Introduction

Into the Heart of Darkness

A man, burdened by a crying infant, ventures into the treacherous Forbidden Forest, a place of death and despair. He seeks refuge from a relentless pursuit, but finds himself drawn deeper into the heart of danger, facing the unknown and the wrath of a powerful force that lurks within its shadows.

Without any hesitation, the man walks straight at the boundary of the said "THE FORBIDDEN FOREST''

The Forbidden Forest was a place of whispered tales, steeped in a history of tragedy and terror. Its origins were shrouded in myth and legend, a tale of a fallen goddess and a demon's insatiable greed. It was said that the goddess, once a protector of the forest, had been slain by the demon for a magical stone that held immense power. The forest, now cursed, became a graveyard of the fallen, a place where life itself withered under a shroud of darkness.

The man, his face etched with fatigue and desperation, carried the infant with a gentle hand. He was a stranger to the forest, an outsider seeking sanctuary from a perilous pursuit. The infant, oblivious to the dangers that surrounded them, cried out with a piercing wail, tugging at the man's heartstrings. He tried to soothe the child, offering a bottle of milk from a small bag strapped to his shoulder, finding solace in the tiny hand clutching his finger. As the man navigated the treacherous paths, a guttural growl echoed through the silent forest.

He froze, his senses alert, his heart hammering against his ribs. The growl grew louder, closer, a primal threat that sent shivers down his spine. He knew he was not alone, that the forest's denizens had awakened, sensing their presence, and they were coming to claim their due.

As the man desperately climbeda towering tree, seeking refuge from the wolf's attack, he settled the baby on a branch. As he checking of how safe baby on a branch. Suddenly, a sharp pain in his leg caused him to scream in agony. Looking down, he saw a large black wolf biting his leg as if trying to sever it from his body. The loud scream startles the baby, making it cry. Seeing the baby's fear, he gathers all his strength and kicks the wolf as hard as he can in the head. As the wolf releases his leg, a loud scream of pain is heard. Looking down from the tree, he sees the large black wolf lying lifeless. Before he can survey the surroundings, a deep voice cut through the night, breaking the silence.

"This place is dangerous, not only for you but especially for the baby with you."

A figure emerged from the shadows, his presence a beacon of hope in the heart of the darkness. He was tall, shrouded in darkness, his features obscured by the dim light filtering through the canopy. He had arrived just in time, a mysterious savior in the man's moment of need. He took the baby from being placed on the branch of the tree and descended. He looks for the man who help them, before he can express his gratitude, waves his left hand, conjuring a bright blue light.

"Simply follow this and you will exit this forest. Leave now, for there are more dangerous things here."

With that, the man turns and walks away. Despite being amazed by the magic he has just witnessed, and fearful of what the man might do to them, the man takes a deep breath. Instead of following the magical light that created by this man by his gesture that could helpthem leave, he opts to follow the man, cautiously trailing behind.

He sees the man stop, without looking back, and say,

"Human, you are heading in the wrong direction to exit this forest. You should go the other way, not here. Go back while you still have time."

"Can we come with you? Or maybe stay for the night and leave in the morning?"

"Human, not all those who assist you are good. Go back and leave this place."

"But..."

He is interrupted by a cough, causing blood to spurt from his mouth. Succumbing to a series of coughs that weaken his knees, he collapses in pain.

"It seems your condition is serious, Human."

The baby also began to cry from its arms. A sharp cry was released by the baby, crying as if sympathizing with the man holding it.

"Please, take this baby with you. This is my only request to you. I am close to death and without..."

The man cannot finish his sentence, as another bout of coughing prevents him from speaking further. Kneeling before the man, who is now looking at him, while the baby is crying, the man remains silent. The man who rescued them simply shook his head because of witnessing his persistent coughing.

"This child no longer has parents. If this child were to die, the lives that sacrificed for its survival would lose their value,"

He said as he knelt in front of the man who was currently looking at him, while the baby he was carrying continued to cry.

Chapter 1

The encounter

A woman wandered around, carrying an empty bowl, looking around the area. She felt lost. This was her second visit to Serendipity Haven. The first time she had the chance to enter this sacred place was during the Festival of Healing Light.

The Festival of Healing Light is amagical celebration that healers celebrate annually. All tribes, including the Moonshadow Sentinels, Flamebringer Alchemists, Stormcaller Elementals, Starweaver Enchanters, and Earthbound Gaia Guardians, come together to honor their healing abilities and pay tribute to the healing energies that flow through them.

