The "ALL SEASONS FOREST" / The Legend of Raem

CHAPTER 1 - THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

A small girl was escaping to a very ice-like cold place inside a forest filled with thorns and bushes at the back of a young man. The girl was breathing heavily and sweating all over. In the half-dead state and during the escape, a forest filled with fog was the only thing she could barely see with her unclosed eyes.

She groaned-"Dad, my heart is burning. I think I will die."The man replied while running-"My baby, hold on a little longer. Dad will surely save you."She was uncomfortable as someone was swaying her. Her discomfort grew intense, and Ninling finally woke up from sleep. And upon waking up, she could see the roof ceiling and her maid on the left, who was trying to wake her up.Maid-"Young miss, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare again?"She was sweating heavily, her face was blue, and was lying still and straight on her bed for some seconds. Her maid, who was sitting beside her, helped her get up. Ninling held her maid's hand and gave a hopeless look. N"Bulbul, you tell me when I will be able to overcome this torture? It's the same nightmare every time, and the weirdest part is I am clearly in a freezing place inside the dream, but why the hell I am sweating so hard instead of shivering? It's been eleven years, and even after leaving no stone unturned, I am still here, daily enduring this torture." Ninling spread her arms, threw herself on the bed and moaned-"Heeeaaavvveennnnssss, blessssss meeeeeee."Bulbul smiled at her innocence and helped her up."Young miss, I think there's one stone left."Ninling-"what do you mean?"Bulbul brightly smiled at her-"Look, what have I got." Ninling's eyes brightened.Ninling-"Wooooaaahhhhhh, Bulbul, this is amazing. Where did you get this? My father won't leave his keys even for a second." While Ninling was busy staring at those keys, Bulbul mentioned the triumphant return of the eldest prince into the city as her father's sudden absence and recklessness as he was summoned into the palace to do a thorough health check-up on the prince upon his return.Bulbul energetically added-"Today will be a big day for our Raem state. The well-renowned-"Maker of Raem" is returning to the state after ten years of its foundation."Bulbul stood up and dramatically explained-"The five-year-long deadly battle with the Baang state, which plunged thousands of Raemians into misery and thousands of soldiers into death, finally drew to a close, and the credit goes to our eldest prince of the great Raem state-Prince Raanjh. He heroically fought the enemy and, using tricks and tactics, defeated them in their own game.""Ok, ok, I got it. No matter what, the return of that prince is at least a blessing for me. So I pray for his safe return to the capital. Now you tell me when my father will be back?"At her careless reply, Bulbul frowned-"Young missss, are you even listening to me?"Ninling lifted her eyes and childishly consoled her-"Yes, yes, I know. I heard every bit of what you said. But right now, this is not important. My lovely Bulbul, can I ask you for a favour?""I have already helped you this much. What's now?Ninling held her arms, made her sit beside herself and cosied up to her-"My good Bulbul, Today I will explore my father's apothecary lab. So you have to keep a close watch on the door. Ok?"At first, Bulbul fearfully denied it, but later she agreed on a condition that Ninling would accompany her to the street where nearly all the citizens of the Ran city (capital city of Raem) would gather to catch a glance of the glorious and majestic return of the prince. "Ok, so it's settled then. Now I will search my father's lab, and you keep a watch at the door. After that, we both will head towards the street to join in the fun."Ninling went into the lab sneakily, cast around the drugs and medicine bottles, and came across a book kept on the table named-"All known about "All season's forest" ". She flicked through the pages and intensified her reading in chapter five, under the heading "Frost realm". She could relate the images of the forest with the ones she saw in her dreams. Her eyes widened, and she thought-"Holy shit, so this place physically exists. I will visit it for sure. Maybe I will be able to get rid of my nightmares."She came out of the lab with the book and silently locked the door."Was there any useful discovery, young miss?"Ninling-"Neither did I find any mysterious book of medicine, nor did I find any special drug or poison to study." Ninling looked at her discouraged face, held her arm and surprised her with that book. She cheerfully added-"But I have found this. Inside this book is the place that I dream of usually. I need to go to this place, and maybe I can find the reason for my nightmares." Bulbul was still concerned. She took the book and flipped through the pages. Her eyes widened, and she anxiously said while flipping-"Young miss, this