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"Life is such a mystery. One must not be complacent about anything that has not transpired yet. Everything has its purpose and meaning. Life is not set in stone. Life is unpredictable. Join me and let’s unravel my quest to an unfamiliar world of possibilities. Are you all ready?" Said the huge man with the crown of light lavishly showing its elegance to the white-winged girl, patting on her head while she nervously intertwined its hand. "I, I will come wherever you will go, Father!" she said.

Every night I feel that I could be somebody else. I always thought that this might be because I don't feel myself. I am an unusual person. I'm always having a dream that I am somewhere, in the middle of the crowd. A place where bustling crackles of noises can be heard, dancing lights in the middle of the road can be seen, crowded and throbbing one another.

... There is yet another vision of people who are talking towards one another that I can't seem to recall.

In a calm night sky, where you really can almost see the twinkling specks of light overhead. I woke up and thought about the wonderful dream I was having. How else would I imagine what it would feel like to get to see the whole place illuminated with floating lanterns and torches out there that don't extinguish. In stark comparison to this region, surrounded by trees and fields just about anywhere. Any night is as dark as a lump of coal. Our home is situated in the southern part of the region, where you can see a vast area mostly covered with trees and undergrowth-the Forest of Krane. Mostly, this is where they hunt creatures and gather timber logs to build new dwellings and also for firewood.

I was born and raised in the hinterlands with a large family member from which we would only eat fruit and vegetables every day. When we are fortunate enough to have a successful season of hunting, we will enjoy the meat of the wild creatures in the forest. Although we are doing our decent means to survive. I am not wailing, though. It's just that not everything is fair. I say, yes, these are not the things we would be complaining about as long as we have a roof to sleep under and a lot of food to consume, but this wretched way of life is at its best. How are we categorizing a group of people like this? Why can't we exist separately from an organization or individuals above us?

I am the fifth son of a serf. Serfs were the lowest of the peasant status and were treated as slaves. Nobles are the lords of the serfs who lived within their own appointed territories. In exchange for a place to live, the serfs utilized the land for themselves and their lord. In fact, the serfs are allocated mainly to the farmland to work for the landlord and, of necessity, to cover the rent.

Indeed, obviously. In this little town mostly with serfs, we glorify the Lord. Also, we have no names except perhaps the Lords' Freemen and a growing number of Knights, but they love to call me Twig. I am given the responsibility to get branches or twigs to be used as firewood when my parents are working in the huge fields of white and golden grain, however I do funny things other than that. I would often wander secretively in the depths of the wood. I've built a small treehouse to store the vile creatures I've caught.Training my body to the point that I can hunt larger creatures.

After all, of course, driven to my determination. I just want to be a squire, however I don't honestly believe I'm qualified to purchase my liberty. My friend Morning Dew admired the same thing in terms, I suppose. But we're just utterly hopeless throw rugs. In this territory, we are anticipated to wither. I don't really get this damn place and I'm just disappointed by the things I can't bear. As you can see, I refuse to accept the fact that I hate this mediocre way of life. I can't really complain about that, so what can I do? We are the slaves of the Lord. What I ought to do is hope that our good Lord Heinzall Val Bradrick is going to stand for us forever.

He is our most forgiving Lord. They say he was a bastard of the lowest noble in the kingdom of Darathos. Son of a concubine, his mother is a lover of a baron. Well, he's the second child, anyway. As far as the rank and rights and freedoms of the concubine are concerned, they were always inferior to the rights of the wife, and neither she nor her children were inherently entitled to succession. Therefore, this land has only been granted for him to prove himself. The Lord has been around since he was young, and he is very wise in the administrations and preparation of the supply of sustenance. Often this contributes significantly to food commerce in the surrounding lands.

Where did I get to know these pieces of knowledge? I have such a friend from the great stone house of the Lord. He's a squire, and he's a knight's servant. He travels everywhere across the town with the knight and does what is required of him. Nevertheless, he is also the son of the Knight, representing the knight, the magnanimous warrior class. This guy might be the exception, though. He told me that he was the son of a merchant whose friend was a knight.

Just then, I happened to know this guy when he was running an errand for the Knight he's serving. He's a very tall person. I met him in the grasslands when I randomly picked kindling. We've been friends since then, and he have been actively encouraging me to stand up and fight in the event that I rarely encounter a wild creature in the wilderness while using my sharp blade. He also told me not to bother calling him in any kind of honorifics. See, a friendly and approachable man, and a strange person, too.

