the silent heartbeat

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

We wandered through the boundless landscape, our footsteps quiet against the soft earth. The vast terrain, blanketed with thick grass, stretched endlessly in every direction. There was nothing but an expanse of green meeting the horizon, the ground blending seamlessly with the dark sky above. In the distance, faint shadows danced along the horizon, but no trees, no structures, no landmarks could be seen. Just nothingness—a strange and mysterious emptiness.

The wind howled through the air, swift and cool, tugging at my clothes and ruffling my hair. It wasn't a natural wind; it seemed to carry a weight, a silent whisper of something hidden and ancient, the kind of presence that made you feel both awe and trepidation. I wrapped my arms around myself as a chill crept up my spine.

"W-What is this place?" I asked, my voice barely louder than a whisper, uncertain if I truly wanted an answer.

Berryl turned to me, her expression as serious and calm as ever, though there was a hint of reverence in her eyes as she looked around. "This," she began, her voice steady but filled with quiet wonder, "is the Land of the Unknown. A place of forgotten memories, buried secrets, and countless extraordinary things that have touched the lives of everyone who has ever passed through Emberthorne. It's a sacred place, Constance—one of the most powerful and mysterious realms this world has ever known."

I took in her words, a mixture of awe and anxiety growing within me. "But why does it feel... strange?"

Berryl looked away, scanning the horizon as though the terrain might answer. "This land holds more than just secrets and memories," she explained softly. "It holds everything that people have chosen to leave behind—moments they wished to forget, desires they couldn't fulfill, and even parts of themselves they chose to hide. In some ways, it's a graveyard for the unspoken, plus this is the ground for all obstacles that everything would happen."

I felt a shiver pass through me. The weight of the place pressed against my chest, almost suffocating. It was as though the air itself was thickened by countless emotions, by every sorrow and joy, regret and longing that had been abandoned here. The wind seemed to carry whispers—faint voices I couldn't quite understand, but which sent chills down my spine.

"How... how are we supposed to navigate something like this?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

Kaleb stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You don't navigate the Land of the Unknown by looking for a path," he said quietly. "You let it guide you. If you try to fight its nature, it will consume you. But if you surrender and open yourself to its power, it may reveal things to you, but beware because not all times you should act like this. There will be times when the danger would make your life at stake so you don't have a choice but to fight it so that it doesn't consume you whole."

"So does that mean that there would be times when you'd just let yourself to its power and let this world see right through you? What would happen when there's something bad that would happen?" I ask.

He shook his head. "It would not happen, Constance."

Holland, usually lighthearted, was silent, his usual smirk replaced by a look of solemn respect. "Most people would never dare to enter here, only the chosen ones and there are few of it, including you," he added, his voice unusually grave. "It's a place that tests you. It shows you what you want to see—and sometimes, what you fear the most."

I glanced at Berryl, searching for some reassurance. She held my gaze, steady and calm, but I could see a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "It's natural to feel uneasy here, Constance," she said gently. "This land brings forth what lies within you, the things you might not even know are there."