is the "All season forest". People who have been there never made it back alive. The only person who could do so was the eldest disciple of the master of the banished Poison-med valley-Healer Abhiyaan Saang. Young miss, you cannot risk yourself like that.""No pains, no gains. I have been haunted for 11 years. " She walked and solemnly drew her words out -"And that place seems familiar to me. I always feel like my dreams are telling me something. Something which is closely related to me, and it feels like I need to recall something. I have made up my mind. I will go there at any cost."She looked at Bulbul, reassuringly smiled at her and said-"And don't worry about me, in terms of medical and detoxifying skills, I am second to only my father in the capital. I will survive this forest. For now, let's go to the street to witness the welcome of the prince or else we will miss the fun." Bulbul reluctantly agreed and went to prepare for the outing. Ninling went to her room to dress up. She wore a vermilion skirt, with a blouse paired with a royal blue mantilla tied by one end at one of her shoulders. Although very decently and guilelessly dressed, she was uncommonly beautiful. Light makeup, with a medium-sized red bindi between her forehead followed by cute pearl studs, braided her thick, long and wavy hair with a simple golden-pearl hairpin, with some long strands of hair smoothly slipping from sides. With minimal accessories on her, she had innocent eyes with long lashes. And small rosy lips applied with red rouge, accompanied by wheatish-complexion. The peach fuzz originating from her forehead to the side of her ears complimented her slender v-shaped small face-cut. A thin single-pearled diamond chain went well with her lean and graceful neck, and a single-beaded nose ring beautified her long and shiny nose, with a simple loosely-styled golden waistband swinging along her slender waist. The glow of innate beauty and ignorance on her face made her a rare beauty. They both set off, and the sound of her anklet bells and the jingling of her thin jade bangles followed the rhythm of her footsteps and arms. They enjoyed varieties of street dishes and witnessed the decoration of streets, houses, and shops with lanterns, flowers and frills in the whole capital. All civilians were buying the good luck charms to throw in the way of the prince to express their blessings and gratitude. Shops were offering discounts to show their sincerity and excitement. The street was bustling with dance shows, music shows, magic shows, game shows and circuses, as a present for the prince's return. People awaited him since 5'O clock in the morning. This day was no less than a festival for the Raem state. But some intended to turn this into a mourning one. INSIDE THE MOON RESTAURANT IN THE RAEM STATEA man wearing a black cape was conversing with the lieutenant of the Minister of borders.Man in black asked sneakily but heavily and in a low voice-"Did you arrange everything?"Lieutenant-"Everything is ready. Just waiting for the prey."Man in black-"Today, if he enters the capital, you will have to die on his behalf. Don't leave any loose ends. I have to go now. Inform me of your progress. I will await your good news."INSIDE THE PALACEHuasa Raem (the emperor) was troubled and drinking the "soothing tea". He was in his chambers looking outside the window at all the pomp and show in the streets. The majestic and glorious emperor seemed bothered by something. His proud and confident eyes were warm and soft. The magnificent and astounding aura of the king was absent. Instead, he was feeble, more like a niggling father. A servant comes in.Servant-"Your majesty, the princess seeks an audience."Huasa-"Allow her in." Huasa stood, went to his study, and tried to cover his worrisome look. Princess came in, greeted him and asked about the progress of her brother's return.Huasa-"Have you arranged things inside the palace?"Deishya (princess) chirpily answered-"Yes, father. Decoration, delicacies, security and welcoming rituals. Everything is ready." Huasa was preoccupied with some thoughts. She had a closer look at her father."Is something bothering you, father?"Huasa got distracted by this question and smiled at her convincingly.Huasa-"No, nothing serious. Deishya, you have accompanied your elder brother to the battlefields. And in martial art, if you are second then only, Raanjh can claim to be the first. You are closer to him than anyone else in our royal family. So I entrusted you with today's palace's security arrangements. I hope you won't let your brother and father down."Deishya confidently smiled at her father, came near him, held his arms, dragged him to the table and made him sit. She sat in front of him, poured tea into the cup, and answered-"Father, about this, you don't have to worry. Inside the palace, I call the shots. Once he steps inside the royal palace, I will make sure that everything runs smoothly. Huasa laughed at her reply.Huasa-"Your