"So, now that you understand what I mean, you should pretend not to know anything. If you choose that path, I can allow you to 'go home' safely 'without any problems' at all."
The woman emphasized the words 'go home' and 'without any problems' deliberately, making the young boy startle and rendering him speechless because the woman unconsciously exuded an intimidating aura when speaking at length.
It was as though she was subtly cautioning him.
The woman began murmuring in a melodious voice, "It's an exceedingly rare occurrence for a mistake of this magnitude to transcend generations, and typically, 'we' only intervene once... but because of you..."
The woman in front of him suddenly fell silent, her gaze stopping at a particular spot. The young boy also looked in the same direction, his mouth sealed shut.
Both of them were now staring at the 5-year-old Elara, who was sleeping soundly against a tree.
They look at the little girl with distinct gazes, each carrying a positive, rather than negative, sentiment.
"?!"
However, for some reason, Elara felt that the woman was looking at her, floating like a ghost near her 5-year-old self. Elara's expression was full of confusion because she still didn't understand what was happening.
Although Elara, like the young boy, couldn't see the mysterious woman's face concealed by a mysterious mist, she was at least certain that the woman had bright green eyes, gazing at her with a strange intensity, right into Elara's 9-year-old brown eyes.
"..."
Both of them, whether by intention or chance, found themselves engaged in a silent stare-down.
'Doesn't she realize I've been here all along?' Elara wondered, a growing sense of unease settling in her heart.
After remaining silent for a few minutes, intensifying the tension in the forest, the woman turned her face back to the young boy as if she had never noticed Elara, who appeared like a ghost.
'She doesn't seem to realize I'm here, does she?' Elara wondered in her mind, feeling relieved.
"I'm going to ask you something, child. Please answer truthfully, without any deception."
After hearing the woman's serious voice directed straight at the boy, Elara also turned her face towards the 'that' boy.
The boy who had been complaining of thirst had disappeared. What was visible now was a young boy exuding a calm and hard-to-ignore mature aura.
Not only that, his hair color had changed from deep black to a deep blue, exactly like the deep blue of the sea. The young boy looked completely transformed, far from his previous appearance.
Though still handsome, Elara couldn't help but admire him excessively because his current appearance was truly stunning, even surpassing many noble young men she had seen during her time living in this remote village.
'Could he possibly be the illegitimate child of a King?' Elara thought randomly after thoroughly examining the handsome face from such a close distance.
Elara could distinctly sense a subtle air of authority emanating from his small form, a quality beyond what an ordinary noble child would typically possess.
If she weren't in her ghostly state, Elara would have had difficulty gazing at handsome faces like this.
While Elara was silently admiring the breathtaking beauty of the boy, whose name she still didn't know, the conversation between the woman and the boy continued calmly.
The young boy gazed at the mysterious woman, who had suddenly been silent for a few minutes before intending to ask a 'serious' question.
Nevertheless, he quickly provided an answer with respect, "I will try to answer honestly, to the best of my ability."
The woman disregarded the long-lost respectful attitude and her voice suddenly changed drastically, from indifferent to carrying a special aura, emitting subtle vibrations that made the trees around them shudder with excitement. Fireflies that still floated around them as a source of light flickered with enthusiasm.
The mysterious woman, once casually seated among the tree branches, now gracefully hovered in the air, radiating an array of light and dark green hues that danced around her. The roots beneath her feet entwined, crafting an improvised throne for her. Veiling her face, she looked downward with indifferent eyes, as if observing something below.
The enchanting spectacle left the boy momentarily breathless, captivated by the otherworldly magic unfolding before him.
"If you were given the choice, would you want your memories of all this not to be erased, but you would get nothing except being able to leave the Eternal Forest safely?"
"... What..?"
The boy, captivated by the surreal environment, snapped back to reality upon hearing a majestic voice emanating from the mysterious woman's mouth—a stark contrast to the surroundings. To his increasing surprise, the choices presented by the woman left him in awe.
Eternal Forest was the official name given by Queen Titaia to the first to fifth-layer forests that surrounded the main territory of Galatea.
The Eternal Forest consists of 5 layers with differences in shape and geographical conditions. The name 'Eternal' was given because 300 years ago, many claimed that those who entered this forest would be forever lost, especially when the 'sacred territory' zone was active.
Those who became lost could only rely on the willingness of spirit beings to guide them towards an exit or seek guidance, such as the approved use of the magical compass by Queen Titaia.
A magical compass is an essential tool for navigating the intricate layers of the forest, where getting lost is all too common.
