The air outside the Crystal Empire’s gates was crisp with morning stillness, the sun barely rising over the eastern hills. A large stone arch loomed over the party of five—Kaida, Alric, Seraphina, Lorien, and Lysara—each dressed in light combat gear suited for movement and survival. No clanking armor today. Just leathers, light chain, and plenty of tension.
They stood just outside the city gates, which hummed with magic and security, flanked by royal guards keeping silent watch. Yet there was no sign of Temu.
Kaida looked around, shifting the strap of his supply bag. “Where’s Sensei?”
“She’ll be here,” Alric said, arms crossed. “Don’t worry. She’s probably waiting for the right moment to make a dramatic entrance.”
“Or she’s about to jump down from the roof and scare us again,” Seraphina muttered, hand hovering near her dagger. “I swear, that woman loves theatrics.”
Just then, the main castle doors opened—and Temu stepped out, composed as ever. No surprise ambush. No booming voice. She approached slowly, her tail flicking low behind her, feline ears angled forward in focus. Her eyes were sharp and unreadable, but her presence carried weight like a storm about to break.
She stopped in front of the group.
“This is as far as I go,” she said simply.
That earned a few confused looks.
Kaida tilted his head. “Wait—you’re not coming with us?”
“Not visibly,” she replied. “I’ll be nearby. But this test is yours. Yours to lead, yours to survive.”
Seraphina raised a brow. “You’re just throwing us into a dungeon on our own?”
Temu narrowed her eyes. “If you’re not ready for this, turn back now. The Enchanted Forest is not what it seems. It’s alive. A place built to deceive. To test. Each ring of it is like a stage—designed with purpose, danger, and secrets.”
She stepped forward, her voice lowering.
“This forest doesn’t just hide monsters. It warps what’s real. It’s a world of Truth and Lies. If you can’t tell the difference… you won’t make it far.”
A heavy silence followed her words.
Then she turned to Alric and pulled a rolled parchment from her cloak. “This is a map of the rings. Don’t lose it.” Her gaze sharpened. “And don’t stray from your team. Ever.”
Alric accepted the map with a quiet nod.
Temu straightened, looking over them one last time.
“Remember your training. Watch each other’s backs. And if something doesn’t feel right… trust your instincts over your eyes.”
With that, she stepped back and gave a curt nod to the gatekeepers.
The great steel gates groaned open behind them, revealing a pair of enchanted carriages lined with padded seating, fitted for travel beyond city boundaries. They climbed aboard in silence, tension settling in the air like a drawn bowstring.
As the gates slowly closed behind them, there was a faint pulse of magic—as if the city itself exhaled. A point of no return.
The journey to the Enchanted Forest’s entrance was quiet. The road wound through sprawling green fields and low hills, the scenery too peaceful—almost deliberately picturesque.
Kaida leaned against the window, watching the distant treetops grow closer. From here, the forest looked lush and inviting. A patchwork of bright emerald leaves, sunlight dancing through high canopies. Birds chirped. Butterflies flitted lazily past the carriage.
“This looks… normal,” Kaida murmured.
“Exactly,” Lorien said, eyes narrowed behind his glasses. “That’s the first lie.”
Lysara sat upright, hands folded on her lap. “The forest’s outer ring is meant to lull travelers into a false sense of security. The deeper you go, the more the forest reveals its true nature.”
Alric opened the map Temu had given him. “There are five rings in total,” he said, tracing the markings with a gloved finger. “The outer ring is the safest—if you can call it that. Low-tier creatures. Slimes. Goblins. Minor beasts. But the moment we cross into the second ring, the difficulty spikes.”
Seraphina leaned over. “So, dungeon rules. Each section’s its own challenge.”
“Pretty much,” Alric confirmed. “Temu called it a living dungeon.”
Kaida sat back. “So… it’s not just a forest. It’s a trial.”
Lorien added quietly, “And it’s watching.”
That made everyone pause.
“What do you mean?” Kaida asked.
Lorien pushed his glasses up. “For the past few minutes… I’ve felt it. A pressure. Like someone’s observing us. But not from any one direction. It fades in and out—almost like it’s part of the wind.”
Alric looked up, scanning the tree line. “I’ve felt it too. It’s subtle… but it’s there.”
Even Seraphina nodded. “Yeah. Like when you know someone’s staring at you—but no one is.”
Kaida glanced between them, unease prickling down his neck. “Why haven’t I felt it?”
“You’re not attuned yet,” Lysara said gently. “Sensing presence, aura, intent—it comes with time. Right now, your instincts are still calibrating.”
“Great,” Kaida muttered. “So I’m blind in a haunted forest.”
“Not blind,” Alric said. “Just… green.”
Kaida groaned. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Every second.”
They shared a chuckle, the tension easing slightly.
Then the carriage slowed.
The tree line had risen like a wall around them—tall trunks twisted with moss, leaves shimmering a little too perfectly in the light. The entrance was a natural break between two massive stone pillars choked in ivy, forming what looked like the jaws of some slumbering beast.
A sign, half-buried in vines, read:
Welcome to the Enchanted Forest — Ring One: Verdant Lie
The carriage driver turned back and gave them a flat look. “This is your stop.”
Everyone gathered their things and stepped out.
The moment Kaida’s feet hit the soft forest floor, he felt a shift. The air was thick. Not heavy—but full of movement. Like it breathed. The trees rustled, though there was no wind. The shadows moved subtly against the light. A soft hum echoed in the distance, like the forest was whispering.
“Alright,” Alric said, tightening his grip on his sword. “Time to form up.”
Kaida looked around at his team—his comrades. Each one steady. Ready. And for the first time, despite the danger ahead, he felt… like he belonged.
The forest loomed, inviting and dangerous.
But they stepped forward anyway.
Together.
To be continued…
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