Negative energy travels through the soil. They move through the air. They move through vibrations, spreading from every step taken by the creature they infect.
It's easy to see when something releases negative energy from itself.
You can see it in their expressions, their actions, their mannerisms and their lack of concern for themselves and those around them. These things, these negative creatures, are best avoided.
-After all, pain needs companionship.
Maybe this is a cruel way of looking at the world. But negativity is a parasite. It would attach to a host, then infect it, and the entity would then go on to infect another in an attempt to cure itself of its affliction, spreading the disease further.
The cure is sunlight.
-[sunflower]-
you bathe in the sun
+1 exp
Experience value: 23/310 EXP(Birch): 56/160
-At least for sunflowers. I can't speak for other creatures.
My petals are wide open and my stems are tall and straight. It's really simple. All it took was some sunshine, some water and a few days of rest, and my friend was on the mend. So maybe it works on monsters too?
I didn’t let her negativity get to me.
That would be very unbecoming of a sunflower.
Can you imagine? A sad sunflower?
-What a strange thing that would be.
The big stone path, which was the "road" we walked for a day and a half, brought us to a strange place.
A split.
-[sunflower]-
you bathe in the sun
+1 exp
Experience value: 24/310 EXP(Birch): 57/160
The road splits into two directions. One to the left and one to the right, like two branches, leaving a thick trunk.
How interesting. I didn't know roads could do this.
Can all roads become two roads?
Can these two roads be merged into two?
Are there countless roads, just like there are branches in the forest and stars in the sky?
——Incredible.
I never knew back roads and roads could be so interesting. Maybe they were too funny because my friend Birch couldn't make a choice. Roughly speaking, both options lead to the West. But one leads to the lower west and the other leads to the higher west.
I myself don't care which one we choose.
No matter what, life is good.
Birch, overwhelmed by her two choices, stood undecided.
Tell me, friend.
What are monsters afraid of?
I noticed the tension in her back muscles, my roots sliding through, and she wasn't sure. An hour passed. We're still at a fork in the road.
Birch took a step toward the lower path.
-Then she stopped and turned her head to the right, to the other.
ah.
Life is confusing. You wonder, what is the end of the road? Is it preferable to this ending? Am I making the right choice? Will it take me closer to my goal, or further away?
-A puzzle.
But, at the same time, I guess that's what's exciting about it; the indecision of it all. What if we make the wrong choice? What if this road leads to death and which road leads to heaven?
marvelous.
The gift of life, the choices, the individuality, it’s absolutely incredible. Sad are the dead who cannot feel the kiss of the sun, those who cannot choose the path, left or right.
Those who are alive are truly blessed.
Birch left the trail and changed his mind. We followed the path above and eventually continued our journey.
As for myself, I still don't care.
As long as I can see the world, as long as I can feel the sunshine, as long as I can stay with my monster friends for a few more days, then I guess it doesn't matter which way we go, right?
I am a satisfied sunflower.
now it is night.
There were loud voices in the distance. An unusual weird thing.
Fire and life manifested themselves in the grove not far ahead of us, in the meadow yonder.
"Over there" is a good word.
I wonder where I learned that? I don't quite remember. In fact, I think I still don't know why I'm alive and why I'm conscious. But maybe that doesn't matter, really?
-What are the benefits of knowing the answer to this question?
Does knowing why make me less or more energetic and aware than before?
I do not think so.
Birch crept toward the woods, lowering himself to the ground like a stalking predator. We crawled, sneaking through the bushes. I wanted to complain, but there's no sunshine anyway. So why not live a good life?
Birch tried to learn how sunflowers grow. Maybe it's time for me to learn the ways of monsters?
That's only fair.
Reaching the edge of the undergrowth, my curious, eerily beautiful monster friend and I stared outside at the pile of wagons being pulled into a circle.
It seemed that some of her kind had gathered here for the night. They seemed to have pulled the cart into a circle, making a barrier, a bird's nest, and they all rested beside a roaring fire.
If I had to bet, I'd suspect Birch was hungry.
After all, food is always scarce on our travels and she only eats when she has found an ample food source and wolfed it down. Her last meal was fish from the river. That was a few days ago, and she hasn't eaten much since then, except for the occasional odd berry we picked up along the way.
-Are we hunting?
No.
From her demeanor and low profile, it seemed like we were just here to steal from these unsuspecting creatures.
Um…
Or is "harvest" a more appropriate word? After all, how is it any different than taking berries from a bush or seeds from a flower? In my opinion it's the same.
Birch tiptoed forward across the grass toward the carriage, walking in the shadows beyond the reach of the fire.
The men and women in the circle talked to each other, but they spoke in tones and in a language I couldn't understand, just like the girls in the village.
Judging from their now deep voices, the conversation seemed to be fading away as they both slowly drifted into the depths of sleep, their energy dampened by the heavy mental blanket.
We waited some more in the shadows, and after a few minutes of silence, in which there was nothing but the sound of the wind, nothing but the rustle of the trees, nothing but the cheerful crackle of the mischievous fire opposite us, Birch slowly rounded a carriage, and I and I She peeked together.
-Bounty.
The car was filled with things I didn't recognize. There were small, vague shapes and forms that glowed seductively in the firelight. Others were strange wooden trinkets and baubles, and others still had spikes and claws made of hard metal. There was a bunch of what looked like dried leaves, plants, and mushrooms.
Birch seemed to pay particular attention to one box, which was filled with dried meat.
I could feel her stomach growling against her shoulders.
We crawled toward it and she grabbed handful after handful, already biting a piece, unable to stop herself.
I can't taste it. But I suspect, given the radiance I felt in her blood, the tilt of her posture, it was most pleasing.
My friend harvested a lot of meat from the car, stuffed the meat and many knickknacks into bags, and placed them on my land.
My roots, maybe, could have a little bite of flesh. But there's no blood in it, so I don't really care, and—
-This is my friend's.
"Kaschib!" shouted an angry voice, very inappropriate on this quiet night. I didn't know what it meant.
Birch took a quick look at the man who had spotted us. Others awoke from their stupor. Birch turned and ran away, arms folded, and I watched curiously as they, the original meat harvesters, were hampered in their pursuit of us by their own wagon barricades, which they had to crawl through first.
ah.
Satire.
We fled into the night, running like robber raccoons.
-[sunflower]-
you bathe in the sun
+1 exp
Experience value: 27/310 EXP(Birch): 60/160
I sometimes wonder why my friends take me on trips.
This does look unusual, doesn't it?
Birch sat by the big rock and I sat next to her on the big grass and we watched together, gazing at the water cascading down the cliffside. The waterfall, the most beautiful, sparkles as it shows the prismatic beauty of the moist sunlight.
She leaned on the big rock behind us, feasting on the monster's dried meat and spring water, with a look of contentment and calm on her face, which I was happiest to see.
The waterfall was majestic, emitting a breathless buzzing sound sweeter and more harmonious than the sounds of any bird or beast I have ever heard.
Birch fell asleep leaning against the big, hot rocks by the waterfall, and I watched her sleep.
Harvesting food and things has been a common theme in my life to this day. First the bird took my seed and then Birch took me. A lot happens in these most exciting days. This is the law of nature. The strong, the quick, the clever snatch from those who are not strong.
-But what if someone wanted to take Birch away, like she took me from my lawn?
Then I would be all alone.
That would be most unpleasant. I'm used to having friends. I don't think I can allow this to happen. After all, it's so much fun. I want to drink blood again, I want to see a big fish again, I want to see many other things, impossible and wonderful.
I stared calmly at the sun, pondering my thoughts.
A sunflower and a monster, friends on the journey.
-What a beautiful world.
