The scent of damp earth after the rain and the smell of decaying leaves hung heavy in the air. The Whispering Forest, in the transition between the rainy and winter seasons, was both beautiful and dangerous. A thin mist drifted across the forest floor, covered with fallen leaves of various colors, obscuring visibility and making every sound around seem unnaturally resonant. I was moving as quietly and cautiously as possible, winding along small trails known only to experienced forest hunters or gatherers.
I was heading towards "Sector Gamma-3," the area where I had first found the metal markers and traces of deforestation several weeks ago. Although I had now moved my refuge to a remote village for safety and was trying to contact the "anonymous benefactor" for more information, I couldn't abandon the fieldwork myself. I had to return and see with my own eyes how far the Thorns had ravaged this forest, and try to gather as much concrete evidence as possible.
My body had felt unusually weak for the past few days. I hadn't been sleeping well, often waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares of dark shadows and piercing screams. I had tried brewing herbs to nourish my body and dispel negative energy, but they didn't seem to be working as well as they should. It was as if something invisible was slowly draining my life force... or was this a side effect of trying to connect with the turbulent forest energy? Or perhaps... something else? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but I tried to dismiss it. Right now, I needed to focus on the task at hand.
As I got closer to the target area, I heard sounds... the sound of sawing wood, the deafening crash of large trees falling, and the rough shouts of the workers. They were coming from not far away. My heart clenched with anger and pain. They were still destroying the forest relentlessly!
I crept closer as quietly as I could, hiding behind thick bushes and large trees, peering through the gaps between the leaves. The sight that greeted me made my breath catch... the clearing that had been made before had now doubled in size! Ancient, massive trees lay felled haphazardly, the timber piled up waiting to be transported or burned. Dozens of workers in dark gray uniforms were working diligently, some using axes, others using large saws (which seemed to be enhanced with some kind of enchantment to cut faster), and several heavily armed guards stood watch around them, their eyes scanning warily. Faint runes of protection glowed on their breastplates.
This was no longer just ordinary logging. It was a systematic and rapid encroachment. They were clearly heading towards the heart of "Sector Gamma," and from the direction they were working, it was directly towards the area where I believed the "energy core" mentioned in the ancient texts might be located!
I had to get closer! I had to find evidence of what they were really doing! I began to move slowly, using the natural camouflage techniques I had learned from an old forest hunter, moving from one shadow to another, trying not to make any noise or leave any trace.
But then... I sensed a different kind of energy. It wasn't the cold and orderly energy of the guards, not the raw energy of the workers, and not the turbulent energy of the ailing forest. Instead, it was an energy that felt... rigid, aggressive, and full of rage. It was moving in from the other side of the logging area!
I quickly hid behind the trunk of a large tree, straining my eyes through the thin mist in that direction... and then I saw them! A group of about five or six people were moving quickly and silently. They wore dark clothing that blended into the environment, but their posture and movements indicated they were not ordinary villagers. They were fully armed – short swords, knives, and bows – and the leader of the group... a tall young man with messy black hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes... I recognized him from the wanted posters and the villagers' descriptions... Kaelen Stonehand!
My heart pounded faster with a mix of surprise, a sliver of hope (could he be here to stop the logging?), and intense distrust. What were they doing here? And why were they also moving in secret?
Kaelen's group seemed to be heading in the same direction I was – towards the logging area. They moved with the skill of those familiar with the forest, indicating they knew this area well. But what was their goal? Observation? Sabotage? Or... something else?
I saw Kaelen stop abruptly. He turned his head slightly in my direction, his sharp eyes narrowed as if sensing something. I quickly held my breath, remaining perfectly still, becoming one with the tree, hoping he wouldn't notice me.
He looked for a moment before shaking his head slightly and gesturing to his people. They changed direction slightly, moving around the area where I was hiding, but still heading towards the edge of the logging area.
I breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't found me, but my suspicion and distrust only grew stronger. Why would he avoid me? Or was the rumor that the "anonymous ally" (someone I wasn't sure I could trust) had warned me about true? That Kaelen might not be fighting to protect the forest, but had other hidden agendas? Or did he see me as an enemy?