brother is not a five-year-old child. He knows what to do. Ok, you must be busy. I won't take up much of your time. You can go now."Deishya stood up with a broad smile and greeted Huasa-"Ok then, I shall take my leave." She left."Hope everything goes well." The king murmurs.INSIDE RAANJH'S (ELDEST PRINCE) TENT (located 35 miles outside the capital city)Bensun Hoeb (40-year-old general, right-hand man of the prince)-"Your highness, the longer path with Poison-med valley in the way, is comparatively a safer one to the capital."Raanjh was sitting with his eyes closed. His back was straight while he was focused. He said with a throaty voice with his eyes closed- "No matter whichever path I take, ambushes are awaiting me. I can hide for once, but not forever. Act according to your plan. You can leave now."He continued with his meditation. Bensun took care of all the arrangements for the journey. They both rode on their horses with some soldiers, and left exactly, at 7'O clock. They took a longcut along the south, passing through the poison-med valley. On their way, they got ambushed near the valley. This assassination was under the prince's expectation, and he had already prepared for it. He asked the emperor to send reinforcements to follow him on his way and act when they sense any danger. But the unexpected thing was the attack of a martial artist, who covered himself from top to bottom and whose kung fu was of unique style. He had very high cultivation, and his moves were difficult to defend against. Raanjh, being highly skilled in martial arts and with high cultivation could dodge his deadly attacks. Raanjh's reinforcements, his men including Bensun, were busy fighting the assassins, and the man managed to lure him out of his troops. After a series of attacks and clashes between them, the man hurt him with a mild poison smeared on his dagger and also got himself severely wounded in the shoulder in the process and fled. Raanjh chased him and saw him run towards the "All seasons forest" behind the poison-med valley. As he was wounded, he could not give a thorough chase. Bensun got there, asked for forgiveness for arriving late, accompanied him to their troop, helped him get on the horse and continued their journey. Raanjh felt a little inappropriate, but he could not sense the presence of mild poison inside his body, which was already difficult to detect in the first place. His face was full of questions towards that man. They continued their journey towards the capital.Bensun anxiously says-"Your highness, I think we should take more precautions for further attacks."Raanjh-"The enemy is already alerted. They won't make further attacks. Don't worry."Due to the assassination, Raanjh was already very late to enter the capital. Ninling, on the other hand, couldn't wait any longer for the prince's return. Although she enjoyed the pomp and show, she still couldn't get those pictures inside the book out of her mind. And she knew, once her father was back inside the mansion, she wouldn't have any chance to get out of the house. So, she decided to set off towards the forest. She convinced Bulbul, and along with that book, took all-necessary poisons and meds for self-safety, put on a veil to cover her face and went alone. As she left, the prince entered the main street of the capital. His majestic appearance was waited for by thousands on the streets. Everyone welcomed him wholeheartedly with a lot of extravaganza and fanfare. On his horse, sternly looking forward, he was tall and handsome with an extraordinary aura. Although the coldness and aloofness in his eyes were unconcealed, his glory and triumph outshined them. The greyish-black cloak he wore gave him a royal and extravagant demeanour. The overall scene was admirable.Everyone-"Hail god of war, hail prince Raanjh, hail "maker of Raem"." Everyone cheered for him and, inside the palace, once the emperor got news of the prince's return, he was revived. He changed his overcoat and went to the entrance of the palace to personally welcome him. INSIDE THE MANOR OF THE SECOND PRINCE (Shitaang Raem)He was indulging in deep thought with frowned eyebrows and was smoking heavily from a hookah. The heavy lampblack smeared on his cruel eyes characterised his barbarian nature. He couldn't wait anymore and hurried towards the exit. The guard enters.Guard-"Your highness, the eldest prince has safely entered the capital. His majesty is calling you over for his welcome outside the palace."Upon hearing his words, Shitaang wielded his sword and cut off his head. Deishya entered his room, and the guard fell at her feet. She stared at him with fury and mocked him sarcastically while forcing a smile-"Killing a mere guard won't help you achieve your big goal." He ignored her, flipped his cloak, went near the table, sat on the quilt, and started pouring wine. Deishya called upon the guards, asked them to clean the place, and gave them some money to compensate the guard's family. She came