A blazing fire ignited from the trees and spread to the whole forest, Evan found himself pinned to the snow with his knees.
He watch as the snowy forest turned into a trembling ash of inferno. All branches of coal is falling off, the ice are rapidly melting, and the leaves are slowly burned to fade.
But the one that most caught his attention is a collosal tree right before him, burning to arson. It's leaves was in the shape of snowflakes but slowly melting to steam, he heard crying and screaming but he couldn't make out what they are saying.
As he continued to stare at the bonfire of hell, he suddenly felt someone resting in his hand, he looked down and saw Mayari in her awful state.
She was unconscious and blooding is dripping off from her head, arms and legs.
"Mayari, are you alright?!" He immediately asked.
But Mayari didn't reply and continued to shut her eyes.
"Mayari, answer me." Evan gently shook Mayari but she isn't waking up.
Evan then notice that she isn't breathing, he then check her pulse but she couldn't trace any beat.
"Mayari!" Evan called out again.
"Don't bother" a familiar voice suddenly came saying in front, Evan then snap his head up and saw another Mayari, she was clean in blood and her clothes isn't tattered. No injuries or any wounds. She's towering at him with empty eyes... then she finally continued what she is saying "she's already dead."
Evan then woke up as fast as he sat up from bed, his breathing is heavy and sweat are dripping from his forehead.
"Great your awake." A cold voice said from beside.
Evan immediately turned his head and saw her sitting by a chair at his bedside. She still wore the same tattered blood stained clothing but her skin are clean without injuries and her hair was tied again into a bun, without a mess
"Your awful sleep talk is getting louder and louder." She stated but Evan payed it no attention and continued to gaze at her with awe.
The sunlight was shinning throughout the big window behind her, as always she looks stunning at sunlight like how the moonlight highlighted her. But what Evan like the most is how the sun's ray illuminated her dark brown eyes making it warm like an orb of honey dew, the only thing missing is her smile, but he's already satisfied just to see her eyes.
"Are you alright? You look like your nightmares followed you in your awake." Mayari coldly asked.
Without thinking Evan launch at her, embracing her tightly like a lost lover.
Time was like slowed at Evan's moment, her heart felt at ease and warm like the way he first met her with thousands of illuminating sunlight.
They stayed like that for minutes that seemed like hours for Evan. Mayari didn't complain or budge him away, it's strange but Evan didn't mind it, he just want to never let go of her and always embrace her for all internity.
He could feel her calm heartbeats against his chest. Her body was soft to touch, she's like a delicate feather tightly entwined to him.
A gift.
A treasure.
A blessing.
A love one.
"Evan," she softly said, "are you gonna kill me? I can't breath."
Evan then instantly let go, when Evan's arms was off her she could finally inhale deeply.
"I'm very sorry, I don't know what got into me." Evan then apologized.
"Looks like your nightmares are idiotic that you need to suddenly steal a hug." Mayari said with her famous emotionless tone.
"I'm very sorry about that," Evan let his head hung in his neck to hide his shame, that wasn't really a good act that he just performed.
Then he finally notice that he is on a bed in a unfamiliar pinkish room, with his wounds all healed.
"Where are we?" He asked.
"Where still in the forest but someone came to give as a hand." Mayari then stood up from her sit, and started walking to the open door, "Come down if you're feeling alright, she said she's gonna explain everything when you're awake."
'She?' Evan asked through his thought, she was about to leave when he then followed another question, "What did you say about me talking in my sleep?"
"Not just talking, you have been shouting."
"Did I say anything?"
"Yes," she then slightly turned to see him, "you're shouting my name repeatedly like I died." Then with no further a do she exited the room.
That is a good timing because he can no longer hold his blush. He's been blushing around her lately.
"In all other woman I met, looks like she's the one who finally made me fall in love." He sighed and then smiled to himself.
After a minute of calming himself, he then step out of bed and walk downstairs. In a living room he saw Mayari sitting at a couch opposite to her is a unfamiliar girl.
She doesn't look like a spirit but rather normal mermaid girl.
"Sit where ever you please, your highness." The girl politely offer.
"Thank you for your kindness." Evan said as he sat down next to Mayari.
"Your welcome." She replied, "By the way I'm Diana, I already know you, your highness so there's no need for further introductions."
'That voice, it's the same voice that keeps whispering warnings to me' Evan's right she's the one who's giving whispers for them to immediately react to their surroundings.
"Now for the other deal we made," Mayari then bring up.
'Deal?' Evan thought.
"What information can you give us to leave this forest?" Mayari Continued.
"The spirits already gave the hint," Diana answered, "you need to present your self to the Goddess of the Yuver Forest, Yuver."
"And..." Evan urge her to continue.
"And win a death match." She said. " You will have 3 matches the last is where you will fight Yuvera."
"And the prize will be freedom." Mayari guest.
"Yes, but no one have ever succeeded when it comes to defeat Yuvera, she's a goddess after all."
"Is there any other way?" Evan asked.
Diana shook her head, "She sealed the forest that no one can ever escape, to leave you must win, and that death match have been the reason of the demise of thousands of great warriors."
"If there is a death match then what is the reason of that spirit boy's early attack?" Mayari asked.
