Reborn As An Evolving Monster

"Huh? The forest?"

"You've been here a long time, right? When you walk towards the edges of this place, can you see the forest? I could see it when I turned around to... But if it's like the Moon... It's there, but I lose track of it once I look away, since I can't see the light emanating from it anymore. If the Barrier acts as a filter somehow... Then it can make the forest disappear. Can you see it? From the inside?"

Gulp-

She shook her head.

"All I see is more of this grass-covered ground... Then does the Barrier reflect the light like a mirror? If it's far enough, then we wouldn't be able to see our reflection. Did something like that happen to you? Ever?"

"No. Not as far as I can remember."

"Then an illusion that makes it seem like this continues and stretches forever when it's actually the forest? If that's the case, then the Barrier might be closer than it seems. It could be... A couple of steps away. Who knows, right?"

"Right... Maybe?"

Mark scratched his neck, before turning towards her.

"Why are we here?"

"I told you we-"

"Have you ever seen the Barrier?"

"What?"

"You said that the Barrier doesn't let you leave."

"Yes, that's right."

"Then..." Mark stepped back. "Have you ever touched the Barrier?"

She scratched her head.

"No."

"How come?"

"I can't find it."

"You can't...?"

"I can't find the Barrier."

"Before you found me, where were you?"

"Here."

"You started walking in a certain direction, then you found me."

"Mm." She nodded.

"Then we kept going in that same direction... And got here again?"

"Yes."

"Why did you act surprised when we found it?"

"Because... I don't know. It seemed right, I suppose."

"So you lied."

"Well, not really. I just... I didn't want to lose your trust."

"Lying isn't the way to not lose it. If you lie again, this won't go well."

"Fine..." She whispered as she raised her feet off the ground and onto the elevated floor, before burying her chin into her knees.

"Is it just that one direction or-"

"All directions lead back to here." She said while staring at the ground.

Mark remained silent for a bit.

Her tone made it obvious that she had tried a lot, and for a long time.

"Are you sure this isn't a mirror type of situation-"

"I'm sure."

"And you're not lying."

"I'm not."

"No matter where you go, you end up here?"

"Yes! That's how it is here."

"Don't shout at me."

"Well, you said you weren't helping me. You don't have time for me. So... Just figure it out."

"It's different now..." Mark crouched. "Helping myself is the same as helping you. If I can figure it out and leave then... I guess you can tag along."

"Really??"

"Tag along until we're outside. After that... You'll figure out what to do on your own."

"Yes! Okay! Yes! Let's do that!"

Mark extended his right hand towards the ground.

A ring of fire was drawn, and the grass inside burned away.

"You tried every direction, right?"

"Yes, I did." She nodded.

"You always end up here."

"Yes."

"Does it take the same amount of time no matter the direction? Is the distance the same?"

"I think so? Yes, I think so."

"Then the Barrier is circular... Maybe? But how would that work? If you end up here, then that makes it a loop."

"A loop?"

Earth Manipulation-

The circular plot of land rose off the ground.

"You start here." Mark pointed at the center. "You walk and walk. Then..." Using Earth Manipulation, the edges were curved until, "You keep going, and end up here again. So it becomes spherical once you're inside?"

"Oh. That would make sense."

"What do you know about the Barrier?"

"Nothing."

"How did you know that there was a Barrier? How did you know that there was an 'outside'?"

"I could just... Feel it."

"How long have you been here?"

"I told you, for as long as I can-"

"We need to figure out specifics. Was the Barrier always there? Was there a time... How long first of all? Was this always here too?" He pointed at the cabin.

"Yes."

"What's below it?"

"Below my home? I don't know actually." She stepped inside. Though since it lacked one of its four walls, it could barely be described as 'inside', since practically all it offered was a roof.

It reminded Mark of a bus stop.

"Oh..."

"What?" Mark asked as he peeked.

"There's a hole."

"And you just noticed now? If there's a Barrier, then someone must have Cast it... Probably. Give and take... The exit being different from entry, the manipulation of light and space... It balances out by making the exit obvious? I think that guy would agree."

"That guy?"

"A Lich... Nevermind. So that's the exit. Great-"

"No, it's not."

"How do you know?"

She stepped outside while staring at her hands.

"I dug it." She showed him.

Mark reached for her hand without thinking about it.

Obvious signs of strains.

"You dug that?"

"Yes, but I forgot."

"How did you forget that?"

"I forget... A lot of things."

"I'm beyond the point of sympathizing with that."

"...?"

"If you forgot about it then you stopped digging at some point. Why?"

"It wasn't leading anywhere."

"Yeah." Mark massaged his face. "If you dig enough... Then it'll either lead to the edges, since it becomes spherical-"

"Or it won't lead anywhere, because the edges wouldn't curve then." She continued.

"No reason to assume that though."

"Feels like it though."

Mark let out a sigh.

The fact that she 'Feels' like it's the case didn't make for a very convincing argument, but he still thought of her as something between a Human and a Spirit. Plus, Mark wanted to get back to Krista as fast as possible.

"Then we need to go upwards."

"You mean fly? I can't do that."

"I'll carry you. I doubt those guys care about if it's on land on in the air. They'll come for me either way, so I need you with me."

"Okay." She nodded.