In the cruel quiet of the jungle, where the wind whispered through the trees and brilliant stars dotted the speckled sky, a family of five sat around a flickering fire. They were listening to their eldest recount the passage of time, and the fateful twist that brought him to this specific place and moment.
Grandfather Tulin spoke: "I have lived my entire life on this land. I was once a soldier, and I took part in the greatest wars since the Battle of the Ancients, the Second Great War of Erlāra. Perhaps you've heard of it, but trust me, those who lived through it can never forget it, not even after a thousand years."
Grandfather Tulin chuckled, reaching up to stroke his chin. "I remember one day during the war, about three months in, I met a village girl. I was on a mission with a few young lads. The closest one to me was a fellow named Maren. He was so funny, but he died in that war."
Tears welled up in his eyes. "If he were with me now, we'd have explored this entire world." He paused for a moment, wiping his trembling hands across his face, then returned to his gentle smile. "Where were we?"
His granddaughter, Rina, answered, her face filled with sympathy and a slight flush on her cheeks. She spoke in a low voice: "You were at the village girl."
The grandfather laughed out loud. "Oh, yes, you're right! Your memory has always been sharp." Everyone laughed, enveloped in cheer.
The grandfather continued: "Yes, we were near the lands of Florin, on a secret reconnaissance mission for the Alliance system. Our armor was so heavy we moved like koalas, practically walking like them, though not on four legs, of course. On the way, I heard footsteps, so I motioned for everyone to stop. I moved quietly through the trees, and there I saw the most beautiful thing my eyes had ever witnessed: a girl with golden hair I'd never seen the like of. Her eyes were as blue as if they'd descended from the heavens, and her face? I can't describe it... she was like an angel without wings. The sunlight reflected off her as if she were a mirror. I stood there, stunned, until my friends thought I was under attack, but the truth was, it was my heart that was threatened."
"I only snapped out of it when she called me several times: 'You! You!' I shook my head, and she asked: 'What are you doing here?' I stammered, 'We... we were looking...' then I trailed off, as if I'd forgotten who I was. I said, 'We're looking for shelter for the night.'"
Maren interjected jokingly: 'No, we're not looking!' So I punched him in the stomach and said: 'Yes, we are! Can't you see the sun is about to set?'"
She smiled and said: 'Wait a moment, I'll call my father.' I told her: 'Yes, please, thank you.' I was a real idiot, truly.
Then her father came out. He was of massive build, but contrary to what we expected, he was kind and welcoming. He brought us food and drink, and prepared a place for us to sleep.
The next day, we completed our mission to scout the positions of Malkooth's forces. And on that mission, Maren died. Two others and I survived by a miracle. Those were truly arduous days."
His grandson, Niem, asked: "And what about that girl?"
The grandfather said: "I never saw her again. I don't even know her name. All I know is that she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen."
Niem replied, laughing: "And what about Grandmother? Your eyes lit up when you spoke of her!"
The grandfather chuckled and said: "Your grandmother? Who could ever take her place in my heart? That girl was a fleeting moment, but your grandmother—she shared my entire life. How could I ever forget her? Listen, I'll give you a piece of advice: True love doesn't come from beauty. The one you truly love is the one whose flaws you see, and who sees yours, and if you can manage to live with those flaws, only at that moment can I say that is true love."
A beautiful silence followed his words. Everyone gazed at the sky, lost in contemplation.
After moments of reflection, an old question crossed Rina's mind: "Why do you forbid us from entering the forest next to the Cenar River? Despite the beauty of the trees and flowers we see from afar, you always tell us that no one enters that forest. Why?"
The grandfather lowered his head as if the question weighed heavily on him. He then raised his eyes to her and said in a firm voice: "No one knows."
Everyone was surprised. Mistron said with a sarcastic tone: "You don't know? And no one knows? Who can believe that an entire forest is off-limits to everyone, and no one knows why? You old folks love to impose rules without justification! I'm tired of living in this village, surrounded by pointless laws!"
The grandfather replied with intense anger, his eyes blazing: "Be silent, or I'll cut out your tongue! Do you think you're old enough to do whatever you please? By my Creator, if you repeat those words, I'll have you locked up, and you'll never see the light again!"
Rina spoke, her eyes wide with dread: "What's wrong? I've never seen you this angry before. Perhaps Mistron was wrong, but you're overreacting. Is there something you're hiding about that forest? Wouldn't it be better for us to know what lurks in there, so we can be cautious about what we might face?"
He replied, wiping away the spittle that had escaped with his furious words: "You must not know what's in there... because the truth is, only a few know: the Kings, the Sages, and perhaps some Princes. But even some of them are ignorant of what lies within. All we know for certain is that whoever enters the forest does not leave. We don't know if they are dead or lost... we just know that no one who enters returns. That is the only rule we know about it."
Mistron asked, but this time in a calmer tone: "Then why do some neighboring villages send out exploration teams?"