During the Festival of Healing Light, healers gather at a sacred location under the light of a full moon to perform rituals, ceremonies, and meditations to amplify their healing powers. They exchange knowledge, share healing techniques, and offer blessings to those in need of healing.

Participants adorn themselves with symbols of healing, such as amulets, crystals, and herbs, and partake in feasts featuring nourishing foods and herbal teas known for their healing properties.The festival also includes healing competitions, where healers showcase their skills in various challenges and games focused on healing and restoration. Prizes are awarded to those who demonstrate exceptional healing abilities and show great compassion towards others.

Overall, the Festival of Healing Light serves as a time for magical healers to come together in unity, gratitude, and celebration of their profound connection to the healing energies of the world.

While the Serendipity Haven is the place where the leader of the Celestine Healers stays. High Celestial Healer Seraphina is the wise and compassionate leader of the Celestine Healers, known for her extraordinary healing abilities. Under her leadership, the Celestine Healers shine as beacons of light and hope in times of darkness and despair.

She really greatly admires High Celestial Healer Seraphina, especially for allowing her and her father to stay in the "Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn," where Celestine Healers live, even though, she and her father are non-magical users. According to her father, there was a widespread epidemic when she was born which led to the death of her mother, prompting her father to leave the place of non-magical users. In short,a Celestine Healer helped her father when a large wolf attacked them in the forbidden forest. The forbidden forest is a part of "Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn," where no one is allowed to enter, unless you are the leader of the Celestine Healers or the sentinels patrolling the Forbidden Forest to ensure the safety of all people. That place is the only place she was forbidden to go to because it is said to be very dangerous. His father strictly commanded her not to attempt to enter there because that forest is cursed. According to her father, the atmosphere in that place is indeed strange. She peeked in there a few times and only saw the forest guards entering there every day.

"Where's the exit? Why does the design of Serendipity Haven have to be so complicated?"



She scratched her head as she walked through a hallway. She smiled when she saw a large door that she thought would lead her out of that place.

"Why is it that when you need to ask someone, there's no one around?"



She muttered to herself. Then she slowly pushed the door, but nothing happened. It didn't budge. She pushed it again, hoping it would move.

"Ugh!"

She sighed in frustration.

She stared at the door. the design was different compared to the other doors she had seen in Serendipity Haven.

She scratched her head.

"Maybe this isn't it. But why does this door have the same design as the main door of Serendipity Haven?"

She went to Serendipity Haven to deliver food cooked by her father to Serene Luminary Dayang, the third-strongest member of the Celestine Healers. Her father had long admired her, but because he was worried about her feelings, he had never mustered the courage to confess his love. It was only recently that she learnedabout her father's feelings for Serene Luminary Dayang when she accidentally overheard a conversation between him and a close friend of hers named Aurelius, the captain of the Celestine Healers' sentinels. That's why she supported her father in seeking the sweet "yes" from the third-strongest member of celestine healer.

She studied the door again. After two minutes, she lowered the bowl she was carrying and continued her examination. Her curiosity about this door grew, and she noticed the pattern of the door leading to one side. On the left side of the upper door, she saw a hole. She took the pendant hanging around her neck and looked at it. The pendant was from the third-strongest member, and according to her, she was prone to danger because of her persistence, which is why she needed the pendant to protect her. She took off the pendant and tried to insert it into the hole. She realized that the sentinels and those with high ranks in Serendipity Haven also had pendants like hers to open the main door of Serendipity Haven.

"Why did I only think of it now? Tsk. Yumi is really foolish,"

she said to herself.

She inserted the pendant there, then the door opened. It slowly opened, despite appearing very heavy, and made no sound as it did so. As the door finally opened, she saw guards pass by. Not even one of them glanced at her, and they continued talking among themselves. She shrugged, picked up the bowl, and walked out the door. When she had stepped out, the door closed on its own. She tried to open it again the same way as before, but nothing happened. It seemed she had no choice but to go through the forest and walk out of it. She was familiar with the forestsof the "Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn" because of her frequent gathering of medicinal plants.

She walked straight and then stopped to scratch her cheek.

"I've never been here. It seems like a different way out,"

she said.

It was bushier there compared to other parts of the "Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn."

"They probably don't use this route,"

she thought, but continued walking.

"It's been over an hour of walking. I think I'm lost."