towards him and sat in front of him, took the wine jar from his hand and started pouring the wine into her glass.Deishya, while pouring-"Today, I went to see father. He looked tensed." She then looked at him uncertainly and added-"I hope his worries have got nothing to do with you." He smiled ironically-"Didn't sister already have the best security arrangements for eldest brother? Why would father be worried?"At this reply, Deishya placed her hand on his cheeks warmly and looked at him with love-"Shitaang, my darling, let go of your hatred for him. He is our elder brother." Shitaang distanced himself from her hands and replied in a cold and distant tone-"If sister has got nothing else here, then please allow me to see you off." She left disappointingly. The lieutenant of the minister of borders entered his room sneakily and hid in the room. Although Deishya sensed someone's presence, she deliberately closed her ears to it and left. Lieutenant appeared.Lieutenant-"Your highness, our mission has failed. I have come here to seek my punishment."Shitaang turned his back on him and admonished him-"Do you remember about our deal? If my brother entered the palace alive, then you will have to die on his behalf."Lieutenant got anxious and added-"Your highness, the eldest prince had already prepared for the assassination. By the time we attacked him, his reinforcements arrived. They out-numbered us." At this reply, Shitaang turned to him surprisingly and asked-"Reinforcements?"Lieutenant-"Yes prince, and it seemed like they were from the palace."Shitaang was devastated, felt like the rug swept under his feet, bumped on the floor and murmured-"Father sent his imperial guards for his protection. Is he that important in his eyes? He disregarded his safety and provided him protection." He stared at the space for some time and hopelessly ordered the lieutenant to cut his head off with the sword to atone for his sin. The lieutenant was scared out of his wits and stammeringly answered-"Your highness, I have also got a piece of helpful news for you."Shitaang-"Shoot."Stammeringly he answered-"Your highness, when we attacked the prince, another man in black arrived out of nowhere with very high cultivation. He could compare to the princess in terms of martial arts. He too wanted to assassinate the eldest prince. Your Highness, an enemy of the enemy, is a friend. I can help you investigate him, and we can befriend them."Shitaang, while holding the wine cup, drunk-walked towards him and whispered in his ears-"Fine, now this is your job to locate that person for me, and if you failed, I will take it as a lie of yours and leave you no leeway. Now get out." INSIDE THE PRINCESS' PALACEDeishya was pacing out restlessly, waiting for the spy. A maid spy entered her palace and greeted her.Maid spy-"Your highness, I couldn't eavesdrop on their conversation, but I have led my men to tail that lieutenant. Soon we will know what he's got under his sleeves."Deishya-"Watch him closely. He has got some cultivation. If needed, you can also join those men. Now get back to work. Today is eldest prince's return. I don't want any unnecessary trouble. Keep your eyes and ears open."Maid spy-"Yes, your highness."AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PALACEEveryone, including ministers and imperial physicians except the second prince and the empress, came out of the palace to welcome Raanjh. He received a grand welcome from the civilians of the capital city and finally entered the palace riding on his horse protected by soldiers and imperial guards. He got off the horse and touched the feet of the king. Huasa lifted him by his shoulders and gave him a proud and warm hug. Well, Raanjh didn't hug him back though.Huasa-"Welcome home, my son."Deishya cried at his return and hugged her brother.Deishya-"Brother, you are finally back. I was worried sick." Raanjh smiled at her and caressed her hair.The first consort of the emperor Miheesha Raaj came forward and said in a composed manner-"Raanjh, the empress is sick. So, I have come to welcome you on her behalf. I hope you won't mind."Raanjh replied formally-"No, your highness. In fact, I thank you on my mother's behalf.""And your brother drank a lot yesterday to celebrate your return. As a result, he couldn't make it here. I hope you can forgive him."Raanjh formally smiled-"You must be joking, your highness. How can I blame him for such a trivial matter."After completing all the welcome rituals, Raanjh asked for permission from Huasa to meet his mother in her palace. He left for the empress' palace. Empress Baiyun Ran is an elegant, simple, pure and kind-hearted lady. Her father died in the battle led by Emperor Huasa which laid the foundation of the Raem state. The capital city was named after his family name "Ran", as a remembrance and glory of his death. His eldest daughter Baiyun Ran got titled the empress, and she was the most favoured woman in Huasa's harem, not only for her beauty but for