After that, two groups of soldiers from two different kingdoms lined up neatly on the banks of the river. The soldiers of the Angholi Kingdom were on the left, then Leyman and Jumara, and then the soldiers of the Maghabea Kingdom on the right.
"Attention all soldiers!" Leyman ordered a little loudly. "Prepare your weapons!"
The soldiers on the right and left also prepared their respective weapons. Swords, spears, and even bows.
"Listen!" said Leyman, again. "The Forbidden Forest is very dark and shrouded in smoke, so watch your steps and stay alert!"
Leyman then glanced at Jumara and nodded.
"Move!"
One by one the soldiers who were all riding horses descended into the wide rocky river. The pitch-black conditions were helped a little by the torches they carried.
At first, most of the soldiers from the two kingdoms felt fear, even more so when they got closer to the edge of the forest that seemed to be shrouded in smoke. Of course, all of that could not be separated from the terrible legends they had heard about the Forbidden Forest.
However, because almost all of them did not get any major problems when crossing the shallow river, those who were frightened can calm down a little now.
In fact, the conditions remained the same when one by one they entered the Forbidden Forest.
Jumara paused for a moment in front of the large triangular pyramid-shaped stone. Leyman approached him from the left.
"Ooh, come on," said Leyman. "Just forget it. You know what," he said, "there are similar stones along this Last River, Jumara. On this side. Every thousand feet, you will find the same stone with the same inscription."
"It just gets weirder," said Jumara.
Leyman laughed softly at that and then left Jumara to enter the Forbidden Forest with the remaining soldiers.
After that, although with a feeling of not being satisfied at all, Jumara kicked his horse, and they entered the forest.
The condition of the Forbidden Forest was completely dark, with large trees growing tightly. The trees may be old, and if they look at the legends, it is possible that the trees are a thousand years old, or even more than that.
The torches the soldiers carried did not help too much it's like the thick fog blocked the light from the torches.
Even so, the soldiers continued to move deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
So far, they didn't find or see anything suspicious around the big trees. Yes, of course, apart from the difficulty of their horses through the thickets that grew densely between the trunks of the great trees.
Not a snake, not a tiger or a leopard as before, not just a nightbird or a bat.
Not one.
It was as if the area they had entered was just a forest without life except for those old trees and shrubs.
One hundred feet into the area of the Forbidden Forest, the soldiers at the forefront alike stopped their horses.
In front of them is now a land covered with puddles of water. The surface of the water was so calm, and of course, they didn't know how deep the water was, or how far it covered the forest floor.
Leyman was finally at the forefront. He also saw a similar sight.
"Hey," said Jumara who followed later. "Why are we stopping?"
"Looks like we're getting blocked by the swamp," said Leyman, pointing to the surface of the water as far as they could see.
"Check on the right side and the left side!" said Jumara giving orders.
The commander of the Maghabean army proved to be able to think faster than the commander of the Angholi army.
The two Angholi soldiers in the left line immediately separated themselves from their companions, each carrying a torch. Likewise with the two Maghabea soldiers who were on the right side. They will look for a path that is not flooded on both sides to be able to enter the Forbidden Forest deeper.
Leyman and Jumara, as well as the soldiers in the vanguard, looked the same at the surface of the marsh.
They didn't know how deep the marshes were—of course, except at the edge near the feet of their horses—and what dangers lay beneath the still surface of the water?
Not at all.
What is clear, is they must find another way because they all know the same that behind the still water is always hiding dangers that can threaten their safety.
The fog around the marshes seemed thinner than the fog behind them. And the mist seemed to be concentrated on the surface of the swamp itself.
Apart from being foggy, on the surface of the swamps, they can also see the shadows of several large trees that seem to be dead but are still standing firmly at some points.
This condition was able to make the soldiers shudder in horror, although, so far, they had not seen a single mystical creature that always embellished the story of this Forbidden Forest or a figure of something that could represent the sayings of the people so far.
Not at all.
However, the soldiers still began to feel their necks cold and the fine hairs on their bodies get goosebumps.
"This is not good," said Leyman.
"I hate to say this," said Jumara. "But you're right. Even though it is now in the middle of the dry season, here, the swamp water never seems to recede."
Yes, of course. Because the high and low water in one condition will certainly be visible on the banks. But these swamps are not at all. That is the basis of Jumara's thinking.
"Hopefully, my man or yours will find another way for us to continue our journey."
"Yeah," Jumara took a deep breath. "Hopefully so."
However, Jumara began to feel doubtful about all the decisions that had been given by his king, as well as the king on the side of the Angholi soldiers.
It seems that this is not going to go well, Jumara muttered to himself.
At one point, in the middle of the swamp, something protruded like the back of a giant eel, it was not clear how big the animal was. But certainly, in the middle of the creature's back, there is a fin that has large spines.
It was only for an instant before the creature sank back under the surface of the swamp, and the surface of the swamp became a small ripple.
Unfortunately, neither Jumara, Leyman, nor even their soldiers were aware of it.