The night was calm.
The forest was silent.
On a clear night sky full of stars, the full moon was shining to the world covered in darkness.
Giving ethereal glow to the sleeping trees, turning shadows into mysteries.
But that peaceful night didn't last long.
The dark sky turn to a deep crimson.
Thick smoke plummes rise to the sky, blocking the moonlight as another source of light take charge of the night.
A sea of fire.
The forest was on fire.
And there was a person trapped in this unfortunate disaster.
His body was trapped under a heavy fallen tree making him can't escape from this hellish situation.
"... Damn it! "
No matter how much he tried to push off the tree,it didn't even budge an inch.
"Cough!cough!..."
His lungs stings with every breath he took.
Even when he covered his mouth with his hand, it didn't do much to filter the smokes mixing in the air.
" ... God, please make it rain... "
Looking at the night sky covered by smokes and embers falling down like snow, he begged for help from God, hoping for a miracle to come.
But God didn't answer his prayer as the smokes thickened and the fire keep going on, consuming the trees and surrounding.
His vision blurred as tears coming out from his eyes.
Whether because of the smokes that hurts his eyes or the sadness because his prayer wasn't answered.
He didn't know.
"... "
He closed his eyes,accepting his fate as the fire raged around him.
His consciousness slowly fading away and everything went dark.
***
A bird was flying on the early morning sky, passing above the forest as it descended and perched on a tree branch to rest.
"Chirp! "
It looked down below as there's someone who's also resting on the same tree.
A young man was lying with his back on the tree as he seems asleep with a wooden staff resting beside him.
He wore his hood as a few strands of black hair peeked out from under the edge of his hoodie.
"Hah! "
His eyes snapped open with sweat forming on his forehead.
" ..... "
Realized it was just a dream, he took a deep breath to calm his heart which was beating fast.
The little bird fly down and landed at the young man's lap.
"Chirp! "
"Good morning."
The young man smiled as he caressed the bird's head with his point finger which the little bird enjoyed it.
Then, the bird perched on his left shoulder and rest comfortably.
He looked at the field of grass before him swaying as a gentle breeze carried the earthy scent of dew and soil.
"Nice weather we're having." He leaned back against the tree as he closed his eyes.
"You know in my world there's nothing like this."
"Chirp?"
He looked at the scenery before him where it's like a fantasy.
Floating Islands.
Mystical Creatures.
And many fantastic things can be seen from where he was resting.
"I should say it's only something where you can only see it in a fairytale book. "
I wasn't even from this world to begin with.
***
There's a popular novel about the female protagonist who is a girl born from a normal background who try to become a hero to save the world.
"Lily In The Flower Garden"
After confirmed this world was the same with the novel, I chose to become a hermit and life in solitude far from human civilization.
There's are many reason as why I chose this path, but one thing for sure is I want peace.
That's why I live in this forest which humans didn't dare to come.
This forest isn't just an ordinary forest, it's dangerous beyond what you ever think.
The Forbidden Forest.
It's a forest where it's hell for humans and no one can survive in this place.
But I did.
Even I build my own house inside the forest.
Sometimes only a few people who is strong,brave or crazy enough to enter this accursed forest to gather materials.
This forest was sometimes attacked by the human soldiers to reduce the population of magical beasts.
But the forest still exist until know as it's not easy to destroy the forest without the resistance of magical beasts living inside this forest.
Except that day.
"... "
I stared at a large hole which is not far from where I rest.
It's a big scar which the forest have ever received so far among many attacks.
"Chirp! "
"Haha,no I'm not sad.Thanks for your concern."
The little bird noticed my sadness as it try to cheer me up.
This little fella is my first friend I made when I first woke up in this forest where I have a hard time to adapt here.
Even with survival skill I know, I barely survive here where the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest was normal.
Not only because this forest is full magical beasts but also living plants where they camouflage, lure their victim with sweet fruits, trapped and swallowed them. /many of them lure prey by mimicking harmless flora but once you get close... They strike
There's no way I could survive with this kind of wildlife!
That's when this little bird came and save my life.
It supports me in anything it can do.
From how to avoid danger and which fruits are edible to eat or deadly poison for human.
It teach me a lot of things that even I doubt this bird isn't actually an ordinary bird.
"Thanks to you, I can finally adapt here. "
"Chirp! "
The bird chirps happily on my shoulder as I gazed at the horizon where the sun was slowly rising behind the mountains.
"It seems I should bring some popcorn."
"Chirp! Chirp! "
The bird chirped excitedly as I chuckled.
"Ok, let's go home and make some food for our breakfast. "
I stood up and grabbed my wooden staff as I walked back inside the forest to get back to my home.
"Hm? "
"Chirp? "
But my peaceful life in the forest didn't last long after that day.
The day that change my life.