The Labyrinthine Truth

"We begin to walk slowly in this forest. Now, I begin to understand why they named her 'Forest of Faith.' No one can hide secrets, and no one can understand direction; it's full of illusion. I just wonder what's happening next. I woke up beside Sylvia, and everything was quiet. We don't have any horses or any support for now. We have each other, but we were so awkward after what happened.

When we were walking, some small creatures began to go around us. Some of them were full of light, some interpreted dark, and each creature seemed to represent something special. Suddenly, I looked at Sylvia, wondering about the fire that I saw before because, you know, magic. So, I think she will know everything.

'So, Sylvia, I tried to find what type of magic I have in this forest, and I saw a strange dream. It's about me seeing four types of fires with different colors and a cup of water. I had to distinguish some of them, which I did, but they merged into one thing. Suddenly, I had rings on my fingers, the same colors as the fire, but there was an extra one, and the color was white. So, do you think it has any type of meaning?'

Sylvia looked shocked at first, stopped in her tracks, put her hand on her chin, and began thinking. I wondered what she was thinking about because it was really a weird dream. After a moment, she began looking at me as if I were joking. 'It's just a strange dream, so don't go too far with those things. Plus, if you want to know what type of magic you have, just ask me. I have a crystal ball; I can read your magic. Okay? Every person has mana and all of that, so don't worry.'

I smiled softly, knowing that I didn't have to worry that much. So, we walked further, and every time we stopped, the grass began to lose color, the trees grew darker, as if dying. We found Lily, but her body was lying on the ground, half dead. We panicked; Sylvia and I ran toward her without hesitation. I checked her pulse; her heart was still beating. Sylvia used magic to check her body, and she was perfectly healthy. We tried to wake her up, but nothing worked.

We looked around, and there was nothing around her. I looked at Sylvia, feeling confused. So, we got Lily out from this place. We held her until we found a good place to put up a fire. After we did, something weird happened. I ate, but I was not hungry, and the weird thing was, no one was talking. Everything was silent, and even though I was eating, I didn't feel any taste—nothing sweet or salty. Things were getting more suspicious as I looked around to find any signs of what happened.

I decided to take a nap, but suddenly, I snapped awake as if someone touched me. It wasn't night; it was still the same time when I fell asleep. I tried to focus again, and the only test I could understand of what happened was through pain. So, I took a small knife and cut my hand. Even though blood poured, I couldn't feel any pain, and after seconds, the wound disappeared.

I began to understand that everything around me wasn't reality. After this realization, I felt something break under my legs, and the ground crumbled, putting me in a deep hole. I got up, but this time, no colors were with me. Sylvia disappeared, and I wasn't in the forest; I was in another place, but it lacked colors.

I looked around and saw a little girl running around a house altar. I got closer to see what was happening and found that the little girl was a small version of Sylvia. I tried to touch her to see if it was the same effect as the dream in the dungeon, and it was. She couldn't feel me. I began to follow her to see what was happening.

She went to her mother, a woman with a big smile, holding a little baby. Sylvia was so excited. 'Mother, can you tell me the story of this baby and when my dad will come? I miss him.' The mother's expression changed drastically; she smiled but looked in pain, as if something were crashing around her. The mother began collecting some herbs, not wanting to answer the question. But little Sylvia was so energetic, yet I didn't see any other children around her, so maybe she felt lonely.

I got close to the house and found a big flag of a full moon, two swords with a blue uniform, and golden straps. The uniform looked good but old. I explored the house more and saw Sylvia walk towards me, holding my hand, leading me to her room. She looked into my eyes, 'You know, I can see you. Mommy doesn't see what I can see. Don't tell Mommy, but you can't go away so easily. It's my home.' Suddenly, her mother called her, needing her for some task. After this, the house crumbled again, and I closed my eyes, hoping that nothing bad would happen.

