Into The Shadows

Chapter 7:The Tale of the Lunaflare Bloom

The early man sat on a stool, using the building behind him as support for his back. The wrinkles on his face were evident as he waited for everyone to gather. As soon as the crowd grew larger, he cleared his throat and began:

“Long ago, there was a war between two villages—ours and Darkthorn Village. They earned their name from the thorns surrounding them, making it difficult to leave or enter, which served as a means of protection. But it came at a cost—the land was infertile, leaving them with little food to eat.

“But you said you were going to tell us about a flower!” a little boy shouted from the crowd.

A look of annoyance flashed across the old man’s face. “Would you have a little patience, child? I’m getting there. No disturbing me again.”

The boy shrank back as the man continued.

“The hunger and frustration drove them to seek other means, starting with stealing from nearby villages. From there, they began seizing lands, waging wars with different villages to claim their territories. Their greed for more land didn’t stop. When they heard of our land’s rich soil, their leader demanded we surrender it. Our ancestors refused and fought back. Battles were waged, and though our warriors were strong, each encounter left someone dead and many injured.”

The man paused. Everyone held their breath, eager to hear what happened next but too afraid to interrupt.

“But then, the village head’s child ventured into the forest in search of medicine. That’s when he discovered a Lunaflare Bloom. The flower is a rare yet popular one. Rare because it isn’t easily found and doesn’t grow in most places; popular because everyone has heard of its miraculous properties. Hidden deep within the enchanted forest, its petals shimmer like silver, and its center glows faintly with a soft golden hue. He gathered some and gave it to those near death. Miraculously, they recovered within three days, healthier than ever. This discovery gave courage to the warriors. They believed that as long as they didn’t die, they could recover and continue fighting.”

The audience gasped. The old man’s face grew grim as he continued.

“This discovery only fueled Darkthorn’s determination. They wanted the forest for themselves. But no one knew where the flower was—neither our people nor theirs. Only Willow, the boy who discovered it, knew its location. Everyone in the village tried searching for it but failed. It was as though the forest had chosen Willow. He refused to share its location or guide anyone there, fearing the flower’s power would corrupt them.”

The old man paused to drink water, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in.

“And Willow was right. People became desperate, increasing their efforts to find the flower. Some accused him of witchcraft, claiming the flower didn’t exist. Others tried bribing him, but he stood firm, refusing to let greed destroy what he had found.”

As gripping as the story was, Milo couldn’t concentrate. His mind lingered on the part where someone had entered the forest and come out unscathed. “Does this mean people can escape without harm?” he wondered, a flurry of questions filling his mind. Suddenly, he realized it was nearly dark.

“That’s all for today,” the old man announced. “I’ll continue another time. Children, off to bed now.”

Groans filled the air, not just from the kids but even some adults. Reluctantly, everyone began to disperse.

“Wait! I have a question!” a child blurted, looking to the old man for approval to speak.

“Make it quick,” the man said.

“Where’s the flower now? And what about Darkthorn Village? Why haven’t we ever heard of them?”

The old man’s face darkened. “That, I don’t have an answer to. It’s just a legend,” he said before retreating into the shadows.

The moment he could, Milo ran to Aria.

“Goodness gracious, Aria! Did you hear that? Someone else went into the forest and came out safely. That means we’re going to be okay, right?”

“Seriously, Milo? No ‘Aria, are you okay? How’d you get out? Are you fine?’” Aria replied, clearly hurt.

“We’ll talk about all that later. Right now, let’s focus on—”

“Aria, what are you waiting for? Let’s go; it’s already late,” Aria’s sister called out from across the area.

“I’m coming! Just a few more minutes!” Aria shouted back.

“No, let’s go now!” her sister replied impatiently.

“Fine. We’ll talk later,” Aria mouthed to Milo as she ran off, leaving him frustrated and alone.

As Aria and her siblings walked home, her mind kept drifting back to the story and Milo’s words. If it was true that someone escaped the forest safely, did that mean she and Milo wouldn’t go mad or die? She tried to focus but kept getting distracted by her siblings’ argument.

“Anna, stop annoying Charlie. And Charlie, stay away from her, okay?” Aria scolded.

“Ria, calm down. They’re just having a little fun. That’s not what’s important right now,” her elder sister, Iris, said.

Annoyed and a little wary, Aria turned to her sister. “Then what’s important, Iris?”

With an exaggerated sigh, Iris replied, “Well, it’s that someone has a crush. I saw you talking to that boy. Who is he?”

“Milo? Ew, why would you say that? We’ve been friends forever!” Aria said, appalled.

“Stop it, Ria. You don’t need to hide it from me. Don’t forget, I know your friends, and he’s definitely not one of them. Besides, I saw him running to you with desperation written all over his face,” Iris said, grinning.

“What do you mean you don’t know him? He literally visits us every week,” Aria argued.

“Whatever you say. Let’s just walk faster; I can hardly see,” Iris said in a sing-song voice, walking ahead and leaving Aria more confused than ever.