Jerome walked with Nicholas through the forest as a hush hung in the air. Jerome took in the trees around him as he walked. They were extremely large, and the tops were filled with hundreds of branches and beautiful green leaves. The wind blew gently, making the leaves rustle and dance on their own accord. It was mesmerising to watch. There were also a few other creatures that seemed harmless, such as rabbits and birds.

"This is quite a nice place." He said quietly.

Nicholas nodded his head slowly. "Yes, it is," he said softly. "It's very peaceful here."

"I can't remember the last time I saw so much wildlife" Jerome said, breathing in the fresh air.

"You've been living in a city most of your life, I assume." Nicholas asked with a raised brow.

"No, it's not that" Jerome said quickly. He shook his head and smiled at the man.

"I'm just saying that there aren't many places where you get to enjoy nature like this back home."

"Then your people should take more care to protect such wonders." Nicholas frowned.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it is important for us to protect the environment we live in. We need to keep these forests alive and healthy, or else our entire planet will suffer."

Jerome listened intently to the man, but didn't respond. His mind was already racing. How does someone even become a protector of the environment?

As if reading his thoughts, Nicholas continued speaking. "There are a number of different ways one might become a protector of nature. Some choose to study the sciences behind the world's ecosystems. Others decide to work directly in the field, protecting and preserving the natural habitats of endangered species. But some of us, myself included, decided to dedicate ourselves to fighting against the forces of destruction."

Jerome watched as the man stopped walking and turned towards him. He was looking straight into his eyes now, which made Jerome stop walking as well.

"What exactly are you talking about?" He asked nervously.

"I am talking about the holder of lesser light, they bring death and untold horrors wherever they tread. That is why we fight."

Jerome felt his heart race and his mouth go dry. What did he mean by 'Holder of Lesser Light' is there really someone like that in this world? Was it the same person that sent that message that brought me here, or was it someone else? It would have to be someone powerful, right? So it's possible.

He looked up at Nicholas, who was still staring down at him with a stern expression. He had a strong jawline and piercing green eyes. A small scar ran along his left cheekbone.

"Holder of Lesser Light?" He asked, trying to hide the fear in his voice.

"That is correct," Nicholas replied, "but don't worry; I have never seen them myself, but I have heard of the destruction they bring. I just wanted to make sure you knew what may lay ahead in this world. You'll learn soon enough."

They continued walking for a while longer until they reached the edge of the forest and found themselves standing next to a lake.

"This is the Lake of Serenity," Nicholas said, pointing at the crystal-clear water that looked perfectly still, almost like clear glass covered the surface. It was breathtaking; you could see the pebbles on the lake bed and the fish that lived within.

"It's beautiful," Jerome said, moving a bit closer to the lake's bank.

"The lake is sustained by the river that passes through the mountains above. If you swim out far enough, you can reach the waterfall that feeds the lake." Nicholas said with a bright smile.

A sound could be heard from the other side of the lake, and as Jerome looked up for a brief moment that felt like hours, he saw a person. They glitched in and out of reality, and it was impossible to make out their face, they were shrouded in darkness and blinding light, and every time they glitched in and out, they seemed to be slightly closer, appearing to be standing on the crystal-clear surface of the lake and leaving no trails as they appeared.

Suddenly Jerome felt something grab his shoulder, and he tensed up in absolute terror of the likes he had never experienced.

"Are you okay, Jerome?" asked Nicholas, sounding rather concerned.

Jerome looked up to meet his eyes and saw they were expressing just as much concern as well. Jerome looked back to the lake once more, and it was still and beautiful with no signs of whatever that was.

"Uh, yeah, yeah, I am fine," he said with a shaken tone, "I just thought I saw something."

Nicholas smiled softly and nodded. "Yes, that is exactly why I brought you here," he said, folding his arms in front of his chest, "this lake is known to show images of what our future holds."

"Future holds? You mean like see our future self?" Jerome asked with wide eyes.

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Nicholas tilted his head to the side and smiled. "Sure, you could see that you could also see something you are destined to defeat or a place you are destined to go; really, there is no clear message; it is simply a glimpse into what lays ahead, be it for ourselves or some trail we must overcome."

Jerome was not sure how to interpret what he saw—was that him in the future? Or was that someone else that he was destined to meet or fight or something? So many questions, and they all come back to one glaring realisation. Regardless of whether that is him or someone else, he would either become or meet that thing that filled him with such terror that he thought his heart would stop.

"I see; thank you for explaining," Jerome said as he looked over the lake once more and caught a glimpse of a village through the trees. "Is that our destination?" He asked, raising his hand and pointing between the trees.

Nicholas nodded, "You have a keen eye; that is indeed our location, the village of Nesk, once we arrive, let me introduce you to the leader of the village; her name is Liana."

Jerome smiled and gestured for them to start around the lake and make their way towards the outskirts of the village of Nesk.

They continued walking until they came across an old oak tree. Its bark was grey and cracked from age, and its roots had grown into the ground and twisted together, forming a massive circle. As Jerome approached, he noticed something strange about the tree: there were no leaves growing on it at all. In fact, it appeared dead.

