Felicia’s palms were covered in sweat. She didn’t dare move recklessly. She used the opportunity to observe her surroundings and the terrifying–looking snake that, for <b>some </b>trason, wasn’t attacking her


    They stared at each other for a long time. Then, the golden–eyed snake flicked its tongue, releasing a faint, putrid <b>scent</b>.


    The smell was distinct–different from the <b>fog </b><b>that </b>had covered the ind before but definitely toxic or hallucinogenic


    In her shock, Felicia immediately tried to hold her breath, but it was toote. A <b>heavy </b>wave of exhaustion crashed over her.


    Her mind remainedpletely alert, but her body refused to obey. She skamped to the ground, her eyelids falling shut against her will.


    And just like <b>that</b>, she slipped into a dream—or perhaps a bout of hallucination.


    In this surreal vision, Felicia so the history of the ind She witnessed its transformation over time, and then an old man……….


    The old man sat on the water’s surface, unmoving, holding something that resembled a fishing rod. The line was simply woven grass, and the end of it had no hook, much less a


    How did he expect to catch anything like that?


    But that wasn’t the important p


    tpart. Felicia’s priority was to figure out how to wake up.


    She tried pinching herself, but she telt no pain. It she wanted to break free from this strange dream, she would need to find another way.


    Thus, she approached the shore. Just as she was about to speak, the old man beat her to it, saying, “This is not a ce you should be ”


    Felicia blinked. Her lips twitched shetly, but she quickly responded, “Gramps, I think so too<b>. </b><b>So</b>, can you send me back? Or at least point me in the right direction?”


    The old man shook his fishing rod slightly, then named <b>his </b>face to look at her and smiled. “Sure, but you need to answer one question of mine first


    was <b>this </b>a test


    “Go ahead” Felicia nodded.


    The old man raised a brow. His question, however, seemnedpletely unrted to anything. “How long do you think it’ll take for me to catch a <b>tish</b>?”


    There were no fish <b>in </b>sight. And even if there were, his <b>so</b><b>–</b>called fishing rod had no hook. Unless he was <b>some </b>legendary mythical fisherman, he was never catching anything with that setup


    But if he was asking, then he wanted an answer,


    She sighed, then strode into the water.


    Momentster, she returned–dragging a freshly caught fish behind her. She tied it to the old man’s fishing line and said with a deadpan expression, “Now.”


    The old man looked at the fish flopping about at the end of his line, then at Felicia. P


    Finally, <b>he </b>burst intoughter.


    “Good! Wonderful! You’re an interesting one, linle gird”


    Once he hadughed enough, he stood up while bncing his <b>fishing </b>rod on <b>his </b>shoulder with the fish still dangling from it. As he passed Felicia, he reached out with his right hand and tapped her lightly on the forehead


    At that exact moment, she saw his face clearly


    Before she could process the shock, the entire scene copsed.


    The dream was ending


    The world seemed to swirl around her, and she snapped awake. She was still lying in the cave that was filled with snakes. But now, the cave was rapidly flooding, and the pain in


    her ankle worsted.


    Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand. It was too dark to tell which way to go. She could only fallow the direction the snakes were fleeing to


    Unfortunately, with the strong waves, the water level had quickly risen to her <b>chest</b><b>. </b>


    Felicia tried to control her breathing, but the force of the water rushed in too fast, and she <b>was </b>almost entirely submerged.


    She fought to stay afloat, <b>but </b>the oxygen was being robbed <b>from </b>her bit by bit she was still unable to find an exit


    She kept <b>swimming</b>, but her strength wasding<b>. </b>As her consciousness began to <b>fade</b><b>, </b>the only thought in her mind was Stephan


    Where was he? Had he managed to reach the others?


    Stephan Stephan…


    Even as her body was engulfed in freezing seawater and earn as her consciousness delited, his name remained on her lips. Whenever she muttered his name, her heart would feel


    Unfortunately, it seemed that she would have the chance to see lill again..


    Her body slowly sank <b>Just </b>then, the currents around her body started to s???L


    Someone was swimming quickly to her side. Hight as that person held her, they also pressed their lips to hers, giving her alt.