Chapter 3

Chapter Three.

A child's dream is no dream at all.

The world came alive in a symphony of unfamiliar sounds, weaving together the creaking of wood, the soft crackling of the hearth, and the rustle of leaves just beyond the cabin walls. Kael awoke with a gasp, his heart pounding as he bolted upright in the makeshift cot. Panic surged through him like a charged current, and he instinctively looked around, his mind struggling to piece together the fragmented remnants of his last memory.

"Where am I?" he asked himself, voice filled with confusion and fear.

He remembered stepping into the forest, at first he was scared as there were many rumors and stories about it. And it was quite far from the estate and the village.

But, he wanted to grow stronger. The maids and the servants from the mansion said that if can get the fruit of miracles in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, he will be granted with strength and power.

That's why he sneaked out, he wanted that power. And when he got to the entrance he was drawn by something he couldn't quite identify—a whisper, perhaps, or a curiosity that beckoned him deeper into the shadows. 

Kael thought that he may be the chosen one just like the legends, like any other children who dreams. He had felt brave and foolish all at once, but now, as the memories flooded back, terror gripped his chest. The Forbidden Forest was no place for everyone. 

It was a nightmare.

Had he lost his way? What was he doing here, in this unknown cabin?

The dim light filtering through the small window illuminated the cluttered space, revealing shelves of potion bottles, jars filled with dried herbs, and an array of strange but intriguing items. Everything felt strangely out of place and yet it has a comforting vibe.

Kael's gaze darted nervously around, searching for an escape as adrenaline coursed through him.

He needs to get out of this place! He doesn't know but he might be in danger.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside, her silhouette framed by the lingering light of the outside world. 

It was Elena. 

As she entered, Kael's heart raced even faster, not just from fear but from a mingling of confusion and instinctive dread. Her presence was both welcoming and ominous.

"You're awake." Elena stated her tone was warm yet her eyes were piercing cold, as if she was looking at an experimental animal.

Kael felt the weight of her gaze and could not help but tremble in fear. "Where am I?" he croaked, his voice hoarse from fear and anxiety as he took a step back. Trying to get away from the woman in front of him.

Elena watches him, her eyes following the small child.

She suddenly smiled.

"You're in my cabin." Her tone was firm, but the edges were softened by a hint of warmth. "You were hurt, so I brought you here to heal."

Kael suddenly got goosebumps as he heard him, how can there be a cabin in the middle of the forest? Didn't they say that there are no humans who survive in the forest? Then why is there a person in front of him!?

Kael's breathing started to get shallow, the thoughts that ran to his head were quite deep. The sudden memories in his short travel in the woods painted him pale. The strength in his body is slipping away as he looks at Elena's purple eyes.

'MONSTER!' it was all Kael could think, a shift-shaping monster!

Elena just watched Kael be consumed by his thoughts, she was slightly amused as she can already guess what this little boy was thinking.

To test it, she took a step closer. Which made Kael tremble in fear and panic.

"Stay back!" He shouted.

"My master—Sir Lucien of Curdo Empire—will not spare you if you touch me!" Kael threatened as he grabbed a piece of furniture he could get to point at Elena, brandishing it like a sword. 

Elena stopped in her tracks as she laughed out loud. Making the young boy tremble in fear and panic.

"W-Why are you laughing!?" He couldn't help but question her, does his threat seem so unbelievable that even this monster doesn't believe him?

"Poor child." Elena said in a low voice.

Kael who lost his mind for a second looked up, and there he saw an expression he won't forget.

It was a mixture of pity, disgust and unworthiness.

Kael's body shakes as his knees give up, making him kneel through the floor. Slowly despair has consumed his heart, he can never get out of this, he wishes he was stronger so that maybe, just maybe, people will believe him that he was a disciple worthy of his master's teaching. 

To be acknowledged. That was the only thing he wanted.

He wished that this was all a dream, he wished he never went to this forest, he wished to see his master for the last time, but the woman in front of him denied him of this wish.

In front of him is the reality.

His dreams were no dreams at all, it was all a nightmare.

Just as despair overwhelmed him, a sudden knock at the door shocked him back to the present. Kael glanced toward the door, the noise shaking him from his brooding thoughts.

"Dinner is ready" a voice called from the other side. It was cold and monotone, tinged with a strange otherworldliness.

