Capítulo 24: Like Children.
After the wanderers, Belial, Sally, Drimi, and Akwan all leave the campsite, they travel further through the dense forest; Each step they take, the group nears closer to the calm, peaceful village of Millmoor.
The earthy smell, the sight of rotting wood, fresh, stale, dry and damp all fill the wanderers' scents. Small smoke rises, the scents of the wind from the distant glittering ocean lightly pushes the trees, and the stagnant pools of water spread over through the luscious greenery of The Forest of Milmoor.
Some branches crack, logs roll down the tiny hills from the foxes, fallen leaves scatter everywhere through the path, and the breeze whooshes through the natural passage of the forest. The group silently travels further, stepping on twigs, and kicking acorns to the side. Needles, birds, spiderwebs all scatter within the dense, tranquil, trews of the forest. A natural mixture of all elements of the green nature in the nation of Pladtioa.
They hear their feet shuffling through the dirt, fallen leaves, and small stones; both of the wanderers feeling as if they are making a disturbance within The Forest.
It seems to the wanderers, the shining ball of light is approaching the end of the horizon sooner than they expected. The mildew of the bright rays of sun glitter over the vast grassy horizon, with plants flourishing underneath its welcoming rays.
As Aletha's long, bright, silky white hair stretches down and vividly sways back and forth, she presses her hand against her back and stretches her arms. Aletha whispers to herself with her soft silk voice.
"It seems that the days here are fairly short in this world. Much like the past encounters on worlds like I have wandered before. Brother, don't you think time goes fairly short in this world? From my observations, it seems that it switches to day and night every five hours. It seems time isn't measured anywhere within this world unlike what time was in the past. Ever had that realization, brother?"
Asahi takes a deep sigh and blinks for a moment.
"Sis. How did you get so smart all of a sudden?"
Akwan budges in on the conversation and sways his long fluffy blonde hair. His golden eye glitters.
"It appears that all of the knowledge from my book has further expanded both of your intelligence. That is in the means of my adventurer's guide that has been consumed by the sheer power of your soul's grasp, or from the interconnection of your minds; a gift indeed."
Belial pulls down his hood and peers at Akwan with his glimmering emerald eyes. His dark braided hair sways back and forth, like a tail of a wolf, before it settles itself by the eventual stop of the wind. Belial tilts his head towards the wanderers and softly asks with a curious tone in his voice.
"Did Akwan do his 'experiments' to both of you?"
The wanderers slowly nod their heads and nervously smile while nudging their arms against another, A sweat draws on their faces. The bright yellow rays of the sunlight pierce through the treetops like thin glass, and a few leaves glide in front of the forest's beautiful fresh standing Asahi turns his head to Belial and quiveringly replies
"Yes… unfortunately… Akwan had a bad experience when it came to conducting his experiment."
Akwan nervously rubs the back of his head and chuckles.
"I… erm… ehe.. it's rather embarrassing I must say."
Drimi pat Akwan's head like a father does to his child, with her smooth palms touching the silk golden bristles. Her long dark bangs cover her glistening amethyst eyes, her dark misty mask surrounds her smile, and her thoughts merge into one and another, remembering the past.
That one golden spark shining behind the dark thick bushes of the extensive forest. Under the vibrant lunar light of evening, was no other than young Akwan. Drimi hears herself shouted, sprinted to the light with all her might, and informed the others about the discovery.
The memory vanishes, and Drimi returns to reality.
Her long black hair sways back and forth, she holds Sally's hands with her thin torn glove. She whispers to Sally.
"Just stay put, for now.
Sally nods, and bites her lip while feeling the heat of the blazing sun.
"O-Okay…"
Drimi pats Sally's head once more, and stands on her tippy-toes, trying to tower her head over Sally's. She holds her mask in place, her long dark hair sways next to Sally's ear. Her ears perk up, and her dress glows vibrantly, feeling the rush of a glimmer of confidence in her mind.
While the entire group is traveling to Milmoor, the wanderers decide to walk behind the rest of the group, so that they both can have an isolated discussion. They think it is time for them to discuss the complications, situations and overall goal they have at the moment.
They see many trees stretching over from the bottom, all the way to the highest grassy peaks. They see many flora and vegetation scattering upon the leaves and damp grass among the forest, with running streams swerving left and right, dragging the lily pads away.
The breeze blows over their long shining white hair, both of their glittering gray eyes peer at each other, and they hear the footsteps of the group gradually growing distant from them.
In their minds the wanderers don't want themselves in danger, so they grab their hands while observing the nature of the forest alone. Aletha peers at the gleaming rays of sunshine poking out within the treetops and suddenly pulls Asahi inside the bushes away from the group.
Beyond the thick green bushes is a beautiful view of a large waterfall scattered with otherworldly bright blue mushrooms and fungi. Glitter and sparkles scatter through the tiny hills, with the shadows of the treetops blocking the sunlight.
