Silvanus quickly pried the snake off his leg. Although its grip was far from gentle, Silvanus had magic, so it wasn't a problem.
He straightened up, ready to continue walking, but he abruptly froze. Because… there was no one in front of him anymore.
Vivian seemed startled as well. Her four little paws pressed anxiously on Silvanus's shoulder, kneading restlessly while she let out nonstop sounds as if complaining or cursing.
Silvanus frowned slightly. Just moments ago, he could still hear Nana's footsteps very clearly, close by, since none of them had been walking fast.
Yet the instant he lifted his head, everything fell into silence. There wasn't a single person in sight. Only the quiet forest remained, like a great maw preparing to swallow everything whole.
Silvanus closed his eyes and took a deep breath before calmly stepping forward. He kept feeling that he didn't need a guide at all. His intuition was leading him, urging him, telling him that he needed to see something.
