One-Eyed Monster

Kadi had better eyesight than Igor. He could see the light on the other side from afar.

Although the view on the other side was not clear, he could vaguely see the white mist. This white mist gave Kadi the first impression of the White Swamp.

The swamp was the most mysterious place on Guru Mountain, and Kadi’s ears had heard many tales about it.

To verify the uniqueness of the swamp, Kadi had explored all safe areas of Guru Mountain and had found several swamps—the largest the size of a small lake, similar to the one he usually bathed in.

After playing in several swamps on Guru Mountain, Kadi had noticed some common features.

The most striking feature is that all swamps are like greedy monsters. They devour everything without sparing even the bones, and they are very ferocious. Secondly, swamps are good at camouflage. They might appear to be grasslands or mud pits, but the moment you step on them, you realize the danger. When your whole body starts sinking, you discover it’s too late… Finally, most swamps are located in relatively low-lying areas, with the surrounding terrain quite sunken.

Kevin had told him that these swamps formed because the water accumulated inside couldn’t drain out. Kadi didn’t understand this reasoning; he simply found the areas around the swamps magical.

However, the swamps I’ve seen are mostly unattractive, dark shades—either muddy gray like mire, waxy yellow like a withered marsh, or, at best, a dark green rich with aquatic plants… These colors mostly give me an uncomfortable feeling, so the thought of swamps always makes me feel uneasy.

Even so, Kadi still looked forward to the White Swamp on the other side of Moonflow Stream.

Kadi’s interest in this White Swamp wasn’t only because Guru Guru, a big monster, lived on the other side but also because the area around the swamp was filled with all kinds of mysteries.

When he was very young, Kadi had heard other monsters on Guru Mountain boasting about the mysteries of the White Swamp, and he had always wanted to see what a swamp was like.

As he grew older, he finally saw several swamps of various sizes on Guru Mountain, but he had never even come close to the mysterious and wondrous White Swamp.

So his dream of finding Guru Guru became incredibly steadfast. At least forty percent of it is motivated by seeing the White Swamp’s mystery. Forty percent of the motivation comes from the color of this swamp—white. White has always been peculiar to me; I’ve always thought it was a mysterious color. Besides, the swamps I’d seen before were of quite nauseating colors, so a white swamp sounds particularly strange. I believe the White Swamp must be formed by the masses of fog above it; it certainly can’t be as mysterious as those monsters portray. But seeing is believing. Speculation holds no convincing power. I’ve never seen this White Swamp, so I have no confidence at all.

Kevin once said that the White Swamp was abundant in resources, and you could catch delicacies just by casting a net.

This delicacy is also a driving force behind my dream… A dream formed from so many motivations looks rich no matter how you view it.

Every time he thought about these things in his dream, Kadi was always full of joy.

And now, Kadi was more than excited. At least, this small cave in the hill holds two-thirds of my dream. Although the distance still seems a bit blurry, the vast whiteness seems to hint that a clear view isn’t too far away. I have to thank Igor for all this. If it wasn’t for Igor dawdling, we wouldn’t have gotten lost in the Ghost Wind Valley. If we hadn’t gotten lost in the Ghost Wind Valley, we wouldn’t have come to Moonflow Stream. If we hadn’t come to Moonflow Stream, I, Kadi, wouldn’t have discovered this cave… But where is Igor now?

Huddled in a corner of the cave, Igor was shivering like a frightened child due to the cold.

”F-Follow... following you... I’ve... fallen into the water twice...” Igor stammered, trembling.

”Uh...” Kadi was at a loss for words. I really want to help Igor shake off this cold, but I can’t think of any way. All I have to do is shake my body, and the water droplets fall off, then I don’t feel cold anymore. Igor, on the other hand, can only take off his clothes one by one, wring out the water, and put them back on…

Kadi stuttered for a moment before a good idea finally struck him. ”You can summon fire like you did last time!” he exclaimed.

”The flint is wet. I can’t start a fire for now,” Igor replied, jumping up and down. Fortunately, during my days at the Yonder Travel Academy, especially in the cold winters, Teacher Hadi often made me go swimming and running, so I have a few tricks for resisting the cold.

”Then what should we do? Staying this wet, you’ll catch a cold,” Kadi said, concerned about Igor’s state. I don’t want Igor to fall ill before we reach the White Swamp. After all, there could be lots of traps there. Without Igor, I really don’t know what I’d do.

”N-No need to worry. Teacher Hadi used to force me to swim during the Deep Winter Season. I can resist this bit of chill,” Igor said, twisting his torso. Although his clothes were still a bit damp, he no longer felt cold.

”Ugh...” Kadi staggered. The cave wasn’t very large; they couldn’t even straighten their backs inside it, let alone walk side by side. They could only hunch over and walk one after the other.

It would be better to crawl forward, Kadi suggested. Stooping like this is unbearable; it’s really better to get on the ground and use our hands and feet.

Igor followed Kadi, crawling forward on his hands and feet. After moving about, steam began to rise from his body.

”Say, are we on the right path now?” Kadi asked. I’m always doubting. I still don’t dare to believe, or rather, I don’t want to believe that happiness has come so suddenly.

”Whether it’s right or not, this passage was intentionally hidden by someone. Even if the other side isn’t the Monster King you mentioned, there will be other mysterious things,” Igor said honestly. Frankly, I don’t know if my choice is right or wrong. Right or wrong, it doesn’t seem to be a profound mystery. It’s all just a matter of the weights on the scales in one’s heart. And weights aren’t infallible; they can be wrong sometimes.

But Igor, now sweating profusely, didn’t mind too much. For him, everything ahead was new and exciting.

As for whether the White Swamp will appear at the end of this cave, it’s not that important to me. I just need to wait patiently. After all, I can already see a ray of light ahead.

The exit was clearly right before them. Kadi’s movements grew faster and faster. I wish I could fly out and take a look right now!

What is destined to come will come, and what is meant to be will be. Everything in this world is like drifting clouds, ever-changing and wonderfully magnificent.