Night Wolf 's Dream

The Enchanted Mistwood-3

The rain continued to pour heavily, the trees lashed by the downpour, as Liza and Joe sprinted in search of shelter. In their haste, Joe, burdened by the great sword on his back, nearly tripped over a vine. Liza swiftly caught him, clasping his hand and leading him onward. Joe felt his heart race as Liza's hand enveloped his, but there was no time for thoughts, "Look ahead!" Liza shouted, pulling Joe back to reality and urging him toward a towering tree at an accelerated pace.

The tree's roots protruded outward, forming a peculiar structure that supported one side of the trunk, creating a space large enough to shelter them both. Upon reaching the base of the tree, they shed their outer garments and started a fire. Liza took out some food and began to roast it over the flames, while Joe polished his sword. Bored, Liza began to observe the tree; its interior space was larger than it appeared from the outside. The bulging base was almost forming a small cavity, adorned with enigmatic inscriptions that seemed to tell an ancient tale. At the angle where the tree met the ground, there were scattered stones that glinted in the firelight. Intrigued, Liza stood up to take a closer look and found one stone, smooth yet dim, which caught her eye. Joe followed her gaze, and upon the stone were the same inscriptions as on the tree. Acting on instinct, Liza held the stone with both hands and placed it into the cavity in the tree. Suddenly, after a brief, faint sound from the ground, a hole leading underground appeared at the angle. Liza and Joe exchanged glances, and with a playful tone, Liza said, "Clever, don't you think?" Joe managed a stiff smile and replied, "Very clever, found us an even better place to hide from the rain." But now that the hole had opened, they decided to explore it.

The height of the cave was not too great, allowing for a simple jump down. Joe leaped down first, offering his hand to Liza, but she did not give the gentlemanly gesture a chance, merely casting him a glance before jumping down herself. Joe, undeterred by the lack of acceptance, praised Liza's bravery and followed her as they ventured further into the mysterious underground space.

From the entrance, a long tunnel stretched out, just wide enough for them to walk side by side, though not ideal for unexpected encounters. They adjusted their formation from walking abreast to single file, the tunnel's walls lined with crystalline minerals that emitted a soft glow, illuminating the winding path. These luminescent minerals not only provided light but also seemed to beckon them deeper into exploration. As Joe and Liza followed the light, their curiosity and vigilance grew. The only sound was the echo of their footsteps, and they began to wonder if this path would ever end. Then, faint whispers began to resonate within the tunnel, like the wind whispering through the stone, or ancient spirits divulging secrets. Joe and Liza shared a concerned glance as, ahead, a beam of light formed a circle on the ground, followed by the appearance of a figure, entirely enveloped in red. Beneath the figure, a circle hummed into existence, and as it did, the figure became clearer. Both Liza and Joe stared in awe.

A man of grandeur and nobility stood before them, his white hat towering high, a standard smile plastered on his face, resembling a chef. Liza was the first to recover and asked, "May I ask who you are?" The man's squinting eyes finally opened, revealing a scrutinizing gaze that swept over the two before settling on Liza. As he was about to speak, his clothes wrapped around him, radiating an eerie light. The garments then fell away, and the man said, "Ah! I suppose you know of me, dear girl." Liza and Joe felt the voice had become more frivolous after the transformation, though the appearance remained the same. The man continued, "Well... I should introduce myself first, especially to a lady. Forgive my rudeness, and to the young man beside you." Before Liza and Joe could utter a word, the man extended his hand, drew a circle in the air, and snapped his fingers. The circle expanded, enclosing the trio. As the man bowed, the circle descended, and to their astonishment, they found themselves in a room with three stools and a table. The man gestured for them to sit, then said, "I am Samsara, one of the avatars of the God of Blessings. You may call me Mr. S. You've seen the other avatar, Aurelian." As Samsara spoke, he conjured three cups of a unique beverage that appeared in their hands. Liza began her introduction, "My name is Liza, and this is my companion, Joe." Seeing Mr. S take a sip and nod, she continued, "So, Mr. S, what is the reason you've brought us here?" Liza and Joe, finding themselves at a loss for words, began to sip the beverages. The taste was distinctive, reminiscent of a bitter bean unique to their kingdom, with a hint of richness that made Joe feel a slight fondness for the so-called Mr. S.