"He's Varen," Diana answered, "He's Yuvera's left hand, he will be your enemy in your first match and his early attack is the way to see if you are worthy to be a competitor for a rematch in the death match. And in what I've seen you both pass."
"Does Yuvera have any weakness that we could use against her?" Evan asked.
Diana shook her head once again, " She have none, she impossible to defeat with just us mortals."
"Then what is the use of plotting to defeat her if we all gonna die in the end?" Mayari utterly stated with a boring expression.
"But there is possibility that this time you sh would fall from her leviathan tree." Diana stated with confident in her tone.
"How?" Evan asked while Mayari just lazily sit back on the coach resting her head on her palm.
"I know you're all wondering why can Lady Mayari touch a spirit without permission or any means of spell and magic."
Evan took a glance at Mayari who wasn't interested at all.
"She's blessed by the Gods from the heaven," Diana continued, "the Gods rulling the sky is more powerful than a Forest God or Spirit and their descendants are next to their power."
"We could enter the death match and plan a strategy for the win since Mayari have the uppermost power and skill, we have a chance to win." Evan mumbled more to himself as he hold his chin.
"That won't be possible." Diana interrupted Evan's thought. "Men are the only ones allowed at the death match, women will be offered a place in Yuvera's Kingdom and will never shall leave the forest even though someone have won the match for her."
"And why is that!?"
"It's a long story, that's the cause of the forest's curse."
"If I refuse?" Mayari asked.
Diana's expression change to dullness, she bow her head low and answered without giving Mayari or Evan an eye contact, "they will force you, and you will never ever can leave... even if you try."
That made Evan realize what's the story behind the girls background.
The girl's last words made the atmosphere silent and heavy, Evan is affected by the girls story but Mayari seem like she doesn't care at all, like usual.
"How many of you are here?" Evan can't bear the silence and started talking.
"A lot of us, most are willing to stay here because of the everlasting youthfulness and wealth that they gift us but others are also forced."
"How long have you been here?"
"I have been here for as long as I can remember, a hundred years." She told. "That's why I'm begging you!" She then stood up from her sit, "Please find a way to defeat Yuvera and and help me escape this awful prison." She bowed and beg as her tears fall from her cheeks.
She suddenly felt someone's hand on her head, gently patting her. She then rose her head and saw Evan smiling at her.
He bend down to her level, and assured her, "I promise I will set all of you free from this forest."
"Do you really mean it?" She sniff.
Evan chuckled, "Of course, so don't cry anymore, alright?" His smile is warm as ever like a sunlight, his heart is pure golden.
The girl burst more tears and couldn't help herself to not hug Evan, "Thank you very much, your highness...thank you..."
"Your welcome." Evan then returned her hug and patted her gently on the back to calm her.
"Promises..." Mayari whispered to herself. Thinking of a memory that she will always hate and lament.
'Promises are nothing but idiotic things that is meant to be thrown to bloody hell.' she thought, as voices of her and him started whispering to her head.
'I promise that I will stay with you forever, my little Mayari' said by her mother
'I promise that I will always make you smile, buttercup.' said by his father.
'I promise to love you.'
'I promise to take care of your for eternity, Mayari.'
'I promise to never leave you again.'
'We promise to always be on your side, our darling.'
'I promise'
'I promise'
'I promise'
'I promise'
'We promise'
It keeps repeating their voices over and over again, as the broken promises came to haunt her daydream.
Their voices are shattered bottles laid everywhere in a room of stretching darkness. Every walk she took, the more they shatter under her feet where she bleed, it hurts, their broken promises hurts. They are all liers, they are all shattered bottles where they say their promises and shattered them to pieces like it was worthless, like it was nothing but a piece of garbage that should be thrown away... like her or like them.
"Are alright, Mayari?" Evan's voice woke Mayari out of her fantasm. He walk a little closer to her. "You space out."
"Did I?"
Evan nodded.
"Don't worry about it." She shrug it off, "Have you made a plan?"
"I have but we still need to review the casualties."
"Then let's get started, time isn't in our side." Mayari then stood up from her sit. "But first I wanna know what is the reason of the forest curse."
She then look at Diana, "Mind if you tell us the long story, Diana."
And Diana then nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile...
A majestic colossal tree was standing at the middle of a clear lovely lake, it leaves was like a snowflake, shaped and silvery. Look deep into the tree and you will see a window, look deeper through that window of invisibility and you will see a beautiful woman.
Her wavy hair is dark as ebony cascading from her golden leaves of tiara down to her white soft feet, her eyes is a pair of evergreen, gorgeous and highlighting. Her pale skin is pearl like soft and her flowing green dress is a symbol of her wealth sociality. Her accessories are wrapped around her appealing body and her beauty is forever lasting.
She walk from her King size bed to a particular table, on top is a floating ball of water. It glowed as she got nearer.
She stopped and asked, "Where are they now?" Her voice is sweeter than a melody and gentleir than the coursing river.
The ball sparkled once and twice, then appeared the current location of Mayari and Evan.
"So Diana help another strangers yet again," she stated to herself, "but I don't need to worry, my eyes are everywhere and I will soon have you," She gently hold the precious orb of water in her fingertips, the image then zoomed it's screen to Mayari, then she continued, "my dear child".