SEVEN DAYS SINCE DISSAPEARING IN THE FOREST

UNLOCKED SECRET

They noticed Felimon’s appearance—it seemed different. He was just watching them. After a moment, he suddenly smiled, and they clearly saw black smoke escaping from his mouth. Felimon was no longer the same; he seemed completely normal now, as if he never had any mental illness…

“Let’s not go home, brother. Life is better here. You’d be a fool if you insist on returning to our old life. Life here in the forest is so easy, and there’s even an elder taking care of us.” Felimon said with a hint of arrogance.

“Really, Felimon? You called me a fool? Where did you learn to speak like that? And why do you only call Grandma Amira ‘the elder’?” Federico replied, slightly annoyed.

“Because it’s the truth! Anyway, I’m going outside to play—I’m tired of looking at your faces.” Felimon said, his eyes filled with anger.

Federico was about to stand up and smack his brother out of frustration, but Grandma Amira held him back, shaking her head as if telling him not to. She assured him that she would handle Felimon.

Even though she didn’t want to admit it to Federico, she knew something was truly wrong. Based on her dreams, she didn’t want to believe what the dark entity had told her, but what if it was true? What if Felimon was no longer really Felimon? And if that was the case… where was her real brother?

Grandma Amira went outside, saying she would talk to Felimon alone. She warned Federico not to follow, fearing they would only end up fighting. Federico was still fuming. He couldn’t accept his brother’s behavior—it felt like a huge disrespect to their late parents, who never once raised them to act that way, especially toward someone helping them.

Meanwhile, Grandma Amira approached Felimon, who was smiling as he played with rocks. But the moment the boy saw her coming, his expression changed. He glared at her, as if waiting for her to speak, eager to respond.

“You know I despise impostors in my home. Let go of that child. Do not possess him.” Grandma Amira said sternly.

“Me? An impostor? Or is it you? You’ve been lying to my brother and me for so long. You just want to use us as offerings for your gods! Let us go, old woman!” Felimon shouted angrily.

“Return Felimon. Stop manipulating the child. Have mercy on his condition. You know what I’m capable of, dark spirit—release him!” Grandma Amira demanded.

“I have nothing to return because I took nothing! This child chose to come with me! And what condition are you talking about? The condition you could have healed but chose not to?” the entity inside Felimon retorted.

“If you refuse, fine! You will never leave my home, and I will make you suffer every single day.” Grandma Amira smirked.

She went back inside, choosing to focus on comforting Federico, who was still upset. When she got the chance, she explained to him what was happening to Felimon. However, she reassured him that as long as the dark entity remained trapped, Felimon’s soul was safe. They had nothing to fear because it was merely a possession.

Forcing the entity out was not an option—Felimon was still a child, too weak to endure such an exorcism. If they attempted it, he might never wake up again. She also told Federico to pretend he didn’t know anything, as the dark entity would do everything in its power to manipulate him as well.

Federico reluctantly agreed, though it was difficult for him, knowing that the person he would be speaking to wasn’t truly his brother.

They acted normal around Felimon, as if nothing was strange. Occasionally, Grandma Amira noticed that the real Felimon would resurface, but other times, it was the entity controlling him.

That night, everything seemed fine. Federico and Felimon even slept beside each other as usual, and Federico had no reason to worry since they were under Grandma Amira’s protection.

Just as Federico was about to fall asleep, Felimon suddenly turned to face him. His eyes were filled with sorrow, tears threatening to fall. Federico felt an overwhelming sense of pity—he wanted to embrace his brother, knowing he had suffered enough.

He wanted to blame Felimon for why they were trapped in this forest, but he couldn’t. Between the two of them, he was the one with a sound mind…

“Why do you look so sad, Felimon?” Federico asked.

“I’m struggling, brother… Mom and Dad aren’t happy about what’s happening to us.” Felimon answered as tears finally fell.

“How do you know? What do you mean they aren’t happy? Are they angry?”

