The Map Beneath the Moon

EPISODE 5

THROUGH THE MOONLIT FOREST

The silver door vanished behind Aren and Liora, leaving only a smooth wall of dark stone.

Aren pressed both hands against it. “We have to go back.”

Liora caught his arm. “If we return now, we will be captured too.”

“My grandmother is out there.”

“She wanted you to reach the kingdom.”

“She wanted me to live.”

“Then we must keep moving.”

Aren turned sharply. “You keep saying that as if moving forward will solve everything.”

“No,” Liora replied. “But standing here will solve nothing.”

The passage ahead was narrow and filled with silver mist. Strange blue flowers grew from cracks in the floor, glowing softly beneath their feet. The air smelled of rain and something sweet, like fresh leaves after a storm.

Aren looked at the map. Its silver lines had changed. Instead of pointing toward the mountains, they now formed a winding path through the darkness.

“Where does this lead?” he asked.

“To the moonlit forest.”

“We are already in a forest.”

“Not this one.”

They continued down the passage. The stone walls seemed to breathe. Every few moments, Aren heard distant footsteps behind them, but whenever he turned, there was nothing there.

After several minutes, the passage opened into a vast forest.

Aren stopped in amazement.

The trees were enormous, their branches stretching high above the clouds. Their leaves shimmered with silver light, even though there was no moon in the sky. Rivers of blue light flowed between the roots, and tiny glowing creatures flew through the air like sparks.

“This is impossible,” Aren whispered.

“This is Eldoria’s moonlit forest,” Liora said. “It lies between the human world and the hidden kingdom.”

“Why does it look so different?”

“Because the forest remembers magic.”

Aren stepped forward. The moment his foot touched the glowing grass, the mark on his wrist brightened. The trees bent toward him, their branches creaking softly.

Liora watched carefully. “The forest recognizes you.”

“Does that happen often?”

“Not for seventeen years.”

Aren looked around uneasily. “What are we supposed to do?”

“Follow the river of light. It will lead us to the mountain gate.”

They began walking beside the glowing river. The forest was beautiful, but Aren could not relax. Shadows moved between the trees, and sometimes he heard soft laughter coming from far away.

A small creature with transparent wings flew toward him. It had bright golden eyes and a tail like a flame. It landed on his shoulder.

Liora raised her sword. “Do not touch it.”

The creature opened its mouth and spoke with Elara’s voice.

“Aren, come back.”

Aren froze.

The creature flew away, disappearing among the branches.

“That was my grandmother,” he said.

“No,” Liora answered. “It was a memory eater.”

“What would have happened if I touched it?”

“You would have forgotten why you were running.”

Aren looked at the trees. “How many dangers are in this forest?”

“Too many to count.”

“Wonderful.”

A sudden rustling came from the riverbank.

Liora pushed Aren behind a tree as three shadow hunters emerged from the mist. Their bodies were thin and twisted, and their eyes glowed like dying stars.

One of them lifted its head.

“The heir is near,” it whispered.

Liora gripped her sword. “Stay here.”

She stepped into the open.

The first hunter lunged. Liora blocked its claws, and silver sparks burst from her blade. She spun beneath its arm and struck its chest. The creature broke apart into black smoke.

The other two attacked together.

Aren watched helplessly as Liora fought them. She moved quickly, but one hunter struck her shoulder, knocking her to the ground.

Aren’s mark burned.

The river of light rose into the air.

A wave of silver energy swept across the forest. The shadow hunters screamed as the light struck them, then vanished among the trees.

Silence returned.

Liora pushed herself up, breathing heavily. “You used magic.”

“I did not mean to.”

“That does not matter. Now they know exactly where you are.”

Aren stared at his glowing wrist.

The river settled back into its path.

Far ahead, beyond the silver trees, a mountain gate began to open.

Liora looked toward it. “We are close.”

Aren thought of his grandmother trapped behind them.

Then he looked at the hidden kingdom waiting ahead.

“We reach the kingdom,” he said. “We find help, and we go back for her.”

Liora nodded.

Together, they followed the river into the moonlit forest, while beneath the earth, something ancient began to awaken.