He stopped when Nicholas grabbed hold of his arm. "Be careful!" He shouted over his shoulder.

The next thing Jerome knew, he was flying through the air. A loud crack echoed throughout the clearing as his body slammed against the trunk of the tree. He fell to the floor, dazed and confused by what had happened. When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself lying on his side in front of the tree. Something was wrong, though. His legs felt weak and shaky, and he couldn't feel anything below his waist.

As he struggled to sit up, he heard footsteps approaching him. He opened his eyes and saw a figure standing above him. At first glance, it looked like a man dressed in black robes. But upon closer inspection, Jerome could see the robe wasn't actually made of cloth but rather a thin layer of some kind of metal. And even stranger still, the face was hidden behind a mask that covered everything except the mouth.

"Who are you?" Jerome managed to ask between coughs.

"I am the Guardian of this forest," the masked figure replied. "Nicholas ran for me when he saw you get attacked by the Wilda tree."

"Wilda tree? What does that mean?"

"It means that you will die unless I can help you," the masked man said ominously.

Jerome tried to stand again, but failed miserably.

"You need to rest," the Guardian told him. "You shouldn't move too quickly or you may cause yourself further harm."

"But..." Jerome began before trailing off.

"The Wilda tree has a toxin within its roots; you have had some enter your wounds when it hit you. Sit still," he said sternly.

Jerome sat down and closed his eyes, waiting patiently for the Guardian to heal him.

A few minutes later, he felt a cool sensation run through his veins as the poison was flushed out of his system by a bright blue light that flowed from the guardian's hands. The pain subsided and his legs returned to normal, allowing him to rise once more.

"Thank you," Jerome said gratefully.

"My pleasure," the Guardian replied. "Now, let us continue our journey to the village," said Nicholas, who Jerome had only just noticed was standing behind the guardian.

Together, they set off towards the village, which was now visible in the distance. Jerome was amazed by how much the landscape had changed since they'd entered the forest. Now, they were walking along a dirt path that led straight to the edge of the woods. The trees grew close together, blocking out most of the sunlight. Even the sky was darkening, turning from a bright blue to a deep purple.

When they reached the outskirts of the town, Jerome gasped in shock. All around them were buildings that seemed to be made entirely of wood. Some of the structures were huge, towering high above the others. Others were small and quaint, housing families inside.

"Welcome to the village of Nesk," Nicholas said cheerfully.

Jerome followed Nicholas' gaze and realised that there was someone else standing beside him. It was a young girl, probably no older than twelve years old. Her hair was blonde and curly, her skin pale, and she wore a long dress that shimmered in the fading daylight. She smiled at Jerome, revealing a row of perfect white teeth.

"Hello, my name is Liana," the girl said. "Are you new to the village?"

"Yes," Jerome replied, "Nicholas was guiding me out of the forest."

Liana giggled. "That must have been quite the adventure, passing by the Wilda tree like that. It can be quite protective of the village."

Jerome chuckled nervously. "Yeah, it certainly was."

"Have you come to stay?"

Jerome looked at Nicholas, not sure how to respond. He doesn't even know exactly where he is, let alone if he will be staying here. This whole world is new to him.

"He will stay here for a short while, Liana." Nicholas said, "Jerome will need to rest after the encounter with the Wilda tree, and then I will guide him to the capital."

"Oh, okay," Liana replied. "Well, I hope you enjoy your time in the village!"

She turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of people passing by. As soon as she was gone, Jerome's spirits lifted. He hadn't expected to find anyone friendly in the village, but he was glad to discover that wasn't the case.

"What did you think of her?" Nicholas asked, glancing at him.

"She seems like a very friendly little girl," Jerome replied.

Nicholas chuckled, "Well, that very friendly little girl is actually the leader of the village and is actually in her late 20s."

Jerome looked at Nicholas in shock. "But, how she looks—"

Nicholas interjected, "She is a grayling; they are one of the shorter races within the region."

"Are you not human?" Jerome asked, looking over at Nicholas.

"Of course not; I am an elf," he said proudly.

"An elf? "But you're so tall!" Jerome said.

"We have longer lives and grow taller as we age," Nicholas explained. "As a result, many elves tend to be taller than humans."

Jerome knew this was not just another world but a fantasy world like the old games and books he read. He was excited but also confused. How could a game exist in real life? Wasn't that impossible?

"Let's head to the inn," Nicholas said, leading Jerome back towards the centre of the village.

They passed through the main square, where a large fountain stood surrounded by benches and tables. A group of children were playing on the grass nearby, kicking a ball between themselves. They all stopped what they were doing as soon as they saw Jerome, staring at him in awe.

Jerome felt a little uncomfortable and looked to Nicholas, asking, "Why are they looking at me like that?"

"Simply because you are human, your kind is not common in these parts," he smiled at Jerome. "In fact, it is highly likely you are the first human they have seen."

"You mean other than the ones who live in the village?"

"No, I'm talking about the humans who inhabit the surrounding areas," Nicholas said. "The villagers may be the only humans in this part of the continent."

Jerome nodded, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that humans are not as common. at least on this continent.