I don't know how long I've been wandering through the wilderness. After about a year, I stopped counting the days. Here in the vastness, where I find only wild animals, monsters, and other creatures, the passing of days has no meaning. The only things that matter are the time of day and the season, so I know when to look for shelter or food. I don't know what world I'm in, nor have I found any settlements or anything like that. I haven't spoken to anyone but myself for so long. Usually, that wouldn't bother me much, but at least I used to have my sister's company. But what's left of that? Nothing. Nothing at all. She's gone. And I don't know where she is. I don't know how she is feeling. Is she well? This uncertainty is tearing me apart inside. The only thing I can be sure of is that she's alive. Instinctively, I can still feel it, and this feeling has never been wrong. But I can't tell whether she's in danger, whether she's okay, or whether she's going through any more torment. If she ended up in a place similar to mine, she'll have fought for her life a few times already. Every day, I feel this emptiness in my chest as if my heart has been ripped out. It feels like I'm no longer whole. As if an essential part of me is missing. Without her, I am no longer complete, and dark thoughts have crept into my consciousness so often, trying to entice me. I have been able to resist them so far, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. They torment me every time I come to rest, which is why I don't allow myself any pause except for the most necessary sleep and a few breaks. Every now and then, I notice the exhaustion from this long journey through so many different parts of this world.

These vast expanses, these forests and meadows, these deserts and steppes, these areas of pure ice, these swamps, and all the other places I have already crossed. Most of them are so different from those I have experienced in other worlds. And how vast are they that I have not yet met anyone else? Or does no intelligent life exist here? The only good thing is that the Organization seems to have lost track of me. I hope my sister has also managed to shake off any pursuers. I would have loved to use my magic to send her a signal shortly after we parted ways. However, after a long internal struggle, I decided against it, as it would have alerted the Organization to our presence. And we were still far too exhausted from our escape to throw ourselves into another fight. Not to mention that I wasn't sure my sister would have received the signal. After all, I didn't know where the out-of-control magic had taken us. And even now that I've regained my strength, it would be too dangerous to use a signal that could alert the Organization. Even though we fought many of the Organization's elite and killed a lot of them, they were only a fraction of the forces at the Organization's disposal. And they will certainly still be looking for us. So I have no choice but to keep wandering, hoping that I'll find my sister by luck or that we'll eventually come across civilization and be able to find each other with the help of others. In any case, I will not give up until we are together again, come what may. We will be reunited. I am sure of it. I am certain of it.

That's why I'm not giving up hope of meeting someone who lives nearby, as the forest I'm currently crossing seems fairly peaceful. At least compared to the other regions I've crossed so far. At least here you don't get attacked by vicious monsters every hour. The river to my left gives me a direction as it could provide fresh water for any settlers. And where undergrowth or a denser row of trees block the path, I just take the route over their treetops if I would otherwise have to take too big a detour and lose track of where the river runs, even with my hearing. 

A considerable amount of time later, the natural sounds of the forest are interrupted by sobbing. Sobbing? Is that really sobbing? And not the screaming or howling of an animal or monster? I'm not sure, as I haven't heard another person in so long. But it could be the chance I've been waiting for so long. So, despite my uncertainty, I set out to follow the crying, but I also make sure to remember the direction of the river so that I could return at any time. The closer I get to the sounds, the louder and clearer they become, until I can be sure that they are not the sounds of an animal. However, I remain cautious and keep myself hidden, as I have learned from my missions with the Organization that there are monsters that imitate humans in various ways to lure them into a trap. 

Finally, I make out a figure crouched against a tree, shedding tears. The figure's clothes are torn in many places, and wound scabs bear witness to past struggles with the vegetation. No, this is definitely not a monster. Even if it were so skilled at deception, a monster would give me a different feeling. Even during my time in the Organization, I was able to distinguish between deception and reality very well. Of course, I could still be wrong, which is why I remain vigilant. But that doesn't mean I'm going to waste this chance. I need to know where I am so I can continue the search for my sister in a more focused and effective manner. And maybe they already have information about her or her whereabouts. And for that, I need to talk to the boy who is crying his heart out, not far from me. Even if I don't understand why he's crying. After all, such signs of weakness mean death. Anyone who cried in the Organization was punished or killed. 

Carefully, keeping my eyes on him, I step out from behind the tree where I had been hiding.