One-Eyed Monster

”Are you ready?” Igor asked Kadi, who couldn’t stop hopping around.

”Ready! I can set off at any time!” Kadi replied, his face full of excitement. He had practiced the jumping steps for a while and was eager to give it a try.

”Stay close to me. We only have 400 Gudu Time for reaction. That means once you follow me, you will only have 250 Gudu Time. Count the gulping sounds in your heart. You must jump to another place before you reach 250. If danger strikes, you must lie down on the marsh beside you as I instructed and paddle back. Remember, the rope is long and strong enough!” Igor painstakingly explained, fearing Kadi would forget.

Kadi had asked him earlier if there was a plan B or a backup. Igor had honestly answered that there was none. This answer disappointed Kadi; his enthusiasm deflated like a punctured balloon.

Igor noticed all of this. It didn’t matter much if he himself got burned, but it would be a big deal if Kadi got hurt because of him.

You can’t let someone who trusts you become a sacrificial pawn. You should never betray someone’s trust, no matter the circumstance.

So Igor thought hard and finally came up with an old-fashioned solution. He gave all his remaining rope to Kadi, tied one end to Kadi’s tail and the other to a large tree.

He also told Kadi many precautions for dealing with danger in the swamp. Although he was unsure if Kadi was fully attentive, he tirelessly explained everything until Kadi could repeat his words verbatim.

Igor always believed that if you could repeat something, even if it seemed irrelevant and you hadn’t truly listened, those well-remembered words could instinctively surface in your mind during critical times. This instinctive reaction could very likely save your life.

Igor had tested this Absolute Truth many times; he firmly believed it would also work for Kadi.

Kadi and Igor also debated for a long time about who would go first.

Kadi believed that as the master of this mountain, he ought to lead the way.

But Igor left him speechless with just one sentence.

Igor asked, ”Do you know when to start?”

Kadi was stunned. He had to admit that he didn’t even know when to start, let alone guarantee he could jump correctly following Igor’s steps. There were pauses in the jumping sequence, and Kadi could never quite distinguish when to pause and when to jump...

But stubborn Kadi was still unwilling to give in. He felt he absolutely had to go ahead of Igor. That way, he could share the risks, help Igor, and feel like he was of some value...

Most importantly, only by doing so would Kadi feel at ease. He felt he owed Igor too much. If he didn’t do something for Igor this time, he, Kadi, would be an utter disgrace.

Igor and Kadi argued for quite a while about who should go first. Although Kadi’s reasoning wasn’t as sound as Igor’s, his sheer volume gave him a significant advantage, putting Igor on the back foot.

”Kadi, you have to trust me. I’ll definitely get you to the other side,” Igor could only repeat.

”I...” Kadi started to argue, but he suddenly noticed a firm resolve in Igor’s eyes.

They couldn’t waste any more time. The sun was gradually sinking in the west. If they didn’t hurry, it would become too dark to see the Big Reed Flowers clearly, making things even more troublesome.

In the end, Kadi relented and followed Igor’s plan.

He also felt ashamed for wasting time.

”Alright, let’s wait quietly. When the flame erupts from that triangle, follow my jump.” Igor hopped a bit, loosening his muscles and observing everything in the marsh.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! The flames spewed out as always, with no discernible pattern.

”Now! Keep up with me!” Igor shouted, took a step forward, turned left, and then jumped a distance equivalent to two Big Reed Flowers.

Kadi followed closely. Their jumping sequence was identical, like well-trained soldiers.

”Keep to my rhythm, Kadi!” Igor reminded him as they jumped.

Just as Igor had calculated, every spot they landed on was solid ground within the marsh. Not long after they leaped away, flames would erupt from the adjacent patches, almost exactly as Igor had predicted.

Halfway across, Kadi made a small mistake and was nearly roasted by the flames. Fortunately, Igor stopped his impulsive forward jump just in time. That spot was supposed to be a pause, but Kadi, in his excitement, almost lost control of his jump.

After that close call, Kadi and Igor finally managed to leap across the White Swamp, reaching the other side just as the sun completely set.

The last rays of the sun dyed the clouds on the horizon a brilliant red, and these vibrant hues even reflected onto the White Swamp, tinting it crimson. Igor and Kadi panted heavily, heat radiating from their bodies in waves. The strenuous activity had made them sweat profusely, and the moisture evaporated into a white mist around them.

”Haha, hooray!” Kadi couldn’t hide his excitement and cheered.

It was no wonder he was so excited. The legendary Stone House is right there, within sight! How could I not be thrilled?

I can’t believe we crossed the White Swamp so quickly, and in such a way!

Kadi could hardly conceal his joy and roared at the sky a few times.

Igor, in contrast, remained surprisingly calm, showing no sign of excitement or jubilation.

”Hey, Igor! We made it! The Stone House is right ahead! We’ll see Guru Guru soon!” Kadi exclaimed, shaking Igor so hard his head began to spin.

”Stop it, Kadi. We still need to be cautious,” Igor warned.

”Why? You don’t need to be so careful. We’re almost there,” Kadi said dismissively, thinking Igor was being overly cautious.

”That’s not it. There are still too many mysteries: the singing from the Moonflow Stream, that warning, and even how that warning reached the cave. If we act recklessly now, we might fall right into their trap.” Igor laid out all his thoughts, whether Kadi could understand them or not.

Although Kadi often struggled to understand, trusting Igor had become a habit for him. Therefore, after hearing Igor’s explanation, Kadi also became more cautious.

Yet, with the Stone House right in front of them, it was incredibly difficult to suppress the urge to rush forward.

Kadi desperately wanted to walk up to that Stone House, reach out his hand, and knock on the door...