In the past, young warriors like myself came into the northern woods as a rite of passage to adulthood. Many never returned, and the tradition ceased to exist a few centuries ago. Since then, the northern woods had become a forbidden area. One which was used by mothers to make naughty children behave. But desperate times called for desperate measures. A witch had put a deadly curse on our village, making our young fall ill and die slow painful deaths. Someone needed to go there again to bring back a magic panacea and save the tribe from the curse.

And for some reasons, that someone was me…

A few hours ago, our esteemed Druid made the whole tribe gather at the central plaza to make a speech.

"My fellow tribesmen, our mighty god, the great Zholkiem has talked. To ensure our survival, we must send one of his divine warriors into the northern forest to bring back a panacea. First, we must find the ones with god’s blessing. Only they have the power to come back alive. Everyone line up please. I will proceed with the test."

We queued up waiting patiently for our turn. People before me put their hands on a crystal ball. Most of the time, the ball stayed gray or brightened a bit. But when my turn came, the ball emitted a strong golden light. An old man and two kids made the ball react the same way, but they weren’t selected for the mission.

In the end, I was chosen as I was the only one with suitable age. We couldn’t send seven years old kids or an old grandpa in the dangerous area after all.

This time, we could only rely on ourselves. Our neighbor tribes refused to help. They claimed to have too much on their plate with the ongoing war against humans. So, I couldn’t fail. No matter what kind of trials and dangers awaited me. The fate of my tribe was in my hands.

When I left the tribe, the villagers hailed me as a brave warrior and savior. Offering me gifts and words of advice.

While I stepping into the northern forest, I realized It was a true labyrinth, with paths twisting and turning in every direction. To make matter worse, the forest guardian weaved illusions to mislead those who dared to enter. I really hoped my divine blessing would protect me, like the Druid said.

Our great tribe’s Druid words resounded in my head: “Never stray from the path, for the forest is alive and will not hesitate to lead astray those who wander." He added, "Don’t believe in your senses, for those can’t be trusted in these treacherous woods."

Putting his advice to heart, I carefully looked at the map drawn by the ancients to make sure not to get lost. Ever.

On the way, I came across strange phenomena. Trees morphing into enchanting women goblins, carnivorous plants turning into gold and riches, and cliffs becoming entrance to neighborhood tribes welcoming me with open arms.

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Yet, each time I encountered an illusion, strong golden light illuminated everything around me in a ten meters radius. Then everything turned normal again.

One particular illusion nearly baited me to my death. My esteemed mother appeared before me, her eyes filled with warmth and concern. I knew she wasn’t real. She couldn't be. For she had died a long time ago. But for a moment I lost my wits. I had missed her for far too long. Just when I was about to follow her, a golden light blazed once more, shattering the illusion and revealing a cliff where she once stood.

A shiver ran down my spine. If I had taken one more step, I would have died. My life nearly ended because of a mere illusion. The shock made me fall to my knees. My mind blanked. My heart started to beat crazily in my chest. Dear god what had i done?! For a small moment of comfort i nearly lost everything!

It seemed like the guardian of the forest was much crueler and powerful than the Druid had suggested. It could read memories and use them against you. Making you fall into a sweet dream, luring you to your death. Now, I clearly understood why so many brave warriors died there.

I paused for a few minutes to regain my bearings. Then, I started to follow the path marked on the map around the dangerous cliff. The ground I walked on was uneven, with bumps and pits everywhere. Small birds and squirrels chirped, while following me, making the forest lively. The seemingly peaceful surroundings made me unsettled. Now, even the most harmless looking creature looked threatening in my eyes. And those animals looked harmless enough to put me on guard.

Suddenly, I heard something —a sound, faint but clear, carried by the wind.

A voice.

I crouched behind some bushes, peering cautiously. There, in the center of our motherland, stood a figure who should not be here. It was a human. A member of the most hated race as well as our worst nemesis.

The human was oblivious to my presence, engrossed in its task. As I listened, I realized it was singing a strange, haunting melody. The song was unlike anything I'd heard so far. It seemed to resonate with the very heart of the forest.

The human moved along the edge of the cliff, picking herbs with a practiced hand. Despite the danger, it appeared at ease, as if it belonged there.

I watched, confused. How did this crazy human know this place? And what was it doing here in the middle of our territory singing this strange song? Should I kill it or bring it back for interrogation?

No, it would take too long. Finding the magic herb was my top priority. Our young are dying as I speak.

The human continued its song. I felt a strange connection to it. It was as if the song lured my soul, urging me to step forward and reveal myself.

Just when I was about to reveal myself against my will, I heard a weird sound.

Crack.

Something broke.

I looked up.

The human fell down from the cliff at high speed.

Only, it didn’t fall in a normal way. Instead of falling in a straight line, it made an unscientific u turn mid-air.

Before I could register what was happening, a heavy object fell on top of me. The impact was so strong it made me stagger backward. My head slammed against the hard ground again and again. My vision darkened. Then, my body tumbled over the cliff's edge, falling into the abyss below.

How can I be so unlucky? I can’t die here… The magical herbs are our last hope …

Before my body hit the bottom of the cliff, I blacked out.