Nile and the Astrologer had come back to life again.
The two of them appeared in a forest.
The early morning wind was biting cold, and rotting tree trunks creaked.
A thick layer of fallen leaves lay beneath their feet, making each step uneven.
Withered yellow branches scraped across their faces, leaving bloody streaks.
"Have we come to heaven? No, this must be hell," the Astrologer said furiously.
"Hell isn't this nice." Nile was actually quite pleased, returning to his usual humorous self.
After all, he had come here from the stake, while his rival had come from a warm velvet-covered bed with beautiful women...
So the cold wind and rotten leaves were a pleasure to him, but torture to his rival.
"Damn it, Nile! Why couldn't you just martyr yourself for your theory? Why did you drag me here?" the Astrologer snarled at him.
"Because doing research alone makes it too easy to become lazy. I need someone to exchange ideas with—and a rival." As Nile spoke, he pushed aside the branches before him and looked into the distance.
All he could see was a dense forest of pine trees. He could not make out any direction or find a way out.
They were not dressed warmly, wearing only single layers.
Compared to his companion, Nile wore a little more.
Even he was feeling rather cold now. No longer in the mood to tease his rival, he frowned gravely.
"We need to make a fire. Do you know how?"
"I'm already furious!" the Astrologer cursed.
"If you keep being furious, you'll freeze to death."
Nile began stripping dry bark from the trees and gathering dry fallen leaves from the ground...
"What are you doing?"
"Making myself some extra clothes, and building a shelter from the wind while I'm at