Every time after meals, when he's not around, I play with my friend Dew, who's also in charge of bringing kindling. Needless to say, we sons and daughters of the serfs are not encouraged to come in and help farm the land. The reason is that the Lord believed that perhaps we should learn and understand the essential knowledge in the morning before we turn fifteenth Luners.

Every time after meals, when he's not around, I play with a friend of mine, Dew, who is also in charge of bringing kindling. Needless to say, we sons and daughters of the serfs are not encouraged to come and help farm the land. The explanation being that the Lord thought that perhaps we should learn and understand the essential knowledge in the wee hours before we turn fifteenth Luners and pick-up branches or twigs to be used as fuel wood in our dwellings. The firewoods used in the Lord's stone house are taken from lumberjacks deep within the forest where children are therefore forbidden. It is to ensure that everyone works successfully under his command.

Then one day I heard a rumor that the residents of this town were suspicious about lately. A week ago, a new cave was found in the eastern part of the Krane Forest. It's just a little closer to our town, but deeper than that. So I began preparing to better understand this new destination. I would be able to hunt more beasts. After all, there are no wild beasts I've ever seen that are just too troublesome in this area. Alright, then perhaps I should keep an eye and delve into new creatures. How incredible it is!

Early in the morning, I went to see my friend Morning Dew to get as much kindling and see for ourselves the new cave that people have been talking about. I believe my mother calls this the dungeon of monsters. I'd like to try sneaking in that cavern. Morning Dew really doesn't want to come, but I'm going to drag him. I successfully bribed him with a lot of buttered rye bread next season. Well, I can cook. Neat, perfectly edible bread. I always realized that. I don't know why. Just like the nostalgic sensation of the dream that I had last night. Whatever that explanation is, as long as we can eat good food rather than stale and rough food, we'll be very thankful.

We saw a lot of strange creatures on our way to this cave. Although I can see that these animals are docile, we still need to be wary of and regularly check the surroundings. That's what Sir Lyol told me when I came to plead with him if I could be a squire like him. He's the squire I've always referred to, and he's the son of a merchant who was killed on their way off into town. I forgot what that city called, though. In either case, the creatures are mainly wild ferrals and cannoyt.

They all are like wild beasts in the wild. The Ferrals are tiny creatures with fuzzy hair, narrow snouts and retractable claws. Although the Cannoyts have a long snout, they have an excellent sense of scent, non-retractable claws, and while they make a sound like howling and whining. They 're similar to the Canns that bark.

Mother always says not to go alone because of rabid Cannoyts. However, with my mental fortitude and strength, I am particularly confident. Sir Lyol helped me in improving my combat skills. He's like twenty-four Luners, and he's presumed to be a respectable squire in his age. Morning Dew and I have just shared our thirteenth Luners. No problem with that, bloke! We can take care of ourselves. We're big guys right now! Well, Hmm. Besides that, we're not alone in going through the wood, so that's good as an excuse. Ferrals or Cannoyts, if we really can defeat them, then we can offer additional food and fur to our kin.

When we draw closer to the cave in the wilderness, we've encountered more and more beasts we've never seen before. I can see a lot of creatures topped with a white fur on cannoyt-like animals, but the difference is that it has pointed muzzle and bushy tail, and it's very cunning. There's even a creature with wings, which looked like a borruca, but on fire. Would you think that a moving object is on fire without burning? That's that beast. They seem so old, though. I wonder if I might have seen them. In my dreams, huh? Well, I doubt that.

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We're getting deeper into the forest but the cannoyt-like, borruca-like, and other animals that look so threatening are not moving at all. Morning Dew still used to follow me behind grabbing my clothes and is about to scream. This guy is unbelievable. "It's okay, they are safe. They are not moving, you see." I teased him and I chuckled. You really are a coward Dew! Be like me! I want to be a Knight so I can be strong! Well, being a squire is one thing but becoming a Knight is really impossible. An elusive dream.

"Oh! I can see the entrance of the cave from here! Let's hurry Morning Dew! So we can give the hunted animals and feast on them later!" I told him haughtily. "Yes!" He replied quickly.

We raced until we were in the doorway of the cave, but the Dungeon of Monsters is such a silly way to scare children like us. What I can see is a mesmerizing cave that looks like a haven of crystals. I can see a variety of layers from the outside. How much more if we go further enough, huh? I stopped and looked at Morning Dew and pointed to the interior of the Crystal grottoes.