Its spores spread over the place, eventually making the area foggy, and unsettling to dwell in. There are far more dead logs, and the scent scattering over the area is stingy, and almost poisonous. There are glowing tombstones, ancient ruined buildings, structures, and mines scattered over the glowing fungi-infested area, giving a faint warning to the wanderers of what happened here in the past.
Instead of daylight peeking through the treetops, it's the fungi's glow. A luminance that slightly matches that of the lunar rays of the moon.
Asahi and Aletha's long white hair reflects the moonlight's rays and continue to wander into the unknown foggy mess of the location they are in, with their dark, otherworldly attire emitting a soft blue luminance.
They step over shriveled rocks and inactive mushrooms in silence. Asahi whispers to Aletha as they approach the other side of the strange landmark.
"Have you ever felt the thrill of traveling from world to world before?"
Asahi squints at Aletha and sarcastically replies.
"Why are you asking the one who did that with you?"
The sounds of crickets and wildlife sprawl out as the moon vanishes back into the bright and blazing sun. The strange fog lifts from the peculiar pond. Asahi backs up from Aletha then splashes her face with the spore-filled water.
"Ha! Now you are all wet. What are you going to do now?"
Aletha screams, then tosses a rock to the back of Asahi's head, while the shallow sparkling water touches her ankles.
"I'm going to do this!"
As Asahi feels the force and pain blister on his back, Asahi shouts while wiping droplets off from his face..
"OWW! Hey, that isn't fair!"
He pushes his hands through the clear water and grabs a rock off from the surface. Asahi ecstatically lifts his hand over from the pond and tosses the rock to Aletha's legs. She felt a slight tingle bounce and splash all over the bottom of her legs. With no other choice, she sprays a heavy amount of water at Asahi with her mouth. Asahi whines.
"Gross! You can't do that!"
Aletha sassily replies.
"Yes huh!"
Asahi grits his teeth and plunges his face down into the pond. He prepares to unleash a massive water strike towards Aletha but then gets stopped by Belial.
"Hey, you two, stop fighting! You're acting like little children."
Both the twins' heads perk their heads towards Belial and then drop the stones.
Belial crosses his arms, stomps his feet against the ground, and sighs as he sees the wanderers blatantly standing there. The pacing of the wind settles, the trees stand still, the sun starts to set below the distant natural wall, covered in trees and wildlife.
Drimi roughly chuckles while the others remain in pure awkward silence. After a few moments of abrupt silence, finally, Asahi responds to Belial.
"We were just… trying to have an isolated conversation. Speaking of, the environment of this world is really pret—
Belial angrily interrupts him, clenching his fists and pulling small strands of his hair out.
"Even if you did that, you could have just asked… and we would accept it!"
Asahi and Aletha fall silent while having a small nervous smile shining over their faces. The sun starts to stare behind the clouds as it finally takes its descent to reveal the many stars and nebulas scattered upon the vast plain of the sky.
Drimi approaches Asahi with an aggressive tone, grabbing his chin and slapping him on the back. She yells at him while Aletha shockingly stares.
"Ugh, a wanderer has to be ignorant, They always have to travel the entire world until there is no tomorrow. Come on, and listen to us. We still share similarities. Treat us like how you treat Aletha. Like humans, and not like ragdolls. Because of the many worlds you traveled through, all those who dwell have feelings and emotions! Not to mention, most of them are weak."
Aletha pushes Drimi away from Asahi as a defensive sister would do.
"Don't do that to Asahi! H-He doesn't like that!"
Drimi backs away and lightly chuckles. She has a smile hiding underneath her mask, and her dark hair sways back and forth. She slightly says to the wanderers as Belial, and the others remain silent.
"Ah. It seems that this girl is obedient to her sibling. Aww, isn't that cute?"
Aletha and Asahi's faces blush immensely as they take a step away from each other. Sadiki barges in, with his long silver hair staying in a swift motion. His face glows with the dusk's sunlight before stepping into the shadows of a tree near the wanderers.
"This isn't the best idea. Hadn't we forgotten that night is a lot more hostile than the day when we are in the wilderness? This doesn't seem like the best situation after all, and if we continue to keep fighting, it will attract predators who are stalking us among the shadows in the forest. Come on, hasten… dusk doesn't last forever."
Akwan nods his head and slowly walks away from the group. He responds and agrees with Sadiki, as Belial and Sally follow him.
"I agree with the stranger. We shouldn't continue fighting... or else we will end up nowhere."
Belial stares coldly at both wanderers' gray eyes and speaks in a direct, serious tone.
"But keep that message from Drimi in mind, wanderers. The people in this world are different from what YOU think."
Asahi interrupts Akwan while the others stand still, blatantly staring at him.
"You're saying that as if you don't originate from this world too."
Everyone falls silent, and the crickets begin to chirp. The night is approaching closer and closer every second, the twins' standstill. Finally, they take a deep breath and continue to stroll with the others along the pathway through the expansive forest. They exit out of the mushroom-infested forest and swiftly return to the trail.
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