As Bai Cheng, Gerald, and the little black dog reached the forest's edge, they came upon a strange sight—a house, if it could be called that. It sat hunched in the shadows like an old bird, patched together with bits of wood, crooked windows, and shiny tin pieces that caught the moonlight. The roof sagged unevenly, as if tired of standing upright, while ivy crept up one side, twisting around a chimney that let out a thin curl of smoke. Oddly, despite its worn-out look, something was charming about the place.
Gerald stepped forward with a playful smile. "Home sweet home," he said, his voice full of comfort and soothing.
Bai Cheng raised an eyebrow and smirked as he glanced at the tumble-down front door, barely hanging on by a spike. "Your home is... interesting." ( He thought)
The little black dog barked in agreement, tail wagging as if it, too, saw some hidden beauty under the dust and broken wood.
As they walked up to the door, Bai Cheng noticed strange carvings on the doorframe—symbols, and runes that seemed to glow softly in the moonlight. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the nearby bushes. Out of nowhere, two strange creatures appeared: one was short and had a leathery nose with bat-like wings, its tiny eyes watching them closely. The other was tall and thin, with skin that looked like tree bark and long arms that curled like branches. Tiny blue flowers grew from its shoulders. It was like a human but in tree form.
Gerald paused and nodded at the creatures as if greeting old friends. "Ah, Brolly and Drolly," he said. "Keeping an eye on things for me, I see?"
Brolly, the bark-skinned one, bent in a creaky bow. Drolly flapped its wings just enough to rise a few inches before landing with a proud sniff.
Bai Cheng stared in surprise. "You know these... creatures?" ( as he was thinking )
"Of course," Gerald said with a wave of his hand. "I wouldn't leave this place without them. Brolly is great for garden work, unbeatable with weeds. And Drolly keeps the bugs at bay—most of the time," he added with a grin.
As they stepped inside, Bai Cheng noticed that the creatures stayed at the door, like guards.
The inside of Gerald's house was as strange as the outside. Shelves packed with books lined the walls, jars of glowing powders sat here and there, and bundles of herbs hung from the ceiling. A large, chipped cauldron sat in one corner, and the room smelled faintly spicy with a hint of lavender. Bai Cheng couldn't decide if it felt cozy or chaotic, or maybe both.
Gerald caught him looking around and laughed. "Yes, yes, a fortress of sorts, isn't it?" he said, eyes glinting. "Maybe I'll clean it up one day. Maybe."
Bai Cheng shook his head, a small smile on his face. Gerald's quirks made him more likable with each moment. Gerald put him on the couch and went inside. Bai Cheng was Hungry, he hadn't had a drop of milk since yesterday.
---
Back in the village, things were tense. The village head, a large man with a face set in a deep frown, paced in front of the town hall, his voice a low growl as he spoke to the gathered crowd.
"We've had enough," he shouted, fists tight. "Too many strange things have happened lately—missing patrols, strange sightings in the woods, whispers of creatures and curses. This ends now! I won't let my people live in fear!"
The villagers murmured, their faces pale and worried. Some clutched charms, others avoided his sharp glare. At the back, a few elders exchanged uneasy glances, just as troubled.
The village head looked toward the forest, dark and threatening. "If our men don't return by morning," he said, "we'll send another search party. I don't care what anyone says about 'guardians' or curses. We will make sure we are safe—no stories or shadows will stop us."
The crowd agreed in low voices, but fear flickered in their eyes as they glanced at the woods.
---
Back in Gerald's odd house, Bai Cheng looked around at the strange objects. Gerald pulled out a teapot and poured a steaming, golden drink into mismatched cups, handing one to Bai Cheng with a flourish. He didn't know that Bai Cheng couldn't hold the cup in his tiny hands.
"It's a special Milk tea. Keeps away the night terrors," Gerald said with a smile.
"Night terrors?" Bai Cheng took a careful sip, feeling the warmth spread through him. ( Here Gerald is doing most of the talking as Bai Cheng could not speak yet)
"Yes, yes. But nothing serious—unless you're scared of dancing lights, a ghost or two, or the occasional were-rabbit. All harmless!" Gerald chuckled, settling into an armchair as old as the house.
Bai Cheng smiled!
Gerald's smile faded, and he set down his cup. "Ah," he said softly, looking out a crooked window. "The forest is older than either of us can understand. It holds secrets deeper than we know. And those who go in must be ready for what they might find."
A shiver ran down Bai Cheng's spine, the tea's warmth no longer as comforting. He felt the weight of what was coming. Whatever was waiting in Eldenwood, it was far from ordinary.
He glanced at the small black dog, curled up and calm. He'd chosen this path and couldn't turn back now. Somewhere in the dark forest lay the truth he was searching for, a feeling deep in his bones.
As he finished his tea, he saw Gerald's eyes grow distant, almost haunted.
"Get some rest," Gerald said quietly. "In the future, the forest will test you in ways you've never imagined." Gerald sensed something in Bai cheng, the thing that he had never seen in his lifetime.