"Ah.... Thus again I walked back to this place. This dark, damp, and plain atmosphere.... How could I forget ?”
I said to myself.
Walking again down this road brought me back so many memories.
The roaring woods.
A place that’s well known in our city, people who enter that place might as well never come back.
It’s a very deep and complicated forest that supposedly changes its shape once you’re inside of it, trapping you there forever so you’ll never escape, or maybe to be devoured by the beasts who lie inside.
I tightened my grip on cane as I walked alongside Frida.
Sweat slowly dripping down my forehead onto my eyes, a sense of fear creeping into me.
Frida looked over to my side and sensed I wasn’t feeling well, without even saying anything she understood I didn’t like this place.
She placed her hands on mine and we continued walking holding hands.
A sense of relief and warmth filled me up inside, I don’t know why but when she grabbed my hands I suddenly felt....happy ?
“so Pam, where are we going exactly ?”
Said Frida to me with curiosity filling her voice.
“Before anything I want to explain something to you”
“Oh ?”
“ ever sense I lost my eyes, there has been a strange feeling that was rising inside of me. I can’t explain it fully but ever since we got out of that damned house I felt a strong presence pushing me to the woods.”
I said to Frida.
Frida looked over to me and then down to the ground, she felt as if I was changing as to who I was before the apocalypse happened.
And it was actually true, again, who would truly stay the same after everything that went on in the world ?
“Pam...”
“yes ?”
“i... I’ve been feeling as if you’ve been holding some kind of burden on your shoulders, ever since I saved you from Jonas you always had this desperate look on your face.”
“ yeah... I won’t hide it from you but that’s true. I hate the feeling of being the man here but not being able to protect you, someone who I treasure, someone who I could call a friend.”
I said to Frida with my head aimed towards the floor.
Frida started blushing after hearing what I said, and with a shaky voice she said.
“ah is that it... I understand Pam, just please don’t overwork yourself. We’re partners, we’ll figure this out together !”
Said Frida with a smile on her face as she tightened her grip on my fingers.
We walked throughout the woods for hours on end, the path that we took was filled with thorny vines and insects. And it honestly looked like it would never end, no matter how much we walked.
Suddenly while walking Frida started walking faster and faster.
“COME ON PAM, I CAN FINALLY SEE SOMETHING !!!”
Said Frida with a cheerful tone to her voice.
Holding cane in one hand while holding Frida in the other I started sprinting to keep up with Frida’s pace.
Shortly after we finally reached somewhere, a watch tower.
“woaaaaaaaaah, Pam I wish you could see this for yourself. Right in front of us is a watch tower that’s so high it’s piercing the clouds !”
Said Frida with a voice filled with wonder.
“ What ? Since when did the woods have a watch tower that high ? If it was true then we’d have seen it before from the village.”
I thought to myself.
“Come on, come onnnn, we should get to climbing this tower if we wanna see what’s above !”
Said Frida in a excited tone.
Following her wishes I went with her up to the tower.
We started climbing and climbing this tower for what felt like an hour. With each step that we took it felt as if we were climbing the skies themselves.
“how long do we have to do this for Frida ??? We’ve been climbing this tower for the past hour now, does this thing not end ?”
I said to Frida in a tired voice.
“ I honestly don’t know, the more we move upwards the more it feels like we’re far away from the end.”
Said Frida in a confused voice.
Suddenly I felt a vibration coming from my hand, coincidentally it was the same hand that had cane in it.
“Huh cane? Do you feel something little guy ?”
I said to myself.
Cane kept on vibrating as if wanting to be used on the ground again and again.
Listening to cane’s wishes I tapped it on the ground, because of the vibrations I tapped it again 2 more times by accident.
Suddenly the whole tower started shaking violently. The vibrations were so strong me and Frida almost fell over from the side of the tower.
The tall tower that reached the clouds, the thing that if anyone looked at they’d think it won’t have a end, had now finally lowered it’s main room for us !
“LOOK PAM, WE MADE IT !”
Exclaimed Frida in a excited voice.
I grasped cane in my hands and had a warm smile on my face.
“so did you end up helping me again little one ?”
I said to cane.
Getting dragged By Frida we both ran up the tower’s stairs, soon enough reaching the top.
From the outside the top of the watch tower looked like it was a wooden cabin, and so we thought it was too before entering it. After we set foot inside the main cabin the whole atmosphere around us changed. Mystical air surrounded us left and right, the small oak wood cabin that appeared from the outside had suddenly become as big as a mansion !
The cabin now was fully furnished with fancy and elegant furniture. If you took a look at it you’d think it came straight out from France during its peak.
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“WAAAAAAAAAAH THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL PAM”
Said Frida while jumping and laughing.
“god I wished you could see this Pam, this place is so beautiful that I have never seen anything like it before”
Said Frida while grabbing my hands tightly.
