Elysha frowned, her gaze fixed on Micah, who continued to move from one place to another.

"Um, Micah? She asked with a skeptical tone. “Where is the place you want to show me?"

"There is this portal I’m trying to look for," he replied. "It's usually located near an overgrown stone column by the other edge of the ruins."

A flicker of doubt crossed Elysha's face. “So you are saying that the place from before wasn’t the one you are trying to show me?”

“Have trust in Micah,” he insisted. “Besides, the trial wouldn’t be as fun if it were to be short and boring.”

He continued onward, and Elysha followed behind, wearily and attentively watching Micah's movements. Minutes passed and their destination was nowhere in sight.

Impatient and uncertain, while still wanting her staff back and find Kitty, she asked, “Are you sure that you know where it is?”

Micah smiled confidently and replied, "As a Zhivopian living in this forest, Micah has a good sense of direction," he assured her. "Visitors from outside often get lost in these trees, especially this deep within the ruins, but Micah knows these paths well. As I said, Micah lives everywhere.”

“Everywhere?”

“Everywhere!”

Curiosity mingled with suspicion in Elysha's mind as her skepticism never left her stream of consciousness, “Then, tell me, why are you making me take this ‘trial?’ I still don’t understand what this is all about.”

“Quite a joyless bum are you?” Micah frowned, stopping and turning to face her. “If you keep asking Micah questions like that, you will have your answers by then.”

“You are?”

“Nope!”

“Then why?” Elysha insisted. “I don’t like it when I can not understand what is going on.”

“I meant by after the trial you fool! Why would you participate a sacred trial if you were to know everything that is going on? That defeats the whole purpose of finding your soul identity. Sometimes, you need to use your courage and intuition to face the unknown head-on and discover what lies in what you can not see. Do you understand Micah now?”

Elysha shook her head, indicating ‘no.’

Micah sighed, “You Elbijans and your need to have everything explained beforehand. Life is more fun when you explore around with your brain empty and free of worries.”

He leapt forward ahead and continued, “And also, you are allowed to leave the trial, but that means you will fail the trial by default.”

“Fail?”

“Yep! You will fail the trial.” He smiled. “What do you think about that?”

Elysha stood there, her mind flashed back to the memory of Elder Merakia’s garden.

“N-No…. no… I don’t want to fail again.” She shook her head, her fingers intertwining together. “Not AGAIN!!!”

“Woah-woah, calm down, will you? Micah wasn’t being serious, okay?” He asked in concern.

Elysha looked away, her lips pressed together and her gaze lowered, “... You sure that you weren’t serious?”

“Yeah!” He nodded his head. “And besides, Micah is one-hundred percent okay with you not wanting to take the trial anymore. It's up to you whether you want to continue or not.”

“No, I want to take your trial.”

“You do?”

She raised her head, revealing her determined expression. “Yes.”

Micah's eyes softened and a smile appeared on his face, “Very well then, I promised you an experience like no other, didn't I? Trust in Micah, and you won't be disappointed.”

He went ahead and said, “Let's continue, shall we?”

~ ❈❇❈ ~

Elysha followed Micah further into the ruins, each step bringing them closer to the destination the gray-furred creature was searching for. As they ventured forward, she wondered how far they had come in the ruins and how far they had now traveled from where they had first arrived.

She turned her gaze to the buildings they had passed. Some of them even had open entrances so that her eyes could catch a glimpse of what was inside: Furniture, clothes and other mundane things that gave an impression of the former lives that had lived in these places. Elysha felt the urge to take a closer look at these buildings, but Micah's voice drew her back to her intended path.

“Another reason why my friends and I like to make the ruins one of our hangout places is because this place is like a really big labyrinth,” he said. “Who wouldn't want to immerse themselves in the essence of a bygone era? When we meet here, it's like a glimpse into a past civilization—a great setting for a great game session for my friends and I to play with!”

“I see…”

“Yep! And not only that, there's always something new to discover or play with and have fun when we come here, like a casual game of hide and seek for example.” He smiled. “There are countless things here that go into making it feel like a thrilling adventure.”

As she listened to Micah's words, it was as if Elysha's stream of thought spilled over into her curiosity. ‘Everything that I have seen so far, from when we first saw the ruins, to the houses we’ve passed, to all the statues, the broken objects and the nature that covers them, ah—and the writings that I can’t read—there’s so much new things for me to learn and understand. I want to know and see what this place looked like a long time ago, like a lost story waiting to be told.’

