The forest manifests itself as a sanctuary. The light filters through the foliage and Sely admires those column-like trunks.

The plant variety is remarkable, but thick-trunked, needle-leaved evergreens dominate the landscape. The undergrowth is full of fragrant humus and brown mushrooms and mosses.

With every step, Sely and Filo must avoid the tangled roots that emerge from the ground and…

The spiderwebs!

Following Filo, Sely continues to be amazed by the golden reflections of the long threads hit by the sun's rays.

They are widespread spiderwebs, very vast and without a precise shape which, however, swing following what remains of the sea breeze.

“Don't touch them, under any circumstances.”

“Yes, you told me. Instead, you move as if you know the area well.”

Filo continues to advance and lowers himself under a branch free of wires.

“Yes, as an undertaker I have a lot of free time. I have always liked this forest. I don't talk to spiders, but over time we have established a certain harmony.”

“You know, it's very nice of you to say that.”

“Why? Were you afraid that everyone in the city hated insects?”

“Well, how can I say…”

Filo stops and turns smiling. “Haha, I can't blame you! I only know five or six people who don't hate insects. I, Toslevi, and you don't know the others.”

“E-Endya?” Sely turns red as she asks.

“Who? Him again? Ninth. He hates you. Imagine that there were days when he raved about rediscovering the ancient art of insecticides!”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Sely gasps and her antennae go limp; she can't believe it. She knows well what insecticides are.

In the third book of the Silver Chronicles…

I do not want to think about it.

Why hate ourselves so much?

“Filo…”

The young man nods and starts walking again. “Tell me, but let's not stop.”

“Filo… you're not lying to me, are you?”

“Would I have any reason?”

“I don't know… I'm not good at these things. Dad says humans lie and..."

“True, but they do it if they have something to gain or hide.”

Sure. So…

“…Can I trust you?”

“Ahahah, Sely what are you saying? These questions, at this point, are a bit out of place.”

“HUH!? And why on earth?”

“Because we're doing something dangerous together! Our survival is strictly linked to mutual trust, ha ha!”

Filo's relaxed tone, his golden hair camouflaging among the spiderwebs.

Yes, it has to be that way.

It's right.

Calm.

Peace.

It's nice to indulge in moments of relaxation and Sely feels heartened by those words.

⁂

It is now broad daylight, but there is no trace of the clearing.

“Filo, aren't we lost?”

“The webs have changed, it happens now and then, but the path is more or less the same. We'll be there soon, don't worry.”

“What happens if we get entangled?”

“We remain imprisoned. In itself, it's not serious, but we risk attracting the attention of some spiders who don't know me. In that case, there would be trouble, it would eat us up.”

Sely looks around. The spiderwebs do not have the same density everywhere, certain passages are real walls of threads, while in their path there are only a few filaments.

“Has it ever happened to you?”

“Yes, as a child. Luckily I was found by a son of the spider king, and since the annual sacrifice had just been paid… well, I was lucky, don't you think?”

“I would not know…”

… but I think so.

Filo raises an arm, causing his cloak to flutter.

“What?”

“Shh! Stop.”

The boy bends down and starts walking slowly, trying not to make any noise.

The reason is clear to Sely, she had been hearing voices before.

I didn't think they were a problem, maybe Filo understood what they were saying.

Or maybe he knows them.

“They're two people right?” Sely's voice is low and she follows Filo behind the trunk of a large tree.

The boy's smell no longer bothers Sely, she is now used to it and it is strongly mitigated by the fresh smell of musk.

“Yeah, look.” Filo waves his hand, pointing out beyond the bark.

Leaning forward, Sely sees two hooded men in wide-brimmed hats talking a few plants ahead.

From that point, Sely hears well, and the conversation…

… there is no doubt! They are my father's killers!