Of Gods Magic And Men

Chapter 4-

There wasn't much to say after that, Zoe and I collected our belongings (mostly hers) and left to seek out our would-be goddess. As we left the village Zoe kept a strong look of determination on her face as we went, whatever the goddess had summoned her for, it obviously was very important.

But as for me, I was in a haze. I wasn't having a mental breakdown, although it was something close to it. I didn't know how to cope with being sucked into a book and arriving in 'another world' that's supposed to be filled with real gods and people using different faces and being able to hold fire. This couldn't be real I kept telling myself as we walked.

But it was, like it or not there was no denying it anymore. I saw Zoe transform from a young man into an elderly woman, and I remember the exact feeling of that flame as it singed my hairs and burnt the outer layer of my skin. I touch it as we walk to find the dead skin peeling, with a dull throbbing from the burns to add to it.

No this was real. And like it or not I I'm in this world for who knows how long to do who knows what.

Truth is I'm scared... and there's no one else who can relate to that-.

I felt a bump on my shoulder, jolting me back to reality and Zoe stands at my side staring me down. "I'm sorry did you say something"? She raised an eyebrow "Yeah, I was asking which way to go to get to your meeting spot with Jin". "I-" I stutter, flustered "I'm not sure" I look around at the forest I suddenly found myself in "I mean, you would know better then me about where to go in this forest, I mean you live here right". Zoe's jaw clenched, "Let's just say Arlin's forest isn't somewhere you want to be at any time of day". I look around at the perfectly normal forest "Is that the name of this place" I ask? She shook her head "That's one of the names for it" she admitted forebodingly.

Before I could ask anymore questions Zoe pointed to the right of us "Actually I think I recognize this part of the forest, I think it's this way" and she started walking.

And for the second time today I followed this strange girl into the unknown.

...

"This is it" and I stop walking

"I see" Zoe says looking around, "I should've expected as much" then goes silent and stares off.

After ten more minutes of walking we ended up in a tree clearing. The grass was surprisingly well groomed here with a perfect circle surrounding us opening the sky up for the still setting sun to bathe us in orange light. Goddess or no, this Jin knew how to pick a meeting spot. But even still, my focus wasn't on that.

Instead I was focused on the purple eyed girl in front of me

I had a question...

So I asked it

"You don't talk much do you?" I say aloud making her turn around. "And you're rudely blunt" she fires back, "what's your point"?

She's not wrong. I don't consider myself a chatterbox, but I can drive people away like them though. But mostly due to the fact that I'm considered a 'Jack ass' by the few people who are willing to talk to me seeing as I'm too blunt to them and tend to break more relationships then I tend to gain.

I tried and failed to fix it, but I don't think Zoe's being rude to me because of my question. I think that aside from her being silent in general she can be blunt too. I guess we have that in common.

I wonder what else there could be?

It wasn't me or Zoe who spoke next

"Friendly conversation, or should I leave the two of you alone"?