The night was chilly, and as time went on, a strange fog began to engulf the Forest of Immortality. The mist thickened with each passing moment, wrapping around Clark like a damp, suffocating blanket. He felt his anxiety spike as visibility dropped, and the eerie stillness of the forest seemed to press in on him.
Clark turned to head back to the group, only to find that the landscape behind him had completely changed.
"Huh... where are they?" he muttered, his voice barely audible in the oppressive silence.
He had been gazing at the moon just moments ago, lost in thought, and now a new, unfamiliar path stretched out before him. His gut churned with a sense of impending doom, though he couldn't pinpoint why. Something bad was happening—he could feel it.
"Where are you guy's?" he repeated, louder this time, but no response came.
Panic gripped him as his thoughts spiraled. Did they abandon me? Should I have trusted those strangers? He was in uncharted territory, without a guide, without even basic knowledge of this world. Survival seemed impossible.
"What should I do?" Clark groaned, clutching his head in frustration. His mind raced for answers, but none came.
The absence of Angelica weighed on him even more in this moment of despair. Ever since his arrival in this strange land, her presence had been absent. Why, he didn't know—maybe she couldn't come here, or maybe it was something else entirely.
"I miss her so much..." he whispered, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. He quickly brushed them away, his jaw tightening. He couldn't afford to wallow in sorrow. Angelica wouldn't want that. If he ever wanted to return to her, he had to keep moving forward. With newfound determination, Clark clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and stepped into the fog-shrouded path ahead.
For the next ten minutes, Clark trudged through the forest. The trees loomed tall and menacing, their branches twisting like skeletal arms in the mist. The air was damp and cold, and every step felt heavier than the last. The forest seemed endless, an oppressive maze with no exit.
"Why isn't this ending?" he muttered under his breath, exhaustion seeping into his voice.
Suddenly, a deafening roar tore through the silence, reverberating through the forest and shaking the ground beneath him.
"Roaaarrr..."
Clark froze, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. "What the hell was that?" he whispered to himself, fear crawling up his spine. Whatever it was, it was massive—and close.
Don't stop. Keep moving.
Driven by instinct, he broke into a sprint. The roar echoed behind him, and he didn't dare look back. His lungs burned, his legs ached, but he pushed on, desperation lending him strength.
As he ran, he noticed a faint sound cutting through the fog—water. A gentle but persistent rushing noise, growing louder with each step. His throat was parched from the cold night air, and the thought of fresh water gave him a sliver of hope.
"Maybe it's a stream... or a waterfall," he thought aloud, clutching at the hope like a lifeline.
Pushing forward, he noticed the fog beginning to thin. The oppressive mist gave way to clearer air, and the sound of flowing water became unmistakable. Whatever lay ahead, it was his only chance.
As Clark moved closer, the mist dissipated further, revealing the faint glimmer of a waterway ahead.
Through the bushes, a serene scene unfolded. A beautiful waterfall cascaded into a clear, tranquil river below. The moonlight illuminated the scene, reflecting off the water's surface in a mesmerizing glow. The fog lingered lightly, blending with the silvery light to create an ethereal atmosphere. Strange, faint lights—like dancing fireflies—floated in the mist, adding a magical touch. Yet, despite the beauty, the place carried an unshakable sense of mystery.
Clark couldn't resist. Stripping off his outerwear, he stepped into the cool, inviting waters. The crystal-clear river was shallow near the edges, and even in the moonlight, he could see the smooth stones lining its bottom. The cold water refreshed his body and his weary mind, washing away the tension of the day.
"Puahh!" Clark exhaled deeply, emerging from the water. "This is so refreshing."
Suddenly, a voice broke through the stillness.
"There's a new guy here."
Clark froze. Turning around, he saw her. A radiant figure emerged from the deeper part of the waterfall. Her pale, flawless skin shimmered in the moonlight, and her serene face bore a beauty that defied reason. Her amber-green eyes sparkled like gemstones, and her soft lips curved slightly as if in faint amusement.
She was naked.
Clark's mind went blank, unable to process the sheer otherworldly sight. His breath hitched, his face turned beet red, and before he could gather himself, his knees gave out.
"Blub... blub... blub..."
The world faded to black as Clark passed out, face down in the water.
The fog had lifted by the time Clark stirred, replaced by the calm of a small clearing. He awoke in a cozy wooden house, nestled in the middle of a vast green meadow. Surrounding the house was a stark contrast to the eerie forest—it felt safe, almost idyllic. Small rabbits hopped around outside, adding to the quaint charm.
Inside, the room was simple yet elegant. Wooden furniture filled the space, and a soft amber glow from a small lamp gave it warmth. A bubbling pot on the stove sent the delicious aroma of soup wafting through the air, making Clark's stomach growl audibly.
"Gruuuu... I'm starving," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Opening them fully, he found himself at a small wooden table. The house was humble but well-kept, with smooth wooden floors and a small kitchen nearby. The scent of boiling soup made him salivate as his gaze landed on the steaming pot.
"You're awake, finally," a calm, feminine voice said.
Clark turned sharply to his left, and there she was—the same woman from the waterfall. She was dressed now, in a simple robe that still couldn't mask her otherworldly beauty. Her long, silken hair cascaded over her shoulders as her sharp, green-amber eyes studied him coolly.
"Uhh…" Clark stammered, lost for words.
"Why are you staring so much?" she asked, her tone cold but not hostile.
