The forest atmosphere behind the boulder does look darker than the forest on the other side of the river. It was as if a thick fog covered every inch of the forest land.
"The state of this forest is really strange," whispered a soldier to his friend.
And before fear took over their bodies, the two Maghabean soldiers finally turned around and returned to their commander.
"So, what's written on the stone?" asked Jumara as the two soldiers approached him.
"Among the Eight New Countries, seven have been exposed to diseases that are very difficult to cure. And if you are from those Seven Lands, stay away. This is for your own safety," said one of the two soldiers repeating what was written on the Warning Stone they had examined earlier.
"The writing was carved without giving color to the writing itself," said the second soldier to Jumara. "It's quite difficult to read the writing, sir."
"Okay," said Jumara. "You guys have done well, now, just continue your rest before we enter that forest area."
The two soldiers nodded and sat back down near their earlier comrades.
"Hmm," Jumara folded his arms across his chest, and one hand stroked his short beard. "What does that sentence actually mean?"
Leyman smirked. "You heard for yourself didn't you?"
"No," said Jumara. "What I mean by that is the sentence that reads: Among the Eight New Countries, seven have been exposed to diseases that are very difficult to cure," said Jumara. "Don't you feel strange about this sentence?"
Leyman took a deep breath, his two hands on his waist.
"To me," Leyman said, "whatever that phrase means, it is a clear warning sign for anyone who wants to enter the Forbidden Forest. You have heard from your soldiers earlier, the next sentence reads: If you are from the Seven Kingdoms, stay away!"
"Yea, yea…" Jumara nodded.
"That means, Jumara," said Leyman. "The people of the Eighth Land don't want to have a relationship with the people of the Seven Kingdoms. That's us, Jumara. Us!"
Jumara took a deep breath, he was still thinking about the line that said people in the Seven Kingdoms had been exposed to an incurable disease. This is a special concern for Jumara.
During this time, he had never heard that the people in the Maghabea Kingdom, or in the other Six Kingdoms had an incurable disease. Also, even if there is a disease that the people of the Seven Kingdoms suffer from, it cannot be categorized as a dangerous disease.
Then what? Jumara thought.
Well, of course, not a disease that the lowest caste in Vashara might have. But clearly, that sentence didn't mention anything about Vashara.
Seeing Jumara who was silent and seemed to be lost in his thoughts, Leyman left the Maghabean commander and stepped closer to the crowd of his soldiers.
"There's something not right here," Jumara muttered to himself.
Did the people of the Seven Kingdoms ever suffer from a deadly disease? The age when the Eighth Land was still open to everyone?
At least, that's what the legend says, Jumara thought. That the Eighth Land was once part of the Eight New Lands formed by the people of the Ancient Kingdom of Prayanagara.
But why has no one ever mentioned this incurable disease?
Did the Eighth Land really exist? Or… could this be a game, an attempt by certain people not to destroy anything in this dense forest area across the river?
If that was the case, then the most suspicious was the people of the Angholi Kingdom like Leyman himself.
But this is impossible, Jumara thought. He quite clearly caught Leyman's fear. There was no way he was afraid of the game they created themselves.
Or maybe the Vasharas?
No, Jumara thought. This is not possible either. If this was indeed the work of the Vashara people who said to frighten the people of the Seven Kingdoms for one reason or another, surely those poor people would move out of Vashara's miserable environment.
The forest on the other side looked very dense and that meant that it might hold abundant natural bounties, the inhabitants of Vashara would definitely move and live there instead of being humiliated and mistreated by the people of the Seven Kingdoms.
At least, this thing's made Jumara think long enough.
After a while, Leyman returned to Jumara who was still standing looking at the large rock on the edge of the Forbidden Forest across the river.
"Hey," said Leyman. "You don't want to fill your stomach first before we go?"
Jumara seemed to have just woken up from a dream. Leyman chuckled at this.
"Don't tell me you're still thinking about that sentence, Jumara?"
"Indeed, I'm still thinking about that."
"Oh Gods," said Leyman. "Earlier, you said that I was a coward, and now it turns out you are the one who looks scared by the sentence on the stone."
"I'm not saying I'm scared," said Jumara and then smirked softly. "I'm just interested to know, what disease exactly does the inscription on the stone mean?"
"Forget about that," said Leyman, then he pointed to the sky. "Did you see the moon?"
Then, Jumara followed the direction indicated by Leyman. Yes, the half-moon already looks slightly tilted to the west.
"That's a sign for us about the time to enter the Forbidden Forest," said Leyman.
"I don't know if you're telling me the truth," said Jumara and chuckled. "Or you're just making it up."
"It depends on what you think," said Leyman. "But, obviously, now is the right time. Just prepare your soldiers, Jumara, and I will prepare mine."
"Fair enough."
Jumara and Leyman approached the crowd of their respective soldiers. And as soon as they received orders from their respective commanders, the soldiers rushed to pack their food and drinks. There are soldiers whose food has run out and there are many who still have leftovers so they keep their food and drink in a bag in the saddle of their horses.
TO BE CONTINUED ...