ARCEUS PENDRAGON

A week passed until we finally reached the entrance to the Forest of Dreams. By the way, it really lived up to its name. I anticipated that in another week, we would reach the Tenryuu mountains.

Fortunately, our journey proceeded without incident. I spent a lot of time playing with Anastasia and practicing a couple of simple spells with Adelaide.

The trees became taller and more ancient, their trunks twisted into strange and beautiful shapes that reminded me of the surrealist paintings I used to admire in my past life.

The rattling of the carriage rocked me gently as we advanced along the insidious path. The tree trunks became more twisted and ancient, covered in luminescent moss that emitted a soft bluish glow in the growing twilight.

Though, honestly, who would call this forest the Forest of Dreams? Sounds like the title of a cheap fantasy novel.

Anastasia interrupted my internal ramblings by cheerfully waving her hand, —Look, Arceus! Do you see those giant fireflies? They're the famous Dancing Moons of the forest!

I followed the direction of her finger and, indeed, huge luminous insects the size of fists were floating lazily between the trees. Their bodies emitted flashes of light that seemed to dance in the growing darkness. I couldn't help but move closer to the window, nothing that glows like that in nature tends to be harmless. I wonder if they're poisonous...

I noticed how a shadow seemed to cross my mother's face, her blue eyes appearing to contract slightly while scrutinizing outside the carriage.

A shiver ran down my spine, not from fear, but from the sudden understanding that something wasn't right. "Great, just what we needed to make this trip more interesting: an ominous presentiment."

My father must have sensed the change in my mother's expression, because he asked from the driver's seat —What's wrong, dear?

—I'm not certain —mom responded in a low voice—. But something doesn't feel right. The forest is... too quiet.

My father said nothing but I imagined he was frowning. I sharpened my ears, realizing that, indeed, apart from the noise of the carriage and the occasional flashes of the Dancing Moons, the forest seemed to have sunk into an unnatural silence. You couldn't hear the song of nocturnal birds, nor the whisper of small creatures in the undergrowth.

This doesn't look good at all, I told myself, feeling how anxiety began to grow in my chest. In my previous life, this would be the moment when the protagonist of a horror movie would make a stupid decision.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

—Mom? Is everything alright? —I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

Adelaide forced a smile, stroking my white hair. —Everything is fine, my little one —she responded, in what was clearly a white lie—. I'm just a bit tired from the journey.

Yeah, right, I thought, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. And I'm the King of the Dwarves. Come on, mom, I'm small, not stupid.

Anastasia, always the more perceptive of us two, wasn't so easily fooled. Her red eyes moved from our mother to our father.

—Something's wrong, isn't it? —she asked directly.

Well done, sister. Now prepare for mom's inevitable evasive response. Adelaide looked at Anastasia with an ironic smile. —We're being cautious, my child —she responded carefully—. The Forest of Dreams can be unpredictable, and we must be prepared for any eventuality.

Translation: "Yes, something's wrong, but we don't want to scare you," I mentally interpreted. I appreciate the attempt to protect us, but honestly, I'd rather know what we're facing.

Anastasia nodded, pursing her lips. Without saying another word, she moved closer to me and wrapped a protective arm around me. I cuddled against her, seeking comfort in her presence, although a part of me felt a bit embarrassed for needing protection.

Come on, Arceus, you have an adult's mind. You should be the one protecting your sister, not the other way around. The carriage continued advancing, going deeper and deeper into the depths of the forest. The trees became denser, their branches intertwining over the path, creating a natural canopy that blocked much of the evening light. The shadows lengthened, dancing unsettlingly with each movement of the carriage.

—Stop the carriage! —Adelaide shouted, frowning.

The vehicle stopped abruptly, and for a moment, the silence was absolute. I felt how my heart began to beat hard, adrenaline rushing through my veins. Here we go, I mentally prepared myself for whatever was about to happen. I knew this journey couldn't be that simple.

Adelaide jumped out along with Atlas looking towards the tall trees while narrowing their eyes.

—Show yourselves, cowards! Face me face to face!

Dad, I don't think provoking the bad guys is the best strategy right now.

Then...

An unexpected change fell like lightning in a clear sky, it was a strange sensation that we all felt.

This strange sensation crept up my skin. It was hard to describe, but something about it felt... twisted. I felt this unknown sinister feeling shake my body. The same happened to mom, when I saw her usually calm expression quickly harden.

Just then, the sky was suddenly covered by thick, dark clouds. The way they moved didn't look like any clouds I had seen before. The wind began to swirl noisily over the trees.

A laugh resonated in the air. It was an unsettling laugh, darkened by the noise, that resonated and overlapped many times. Something blackish, like pure darkness, sprouted from nowhere. That unsettling black smoke, like what you might expect to sprout from a volcano, began to unite into a human form.

Tall and imposing, he wore a black robe that seemed to absorb the light around it. His face was hidden behind a white mask, smooth and featureless, that reflected light in an unsettling way.

—Well, how you've grown. Long time no see, Atlas. The legendary combat mage, it's an honor.

The mere sight of him, the mere sound of his voice, made me freeze as if something was gripping my soul with an iron fist. I felt as if my entire body had turned to ice. I couldn't do anything. My soul understood that the being before me was a being of absolute power that humans couldn't resist.

My father's face hardened and his eyes narrowed dangerously, a drop of sweat fell down the sides of his forehead, his posture tense and ready for combat.

—Who are you?! How do you know me?! What do you seek here?! —My father's voice trembled slightly.