**Tatiana's perspective**
Finally, we arrived at the foot of the Sanctuary. It wasn't a great distance from Kobold's lair, but the atmosphere here was entirely different. An air of despair clung to every corner, giving an eerie feel to the once inviting entrance. The ruins of what was once a magnificent structure lay bare before us, now abandoned and overgrown with wild vines and ivy.
"We're here!" Mr. Kobold announced, gesturing towards the entrance of the sanctuary.
"As I suspected, the ominous energy is emanating from this place," Lady Sakuya remarked, her eyes focused intently on the direction of the sanctuary.
The elder and I had a conversation just before we arrived at the Sanctuary. He seemed eager to talk to me about something important.
"Ah, so you're the ones Lady Sakuya spoke to, trying to convince me to help save the guardian?" the elder said, a bright look on his face.
"She did?" I was surprised to hear that Lady Sakuya had discussed our mission with him.
"Oh, she did, and let me tell you, that woman is not someone to be taken lightly. She already knows what's going to happen next," he remarked, visibly impressed by Lady Sakuya's foresight, as he leaned on his cane for support. "But despite her knowledge, she still believes there's another way, and that's because of you," he added, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
Curious about what he meant, I tried to pry further, but both he and Lady Sakuya seemed to hold back some information from me. It felt like there was something they didn't want me to know just yet.
"What do you mean? What's going to happen?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"Perhaps only time can reveal that," he replied cryptically, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Then he asked for my attention, "Can I tell you something?"
Nodding, I listened intently to what he had to say.
"To tell you the truth, the guardian wasn't supposed to be the one cursed. The curse was aimed at me, but she intervened, or rather, she protected me from it," he confessed, closing his eyes as he recalled the moment.
"The guardian did that?" I exclaimed, taken aback by his revelation.
"Yes, at that time, we had to work together to save the forest. Despite our constant conflicts, there was one thing we both agreed on—we couldn't bear to lose our home," he explained, a tinge of regret in his voice. "Even though we were on opposing sides, we united to protect our place from destruction."
His words struck a chord with me, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of someone sacrificing themselves for the greater good, even if they were enemies. It was a testament to how much their "place" meant to them, and how they were willing to put aside their differences to preserve it.
"I never understood why she would do something like that. To me, we were complete opposites in nature and principle. The fact that she would sacrifice her life for someone like me is something I can't wrap my mind around," the Elder Kobold looked lost in his memories, trying to comprehend the guardian's actions.
I couldn't help but think that things might have been different if the curse had targeted the elder instead. Perhaps the outcome would have been better for everyone involved.
"Do you mind if I share my thoughts on this?" I offered, hoping to provide some solace to the elder.
"Oh, I'm curious to hear your thoughts after hearing my story," he responded, genuinely interested.
"I believe the guardian's actions were driven by her desire to protect her friends. Just like Lady Sakuya protecting me felt natural to her, the guardian felt compelled to protect you," I said, my hand resting on my chest, feeling the truth of my words.
The elder chuckled, dismissing my words as a joke. "Ahaha... what a cute idea. After all that I've done, how could there be any redemption for me?" he mused, finding it hard to accept such a forgiving perspective.
"Maybe, deep down, it's time to let go of hatred and work together once more. To break free from the chains of nature and principles and hold the hands that are dear to us," I offered, hoping my words could help heal the wounds of the past and pave the way for a new understanding between the guardian and the elder.
"You're certainly optimistic, just like Lady Sakuya said. Perhaps this forest is not doomed after all," the elder remarked, a sense of defeat mingling with newfound hope in his voice. My heart swelled with the belief that we could find a way to bring harmony to this troubled forest.
As we stood before the entrance of the sanctuary, a subtle shift in the atmosphere made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. An invisible barrier seemed to separate us from what lay within. It reminded me of an otherworldly doorway, a portal leading to a different reality. A subtle hum of magic filled the air, almost inaudible yet undeniably present.
"Brace yourself, Tatiana," Lady Sakuya warned, not taking her eyes off the barrier.
A wave of nausea hit me like a fist as we stepped into the sanctuary. "Urgh!! What is this…?" I struggled to maintain my composure.
The serene scenery we'd been accustomed to suddenly morphed into a horrifying scene. The clear skies were now stained a deep crimson, creating an atmosphere of dread. The sight was eerily similar to a battlefield post-war. Bodies lay strewn around, their silent screams echoing the brutality they had met. The air was heavy with an ominous energy that twisted my insides.
"This seems to be a 'Closed Space'," Lady Sakuya explained. "I didn't think such a thing existed in this world. The stronger the malice, the stronger this space."
The sinister environment was too much to bear. My head throbbed with a persistent headache, coming and going in waves, threatening to split my skull open. Each heartbeat felt like a pounding drum, reverberating inside my head. I clamped my mouth shut, trying to hold down the rising bile.
But we had to move on. I followed Lady Sakuya and Mr. Kobold, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, I saw it.
My body froze, my blood turned ice-cold at the horrendous sight. I stumbled and fell to my knees, my eyes refusing to believe the horrifying scene before them.
"There it is, Boss," Mr. Kobold pointed ahead, his voice echoing eerily in the silence.
Lady Sakuya stood still, unfazed by the monstrous figure looming before us. I retched, struggling to keep my fear in check.
The Guardian, a once majestic and powerful being, was a sight of despair and terror. Its red eyes were hollow, devoid of any life. Its wings were broken, smeared with dried blood, and embedded with shards of wood. The sight was too ghastly, too revolting. My mind recoiled in horror, my stomach churned in disgust.
As it noticed our presence, it let out a terrifying roar, shaking the ground beneath us. Its massive staff swung in our direction with a force that threatened to level everything in its path.
"Be careful, Boss!" Mr. Kobold scrambled behind Lady Sakuya, his voice trembling with fear.
But Lady Sakuya merely raised her hand, effortlessly deflecting the Guardian's attack as if it were a mere annoyance. The impact sent a shockwave that threw me off balance. I landed hard on the ground, gasping for air.
I felt useless, helpless, incapable of contributing anything in this dire situation. The throbbing in my head intensified, morphing into a searing pain. "Lady Sakuya…" I managed to whisper, my vision blurring.
My body gave out beneath me, and I collapsed on the ground. My eyelids felt heavy as I struggled to stay conscious. I could vaguely hear Lady Sakuya's voice, but her words were garbled, making no sense to me.
Then, slowly but surely, I felt myself sinking into a deep abyss of unconsciousness. I could barely make out Lady Sakuya turning back to look at me, her words fading into the background as darkness enveloped me.
Slowly, I began to regain consciousness. My sight gradually returned, and I blinked my eyes open.
"What is this place?" I murmured, finding myself in an environment filled with nothing but bright white light. I rose to my feet, scanning the seemingly endless emptiness. A sense of solitude washed over me as I found myself completely alone in this unfamiliar landscape.
This strange space was devoid of any distinguishing features, a void filled with stark whiteness. Yet, as I continued to explore, my mind felt unusually calm and at peace. This place seemed to reflect the inner depths of my mind, yet I couldn't comprehend what it truly represented.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the emptiness. "Welcome, Tatiana. Or rather, welcome back, Tatiana?" The voice was soft, yet it resonated powerfully in the silent expanse.
I spun around, searching for the source of the voice. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice echoing around me.
To my utter surprise, I was met with a reflection of myself. The figure standing before me was my mirror image, down to the smallest detail. This place was becoming more mysterious by the second, yet it felt strangely nostalgic.
-Chapter 18 End-