I felt myself falling onto hard ground, and when I opened my eyes, I couldn't see clearly; everything was blurry, black, and white. I tried to find any clues, blindly feeling around for something rough or wet. I found something in my hand, and I could hear Sylvia's loud cry, but everything was getting darker. When she tried to tell me the truth, her voice got crushed, and it all became blurry. At the end, I couldn't see anything, as if I were a blind person. I closed my eyes, feeling everything change again.

I felt so tired, so I didn't open my eyes. I felt myself deep in darkness, feeling the darkness slowly embracing me, making me feel safe. But I began to remember all my friends—from Sylvia and Lily to Ethan and my father. Tears fell down as I remembered my father's last words, Anna's help when she assisted me in escaping, and how I never had the chance to thank her. I remembered my goal and what urged me to never give up.

I snapped out of it, feeling like my soul was torn into smaller pieces and returning to my body. I opened my eyes slowly and found myself surrounded by those creatures. In front of me was a bigger one, double the size of my body. It seemed harmless, but when I looked around, I saw Sylvia and Lily, both lying around me, seemingly fine but not waking up.

I approached the creature, trying to understand it because it could affect me mentally, not physically. I closed my eyes and focused. The creature was trying to lure me into its illusion, into the minds of my friends. Instead of succumbing, I began to overthink one question—what's the meaning of life? The creature's task was to find secrets, but the meaning of life is living in the moment. So, every time I started explaining it, secrets grew smaller and smaller until fleeing from fear and complexity.

I smirked, but looking at my hand made me feel uneasy because everything I thought about was philosophical, subjects I studied to become a good queen. I still remembered something, though. I went to see Sylvia and Lily; they seemed alright. I tried to move Sylvia's

"I went to see Sylvia and Lily; they seemed alright. I tried to move Sylvia, her body feeling heavy, to a safe place first, making some fire. This time, it wasn't an illusion. I did the same for Lily, ensuring they could rest. I decided to prepare some food, though I'm not good at cooking. After forcing myself to eat, needing the energy, I grabbed a book from my bag - not something important, just a small novel I bought from the Shadow Kingdom. I love reading.

As I read the story, it was engaging, but suddenly, I blushed. I couldn't read these kinds of books; why was I turning red? I stopped reading so fast because it was embarrassing.

Then, I looked around; my hand felt uneasy because everything I had been thinking about was philosophical, something I studied to become a good queen. However, I recalled something. As I checked on Sylvia and Lily, seeing them resting peacefully, I felt relieved. I tried to explain the meaning of life to the creature, realizing that understanding the moment was the essence of life, diminishing its pursuit for secrets and complexity.

Continuing, I smiled softly, thinking about the friends I cared for - Sylvia, Lily, Ethan, and my father. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I remembered my father's last words and Anna's help during my escape. Regrettably, I never got the chance to thank her. Yet, I couldn't forget my goal and the determination never to give up.

Suddenly, it felt like my soul was being reassembled, smaller pieces returning to my body. Opening my eyes slowly, I found myself encircled by those creatures. A larger one stood in front of me, twice my size. Despite its appearance, it seemed harmless.

Looking around, I saw Sylvia and Lily lying nearby, apparently unharmed but still unconscious. I approached the creature, attempting to understand it as it could affect me mentally. I closed my eyes and focused.

Instead of succumbing to its illusion and entering my friends' minds, I began to contemplate the meaning of life. The creature sought secrets, yet life's essence lay in living the moment. Each time I contemplated this, the secrets it sought diminished until fleeing from fear and complexity.

I smirked, but contemplating these profound matters made me uneasy, given my purpose was to become a good queen. Regardless, I managed to remember something. I went to check on Sylvia and Lily; they seemed alright. I moved Sylvia, though her body felt heavy, ensuring she was safe and made a fire. This time, it wasn't an illusion. I did the same for Lily, allowing them both to rest.

I decided to have some food, even though my cooking skills were lacking. After forcing myself to eat, needing the energy, I retrieved a book from my bag - not something important, just a small novel I bought from the Shadow Kingdom. I enjoy reading.

While engrossed in the story, I suddenly blushed. I realized I couldn't handle reading these types of books as my face turned red. I slowed down my reading pace, embarrassed by my reaction."