Looking at his guests. Veles almost displayed the same level of shock as them. And not because this was the first time someone visited him—far from that. The reason for his surprise was that he made sure nobody would be able to disturb his slumber. Which obviously failed, considering those four somehow avoided all the preventive measures he placed.

He glanced at the lone door behind the group in wonder. This little thing still wouldn’t listen to him and was most likely the culprit behind this situation. It lured them inside and even decided to wake him up, and there had to be a good reason for doing this. Something serious must have happened in the outside world, requiring his attention. Rarely did his keeper take an active role if otherwise.

Turning back his attention to the group. He let a small strand of invisible psychic energy scrape the surface of their minds. Granting him general information about them. Interestingly enough, just a small glance was enough for him to know that this group was surprisingly decent, unlike those who used to barge inside his prison before…

A young guy who wished for the thrill of adventure and exploration of the unknown.

A woman who wanted to possess the things she only dreamed about…

And the vigorous man whose only purpose in his life was to prove his worth to someone…

He didn’t peer into more details. He generally avoided doing so—having their names and goals known was enough. But his mind could not help but linger on the girl wearing a metal collar. Unsurprisingly, he found nothing. This girl’s mind was blank, devoid of any complex thoughts. A little detail he knew even before checking—after all, her ‘gifts’ weren’t something Veles encountered for the first time...

“Just deep breaths, and take your time. Crossing into this space tends to weigh heavily on your fragile minds,” Veles advised. Over time, he discovered that once his visitors passed through the gate, they frequently became disconnected from reality. Which usually led them to act foolish, forcing him to perform things he was never pleased with.

“You are Veles? The Forest’s Guardian?” Davis asked, his voice slightly cracking. He gave his all to be respectful and calm. And Veles appreciated this. Being able to force calmness on yourself in this situation was truly praiseworthy.

But Veles had to admit that this was an interesting first question. Looks like the curious nature driving this guy had won the inner battle. Instead of asking about their current situation, he chose to satiate his curiosity.

With his hands behind his back, Veles replied. “You can relax, Davis. And yes, a variation of such a title often gets attached to my name. However, I wonder, who divulged that information to you?”

Davis gulped. Hearing his name without prior introduction visibly shook him. How Veles clearly emphasized it in his speech raised the dangers of this situation to another level. So, Davis quickly gathered his wits and replied, “I’ve learned it from the story, a story told by a drunkard named Kraguill.”

“Oh, that old man is still alive? Ha. He still goes around spouting nonsense I presume?” Veles nodded in understanding.

“Yes? I guess?” Davis replied. Unsure what to say.

“I’m very much interested in your stories,” added Veles. “But let us stop standing here. What kind of host would I be if I cannot provide suitable accommodation for my guests.”

He snapped his fingers, causing the four to instinctively close their eyes, only to show their astonishment when they opened them.

Their first reaction was amusing. They acted like children after seeing a cool magic trick, instead of the usual looks of horror some of his previous guests had displayed.

Well, each to their own, everyone had their way of reacting after experiencing the wonders of teleportation…

But he could see their reaction was slowly taken over by their new surroundings. He seated them behind a huge wooden table. The one he used for his experiments and research—which was obvious due to the enormous number of books and gadgets scattered on top of it, and the number of burns and cuts it was riddled with further proved its use.

In short, it was a mess all around them, a very chaotic one. But Veles didn’t care. This was a setup he worked best in.

“I apologize for the mess,” said Veles, not sounding sincere at that. “Your visit was unexpected, and I don’t like moving anything during my active research. It greatly disrupts my progress.”

“Not a problem at all, Sir Veles,” replied Davis. He was scanning everything around him. The night sky filled with stars, the endless grass reaching far into the horizon, and most importantly, all the contraptions placed on this decently big stone platform they were currently stationed on. “Where are we?”

That question sounded more like Davis had asked himself. Nonetheless, Veles decided to entertain him. “This ‘place’ is a sub-dimension serving as my prison,” he paused and pointed behind him. “And if you are wondering what this thing is. It’s the core responsible for enchaining me here.”

What Veles pointed at was eye-catching indeed. It looked like an oval-shaped stone, black in color, with the size reaching a two-story building. Its smooth and glass-like surface was like a precious gem, but the sheer size of it makes one think it was nothing more than a giant polished stone.

Yet the most noticeable part was the runes drawn on it. Numbering in millions. They shone royal blue as they crawled underneath the skin of a glass-like stone, not following a specific routine, just chaotically clashing with each other, displaying a mysterious mastery of magic.

Finally, at the lower part of the stone was some kind of wedge. That wedge was connected to the chain. A chain, which, at a closer look, one would notice led directly to Veles.

“It looks marvelous,” Davis admitted. He unblinkingly stared at the giant stone, probably trying to catch the meaning of the runes swirling within.

