Lacuna

Chapter 6

Shoto walked through the snow covered forest. The cold wind brushed against his cheek, making his skin have goosebumps. Snow fell from the cloudy sky down to the ground, creating more layers of snow. Shoto's horse walked through the snow with large steps. Making a thud each time a hoof landed onto the ground. The horse's black fur was covered in snow as he walked. Shoto looked at him with sympathy. He pulled a blanket from his bag and wiped the snow off his horse. The blanket was soft and warm in Shoto's hands. He laid it on the horse, trying to give it some sort of warmth. He held onto the reins of the horse and continued walking.

The winter was a desert of silence and death. The time of the year was hardest for many animals and people trying to survive. Some survive with their instincts telling them when to prepare for hibernation. Others died with the idea of thinking they may survive it without any preparation. The winter proves them wrong, making them die in the worst way possible. The frost covering their fur all the way to their skin. The terrible hunger of not finding the food to eat only leaving the stomach to eat itself to survive.

Shoto remembered the pain of not being able to eat for days. Watching the snow and frost laugh at him as he tried to survive in a small cave. Shoto remembered it like it was yesterday.

At last, Shoto finally reached the mountain he needed to go to. The mountain had its sharp and rough sides that were not covered in snow. Shoto looked up and watched as the clouds slowly drifted in the air, covering the beauty that no one knew.

Shoto faced the mountain and brushed his hand against it. He could feel the dirt fall into his fingertips and nails. The roughness lightly scraping the tips of his fingers. Shoto stoped at a rock that stood out in the mountain than the rest. He tugged at it and the mountain opened itself. The large rock opened itself by two ways, revealing a large staircase hidden under the mountain. His horse, Sebastian, was not surprised to see the hidden staircase. He had seen it before many times when he was with his owner. It was in his memory knowing what it was.

Shoto tugged at the reins. Sebastian obliged and followed his owner into the staircase.

When they landed on the fifth step, the doors closed back once again, hiding the secret from the world once again. Shoto didn't turn back and walked up the steps. Around them were diamonds stuck against the walls. There were many colors. Blue, red, pink, purple, green, and many others. Each one shined its on color, giving the person walking light to see. Small pieces of grass were growing on the stairs and against the walls. Even with the raging winter outside, life was still blooming inside the cave.

Most of the grass was growing near the green gems. Water gently dripped from the blue ones. Shoto didn't know all about the gems, but he knew they were unique than other regular gems. He could take them for himself but even taking a small piece would lead to consequences. If he remembered correctly, even just taking a piece made the person drive into madness. They would rip their own skin off thinking it's not their own. Kill their loved ones thinking they're monsters. Lastly, making them kill themself realizing what they have done. It scared Shoto a bit. The thought of something so beautiful could create so much damage.

Shoto blew the thought away and continued walking up the stairs.

His legs begin to sore up from the amount of stairs he walked up. No matter how many times he walked up these stairs, he could never get used to it. After what felt like hours, Shoto could finally feel the cold wind once again. The snow was coming into the cave as the cave entrance was open. Shoto reached the top. Outside, he was welcomed by trees surrounding him and a pathway with lamps leading him to the place he loved. Shoto continued walking, still holding onto his horse's reins. The fire inside the lamp swayed side to side from the wind. He wondered how the fire never went out. Must be magic, Shoto thought.