“…This is a Fortune Spring?” Alnea said, staring incredulously at the cluster of boulders in front of him. “But…”
“It does not feel anything special?” Yuri said, completing the rest of his sentence, prompting him to nod along, as she looked at him in amusement. “What did you think a Fortune Spring was going to be like? A literal spring gushing out Good Fortune for you to collect? Or a mass of Mysteries manifesting in the world?”
“…Not to that extreme, but shouldn’t a Fortune Spring have something special? At the very least, it should have some distinct characteristics that would make it recognisable at a glance…”
“If Springs of Fortune could be recognised so easily, then big sis Nyssa would not have placed so much emphasis on how we need to find them first to enjoy their Good Fortune.”
“But didn’t you find this place anyway?”
“That’s because of the—
“You two speak so much that it is starting to hurt my head,” Cecilia said, interrupting in between them, as she glanced back from the boulders to her two friends. “And who said that there is no distinct characteristic that sets this place apart from the rest of the canyon? Can you not feel the undulations coming from the boulders?”
“What undulations?”
“…Just close your eyes, and listen carefully,” Cecilia said. “Try not to resist against the boulders. Just let them come to you, to your senses.”
“…These boulders can move?”
“Are you stupid? How can the boulders move on their own?”
“You are the stupid one!” Alnea said. “You said just now to let the boulders come to me.”
“…Just close your eyes, and listen. You will understand what I am saying.”
Alnea grumbled in dissatisfaction at the girls. He had long known how unreasonable Cecilia could be, but why was Yuri not saying anything in his defence? Was there really something different about the boulders? After some hesitation, he decided to follow Cecilia instructions. There was no harm in trying listen to the boulders. At least, it would not take much effort on his part.
However, when he closed his eyes, and tried to listen to the boulder, if that was even possible, he heard nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let alone the boulder, for some reason, he was not even able to hear anything else. Except for the breaths of the two girls beside him, the world around him was deathly silent. There was only darkness, and quiet. But that was not how it was supposed to be.
Though the canyon was dark, it was never so quiet. It always had some sound or the other flowing through its reaches, being carried by the winds, or travelling through the solid ground beneath his feet. Yet, as he stood in front of the boulders, he failed to hear any sound. Just as he failed to feel any other sensations. All his senses were failing him. Especially his sense of smell.
The dank, humid smell of the air was gone, replaced by a dark, and sinister smell, wrapped around in the smell of fresh air. Fresh air? In the canyon? Could this place even be considered as a part of the canyon anymore? It surely felt like a world in itself. A world, separated from the rest of the canyon, where only the boulders—
Alnea felt the whispers dig into his robe, trying to find some kind of purchase to climb up the back of his spine, before he heard them. He knew that they were whispers, because that was what they were, whispers. From the boulders to his Heart. Whispers of an invitation. Join the boulders, they said. Become one with them, and in return, they would grant him invincibility. They would grant him strength.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Was that not what he was looking for, the boulders asked. Strength. Power. They had everything. And they would give it all to him. All he had to do was just take a step forward, and become a part of what they represented. Become a part of the great Earth. That was not such a bad idea, was it? He had been wishing for an easier, and faster way to gain strength anyways. They would grant him all his wishes. All he had—
Alnea opened his eyes, forcing all the whispers to recede from his back, from his mind, as he kept panting, trying to take in some deep breaths. They were not helping. And neither did Cecilia’s chuckle from the side. Or the apologetic smile on Yuri’s face.
“So? How was it? Do you finally understand what’s so different about this place?”
“…The temptations?”
“…They are a part of it, yes,” Yuri said, turning back towards the boulders. “There are all kinds of Fortune Springs in the world. Some of them may grant us Good Fortune the moment we find them, while others will make us struggle before granting us with their Good Fortune. However, all of the Fortune Springs have one thing in common. To earn their Good Fortune, one must pass their tests.
“These tests can be anything, from facing against enemies, to finding the Fortune Springs themselves. It is because of the latter that the rumours about how once we find Fortune Springs, we are bound to experience their Good Fortune spread in the first place. But that does not change the fact that to enjoy the Good Fortune of the Fortune Springs, one must pass their tests.
“After all, Good Fortunes always come with a risk. And those who cannot prove themselves worthy of facing its risk will only end up harming themselves if they try to forcefully accept the Good Fortune. So, even if one can find Fortune Springs, if they cannot pass its tests, then they will never be able to enjoy its Good Fortune. As for that temptation earlier, you can think of it as a test of the Fortune Spring in front of us.”
“A test… is this place… are the boulders alive?”
“They are, but at the same time, they are not,” Yuri said, shaking her head, as she turned back towards him. “It is a little complicated to explain. You will understand it yourself when you experience more Fortune Springs. For now, just know that we have finally found a Fortune Spring.”
“No… but… how does that test even works? And what happens if someone fails the test?”
“You should already know the answer to those questions,” Cecilia said with a grin, making him even more nervous than before.
“…Is it like the Origin Sea?”
“Maybe, maybe not. Why don’t you try it once, and see what happens?”
“I…”
“Stop teasing him, Cecilia,” Yuri said, breaking Alnea away from his contemplation. “The canyon is dangerous enough as it is, there is no need for you to add more chaos in to the mix.”
“I was just speaking the truth.”
“A half-truth.”
“Still a truth.”
“One that is more dangerous than lies.”
“…Fine, I won’t tease him anymore,” Cecilia said, sticking her tongue out for a moment, before turning towards Alnea. “Relax, this is just a Fortune Spring, not the Origin Sea. Nothing would have happened to you even if you would have failed its test. You just would not have been able to enjoy the Good Fortune. But I doubt that you would have failed the test.”
“…You sure know a lot about Fortune Springs,” Alnea said, staring at Cecilia. “Have you experienced them before?”
“Once, when my mother took me for a trip to the Bright Light Forest,” Cecilia said. “Of course, I was too young back then, so I was there only for the experience. I was not able to enjoy the Good Fortune. Still, I learned quite a few things about Fortune Springs from my experience.”
“…Was I the only one who knew nothing about Fortune Springs?”
“Do not be embarrassed about it,” Yuri said, patting his shoulders, while giving him a reassuring smile. “At least you know about it now.”
“I am not embarrassed,” Alnea said, turning towards the boulders to hide his flushed face. “We have already found the Fortune Spring. What are we supposed to do next?”
“…Since we have found this place, we might as well enjoy its benefits.”
“How are we going to do that though?” Alnea asked, staring at the boulders. “I still am not sure about what a place of fortune entails. And what is with these rocks, and boulders? Why are they giving out such strange whispers, and noises?”
There were so many things he was confused about. So many things he wished to know. However, instead of answering his questions, Yuri just smiled at him, and asked a question of her own.
“What do you think a Fortune Spring is, Alnea?”