A little fear began to rise in her heart. Her father wasn't home yet because he had gone to town to buy supplies for making medicine with some guards and laboratory assistants. Her father was skilled in physical fighting, swordsmanship, and archery, and according to him, he was also a guard back then and because of that he accompanying them as additional protection for the townsfolk going shopping.

She sat on a large rock. From where she sat, she heard a loud growl, a growl she thought came from a huge animal. It was getting closer, and her heart began to beat rapidly with fear. She slowly stood up and looked for a large tree to climb. She swallowed hard as she looked for a big tree that could serve as her refuge. Before she could find one, a loud growl came from whatever large animal it was. Slowly turning around, she let out a loud scream and quickly ran away from the huge creature that seemed very hungry and salivating.

She ran away quickly, but for an unknown reason, even though she ran at top speed, her pursuer, a massive bear, was relentless, closing in on her with every stride. The girl, gasping for breath, knew she couldn't outrun the bear alone. Her voice, raw with fear, echoed through the trees,

"Help!"

The girl, fueled by adrenaline, darted through the forest,weaving between towering trees and tangled undergrowth. She had to find a way to escape the bear's pursuit. She tried to create a distress signal by banging on a tree with a rock, hoping someone would hear her cry for help. She listened intently, straining to hear any sign of another human, any sound that could bring her salvation. But, the silence of the forest seemed to mock her efforts, amplifying her fear and desperation. The bear was closing in. She shouted loudly as she continued to run. Right turn, left turn, there were narrow paths going up.

While running, she remembered stories of bears being afraid of confined spaces, believing this might be a safe haven. A few moments of running, the girl saw it - a massive tree, its branches reaching towards the sky. Hope surged through her as she spotted a small opening at its base, that she thought she could fit into. Before reaching the large tree, her knees gave in to fatigue. Looking back, she was about to be caught by the huge bear. Using the remaining strength she had, she tried to stand up and run towards the tree, quickly squeezing into the hole that would serve as her refuge. Sitting there facing the hole, she squeezed herself in tightly. She groaned as the huge bear attacked the hole she had entered. It managed to get both arms inside and tried to reach for her. The huge bear manages to scratched her, causing her to scream, and because of the loud noise she made, the huge bear growl became even louder, almost attacking the entire tree without being able to reach her. It seemed like it wanted to knock down or split the massive tree just to get her.

Out of fear, tearsbegan to fall on her cheeks. She thought, is this her last moment? There were still many things she had not experienced, only to die there.

"Father... Help me,"

she whimpered weakly while clinging to her knees.

"Help,"

she cried with a sob as the huge bear tried to push one paw in again.

"Hel - "

Before she could finish what, she was saying, the huge bear paw suddenly fell.

The surroundings fell silent. She stared at the huge bear paw, waiting for them to move again. But after a few seconds or even a minute, it didn't move. The woman, driven by a mix of curiosity and apprehension, tentatively reached out to touch the massive paw.

As her fingers brushed against the rough fur, the paw jerked back, as if pulled by an unseen force. Startled, the woman pulled back her hand, fear coursing through her veins, and let out a loud scream. The girl's mind raced, imagining a predator, even stronger than the grizzly, responsible for the bear's sudden immobility.

The girl's fear subsides as she hears the comforting words coming from deep baritone voice outside.

"You are safe now."

She stopped screaming. A wry smile appeared on her face.

"I think, I'm safe n - " Out of fear and exhaustion, the girl fainted.

The man who had rescued the girl from outside the hole paused. After a few moments of silence, he peered into the hole and found the unconscious and sweaty girl inside. Carefully, he pulled her out and made the decision to carry her away from the lifeless bear. With the unconscious young lady in his arms, the unknown man walked away towards where the huge bear lifeless body lay. As he moved, the surroundings were engulfed in smoke, and any sign of the man and the woman he was carryingvanished as if they had never been there.

Chapter 2

Unveiling Shadows: The Mysterious Encounter"

Slowly, she began to open his eyes. She could feel the pain in her arms and legs from running as she was being chased by a huge bear. She jerked upright as he remembered what happened to her. Looking around the room she was currently in, she noticed that it was quite dark with only two lights hanging on the wall giving a dim light. Even in the darkness,

she knew it wasn't his house.