“Don’t worry. They’re just worried about our situation. But remember, they will always protect us. Just hold on, Felimon. Once we get out of here, we’ll eat something delicious. We’ll buy some meat and cook a soup.” Federico promised.

“They don’t want us to stay with Grandma Amira. They said she’s lying—that she isn’t really an old woman. She’s an enkanto… a fairy. She’s keeping us captive. Mom and Dad appeared to me the night I got scratched. They’re outside the hut right now. They told us to leave… to go north of the forest. If we do, we’ll find a way out. We need to escape before Grandma Amira does something bad to us.” Felimon explained.

“Felimon, Mom and Dad only want what’s best for us. But even if they’re here, they wouldn’t want us to leave without Grandma Amira’s approval. Even if she is an enkanto, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t respect her. She hasn’t done anything bad to us. We should listen to her—she’s the only one who understands this forest.” Federico reasoned.

“Fine. If you want to disobey Mom and Dad just to follow that old woman, then go ahead. Just because I have a mental illness, you won’t believe me? Maybe you’re the one with the problem, Federico.” Felimon snapped.

“What did you just say?! That must be the dark entity talking again, huh? You can try all you want, but I won’t fall for your tricks. You’ll just tire yourself out!” Federico replied angrily, turning his back and deciding to sleep.

At sunrise, Felimon was still asleep when Grandma Amira invited Federico to go somewhere. She assured him not to worry about his brother, as she had placed protective wards around the hut, ensuring he couldn’t leave.

She led him to a massive ancient tree, its branches sprawling like a web. Federico was in awe of its beauty. Grandma Amira revealed that this was where she prayed, as the enkantos—her friends—resided within the tree.

It was then that she confessed: the dark entity in Federico’s dreams had told the truth. She had been blessed by the forest spirits. Long ago, the dark entities tried to kill her, so the enkantos made her a Diwata—a guardian of nature—granting her eternal life but with a great responsibility.

She then transformed before Federico’s eyes.

The woman reflected in the river—the one from his dreams—was real. Grandma Amira was no ordinary human. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her presence radiating a divine glow. Her skin shimmered like moonlight, her deep eyes burned like twin stars, and her long, flowing hair carried a golden sheen. Her beauty was beyond anything human.

“From now on, this is the form you and your brother will see. I will no longer pretend to be an old woman.” Amira smiled.

“What should I call you? Are you still Grandma Amira? You look like an angel.” Federico asked, mesmerized.

“Call me whatever you wish. My appearance is only an illusion, but my true age is beyond a hundred years.”

They headed home, and along the way, Federico clearly saw how the animals paid their respects to the goddess Amira, showing her nothing but reverence and admiration. Even the trees seemed to bow, and the wind moved in harmony with them.

When they stepped into the hut, they found Felimon cowering in a corner, his eyes filled with fear as he stared at Lola Amira. It was as if he sensed something unsettling about the goddess. Amira, however, simply laughed, as if she knew exactly what she was doing. She placed a hand on Felimon’s head and asked if he had eaten, but the child couldn’t respond—he just trembled in silence, his gaze fixed on her.

At that moment, Federico realized he had been right not to doubt the old woman. Her abilities were far beyond ordinary.

By noon, they all ate together outside. They felt at ease with Felimon again, certain that he had returned to his usual self.

He approached the goddess and hugged her tightly, repeatedly saying how beautiful she was, almost refusing to let go. That was just how Felimon was—whenever he felt comfortable with someone, he would suddenly embrace them, even when he was little.

Even during the meal, Felimon remained seated on the goddess’s lap, his innocence fully restored.

“Lola Amira?… Have you forgiven Felimon for what he said?” Federico asked.

“Felimon has done nothing wrong to me. It is the Maligno who is at fault,” Amira replied. “I don’t think it will return to Felimon’s body. And if it tries, it will have a hard time coming out—because I will destroy it. I will cast it into hell.”