Ellara was sitting by her window at sun set in Aeloria, tracing the usual designs on the wooden plate. She understands how to put the knife through every marked line, Her work does not allow her to rest as she desires to attain great heights in this work. The village environment around her was calm, with winding stone laid streets and small mud buildings with thatch roofs, these type of roofing causes much heat to her spirit that likes to explore.
Aeloria was a place that simple people like to live as their home, farmers, blacksmiths, and traders who find it convenient to do their businesses every day. But Ellara was was not like them. She looked forward to something more, something beyond what she knows about her life limitations. Her eyes would once in a while move to the Whispering Woods, an unexplanable separation between the what we know and what we do not know.
The woods mean more than just ordinary trees to the villagers. They speak slowly stories of creatures that you cannot see and understand well, creatures with shining eyes, and spirits capable of stealing memories. While some people talk of them with fear, Ellara feel quite different about them. The forest seems full of life pumping with an energy that talks to her in a language only she could understand.
Downstairs, they were having their evening meal quietly. When one looked at her mother's eyes it shows she is disturbed, her father feels so concerned that he does not have words to explain. They were good people, but their fears was a family trait they naturally passed to their daughter.
After the meal, Ellara went back to her bedroom. The night was so cold that she felt it through the walls, as she brought out a wooden box hidden under her bed. Her special important instruments that she always used, were kept inside. These are: a compass with a broken glass, a smooth stone cut out with mysterious symbols, and a old map marked with a fine looking blank area that is titled "The Unknown".
The stone is a special one. Her father had discovered it near the woods some years ago and gave it to her as a gift. As time went on, it had proven to be more than just a rock. It was something that will serve as a key to open the hidden things that lie in front of the tree line. When she touched it, a low humming noise seemed to pass through her fingers.
The village seems to go into a silent time, Ellara was looking at the moon as its light shine on the woods. For a short period, she thought of quietly running out, her heart was beating telling her she can do it. But she recalled her parents' warnings that held her, holding her back from the mysterious forest that was always calling her.
"She hope to make it one day," she whispered, holding tight the stone, a promise to herself and whatever awaited her in the future.
Chapter 2: The Stranger
It was another morning in Aeloria, a lively village with the usual sounds, of hammers striking anvils, merchants arranging goods, children playing while people go about their morning activities. Ellara was restless but alert, she dressed quickly and went outside. She wanted to know the kind of confusion that drew people's attention so much at the village square.
It was a stranger who has attracted the attention of almost the whole village. Kael was wearing travelling clothes that looked worned out because of over usage. He wore a big dark shirt, his statue was that of someone who stands tall and fat. He had blue eyes with which he looked round at the villagers who were gathered. The eyes burned with some heat that made people uncomfortable. When he was asked why he has come to Aeloria, he said he is seeking to know about the Whispering Woods, the answer brought fear at once to everyone and there was silence.
"There is a secret they are holding," Kael said loud for all to hear, his voice unshaking and forceful. "Something that must be discovered before it is too late."
The villagers looked at each other with fear. The issue of the forest is not a matter that sould be taken lightly. No one who goes into that forest ever returned.
Ellara did not understand why she became so closed to the stranger. When she talked about the danger in the forest, Kael seemed to recognize something in her. "You feel their hand pulling you," he said quietly, knowing quickly how she felt.
Before she could respond, a cry of "Fire!" disrupted the gathering. There was smoke rising from the edge of the village, this made everyone to be afraid. At the centre of the crisis, Kael quickly went to Ellara, urging her to meet him at the woods that night.
As the night was falling, Ellara struggled with her decision about what Kael told her. The strange things that has happened during the day; the unknown visitor, the fire that came burning without knowing the cause of it, the continuous sounds from the forest, forced her to take action. She loaded a small hand pack with her most precious items: a map, a compass, a peculiar stone, and the knife her father normally use for self defense.
She was able to meet Kael at the edge of the forest, due to the moonlight. Her anxiety and the sense that cannot be explained of what lies ahead of her, pushed her to go forward.
"I need to know why the forest have been calling on me," she declared.
Kael simply nodded. "Then we will find the answer together."
They started to enter the Talking Forest. The air became cold and heavy. Shadows moved unsteadily among the long aged trees, and the path seemed to be extending with each step. The sounds that were low before, are now all around them like music that is continually being played.
The forest had accepted them for its services.