She got off the bed and saw a pair of slippers. She put them on, amazed that they fit perfectly, as if they were meant for her. She also checked the clothes she was wearing, the same ones she had on when she left their house. She noticed the bandage on her arm and some small bandage near her arms and legs.

Wearing the slippers, she headed towards the door, slowly pushing it open with caution. She was careful as she exited the room, looking around in the hopes of seeing who rescued her from the huge bear. She couldn't see the entire room, but she could see long couches, a table in the middle with some plants on it, and a single seat across it. It was near the closed window with thick curtains. In the center of the ceiling was a large lamp hanging there. She thought the house was made of wood.

"Oh, you're awake."

She suddenly looked back upon hearing a sound.

It was the deep and baritone voice that she last heard before losing consciousness. She saw a tall man wearing a pain stand collar shirt standing at the threshold of the door, apparently heading towards the kitchen of the house. She couldn't see his face clearly because the part wherehe was standing was not well-lit by the light coming from the living room.

She only nodded in response.

With the sudden appearance of this man, she then felt the strange aura of the entire house. An aura that would send shivers down the spine of anyone who entered. An aura that said you are not safe in that place. She could feel her heart rate slowly increasing due to the emerging fear from that house and what was in front of her.

"Are you afraid?"

She nodded absentmindedly.

The mysterious man standing by the doorway chuckled lightly. His laughter was as cold as ice.

"Oh, no, I'm not,"

She replied, trying to deny the feelings she had at that moment. She raised her hand and waved it left and right in a gesture of negation.

"Okay."

The mysterious man straightened his posture and slowly approached where she stood. She took slight steps backward with each of his movements, stopping as she was hit by the light illuminating the man's face. His hair was neatly styled, contrasting with the long hair she had imagined. He wore a dark suit jacket over a brown vest, paired with a crisp white shirt and a black tie. His sharp nose, thick eyebrows, and thin lips were now clearly visible, giving him a striking and handsome appearance. The light revealed his chiseled features, making her realize he was perhaps the most handsome man she had ever seen. The background, with its ornate architectural elements, added to the aura of mystery surrounding him.

"Who are you?"

He stopped a few steps away from her. He was looking at her with a serious expression, devoid of any emotion.

"I think, I should be the one asking you that. Who are you?"

She swallowed involuntarily.

"I got lost on my way home,"

She replied shortly, feeling like hedidn't believe her.

"Lost. Okay."

He responded with a series of nodding gestures to what she said.

"Whatever brought you here to this forest, do you know how dangerous this place is? You've already experienced it, and it's not just the dangers here. In the morning, leave this place and go back where you came from, and do not come back here."

There was something in his tone that instilled fear in her heart.

"This place is not meant for children like you."

She furrowed her brow at his words. She was small, yes, but she was no longer a child. She was a young woman now. In her estimation, he was only about two or three years older than her.

She couldn't help but voice out what was on her mind.

"If you think I'm still a child, how did this place become safe for someone like you? You seem only a few years older than me, right?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. He tilted his head to align their gazes.

"Human. I'm not like you."

Furrowing her brow again at his words, she wondered what he meant by it.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw him turn and head towards the room where she had woken up. A few moments later, he emerged carrying clothes, neatly folded.

He approached her and handed them to her. She took them and examined the plain white dress. She lifted her gaze from the dress he gave her. Curiously, she looked at him as if waiting for an explanation of its origin. However, he only looked at her, then raised his left hand and pointed to the door that she perceived led to the kitchen.

"That door leads to the kitchen. Turn left, you'll find a door there. The bathroom is there. You can take a bath and change your clothes."

With that, hedidn't wait for any response from her. He entered another doorway next to the room she had come out of earlier, leaving her alone in the living room, where she stood for a few moments staring at the doorway he had just entered.

Chapter 3

The Mystery of the Silent Trail

Currently, she sat at the dining table, glancing out the large window nearby where breakfast had been laid out for her. It was true - just yesterday, she had vanished into that forest, driven by her curiosity and foolish bravado. She had wandered into that wilderness thinking it was just like the forests of the Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn. A massive beast had pursued her, intent on making her its meal. She shook her head at the memory.

Looking at the bandages wrapped around her arms and ankles, she noted that the swelling and pain from her injuries were subsiding. Thanks to the mysterious man who lived in this secluded forest, she had been saved. Since he entered that room, the enigmatic man hadn't stepped outside. She decided to head back to the room where she had woken up. She lay down but found it impossible to sleep, as there was an unsettling aura enveloping the entire house.

