Chapter 11: The Forest
Streamers with a soft halo rose in the stone formation and flew into the sky, dark golden runes slowly flowing down from the stone pillars to the ground, slowly rotating around the altar. The huge gate-like void was embedded in the fog wall, as if connecting reality with illusion, and the people who watched the ceremony silently pressed their hands to their chests and whispered prayers. In the face of the power of the Lord God, no one dared to give birth to the slightest blasphemy.
Aiden personally greeted Kathroni from the stone formation, and he held the old man's arm with a worried face, and Kathroni smiled and waved his hand, indicating that it was nothing important. But in fact, everyone could see that the ritual just now consumed a lot of energy from the old man.
Upland watched the Pope leave, then turned to the students and said, "Come, your time has come." With that, he stepped aside.
The trialists present glanced at each other, and they didn't need any words, they had been waiting for this day for a long time. One by one, the boys walked up to the priest holding the tray, picked up a shelter stone, and walked into the "city gate" in the fog wall.
The golden light hung high overhead, and Sovereign turned his head in front of the "city gate", and he looked at the Paislin passing by. "Good luck, brother. β
Paislin smiled and hooked her arm around Soveland's neck. "Oak Tree, we celebrate together. With that, he walked in without looking back.
Not far away, Soveran saw his father, Ayden, Cillian, Tandra, Beorn, who was giving him a thumbs up, and Loca. He clenched the sword at his waist and disappeared into the wall of fog.
There was a sudden blur in front of him, as if his vision was covered by something, and Sovereign felt as if his body was being pulled and pushed by an unknown force, and he involuntarily walked forward. Sporadic sounds ringing in my ears, unable to tell where they came from or what they represent, sounding like someone whispering to them in a half-asleep state.
As Essaoweran groped for a way out, a fresh scent mixed with the scent of earth poured into his nose. He took a sharp breath, his vision gradually cleared back to his body, and when he came back to his senses, he found himself in the middle of the jungle.
Behind him, there was no road from which he came, or a hollow in the wall of fog, as if he had been here all along.
Sovereign adjusted his breathing, calming his slightly undulating state of mind. "It's a shame to be so nervous just by entering the door. He said with a self-deprecating shake of his head, then surveyed his surroundings.
When you really walk into the Forest of Songs, you will find that this mysterious land is completely different from what you see from the outside.
The forest was dark, a faint purple mist lingered between the crevices of the trees, and countless vigorous and quaint trees rose from the ground and spread into the distance until the end of the line of sight, where hidden secrets.
Their foliage intertwined overhead, weaving a thick shade that obscures the zenith. What's even more amazing is that in the middle of the luxuriant leaf petals, the fruit of the big tree emits a faint purple light, flickering and dimming, warm and a little blurry, like a street lamp on a street corner in the middle of the night, dotted in the silent night.
Time stands still here, and it seems that the forest has its favorite moments, and through the gaps in the leaves, you can see the bright stars emitting a cold light, looking at it from the dark canopy with an innocent expression.
Secluded, deep, magnificent, dreamy, you can't find the right words to describe this forest, and it seems impossible to believe that this is the place where the mortal world can appear.
Sovereign stood in the woods, intoxicated by the beauty and novelty of the world before him, a sense of absurdity pervading his body. There was a special softness on the ground covered with fallen leaves, and if he hadn't known beforehand that he was going to go through the trial of order, he even suspected that he was in a dream at this time.
The young prince took a deep breath. "The Lord God is above, and even if such a trial fails, it is enough to become a talking point to show off for a lifetime. As he spoke, he pulled out a transparent crystal ball from the pouch around his waist, the only thing Aiden had prepared for him.
Sovereign held the crystal ball in his hand and shook it slightly, and the crystals that had been precipitated at the bottom of the sphere, like fine sand, immediately floated out in the crystal ball, flying like snowflakes and emitting a milky white light, illuminating the darkness around him.
"Praise you, Father. Sovereign said with a smile, and then walked in a direction with all his strength, "Since there is no specific content, let's see what I can meet." He thought to himself.
It's a fascinating forest, and it's only by getting close to her that she'll show you a unique side. Shameful, huge flowers that tighten their petals at the slightest touch, vines that glow dark blue, and a strange wildflower that instantly change their white form into fiery red when the crystal ball in Sawrain's hand comes close to them. Along the way, unnamed, unheard of plants have made Essaowelan a child who is constantly discovering new things.