As Elysha took another step, she turned her gaze to see what lay ahead. It was as if the environment around them changed as they walked on: There was an unfamiliar sense of timelessness in the air, and the trees swayed as the sun's rays cut through the foliage, casting moving shadows on the ground. The atmosphere around them changed, and the ruins seemed to become more immersive than before.

*whisper*

Elysha stopped and observed her surroundings.

“...?”

Her eyes widened as a white butterfly flew over her view and drew her gaze to a structure in the distance—a pillar split in half, most of it lying on the ground and the rest still standing, on which the butterfly landed.

As the little girl slowly walked towards the butterfly, she watched as each flap of the butterfly's wings beckoned her to come closer. With each step, the distance between her and the butterfly decreased until she was only a handful of centimeters away. Without taking another breath, she reached out a hand, her fingertips almost brushing its delicate wings. But just as she was about to touch it, the butterfly fluttered away, and she looked up to see the creature flying through the air with effortless grace.

Elysha stared at the butterfly until it disappeared from her field of vision. It was almost as if a voice echoed through the ruins and brought her out of her reverie. She blinked her eyes, and looked around her surroundings until she caught her breath and her heart skipped a beat.

She turned quickly, expecting to see the gray-furred creature standing next to her, but he was nowhere to be found.

“Micah?”

There was no answer, neither in words nor in an echo, and she was left alone in the ruins.

She inadvertently lost sight of Micah.

“Micah..?” Elysha repeated, panic slowly started to set in as she realized she was lost in the maze-like area. “Micah!”

She looked around the area again, holding her trembling arms together and biting her lips, “I-I am not lost, am I? I have to find him, but how?”

As panic threatened to overwhelm her, Elysha shook her head, took a deep breath and tried to calm her heart. She closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated on finding the reason why she had lost sight of the gray-furred creature.

‘I shouldn’t have look around so much, I should have kept an eye on him,’ she fretted. ‘Micah is small and moves fast, it makes sense that I would lose sight of him if I didn't catch up with him quickly enough.’

Opening her eyes again, she scanned her surroundings for any sign of movement or his familiar appearance. But the ruins seemed too still, and there was no trace of the gray-furred creature in sight.

Elysha bit her lips, “I have to find him,” she muttered to herself, “but how? I don’t know how…”

Various possibilities crossed her mind, “Should I go back?” She thought aloud, her voice barely higher than a whisper. “Maybe I should, I think. I need to find him.”

Clenching her fists, Elysha began to move, her steps hesitant at first, she forced herself to push aside her fear and walk through the ruins alone, exploring every nook and cranny as she searched for Micah.

She turned each corner, explored each street, but as Elysha retraced her steps, she seemed to get further lost with each direction as the minutes ticked by. The once familiar surroundings now seemed stranger and stranger, and the path she had taken with the gray-furred creature seemed to have disappeared from her sight.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“… Micah..?” Elysha's voice called out again, this time sounding more faintly far away.

As she walked, the little girl gazed at the remnants of a long-gone civilization from another world. The air around her felt heavy with an inexplicable energy, and the sounds of the forest seemed to become more mystical, with a history the child was still very unfamiliar with.

Elysha stopped, tried to regain her composure and shouted, "Micah!"

She hoped he would hear her and come to her, but there was only silence in response. The forest seemed to swallow up her emotions and she felt completely alone.

The little girl shrugged her shoulders and gave in to a final thought, “It seems… I am on my own now.”

~ ❈❇❈ ~

Elysha took a deep breath and pushed herself forward as she searched for a way out of the ruins. Despite the fear tugging at her heart, she knew she had to keep moving ahead.

With every step, her eyes became aware of the things around her, of sights she couldn't place and of sounds she suspected. The further she went, the sharper her senses became. Every creak and rustle made her pulse beat faster, but she kept going, determined to find her way.

“How long have I’ve been walking?” She mumbled, confused and disoriented, her sense of time and space in the ruins blurred.

As Elysha walked on, she sensed a presence nearby. She turned her gaze towards it and saw the appearance of a creature for a split second before it disappeared.

She blinked her eyes, paused in her steps and stared at the spot, ‘Could it be…?’

The little girl remembered the time when she saw ‘wisps of light’ flying around her. After a moment of stillness, Elysha moved on to navigate the ruins in search of Micah—when she later stumbled upon a sight amidst the overgrown foliage.

A fountain stood in her way; it was the same one she had seen from before when she was with Micah. As Elysha approached the fountain, her eyes widened in realization.

‘This fountain… is very clean.’

The clear surface shimmered in the light and cast back reflections of the surroundings. Water cascaded down from the marble basin, creating a subtle melody that filled the air.

