"I'm Luna and this is my sister, Selene." Luna, with her flowing silver hair and serene countenance, introduced herself to the trio. Her voice was soft and melodic, carrying a hint of enchantment.
Standing by Luna's side was Selene, with her midnight blue locks and questioning gaze. Together, they formed a beautiful and a powerful duo.
Ray, Bryan and Ash introduced themselves with only their names. Seeing that they didn't have any harmful intentions, the trio slightly lowered their guards and sighed in relief.
Now, that they paid closer attention to the two girls, they couldn't help but notice the captivating beauty of Luna and Selene. They seemed to be slightly older than them, around the age of 19-20. Their natural grace and charm were mesmerizing, and the friends found themselves appreciating their elegance and pure presence, intentionally or unintentionally.
However, despite their initial fascination, the trio remained focused and respectful. They didn't want to evoke any signs of a rude gesture.
Likewise, Luna and Selene, keenly observed the three young men in front of them. They acknowledged the uniqueness of Ray, Bryan and Ash. Their distinct and colourful traits, whether physical or personal, added to the charm of their encounter. Of course, this was merely an appreciation and nothing else.
Knowing that Luna and Selene would know where they were, Ray, stepped forward and asked with an inquiring tone, "May I ask as to where we are?"
Luna and Selene were surprised to hear Ray ask that question. With a hint of doubt, Luna gently replied, "We are in the outskirts of the Inner Region of the Chaotic Forest."
"Oh, fuck us!" Ash crouched down with an annoyed grunt.
"…"
Selene tilted her head and asked, "Fuck?"
Not to mention her, even Luna was confused and interested in the word, for it was their first time hearing it.
Ray facepalmed and Bryan glared at Ash with a 'Are you dumb?' look.
"Haha…" Ash chuckled nervously and answered, "It's nothing. So, we're in the Inner Region? That's bad news for the three of us."
Ray deepened his facepalm and Bryan resigned with a sigh.
"Why is it bad news for you?" Luna asked curiously.
Seeing that he had successfully changed their topic of attention, Ash let out a big sigh of relief.
"Our initial plan was just to roam around in the Outer Region." Ray explained.
"Because we're still in the Natal Realm." Bryan clarified further.
Luna and Selene let out an exclamation of understanding.
'How did they come here without getting killed?' Selene thought with a suspicious gaze.
"Well, if anything, we were going to the Outer Region anyway." Luna said, "There's a mythical ruin for us to explore. Would you three like to join us?"
"Thank you! We would love to accept your generous offer." Bryan accepted on behalf of the trio.
Luna waved her hand and said, "It's no problem."
Now, with Luna and Selene leading the way, the group of three had become a group of five.. The trio knew it would take some time to reach the Outer Region, so they kept an eye out for any potential rare herbs or materials along the way.
Occasionally, the trio witnessed Selene sprinkling some white powder in the air, leading them in a different direction. Ray asked about the powder, and they learned that it guided them along a safe path devoid of dangerous beasts.
"Since the Chaotic Forest is considered a Forbidden Land, I thought we would be facing dangers left and right." Ash spoke up.
Selene looked at him and said, "It is barely considered to be a Forbidden Land and it is the weakest of them all. The real danger lies in the heart of the Inner Region and beyond. With our cultivation base, we're only qualified to roam around in the outskirts of the Inner Region."
"Ohhh…" Ash nodded in understanding, realizing the relative safety they enjoyed in their current location.
As they continued their journey through the Chaotic Forest, Luna and Selene shared some of the beasts they had encountered and their experiences. The trio listened intently, painting vivid images in their minds, igniting their sense of adventure.
On the way, they encountered a variety of beasts, magical and rare herbs, and even poisonous flesh-eating plants along their path. This further deepened the bond between the two groups by a certain degree.
The came across ancient trees inhabited by ferocious creatures with razor-sharp fangs and claws. Luna and Selene skilfully guided the group, helping them avoid direct confrontations with these formidable beasts. They explained the behaviour and characteristics of each creature they had encountered to the trio.
While on the way, they stumbled upon patches of vibrant and rare herbs. With the system's help, the trio had stored them into the pouch they had brought, considering the system's inventory won't be enough to store all these rare herbs.
Herbs and plants like the Cold-Heart Grass, 9-Petaled Rose, Rainbow Clove, Red-Split Hyacinth, Fire-Blossom Leaf, Black-Mud Root and so on, were stuffed in Ash's pouch. Humorously, Bryan and Ray made him the herb collector.
Not before long, they reached the Outer Region and made their way to the 'mythical ruin'.
Guided by Luna and Selene, they stumbled upon a hidden clearing. As they arrived a few several metres before the mythical ruin, the group was greeted by a sight of ancient stone structures and intricate carvings that spoke of a forgotten era. The ruin exuded an ancient feeling and the surrounding air felt heavy.
The ancient stone structures seemed to resemble a palace of some sort which blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest. Delicate vines and blossoming flowers cascaded down the weathering stone walls, interweaving with the intricate carvings and ornate details that have stood the test of time.
"Here we are…" Luna said with an excited tone. Meanwhile, Selene noted something down in a plain parchment.
"Damn, it's a palace." Ash said in awe.
