After reading the description of everything a few more times and familiarizing himself with them, Nolan sighed and looked around.
The realm he was in was still as silent and still as the moment he had come. The sapling looked full of life, and once again, the tiny orb was dangling from one of its tiny branches.
One thing that had caught Nolan's attention though, was that whenever the orb dangled from the branches... It makes them lean a bit.
Seeing this semblance with the reality, he thought maybe the tree was alive and not just some illusion. Or, maybe it was an illusion, but of a very high level.
Compared to the outside hell, this place could be mistaken for paradise.
Because of how peaceful it felt here, Nolan didn't want to go out. But after feeling that the body he was in at this moment wasn't the real one.
So, he realized there was a chance that his real body could be in danger at any moment… which didn't let him enjoy the peace.
Looking around, he thought out loud.
"So... how do I get out of here—"
Before he could even finish saying the word, the world in front of him shifted from that of mythical to that of ordinary. Finding himself tugging the branches of the ancient tree, Nolan sighed.
He was back to reality.
The pain that was invisible till now came rushing toward him. The reality began to settle once again, and the bruises all over his body didn't make it any better.
Messaging his body, Nolan smiled a bit.
'Sigh! No point regretting over the past... let's think of a way out of here...'
Determined to get out of this place alive, no matter the cost, he stood up and began to scout.
As he was trying to understand the nature around him. At that moment, he noticed something. Something far, incredible far away from him... stood a mountain.
A mountain so high that its peaks seemed to be playing with the clouds.
Looking at the mountain... for almost no particular reason, a thought suddenly appeared in his head.
'Should I go there??'
The thought appeared in his head, but the sooner it appeared, the faster it left. Almost instantly, he was standing, shaking his head in denial.
'No, there is no way I can survive going there… is there even a reason to go there?'
Even though Nolan was shaking his head, the thought, for some reason, didn't get out of his head. He continued to look at the mountain with strange affection.
He was looking at it like something was calling him toward it.
'No... no, what am I thinking? It is too dangerous. In just this area alone, there are so many monsters. Just because I've a sword now doesn't mean I can travel there... but.'
Staring at the mountain, he began to contemplate the danger and reward of going toward the mountain.
'I can meet numerous dangers... unknown terrain... who knows how strong monsters. Could die from hunger. Get poisoned. Die of thirst...'
In a single minute, he found more than ten reasons not to go toward the mountain. Looking at his situation, Nolan sighed and whispered,
'What is the boon... I get to explore this unknown land. Maybe find the reason for my travel into this world. And uffff!! The view from the top of the mountain must be great.'
As Nolan was trying his hardest to convince himself, something suddenly stuck in his mind.
'Wasn't the teacher that was about to be introduced going to teach us about outdoor survival... and the first thing they say if one gets away from the group is to either send a smoke signal or go to the highest possible place you can find?'
Soon, he found a problem, though.
"But will he himself go there... or maybe the real question is, could he survive going there? But unlike me, he wasn't alone."
He thought, remembering how, similarly to himself, most of his classmates had run toward the teacher. And unlike him, who had failed most of them, must have succeeded.
Once again, Nolan was deep in thought.
Some part of him was trying to argue, saying this was surely the best way to have an untimely death, while at the same time, the other part was saying he should do it.
He should go there and explore the mountain. Have a look around. Enjoy the scenery.
Looking at the mountain, instead of thinking anymore, Nolan sat down, letting its beauty speak for itself.
The mountain stood tall and proud, its peaks touching the sky while soft white clouds wrapped around it, drifting slowly like they were dancing with the mountain. The sunlight flashing over it made the snow on its top shine, almost like it was wearing a crown.
Even from this much distance, the mountain looked calm, strong, and full of beauty. It was like a quiet giant playing with the sky.
Mesmerized by its beauty, he made the final decision.
'Sigh! No point thinking about it... Let's face the problem when it arises. There is no helping, cowardly hiding from it now.'
In the end, Nolan decided to go toward the mountain.
Even though he had decided, there was one thing he promised himself as well.
The promise to never do anything unprepared. He would go somewhere only after preparing everything, after gathering as much knowledge as possible, so to minimize every chance of his death.
Making a plan, Nolan moved around the tree and found a place from where he could see around while having leaves surrounding him enough to not get sighted by the monsters.
Getting somewhat comfortable, he looked around and was about to scout his surroundings when a familiar voice entered his ear.
Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw!
Without his knowledge, a crow twice the size he knew was sitting just a few meters beside him.
Both of them stared at each other for a while before one of them announced its intention.
Caw! Caw! Caw!