Twist of Fate

Chapter 4: Adjustments

After I jogged to catch up to Zulén who, as he warned, started walking without me, we began to traverse the vast forest. I followed in silence as I took in the gorgeousness of our surroundings in awe. It was very similar to forests back on Earth, but had slight differences in size, shape, and color. The biodiversity was almost as large back home, too.

  Everything was normal—as normal as another world could be—until we spotted something more than out of place. Zulén knelt down and picked up the object. His expression didn't change as he examined it.

  "What is it?" I asked when he said nothing.

  "See for yourself," he sighed and tossed the object to me.

  I caught it easily and inspected the object like he did. There was no problem discerning it as fabric of some kind. There were unusual designs adorning it but I was sure I knew what it was. Despite it being something of another world, no one could mistake what I was holding.  

  "A shirt?" My eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Why would this be here?" 

  "Let's keep going." Zulén said and started walking again.

  I trailed behind as I stared at the fabric. It looked and felt like silk, so it had to be expensive. Especially since the embroidery had such fine detail, it would've been expensive even back at home. How could someone leave such a work of art in a forest?

  As we continued forward, more unusual objects that wouldn't normally belong in a forest were lying on the ground. I picked them up since Zulén ignored them. The objects I picked up differed greatly. Some were cloths, others sculpted stone or clay, some were even jewelry, like bracelets and necklaces. The objects were actually few in number but seemed to be placed into some kind of trail. Zulén followed the trail, though he showed no signs of interest.

  After a few minutes of following the trail, we found a wheel. Not one like the ones on cars, but a big wooden one that looked like it was used for a carriage from the last century or so.

  Zulén wordlessly picked it up and kept walking. His pace hadn't changed a bit, and I wondered if the wheel wasn't as heavy as it looked or if he was just that strong. He had a slim figure that would give you impression of being weak, but I could see muscles under his leather-like clothing.

  I found myself thoughtlessly admiring his fit physique until I snapped out of it at the sound of a voice muffled and in distress.

  "S-someone...help...me."

  Zulén took off into a run towards the voice with the wheel still on his shoulder. I sprinted after him with no complaint, I was worried about the person who was calling for help. Their voice was muffled, as if something were covering them.

  Several seconds later, we entered a small clearing that was connected to a well worn trail. Our eyes scanned the area until they landed on an overturned carriage with its contents scattered about. It was upside down and clearly missing a wheel.

  Zulén laid the wheel we found on the ground carefully and went to the carriage. I set the objects I carried down, too, and started over to help only to see I wasn't needed. I watched, amazed, as Zulén effortlessly lifted a side of the carriage as if it weighed nothing and turned it correctly.

  Beneath the carriage was piles of boxes, fabrics, jewelry, and the like. It appeared that it was being used as a transport vehicle of goods. I didn't know how it got into the position it was in, but I could tell it had to be unpleasant.

  "H-help! Under here!"

  I rushed forward to the voice still muffled, but much clearer than before. It was coming from under the pile of objects that had fallen from the carriage. I dug into the pile until I saw a hand reaching up. Taking it, I pulled up with all the strength I could and a figure popped out. They landed on the ground next to me with a loud thud. I winced and knelt down to help them up. I offered a hand and they accepted it. As they got to their feet, I realized it was a man with brown hair and that he was bruised all over.