her excellent management of the harem. After one year, due to missing her beloved son and father, she fell ill. Her internal organs weakened due to depression, leaving her with little strength in her body.INSIDE THE EMPRESS' PALACE The empress was lying on the death bed inside her palace with her paralysed legs. But her hope to see her beloved son after so many years kept her alive. Today was the day of his return. She was eagerly waiting for him to show up with her both teary and happy eyes. With all her might and remembering the picture of small Raanjh in her mind, she got up and managed to sit on her bed.Empress in a broken and teary voice-"See, my only son has come after such a long wait and, I can't even go and receive him. The day I waited for ten years, I couldn't even enjoy the whole of it."Maid while sobbing-"Your Highness, please don't say such disheartening words. Today is an auspicious day. Let's not think about sad things."Empress, while forcing a smile and wiping her tears-"Yes, you are right. We shouldn't ruin such an auspicious day. I don't want to look sad in front of my son." A guard enters.Guard-"Your majesty, the eldest prince has entered your palace."These words were music to her ears. Out of excitement, she tried to stand up.Maid-"Your highness, watch out." The maid helped her sit on the bed comfortably.Maid-"Your highness, hang in there. Now that you have waited so much, there's no harm in waiting a little more. After all, all things come to those who..."Announcement from outside-"His highness, eldest prince Raanjh Raem has arrived."Lowered eyes of Baiyun brightened up, and she was constantly looking at the door. Finally, Raanjh showed up. He straight went to his mother, bowed down and touched her feet with both hands. Empress held him by his shoulders and embraced him tightly with all the love and warmth accumulated in her heart for all these years.They both chatted for about half an hour about the palace, Baiyun's health and about different stuff. Then suddenly, Baiyun's eyes got teary.Baiyun-"My son, all these years you have been outside, away from home, away from us. I can see that you have become a little aloof, a little distant and cold. See, you are not even chatting openly. Did you have a hard time there?"Raanjh, while avoiding eye contact, confidently answered with a stiff smile-"Mother, since childhood, I have been staying in the military camp with father. I have already been used to there. How can I suffer."Baiyun was constantly looking at him with motherly love and pain-"Hmm, I can see. Now you have also gotten better at telling lies and hiding emotions. I can see no emotions or expressions on your face. I saw you rushing to me upon reaching here. Even out of excitement, you carried yourself well. So disciplined, so cultivated and mature my child has become over these years. This flawlessness has got only one flaw, that you have lost your smile, my dear."Raanjh was embarrassed. He did not know how to react to it.Empressed laughed at his discomfort-"I know you are embarrassed. Don't worry. You have just been here. For the time being, I will ask your father not to load you with official matters so that you can relax and enjoy yourself a bit."Maid-"Your highness, it's time for your medicine and massage." Raanjh's attention got diverted to her mother's legs. He stood up.Raanjh-"Mother, your health is important. I will come to visit you some other day. For now, let me take my leave." While leaving, he handed a medicine to Baiyun as a gift and asked her to apply it on her legs daily. He left and straight went to his father's palace. He saw his father was busy with the map of the Raem state. Huasa called Raanjh by his side and asked him about the assassination. Raanjh-"Father, for now, I don't have any clues regarding this. After a thorough investigation, I will report to you. But I am sure they were not bandits. Their weapons and fighting styles were not like theirs. And they did not come for goods and chattels. Instead, they came for me."Huasa got irritated and disappointed at the same time.Raanjh-"Father, why do you look disappointed? Didn't you already know this?"Huasa walked from his study to the window and sadly replied-"I know, I know, I don't want to believe that one of my subjects would try to harm the country's pillar. One of my men would try to hurt my son. Oh yes, I forgot to ask you, how's your injury? I have already called upon the imperial physician to do a check-up on you. Come, lie on my bed. I will summon Baocheng."Raanjh rejected him decently-"Father, I am all right. I don't require a check-up." Although Raanjh couldn't figure out why his father summoned all the physicians to attend his welcome ceremony in the palace, he did not ask him about it.Huasa amusingly warned-"If the prince remains unchecked, then the imperial physician will have to die to atone for his sin. Do you want this?" Raanjh answered formally-"If father wishes me to have a check-up, then I can