteland.

"What in the world?" Kazuki muttered to himself, his voice carrying a note of bewilderment. He scanned the surroundings, his brow furrowed in consternation. As he walked forward, his gaze locked onto the steam he had been following. "It's... the same size as when I first saw it," he noted aloud, his words a mixture of confusion and concern.

Kazuki knelt by the stream, cupping his hands to take a drink. The water was clear, yet its flow was sluggish, like a heartbeat that had lost its rhythm. He furrowed his brows, peering downstream to where the stream should have connected to the wide riverbed. His heart sank as he saw nothing but cracked earth.

"Something's not right here," he mumbled, his voice tinged with unease. He traced the course of the stream with his eyes, trying to make sense of the disconnect between the stream and the dry riverbed. The logic didn't add up – the stream should have filled the riverbed, but instead, it lay barren.

His worry deepened. "Why's the stream not feeding into the riverbed? It doesn't make sense..." he said to himself, his words carrying a hint of frustration. Kazuki's instincts kicked in, pushing him to investigate further.

Climbing a nearby tree with nimble ease, Kazuki sought a vantage point to survey the surrounding area. His eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of the missing connection between the stream and the riverbed. He scanned the landscape, his gaze sharp and analytical, but his hopes remained unfulfilled.

And then, just as doubt began to creep in, he caught a glimmer of water in the distance. "There!" he exclaimed, his heart lifting as he spotted a ribbon of water winding its way through the forest. His eyes followed the river's course, and realization dawned on him. The stream had carved a new path, leaving behind the dry riverbed. The sight both amazed and troubled him.

He descended the tree, his boots landing softly on the earth. With newfound determination, he headed in the direction of the river, navigating through the undergrowth and following the winding watercourse. He moved with a sense of urgency, each step fueled by curiosity and concern.

Finally, after what felt like hours of tracking the river, he arrived at its bank. The river flowed with a gentle current, its waters glistening under the sunlight. Kazuki stared at the river, his thoughts a whirlwind of questions. "It must be ancient to allow an oxbow lake to dry up like that," he mused aloud, a mixture of awe and trepidation in his voice.

As he stood by the river's edge, a strange sensation washed over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, as if an unseen presence observed his every move. A wry smile tugged at his lips. "If someone or something sent me to this world, they must be having a laugh right about now," he murmured to himself, his words carrying a blend of bemusement and resignation.