Despite the danger, she wasn't entirely trusting of the man who had helped her. Everything about him was shrouded in mystery. Who in their right mind would build a wooden house in the middle of such a remote forest? The part of the forest she was in was certainly not a place anyone would casually wander into. Wherever she looked, there were no signs of human paths or trails.

She was startled by mysterious man who had just entered the dining room. He carried a cup, which he placed on the table before looking her straightin the eye.

"Why aren't you eating? Don't you like the food?"

There was no hint of emotion in his voice. It was as if he had a body but lacked anything inside. It felt strange every time he spoke.

"Oh, no. To be honest, everything laid out looks delicious."

She smiled at him, but she felt it came out more like a grimace than a genuine smile.

He simply nodded.

"Okay. Eat up so you can go back to wherever you came from and don't come back here."

With that, he casually took a sip from the cup he was holding.

She responded with just a nod. He had told her several times not to return to that place because it was far too dangerous. Could anything be worse than the massive beast that had tried to eat her alive? Could it get any worse than that?

After they finished eating, they trudged along the rough path. She glanced around at her surroundings, clearly noticing that no one ever came this way, as the trail looked unused.

"Are there any snakes here?"

There was no response from the man ahead of her. She suspected that even the snakes in this place would be .It had been almost an hour, by her estimation, that they had been walking non-stop. She hadn't heard him speak a single word; despite her repeated questions, he hadn't answered any of them. He walked quickly, as if his strides were twice as long as hers. If he sensed that she was falling behind, he would slightly slow his pace. But the moment he felt she was catching up; he would speed up again.

"Is there no shortcut here?"

She asked him, but she received no answer. He continued walking straight ahead. Suddenly, she thought of her father, whom she imagined must be looking for her somewhere since shehad been missing for a day. Even though he had just returned home, she knew someone must have told him she hadn't come back since last night. She was sure someone had peeked into their house to check on her, as their neighbors often did when her father was away.

While walking, something caught her attention - a rainbow-like skin lying on the ground.

She stopped for a moment to stare at it.

"Hey, you silent one. This place doesn't seem safe."

She noticed that he had stopped walking, but he didn't look back. However, she could see him nod. He confirmed her suspicion about whatever that skin was scattered around where they passed. She swallowed hard, wanting a clearer look to see how large that skin truly was.

"Uhm? what should I do?"

She couldn't move her feet; they seemed to lock in place when she realized where that skin was coming from. The last thing she wanted to see...

Snakes...

She swallowed hard several times.

"Uhm. I can't move my feet."

She said to him, managing a smile. She noticed him shake his head. He took a deep breath before looking back at her and stepped closer. A few paces away from her, he stopped.

"It's merely a snake meant to silence you."

Her eyebrows shot up at his words.

He grabbed her by the elbow and guided her toward their destination. She found her feet moving on their own to follow him, as the fear that had engulfed her slowly began to dissipate.

"Am I going to see my father again?"

"Don't make noise and be careful with all your movements. Don't do anything too loud that could attract the attention of what you're afraid of."

That was probably the longest thing he had said in a while. But after hearing this, she immediately closed her mouth and walked carefully. Even thoughshe wanted to step quickly to get out of that place, she couldn't do it. She made sure that every step she took was silent; all her movements were slow. Because she was so focused on what she was doing, she didn't notice that the young man walking in front of her had stopped, his face showing no emotion as he looked at her.

"Can you walk a little faster?"

She glanced at him. His voice was soft, but she heard him clearly from where she was standing; the surroundings were quiet except for the gentle breeze and the occasional chirp from a few birds. Aside from that, she had always had sharp hearing since she was a child, thanks to her father, who said it would help her.

"Shhhhh."

She pressed her finger to her lips as a sign for him to be quiet. She spoke without using her voice.

"Please don't make any noise. We might be heard."

It seemed he understood what she had just said because he responded in the same way she had.

"We need to get out of this place quickly because the owner of the skin you saw might be nearby."

As much as she wanted to stomp her foot in frustration, she couldn't. She felt irritated because of the danger they might face. Why did it have to be the very thing she feared the most among so many sights around them?

She mouthed,

"Wait a moment."

She noticed him shaking his head. In an instant, she saw him standing beside her. Without any warning, he lifted her as if she were a sack of rice.

She gasped at his actions.