As Bryan gazed upon the mystical ruin, amazed by its mystical aura, he couldn't help but wonder why Luna and Selene wanted to explore the ruin.
"What's so special about this place?"
Hearing Bryan's question, Luna frowned and struck a thinking pose.
"We're…not sure either."
The trio were kind of speechless but waited for Luna to finish.
"All we know is that there is something special about this ruin which would help greatly increase a person's cultivation base." Luna finished her explanation.
"I see…"
Ash stepped forward and said with a smile, "Well then. Let's start exploring!"
Moss-covered steps and crumbling archways lead the way into the palace. However, as they approached the palace, they noticed signs that indicated another group had arrived before them. Footprints in the mossy steps and disturbed rubble suggested recent activity in the area.
"It seems like we're not the only one." Selene spoke with a fierce glint.
Ray nodded and said, "We have to be careful."
With signs of another group, they had to be even more cautious lest they are thrusted into dangerous situations.
Sunlight danced through the canopy, casting ephemeral patterns upon the ancient courtyard and overgrown gardens. Fragments of a once-majestic fountain still sprinkled water, their droplets glistening, while majestic statues stood as silent sentinels by the side, guarding the secrets of the past.
Apart from the statues, there was nothing else that caught their eyes, so they made their way into the inner chamber.
Within the palace's inner chambers, a sense of faded luxury lingered. The halls are decorated with faded tapestries and cracked stained glass windows, remnants of a glorious and vibrant past.
*Clink*
Ray looked down and noticed he pressed down on a pressure plate. With a resounding click, the floor beneath him instantly disappeared and he saw a pool of bright lava, bubbling with a dangerous intention. He had no time to leap away from the pool. So, with quick thinking, he was about to activate the Teleportation Amulet tied onto his arm, but then his shoulders were grabbed and was pulled back into safety.
When he stepped on the pressure plate and the floor disappeared, Selene and Bryan immediately noticed his predicament and jumped forward to grab him out.
"Are you good?" Bryan asked Ray.
Ray wiped the sweat off his forehead and nodded.
"Thank you." He thanked both, Bryan and Selene.
"My heart was literally in my throat!" Ash patted his chest in relief.
Luna sighed in relief and reminded the others, "We should be extra careful now since there are traps."
Moving forward cautiously, their eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. Further along the passage of the inner chambers, they stumbled upon a section engulfed in a thick and swirling mist.
"Be careful, everyone." Luna shouted with caution.
They felt disoriented as they cautiously stepped forwards. The air was heavy with eerie stillness, and an unsettling feeling settled in their chests. They could barely see their own hands in front of them, let alone their companions. They couldn't even go back from where they came from.
"Listen, everyone. Pay attention to each other's footsteps and stay together." Ray instructed, "We can't afford to be lost."
Navigating through the mist, they relied on their directionless senses and the faint sound of each other's footsteps to stay together.
But as they moved deeper into the mist, a strange phenomenon unfolded before their eyes. The mist seemed to take on a life of its own, morphing into ethereal shapes and whispering haunting melodies that echoed through the chamber.
"Guys?"
"GUYS?!"
Ray yelled but he got no response in return. He narrowed his eyes as he thought with a grim face.
'This is bad…very bad.'
Suddenly the mist parted, revealing a scene that dredged up a haunting memory from his past, unravelling a profound and emotionally charged memory. It was a night etched into his soul, a moment of life and death that had forever altered the course of his life back on Earth.
The world around him blurred and shifted, and he found himself transported back to a dimly lit alley, the flickering streetlamp casting long shadows that danced ominously on the worn stoned path. The air was heavy with tension, carrying the stench of desperation and dread.
He could see the silhouette of a man, shrouded in darkness, his features obscured by the veil of night. The man exuded an aura of menace, his intentions sinister and malevolent. Ray's heart raced as he relived the harrowing encounter, the fear and desperation welling up within him once more.
In that chilling moment, the illusion replayed the events that had unfolded with vivid clarity. The atmosphere was charged with an eerie silence, broken only by the sounds of their breathing and the subtle scrape of a blade against leather.
Ray's eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and despair, his mind disoriented and cracked between illusion and reality. The man once again approached with a menacing smile as Ray tried to find a way out, to escape the clutches of this relentless predator. The echoes of the man's footsteps mingled with his racing heartbeat, amplifying the sense of foreboding that engulfed him. Every fibre of his being screamed for survival, for self-preservation.
Then, the illusion escalated to its climax, the moment that would forever haunt Ray's conscience. In a flash of steel and raw instinct, he picked up a broken glass bottle lying on the ground, and defended himself with a precision honed by survival instinct, plunging the broken bottle into the assailant's heart.
The illusory scene froze, suspended in time, as Ray stood there, his hands stained with the blood of the predator. Warm blood filled his eyes as they dripped into his hand where the heart lay. Emotions clashed within him, a maelstrom of relief, fear, grief, guilt and shock.
He taken a life.
Even if it was in self-defense, the weight of that act bore down on him with crushing force.
Tears welled in Ray's eyes as he confronted the scars of his past. The haunting realization that he had killed someone, left a profound scar on his soul. It was a burden he carried in the deepest part of his being.
A heavy cross to bear.