A footpath leads down through the forest. Although the path is wide, there are some bushes growing at times. Again, trees are growing here and there.
They started walking through the forest on both sides. Sometimes there is thick forest between the roads and sometimes there are big trees. They have to go through them.
Of course to Xenia and Ryan. Because Dragia is sitting on the neck. She is realizing everything from her neck.
"Ryan, this forest is so big. I don't understand anything. The forest seems to be getting thicker as we move forward. And this road seems to disappear."
"Sorry Xenia, I can't say anything about this. It wasn't like this when I came here. It was just an insignificant forest then."
As they move forward, all the strange noises are getting louder from inside the forest. It seems that someone is trying to frighten them by yelling in ear. But even if they fail in that, they are trying to scare them again and again. But they don't know who they are.
"Huhaha, who are you? Where are you going?"
Xenia took a step back after hearing the sound. Then she remembered Ryan's words.
""""""Where there is beauty there is also horror.""""""
"Ryan you said there was nothing to fear in this forest. No one to try to harm us. But where did this voice come from?"
Ryan was surprised.
"Really where did this sound come from? I never heard such a sound when I came here with my father before. So where did this sound come from."
They stood there in silence for a while. But now that voice is no longer heard.
"Where did that voice go? Presumably it fled in fear upon seeing us. Or went to report our presence to your enemy, the Demon Lord."
Ryan was scared. His legs are shaking with fear. He is more afraid for his parents than he is for himself.
"So what will Xenia do now?"
"Umm, yes, we need to get out of here before someone comes and sees us. Take shelter somewhere safe. Hurry forward."
They started moving forward with fast feet.
"Huhaha, who are you? Where are you going?"
Xenia stopped when she heard the sound again.
"Exactly the same noise. That means the unseen object is following us."
"Hmm, I think so too. So Xenia, what are you going to do?"
Xenia did not respond to Ryan's words.
"Who are you? Where are you talking from?"
Xenia did not receive any response from him.
"Who are you? Why are you following us? Come before us if you dare."
Xenia again got no answer to her question.
This time Xenia became very angry. Her white face turned red. She doesn't understand anything. She doesn't even know what to do.
Xenia's chest has infinite courage and she has superpowers. So what is she afraid of? No one can stop him. Thinking like this, she stepped forward.
Same sound again. This time the sound was coming from much closer.
Xenia looked around carefully. Suddenly, she went to a place and her eyes were stuck. A huge tree. It has two eyes and a mouth. Doubts arose in his mind. He wanted to move forward to remove that doubt. This time she keeps looking at the strange tree. That's when the voice came from that tree.
"Oh, I see. It's the magic tree. That means it's the tree that's been asking us our identity for so long. And we didn't think the voice was from a demon."
"Then there's no fear. We can move forward without fear. But one thing I don't understand, where did this big talking tree come from? As far as I remember, I didn't see it here when I came."
"Maybe this tree wasn't here then. It seems that the Demon Lord created this tree here to guard this path."
Ryan was surprised to hear Xenia's words. How can a tree guard this path?
"Tell me who you are? Otherwise I will be forced to attack you. I will not allow any of you to advance unless you give me your true identity."
They were very surprised to hear this. Eventually they have to fight a tree. Just thinking about it, she feels like she knows how.
"Tell me who are you?"
Before Xenia could say anything, Ryan began to reveal his true identity.
"I am Ryan, the son of the Demon King of this realm. My parents are being held captive by the Demon Lord. I am here to save them from the Demon Lord."
The tree was silent for a while and looked at Ryan.
"Oh! You are the Demon Prince of our world. I made a mistake, prince forgive me. I didn't recognize you."
Xenia was surprised by their conversation. She hoped to keep their identities a secret until they could get Ryan's family out of harm's way. But Ryan told everything.
"But I don't understand one thing. When I came to this forest to hunt when I was a child, I never saw you or heard your voice."
"You were my acquaintance then. And I don't make any noise when I see an acquaintance. I'm mainly here to warn the good damons."
Xenia was surprised.
"Beware! Beware of what?"
"Warn the others from the Demon Lord. Forbid them from going to that palace. But where have you been all this time?"
Ryan was about to tell her everything when Xenia stopped him.
"We should hurry out of here. We need to get out of this forest before dark."
They ignored the tree and started moving forward.