SEEKING IDENTITY

Chapter 20: Forest of Avareen

Verse of the Day.
"And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;"
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭

Chapter 20
Forest of Avareen
[ Ava Maureen ]

THE SKY and surroundings were dark but the bright moon and stars are guiding us in this gloomy place. Dead trees were everywhere and I feel like someone was watching. The cold air keeps on brushing off my skin that sends shivers through my entire being. This is my first time walking in the place where there's no light coming from electricity but the moon. Hindi ko rin dala ang cellphone ko dahil baka mawala lang sa gubat.

Kasama ko ngayon ang mga kaibigan ko sapagkat alam nila kung nasaan ang Forest of Avareen na sinasabing tagpuan namin. They said Forest of Avareen was the most beautiful place you'll see. Bawi naman sa nakakatakot na daanan patungo roon. There's no other way than this solemn and scary place. Sadness before the happiness, indeed.

"50 meters more, Mau. Tumigil ka na sa  karereklamo mo, masakit na tainga ko. Please..." rinig kong pabulong na pakiusap ni James. Kaunti nalang ang nakikita ko na ang mga estudyante ang dumadaan dito dahil malamang ang iba ay nandoon na. Five minutes before three is the time. I'm sure they're not yet starting the discussion because I'm with the highest rank in school. They can't start without them.

He's right. Kanina pa ako nagrereklamo dahil sa mga ligaw na sanga at damo. Ilang beses na kasi akong muntik nang madapa dahil lang doon. I love the beauty of forest, yes. But not the one that dead trees lived.
Sobrang dami ko na ring kagat ng lamok na ginagamitan ko rin naman ng magic to heal. They even stopped me dahil baka maubos na ang magic stamina ko kahit hindi ko naman nararamdaman ang pagkakuha no'n.

"K, fine," I snorted. Kami lang ni James ang maingay sa grupo dahil ang iba ay mukhang inaantok pa. My body and soul are very alive because I slept early last night. I don't want bags under my beautiful eyes. "Did all of you slept early last night? If yes, why it looks like you've been an all-nighter shift at work?" I finally asked. Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi na magtanong dahil baka masigawan ako.

Magbiro ka lang sa lasing, h'wag lang sa antukin. Am I right? I guess, I am.

"Mau, huwag na magtanong dahil halata namang hindi. Nanood pa kasi 'yan sila ng palabas," James was the one who answered. Magtatanong na sana ako kung anong movie pero naunahan na niya ako. "H'wag ka na ring magtanong kung anong palabas dahil bawal sayo 'yon." He even did a cute winking.

"I'm not that innocent, duh. Wanna taste my lips?" I playfully asked and winked. Napatingin naman ako kay Sofia na parang nagising ang kaluluwa sa sinabi ko. I wanted to laugh but I stopped myself. She's so obvious, yet she keep acting oblivious.

"Yak! Maghunos-dili ka nga, Maureen! Dios mio!" James even touched his head like he's so stress just because of me. His face crumpled like I said something so gross.

"Hey, jerk-ass! You should be thankful that I offered you that!" Umakto akong hahalikan siya pero napalingon ako sa likuran nang may humawak sa balikat ko. I laughed hard when I saw her face. Nagpipigil ito na mabulyawan ako. "Are you sure there's nothing happening between you two?" pang-aasar ko pa.

Hindi na nila ako nasagot dahil huminto na si Jack na siyang nanguna sa paglalakad kaya huminto na rin kami. Looks like all students were here and we're a bit late. We are at the end of the dead forest pero nasa bukana naman ng isang buhay na buhay na kagubatan. It looks like the two forest was separated because of the visible line I saw.

In front of me is really a forest vibe but more magical and welcoming than the Delphic Forest. Nasa bukana pa lang kami kaya hindi ko pa kita ang nasa loob. It's like it was covered with a thick mist. Parang ilusyon lang ang makikita namin sa labas ng gubat pero kung nasa loob ka na ay maiiba ito. The forest itself was protected from someone powerful. Only good ones, I think, can get inside.

"Gather around, everyone." We all gathered in response. The coordinator, Mr. Kanais, yawned. Looks like we are not the only here doesn't like doing this. Ano ba kasi ang ipagagawa? "Let's have a little discussion about this forest for the ones who doesn't know anything." Everyone agreed, even me.

