Red fruit and the cave

Arriving at the tree and surveying the surroundings, Adrian found no discernible changes from before, bringing a sense of calm over him.

He remained unconvinced by the notion that there were no monsters present. It seemed implausible, given his encounter with a frightening entity. Accepting that it was the sole monster in this place proved difficult for him to digest.

Adrian positioned himself beneath the tree once more, glancing back when he detected the cessation of footsteps. For some inexplicable reason, Heels once again opted to maintain a distance from the tree.

Disregarding the curious behavior of Heels, Adrian focused on the fruit that was on the ground. Seating himself beside the tree as before, he indulged in a bite, savoring the exquisite taste.

The red fruit offered a distinct flavor from its golden counterpart. Despite their shared luminescence and apple-like shape, the two fruits diverged in taste, adding to the enigma surrounding the mystical tree.

While the golden apple evoked the sensation of a new dawn and the promise of a fresh day, the red one carried the flavor of a setting sun, signaling the end of the day on a somewhat somber note.

The red apple offered a unique blend of bitterness intermingled with its inherent sweetness. Surprisingly delightful, the taste was so captivating that Adrian, caught up in the moment, consumed it within a matter of seconds, momentarily forgetting the nature of what he was eating.

Having finished the fruit, Adrian surveyed his surroundings, searching for any signs of change. However, with nothing unfolding before him, a peculiar sense of unease settled over him.

'Only the golden fruit works?'

'Maybe i haven't recovered something which is why i can't visit Vyrtalis's dream again for now?'

As Adrian entertained these thoughts, an overwhelming drowsiness swept over him. His eyelids grew heavy, and his head began to nod, signaling an irresistible urge to succumb to sleep.

With a resigned thought, Adrian acknowledged, "Time to give in again," as he succumbed to the pull of slumber once more.

Vyrtalis's pov:

'Splash splash'

Vyrtalis blinked open his eyes, a sudden prickly sensation coursing through them.

Muttering in frustration, Vyrtalis grumbled, "This damn sun. One day, I'll kill it off," feeling momentarily blinded by its intense brightness.

Rising from the ground, Vyrtalis surveyed his surroundings and found nothing but an expansive sea in every direction. No matter where he looked, the endless expanse of water stretched before him.

Examining his surroundings, Vyrtalis deduced that he stood upon a very small island. Sparse trees dotted the landscape, and with the aid of his monocle on this right eye, he could discern the other end of the island.

Vyrtalis, now 41 years old, was embarking on his usual voyage when fate intervened. His ship became entangled with a monstrous entity, forcing him to employ a spatial jump to escape its clutches.

Vyrtalis muttered to himself, "It has only one more use remaining. That damn octopus. It has been chasing me all the way from the other end of the world. Give me some space already."

As Vyrtalis continued venting his thoughts, he heard footsteps behind him. Swiveling around, still wearing a frustrated expression, he cast a glance at the approaching figure.

There stood a hairy figure—was it even a person? Vyrtalis couldn't be certain. The entity towered at nearly 7 feet, completely shrouded in hair from head to toe.

Even the face of the hairy figure was obscured by an abundance of hair, eliciting a peculiar and somewhat creepy sensation in Vyrtalis. It wasn't a feeling of imminent danger, but rather an unsettling sense of strangeness.

"Who are you, and what is this island?" Vyrtalis inquired, directing his question at the hairy being. While doing so, he maintained a keen awareness of his surroundings, unworried about potential threats due to his own capabilities.

Upon hearing the questions, the hairy being remained silent for a moment, merely gazing at Vyrtalis as if scrutinizing him.

"I am not sure why 'He' was expecting you, but it seems 'He's' never wrong. Follow me, human," the hairy being stated, his tone carrying a hint of condescension as if looking down upon Vyrtalis.

'He?'

Vyrtalis felt a twinge of apprehension, noting the peculiar way in which the hairy being addressed someone. The usage of honorifics typically reserved for gods added an extra layer of unease to the situation.

"So, who is this 'He' that you are talking about? The way you speak of 'Him' suggests a significant authority," Vyrtalis inquired, seeking more information about the mysterious figure mentioned by the hairy being.

Vyrtalis adopted a sarcastic tone as he began following the hairy being. His curiosity piqued, he wondered who could possibly be on this secluded island, anticipating his arrival.

Vyrtalis couldn't help but wonder, "Did he do something to my spatial jump?" The possibility of interference with his means of transportation lingered in his thoughts.

Recognizing the futility of his doubts and pondering, Vyrtalis decided to cease overthinking and patiently await the revelation of the mysterious figure's identity.

Encountering self-proclaimed gods who asserted their divinity based on power wasn't a new experience for Vyrtalis. However, he pondered the notion that not every powerful being could truly be considered a god.

The journey didn't extend for too long before the hairy being led Vyrtalis to a cave.

"Go inside. 'He's' waiting for you. I can't go in further," instructed the hairy being, stationing himself beside the cave entrance.

Vyrtalis observed the hairy being for a moment before emitting a soft chuckle. With a casual wave of his hand, a pair of small scissors appeared, which he then tossed at the feet of the hairy being. "No need to thank me. Maybe 'He' is worried about diseases caught from you, hahaha," Vyrtalis remarked, letting out a hearty laugh as he proceeded past the entrance of the cave.

The hairy being glanced down at the scissors by his feet, tilting his head to one side in bewilderment, puzzled by Vyrtalis' unconventional gesture.

"What is this small piece of metal?" 

Vyrtalis would have facepalmed if he had heard the hairy being's comment, but he pressed on toward the so-called god in the cave, leaving the bemused being behind.

"Isn't it a bit too humble for someone of his stature to reside in a cave?" Vyrtalis mused, contemplating the cave's simplicity as he walked closer.

Water dripped from the walls, and the high humidity in the air created an atmosphere that made it challenging for Vyrtalis to breathe—not in a literal sense but rather in the way of thinking, "He smelled so bad that I couldn't breathe."

Vyrtalis couldn't help but notice small bugs crawling along the way, eliciting a shudder from him.

"Can't you clear the space where you are living?" Vyrtalis remarked with disgust, unable to fathom residing in such a place himself.

Yet again, Vyrtalis considered the peculiar nature of having a hairy being as a companion, acknowledging that such a circumstance was far from normal.