January 5, 2022
Words: Environment
Centuries ago, a dryad was born within a magnificent forest, flourishing in peacefulness. However, there lay a secret hidden by the tarnished life of the dryad.
There once was a guardian of the forest, nourishing the lands with its almighty power. Ultimately, the guardian grew weak. Each passing day, his life was nearing its end. There lived a little human girl who had the ability to talk with the life of the forest, including the spirit. She howled in sorrow as she witnessed the guardian's dying light.
Suddenly, a wandering shaman approached the child, broken in despair. The shaman offered the child help, to save the fleeting soul. However, there were conditions. Desperate, the child accepted the shaman's offer. And thus, a dryad was born.
It has been centuries. The dryad, cursed with immortality and the responsibilities she had to fulfill as the keeper of the forest, grew tired of the everlasting boredom. Simply put, the duties of the dryad were tedious.
The dryad had dreams. To escape the clutches of her curse and explore the outside world, to live a carefree life as a human, to experience how to become human again. She could freely leave the forest if she wanted to. However, the forest would wither as soon as she leaves. She cannot allow that to happen. Therefore, her wishes cannot be fulfilled.
One day, an adventurer traveled to the forest where rumor said that a dryad resided in the kingdom of trees. Eventually, he laid eyes upon the stunning figure of the dryad. He was enchanted. The man knelt before her, stretching his hand. He courted her with alluring words. The dryad's heart fluttered, falling in love with the adventurer.
The adventurer promised to love her for the rest of his life. Flattered, the dryad accepted his proposal. Taking the adventurer's hand, the dryad neglected her duties. As the new chapter opens, the other closes. And thus, the enchanted forest withered, corrupting the life within it.