Before she could get angry and start ranting, he spoke in a very soft voice.

"Be quiet if you don't want to become the food for what you just saw."

She clung tohis back and closed her eyes as she felt him leap and jump from branch to branch, She slightly opened her eyes just to close them again when she saw how high the branches were that he was jumping from.

This wasn't new to her, as she had seen such agility before ever since they settled in the Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn. Everyone living there was able to use and wield Magic, except for her and her father. The first time she witnessed Magic, she was so amazed and sometimes even felt envious of those who could do it.



When she slowly opened her eyes again, she was astonished that it took only a few minutes for this man to get far from where they had been standing just moments ago. All along, she had been the reason for their slow progress, while this man had the ability to move so quickly.

After a few moments, they stopped at a very large tree with lush leaves.

He gently set her down from his shoulder, as if nothing had happened, and quietly scanned the entire surroundings, just as she did. The size of the trees in that place was astonishing. She began to wonder which part of the Sanctuary of the Radiant Dawn they were in. She had already been to many forests, but this place was truly different. It seemed to be full of mysteries. How did she know? The area was somewhat dark even though it was morning; it seemed that sunlight barely penetrated there. Secondly, she couldn't understand why it was always foggy, with a cold breeze that seeped into her bones. Thirdly, the animals there were significantly larger than those in other forests she had visited.

A gentle tap brought her back to her senses from her deep thoughts.

Shelooked up at her companion, who was pointing to his lips and signaling for her to be quiet, then gestured for her to crouch down. Although confused by his behavior, she followed his cue.

She followed his gaze only to turn pale at what she saw.

A gigantic rainbow-colored snake appeared before her.

It was slithering along the ground, seemingly searching for something to eat, flicking its tongue to taste the air for any signs of life. Without realizing it, she clutched tightly to the arm of the person next to her. She felt her whole-body tremble. Even though she wanted to turn and hide behind him - because that was what she wanted to do at that moment due to the fear she was feeling - she couldn't. She felt as if, the snake would hear her if she turned to look.

She noticed that the snake had two horns on its head. Even though its colors were strikingly beautiful, the fierceness and danger it exuded were evident, ready to strike at any moment.

With every movement of the snake, she tightened her grip on the mysterious man's arm beside on her.

She saw it moving in the direction where they were both located. Its movements were very smooth as if it was already accustomed to the ground beneath it. It stopped beneath the large tree where they had taken refuge and remained still for several minutes. During that time, it felt as if time was moving incredibly slowly; a second felt like an entire year. She could also feel the trembling of her muscles and the pounding of her heart due to fear. Even though she wanted to observe its every move, the fear she felt at that moment held her back. She tightly closed her eyes and fervently prayed to Godto help them escape from the enormous snake.

The mysterious man glanced at the girl beside him and noticed how tightly she was gripping his arm. He was shaking his head in disbelief.

Then he took something from his pocket and carelessly flicked it, causing it to light up blue and scatter into the distance. It struck the thick grass, creating a noise that caught the snake's attention, and it immediately moved to investigate the source of the sound.

The snake slithered into the area where there was movement, and for some reason, it vanished like a bubble, leaving no trace of the enormous creature.

He removed the girl's grip from his arm.

"The snake is gone."

Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked down at the spot where she had just seen the snake.

"Lower your voice; the snake might hear us. What are you doing?"

Then, feeling bold, she playfully hit him on the arm, which made him furrow his brow in confusion. She winced as she realized what she had just done.

"Sorry."

She heard no response from him. He stood up from his crouched position, brushed off his clothes, and shook his arm where she had held him, which she noticed.

"Where did the snake go?"

Yumi asked in a very soft voice.

He answered without looking at her.

"I thought you were afraid of the snake. Why are you looking for it now?

You Human are so chaotic."

She stood up and faced him.

"It's not like that. I'm just asking you, sir, where the snake is because I want to know if we're safe and if we can leave this place."

In response, he placed his hands on her hips and, without warning, jumped down. He let go of her as she stood up properly and walked again as if there had never been a snake slithering throughtheir path.

She followed his quick pace, still glancing around nervously, paranoid that the snake might suddenly appear at any moment.

"Hey! Are you sure it's safe for us to walk here? That snake could come back at any time."

She looked left and right, glancing behind her to check for any movement or signs of the snake. Her companion was walking so quickly that when she looked, he was already a bit far from her.

She decided to run to catch up with him.