The forest opened up into a small clearing, the sunlight pouring in, casting a glow over the thick patches of wildflowers that covered the ground. Ethan moved cautiously, his sharpened stick in one hand and the crude dagger strapped to his belt. He had been walking for hours, guided by the system's screen that hovered just out of reach, pointing him toward the direction of a human settlement. His body ached from the journey, but he pushed himself forward, driven by hope and the allure of answers.
He was finally out of immediate danger, and yet, the tension hadn't fully left his body. The system had been eerily silent since giving him the task to locate the settlement, and that silence gnawed at him. It was like the system had dropped him into the deep end and then decided to see if he could swim. He knew he was being watched—not just by the system but by something else. He could feel it in the prickling of his skin, the way his instincts seemed to tell him not to trust this place, no matter how peaceful it seemed.
His stomach rumbled. The berries he had eaten earlier had done little to stave off the hunger gnawing at him. He needed real food, and soon. Locate a Human Settlement was the quest, but surviving long enough to get there was the challenge. He scanned the area, hoping to find something that could sustain him—a rabbit, a bird, anything.
Suddenly, his attention was drawn to the edge of the clearing. A soft rustling in the underbrush caught his ear, and Ethan froze, his eyes locking on the spot. Slowly, he approached, his heart pounding. The rustling grew louder, and then, to his surprise, a creature emerged—not an animal but a young boy, no older than twelve. He wore a ragged tunic, his dark hair disheveled, his eyes wide with fear.
The boy looked up, meeting Ethan's gaze, and for a moment they stared at each other in silence. Then, before Ethan could say anything, the boy turned on his heel and bolted back into the forest.
"Hey, wait!" Ethan called out, sprinting after him. The boy moved fast, weaving through the trees with a familiarity that Ethan couldn't match. Branches whipped against his face as he ran, but he pushed on, determined not to lose sight of the only human he had seen since arriving in this strange place.
The boy darted into a narrow path between two thick tree trunks, and Ethan followed, only to find himself stumbling into another clearing—a larger one this time, with signs of habitation. There were makeshift huts, constructed from wood and leaves, with small gardens growing wild vegetables. Smoke rose from a fire pit in the center, and a handful of people—mostly children and a few older women—turned to look at him, their eyes wide with suspicion and fear.
The boy he had followed ran to one of the huts, disappearing inside as an elderly woman stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Ethan with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice sharp. She held a wooden staff in one hand, and though her frame was thin, her presence commanded respect.
Ethan held up his hands, trying to show he meant no harm. "My name is Ethan," he said, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "I'm… lost. I mean no harm. I just need help."
The old woman narrowed her eyes, studying him for a moment. "You're an outsider," she said, her tone accusatory. "You shouldn't be here. The laws forbid it."
Ethan frowned, confused. "Laws? What laws?"
"The laws of the Forest of Ancients," she replied, her gaze unwavering. "No outsider is allowed within these woods without permission from the Council."
Ethan glanced around, taking in the worried expressions of the people gathered around him. He could sense their fear, their hesitation. The Forest of Ancients—was that where he had ended up? He had no idea who this Council was or how he was supposed to get their permission, but he needed answers, and these people seemed to know more about this world than he did.
"Please," he said, "I don't mean any harm. I'm just trying to find my way. I was told there might be a settlement nearby."
The old woman studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "You must leave before you bring trouble upon us all," she said, her voice softening slightly. "But if you truly wish to speak to the Council, you must head east. There is an old path—a dangerous one—that will lead you to them."
Ethan hesitated. "Thank you," he said, nodding. "I appreciate it. But… is there anything you can spare? Food, water? I've been traveling for a while."
The old woman gestured to one of the children, who quickly disappeared into one of the huts and returned moments later with a small satchel. She handed it to Ethan, her gaze still wary. "Take this and go. And remember—you are not welcome here. The laws are strict, and breaking them has consequences."
Ethan nodded, taking the satchel. It felt light in his hands, but when he looked inside, he found a small loaf of bread, a piece of dried meat, and a flask of water. It wasn't much, but it was enough for now. He met the old woman's eyes and gave a grateful nod.
"Thank you," he said again, then turned and began to walk away, heading east as she had instructed. The people watched him in silence as he left, their eyes filled with both fear and something else—something Ethan couldn't quite place.
As he moved deeper into the forest, Ethan opened the system screen, trying to make sense of everything. He had stumbled into a village, met people who spoke of laws and councils, and had seen fear in their eyes at his presence. What was it about him that they feared? Was it because he was an outsider, or was there something else going on in this forest—something more sinister?
"New Quest: Find the Council of the Forest of Ancients."
The system's notification brought his focus back. He had a direction now, albeit a dangerous one. He followed the eastern path, the forest around him growing thicker, the air colder. The trees seemed older here, their trunks massive and covered in thick moss. The canopy above blocked out much of the sunlight, casting the path in shadows.
Ethan tightened his grip on his sharpened stick, his senses alert. The deeper he went, the more he felt the weight of the forest pressing in around him. It was as if the trees themselves were watching, whispering secrets he couldn't understand. He kept moving, the path winding through dense thickets and overgrown roots, every step taking him further into the unknown.
Hours passed, and Ethan began to feel the strain of the journey. The bread and dried meat had given him a boost of energy, but the weight of exhaustion was beginning to settle in his bones. He needed rest, but the path offered no safe place to stop. He pressed on, driven by the quest, by the promise of answers.
Suddenly, he heard something—a low, rhythmic sound, almost like chanting. He paused, straining to hear. The sound was coming from ahead, deeper in the forest. He moved cautiously, his heart pounding as he approached a clearing. What he saw made him stop in his tracks.
A group of robed figures stood in a circle, their heads bowed, their hands raised as they chanted in unison. In the center of the circle was a stone pedestal, and atop it, a glowing crystal, pulsing with an eerie blue light. The figures were completely absorbed in their ritual, unaware of Ethan's presence.
Ethan crouched behind a thick bush, watching. The scene was otherworldly, the air around the clearing charged with energy. He didn't know who these people were or what they were doing, but instinct told him that this was important. The crystal, whatever it was, seemed to be the source of power here. Maybe it was connected to the Council, to the laws of this forest.
He had to be careful. One wrong move and he could end up like the goblin—or worse. But he couldn't turn back now, not when he was so close to finding answers.
Ethan took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the glowing crystal. Whatever secrets lay within this forest, he was determined to uncover them. He adjusted his grip on his stick, his muscles tensing as he prepared to move.
"Alright, system," he whispered, "time to find out what this world is really about."