“Well even if I don’t see it myself, I’ll be able to see it through your eyes darling. “
I giggled.
Frida’s face turned bright red as she removed her hands off of mine.
As soon as Frida removed her hands off of mine cane started acting weird again.
“ I wonder if there’s a certain connection between Frida and cane ? I don’t understand why cane acts up every time something happens between me and Frida.”
I thought to myself.
Cane then started gravitating towards the east side of the cabin, it felt as if it was leading me towards it.
“Hey Pam I’m going to explore this place for bit”
Said Frida to me as she was inspecting a porcelain vase.
“ I’ll be going to the east ward for a bit to explore as well, make sure not to get yourself into anything dangerous darling.”
I said as I placed my hand on my chest.
Frida giggled as she ran away happily towards the north side of the cabin to explore. If anyone was able to see her they’d immediately be charmed by how cute she was, making small jumps after each step she takes out of excitement.
I took cane with me and rushed towards the east ward of the cabin.
“What is it boy ? What do you want me to see so bad that you’re willing to almost burn my hands off for it”
I said to cane as I felt the great amount of heat seeping into my palms.
I continued running with cane in hand guiding me to the right direction, but suddenly something happened.
The way I perceive the world was different from others after I lost my sight. Most people would depend on their eyes to see, but since I couldn’t I had to use my other senses.
After losing my sight I found another way to help me see the world better, I used the vibrations around me !
Everything in this world has a set amount of vibrations to it, each object or living being omits a vibration of its own, and when they start interfering with each other I start perceiving the world.
In short I can see the lines of vibrations that the world omits, it’s not as proficient as seeing with eyes but it helped me get this far.
Suddenly after running for a while everything stopped.
Cane stopped shaking, his temperature returned back to normal, as if he was scared....
The world started getting more and more black, until nothing was visible, not even the vibration lines the world omits.
“HELLO ? WHAT’S GOING ON ? “
I started screaming in panic.
Slowly but surely my 5 senses started fading away as well, I screamed again and again trying to get anyone to notice I’m here, but it was to no avail.
No matter how much I screamed, no matter how much I cried, no matter how much I ran, nothing worked.
Soon after I couldn’t hear anything, not even my own voice. Afterwards I couldn’t smell anything, my nose lost all viability. My voice suffered the same fate as it probably disappeared along the rest, I couldn’t tell for certain though since I lost my hearing first. And lastly my sense of touch, I felt as if I was swimming in the deep void, unable to feel anything.
Sitting where I was filled with distraught I wasn’t able to do anything but wait for what would happen to me.
And then something changed, the pitch black that surrounded me started seeping bits of light.
2 orbs of pure orange light started getting bigger and bigger. And soon enough I was faced with something I hadn’t imagined before.
“Are those, eyes....?”
I thought to myself.
A feeling started to invade every inch of my body, every cell that formed me at the time felt a single feeling.
Fear.
Mind numbing fear overflowed into my body as I came into the presence of that powerful being.
An existence that I could not dream of imagining even in my wildest dreams. It felt as if I got teleported to the big deep space, and soon I witnessed the stars....
Those orange eyes like 2 big suns looking at my soul, looming over my existence judging every action I make.
With pitch black holes for pupils it devoured anything around it, it felt as if I came in contact with huge black holes ready to rip me to shreds in any second.
Suddenly the creature started smiling, with teeth as white as snow, and a mischievous smile it gazed at me.
Sounds of laughter was being heard everywhere, as if the whole universe was now mocking me for the poor fait I’m about to go through.
But then !
The laughing stopped as a Grace filled being descended the heavens to face off that creature.
Looking closer at that being I started to slowly recognise it, and how could I forget ?
With blue hair like the ocean, sapphire eyes that were bluer than any other gem, and white skin as pale a snow.
The universe resonated as it pronounced her name, for even the heavens trembled at the sight of an existence such as hers.
“ the nova maiden, Naos”
Proclaimed the universe.
“ long time no see Rigel”
Said Naos.
Suddenly the enormous creature dilated in size and became Human in form.
With a muscular physique, a flaming orange mane around his head, and a face resembling that of the king of the jungle, he came forward to face Naos.
“the Nemean lion who rules the skies, Rigel.”
Said Naos with a hateful expression.
And like a loud roar, the universe started shaking once Rigel started speaking.
“ So you intend to get in my way yet again don’t you Naos ? Didn’t you learn after what happened with your little brother ?”
Said Rigel with a smug evil look on his face.
The world trembled as multiple planets started to shatter from around us, the fair beautiful maiden that once saved me has now been enraged by a cunning lion.