“I would agree with you if this thing’s sole purpose wasn’t keeping my body in this disturbing state,” Veles added, annoyed. “It’s funny when you think about it. A big stone is a reason why I’m powerless, why I’m in a state where I’m not alive nor dead.”

He frowned out of nowhere and stopped himself from ranting even more. His current situation was complicated, and he wasn’t sure if the stone was entirely responsible for it. Was his current state where his body was in complete stasis done by the stone, or was the stone serving as life support to keep him alive? He still couldn’t figure that out…

The only thing he was sure was that this whole situation was terrible. He couldn’t feel anything. His heart doesn’t beat. His muscles move purely by his telekinesis. No touch, sound, taste, or any other sense worked. Like he’d said, he was neither alive nor dead…

Seeing the confused state of his guests, Veles shook his head casually.

“Uh, I apologize if I men-” Davis was suddenly interrupted.

“No, no. Why would I be bothered by that? Ignore my little rant. It just stings sometimes. But that’s it. I can’t blame anybody for this situation but myself,” said Veles. Then, he waved his hand dismissively. ”Let us ignore this topic. Tell me what that old drunkard named Kraguill said about me. I haven’t seen him in years.”

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Davis heaved a sigh of relief and after a moment of gathering his thoughts, he started, “Well, when preparing for the journey into the Forest of the Forgotten, I searched for those who already had experience and sought their advice. And Kraguill was one of them. He had several trips on his record,” then Davis continued bitterly, “he told me the same things others did. To follow the rules of the forest… But when he was a few drinks in, he started talking about an entity with silver eyes, someone who came from another world and was imprisoned inside the deepest parts of the forest, just waiting to be released. He also added that this being is generous and offers help in exchange for performing simple tasks, and many other stories…”

Davis trailed off. He likely had much more to say, but Veles’s thoughtful look and gentle tapping on the table stopped him.

“So that idiot still tends to spill all the beans after a few drinks?” Veles barely contained his smile as he said this. “Good, he still hasn’t changed. But now, knowing that I’m this ‘entity’ and that those stories are real. What do you think?”

“I truly don’t know how to answer that.” Davis unsurely said. “It's bizarre in its own way... Perhaps… can you tell us what we are doing here in the first place?”

“I have no idea myself,” Veles bluntly replied. “Honestly, your visit is unexpected. Usually, it would be me who would lure adventures inside this space and offer them knowledge or riches to try and release me or even trade some of their possessions for certain benefits I offer. However, over time, this endeavor proved fruitless.”

Davis was about to ask something when Melinda beat him to it. “Does that mean you will just let us go? Or can we help you with something?”

Veles looked at the nonchalant way this girl behaved. His interest peaked. It never escaped him how she scanned every artifact on the table or how she reacted when he said that he was actually powerless. Yet, after piecing everything together, she never showed any hostility or had any stupid ideas...

“Melinda, was it? If you really want to earn something, sure. You can try to release me, and I will reward you for trying. Afterward, if you are willing, I might need your help gathering a few ingredients from the outside,” replied Veles. Confident that he had ignited the spark.

And he sure did, the word reward seems to work like a charm. Melinda stood up excitedly, but before she could proceed, a hand firmly grabbed her by the forearm.

“Are you fucking crazy? Sit down.” She faltered. Surprised, she looked at Davis, who looked like he was witnessing the biggest example of idiocy ever.

“Think! He knows our names, for heaven’s sake. He might be trying to mess with our minds somehow! And more importantly, why do you believe what a stranger says? Even if his words were true, what would happen if you truly released him?” Davis rebuked. Obviously, he had more to say but held back.

Veles smiled. Not minding the doubts. In fact, he welcomed them. Of all his visitors, those like Davis were rare…

However, he decided to spice things up— if there was nothing to gain, he could at least enjoy himself with some entertainment. Snapping his fingers, rows after rows of various weapons, armor, and magical trinkets appeared out of thin air, gently floating above the ground.

It instantly caught the group’s attention. This time, they knew these artifacts weren’t illusions or fakes. They were definitely a real deal. Veles made sure of it.

“Your fears are valid. But the possibility of you releasing me is nonexistent. I’ve spent thousands of years trying everything to get this damned thing off me, yet here I am. As for me knowing your names. I indeed have the ability to scan your minds, but I refrain from looking for anything more than your names and goals. I don’t do that just because I can. I do it out of precaution. Some of my previous guests had some funny ideas about exploiting my current state,” said Veles.

Melinda looked at the shiny artifacts, then shook off Davis’s hand. “What do I have to do?”

Veles nodded, expecting her reaction. “Try to pull the wedge out of the stone. Then grab whatever you want. Once you are satisfied, we can discuss you earning more.”

She didn’t need anything more to hear. Walking around the table, she went straight to the wedge.

Completely ignored her, Veles focused on the disgruntled Davis. “Do not stress about it, boy. Greed and striving for power will always be part of human nature, and it’s not necessarily bad.”