Elysha dipped her hand in and swirled the water around, creating vibrations and rifts within the pool. ‘It’s not empty and full of plants like the one I saw before,’ she mused. ‘Why?’

As she lingered by the fountain, a butterfly fluttered past her, and the little girl jumped.

“The butterfly!” She blurted out, her eyes watching as the creature's shimmering white wings flickered back to her.

As the butterfly flew away, Elysha found herself running after it without hesitation. She dashed through the ruins, her eyes fixed on the shimmering creature dancing through the air.

“Wait!” She shouted, but the butterfly didn’t listened as it continued moving ahead. Her heart pounded in her chest as she meandered through ruined streets and structures reclaimed by nature, never taking her eyes off the elusive creature.

“Wait!” She called out again, her voice echoing faintly in the vacant surroundings. “Where are you taking me?”

However, the butterfly paid no heed, its movements leading itself further and further away.

As she ran, Elysha's feet passed an open path that led to a field of bright flowers swaying gently in the breeze. Her breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of an object in the far distance—a closed door standing directly opposite her.

Her feet continued several more steps until she stopped and turned around to confirm what she had seen, but when she did, the door was no longer there.

Elysha turned her head back in the direction of the butterfly, which was still visible but far away. She chased after it, and as she ran, Elysha chased it all the way back to the area she had started from—the place with the memorial statues and the clean fountain. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

“I'm... back?” She murmured, her voice barely audible against the sounds of the moving fountain. Her eyes darted around, searching for any sign of the butterfly, but it was nowhere to be found. It had vanished, leaving her feeling lost and disoriented.

“Why am I doing this? I'm running after a butterfly that always seems to disappear in front of me.” Elysha muttered to herself, frustration gnawing at her.

She shook her head, trying to shake off the confusion clouding her mind. "I don't understand…” She frowned, her brows furrowed. “Why does it feel like I'm going nowhere? I am supposed to find Micah, I’m supposed to find my staff and find Kitty, but I’m… really lost.”

‘I want to go home…’

Elysha closed her eyes and took a quiet moment to calm her racing thoughts.

“...”

“... Hehe.”

Startled, she turned her head in the direction of the laughter and her eyes widened in surprise.

Before her, a child strolled through Elysha's field of vision, their spiritual, ethereal form emitting a soft glow. Passing through different statues, their bare feet stepped playfully over the grass and flowers by the fountain, while Elysha's heart skipped a beat at the sight.

She wasn't sure whether she should be scared or fascinated. However, it wasn't the sight itself that astonished her—it was the same illusory child who had the uncanny resemblance to herself, except for the blurry face.

For a brief moment, the child paused and stared at Elysha. There was an unspoken invitation in their blurry gaze, as if inviting her to follow.

Her mind raced with questions and doubts, unsure of the meaning behind this strange encounter. ‘Should I follow this… no,’ Elysha shook her head and frowned. ‘Why do I wanted to follow this… false appearance of myself? It’s so creepy! And scary too! Seeing myself, but I don’t understand, what could exactly be the meaning of this? Should I run away and hide?’

Yet, despite her doubts, a part of her was drawn to the mysterious figure. The unspoken invitation in the false child's gaze tugged at something deep within her, stirring a curiosity she couldn't ignore.

‘But, I want to know…’ She thought to herself. ‘I want to understand what’s going on. Maybe… maybe there’s a reason for this. Maybe I might find something.’

With a hesitant step forward, Elysha began to follow the false child, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Her eyes watched as the false child turned and began to advance deeper into the ruins, moving playfully as always, as if expecting her to follow.

Elysha's footsteps echoed in the open corridors of the ruins as she followed the false child, whose footsteps made no sound. She took the opportunity to question the situation and asked, “Who are you and where are you taking me?”

She heard nothing but giggles of laughter in response, ignoring her question.

As they walked through the ruins together, time seemed to lose its construct with every step, while the environment itself immersed them deeper into the hidden history and culture. Elysha blinked her eyes, and with each passing second, the surroundings changed, morphing into scenes from the civilization that had once thrived in this place.

The air whispered with unfamiliar sounds, and Elysha could almost feel the heartbeat of the ancient tribe echoing behind the broken walls. The path they traveled was full of shards of lost memories that flashed before her eyes, as if she were reliving the past interwoven with the present.

‘Laji wüvimajes radamadeje!’

Elysha caught a glimpse of passing children, their laughter echoing through the corridors as they stepped into the open light. As she stepped outside, her eyes widened as she saw that the previously ruined state of the ancient Kuwakji tribe was now lively and vibrant again.

