The Magic Within ↠ Once Upon A Time

[Chapter 62] Finding Our Paths

That's why all of these precautions are necessary. We've already saw last minute plans blow up in our faces, and we don't have that much time left.

Being thorough is completely necessary.

Which is why Melody and I are testing out the trail to make sure others can get through it without a hitch.

Guess you can say we're the test dummies.

Getting back to current events, Melody and I trot down the ninth, and final, hill that was previously recorded on the map. The decline steep forces me to speed up my steps, making me nearly trip to the floor, but before my face could have the pleasure of kissing the ground, I finally make it back to leveled grounds.

Melody and I just passed through the first obstacle that was said on the map.

As soon as I can stand normally, without an angle testing my balance, I grip onto my knees and heave in and out air into my exhausted lungs.

I didn't think these hills could wear me out.

In reality, we didn't actually climb through all the hills in our path. We went around them, which was a journey in themselves, but we still had to tough through the rocky ground. However, on Melody's request, we climb up the final hill for the sole reason of getting a better view of the forest. She needed to ensure we were going the right way and to understand what was ahead of us.

But did it wear me out.

I groan, which made me sound like a dying horse, but I wasn't far from that. Since I was the only one who carried a backpack, it did make me feel like a packing mule.

I lift my chin to look at my sister, who stood a couple feet ahead of me. Unlike the fetal position I was in, Melody stood with her back straight and wasn't gasping for air like an old fool. In fact, all she did was bring her arms in the air in order to stretch her back.

I sigh. "And I thought gym was bad," I say.

Melody drops her hands before twisting around just to find me crouched over from exhaustion. She couldn't help but laugh. "At least it's better than climbing trees. Do you even have upper body strength?"

I grunt as my answer, wiping the sweat from my head.

"Straighten yourself out, Henry. The weight from your bag is only going to make things worse."

I comply with her request and stand straight like her, but that barely helps at all. My throat was killing me after I overused it trying to breathe as much air as I could. I need a drink of water, so I pull the straps from my shoulders and swing my backpack in front of me. I unzip the bag and reach in for the large bottle inside. After taking it out from the bag, I unscrew the top, bring the bottle to my lips, and chug hefty gulps of water, almost choking myself since I was barely getting air.

After taking a fourth of the water in the bottle, I take the bottle away from my lips. Then I offer the water to Melody.

She immediately takes it upon my request. "Thanks," she says before taking a long sip.

Because I was still catching my breath, although the intensity has lessened, all I could do was bob my head.

After taking her drink, she hands the bottle back to me. "We've already made it this far."