"No, Twig! We need to hurry and give these lifeless creatures! It's barely night time. People might remember that we've been away for so long, maybe they're going to start a search party! I'm going to get yet another punishment and ... and..." disturbed and upset, he started counting how the local residents are going to punish the misbehavior of the child.

"Alright! Stop blabbering now, worrywart! You should start aiming high, Dew. We're almost young adults. Quit your whimpering! Are you perhaps a scared child? We need to be squires! We. Need. Be. Squires! Understood?"

If we don't do this, how can we leave our status as sons of serfs? We really need to dispel the uncertainty that there is nothing else we can do about it, that is.

"Huh! We can't even pay for our independence. When we turn fifteen Luners, we'll be serfs like our poor parents! No one can change that." Refuting, as if he could read my thoughts.

"I can." I claim loftily. My resolve is indestructible. We just need to keep going before we have accomplished our great goal.

"Oh, really? How?" he turned down all my responses. Why does this man not have the same degree of resolution?

"With these crystals! I 'm going to get each of them and sell them to other merchants next season at the festival!" I responded, referring to the breathtaking crystals in front of us.

"Stop daydreaming, you idiot! Serfs are not allowed to sell anything in the market." Ignoring the precious gems in front of him, he begins crouching on a rugged, shaggy bristles, disheveled meadow grass.

"Says who? I can be a squire, I know! And I can ask Sir Lyol to sell these for me." Still not backing out. I arguably said it.

Morning Dew stopped talking for a while now while lying flat on the grass. He is certainly an easy guy to speak to. Well, we were born at the same time. That may be the reason why we share the same intentions periodically. He's an honest childhood companion for a reason. Oh! I am slamming these crystals like a soft rock with my blade. I got seven colours from them. This should do it!

I'm almost finished with the eighth when the land begins to tremble. Every quake also felt so strong that I fell on my knees. This is the very first time we've felt such a strong tremor. I realize how tough it is now to find precious metals beneath the surface. You're never going to know when this actually occurs. Dew hurried to ready his stuff when the cave abruptly opened wide, radiating a dazzling light from the ground. It's like there's a few more rare gems inside.

Yet...

However!

... And why this is shaking so hard!

Oh, my good lord! Somehow, it's like the cave's pulling me in.

My body is like ... My body is walking in the direction towards the light.

"Twig! What are you doing! Let's go!" He said while looking daggers at me. This might be the first time I saw him so alarmed.

"Dew, help me!" I replied immediately.

"Twig! Stop with your pranks! Let's go!" I can see that he's very annoyed now but I really meant it.

"Dew! I can't change the direction of my body. It's walking on its own!" I said.

"Damn! Hold the rope tight!" Agitation can be heard from his hoarse voice.

This is starting to creep me out of here. I can't even keep the long chain, so Dew wrapped it around my arm, but the intensity is now so incredibly strong for him that he couldn't get me out of my physical state. I sweat profusely, I'm afraid of what's going on with me. Dew turned and looked at me and wrapped the rope around his brawny body, too. Wanted to make sure it could help both of us.

Despite these challenges, we are easily dragged inside, even though we desperately tried our hardest fight to push in the opposite direction.

"Steady now! Dew! Let's get out of here!" I thought he might somehow hear me, but he's still working hard really steadily not to be devoured by the cave or the warm light, or whatever it is that!

Evil...

Demon!

Yes, indeed. It's the demon work! I heard my mother say demons want blood to satisfy their need to consume. Would they want the blood of something like these creatures, too? The Cannoyt and Ferral in particular? I don't know...

But!

Still...

"Dew! Hand me the basket!" Still caught up with the force pulling us in. Morning Dew still can't hear me begging for the basket that the animals he is carrying but we're tied with the same rope. Fortunately, he caught a glimpse of the rope while I was tugging it.

"Give me the basket full of Ferals! Hurry!" Wait! Where's my blade? Damn! How can I get the blood of these guys now? I haven't noticed the blade since the cave opened. How careless of me not to keep the only thing that can keep us from possibly dying.

Slowly, we are being dragged inward. Inch by inch until we reached a couple of meters inside this godforsaken place, I witnessed something more intricate than that of the gems I obtained earlier. Golds. This place is impressive, yet so dangerous! In addition to that, we are still struggling to go outside but the cave is not letting us out. How unfortunate. If only I was stronger. If only we didn't go nearer. If only I...

I opened my eyes but what I can only recognize is a completely stark, spacious, and creepy windowless chamber of whiteness. It's not overwhelming but calming. Although it may look bizarre, it's neat and striking. I don't think this is the cave we were towed inside. There is no one here except me and a flower. Huh? A flower? Why does it have to be a flower for all of the things that I can see here?

