literary world

In a situation where you don't know where you are, what to do, or how to escape, the best option will always be to rely on the most basic logic: ask someone who actually knows.

"And that's precisely why I'm counting on you, Echidna!"

So I raised my arm in a dramatic gesture pointing straight at the sky, letting the forest breeze lightly ruffle my hair while the imposing stone tower rose behind my back like a giant shadow as I pointed toward the image of an expert!

<"Your sudden mood swings never cease to amaze me... Though it's honestly fascinating how quickly you can revert to a positive attitude considering the deep confusion you were wallowing in just a few seconds ago.">

Deep confusion? Please! That makes it sound like I was scared, and a protagonist is never scared... He's just building up dramatic tension. Besides, keeping my arm raised in this pose is already starting to tire my shoulder, but if I lower it now, it'll look like her comment got to me. The key to survival is faking sanity until reality conforms to you.

...In case you're asking if I say that from personal experience... Yes, I do!

So, completely ignoring the fact that two minutes ago I was hyperventilating behind a bush, I maintained my best hero smile.

"That doesn't matter at all anymore! Please, explain to us how we ended up here. I'm sure everyone present desperately wants to know."

Hold on a second. I can already picture the audience stopping their reading right at this paragraph to arch an eyebrow and think: «"Everyone present"? But a second ago the text said you were alone in the forest». Ha! How short-sighted... Dear readers... Did you really think I wouldn't come prepared...?

<"It's just you and me here, you know?">

Oh, my dear and naive Echidna. So wise about some things, yet so blind to the true art of perception. It's almost endearing to watch your superior intellect stumble before the genius of my methods. Reality isn't just what your physical eyes can perceive on this three-dimensional plane; reality is whatever I decide to bring onto the stage.

Get ready to have the horizons of your limited logic expanded with a strike of pure visual impact!

"You are completely wrong!"

With that said, concentrating my will and spiritual energy, I reached down into my pants and, after carefully reaching in, gently pulled the tiny straw dolls out of my almighty {"Dimensional Storage Pocket"}.

(Hello...)

Which, once out, raised their tiny arms to wave timidly at nothingness while I held them up proudly like I was presenting absolute proof!

<"...I suppose... that counts...?">

Victory!

"Of course it counts! These little ones have a very receptive spirit. So hurry up and don't leave us hanging!"

As a sign of victory, I began to gently shake the little straw doll that innocently started dancing on my palm in front of Echidna, who lay frowning while the wind rustled the leaves.

<"Alright, alright! Just stop shaking that little one like a cocktail shaker!">

However, once I heard the affirmative response from Echidna, I immediately stopped the movement and sighed in relief, nestling the straw dolls back into the crook of my arm while glancing sideways at the strange, unsettling runes carved into the bark of the nearby trees...

(Fun!)

...Though not without remembering to gently pat the straw dolls on their little heads first.

"Well done!"

And honestly, it was a great dance.

<"If you're done with that... This place is most likely a literary world.">

A what world? Did we fall inside a book?

"A literary world?"

So, just to confirm, I decided to ask again.

<"Yes, a literary world... It has been a long time since I last saw one. Comparatively, they are similar to your pocket dimension technique, the creation of a divine territory, or the domain expansion of a high-ranking cursed spirit, albeit with the major difference that these arose spontaneously and are essentially incomplete.">

What an analogy... Wait a second...

"Incomplete?! Doesn't that sound dangerous?!"

Okay, basically we're inside a bugged game... With an unfinished map and no set laws... Perfect... As if I'd say something like that calmly?!

(?)

But while I was internally panicking, the straw dolls beside me merely tilted their heads in perfect synchrony, showing an expression of genuine doubt.

<"To understand it, you must see the difference in how they anchor to the material plane. The mechanics of a curse operate through forced imposition, a corrupt barrier that overwrites the local environment to materialize its own mind. Conversely, the territory of a deity is an inherent phenomenon of its divine nature; a pure superposition where its plane rests upon existing reality, sustaining itself through faith or the authority of its own existence. A literary world, on the other hand, possesses none of these guidelines, since—">

So, to save time and skip Echidna's lengthy, technical, and painfully complex explanation, I can summarize it for you in a few words: literary worlds are unfinished works that certain writers ended up manifesting into reality by pure accident.

"And how on earth did something like that happen?"

The mere thought that a frustrated writer could accidentally create a cursed ecosystem seemed crazy to me... Were it not for the fact that in this world, anything can happen... Yeah, you know what? I'd better shut up...

<"You should know full well by now that in this world, emotions directly influence spiritual energy. Things as intense as love, hatred, obsession, or creative desire, when strong enough, can alter the environment. The best example of that is right there in your hands.">

My hands? I slowly lowered my gaze toward my small fibrous cargo.

(Hooray!)

Upon hearing Echidna point them out, the tiny straw doll raised both arms, celebrating with contagious enthusiasm... And I must admit, it was an utterly adorable sight.

"So... what you're trying to tell me is that this is some kind of pocket dimension trapped inside a book, brought to life by the intense feelings and dreams of its frustrated author?"

Having finally gotten an idea of what was going on, I crossed my arms smugly, hoping I had hit the mark.

<"Indeed. You caught on quite quickly.">

Of course I did! The intellect of a protagonist is not to be underestimated.

"Well, that clears up plenty of things about the impossible architecture of this tower, except for one vital detail..."

However, stroking my ego wasn't going to get us out of this literary mess, so after crossing my arms once more, I looked up at the massive stone structure blocking the horizon and, after processing everything for a second, held my head in my hands.

"HOW ON EARTH DO WE GET OUT OF HERE?!"