Lost

Chapter 3 : The Temple In The Forest

"Are you sure you want to go for this expedition?" Humbert asks for the millionth time.

"Yes, I told you I'm fine and will be fine." Louise replied, disgruntled and annoyed.

"Just making sure. I mean, you still remember the tricks I told you, right?"

"About the enemy's weakest points?"

"Yep. Can you name at least one of them?"

"Uhm...the leg?"

"What? I-I mean that could work if you managed to destabilize the enemy but what are the chances that he will thwart you? For the last time, Louise. Sweep the leg isn't a thing in sword fighting."

"Well it is for me." 

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in!" 

"Louise?" Thea called as her face peeked into the room.

"Your highness." Humbert stood up from his sitting position and began to bow rather low.

"Mom!" Louis bowed for a short while before rushing to embrace her mother.

"So, how's the preparation for the trip going?" Thea asks.

"Going well." Louise replied.

"How about your self-defense skills? You promised me to top it off a notch before I'll let you out of the gates."

"I did...sort of." Louise's voice trailed off as his eyes wandered towards Humbert, begging for confirmation.

"O-Oh yeah, your highness. He upgraded a little bit during our last practice. He now knows the weak points of an enemy and will not hesitate to strike if necessary, right, bro?"

"Y-Yeah, right." The two plastered their biggest smile yet that stretches from ear to ear.

"Alright, I trust you. Now don't you dare broke my trust. Trust is something very, very hard to gain. Besides, I do not want to lose another important people in my life." Thea pecked Louise on the forehead.

"You won't, mom. I promise you I'll be safe out there." Louise vowed as he hugged his mother a second time.

"Good." Thea smiled as she returned Louise's hug.

~~~

 After bidding goodbyes to both his parents and Humbert, Louise hopped on his steed. His pony is beautiful shade of white with grey mane. She has assisted him for about a year now and the two has a very strong, unbreakable bond. Although white is not a very good color for camouflage, the pony is the only steed with the desirable strength and trust.

Louise's not quite sure where to start his travel. So he took a random guess and went to the East. On his way, he had to endure shrubs and thorns slashing his and his steed's skin, leaving a pale scar behind. The over hanging vines that if he ducked too late will entangle his head which will take an extra minute to untangle himself. There's also the muddy and uneven terrain that keeps tripping his pony or repeatedly trapping its foot. He's getting tired, really tired. Tired of the mushy terrain, the hanging vines, the random thorns, everything!

The sun began to set in the West, signalling the end of the day. Taking a break from travelling, Louise decided to rest in a clearing for the night. After tying his steed to a sturdy oak, Louise then began to unpack the contents of his backpack and produced a tent set out from it. The tent didn't take long to set up so after that's done, he walked off towards the dense thickets to find some firewood.

Louise is too engrossed in his quest that he didn't notice the overlying vine ahead of him, trips and fell into the thick bush ahead. After cursing under his breath and spurting the tufts of leaf out of his mouth, he looked up and gaped in awe at the massive structure ahead. It's an ancient temple painted in white is illuminated by the full moon's bright beam. His mind clicks, this must be the temple he's looking for. As he got closer, he managed to read the silver words, 'The Temple of The Full Moon.'

"Huh, I wonder why they called it that." Louise questioned as he entered the temple.

When he entered however, he figured out why. Multiple charts and illustrations of the moon cycle is plastered all over the wall. Warnings written in ancient runes also comes with these warnings. All of them said the same thing. 'Do not use the ritual under the eclipse for it shall release the darkness within.' Although he can't make head or tail from the warnings, he's grateful that tonight is a perfect full moon instead of an eclipse. Which means, he can do the ritual without causing any problems.

"Right, now to work."

Louise propped up the scroll against the wall in front of him and take a deep breath before following the dance routine. The routine starts with him putting his left hand in front of his chest - as if he's supporting the back of an imaginary person - and his right outstretched, all pointing to his right side. He then began to alternate position with both hands pointing towards his left this time. In doing so, he also raised up his feet like an elegant stork. After that, he walked over to his right, bend both his feet, his left hand is now on his chest and his right raised up high above his head. Next, he suddenly leapt up from his crouching position and did a little twirl until he reached his original position. He did a second twirl, his long legs moving elegantly across the concrete floor as strange rune symbols began to light up a bright blue beam. The symbols began to make a straight line that connected it to a respective beam. The beams then began to glow in the same bright blue hue.

"I think now's the time to say the magic words." Louise cleared his throat before settling himself at the center of the symbols and shouted out loud. "Open thee, the doorway to the magic realm!"

As soon as his mouth closed shut, the roof began to slide open and revealed the massive, circular white orb that shines down upon him. He closed his eyes as the moon's light blinded his vision. It's as if it moves closer and closer towards him. The beam became brighter and brighter and then the magic happens. Louise can feel his foot lifting off the floor. He wanted to open his eyes and make sure he's not really levitating but the blinding light is too dangerous for him. He endured the tingly and magical feelings before hearing a loud thud as he's plummeted back towards solid ground once again.