I look out from behind the steel bars of my prison cell.

The dark blue sky littered with stars is the first thing that catches my eye.

‘Sometimes I wonder what the stars are doing when they are not out twinkling in the night sky. Perhaps the stars are shy and only twinkle when we are asleep. That would be slightly ironic considering how much attention they draw to themselves. ‘

‘Maybe they’re afraid of the sun?’

‘That isn’t that crazy of a thought, but I’d rather say that instead of the stars being afraid of the sun, they are trying to compete with it. While the sun shines it impressive rays in the day, the stars come together at night to compete with their one big rival, the sun. Of course, they lose every night. But still, they try again and again every night to at least come close to the amount of light the sun gives off. No matter what happens, through rain and ... sunshine, they will never give up.’

‘And what about the moon, doesn’t the moon shine too?’

I glance at the crescent moon.

‘In our profession, we often had to do things while basking in its light or hiding in its shadow. By now it must know of all our darkest secrets, and yet it has never talked. They say a friend is someone who hasn’t betrayed you yet. Does that mean the moon is our friend? ...  I don’t think so, but it clearly isn’t our enemy either or else we wouldn't be here. If I see someone who isn’t my friend nor my enemy I usually don't really care about them. I think the same thing applies to the moon. It doesn’t really care for us in particular, it doesn't for anyone. It just shines because it wants to shine.’

‘But what about you.’

‘…What about me?’

‘You have friends and enemies, but you don’t particularly care for anyone either. What are you then?’

For the first time during this conversation, I look at who I've been talking to. The cloud of smoke shifts to the side, rattling the chain connected to our hearts. This cloud is my curse; Estrella.

I didn’t look for long, but long enough for her to understand that I’m not going to answer that question.  

Once again, I look outside, but now, at the snowy mountains that fill the end of my vision.

And this time, instead of wondering about things I don’t know, I think about the things I do know. Behind these mountains is where I have to go. Soon, my final chapter will begin, and just like with every beginning, I have to take the first step.

I look at what lies before the mountains.

The Luminous Forest.

 If you would look at a normal forest from this distance, the only thing you would be able to see would be its shadow. But the Luminous forest is just like the name implies, illuminated with light,  thousands of them, just like how stars illuminate the night sky. It is the first place I have to go through to reach those snowy mountains. Merchants and travelers usually take the long route around the forest, there is a good reason for that tough.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

They’re afraid.

And I can’t blame them. Not many have managed to come out of this forest, but the few rumors that I’ve heard about it are quite accurate.  

“Flowers that entrance you with a honey like smell, only for the smell to be a poison that stings you’re skin like needles and make your mouth dry as a cork.”

“Bats that steal your food when you’re distracted and thank you by rupturing your eardrums with a screech sharp enough to shatter glass.”

“Wolves that attack after you’re blinded by a flash of light, and rip you to shreds with nails long enough to skin trees.”

‘Truly the best place for people who are looking for an untimely death.’

I hear Estrella giggling behind me. Probably because she also knows that those rumors aren’t that far off from the mark.

 ‘When will we leave?’

Estrella’s voice echoes in my head again. There is a reason why I call her a “she”. She clearly has the voice of a woman, although I couldn’t place the age of the voice in years even if you asked me.

I think about her question, currently, I am locked up inside this prison cell. But there is a reason why Estrella asked me when I wanted to “leave” and not “escape”.  

Cursed beings gain great benefits but will always pay the price with interest. And when they themselves can’t pay, those around them will have to take over the bill. I, too, have gained benefits, but luckily my bill can be paid with time. These benefits make it so that I can escape, but the escape itself isn’t the problem, it is the part after that that is troublesome. It won’t be long until they notice my escape, and If they do, I doubt I can stay ahead of a well-trained team of mounted archers and dragoon.

‘Felix.’

‘Hmm. Oh.’

When I come by from my stupor I notice that I have been pacing up and down this room the whole time. Once again I hear Estrella giggle, but this time I smile as well. I’ve had the habit of losing myself in my thought for as long as I remember, and since Estrella is with me almost 24 hours a day, she catches me on it quite often. Suffice to say she enjoys calling me out on it.

I take a seat on my bed after deciding that I’ve been up for enough tonight. I take one last look outside before I let myself sink into a deep sleep.

At least that is what I wanted to do.

Where I would normally see the twinkling stars and the shining moon I see nothing but grey. I quickly stand up from my bed and take a better look outside. I couldn’t have been ruminating for more than ten minutes but the sky is already filled with grey clouds. How could thi…? Could it be.

‘Estrella.’

‘Felix.’

‘We’re leaving.’

Yes, now is the time to leave. No exit is more unexpected than an exit you hadn’t even expected yourself. I take one last look at the room I have been living in for the last few months. Just like the sky outside this room is grey.

I pull out one of the grey bricks.

And just like the sky outside, this room too,

I pull out the silver key inside.

has a hidden twinkle behind it.