«The Reliance» the Passage Guide explains. «Will be the topic of today's Lesson». The students are watching their father as he makes a mask float. What does it represents? It's... A Serow? Yeah, it is! That's adorable! «In fact, today you will be traveling to the Hidden Forest to complete the Lesson: you'll just have to find what was lost». The Guide, with his magic, makes the Serow mask go away. It's reaching the Forest.
«And, for the first time, you all will have a group leader that will help you to stay together». He looks at Leilah, and she makes an excited noise. She'll be the leader!
The girl comes closer to the Guide, who looks up to the purple sky. He then stares at the students and the Children of Light. «May the Lesson of Reliance begin».
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Sentinekka walks through the Dark Forest with the other Children, who follow Leilah in silence. Everyone is now following the mask, while picking up wooden objects on the ground.
«How did those things get here?» Sentinekka asks Symphony, who is walking by her side. All the Children form a long line of pairs. Ahead, Leilah leads them and looks around, hoping she hasn't missed anyone. Whoever is lost must be found.
«I don't know, girl» her best friend replies. «Maybe the Elder has to do something with it».
«Actually...» Horand joins their conversation. «The Elder of the Forest doesn't even know that we all are here. These pieces of wood are as old as time. They are like... Dead, I guess» he explains, looking straight to the material scattered on the ground they're walking on.
«Dead?» Sentinekka is always more curious about it. «Like...». She gasps. «Spirits!».
«Exactly! I can see you know much!» he comments, smiling. «This pieces are completely... Inexistent, to everyone except us. We are the only ones who can see them and take them».
«Woah, I didn't know this!» Symphony exclaims, stunned. «That's so cool!».
«Guys! We're almost there! I recognize this place!» Leilah shouts, relieved. «Just keep following me and the mask! And never do what?».
«Never give up!» everyone scream, then they all chuckle. Leilah is a great moral support, and the Lesson of Reliance is surely helping her to trust more! Or maybe... Maybe it is helping the Children to trust. But what do they have to trust if they already do?
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«Are you seriously waiting for him?» Symphony asks Sentinekka, shaking her head. «Really, Sentinekka. I'm starting to think that he's hiding something from us».
«Oh, I know. He told me».
«I just mean that... What?».
Symphony stares at her in shock. The Lesson of Reliance ended: Leilah, on the top of the Stone, received her mask, the symbol of the Trust.
Now, the two girls are in front of the Cave of Prophecies. Sentinekka is looking at it with ipnotized eyes, as it was calling for her, while one of her hands is touching the stone of it's surface.
«I knew he had something different!» the best friend says, surprised. Then, she continues:«But you're not going to tell me, right?».
«Of course I won't, sorry» Sentinekka turns to her with worried eyes. «It's an important secret, and I can't tell anyone. Only me, he, his family and Orlando know».
«You're a good friend» Symphony smiles, patting her shoulder. She doesn't say a word for a while, but then she finishes:«I'm going to the Village, alright? I'll leave you and Ojtaro alone, so you can talk. Come back before midnight or I'll come and search for you over the whole realm».
Sentinekka smirks and nods. «Good night!».
Minutes pass like the wind after Symphony is gone. Sentinekka hums for some time to let the boredom go away and, some time later, a voice calls her by name.
«Sen', I swear that this was the worst Trial of them all». It's Ojtaro, and he looks like he could even pass out for the pain in that moment. He's dripping wet, and his eyes are tired; he's still smiling as he did some hour before starting his classes.
«Oh dear! You look like me during that time in the Forest! Like a dry crab» Sentinekka exclaims, while giving him her greenish and soft cape to help him not to freeze to death.
«I'm having a déjà vu» he says. Ojtaro isn't wrong... That situation looks like her first time in Hidden Forest, when Ojtaro passed out on her and she had to try to call for some help.
«Let's first go to the Passage Stone, then we'll talk about it» she puts a hand on his shoulder and they both walk away from the Cave.
YOU ARE READING
Fly Until You See The Light
FantasySentinekka, on her thirteenth birthday, the date known for the start of the typical journey in the seven realms, decides to bring her best friend, a fifteen year old who was never allowed to start her journey, through the exploration of the Isle of...