just follow your will."The imperial physician Baocheng San entered the emperor's palace. His attire was pure white. He was a 40-year-old man who had a weird glow on his face and would always avoid eye contact with the king. He had warm eyes and is known for doting on his only daughter, Ninling. He greeted the king and the prince and approached the eldest king with a gentle glare. He checked the pulse and detected the presence of mild poison in his body.Baocheng-"Your highness, this poison is harmless for now. But over time, it will eat up your body from the inside without anyone knowing. The one who extracted this poison must be a master of poisons."These words of the physician got Huasa distressed, and a chill ran down his spine. He tried to hide his anxiety and sweat by patting the handkerchief over his forehead. Baocheng noticed Huasa's anxiety and offered to check on his pulse. Huasa-"Baocheng, how many days will it take you to concoct an antidote for the prince?"Baocheng hesitantly replied-"Your majesty, concocting an antidote is not an issue if I have the necessary ingredients."Raanjh-"Physician, what kind of ingredient do you need?"Baocheng-"Your highness, inside the frost realm of the "All seasons forest", if you can get me a grey-coloured plant names "mirage plant", then it can eradicate this mild poison inside your body. If you want I can draw you one for your reference. Or I can also accompany you inside the forest at your orders." The king became restless and interrupted them.Huasa-"No need, I will send my elite soldiers there. Till then, Baocheng, you will have to stay inside the palace to look after the prince."Baocheng-"As you wish, your majesty."Raanjh-"Physician, you can leave now."Baocheng left, and Raanjh could sense a strange anxiousness over Huasa'a face. He divulged to Huasa about the strange masked man who poisoned him, and Raanjh then asked him to let him go into the forest to look for the ingredient and the person. With lots of clashes and arguments, Raanjh finally got his way. He prepared for setting off to the forest with some of his men and some first aid. On the other hand, Ninling had reached the entrance of the poison-med valley. She was exhausted from a long and tiring journey and was sitting on a rock for some rest. While drinking water, a strange masked man, knocked her out and abducted her into a dark underground place, between the mazes inside the valley. The guy left her with delicious food, medicine and enough water beside her. After some time, she gained consciousness and tried to walk her way out and found herself puzzled between the paths. She closed her eyes, calmed her mind, and in the process, some strange images and blurry patches of memories of the way of exit flashed in front of her eyes. While closing her eyes, sensing the walls through her hands, and relying on her pieces of memories, she walked her way out of the dark place.Ninling-"oooooh my god. What was that? It scared the hell out of me. Who was the guy that abducted me? Oh heavens, this place has loads of questions and mysteries." It took two hours for her to get herself out. Ninling in her mind-"I should leave now before he returns." She was no longer careless about her journey. All the way, she was wandering about the nightmares she's been enduring for the past ten years. Her eyes got numb, and the kidnapping left her in a more bewildered state. She calmed herself down. And in her mind, she thought-"Why that man did not kill me? He didn't look like some who came to me with ill intentions. And he also left me with good food and water. Did he know me? And why the hell I could carve my way out of that maze? All this is so confusing. I will blow my mind this way. No, I can't show my back at such a critical point. I have to look for my answers. I need to go into the forest and look for that man. His body was cold. I think he came from the frost realm of the jungle." This is the moment of "do or die". Let's hurry, Ninling. All the best. It was already 5 p.m. She went inside the forest, and after a while, Raanjh, with his subordinates, also entered the forest. Ninling tried to find the way inside the frost realm, following the map inside the book she carried with her. And Raanjh intruded the frost realm with his men and soon caught up with her, as he was fast due to more resources and noticed someone was ahead of him. Ninling felt familiar with the place as she walked further, but before she could go any further, the prince's men caught her, but she tricked them, sprinkled some anaesthetic drug into their eyes and got away. This time Raanjh himself chased her, held one of her hands, turned her around, facing him, and dashed himself against her by the tree, locking her neck with his arms. She was frightened and looked at him nervously, inside the frost with sweat all over her face. Raanjh wore a black mask to hide his identity. He was suspiciously and domineeringly staring at her. That was their first encounter.