Call of the Forest — Meilin

After having lunch at the tavern, we went shopping for a bit.

Himari was engrossed in a store that was selling kimonos from Kazemura.

“Look at this!” She picked up a violet kimono with daisy patterns, “This suits you so well, Meilin!”

I sighed, “You could’ve bought the clothes from Kazemura, that would’ve been much cheaper.”

Himari pouted, “But it feels so much more exciting buying stuff from a different city, and besides, Haruki bought a huge stash of cash!”

I groaned and rummaged inside my pocket to ensure the wish orb was still there. Good, it’s safe. At least not as visible from here.

Himari had bought the kimono and insisted that I put it on.

There was a public bathroom near the forest, so I went over to try on the kimono.

As I walked over to the bathroom, the trees of the forest stared at me, as if they were spies, watching my every move. The gaze was extremely unnerving, so I scurried into a bathroom stall and slammed the door shut.

Something wasn’t right.

Never mind, it might just be the effects of the orb.

I put on the kimono and returned to where Himari was waiting. “Wow!” Himari squealed, her cheeks bright pink, “You look absolutely gorgeous!” She swooned over my outfit, adjusting the sleeves and straightening it out with her hands.

Suddenly, my orb glowed in the direction of the forest, as if signaling to me that something was there. I shook my head.

I must be hallucinating.

That was what I had thought, until Himari questioned, “Meilin? Why is your orb glowing?” Her gaze followed the shine of the orb in the direction of the forest.

The forest seemed to lure me in, controlling my legs and dragging me into the depths of the woods.

I’ve felt this before. Being controlled.

This wasn’t the first time. I’ve always felt this way, like a puppet. Every day at school, it feels like I’m following someone mindlessly. It felt like strings were holding me back. My mind is clear; I think straight. But the body moves on its own.

Himari tugged on my sleeve. “Wait, Meilin! Where are you going? It’s dangerous there! We should go back to Haruki.”

I turned to her, “Come with me, Himari.” I’m scared. I don’t wanna go by myself. You need to come with me. “If you leave me alone, and I get hurt, that’ll be your responsibility. You don’t want that, right?” Haokei always used that to get me to come with her.

“Uh…” Himari looked troubled, her face turned pink again, and she finally agreed, “Alright. Let’s go.”

I knew it’d work.

We both tread into the woods, with Himari clutching my hand tightly.

The forest was dark, as if a cloth had been placed over it, preventing any light from shining through. Only the faint glow of the orb guided us forward.

Is that…monster remains?

I stepped on something sticky and gooey, like the monster I had fought in Kazemura. Himari didn’t seem to notice, so it’s fine. We continued ahead until we heard a screech of a beast.

Himari shrieked and fell, her whole body trembling. “Meilin, please. I don’t want to go any further.”

“Then you can stay here, I’ll go ahead and check—”

“No! Stay with me…” She stammered, gripping my sleeve tightly.

I sighed and shook my head, “I have to check if the monster hurts anyone.”

“Then I’ll go with you.” Himari whimpered.

We peeked behind a tree and saw a gigantic monster.

It wasn’t like the ones I encountered in Kazemura. It had large claws and resembled a spider. Except this one can speak.

“Give me orb—” The monster growled, in a horrific, creepy voice.

There was a young man tied to the tree, whose head was bleeding. “I told you, I don’t have one!”

“Eek!” Himari covered her mouth, “We have to do something…”

The monster snarled, “I sense. Sense orb. Nearby.”

Oh no. My hands cupped around the wish orb. It must’ve sensed the wish orb. If I try to fight it, then it might turn towards me or Himari. Or it’ll go to steal the orb directly. Who knows what would happen if it does…

“Meilin!” Himari hissed, “Do something!”

“I can’t,” I whispered back. “It’s after my wish orb. If I use my staff and reveal the orb, it might steal the orb and cause even more destruction.”

Himari grumbled, “We can’t just stand here and watch…”

Then it clicked—I still had the pale yellow orb Haruki had given me. It could be used as a distraction, as it was not being used at the moment. “Himari, can you go over to the young man and untie him while I distract the monster with this orb?”

Himari hesitated for a bit; I could sense thoughts clashing in her head.

“Okay.” She finally agreed.

Himari snuck behind the tree the man was tied to, and I jumped into the scene, shoving the yellow orb in the monster’s face.

“It’s here! The orb you wanted.”

The monster examined the orb carefully, then looked at me, “No. I sense orb. More powerful.” The beast reached out for the yellow orb and crushed it into bits. Uh oh. “Tiny foolish humans.” It growled.

Himari swiftly untied the young man and hauled him over her back. I mouthed to her, “Go without me,” barely noticing the monster raising its claw toward me.

Himari’s eyes widened in fear, and she screamed. “MEILIN!”

Time seemed to freeze. My life flashed before my eyes. Is this the end?

Just at that moment, someone ran to the scene, fast as lightning and slashed the monster in half. It shrieked as it perished, leaving a pool of black ink.

The warrior sheathed her sword, her long silver ponytail swinging as she walked towards me.

It was Yulan.

I never would’ve thought she was this strong.

She reached out her hand and helped me to my feet. “Are you okay?” Yulan asked, her hands gently wrapping around my face.

I nodded, completely stunned by what had just happened.

She turned to Himari and smiled, “Thank you, both of you, for saving my Foster.”

Foster? Oh, right, that man.

He seems a bit too young to be her lover…and too old to be her son.

So what did Yulan mean by “my Foster”?

What a mysterious woman indeed.