Uff... After walking for a while, I finally reached the water. To my surprise, it too was impure, as was the entire surrounding enviro.

  This time, however, I 't bme corrosion. As the soil here is naturally moist, the mud has probably giveer this brown aking it unfit for ption anyway.

  Now, up close, I see that the cave extends even further, both ih and size. I seem to have gone down another level without realizing it. I see where the water flows from and where, theoretically, it would flow to.

  My goal is to find a way out, so going even further dow seem like a good idea. Besides, I feel that the path ahead could be problematic, as I 't see the bottom.

  I decide to head left, following the flow of the water, but my curiosity makes me hesitate. First, I o check if this stream is deep. The name suggests not, but since I 't see the bottom, I'd rather not risk it.

  I pick up a stone near my feet and throw it into the water.

  Spt!

  ...That didn't help at all. I really have no survival skills!

  What was I supposed to clude from that? If the stone didn't float, does that meaer is deep? Does that make any sense? I don't know!

  From the sound of it, and sidering some dedus, I'd guess that it's not shallow. To firm this, I do aest: I sit on the edge of the stream and dip my right foot into the water.

  It's not shallow, but it doesn't seem deep enough for it to be safe to walk through.

  As soon as I remove my foot, I cast a healing spell, slowly w it up my leg, making sure that nothing has been inated. For a brief moment, a bck sludge seems to envelop my skin, but it quickly dries up aurns to its earthen form.

  Damn... Everything in this cave seems to want to e me.

  But now I know that my healing magi deal with the impurities in this water.

  To be sure, I do aest, this time with my bare hands. I put them together in a shell shape and lift up some water. The instant I bring it close to my face, I use magic to purify it.

  Shinin~~

  Once again, it works. The water returns to its natural state, clear and .

  Sluup.

  Fresh and cold, as if it had just e out of a fridge. At least now I know it's safe to drink. What's more, if somethi wrong, I could heal myself on the spot.

  However, I realize that my magily purifies the water I touch directly. Trying to purify the eream would be a waste of time-just like it was with those ores earlier.

  Now that I'm hydrated, I tinue. Not that I'm dying of thirst, sihose herbs have satisfied my need for water, but at least now I'm sure of it.

  A little further on, I realize that I'm going to have to climb a small slope, because that's where the flow of water intensifies.

  It's not that steep a climb, but it will take a while to reach the top.

  Even after moving forward, I still don't see any light.

  When the slope finally bees a straight line, I keep walking... until something glints ahead.

  Or am I seeing things?

  It's as if I'm looking at a ndscape reflected in a mirror. The surrounding rocks glow an intense purple, and the vegetation seems even more eroded.

  And then-

  Tuff!

  - Ouch!

  What the...?

  Did I just hit something?

  I look around, fused. There's nothing in front of me. So... I just fell by myself?

  I get up and move forward once more, this time with my hand outstretched.

  This time I feel it.

  A wall. Invisible.

  ...Wait. Invisible walls now?

  That's not good. If there's a oher side, I have no way of firming it. Will I have to go back?

  Pah! Pow!

  The knocks have no effect.

  Damn... I'll have to go all the way back.

  - Hey! Human!

  A deep, exaggeratedly thick voice echoes through the cave.

  Human? Did someone speak to me?

  For a brief moment, I heard a shrill voice. It was like being on a big stage in front of a deafening crowd. But instead of eg throughout the cave, the sound resonated only inside my mind.

  Hmph, you 't see me, you? Looks like my anti-presence barrier is still useful! But you really hear me? Answer me if I'm right.

  Hear you? It's more like you're invading my mind with that voice... But perhaps it would be rude to answer like that, sidering that he unicates telepathically.

  ***

  Oh! Looks like I was wrong. This thing is waiting for an answer from me.

  From the tone of voice, I'd say it's something big... and threatening. Ign it would be discourteous - and, sidering my situation, perhaps even dangerous.

  - Yeah... I'm listening to you, whatever it is.

  The answer came out automatically. After all, I don't see anyone around me. Am I dealing with-

  Oh? That nguage... I've never heard it before. Perhaps the nguage of humans has ged over time. If your race was at least iing, I could have lear before.

  So Japanese isn't spoken here. Pfft, I should have assumed that. But somehow, I uand him, and he uands what I'm saying. Perhaps this being unicate telepathically in a universal nguage?

  Have you lost your way? No... It would be foolish of you to go into an isoted cave like this. Humans have to an instinct for self-preservation to explore the unknown on their own... Unless you were brought here.

  A good question. I'd love to know the answer, but the possibilities are endless. Being transported here 't be ruled out. However, if what he says about the humans in this pce is true, it's uhat anyone would have bothered t me here.

  - I'm sorry... I don't know how to respond to that.

  Hmph. It doesn't matter to me. But it still amazes me that a human has e this far. Few would survive the miasma of my dark corrosion without succumbing first... Are you an exception or just very lucky?

  Perhaps I am an exception. My healing magic has protected me so far. Without it, I might have died - or worse.

  - Dark corrosion? Are you the one who caused all this chaos in the cave?

  Chaos? Hmph. You're the one who 't reize true nature in its purest form. Audacious of you to criticize my as, human.

  He's very cocky for someone who hides behind an invisible barrier.

  - I'm sorry if I offended you, but... I have to ask. What are you?

  Hmph. So you really 't see me? You haven't even crossed my barrier... That elimihe hypothesis that you're strong.

  - Well... thanks for the vote of fidence, I guess.

  So be it. Maybe when you see my true form, you'll stop talking to me so casually.

  Swii!

  Vaku