Rebound In Time

Mitchell's bag was heavier than he anticipated as he made his way through the forest, the nine lizard tails and their glowing cores weighing him down. His breath was steady, but his body ached from the fight. The faint rustling of the forest was the only sound accompanying him, save for Jack's occasional remarks.

"You could've stopped at seven," Jack said again, his tone carrying a faint hint of amusement. "Was showing off really necessary?"

Mitchell smirked, though his focus remained on the path ahead. "You're the one who's always talking about pushing limits. Besides, it wasn't about showing off—it was about making sure I'm ready for what's coming."

Jack didn't respond immediately, and Mitchell could almost feel him mulling over the statement. "Fair enough. But don't forget, this realm isn't forgiving. Overconfidence can get you killed just as easily as fear."

"Noted," Mitchell replied, adjusting the strap of his bag as he approached the edge of the forest. The village wasn't far now, and he could already see the faint lights flickering through the trees.

The adrenaline from the hunt was beginning to wear off, replaced by a dull ache in his muscles and the sting of the cut on his arm. He glanced down at the torn sleeve, the blood already drying. It wasn't a deep wound, but it served as a reminder of how close the fight had been.

---

By the time he reached the Adventurer's Guild, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the village in a soft orange glow. The streets were quieter now, most of the vendors packing up for the day. Mitchell pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the guild, stepping into the warm, bustling atmosphere within.

The room was lively, filled with adventurers exchanging stories, counting coins, or inspecting their spoils from the day's hunts. The scent of roasted meat and ale hung in the air, making Mitchell's stomach rumble.

He made his way to the counter, where a burly man with a thick beard and a weathered face was handling the day's transactions. The guildmaster, Jorrick, was a no-nonsense type, but fair. He raised an eyebrow as Mitchell approached and dropped the nine tails onto the counter.

"Nine?" Jorrick the shop manager asked, his gruff voice tinged with surprise. "The mission was for seven."

Mitchell shrugged, his lips quirking into a faint smile. "Got lucky."

Jorrick snorted, shaking his head as he began inspecting the tails. "You call facing two extra Blue-Tailed Lizards luck? Most would call it insanity."

As Jorrick counted the tails and recorded the completion of the mission, Mitchell pulled out the two remaining lizard cores from his pouch. The two soft, crystalline glow caught the attention of a few nearby adventurers, who murmured among themselves.

"Planning to sell those?" Jorrick asked, nodding toward the cores.

"Not yet," Mitchell replied. "Figured I'd hold onto them for now." 'Or until I get hungry again 'he said with a chuckle inwardly.

"Suit yourself." Jorrick handed over a small pouch of coins, the agreed-upon reward for the mission. "Good work out there. Try not to make a habit of overdoing it."

Mitchell pocketed the copper coins with a nod. "No promises."

---

As he turned to leave, Mitchell nearly bumped into someone. He took a step back, an apology on his lips, but froze when he saw who it was. The girl from earlier—the one with almond-colored hair—stood in front of him, her green eyes narrowing slightly as she looked him over.

"You again," she said, crossing her arms. "Still not watching where you're going?"

Mitchell sighed, raising a hand in a placating gesture. "Look, I said I was sorry. It was an accident."

She studied him for a moment, her gaze lingering on the torn sleeve of his jacket and the faint smear of blood on his arm. "Rough day?"

"You could say that," he replied, his tone wary. He didn't owe her an explanation, but something about her sharp gaze made him feel like she saw more than she let on.

"Blue-Tailed Lizards?" she guessed, nodding toward the counter where the tails still sat.

Mitchell arched an eyebrow. "How'd you know?"

"They've been more active lately," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "A lot of missions have come in about them. You're not the only one who's noticed their cores seem… different."

Her words gave Mitchell pause. "You've fought them too?"

"Once or twice," she said with a shrug. "I'm Ange, by the way."

"Mitchell," he replied, extending a hand.

Ange hesitated for a moment before shaking it. Her grip was firm, her calloused palm speaking of experience. "Well, Mitchell, next time you take on a pack of lizards, try not to overdo it. It's not worth getting yourself killed."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, suppressing a grin. "Thanks for the advice."

She nodded, stepping aside to let him pass. Mitchell left the guild, feeling her gaze linger on him as he walked out into the cool night air.

---

The walk back to his cave was quiet, the village lights fading behind him as the forest loomed ahead. The stars were beginning to emerge, their faint glow casting the world in a silvery light. Mitchell's thoughts drifted back to Ange's words about the lizard cores.

"Jack," he said, breaking the silence. "Do you think she's right? About the cores being different?"

"It's possible," Jack replied. "You noticed it yourself, didn't you? Their energy felt more refined—stronger. Something's affecting these beasts, and it's not natural."

'Could it be' jack mumbled but when Mitchell asked him what it is he just said 'never mind' .

Mitchell frowned, his mind racing. The Spirit Realm was full of mysteries, and this was just another one to add to the growing list. But for now, he pushed the thought aside. He needed rest.

---

The cave was as welcoming as ever, the faint glow of the crystals casting a soft light across the walls. Mitchell set his bag down near the entrance, taking a moment to stretch before heading to the pool at the back of the cave. The cool water was exactly what he needed, soothing his aching muscles and washing away the grime of the day.

As he soaked, his mind wandered to the cores he had collected. He had planned to sell them, but now he wasn't so sure. If there was something unusual about them, they might be worth more than just coins. Or, they might hold answers to questions he hadn't even thought to ask yet.

After drying off and dressing in clean clothes, Mitchell placed the cores on a flat stone near his sleeping area. Their faint glow pulsed rhythmically, almost like a heartbeat. He stared at them for a long moment, a sense of unease creeping into his chest.

"Something's coming," Jack said, his voice low. "I don't know what, but these cores are a part of it."

Mitchell nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he was determined to be ready for it—whatever it took.

---

The next morning, Mitchell woke early, his body still sore but his mind sharper than it had been in days. He prepared a simple meal from the supplies he had in the cave, his thoughts already turning to his next steps. The coins he'd earned would cover food and basic supplies, but he needed to think bigger. The Spirit Realm demanded strength, and if he wanted to survive—and uncover the truth about the visions and the gods and also Jack's presence—he couldn't afford to stay stagnant.

As he packed his gear and prepared to head back to the village, his gaze lingered on the two cores one last time. Their glow seemed to intensify in the morning light, almost as if they were trying to tell him something.

"Let's see what the guild has for us today," he muttered, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"And maybe keep an eye out for Ange," Jack added, his tone sly.

Mitchell rolled his eyes but couldn't help the faint wry smile that tugged at his lips. "Sure. Why not?"

With that, he stepped out into the forest, the path ahead uncertain but full of possibilities. He had already guessed at all these things that could happen the moment he got here anyways.