Despite the forest's strict prohibition on most magical tools that could pose a threat, the magic compass is an exception. Crafted directly by one of the Elemental Wings in service to Queen Titaia, it was distributed at an affordable price across the entire Okeanos continent. This accessibility ensures that everyone can possess this tool without difficulty, enhancing their chances of navigating the challenging terrain.
Given that he had lost his magical compass, the boy decided that the first option was advantageous for him.
'But why is she suddenly mentioning my memories?'
Before the boy could be surprised by the suspicious first choice, he was already shocked to his core when he heard the last option.
"... Or would you accept the Great Protection of the Water King Spirit as compensation for the events that took place here to be completely erased from your memory." The woman added softly, "... Including your meeting with 'her'."
"!"
The young boy was startled, his body frozen for a moment upon hearing the sudden, clearly desirable options, especially the last one.
'The Great Protection of the Water King Spirit?!!'
Anyone listening to these two options immediately realized which one was highly advantageous for their future.
Of course, only someone not in their right mind would choose the first option over the last.
The young boy's feelings were in turmoil because he was genuinely shocked, and his body trembled greatly.
This was because he desperately needed the Great Protection of the Water King Spirit, Nereus, to heal his unique condition before participating in the Spirits Contract Ceremony to obtain his family's Guardian Spirit, which would take place as soon as he turned 10.
His face and thoughts were in disarray, but he quickly regained his usual calm expression and tried his best to clear his mind, even though his body still trembled from the special aura emitted by the woman.
Fortunately, due to his training as a successor, he skillfully kept his composure, preventing his mind from succumbing to panic.
"..."
In his not-so-mature mind, it was clear that his brain was working hard to figure out what was actually happening right now and how he should respond to the two options suddenly given by the mysterious woman in front of him, rather than hastily choosing the last option.
First and foremost, how could someone of uncertain origin offer such a great choice as the Great Protection of the Water King Spirit, which should only be accessible by Queen Titaia and the related King Spirit itself?
Especially since the woman seemed to already know his identity and condition, she confidently offered such a tempting deal, as if she were certain that the boy would choose the last option without hesitation.
'How's that happen?'
'
He had thought long and hard about it, but he couldn't find an answer other than 'that person'.
From appearance, speaking style, indifferent gaze, and even an overwhelmingly dominant aura, everything supported his speculation.
'But, could it be possible?' the boy thought, filled with confusion. 'Didn't Father mention that 'she' was in a dormant state, sleeping in some hidden location?'
In his state of confusion, the young boy unconsciously glanced at the little girl with shoulder-length brown hair who was still asleep.
The tree roots that had previously surrounded the little girl's body now enveloped her like a blanket to keep her from getting cold in the night breeze.
Seeing her asleep made the young boy want to close his eyes and rest too, but he quickly realized that he had to deal with this complicated situation first.
"..."
Observing her peaceful slumber from a distance effortlessly subdued his anxious thoughts, instilling the boy with newfound confidence.
Reflecting on the unfolding events, it became apparent that it all began with the undisturbed sleep of the little girl, seemingly disconnected from the current situation.
Possessing keen intelligence, the boy swiftly discerned the peculiarities and the protective demeanor of 'everyone' in the forest, including the mysterious woman, centered around safeguarding the peacefully sleeping little girl.
If indeed this mysterious woman is 'her', why did 'she' suddenly appear and act as if protecting the little girl? Moreover, why 'she' was willing to offer the Great Protection belonging to the Water Spirit King, sought after by many, just to conceal the girl's presence?
'Who is this little girl who has been helping me?' the young boy thought, beginning to doubt the identity of the girl he now looked at with different eyes from when he first saw her.
However, since he couldn't answer the questions arising in his mind, the young boy could only sigh deeply.
'Whoever she is, the mysterious woman before me wouldn't dare to play around by invoking the name of the revered King Spirit, given its utmost sanctity. So, it's certain that 'she' is the real deal,' the young boy finally reassured himself.
The woman smiled in admiration after seeing the composure displayed by the young boy in front of her, even though he had been presented with a surprising choice that he clearly needed.
Though she already knew what the young boy was thinking deeply, the woman deliberately asked with emphasis, curious to see how the young boy would react.
The woman assumed a majestic pose, seated upon a throne crafted from tree roots, an image that could entice anyone to instinctively bow down and perhaps even press a kiss to those slender, white legs.
"How about it? Will you choose the Great Protection of the Water Spirit King, which you need most right now to address your unique condition and end up forgetting the kindness 'she' has shown, or will you choose to remember today's events in their entirety for the rest of your life, with no benefits?"