Elysha's unease mingled with a growing sense of curiosity as she looked around, observing people moving about and going about their normal daily lives. She saw a mother saying goodbye to a boy who was about to go to his friends, when the false child walked past them and sauntered in front of her.

As she tried to catch up with the child, the echo of distant conversations reverberated through the air, and she could hear people's voices in her ears:

‘Teja wüvi albrija anrolji radamadeje!’

‘Mijaji, otos ra mankiulsju...’

‘Ond’nt ijata kuniju ll ji-naufenüvji, andoju?’

Elysha could not understand the words, but the sight she saw before her immersed her in the mirage of the tribe, as if she were seeing a life different from hers, stories waiting to be told.

She also witnessed families dining together and friends coming together to celebrate memorable occasions. Elysha wondered if she could understand more of their lives, their wishes, and their dreams, but the more she thought about it, the harder it became for her to catch up with the false child through the crowd.

“Ah, wait!” Elysha called out, but the false child kept moving. As she tried to follow the moving spirit, she heard a loud noise from a distance that resembled an instrument. She turned around and saw a commotion going on, and many people are gathering towards a certain direction. Elysha was curious to see what was going on, and when she turned around, she realized that the false child had disappeared from her sight again.

She sighed, and made her way to see that an event seemed to be taking place and that many people had gathered to watch it. Elysha then slipped through the crowd to the front where she had a better view of the action. There, her eyes focused on the stage in the center where the ceremony was to take place.

In front of her was a young man kneeling on a cushion on a raised platform. He wore a ceremonial robe decorated with intricate patterns and symbols, including a long cape spread out over the ground. She could also see the crowned man's face more closely and make out some details: His expression was serene and content, he had long white hair and thick antlers sticking out of his head.

Around him were several other figures, including an old figure who exuded more authority and wisdom than Elder Merakia. The air was full of anticipation as everyone waited for the momentous event to begin.

“Woah…” Elysha muttered, when suddenly the old figure raised a hand and motioned for the crowd to be silent. He then looked directly to the back, where a line of people appeared, each carrying a piece of the ceremonial regalia. At the forefront of the procession was a person holding the crown, its shimmering jewels catching the sunlight and casting a mesmerizing glow.

Elysha watched in awe as the procession moved towards the stage. With every step they took, the anticipation in the atmosphere grew until they finally reached the raised platform where the young man knelt in ceremonial attire. The person holding the crown stepped forward and handed it to the old figure, who then turned and held out a ceremonial crown to the kneeling man.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the old figure who solemnly placed the crown on the young man's head. Then he took a staff from another figure and placed it in the man's grasp.

Then the crowned individual stood up and opened his eyes to face the audience.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their voices echoing through the air in celebration of this historic moment. Amidst the crowd, Elysha watched in awe as the crowned figure stood with grace and humility, his eyes shining and he posed with a sense of duty and responsibility.

Elysha blinked her eyes. ‘What is going on?’ She thought to herself.

With the crowd’s attention focused on him, the crowned young man began to speak:

“Ámes bienja Kuwakji,” he began, power and conviction resonating in his voice. “Deijia tuavontlje o sjeii kkarfeiu ne anüv jravlua’l miijanven. Iji wos ijaht mijaa, jtüvenévu’nt ll alstorei ov ostorja, olrásti ov waüdu, teja wüvi üvmaraji ji voirun’l astaj ojiá vjoiri’nt wüvi anjai maiatirau’l: wamaisti, fjredia, ov levlu.”

The crowd fell silent as he delivered his speech, their eyes fixed on him and some nodding their heads in agreement. Elysha, on the other hand, felt a wave of confusion wash over her as she struggled to understand the words he was speaking.

When the speech was over, the crowd erupted in applause and the cheers echoed through the air. Elysha stood in the middle of the crowd and felt a sense of awe and admiration—when, during the moments of applause—the crowned man looked directly at her.

“...!” She flinched, jumping in surprise. He smiled and uttered a few words, but the flustered Elysha couldn't hear what he had said. Flowers were thrown from the crowd onto the stage, and the sight of the flying petals reminded Elysha of something important.

“Ah! I shouldn’t stay here!” She exclaimed and bolted out of the area. As she hurriedly made her way through the crowd, the events she had just witnessed still replaying in her mind. She had to find the false child and try to make sense of what was happening, but the maze of people made it difficult to navigate.

Every glimpse into the life of the past filled Elysha with abstract longing. She wanted to reach out, touch their world a little more and bridge the knowledge gap between their time and hers. But as she weaved her way through the crowd, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden collision.

“Ah—!”

Elysha stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. She opened her eyes and found herself confronted by a trio of children her age who had inadvertently crossed her path.