Lost Forest

"Hey, d-did you hear that?"

The young boy's foreboding words echo, rattle, then shimmy down my spine. Something about his shriveling voice just sends my nerves sputtering. Stirred from countlessly infesting thoughts. Even the marrow in my bones is straining, aching to spill all over the ground. As if it’s praying that it’ll find itself in deep repose, seeping deeply enough within the soil to be far away from this place. Which isn’t a good feeling to say the least. These lands, I have heard none for good stories from anyone entering the Lost Forest. Especially tales that began their ventures with such a cliche line as such.

As we walk down the only thing worth calling a path, with the corpse in tote, I attempt to respond to my partner’s squeamish concern but there's an ominously floating will-o’-wisp in the distance. It must be headed towards where the most souls have collected. Gently does it sway above our heads. It’ll travel much deeper into the forest than our journey should take us.

Or so I hope.

“Mr. Kavish?”

The boy looks more than spooked at what this forest may have in store for us.

“What is it, Seoul?”

"M-Mr. Kavish, I wanted to say that I heard a noise earlier. I think something's been f-following us… but you don’t seem well-"

I end up clicking my tongue before responding. Not at him, but at the situation that may worsen by the moment in which we are both forfeited to.

“I’m sure we have been.”

I watch his legs shake like the branches in this uncanny wind that’s begun to blow. His stocky arms and a completely solid chest betray his now shrinking composure, indubitably. I can only pray that it is not our downfall. After all, I’m sure there are far worst things in front of us than what follows behind.

"Ya need only think of what'll happen to your hands if you drop our precious cargo, Seoul.”

I snap at him. Barely eighteen years of age, I rather that he focus on completing the mission as best he could than the tormenting spirits that lurk yonder.

“Nothing else is worth your attention in the lands of Logi."

I make sure I stare directly into his eyes so the severity is understood. “Especially in the Lost Forest. Be careful not to look at the trees, too. You’ll be afflicted with madness. Stare at the dirt if ya have to.”

Seoul’s gulp following this came noisily. He tightens his grip on the ankles of the body and silently moves onward. And so do I.

And of course I'm aware of the noises, this godforsaken land is filled with nothing but... that does not mean we succumb to this treachery. No, we must stay vigilant on our Quest, else we will surely be consumed.

I shall backtrack for you, Reader. The original idea was that we would collect the body from the Kingdom of Avalon, take it carefully to the Lost Forest's graveyard to bury it, then cast the proper protection spell, on behalf of the King of Avalon. It is to slow the decaying process and stabilize a pocket for breathing until the spell is meant to wear off. It is an unusual request but there are wishes to uphold. When I think about it, I did agree to this Quest with no hesitation. No matter, there is a favor I owe this girl.

She saved us.

Anyways, in order to get to the burial site, my accompaniment and I were to pay little to no attention towards the gnawing or snarling or bone-chilling leers from the things here. Corrupted ideas that reside in these corners which human beings like us could not dare fathom. But now, I can't help but notice them, too. Everything. Every spirit, plant, and animal around us is malformed as if some vicious, twisted, harrowing swept by and greedily squeezed any soul from their minuscule, supple lives. This place was at one moment in time, the resting place for Lost souls. The irony of it all. Now the sun has ceased visiting here. Only the moon in whatever phase you fortunately or unfortunately find it in, gives light.

Tonight, there's a full moon hanging, seemingly right behind the clouds to kindly illuminate the necessary along with the… the rest. This being said, if nothing I’ve described before was enough to cast away doubts, let me frankly confirm that the land here is absolutely nothing short of grotesque. All but the animals can be seen here. Wherever their beady eyes reside. They’re around but as I’ve mentioned, only within crevices and shadows that man cannot haply, possibly comprehend. I can feel the goosebumps throbbing across my skin just thinking about them. Like every part of my being jerks and jolts on each step, warning me that we should not be here. Somewhere, my thoughts alone are solidifying their creeping presence.

"Make haste, young Seol. We owe it to the world to keep her body more or less intact."

He nods in full compliance, but is whisked once again by my tone.

I did not mean it to sound as blunt of a line as it came out to be. He should be alright. I used all the morale I could summon for the poor boy whilst minding my own suspicions of this place. There isn't much else I can say, really. I've seen many things at my age. Some things comparable to Elysium for mortals like us. Other things I wish I held not even a single wisp of memory of. This is becoming one of those wisps. We just need to keep moving.

How much time has passed?

The problem is that there are no aspects in this ever-spooking forest that prove to be a simple feat to ignore. The wind hums by with the voice of a continuously whispering sigh, only momentarily taking time to weave around to your other ear. Then, another breath is inhaled, as if someone's last moments were so insufferable that this is all they could remember just to forget the pain. Lastly, the cycle is repeated.

A pale green ooze seeps from the roasted black bark of the trees, threatening any careless hand or foot with potentially corrosive reactivity. The flowers are colored dark blue and share the same shape and pattern of petals without fail. Not one has more nor less than the next, but they all... stare... right passed our eyes with small, gentle faces almost painted across their orange centers. When we are near enough to crush them beneath our boots, they begin to weep in identical tunes from start to finish. Like they want to die; yet, as if they wish they never lived long enough to have ever reached this pinnacle. A slow and gradual groan that escalates into what I can only describe as, ‘a genderless whine that an adult would make.’

Moving on, there's the sand that covers certain patches of dirt as we walk. Something ice cold to the touch until you press a little deeper. It'll turn from chilled to warm before your skin realizes there's actually a difference. Although when you scoop some in your hand, it mysteriously turns instantly to ash or soot. Perhaps the sand lived at one point as well. Lastly, the animals... oh Reader, they are always watching-

"Why must we do this, Mr. Kavish?"