Elena straightened up at the sound, an expression of mild assumement flitting across her face before it settled back into something calm and neutral. "Get up." She gestured toward the door as she turned to him.

"Downstairs to eat." 

Kael blinked, momentarily taken aback. His mind raced—'Why would she feed me?' Did monsters typically feed their prey before consuming them? His body hesitated, caught between disbelief and obligation.

Elena who was silently observing him was amused by his expression, it was clear and obvious as if she was reading an open book. 

It's been a long time since she saw someone so expressive and lively.

"No matter what you choose, you will end up dead." Elena stated as she walked towards the door, leaving Kael behind.

Kael, who heard her, was stunned, and didn't want to move. But he didn't have a choice. The thought of being left alone in this cabin, vulnerable and at the mercy of whatever magic it held, pushed him onward. Resigned, he slid back onto his feet, heart still hammering in his chest as he moved toward the door.

Elena opened it, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling downward into shadows. Kael followed her, stumbling slightly, unsure if his legs would hold him. 

As they stepped into the dimly lit space below, Kael was suddenly blind to the shadows, and what caught his attention was the figure standing at the living room. 

Was is man? A woman?

Kael doesn't know, he's very pretty and handsome at the same time. And his mismatched eyes, one bright blue and the other a piercing green.

Kael's breath hitched

"Welcome," Alterna greeted in a monotone voice, staring at him with a curious intensity, as if he were analyzing him like a rare specimen. 

Kael felt the hair on the back of his neck rise at his cold demeanor. It was unsettling, and he found himself increasingly unsure of this entire situation. 

"Sit," Elena instructed, motioning to a wooden table adorned with an array of colorful dishes, each steam rising into the air like gentle spirits. 

Kael looks at Elena, it only registered on Kael mind the otherworldly beauty the person or monster in front of him has. He wasn't looking before as the room where he woke up was dimly lit.

Elena raised her eyebrows at Kael when he saw the young child looking at her in surprise.

Elena motioned to the food on the table, "Eat."

Kael, who escapes his thoughts, looks at the table. The aroma was intoxicating—roasted meats, herbs, and something sweet that sent his senses spinning. Awash in confusion, Kael hesitated. 

'Were they trying to poison him?'

Elena caught his gaze, amused by his hesitation and suspicion. 'Good, at least he learned something useful in Lucien's place.'

'What a cautious child'

And as is if to tease and test him, she placed a bowl in front of him, her demeanor somehow more serious. "Even if they are poisonous, you need to eat to regain your strength. You can't fight off the dangers of the forest if you're weak."

Kael is stiffed by her words.

'They are really trying to poison me!' Kael was in a dilemma, thinking of many ways to get out of this house. 

Alterna who was looking at Elena felt somewhat strange, her master isn't fond of humans. But she knows that her master is an eccentric and defiant one, no wonder she was friendless even in this forest.

Now she is curious about this human child too. The forbidden forest is surrounded by fog, it only has three pathways once you enter the forest.

First is the exit, meaning you are still out of the forest, either you came back from where you entered or you are on the other side of the entrance.

Second is the central plane of the forest, this is where the head guardian of the forest lives along with its people.

Lastly is death. That's it, you died.

But this child was found near the territory of Elena, which was also strange.

Elena, who saw Kael having a mental breakdown decided to stop teasing the child. "Eat, Alterna didn't put any poison on it. It's not her hobby to poison people." she said.

Kael, who heard it, looked at Elena before turning to the other person in the room who was also looking at him intensely.

He was scared that if he didn't eat, the person named Alterna would kill him.

Despite his reservations, hunger gnawed at him, a reminder of his long, grueling trek through the woods. Cautiously, he picked up a spoon, his hands trembling. Kael took a tentative taste, skepticism mixing with hunger as he brought the food to his lips.

Alterna who heard her master was confused, it was her hobby to experiment with poison and put it on some foods and things.

Elena looks at Alterna and wink at her.

To Kael's shock, the flavors exploded in his mouth. The roast was tender, infused with herbs that sang against his palate. It was unlike anything he had ever tasted. 

"This… is good," he mumbled, glancing up at Elena, who wore an amused expression.

"Of course it is," she replied, leaning back slightly. "It's not poison."

Elena looked at him seriously. "Now tell me, how did you get in here child?"