The forest was strange and alive.
Elowen didn't understand most of what was happening in her viscinity but it was too eerie, that was one thing. Webs of roots tangled around, with the whole atmosphere reeking of a vile chemical substance like in those liquid the men used to paint, but much stronger.
She couldn't see anything single life in sight. It was a condemned forest after all. Elowen put on her confident attire and decided to head forward.
But she had fallen. How did that even happened! Was it possible, there wasn't any hole!
She moved forward because where else would she go? She had struggled with the thought of going backwards but nothing was there. Nothing was anywhere.
Yet, the woods called for her. She did not know how long she had walked when she found an ancient ruins.
"Someone must have resided here before..." She thought to herself. She knew of the dark one's tale, he had many names. The forsaken, the one who is lost, king of the Mourningwood, slayer and snatcher of souls. "Was he the one who..."
She couldn't finish her statement. This monster has lived for thousand of years. Perhaps he truly was the one who resisted in this castle--or at least, that was what it looked like to her.
"Maybe I can stay here for the night." She said to herself. Although calling it the night was quite funny when every time seemed like night time. The whole woods was dark, dim like the evening. She wondered if the sun's rays hit this area at all.
She made preparation to sleep. Preparations being advancing forward to lay down on the ground, but inside where it might protect her from unexpected rainfall.
The elders in the village had turned a blind eye to her as they casted her out like a forbidden animal. She was supposed to be provided with some valuables that would make her survive in the wild, until she met her death.
Yet, the only thing she was allowed to leave with was her stripped off dignity and part shame. The sound of her heart breaking hummed deep within her. She felt every bones in her body aching all over again.
Unable to catch her breath, she realized she had been gasping for air. She stretched her hand forward and reached for an obsidian statue, then came a loud scream.
It burned! She screamed out from the terror and pain that coursed through her bones as her hand had touched the statue! It was of a man with dark dark eyes. It was a mere stature but it carried danger with it.
Yet...echos of noise, screams, called out to her. "I need to leave this place. Now!" She said to herself. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to leave. It called to her. It yearned for her touch!
Fighting it, struggling! Elowen managed to move back a little. But it didn't stop her heart from obsessing over this strange statue. She was like a slave to it. It called for her!...
Finally. She reached for it once more, more tears filled her eyes as the pain surged through her whole body. Yet, she did not let go.
It lasted a while until...
A mighty surge of power overthrown her, and boom! Sent her launching into the air as a mighty wind threw her away.
Kael felt cold breeze blow on him. It lasted for half a split second, then it stopped. Something opened up before him. He walked out--no. He stepped out...what can be the right word for it?
He had been trapped for centuries, he knew that much that it had become part of his world. He was conscious, he lived through the woods, the woods lived because he lived.
But this feeling was something else. He was free. His feet stepped on grass and it sent a warm feeling to his guts. He didn't know if he liked it or not. These places are familiar to him, but only with his eyes shut close. Now that his pale silver eyes were wide open, they made visible images of all these places he only saw in his...dreams?
In front laid a maiden. She was very small with those warm hazel pair of eyes that glowed faintly as she stared back at me. She looked surprised to have seen me.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Kael asked coldly. "Speak now, or be dead." He realized he didn't have time for this. With a wave of his hand, this maiden would vanish like she had never even existed before. He did waved his hand, but nothing happened. Kael blinked, "what the bloody hell is this?" He looked at his hand like it was a spoilt food.
By this time, Elowen had picked up a little courage to get up. She did not understand why this tall man was standing before her naked! Where had he come from?
"You should protect yourself from this harsh weather!" She cried out. Her cheeks burned but she didn't know why. She had seen many a man naked before being a healer.
Kael was still playing with his hand wondering why his magic did not work, when the little maiden rushed passed him.
"This is yours, I presume." Elowen said, handing over to him a pair of outfit laid on the floor. How it had appeared there, she did not know.
The outfit was an ancient tattered robe that had been buried along with Kael centuries ago. He took it from her and wore it. Kael was tall so he just looked like a really tall tree in those robes, hiding all of his muscles that made him look like a panther while he'd been naked.
Elowen cursed herself for playing images of him in her head. He was so graceful and strong! "Healers are not supposed to get married!" The thought escaped her lips.
Kael stared at the mad maiden before him. "Is this what maidens are like now? Lunatics."
This was even Elowen realized she did not like his tone. Wait, who even was he! "I have no idea where you had popped out from. But it is just the two of us now. You had better behaved yourself." She scolded.
Kael frowned. "How dare an ordinary maiden speak to me in this manner?" His tone commanded a rubble of thunder to shaken the vicinity, bright light frok lightening strikes sent chills down Elowen's spines.
"Who are you?" It was like a soft whisper.
Kael lifted his head up high. "It depends. But the most famous name I always liked was Kael, the slayer and snatcher of souls. I would be worried now. Because dear maiden, your souls is now..." Something light fire flashed in his eyes, radiating strong power. "Mine."