"I—uh—sorry. It's just… I've never met someone as beautiful as you," Clark blurted out, his cheeks flushing red.
The woman's expression froze. Her ears turned pink, and a deep blush spread across her face, betraying her composure.
"Wha… What did you just say?" she stammered, her calm demeanor faltering. "I'm beautiful?"
"I mean, yes... I didn't mean to offend—" Clark tried to explain.
"You're joking, right?" she cut him off, spinning around to hide her face. "I bet you're one of those witch hunters, trying to trick me!"
Her voice carried a mix of embarrassment and irritation as she refused to face him.
Clark blinked in confusion. "Witch hunter? No, no, I'm not—"
"Silence!" she snapped, though her voice wavered slightly. "Don't think flattery will get you anywhere with me!"
But despite her harsh words, Clark couldn't help but notice the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she struggled to regain her composure.
The awkward silence lingered for a few seconds before the girl finally handed Clark a bowl of soup, her face still slightly flushed.
"Eat up, and leave as fast as possible," she said curtly, crossing her arms.
Clark looked at her, perplexed. Cute. Who does he think he is? she thought, glancing away with an annoyed huff.
He didn't argue. The aroma of the soup was too tempting. He began eating hurriedly. "Ohh… miss, this is amazing!" he mumbled between mouthfuls, the warm broth soothing his empty stomach.
"Glub," he muttered as he swallowed too quickly.
"What? What happened?" she asked sharply, stepping closer. "Is it too hot? Does it taste bad?"
Clark shook his head, struggling to speak as the scalding heat stung his lips. Before he could react, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
It was a quick, fleeting kiss, her cool lips soothing the burn.
Clark's heart raced. His eyes widened in shock as she pulled back, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Wha—what are you doing?!" he stammered, pushing himself back slightly. "Was that… my first kiss? And with… with this super hot, unknown, mysterious beauty?!"
Her calm expression barely wavered. "I was just cooling your lips," she said nonchalantly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"C-cooling my lips?" Clark repeated, confused. He stared at her, trying to process her words. Was she concerned about me?
Gathering his thoughts, he finally blurted out, "You shouldn't kiss someone unless you're in love with them!"
The girl froze. His words seemed to strike a chord deep within her. Her composed façade faltered as her amber-green eyes flickered with an emotion Clark couldn't quite place.
Love? she only heard that part, her heart fluttering in a way she hadn't expected.
Her mind raced back to a memory buried in her past—a conversation with her elder brother.
"Brother, are you sure about this girl of yours?"
Her brother had laughed warmly, ruffling her hair. "Lara, you're still young. That's why you don't see what I see. But one day, you will."
She frowned, crossing her arms. "I won't fall for anyone the way you did. Not someone I just met, anyway."
Her brother smiled knowingly, his voice soft but firm. "Lara, love doesn't always come in the way you expect. One day, you'll meet someone, and they'll change everything. If that person ever proposes, if they make you feel the way I feel about her—don't let them go, okay?"
Those were his last words to her before he disappeared.
Snapping back to the present, Lara scowled and shook her head. She puffed out her cheeks and stuck out her tongue, trying to dispel the memory.
"No way," she muttered to herself, refusing to believe she could fall for someone so quickly. "I'm not like you, Brother."
Clark watched her curiously, completely unaware of the storm of emotions in her heart.
"Are you… okay?" he asked hesitantly.
"I'm fine!" she snapped, her face red again. "Just eat your soup and don't say stupid things!"
Clark decided not to push her further, though he couldn't help but smile softly. There was something about her that felt… familiar, yet utterly incomprehensible.
And for some reason, Lara didn't mind him staying just a little longer.
"Hey," her voice broke through the silence, an edge of curiosity in her words. "What's your name?"
Clark didn't hesitate, his mouth full of the bland soup, a little too quick in devouring the warmth. "Clark," he mumbled, the bowl tipped to his lips. Third round, and it barely tasted better than the first.
Lara's gaze softened but never wavered. "Clark, huh? I'm Lara. I live here. But you... don't look like someone who knows the dangers of this place."
"Dangers?" His lips curled with an almost mocking smile, but the words, they were heavy. "Is that coming from someone who lives in it?"
She gave a quiet nod, her fingers resting lightly against the edge of the table. "I'm not staying here. Got lost, traveling with a group. Fellow men," he explained, each word laced with uncertainty.
"Fellow men?" Lara's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. "Two men, two women?"
"Yeah," Clark confirmed, swallowing the remnants of his meal. "I was looking for them. They should've left the forest a while ago."
Lara's eyes drifted to the far corner, her expression unreadable for a long stretch of time. "They left."
"They left?" Clark's heart skipped, a chill threading through his chest. "I... think that fog's no accident." She spoke of it casually, like a everyday thing. "It's the savage fog. It's not unusual. The wild creatures use it to trap prey. Maybe you got lucky, escaping it, but you lost them."
Clark's lips twitched into a grin, deflecting the unease, "Lucky to meet you, though. Right?"
Her smirk was soft, a flicker of something barely contained in her eyes. "You're good with words, Clark."
"Hey..." His voice faltered for just a moment, something hanging in the air. "I have a question. How did you know I came with them?"
Lara's eyes locked with his, calm as ever. "Oh, that? I'm the White Witch of Destruction. I know everything that happens in my territory."
Clark blinked, the weight of her words pressing against him, leaving him speechless.
"Huh... huhhhhhhh...."