“You.....THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME YOU BREATH YOU DIRTY FUCKING CAT”
“HAHAHAHA SUCH A NASTY THING TO COME OUT OF A PERSON WHO SOLD HER HONOUR TO BE A HUMAN’S SLUT, THATS WHY YOUR BROTHER ENDED YO BEING PUNISHED IN YOUR STEAD”
Said Rigel.
I felt as if I was witnessing a fight that would change the principles of this world itself.
All the ocean waters and rocks from the shattered planets started gathering behind Naos.
And the bright flames of a thousand suns gathered up behind the bright lion Rigel.
If a mere human like me would sit still here I would be smashed just by the side effects of their fight.
Naos then looked back at me as she was facing Rigel.
“ begone human, this place is no place for mortals. I left you with a parting gift, if you’re strong enough then come find me after you proclaim the power’s that are rightfully yours. ”
Said Naos before launching me away thousands of miles away.
Because of the immense speed I gained from being thrown away with such force I travelled across the universe, witnessing the beginning and end of multiple civilizations.
Then without a warning my body slammed the wall of the room and I woke up inside the wooden cabin yet again.
Pain traversed throughout every single nerve in my body, feeling as if I was run over by a huge truck weighing a 100000 pounds.
Surely enough I lost consciousness after mere seconds because of the great deal of pain.
In my sleep I witnessed something.
Another big black space, but this time it wasn’t as hostile as the last.
I sat there and I heard whispers from all around me, they seemed as if they wanted to warn me ?
“fear.... Old... King”
Was all I could decipher from the thousands of whispers.
“fear the old king ? What could that possibly mean ?”
I said to myself.
Suddenly the whispers became more and more violent, and a pitch black entity came forward from the shadows.
It spoke with the voice of the shadows, as if each word it said was powered by the thousands....no millions of whispers in this place.
“Fear the old king”
Said the being.
“ Who’s the old king ??”
I said in confusion.
“DONT LET HIM KILL THE OATH BREAKER BEFORE WE DO !!”
Shouted the black entity in anger while pushing me away.
Immediately after that I woke up.
“GAH”
I gasped immediately as I reached my hands out in front of me.
I suddenly found myself inside a big warm bed, I was confused as to where I was, but it was apparent I still was inside the watch tower.
I felt around me and I noticed Frida holding my hands while she was on the side of the bed.
It appears that my sudden gasp waked her up from her sleep.
“Huh... When did I fall asleep ? WAIT PAM ??? ARE YOU OKAY ?!”
Said Frida as soon as she woke up.
Frida rushed over to hug me, squeezing every muscle in my body tightly.
“ Ow ow ow, hey Frida be a little more gentle here”
I said jokingly.
Frida looked over at me, and from her voice I noticed that she had tears inside her eyes.
“I....I.... I was so scared Pam.”
Frida said while tears started raining from her eyes.
I grabbed her head and I started patting it gently.
“ I’m sorry darling, I didn’t mean to make you worried about Me. But rest assured now, I’m doing fine.”
Frida looked up to me as I said that with a warm smile on my face.
“after exploring for a while I heard a big crash, I followed it and found you in the east ward collapsed on the floor. No matter how much I tried to wake you up it didn’t work, I carried you all the way here to the north ward myself. You were clutching to cane with as much force as you could, I wasn’t even able to release it from your hands”
Said Frida.
“Ah.... It looks like I put you through something you weren’t supposed to go through darling, I’m sorry.”
I said to Frida with a sad look on my face.
“Mmm no don’t worry about it Pam, I’m fine, and I’m happy you are too !”
Said Frida with a cheerful voice.
“but what happened Pam ? How did you end up that way in the east ward, what did you find ?”
Said Frida to me with a concerned tone.
“i don’t know if you’ll believe me, but this is what happened.”
I started explaining to Frida what happened with me, I told her everything that went on with Naos and Rigel. And unsurprisingly she found it very hard to understand everything I said.
“hmm, I honestly don’t know if I’m able to believe everything you just said. After all you’re telling me now we’re dealing with celestial beings that are able to destroy planets just because they’re angry ?”
Said Frida.
“i mean is it that hard to believe ? We already witnessed things that are almost on that level. The skies ripping apart, bloody acidic rain, a watchtower that reached the top of the skies, and a magical cabin that looks smaller outside than it really is.”
I said to Frida.
“I guess you’re right.... But it’s still very hard to believe”
Said Frida.
“i know, how to convince you then.”
I said to Frida as I got out of bed.
“ Really ? And how will you do that ?”
“ Naos told me she left a gift for me, I’ll go and retrieve it right now from the east ward. That should hold enough evidence for you to believe in me right ?”
I said to Frida as I wore my coat.
“Yeah that will probably work”
“lets go then, to find the gift that a celestial bestowed upon us humans ! “
I said as I took Cain with me, opening the doors leading to where treasure lies.