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Chapter 12: Shadows of the Stone Gate
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Scene One — Inside the Forest
The forest stretched endlessly, its trees rising like the pillars of an ancient temple. A thin white mist drifted between the trunks, and the sharp, intermittent sounds of insects sliced through the silence.
The three of them moved slowly through the thick grass.
Rinyon carried a long staff to support her steps.
Zokimoshi cut through the grass and branches with his sharp sword as if he were playing a tune in the air.
As for Kiora, he walked tiredly, his head tilting left and right as though he might fall asleep standing.
Kiora, in a melting, sleepy voice:
"That fruit… it was delicious… I wish I could have another one…"
Rinyon sighed:
"When will we get out of this forest? We've been walking for hours…"
Kiora:
"I can't feel my feet…"
Zokimoshi waved his sword:
"You two are weak. This is just a simple walk."
Suddenly—
The sound of strong rushing water cut through their conversation.
Rinyon immediately ran toward the sound, followed by Kiora and Zokimoshi.
When they emerged from between the trees—
A massive waterfall appeared before them, crashing down into a river much wider than the previous one. The water shimmered under the sunlight like silver blades.
Rinyon, her eyes glowing:
"A river! If we follow it, we might reach a city!"
Kiora knelt and wiped the mud near the river with his hand:
"Look… footprints. They're fresh."
Zokimoshi tightened the knot around his waist:
"Let's follow them."
They walked until a shaky wooden bridge appeared, swaying over the stream. Some planks were broken, and the worn ropes creaked with every gust of wind.
Kiora clenched his fist:
"Let's cross it."
Rinyon stepped back:
"This… is way too dangerous. We need to find another route."
Zokimoshi stepped forward boldly:
"There's no turning back!"
He walked onto the bridge without any hesitation, followed by Kiora.
Rinyon approached carefully, and when she reached the middle—
Craaack!
A plank snapped beneath her foot, and her body dropped—
But in an instant, Kiora reached out and caught her hands.
Rinyon's cheeks flushed red:
"Th-thank you…"
Kiora smiled:
"Don't mention it."
A silent gaze lingered between them…
Then Zokimoshi shoved their faces apart with his hands!
"What are you two doing?"
Rinyon (thinking angrily):
Does this man not understand personal space or romantic timing at all?!
They finished crossing and followed the footprints toward the forest's exit.
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Scene Two — The Wide Plains
The plains stretched without end—
Green grass swaying with the wind, and the sky opened above them like a blue ocean without waves.
And then…
A massive city appeared in the distance, surrounded by high stone walls with tall watchtowers standing like silent guardians.
Rinyon's eyes sparkled with joy:
"A city…! Finally!"
Kiora stared in awe:
"This… is incredible…"
But—
Zokimoshi looked at it strangely:
"What is that?"
Rinyon shouted:
"Why are you asking that?! And why do you always ruin happy moments?!"
Kiora leaned his head on Zokimoshi's chest dramatically:
"Don't say that… he's our friend, you might break his tiny fragile heart…"
Rinyon:
"Ah… I'm going to lose my mind…!"
She rushed forward toward the city, and the two ran after her.
The closer they got to the walls, the louder the sounds became—
Children laughing, merchants shouting, smells of bread and grilled meat drifting through the air…
A whole living world waited behind those walls.
They reached a massive gate where a long line of merchants and travelers waited.
Tired eyes, carts packed with goods, and soldiers supervising the entrance.
After a long wait—
Their turn came.
The guard, tall and thin, with dark skin, a spear in hand, and a stiff expression, asked:
"Who are you?"
Kiora:
"Travelers."
Guard:
"Show me your city seal."
Rinyon (whispering nervously):
"What do we do?"
He turned toward her and said:
Kiora:
"I don't know. Just don't let him see your panic. We'll try to get in."
He faced the guard again:
Kiora:
"We don't have it… We got lost in the forest, monsters attacked us, and we lost our belongings."
The guard answered coldly:
"Then go back where you came from."
But suddenly—
The guard's expression froze.
His eyes widened…
The air around him grew heavy…
And an image pierced into his mind—
A pitch-black figure with deep red eyes, standing before him with a cold smile, its teeth red, its entire body made of swirling smoke.
The guard stepped back:
"Wh-what…?"
Kiora shook him:
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
The guard breathed heavily:
"You have no identification… you cannot enter."
Kiora tried:
"Please…"
The terrifying image flashed again for a split second—
The guard thought:
(Is this stress hallucination? Or… something else?)
Then he said:
"Fine… you can enter after paying the entrance tax."
Rinyon:
"Tax…? We don't have money!"
Zokimoshi:
"What's the tax?"
Rinyon shouted:
"You be quiet!"
The guard repeated firmly:
"Go back where you came from."
People behind them started shouting:
"Hurry up!"
"We need to get inside!"
"We have urgent goods!"
The guard pushed them aside…
Tension rose… pressure from the line…
Suddenly—
A merchant stepped forward confidently.
A fat man, his golden hair shining as if polished, golden teeth, luxurious clothes, and a crocodile-leather bag in his hand.
He stood in front of the guard and said loudly:
"Let them in…
On my tab."
— To Be Continued —
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