Born from the union of two of the most influential people of her clan, her father was the young and flamboyant silk merchant who had travelled far and wide, trading silk and other priceless items of collection, bringing them back to the Land of Zo to be sold at a hefty price. Her mother was the successful business lady who had made her name in the trade of local handloom and artifacts that the Land of Zo was famous for. Their wedding was a feast their clan will never forget, overshadowed only by the celebration that were held on Engi's birth. Engi was their child of passion. But this prosperity came with its own cost.
Their estate was situated at the edge of the sacred forest. Non lesser than a fortress and protected by its own squad of highly trained mercenaries, it was what Engi had ever seen since her birth seven years ago. She was never allowed to venture outside the fortified walls of the mansion and its courtyards. Always accompanied by maid servants who took care of all her needs, body guards that ensured her safety, and private tutors that taught her everything from knitting and sowing to foreign languages.
But her heart and mind were never satisfied, for she wanted to know what lay beyond these stone walls. So she kept looking for a way to surpass them, with or without permission. She spent her lazy afternoons surveying the walls looking for a way out. And one fine afternoon she found what she was looking for. A break in the wall big enough to let her through and that led to the forest.
She was overjoyed to have finally left her captivity behind, even if it's only for a while. Falling, crawling, she ran as fast as she could. Tears of joy rolled down her eyes overwhelmed by this newfound feeling of being unbound. The forest was dense and filled with the sounds of birds, animals and insects singing in an ethereal chorus. Heaven, she felt as she wandered deeper into the labyrinth of pinewood trees. For the first time she was hearing the music that she would fall in love with for the rest of her life. It was like nectar to her ears and her longing soul.
Losing the count of time, she felt as if she had spent eternities in the forest, mingling with its trees, observing each leaf, each plant, each insect as if creatures from an different world. In her odyssey, she reached the clearing in the middle of the jungle, the place where the great tree had fallen. The sunlight was peering down to the forest floor filling it with a strange beauty. She took her seat on the stump, to catch a breath, to take a moment and absorb the tranquility that surrounded her. She closed her eyes to feel the forest grow inside her. Peace. When suddenly…