Beyond the Stars

Chapter 11: The Forest's Lesson

Okay then, they're busy glaring at each other so I better start traveling now. "Where are you going? We'll go with you, you might get harmed," Blessica said, rushing to my side.

Carmen scoffed, crossing her arms. "Ah yes, something bad might happen to her—especially when she's with the wrong people." She wasn't even hiding that she meant Blessica.

I sighed. My plan was to go on this trip alone, but they insisted. In the end, I had no choice but to let them come. "Fine," I mouthed, already imagining the headache.

They scurried to pack things while I waited with my map open. When they were ready, we began the journey. Since the barrier still separated Therondia and Caspian, we walked on opposite sides, following the wall.

According to the map, if we followed the barrier to its end, we'd find the passage that would lead deeper into Cassiopeia. But walking felt endless. The wall stretched on like it had no beginning or end—greater even than the Great Wall of China.

After hours, we finally reached the end. But instead of the opening we hoped for, a massive mountain rose before us, shadowing the horizon.

"Well..." I said, tightening my grip on the map, "guess we climb."

The others hesitated, staring at the sheer slopes. But when I dug my foot into the stone and pulled myself upward, they followed, grumbling.

I've never hiked in Manila, not even once. And now I was scaling a mountain in another world. It was harder, steeper, and far more tiring than I imagined. Sweat clung to my hair and neck, and my arms trembled. But it was fun too—a strange thrill, knowing I was doing something impossible back home.

What wasn't fun was the tension behind me.

"Milady, stand beside me," Baron said with that smug voice of his. "You might get harmed with the wrong person around you."

"What the hell is your problem?!" Alon snapped, climbing up faster to glare at him.

"I don't have a problem," Baron said, grinning like he wanted to pick a fight.

"You're insulting us in front of Angeline!" Alon snarled.

"Funny," Baron shot back, "I didn't name names. Unless you think what I said is true?"

They started bickering louder, dragging the others into it. My shoulders slumped. Goddess Cassiopeia, give me strength. Amen.

I focused on my footing, ignoring the noise. At least the mountain was almost over. My map showed a forest waiting on the other side.

When we reached the ridge, a cold wind brushed us, and a vast forest stretched out beneath. Its canopy was so thick it looked like a sea of green shadows.

The others fell strangely quiet.

"Milady... isn't it dangerous here?" Cedric asked, his voice trembling.

Ah, now I understood. They were scared. Maybe that was a blessing. Fear meant silence, and silence meant peace.

"You shouldn't have come if you're scared," Danilo muttered.

"Wow, as if you're not scared yourself!" Cedric snapped. "You're the one who shouldn't have come."

"Oh, believe me, the feeling's mutual," Danilo fired back.

And there they went again. My temples throbbed. If only earphones worked in this world.

"HELP!"

We froze. A cry echoed from deeper in the trees.

We exchanged looks, unsure. But in the end, our feet moved on their own, pulling us toward the sound.

Through the undergrowth, we found her.

A woman about my age, hair tied back, clothes torn from struggle. She was cornered by a pack of snarling wolves, clutching only a stick in trembling hands. Nearby, a horse stamped nervously, ready to bolt.

If we left her, she wouldn't last.

I drew the sword I brought, turning to ask the others for a plan. But Baron, reckless as always, roared and charged with his claymore. The wolves spun toward him, and suddenly the pack's fury shifted from the girl to us.

"Idiot!" Carmen shouted, but there was no time to argue. We rushed in, each grabbing our weapons.

The clash was chaos. I swung my sword, parrying teeth and claws, while Carmen thrust with her spear. Blessica fought beside Alon, their movements almost synchronized. Danilo's claymore cut arcs through the air, while Cedric's tomahawk flashed dangerously close to his own head more than once.

Blood roared in my ears. One wolf lunged straight at me, jaws snapping, but I ducked and slashed. My arms shook from the impact.

Then Cedric screamed. We turned, horrified, to see him holding his tomahawk buried in a wolf's skull. Its body crumpled. For a heartbeat, silence. Then the pack howled in rage.

They lunged at Cedric all at once.

"No!" I screamed, surging forward. But before we could reach him, a shadow barreled from the trees.

A towering figure, broad-shouldered, fur matted, skin scarred. At first, I thought it was another beast—but it didn't attack Cedric. It leapt between him and the wolves, taking blow after blow, claws raking its hide.

It fought savagely, yet its stance shielded us. The wolves struck it again and again, but it held firm, growling, swiping with massive arms. We rallied, attacking alongside it, until at last the pack whimpered and fled into the shadows.

The battlefield stank of sweat, blood, and fear.

The creature swayed, groaned, and collapsed.

I hesitated, gripping my sword tighter. But the girl rushed forward, kneeling by its side. "I'll take care of him. Thank you... thank you for helping."

"You're not... afraid of that thing?" Carmen asked, eyes wide.

The girl smiled faintly, brushing hair from her face. "Honestly? At first, I was. I thought he would kill me. But then he saved me. Even when I ran from him earlier, he still protected me. If a creature like this risks its life for others... maybe it has more heart than we think."

Her words struck me. Even beasts have a heart. Even those who look dangerous can protect.

Without waiting for us, she coaxed her horse forward, dragging the creature onto its back. She didn't glance back.

We stood in silence long after they disappeared into the trees.

Finally, I cleared my throat. "We didn't learn much about King Therondia or King Caspian today... but maybe we learned something else. That not everything—or everyone—is what they seem."

The others lowered their heads, guilt written plain. Maybe thinking about how quick they were to judge each other. Or how they judged me.

"Did you say King Therondia and King Caspian?"

We spun. A hermit stepped out from the shadows, cloaked in moss and earth. His eyes glowed faintly, like he'd seen more years than we could count.

"Come with me," he said. His voice was deep but calm. "I may not know everything about those two kings... but I know truths hidden from both sides. Truths you may want to hear."

We exchanged looks. My heart pounded. Maybe this was it. Maybe the answers I'd been searching for weren't in Therondia or Caspian... but here, with this hermit.

Without another word, I folded the map, tucked it to my chest, and followed.