… And where is Morning Dew?

I tried walking inside the room and it feels like I am walking on a soft and fluffy pavement. It's like the floor is covered in unprocessed kinds of cotton. Especially this flower. This lavishly elegant and multicoloured flower. Wait. That's the same number of colours of the gems I have. There's red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Perhaps this is because it grew in the middle of the cave where plenty of colours are everywhere or is it because it's warm here? I don't know anymore. One thing I know, I am stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but a flower! A flower! I suppose I can eat that or what? Now, let's stay calm and check for any possible exits.

Damn! Is there a way out?

Is this a room... of clouds? Huh.

This mishap is like a nightmare yet a likeable dream. I mean, no ones here. It's not dangerous here but I wouldn't consider this as a dream. Although I am worried about Morning Dew, I can't find him here. Where can I find that guy where I see nothing but a small flower? Alright, think. So, this location should be the cave. If this is the centre of the cave, and everything is neutral, I should look for a small hole or anything that can help me escape and slowly hike our way outside, but what if there's plenty of dangerous creatures outside this room? How can I fight them with a fist? This is truly a deplorable turn of events. It makes no difference if I stay here to die or fight my way back.

It's been a couple of hours since I poked around every nook and cranny of this room searching for a hidden switch to something that can open anything. Yet I failed. What in God's bone is happening here? Is this the paradise that my mother told me about? The afterlife? What a cliche. I can still feel my warm hand and I can still hold the gems. I can see my breath coming out of my mouth. Wait, it's cold? Is it winter here? But I don't feel like there is any hint of coldness here. I am still fine. My body still sweats like it's spring but my puff of breath signifies otherwise like it's very cold.

Am I... nervous?

... and these clouds.

Hey. shit. This isn't funny. This isn't really physically draining or real and tangible, but more weird and absurd and utterly illogical and could only be described as nonsense.

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Every now and then I darted my attention to the flower that had glittered for quite some time now. It does seem to react to something. I guess this should be a time to not even think strange. However, this has become certainly an otherworldly problem. Not that it's supposed to be surprising to me in this world full of strange creatures that don't burn in a fire but... Argh!

Oh! Now, you're being a creepy little one. Is it because of the irregularity of the temperature here? Or is it because there's someone out there ... coming?

....

Flabbergasted, I started to curse. God! Damn! I collected my courage and started to move to the other side, trying to keep my emotions under control. I drew a deep breath and I clenched my hand. It's the human instinctive attack or run approach in the face of a completely unexpected strike.

A door out of thin air materialized and someone is showing up. She's a white girl, literally. A transparent little girl. A girl with white hair, white eyes without the black spot in her eyes, it's as if she's looking into my soul, a transparent folded wings. Everything is white about her! Is she the owner of this cave? For god's sake, out of the rumours I heard about. Why does it have to be a ghost? Wait, she has wings! Is she an angel? This is the first time to see a wraith or a spirit walking towards me, grinning. Fighting the urge to panic and flee. After all, this could be a life changing experience once in every lifetime and besides, I have nowhere to run. Not a lot of people have that privilege.

But... Seriously! Is she... smiling?

I sweat profusely agape. I anxiously wait for the girl to stop walking while I clenched my hands again preparing for a fight. Not that I can win a fight against a ghost or anything. That's the least I can do, you know. Although my heart might be pounding and my mind racing, I will try to remain calm and still. Ghosts, for the most part, are harmless, they say. The spirit may be apparent for a short time, or for a moment or more if I'm lucky.

Snickering deliberately, heading down the path towards me. No, it's levitating! Ah, my good lord! Things just got worse. Dear Lord!How am I supposed to kill a ghost, huh? Think of it, Twig. Think about it! Mother told me that ghosts are the souls of dead people who, for whatever reason, are stuck between this plane of life and another, sometimes related to some sort of misfortune or tragedy, and to repel a ghost, you must have a lot of salt, pure iron, or holy magic! God, the creator of the world! Damn it! Where can I get that stuff, especially the hardest one, magic!

How tragic, that it could just damage them a little to drive them away for a few short minutes, it's not going to deter them, only slow them down ... and you know nothing will kill a spirit or a ghost, they 're already gone! Oh! She 's coming here anyway! I couldn't do less about the little things anymore. Well, I'm ready to fight! You may be a ghost, but I'm still alive. I'm going to resist. This sense of burning frustration inside me is completely absurd! How do I fight this kind of existence? That feeling of helplessness. I realized how insufficient I am now. Still, the little girl is walking, not minding me. Walking past right through me.