Davis coughed lightly. “I apologize for my distrusting words, Sir Veles. I just cannot understand you… and the current situation is very…complex”

“There is nothing to worry about. If it helps you somehow, this space where we are has a specific set of rules. And one of the major ones is that nobody can die here, nor can I make someone braindead. You are pretty safe here,” Veles assured. Then he pointed with his thumb behind his back and added. “And your last worry is just pointless.”

He doesn’t even need to look to know what was going on…

Melinda grabbed the wedge tightly with both her hands. She then pulled—obviously not giving her all— noticing it not budging, she tried again only to come up with the same result.

“Can’t do it,” Melinda said, already eying the treasures she would grab. She didn’t immediately rush but instead waited for permission to proceed.

With his back facing her, Veles sure didn’t disappoint. “Very well, grab whatever you want.”

“Is it alright?” Davis asked. He quickly glanced at Melinda, who was already busily rambling through numerous artifacts.

Veles tapped the table once. “You must understand. I’m here, alone, imprisoned in the middle of the damn jungle,” he then leaned forward. “I’m bored! What do I have to lose by handing out a few toys I have no use for?”

“Makes sense, kinda…” Davis agreed, but he displayed no trust. “Can you then explain to us how you ended up here? Or why you are imprisoned in the first place?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I woke up and found myself here with this stupid shackle around my ankle and a bunch of rules meant to suppress me in every way possible. And to make it worse, I have a chunk of memories missing. Which I believed was impossible considering that my psychic gifts grant me enchanted memory.”

“That sounds ridiculous,” Davis replied firmly and instantaneously.

“I completely agree with you,” Veles shrugged. He wasn’t joking at all. What he said was the truth. It had been the one big puzzle troubling him since the day he appeared here.

Davis’s skeptical look showed he wasn’t bought by any of this. Something was obviously bugging him. Was it his carefree attitude or perhaps that odd behavior the Olgled guy was displaying this whole time? Veles didn’t know, nor did he care honestly.

But before Davis could voice his concern, Melinda in the background excitedly yelled, bringing everyone’s attention to her. “It’s Sprigilj! The spear used by emperor Kristos!” She grabbed the spear, holding it firmly as she ran back while dodging floating artifacts.

She was already back in her seat. “Can I keep this one? I don’t need anything else!“ She pleaded, like a child eager to play with a new toy.

Veles smirked and nodded. “Of course, it’s yours. Use it wisely.”

“Thank you!” She held the spear closer. Out of all the treasures on the pile, she most likely chose this one because she already knew its effect.

“How could this be?” Davis exclaimed, looking at the spear. “Didn’t Emperor Kristos reach the Eastern border of the forest? His life signature still burns bright in his palace…”

“No, unfortunately, he never did,” replied Veles. Holding back his smile. This bait… It worked every time.

Davis nodded. Taking his answer relatively easily. “Then, the life tablet is probably fake. It’s no wonder. The rulers of Osvalen were always known for fabricating our history. I guess Kristos died a long time ago,” concluded Davis.

“No, you got that wrong,” Veles replied.

“What?” Davis asked, his curiosity clearly stirred.

“Why would little Kristy be dead?” Veles crookedly smiled. “He proved himself to be quite useful as my assistant.” Then he grabbed a cylindrical glass tube under the table and placed it on top.

Inside was a skeletal head with two bright blue flames flickering inside its eye sockets.

Davis’s eyes went wide. But then, Olgled’s words shook him even more.

“T-That thing is alive.” Mumbled Olgled, his hands shaking. “The misery it projects… how…”

“A man has to bear the consequence of his actions,” Veles interrupted, gazing at the floating skull. “He got blinded by his glory, thinking he could barge in here and pressure me into ‘serving’ him. I mean, it would be fine—I could’ve just kicked him out, but the fool said something he shouldn’t. So, I decided to show him how some rules can be twisted…”

Deciding that the intimidation phase was over, Veles decided to move on. He placed the head under the table and sternly looked at the trio. “As I said, you can leave this place in one piece. But I never give you a guarantee to le-”

He stopped and blinked. Hmm, a trio?

Surprised, he noticed an important detail. The slave girl was gone, leaving behind just the metal collar she wore, opened, and placed on the table.

Did she escape his senses? That should be impossible.

Veles turned around and looked behind. What he saw exceeded his expectations. The girl he considered a mild annoyance held the wedge in her hands, separated from the stone. However, she was in a sorry state. She looked extremely malnourished and lethargic, barely able to hold the piece of metal with both her hands…

Veles stood up. His first step made the shackle attached to his ankle snap open. It fell, hitting the ground. But Veles completely disregarded it. Even the surge of power returning to him meant nothing.

He kept nearing the girl, not really knowing how to react.

As much as he welcomed his release, his experience proved that coincidences like these never brought anything good...