To the northwest of the Kingdom of Men lay the majestic Forest of Travia. Unmatched in beauty, the towering trees stood proudly toward the sky, their trunks adorned with smooth, silvery bark resembling natural armor. Their leaves, a vibrant shade of green, formed a lush canopy that softly filtered the sunlight, creating a mystical glow that bathed the surroundings in an enchanted aura.
The sun's rays, filtering through the leaves, cast celestial patterns of light on the floor carpeted with soft, verdant moss, echoing the gentle caress of nature.
I decided to quench my thirst at the silver stream while Minolas stood guard. After several days of travel, we were finally nearing our destination: the misty forest. This part of the territory was ancient and mysterious, not to mention dangerous. If it weren't for my injured father, I would have never ventured here.
On the other side of the stream, the trees were shrouded in opaque mist, limiting my field of vision, with only their treetops visible. Seeing Minolas approach, I asked her what was wrong.
"Princess Loealun, are you certain you want to continue? The misty forest is dangerous and unknown. Even our prophets cannot see into it," she said, concerned for my safety. After all, she was my most loyal and trusted servant.
"I would never venture here for a trivial reason, but my father's life, the king's life, is at stake. The wound that afflicts him with a thousand pains can only be healed with the gray flower that grows here. I cannot stay inside the palace and do nothing, watching him peacefully join eternal rest," I replied.
"Princess, forgive my audacity," she said, kneeling by my side, "but the chances of success are slim. Without you to take the lead, the Travia family may lose its place at court and fade into oblivion. But with your presence alone, no one will dare to take anything from you."
I knew she was right, but it wouldn't last long if my father didn't recover. I had to be proactive and try. After all, nothing was lost yet. If we found nothing, we could always return. We still had a few days before my uncle would suspect my departure. Two days to search for the flower, and then we would return. That's what I planned to do, I told her sincerely.
"It will be my honor to accompany you, Princess," she said, puffing her chest with pride. "I will follow you wherever you go!"
Standing up, I hugged her, thanking her for always being by my side. After quenching our thirst, we crossed to the other side of the stream.