No, didn't she walk through me, not around me? Towards the buds, huh? The one that radiates? Aghast, I immediately try to change positions again and step back. What else may I expect from you? It is a ghost!

I used this time to stay away from her. I sever our distance and ran far away from her. Enough to witness her caressing the flower as if its alive. She's like pouring light into the flower. Her mumbling added the level of pressure on me. I don't understand any words you are saying! You are freaking me out, lady! You are speaking with the flower without concerning me. However, I didn't flinch. I stayed put looking at her. If you don't bring me harm, I must stay still. No matter, as long as I am alive, you can talk to that flower any time, you crazy ghost!

Later, after the little girl finished talking to the flower, she bowed and another person came in. This time, he looked like a normal human living being. However, he looked different from us. I mean, Sir Lyol was tall, but this guy is tremendously tall! He's like a tree. Imagine a tree! Huh. I think I am seeing absurd illusions now. How can a man be that tall!

Walking elegantly, as if he were some kind of distinguished aristocrat. I had seen the Lord walking throughout town in complicated and expensive clothing to help improve people's values. Often he wore a highly impressive set of clothes. It must have been great to live a noble life, huh. How enviable that is. In the very same way, but in a gloriously rich and luxurious way. The King in front of me is wearing a glamorous tunic with a gold thread as a straightforward cloth. A surcoat is worn on top of it, which represents the emblem of the lineage. What's more, his vibrant behavior and posture.

"Is he the King?" I let out a quiet mumbling.

His outward behaviour, regal presence, appearance, and graciousness is befitting to a King. In addition to that, his presence suggests that the little girl is inferior to him. That distinctive atmosphere that seems to swallow the whole place. That comforting feeling of the atmosphere he emits. There's also that translucent ring on his head that exudes a gentle golden ray of lights that shows like a crown.

Wow! Is that magic? Uh. Moreover, this person is moving at a slow, relaxed pace. A refined and graceful way of walking indicates how this man is like a person at the highest level of society he belongs to. Now he's heading to the white lady that is still bowing beside the ever glowing sheen of the multi-coloured flower.

Anxiously waiting for them to reunite and talk, I tried to move quietly so I could put a distance. Engaging in battle with two unknown and powerful beings shall help me join the afterlife now, yes? As soon as he arrived in front of the other person, he waved his hands saying something I don't understand or shall I say its inaudible pulses of high-frequency sound. It's like the transmission of their words were blocked. I continued watching them for a little while now and there hasn't been any unusual. After the King patted the little girl on the head, she does a little curtsy showing respect. Then he went out of the room using the same magical door that suddenly appeared out of thin air earlier.

The girl continues to stroke the alluring beauty of the petals after she sat down and then suddenly the glowing flower's petal shone brightly as it has never been radiating colours before covering the entire room. The colours that appear to be responding to the light the little girl is pouring in the beginning, has become more intense and lush and filled with vivacious energy. It's as if it's dancing with the light. The more the light the ardent the flower it seems. I kind of feel she's growing the flower with just light magic. Is that how you take care of a plant? It's eerie, yet astounding how magic can be used.

Magic, huh? How do you develop magic? I have never caught a glimpse of someone with magic. All my life I have been with my family or my playmates in the town without it. I never saw somebody practising with magic. It never occurred to me that magic is this bewildering. Exhilarated and tense, I tried talking to the person that is manipulating the light magic. Hoping that she can be affable. I mean, she's not hostile since she entered the room. Also, I want to know if I can learn magic from her. I gasped while saying "Hey!". As it turns out, the lady in front of me is unresponsive and again, its as if I am not here. Or am I not visible here? Deliberately, the anxiety that I am enduring seems to appease now.

"Uh, hello? Forgive me for being a trouble for you. This may sound obvious, but uh, could you tell me where am I and what are you doing? I mean, you seem very focused on what you are doing. Can you tell me what that flower is?" I gulped. "Hey?" I scratched my head and unknowingly raised my left brow. I moved slightly nearer to where she's been to provoke her to notice me. I almost tried reaching her when the room became black and the girl vanished as if she had never been there.

The glimmer of light that I can see now is from the flower's variety of colours. Was it all an illusion? Was it you, flower? How about the elegant white lady? Is this truly the real cave? Are you trying to say something to me, little one? I have plenty of questions left unanswered. Not that I am expecting an answer from a flower.

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