CHAPTER 25………………………………….
I stirred slightly, and Eve shifted her weight, moving with surprising grace. Even small motions of her body made her presence overwhelming.
—That subtle movement just now…
“You startled me. Your tongue has some rough textures, interesting,” she commented.
Indeed, my tongue felt rough, similar to that of a feline or small beast. Perhaps it had developed that way to help with grooming or extracting nutrients from prey.
Eve seemed to take careful note of every detail, as if each reaction I made was part of her “recipe.” She adjusted her movements and her tools with meticulous precision, fully focused on her task.
The pot on the stove bubbled gently, steam rising with the rich fragrance of herbs and mushrooms. Eve continued adding ingredients and stirring, speaking softly as she worked.
“The fur is incredibly soft… it’ll make an excellent ingredient for the elixir,” she muttered, examining my condition carefully.
Her attention to detail was astonishing. Every step she took—the way she handled the herbs, measured the potion, and adjusted the heat—showed a level of skill I hadn’t expected.
I struggled against the chains briefly, testing them, but they only rattled. Eve glanced at me with a calm, calculating expression.
“I didn’t know how you would react, so I used strong restraints. But if you promise not to run, I can loosen them,” she said.
Even under restraint, I had to nod in agreement. Eve smiled lightly and began freeing my limbs, demonstrating her strength and control.
Once free, I cautiously moved to interact with her preparations. The witch’s tools and ingredients were fascinating—each seemed to require precise timing and care.
“This forest… it’s remarkable,” I said, watching her carefully. “Can you tell me about the Behemoth? I’ve heard you call me one, but I don’t know what it means.”
Eve didn’t turn, continuing to stir the pot, her voice calm and instructive.
“The Behemoth… You truly don’t know anything, do you? You didn’t even recognize me when you first arrived. It seems this forest is just as unfamiliar to you.” She paused briefly, then continued.
“This vast and ancient forest is called the Primordial Nest. Long ago, all life began here and spread into the world. Over the centuries, it has been called many names: the Cradle of the World, the Sea of the World Tree, even Eden. But its true name…”
Eve’s voice trailed off. She leaned slightly closer, speaking in a whisper as if to ensure no one else could hear.
“The true name… was the Table of the Gods.”
Her words hung in the air, filled with both reverence and mystery. The forest, the creatures, the very ingredients she worked with—they were all part of something much larger than I had realized.
I watched her work, mesmerized. Even though the situation was tense, there was a strange beauty in how she moved and handled the ingredients. Every step seemed deliberate, precise, and carefully measured.
The bubbling pot, the fragrance of herbs, and the slow stirring of the witch’s hands—all of it painted a scene of a ritual, a preparation far beyond ordinary cooking.
—This forest… this place… everything is connected.
Even restrained and used as part of her experiment, I couldn’t deny the fascination I felt. It was like standing at the edge of a secret world, a hidden science of life and magic I had only glimpsed.
Eve continued speaking softly, explaining the elixir’s properties, the forest’s history, and the rare nature of its ingredients. I listened carefully, trying to absorb every detail, knowing that each word could be important to understanding the world I had stumbled into.
