the road to the forest of casis
1282 Words
The morning sun rose slowly over the hills of Bercah, spreading golden light across the quiet town. Farmers had already begun their work, and smoke curled gently from the chimneys of small houses.
But on the edge of town stood a single figure preparing for a journey few would dare to take.
Xavi.
He carried only what he believed he would need: a small leather bag with bread and dried meat, a water flask, a rope, and a short sword that had once belonged to his father.
Around his neck hung the silver pendant Annie had given him.
He touched it briefly, as if drawing strength from it.
The road leading out of Bercah was narrow and dusty. It passed through farmlands before climbing gradually toward the mountains that guarded the distant wilderness.
Behind him, the town slowly came alive with the sounds of daily life.
But Xavi did not look back.
His mind was fixed on the task ahead.
The Forest of Casis.
Many had spoken of it, but few had ever seen it. The stories described it as a place where ancient magic still breathed beneath the trees.
Some said the forest itself was alive.
Others believed powerful guardians protected its secrets.
And at its heart lay the Sceptre of Cansis Magic.
As Xavi walked, the peaceful fields of Bercah slowly disappeared behind him. The land became rougher, filled with stones and thick grass.
Hours passed.
The sun climbed higher in the sky.
Birds flew overhead while the wind moved softly through the tall plants.
Yet as he moved closer to the mountains, the air began to feel… different.
Heavier.
Colder.
The distant trees ahead grew darker and thicker, forming a massive wall of green that stretched across the horizon.
Xavi stopped on a small hill and stared at it.
The Forest of Casis.
Even from far away, it looked ancient.
The trees were enormous, their branches twisting toward the sky like giant arms. Thick mist hung between them, hiding whatever lay deeper inside.
For a moment, Xavi felt the weight of what he was about to do.
Many had entered that forest.
None had returned.
But he remembered Annie’s eyes when she gave him the pendant.
He remembered the promise he made.
Slowly, he continued walking.
By midday, Xavi reached the base of the mountains.
A narrow path wound through large rocks and steep slopes. The climb was difficult, but Xavi had spent his whole life working with his hands and walking long distances.
Step by step, he climbed higher.
From the mountain path, he could see Bercah far behind him. The town now looked like a tiny collection of dots surrounded by green fields.
It reminded him how small his world had always been.
But something told him that by the time he returned, everything would be different.
The climb lasted several hours.
By the time he reached the other side of the mountain ridge, the sun had begun to sink slightly in the sky.
And there it was.
The Forest of Casis, standing directly before him.
Up close, it looked even more mysterious.
The trees were taller than any he had ever seen. Their trunks were thick and dark, covered in strange patterns that almost looked like ancient writing.
The wind did not move freely here.
Instead, it whispered through the leaves like distant voices.
Xavi walked closer.
The forest entrance looked like a giant gate made of trees.
Dark shadows stretched between the trunks, and thick fog rolled slowly along the ground.
It was as if the forest itself was watching him.
Xavi took a deep breath.
“This is it,” he whispered.
He stepped forward.
The moment his foot crossed into the forest, something strange happened.
The air suddenly became colder.
The sounds of birds disappeared.
Even the wind stopped moving.
Xavi felt a strange sensation, as if invisible eyes were studying him from every direction.
But he continued walking.
The deeper he went, the darker the forest became.
The thick branches above blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only small beams of light touching the ground.
The trees here were enormous and twisted.
Some roots rose from the ground like giant snakes.
Strange glowing plants grew near the base of the trunks, casting faint blue light around them.
Xavi had never seen anything like it.
After walking for nearly an hour, he suddenly heard something.
A low growl.
He stopped immediately.
The sound came again.
Closer this time.
Slowly, Xavi placed his hand on the handle of his sword.
The bushes nearby began to move.
Branches snapped.
Leaves shook.
Then something stepped into the path ahead of him.
Xavi’s eyes widened.
It was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
It looked like a wolf, but it was twice the size of a normal one. Its fur was dark gray, almost black, and its eyes glowed faintly red.
Sharp teeth showed as it growled deeply.
Another growl came from behind him.
Xavi turned quickly.
A second beast stepped out of the shadows.
Then a third.
They had surrounded him.
Xavi slowly drew his sword.
The beasts circled him carefully, their eyes fixed on every movement he made.
His heart pounded heavily in his chest.
But he remembered something his father once told him.
“Fear is loud in your mind. Courage is quiet in your heart.”
Xavi steadied his breathing.
The first beast suddenly lunged forward.
Xavi reacted instantly.
He stepped aside and swung his sword, striking the creature’s shoulder. The beast howled and jumped back.
The other two attacked at the same time.
Xavi rolled across the ground to avoid their claws.
He quickly stood up again, holding his sword tightly.
The fight continued for several intense moments.
The creatures were fast and powerful.
But Xavi was determined.
With one final strike, he slashed his sword through the air and drove the beasts back.
Slowly, the creatures began retreating into the darkness of the forest.
Their glowing eyes faded into the shadows.
And then they were gone.
Xavi stood still, breathing heavily.
He had survived his first challenge.
But deep down, he knew something.
This forest was testing him.
The beasts were only the beginning.
As he continued walking, the forest grew even stranger.
The path twisted in unnatural directions.
Sometimes the same tree appeared twice.
Sometimes the wind carried whispers he could not understand.
Hours passed.
Eventually, Xavi reached a small clearing in the forest.
At the center of the clearing stood something unexpected.
A massive stone door.
It was built into a large wall of rock that seemed to rise directly from the earth.
Ancient symbols were carved across the surface of the door.
Strange patterns glowed faintly with blue light.
Xavi approached slowly.
As he stepped closer, the glowing symbols suddenly began to move.
The stone door trembled slightly.
Then a deep voice echoed through the clearing.
“WHO ENTERS THE TRIALS OF CASIS?”
Xavi froze.
The voice did not come from a person.
It seemed to come from the stone itself.
“I am Xavi of Bercah,” he said carefully.
“I seek the Sceptre of Cansis Magic.”
The glowing symbols brightened.
For a moment, the forest around him became completely silent.
Then the voice spoke again.
“ONLY THE BRAVE MAY CONTINUE.”
“ONLY THE WISE MAY PASS.”
“ONLY THE WORTHY MAY CLAIM THE SCEPTRE.”
The stone door slowly began to open.
Behind it was darkness.
And within that darkness waited the first true trial of Casis.
Xavi tightened his grip on his sword.
Without turning back, he stepped inside.
Because beyond that door…
His destiny was waiting.
- Writer