The situation was too complex and dangerous to rush into. I decided not to get any closer today. Confronting both Thorn's soldiers and Kaelen's group at the same time was too risky.
I slowly retreated from the area as quietly as possible. My heart was still pounding, but my mind was racing. Kaelen's presence here, along with his armed group, spoke volumes... He was still fighting, but his goals and methods might be completely different from mine, and the distrust between us seemed too deeply rooted to resolve easily.
This could be a greater obstacle than Thorn's soldiers themselves... a division among those who should be allies.
I needed to hurry back for more information. I had to try to contact that "anonymous benefactor" and find a way to understand the true situation clearly before this indirect conflict erupted into an internal war that would destroy everything.
My heart still hammered in my chest like a war drum, even as I moved further away from the logging area until the sounds of sawing and falling trees began to fade into the mist. I moved as slowly and quietly as possible, treading lightly on the dry leaves, my eyes constantly scanning my surroundings. Every shadow, every rustle of wind through the bushes, made me flinch and stop. Instinct warned me that I was not alone in this forest.
The image of Kaelen Stonehand and his armed group remained etched in my mind. Their presence here, at the same time as my investigation, was no coincidence. Why were they moving in secret? Why did he look at me with such suspicion in his eyes? What were they really doing?
The distrust I felt towards him intensified. He might be fighting Thorn as well, but our goals could be completely different. Was he only interested in reclaiming land and personal revenge, or did he also want that "energy core"? Perhaps he saw me as a rival, or an obstacle to be eliminated? The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. Division among those who should be united was exactly what Thorn wanted, and it seemed to be happening.
I stopped to rest behind an ancient oak tree, leaning my back against its rough bark, trying to regulate my breathing. I looked back in the direction I had come from. Although I couldn't see the logging area anymore, I could still sense the pain and turbulence of the forest's energy emanating from that place. It was much stronger than before. The forest was weakening rapidly. Time was running out.
I looked down at the ground around me. Many of the familiar ground cover plants now had a faded color and looked lifeless. The glowing moss that used to cling to the roots had almost completely lost its light. I reached out and touched the leaves of a small 'dewdrop' plant. Its leaves were unusually cold and brittle, as if its life force was draining away.
With a sense of foreboding, I took out my short knife and carefully scraped up a clump of the moss that seemed to be the most "sick," along with some soil. I wrapped it carefully in a large leaf. I also collected a sample of bark from the ancient oak tree I was leaning against, which seemed to have unusual dark lines spreading from its base. This could be tangible evidence of the impact Thorn's actions were having, evidence I could analyze or use to confirm things with that "anonymous benefactor."
Yes... the "anonymous benefactor." My hopes now rested heavily on their reply. Today's indirect confrontation with Kaelen only reinforced that I couldn't trust him, and investigating alone was too dangerous and slow. I needed information! I needed to know what the "energy core" really was, where the "dark shadows" came from, and what Thorn's true plans were!
I checked the symbol of three overlapping leaves that I used as a communication marker in my latest reply. I hoped the messenger (whether vine or other creature) would deliver it safely, and that the answers I needed would arrive soon. Under the roots of the thousand-year-old vine at Rainbow Falls... was the meeting place I had chosen still safe? Another wave of anxiety washed over me.
I shook my head, trying to clear the distracting worries. Now I needed to focus on surviving and getting back to my temporary shelter safely. I carefully placed the plant and bark samples into my old leather satchel, checked my bearings again, and then started moving on.
As I walked through the mist and the dense shadows of the trees, the feeling of loneliness still clung to my heart, but now it was replaced by a stronger resolve. Today's indirect confrontation, though frightening and filled with uncertainty, had made my purpose clearer. I wasn't just fighting to protect trees and grass; I was fighting to protect the balance of ancient energies, to stop a disaster that could engulf the entire kingdom, and to expose the evil of a tyrant hidden behind a mask of progress.
The road ahead was long, danger lurked everywhere, and allies were still just faint shadows. But I would not give up. The whispers of the forgotten forest... someone had to hear them, and that someone... was me.