The Beginning of the End

[Negi Springfield]

Negi had been wandering for a while in the forest. Everything looks the same in this forest. Was it a bad idea to look for a sanctuary here? He sighed. He had chosen to enter the forest as didn't want to meet any people until he had recovered his strength. From what he saw when he arrived, the people here seemed... unusual. However, the forest didn't seem that safe either, as the air was periodically punctuated with the roars and cries of unseen creatures. He didn't see anything dangerous, but everywhere he turned, the towering trees loomed, malevolent. The canopy of leaves seemed to stretch indefinitely. It was almost as if the forest was trying to contain him. Can a forest even be sentient? He dismissed that thought. Further ahead, he saw a path, littered with broken branches and crushed plants. There's someone else here? Maybe they know a way out of this forest. Abandoning any prior thoughts of caution, he started down the newly created path.

Wait... I've seen this part of the forest for sure. Following the path, Negi arrived back where he had started. Is this actually where I had started? Maybe this is another part of the forest that just looks similar. He decided to mark this spot. Ras tel Ma Scir Magister Evocatio Ventus Spiritus. Sure enough, after following the path for a few hours, he saw the wind spirit he had left earlier. So I am going in circles. Now what? He decided to rest for a while and plan his next move. This is as good a spot as any to rest.