I don't know how long it took, but after gradually getting used to it, Soveran had a strange feeling, and after years of training, his intuition was much sharper than that of ordinary people, and it seemed that from the beginning, there was a pair of eyes peeking at him from a distance.
Sovereign quietly held the hilt of his sword, he had not forgotten the purpose of his trip, the trial was by no means an outing. At this moment, the lilac mist beside him seemed to come alive and surged behind Soveland, and with a swipe, he drew his long sword and turned around sharply, shining the crystal ball in his hand in the direction it came.
A shocking scene unfolded before his eyes, the mist tumbling and gathering together, and soon a lilac figure stood not far in front of Solveland. What is even more surprising is that the figure turned out to be the image of Soveland's fiancΓ©e, Evelyn.
"Veran, don't forget our agreement!" Evelyn snorted, gesturing at her wrist, where she had tied Soveland's bracelet.
Vivid, even with the same demeanor, Sovereign stared at the figure. "It's not fun. He whispered, assuming an attacking stance.
"Giggle...... Evelyn smiled and spun around, leaning over to Solveland, "It's beautiful here, Veran," and turned and walked deeper into the forest, "Come on, come after me." β
"Has the trial begun?" thought to Soveland, raising his foot and chasing after him.
The trees around him swept past Soveland, and he was fast, but he couldn't touch Evelyn in front of him anyway. The sound of the girl's laughter echoed in the forest, crisp and sweet, but there was no trace of happiness in Soveland's heart at this time, and if this was the beginning of the trial, it was a little outrageously real.
The lilac figure finally stopped, and Evelyn smiled and tucked her long hair around her ear, but when Sauveray touched her, the mist dissipated into the air like drifting sand. Soon, however, when the sand gathered again, Aiden's figure appeared not far ahead.
"Kindness, wisdom, forgiveness, diligence...... My child, you have a lot to learn," Aiden whispered with warmth in his eyes, "but I am confident that my son will be a respected king." β
Soveland's heart fluctuated, wanting to get close to his father, and even though he knew that the figure in front of him was just an illusion in the Forest of Songs, he couldn't resist the urge to catch up.
The lilac mist dissipated again. "Father......" Sovereign stretched his hand into the air, and as soon as his words came out, he was stunned and sighed with a wry smile, "Is it really affected?"
"What's the fuss, boy!" Sirian's voice came from afar, "Remember, firm faith is the most powerful weapon, ** is only the reflection of the soul in this world, no one can live forever, but faith can be immortal. β
"Yes!" replied Soveland, bowing.
If the Forest of Songs can read the state of mind of the trialist, then Solweran is realizing the truest emotions in his heart little by little.
The Duke of Junhe walked ahead, and Sovereign followed him, as if walking behind a determined giant, his heart had never been so calm, as if following not an illusory figure, but a path to the temple of faith.
The figure faded and faded until it disappeared without a trace. "Thank you......" Sovereign whispered, not knowing whether it was to thank Sirian or this trial of order.
"Come here, Soveland!" said Beorn, waving his arms vigorously, "You're really slow, I think back then, I finished the trial very quickly." β
"Alright, brother......" Loka spread his hands a little speechlessly, "The Lord God is above, my father and I have been waiting for you for a long time, and I almost thought you couldn't get out!"
Beorn smacked Loca's shoulder in annoyance. "Dare to expose my shortcomings! Stinky boy, it seems that I am going to find an opportunity to teach you a lesson!"
Loka laughed and waved her hands. "As long as it's not like drinking!" he turned and slipped into the bushes in front of him.
"Keep up, Soveland!" Beorn threw down a sentence and followed in.
"What is it this time?" I even looked forward to it...... "Sovereign thought to himself, and quickly followed.
Tearing away the branches and leaves in front of him, the sight of Essauviran emerging from the bushes immediately alerted him, and he even mobilized all his attention to prepare for the danger that could come at any moment.
Because the Forest of Songs at this time is no longer the quiet and serene it used to be, everything has turned gray, and the whole world is black and white, even Sauveray himself. A cold and indifferent aura stimulated the skin under the armor, and the feeling of being watched just now returned to his body again.
What's even more strange is that there is a wooden house standing in the open space not far ahead, and in this black and white world, a dancing orange fire is reflected on the window of the wooden house.