Tulin replied: "The greed for control, my son. Some think they can possess the forest despite their weak magic. But when arrogance takes hold of the soul, it blinds foresight and paralyzes the mind. Remember this, all of you: Don't let your greed lead you to destruction. If you desire something, don't pursue it just to satisfy your own wants. Instead, ask yourself: 'Will this have
consequences? Only for me? Or for those I love as well?' Remember that there are those around you who love you, and they will grieve your loss just as you would grieve theirs."
Rina smiled and said: "This is the grandfather we know! He never stops giving advice!" Then she added jokingly: "He's a bit boring, but what can we do? He's my grandfather, after all."
Everyone laughed... except Mistron, whose stark white face was now deeply flushed. He stood up without uttering a word and walked away. Rina called after him, but he didn't answer or show any interest.
They ate some of the Norbia Soup, a unique blend of Norbia fish mixed with some sea algae and yellow salt. The soup was warm, with a strange, salty, oceanic smell, as if it carried the very flavor of the sea. After dinner, everyone dispersed to their sleeping places, each carrying their own thoughts and worries that accompanied them in the silence.
On her way back, Rina suddenly stopped.
A strange scent drifted into her nose, coming from beneath a large rock. The scent of Paradise Flowers—beautiful, enchanting, yet disturbing... as if they were luring her closer only to push her away the next moment.
She hesitated. Her heart beat with apprehension, but curiosity overwhelmed her. She carefully leaned down and pushed the heavy stone aside.
And what a surprise...
An ancient well was revealed before her, one she had never seen before, nor heard anyone mention.
She took out her lit lamp. The flame's light bounced off her eyes, reflecting a shiny, silvery glint in her pupils.
She wondered to herself, looking at the well's opening:
— Should I go to the village? Or... should I go down?
Curiosity was like a prison closing around her chest, yet she decided to close the well until morning.
But light footsteps approached from the shadows...
A hand reached out and grasped her wrist, with a force that made her skin redden.
She gasped.
— M-Mistron?
He spoke in a low voice, barely audible:
— What are you doing here now? Why haven't you gone to sleep?
Rina was drenched in sweat, her body trembling from the shock. Her heart pounded fiercely. She said in a high, nervous voice:
— Why are you holding my hand like this? Let go of me immediately!
He realized the situation and quickly released her hand, but his finger marks remained visible on her skin. He looked nervous too, his forehead damp with sweat.
He said to her in a strained tone:
— Who told you about this well? And how did you find its location?
She looked at him for a moment, her
eyes scrutinizing his flustered features, and then she understood...
This well was his hideout. The place he always vanished to when he was absent from the village.
She said to him, a smile forming on her lips despite the awkward situation:
— So... this is your well of secrets?
But Mistron's face remained rigid, serious.
He told her strictly:
— Go back now, and don't tell anyone about this well. Understood?
She raised an eyebrow and took a step back, saying stubbornly:
— I won't go until I know what's inside.
He retorted sharply:
— You will not know what's in this well.
She looked at him steadily, then suddenly raised her voice, shouting:
— Villagers! Come and see what's he—
But Mistron quickly clamped his hand over her mouth. He said in an angry, yet low, voice:
— Fine, have it your way... but remember, what you see below... you forget above.
She looked at him with a sly smile, then made a gesture across her mouth with her fingers, as if "stitching her mouth" shut with an invisible thread.
He then said to her calmly:
— Move that small tree over there.
As soon as she did, a long rope made of tree bark appeared.
He asked:
— Do you know how to descend using ropes?
She replied with a confident smile:
— Of course! I learned last year when I was on a camping trip with Mr. Maron Keemster in the Arkmen Mountains. It was an amazing trip.
He nodded in approval:
— Good, I'll go first, then you follow me.
She laughed and said:
— You look terrified... it's so funny.
He replied sarcastically, smiling slightly:
— Ha... You really are very kind.
Then he began his descent, while she watched him from above. The light of his lamp gradually faded, until only a faint, barely visible speck remained.
Then his voice rose from the depths:
— Now!
Rina gripped the rough rope with both hands and began to descend cautiously.
The air grew damper. The walls around her became slippery and uneven. The stones were hard and cold, and the light vanished little by little.
The further down she went, the stronger the scent of the mysterious flowers became, as if she were entering a different world, a world not ruled by the sun or the moon.
And suddenly...
Her foot slipped on a wet stone, and she nearly fell.
She screamed, clinging desperately to the rope.
She felt a burning pain in her palms, and blood began to seep from her hands from the scrapes.
Mistron shouted from below, clear worry in his voice:
— Rina! Are you alright?
She answered, panting heavily:
— Yes, just a slight slip...
But she didn't finish her sentence, as she heard a light rustling sound from above...
She looked up, her eyes widening in terror.
The rope...
It was fraying.
She tried to descend quickly, but time failed her.
The rope snapped.
And she fell in a freefall.
Everything around her receded...
The air whistled.
The walls rushed past as if they were swallowing her whole.
A muffled scream escaped her chest, and the entire world slowed down.
She was surely dead...