"This forest is taken care of a goddess, the goddess of nature. If you'll do something terrible, the goddess itself will give you the punishment. She doesn't have mercy at all, so all of you must be careful." My schoolmates nodded and I can feel the uneasy feeling of them. Maybe they're scared of what sir Kanais said. "I know you are all wondering why I'll send you here even if it's dangerous for the hardheaded ones. Don't worry, kids, the goddess already took the consent. So, here's what you need to do..." and he explained to us what we shall do.

We need to find an egg. Not just ordinary one but a magical. A magic world, remember? So, nothing's new. If we see an egg but the egg itself don't want us touch or get it, then it's not suitable for us. The egg will be the one who'll choose its owner. Sir Kanais said, the baby inside the egg will be our forever pet.

So, in short, we will find our very own mystical specimen. Yeah, that's what the coordinator called the baby inside the egg. While the egg is called mystical egg. It's sounds fun and it explains why we should wear this kind of outfit. Para iwas sakuna.

I am just wearing my green hoodie and a jogging pants because I thought this is just a simple activity held inside the forest. Well, we should really expect the unexpected. Hindi naman mabigat ang suot ko. Infact, this will lessen the coldness of air. I will not control the air temperature because it's tiring to do so. My magic stamina was saved for the match and in this activity.

Pinapasok kaagad kami sa loob—and I was right. Outside view was just illusion at all dahil ibang iba ito sa loob. My mouth gaped in amazement. The ground grass looks fine, like it was trimmed everyday. Big trees are surrounding me. Vines were all over the trees and the color of the flowers were very visible to my eyes. Nakabubusog sa aking mga mata ang mga nakikita ko. Everything just looks so . . . dreamy.

Ako lamang mag-isa rito dahil pagkapasok namin sa mist ay nagkahiwa-hiwalay na kami. The coordinator was monitoring us using the hologram made by madam Herodie. She's really a master in programming something in her hologram hands.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad. Kada madaanan ko ay mangha ang mababakas sa aking mukha. There are different kinds of flowers I cannot named. Parang ginawa lang ang mga bulaklak na ito para sa lugar na 'to. And every flowers, leaves, vines, and even the trees are literally shining like it was showered by silver dusts. Kung ano ang kulay ng bulaklak ay 'yon din ang kulay na kumikinang dito.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad habang namamangha sa paligid. I even saw my other schoolmates getting their own eggs finally. Other eggs looks weird . Mga itlog na may pinta ng iba't ibang diesnyo. It looks like the egg's design was based on your magic. I'm afraid what it would look like in mine. They might see my egg and make them confuse because of the design

Natagpuan ko nalang ang aking sarili sa isang mas maganda na lugar kaysa sa mga nadaanan ko kanina. Not really far from here, I saw glowing falls with vines at the both sides of it. There's a rainbow located below the falls. Kalahati lamang iyon pero ang ganda paring pagmasdan. Mas malalaki na ang puno na nakapalibot sa 'kin. But there's one that is really different to all of them.

A really, really big tree and the color of its trunk was brown but close to orange. Leaves were orange, close to gold, and there's even a lake under the tree. The tree was surrounded by a ball of orange lights. The ball were really shining and brighter than the usual. Maganda itong pagmasdan lalo na't madilim ang paligid. The light was so proud of itself to glow like this. But this place is somehow familiar...

I tilted my head as I try to remember where I've seen this place. I knew it! This is the place where the mysterious woman appeared. What is she doing here that time? But that was just a dream and nothing else. It's just a warning, maybe. Warning for what?

Hindi ko aakalaing nag-eexist pala talaga ang kagubatang napanaginipan ko.

Naupo ako sa ugat ng isang kahoy dahil napagod sa paglalakad. I hope the egg will be the one to come near me. I wonder, what would be the design of it? Where can I find this goddmn egg?

Nahinto ako sa pag-iisip tungkol sa itlog nang may natanaw akong pigura ng isang tao. It's a woman, standing behind the magical tree. Nakatalikod siya sa 'kin and I can only see her bare back. She's wearing an all green dress while her was curly blonde. I squinted my eyes.

What is she doing here?

@eggarru