The days passed by swiftly as Moon and Selene dedicated themselves to gathering clues about the possible conditions required for leaving this hidden realm. Through their observation and questioning, they’d managed to piece together several more fragnts of useful information by asking questions to Yara during their interactions.
During one particular exploration expedition across a previously unmapped region of the island, Moon and Selene had stumbled upon an area that imdiately set every instinct warnings.
It was a forest. But not like any other section of woodland they’d encountered on Lunaris. This forest was profoundly, unnaturally dark.
The canopy overhead was so dense that even midday sunlight struggled to penetrate more than a few ters past the tree line. Ancient pine trees twisted and gnarled, their bark appearing diseased and blackened as if consud by so slow internal rot.
Unlike other parts of the forest, where occasionally the sounds of various beasts or creatures would echo, here silence dominated.
They both stood at the edge of the forest, staring into that consuming darkness that seed to actively resist light.
"We should mark this location and co back tomorrow," Selene suggested quietly.
Moon had agreed without argunt. The sun had already begun its descent toward the horizon at that ti, and neither of them wanted to approach whatever existed in that forest with darkness approaching.
♢♢♢♢
Back at the campy, Moon asked Yara about the darkened forest region they’d discovered, describing its location and distinctive appearance in detail.
Yara’s expression went through several emotions. Initially she was confused, but then a thoughtful expression took over as she went through the details in her mind.
"You found the Rotten Pine Forest," Yara finally said after a long, contemplative silence.
’The Rotten Pine Forest...sounds pretty ominous. That might be exactly what we’re looking for.’
"Tell about the Rotten Pine Forest." Moon imdiately said, leaning closer to her in anticipation. His close distance made her jolt in surprise for a brief mont, before she composed herself.
"This particular section of Lunaris Island represents a forbidden territory that our Savi people absolutely did not explore. The reason was because the Benefactor himself had explicitly warned our ancestors to never enter that forest under any circumstances. To always maintain distance from its boundaries. To treat it as utterly off limits without exception or negotiation."
Moon’s eye brows rose naturally in surprise, he hadn’t expected such a back story. But that was good, since the benefactor had told them not to enter, that ant sothing in there...was different.
Yara continued explaining, "Most of our clan mbers had wisely listened to that advice and obeyed without question, understanding that the Benefactor rarely issued warnings without a reason. Unfortunately, not everyone had possessed such wisdom."
Yara’s voice had grown quieter as she recounted the tragic story passed down through generations.
"Decades ago, a small group of young Savi warriors had allowed their youthful arrogance and curiosity to surpass their better judgnt. They’d ventured toward the Rotten Pine Forest despite the explicit prohibition, convinced they were skilled enough to handle whatever dangers existed within.
The five warriors had approached the forest’s edge together, laughing and confident in their combined strength. But when they’d finally reached the boundary and stood before those twisted, rotting pines, sothing had changed in the atmosphere. Sothing invisible but profound that affected them all differently.
One warrior, the youngest of the group, had suddenly been seized by overwhelming terror so intense he’d actually collapsed to his knees trembling. He’d begged the others to turn back, pleading with tears streaming down his face that they absolutely should not continue forward.
The other four had mocked his cowardice. They’d accused him of being weak, of shaming their clan with his fear. They’d laughed and stepped into the darkness between the trees.
And the terrified young warrior had fled back toward the village alone, abandoning his companions."
Yara’s expression changed, "He’d been the only person to ever return from that expedition. The four warriors who’d entered the Rotten Pine Forest were never seen again. Not their bodies, not their weapons, not even the smallest trace that they’d existed.
Our clan had sent multiple search parties to establish observation positions just outside the forest boundary, waiting and watching for any sign that the missing warriors might erge. Days passed with no movent, no sounds, no indication of life within that dark expanse.
After three agonizing days of futile waiting, the clan Chief at that ti had made the courageous decision to venture inside alone, determined to rescue his people or at least recover their remains for proper burial rites.
He’d been one of the strongest warriors, experienced and wise, carrying their most powerful weapons but he didn’t return either. The forest had consud him as completely as it had the younger warriors."
Hearing everything, Selene couldn’t help but ask, "What happened after that? Did you send more?"
Yara shook her head imdiately, "Since that terrible loss, absolutely nobody from the Savi clans had dared to enter the Rotten Pine Forest again. The tragic lesson had been learned thoroughly and permanently. The Benefactor’s warning had been proven correct through the blood of six of our own."
Yara finished her account with visible discomfort, clearly hoping Moon and Selene would take the warning seriously and abandon whatever thoughts they might have about investigating that cursed place.
But Moon and Selene had exchanged aningful glances after hearing the complete story, and Yara had recognized imdiately that her warning had produced the exact opposite effect she’d intended.
Moon had nodded slowly, before turning towards Selene, "This Rotten Pine Forest is almost certainly connected to either the realm’s exit conditions or contains sothing of critical importance. Possibly powerful beasts or hidden treasures. Either way, we need to investigate it."
Selene agreed without hesitation. "Even if it’s not directly part of the exit requirents, any location explicitly forbidden by the Benefactor must contain sothing significant. This is exactly the kind of place we should be looking."
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