By the time we finally stopped searching, evening had already settled over the forest.
No matter how many directions we tried, we couldn't find the trail again—partly because the light had faded so quickly beneath the thick canopy of trees.
Luckily we had brought portable light sources with us, small lanterns that clipped onto our belts and illuminated the ground just enough for us to move safely.
The region was mostly cleared of wild animals, but venomous insects were a different story.
Those couldn't be removed completely, and since this route wasn't commonly used by tourists, none of us could be entirely sure what lived deeper in the forest.
After one final attempt to search for the trail, we accepted the obvious.
We were not getting out of there tonight.
Eventually we found a relatively flat clearing beside a narrow river that cut quietly through the trees, and we decided to set up camp there.
"We have no option but to start again tomorrow morning," Erik said calmly.
Strangely, he didn't look worried at all. If anything, he seemed almost relaxed about the situation, never once making us feel like we had caused the problem—even though the decision had clearly been ours.
It was a small thing, but in that moment I realized Erik was someone worth remembering.
We set up the tents and asked the small robotic assistant to handle the rest of the equipment. The camping kits we carried were 4D tents—compact from the outside but much larger inside, a technology so common that almost every serious traveler carried one.
Soon a fire crackled in the center of our campsite.
The cold mountain air surrounded us as we sat around the flames, letting the warmth reach our hands and faces.
And, of course, the first person to speak was our guide.
Well… technically I started it.
"You don't look very old," I said while watching Erik enjoy the warmth of the fire. "Don't you study somewhere?"
Erik nodded slowly.
"I do, sir. I study at the University of Bergen," he replied. "I'm on a scholarship there, but I still have to work to pay for my hostel and other expenses. The scholarship only covers the tuition."
William adjusted his glasses slightly while Anthony leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
Anthony spoke next.
"So you work while studying? Your parents don't help you with that?"
Erik shook his head.
"I don't have any parents," he said quietly. "They died during the Norwegian attacks of 2232."
The words fell into the silence between us.
Anthony shifted slightly, clearly surprised.
"And… the rest of your family?" he asked. "Uncles, grandparents… anyone?"
Erik stared into the fire for a moment before answering.
"I do have relatives," he said slowly, "but they don't really want me. They say they can't take care of me along with their own families."
Anthony frowned immediately.
"They just left you like that?" he said, disbelief obvious in his voice. "Even your grandparents?"
I looked at Erik as well.
"At least they could have let you stay with them," I added.
Erik shook his head again, though this time his expression softened slightly.
"No… it's more complicated than that," he said.
"My parents were from different religions. My father was Christian, but my mother was Muslim. Their families were strongly against the marriage, so they had to marry without their parents' consent."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"And because of that… both families blamed them for everything. After they died, that blame kind of… shifted to me."
The fire crackled quietly.
Anthony stopped smiling.
William looked down at the ground, pushing a small stick into the dirt.
For once none of us had anything funny to say.
Even the forest around us felt quieter.
I stared at Erik for a long moment, trying to process what he had just told us.
Because somehow… the cheerful, endlessly talkative guide sitting beside our campfire carried a past darker than almost anyone I had ever known—or even read about.
I kept a hand on his shoulder and comforted him.
"If you ever need any help… don't hesitate to contact me," I said as I gave him my number.
But all of a sudden, on the opposite bank of the river, I saw some light sources moving in the forest.
"Look at that!" I shouted, pointing my finger toward the source.
"That must be the route we didn't take—hurry up before we lose the trail."
And that was our way out of the forest.