His crumbling voice certainly snaps me from a tunnel of thoughts. Thank you, Mana, for this boy’s timing.

“I only have little answer for you, Seoul.”

I look him up and down.

“Especially while the lands of Logi savor your sapid fears."

His next noisy gulp afterwards could've been heard from miles away.

I don't mean to worry him more than need be. I can feel my throat spilling with fabricated truths to stave off unwarranted behavior. This hasn’t been a delightful journey for me, either. But I suppose I should deal with him properly. I’m sure he was volunteered by relatives and has little to no idea about what’s happening in the world.

"This woman is a relic from the Human-God War and must be buried within this ancient place. There's a graveyard ahead, we just need to hurry before the animals cease their idleness."

Not only the animals, but tree stumps grew anxious. Those that were slashed from panicked adventurers inevitably condemned their attackers to the fate of the forest and were transfigured anew as saplings. Or so the story is told. These walking logs would creep only a short distance behind us, heavily breathing through the rings on their flat-topped surfaces so we can hear.

As innocuous as they seem, it does not give a hair of ease to the tension. And the boy anxiously does what any boy his age or even an adult may do to stay distracted.

Talking even more.

"Do you know a lot about the Human-God War? Mother tells me bits but strays from the real details."

He continues in a whisper just a little louder than the wind. His brown eyes wide and full of fearful curiosity.

"She believes that the gods are always listening, so we mustn't ever talk about it."

My eyebrow raises, I adjust my grip under the corpse's armpits.

"What makes you think they aren't listening now?"

There probably aren't many places the gods' eyes and ears do not reach when I give it some honest thought.

Even after confining themselves to the lower hemisphere of Omina to recover from the world breaking war. My gaze fixes on the boy who takes a slight peak behind us at the tree stumps before continuing onto his theory.

"Because this place is despicable! How can anyone stand to listen to this moaning and groaning all the time?"

For the first time upon our arrival, the atmosphere is not thick with nerves.

"Gahahahaha!"

I couldn't help but bust with laughter at such innocence. Little as it may be, perhaps Mana has granted him a gift as well.

"You are amusing, lad. Perhaps you are right. Lost must not be in your nature."

"Lost?"

The boy gives me a strange expression. A look that I return with equal puzzlement.

"Your mother must be a cautious woman to keep so much hidden. Each living thing on Omina has a soul. It guides your body and mind towards the path that makes up who you are. This is the result of The Fates.”

I almost mumble the next point under my breath.

“The three wretched gods might as well have cursed our life’s paths along with it.”

I then clear my throat, continuing on.

“Those who are Lost have strayed away from their path and in extreme cases..."

It sure is a distasteful reminder of where we are.

"The soul ends up separating completely from the body and wandering off, it does desire to be derailed. But that is where we are. A neutral region where all the souls, especially during the war collect, called Logi. We were not meant to fight one another... The souls reside here for eternity without disturbance because of the single agreement made during the old battles. 'Logi shall not become a land known of bloodshed, the souls be at peace until their time of passing.'"

Before I know it, the graveyard's wooden fence comes into view. There is no sigh of relief until we’re out of this forsaken overgrowth though.

"Then what did you mean that Lost must not be in my nature? And why did the gods and humans fight in the first place, Mr. Kavish?"

As we approach the gate of the fence, he places the body's feet on the ground, and I heave the upper half up and the arms over the boy's shoulders. He may be young, but he is strong for someone a few inches under my height. Aside from his commendable physical prowess, I can feel the suspense raise through the air while I fiddle with the lock on the door.

"Hm. Got it."

The lock must be rusted inside, judging from the amount of force it snaps open with and effort it took to slip the key inside. We watch as the gate creeks open like nails to an overly sensitive chalkboard. How welcoming. I'm glad nothing follows us past this point. Or so it feels that way. As if they wish not to disturb any soul’s slumber, too. I'm also grateful that we've pushed past the more horrific sides of this region, or at least until we go back home. For now, the rest of the process is fairly simple compared to the journey. So I take a moment to give a response.

"It is rare that any adventurer makes it here and back alive. But you were meant to make your way here. Seeing how we are both in good shape must mean you have been following your path quit dedicatedly. Thus, you are far from a Lost one.”

I let Seoul carry the body to a vacant spot inside the graveyard. I then point with a head nod for him to lower the body gently next to us. Digging does not require any effort truly, the soil is soft and possibly even fertilized. So only ten minutes at most go by as we make a large enough hole and one that’s somewhat closer to the surface than most bodies would typically be buried.

“There is a prophecy dictated by The Fates, that is why we fight."

The words came out so triumphantly that the boy looks at me as if he has laid eyes upon a hero from the old ages. Not that I mind the small ego boost.

We carefully drop the body inside the hole we made. Cover up the hole. And voila, I plant a single rose seed that was in my back pocket so others do not bury on top of her.

"Does this mean our Quest is complete?"

I kneel down in front of the grave, a wandering thought occurs. What if the blue flowers may turn this seed into their own kind one day? Then I close my eyes to dismiss the idea.

Clasping my hands together, I level them to a bowed head. I can feel the air begin to swirl, no longer sighing or whining quietly. It stirs and wisps as if to shake loose from any souls that are attached. I'm sure this would be the boy's first time seeing a spell casted, being as naive as he is.

After a moment of channeling, a green circle forms over the turned-up dirt. I gather all the thoughts, emotions, hopes, dreams, faiths, wishes, desperation, and determination that I can muster before reciting a single prayer.

May the gods tremble from their reign. As one day, you’ll rise again. For the prophecy calls to you…

In the essence of change.