Elijah POV

The moment that I had decided to follow the voice that is calling me. I also get ready to slide from the top of the hill. The hill is just too perfect for me to slide to just ignore it.

I like this kind of thing. Things that make me feel alive. When is the last time that I did this? Was it after I graduate? Or when I passed my licensure exam? "Nah. I can't remember anymore" I said to myself and shook my head. It's been too long since then.

A chuckle escapes my lips as I excitedly remove my coat away from my body and lay it down on the ground. The robe is long and large enough for my plan. I move it at the edge of the hill, ride on it and count in my head before I do a little push forward.

One.. Two... Three... Go!

"Ahhhh!" I shouted as I began sliding in the hill. My skin feels warmth as adrenaline surging through my blood. I laughed at the top of my lungs while I am enjoying my ride.

With no bump in the hill, it makes my experienced worthwhile plus who can resist the cold air that is blowing in my face and body? This is just so perfect for me!

Once I reached the bottom I lay down and a smile envelops my face until I began to chuckle. " I missed this. I'll do it again!" I said and another chuckle escapes my lips.

I can still feel my heart beating loudly so I closed my eyes and feel the warmth of the sun and the breeze of the wind while I waited for my heart to calm down. After a couple of minutes, I stand up, removed any dirt that I can see in my pants and shirt. I also get my robe and tie it around my waist. With the sun shining so brightly above, there is no way that I wear the robe again. It's just too hot if I do so. When I am done tying it around my waist my eyes go straight to the trail in my front.

" What is this ?" I said loudly and my forehead wrinkled.

The trail will lead me to enter a forest, but that is not the thing that startled me it's the trees. The trees in the entrance of the forest are tall it is five times bigger than the trees that I saw in the forest in my past life.

Just by the sight alone, an eerie feeling covered my being, not sure if I am supposed to continue to go to the palace or not.

'But What if I can't go back to the Crevalia Kingdom?'

'Wait... I haven't thought of this, but am I still in Ophir? I am sure that there is no place like this in the Crevalia Kingdom.'

'Think Elijah' I thought to myself and remain stoic in my position for a while.

'I have to do this. I need to go to the Golden Palace if I want to go back.' and with that thought in mind, my limbs started to walk again.

I entered the forest and its eerie silence greeted me. The forest air was cool and damp. I continued to walk with the trail as my guidance and with my footsteps only making noise. With the huge and tall trees in the forest, any view that I had earlier of the Golden Palace is now gone. All I can see is the unending wide branches of trees.

I've already walked too far when I noticed some herbal plants around me like the Cinchona tree which treats malaria, there is also the Coca Plant that can be used as a local anesthetic.

'It will be good if the Kingdom will have this kind of herbal medicine.'

More and more herbal medicine can be found in the forest as I go deeper to it. In contrast to what I felt earlier. I now feel much more comfortable as I walked in the forest, I noticed that the forest is really quiet in the sense that no beast will attack me like in the novels that I read in my last life.

After several hours of walking, I can now see a glimpse of the golden palace indicating that I am almost near the exit of the forest. Several minutes of walking and running water can be heard from where I am.

My eyes went big and my heart is delighted. I run to where the sound coming from. And see a river, I immediately went to the side to drink some water as exhaustion starting to devour me from walking for several hours.

The river is enticing but dangerous. The water current is so strong that it will wash away anyone. It may also cause death to anyone who will dare to challenge the river.

I cupped water through both hands and drink from it.

'Hmmm.' The cold and sweet water poured to my dried throat. I scooped again the water in my cupped hands and drank again until it suffices my exhaustion. I also wash my face and it gives me a refreshing feeling.

'Tsk. I want also to take a bath if possible.' The river looks so inviting yet deadly.'

" ugh! This is so frustrating!" I said and stomp my foot before walking away from the temptation.

I saw a hanging bridge not too far from where I am. Since the river is impossible to cross through I went back to the forest and find the way to the hanging bridge. The end of the trail leads me to the river and not to the hanging bridge which is the only way to the other side of the river.

When I am already inside the forest again I had not noticed any other path earlier aside from the one that I already took. I looked closely at my surroundings but all I can see are huge trees. I traced back where I came from until I saw a narrow path on the left side of the forest. The said path is unnoticeable unless you will carefully look at it.

I grabbed a bark that fell of from the tree on the ground and holds it in my right hand. I planned to used it to make some mark on the land in a case that it's a different way to the hanging bridge.

I am almost at the end of the narrow path when I saw that different sizes of bamboo trees swaying and dancing in the tune of the wind. The leaves that fall and mostly cover the land make some noise from every step that I make.

Sunshine rays shine on my face at the end of the path as if it is happy that I successfully found the right way towards the bridge. The view of the Golden Palace is very clear from where I am indicating that I am almost near to the palace after crossing this bridge.

"But before that, I need to cross to this one," I said referring to the old bridge in front of me.

"I hate it," I said to myself. The bridge looks decent enough but the problem is that I am not sure if this will bring me safely to the other side. Looking down below, I can almost feel that death will await me given how strong the water current of the river.

I ignore all the negative ideas coming to my mind and I walked near the bridge, I held both hands the rope on both sides, and inhale deeply before I stepped forward. I fix my gaze at the end of the bridge not minding the rushing sound waves of the river below nor the cool breeze of the wind at my face and body. I walk as fast as I can with a wide stride in each step. 'Near. Almost Near.' I continued to focus on the end of the bridge and walk as fast as I can until.

Crack

My foot slipped into the hole, my hands left the rope on both sides and I slump down because of it. My heart went wild at the moment. The rushing sound of the river get louder in my ears, and my body went cold as the bridge sway because of the big movement that happened.

"Damn!"

Thump. Thump.

Chirp. Chirp.

Inhale. Exhale. I do my best to calm down my raging heart. I stayed like that for a couple of minutes. when I felt that my heart already calmed down I begin to pull upward my right leg. I focus on my task and feel delighted when I succeeded. I grab the rope with my left hand first and then my right. When I think I am ready I slowly stand up. I focus at the end of the bridge and started to take a step when a strong wind came and the bridge swayed bigger than the earlier.

Shit.

Shit.

Another gust of wind blows and the bridge swayed again from right to left. My eyes dilated and fear is screaming inside my heart.

Shit.

Panic clouded my mind and the fear of dying screeching within me. I started to run till the end of the bridge. Desperate to save my life.

"I'm almost near just three strides away from the safe side. I can do it.!"

I continued to run and only half a step away from the other side when everything goes slow-mo. I heard myself shouting but I can't remember what I just said as the thunder roar and the rain begins to pour out.

The bridge broke into two and I am... falling! I saw the rope at my side and desperately clings to it.

I sighed deeply. Refusing to see what is below me. Feeling safe for now. I look above and I started to pull myself upward. I can't waste any minute on this situation.i continue to pull my self upwarda as I give all my strength despite my heart still beating so loudly within me. I Can't make myself relax now, not until I am safe. I repeatedly pull myself upward and reach for the large rock where the rope is tied. I hug it with my left hand while I pull myself with my right hand from the guard.

My breath is becoming steady as I can see that I am able to pull half of my body from danger. I crawled slowly with my weary body and I only stop when I knew that I am far enough from the broken bridge.