Book of The Lightborn: Rise

Enter: The Gargantuan Forest

"The sun will soon be upon us," Eraanel told Manna, his left eye looking at every movement of her face from behind. The Lightborn were preparing, honing their skills, praying, thinking.

"The rocks," Manna shifted her head to the right as she stood down to catch a glimpse of Eraanel, twin-headed spear by her left side, "are they cracking?".

"Over here, no," Eraanel promptly responded, seeing signs on her face that she was crying in silence, "but a couple of our sisters went some distance and returned just now. They said that the rocks could be heard cracking where they were.". He tried not to focus on her state, although he wanted to help her somehow.

"We have little time then, before another storm tries to steal more of our lives," she thought aloud. She took her spear, lifted herself up with its support, then turned to Eraanel, looking down in his eye. "Let us go then," her heart felt tight for what she was going to say "go and find Orvus, bring justice to our siblings and find a place we can call home.". Eraanel nodded in approval, heading towards the other Lightborn to announce their departure.

Manna looked over all of them. Their hopes, dreams, talents and wondering curiosity, they all stood in the palm of her hand. She had to lead them, yet she wondered, 'how many more will have to die', as she no longer could have the false hope that everything will be fine. Ever since they left the Link, more and more of them had to die in order to reach further. And what if all was in vain? For as long as she can remember, ice is all that there was. Maybe what Kilon told them, of warmer air somewhere beyond the passage, was much like what Orvus told them of the Frozen Side, false hope. It was too late though. Whether death or a new home laid somewhere inside or beyond the Gargantuan Forest, there was no other choice, but to push forward.

There were some moments of silence before they left. They were praying, all of them, to the Creator, so they may find a new home. So they may find he who sinned against them, so they can find...hope. Then, with a silent thud, all of them touched the ground, their eyes sparking with determination, power and a renewed will to push forward. And so, the Lightborn march into the seemingly lifeless forest.

Manna and Eraanel stood at the front, as they advanced in an arrow formation. The back of the large group, secured by the likes of Felemous, who had more potent power. While further ahead from all of them, Salvete made a run. She was the only one thought to be good enough at hiding her presence, to act as a scout. At full efficiency, not even the most sensible creatures could sense or feel her light. It was something Orvus always admired, and wanted to learn for himself, thus his efficiency in light flow control.

After they walked for a while, weapons prepared for any emergency, Salvete returned from within the forest. She approached Manna and Eraanel with such subtlety, behind a tree, that it made them barely aware of her, when she was only a few metres in front of them. She didn't need to catch her breath, it couldn't even be heard, despite the absurd silence in the forest, broken only at times by sways of wind between branches.

"Anything new Salvete?" Manna demanded, putting the whole group on halt.

"Not too far away from where we are, the trees are...moving," her voice barely heard, yet her words were completely understood. Change in the behaviour of the forest could mean a lot of things. Not limited to Orvus watching from somewhere afar and planning diversions or plans.

"What parts of the tree were moving?" Manna found a suitable question, to further their understanding.

"The tops and some of the thin sides," referring to the branches and crown of the trees, "I also noticed something odd on some of them.". She took a pause, thinking on how to properly explain what she saw.