Journeys of Tainted Souls

1- Leave the Leaves

The world is blanketed by a black cloth adorned with sparkling jewels. Ostentatious of these all are the giant pearl that casts a soft, pale light to the slumbering land.

In a clearing, a figure stood. Invisible force billowed his cloak, bringing with it the familiar scent of leaves and grass to his nostrils.

"Leaves", he breathed out finally breaking the tranquil silence. He uttered it as if in deep contemplation. And indeed, just the mere scent carried with it a dagger that stabbed deeply.

It was as if the forest itself is petitioning before him, begging him to think a hundred times. Or It was as if fate is mocking him, reminding him of her. With that, her gorgeous visage somewhat appeared in the air, lips etched in a sweet smile.

He gritted his teeth and gripped his wooden staff, the motion echoing his crushed heart. Arcane words were mumbled and a blue light began to pierce the darkness, sending shadows fleeing from its luminescence. And like a water being poured from a jar his spirit loosened its grip from his attractively lithe and supple frame. He hovered there in the air examining his body. Leaving it here exposed near the darkened forest is unquestionably suicidal. Especially he is far from the omnipresent barrier of the Court. He couldn't put trust in anything lurking outside the Court's protected grounds. For even the whole frame of the innocuous sprites can be mockingly imitated by the deceptive and malign creatures of this dismal darkened forest.

Thus, hovering, he slowly circled his stoically unmoving body while chanting a long forgotten language of Abjuration. The area around him began to shimmer until a circular diaphanous wall enclosed his corporeal self. And with certainty that the barrier would lasts long and can endure both mundane and magical assaults, he turned his attention to the waiting collection of leaves.

He passed places that dearly hold their sweet memories. Memories that must be forgotten. He thought bitterly. Trees where they would play hide-and-seek despite their age and huddled with each arms entangled when the sun sets, uncaring for wild beasts. Beds of flowery meadows where they'd pluck flowers and reduce each to discarded petals. Crystal clear pools of water where the two would savor their whole day bathing to negate the sun's blazing heat. The whole forest somewhat echoes their shared happy laughter.

It was all overwhelming. The memories rushed through him accompanied by a gale of emotions. And unconsciously, his body in the clearing produced a drop of water from his eyes in partnership with his smile. The occurrence making his spirit gain eye-wincing brightness, illuminating the trees below him.

He stopped and whispered a silent prayer to the One seating at the throne of Heaven. Then continued on the way.

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Lyrea watched silently from her perch on a branch of a molave tree. The journey will soon begin. Or their journey rather. And there will be no turning. Impulsiveness does not to be blamed whatever the consequence of their actions.
Medeus's spirit is emitting a bright glow. That just mean her great friend is under an emotional turmoil.

Her friend cannot really resist his beloved. Of course, love really is . . .

What?

She doesn't have the slightest idea about the deeper meaning of love. Or so she thought, she haven't. The kind of love Medeus and Amalthea have is somewhat alien to her. Basically, she knows she loves freedom in the wild, she loves her friends, but on top of all these, she loves any form of music. . .And of the twinkling stars.
Will she experience that kind of love on their journey? What will happen? Who will they meet? How will they find the solution to their problem? What new things will they'll learn? She feels anticipated at the possible prospects of their journey.