A shallow river

Since your encounter with the hunter daemon, you have increased your pace. With a creature like that coming after you, that either has your sent or does not, it is good to travel as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the pace also tires you out quickly. You are struggling to catch your breath and your mouth aches with thirst.

Sadly you were not able to grab any provisions from the abbey before you left. Soon you also feel hunger make itself known.

You cannot stop and forage, but as you make your way you remain vigilant for anything you could eat or drink. Luckily, you manage to discover a wild bush filled with blackberries. You stop by the bush and quickly pluck a few of them. You stuff yourself with the ripe berries and praise the Burning Rose for having guided you to this bush.

As you are feeding yourself, you notice the familiar sound of rushing water. You abandon the bush and hurry towards the direction of the sound. You soon come upon a shallow river running through the forest. You run to the edge of the river, pull off your metal gauntlets, collect some water in your hands and drink. It feels so good to have to cold water run down your throat. You gulp down more and more water until your belly begins to ache.

It is very fortunate that you came across this bush and river when you did. Clearly the goddess is watching out for you.

Since you are here, you might as well get cleaned up. After all, “A clean sister, is a good sister.” The War mother often repeated the saying. Since your tumble down the landslide, you are far from clean. You collect some water in your hands and clean away the mud that has collected on your body. The water is cold, much colder than what you are used to in the abbey baths. It is even cold enough to cause your nipples to harden. You ignore your physical reactions to the frigid water and get cleaned up. Then you put your gloves back on and make ready to continue your journey.

It is then that you notice someone at the other side of the river staring at you. Someone who … looks exactly like you. The exact same face, hair, skin color, breast size, even the same clothes. Just like you, she is dressed in metal boots, metal gloves and nothing else. She also has a copy of Saint Magdalena’s sword with her. How could that even be?

You quickly try to cover your privates and ask this woman “Who are you?”

The woman steps closer and says, “I am you.”

“I am me.” You reply. “”How can you be me if I am here and you there?”

“The water you just drank is magical.” The woman replies as she steps into the river. “It allows people to see their subconscious and converse with it.”

Could it really be? You didn’t sense any magical energy’s from the water so it certainly can’t be strong magic. Maybe this is some of the weird magic you heard the Blauwalt is known for.

“I have come to tell you about the hopes and desires you have hidden inside yourself.” The woman explains as she comes ever closer to you. “The ones you have hidden from yourself.”

She exits the water on your side of the river and stands in front of you. The woman then opens her arms in a welcoming gesture and says “Please, stay and listen to me. I have lots to tell about us.”