Kelvin lay trapped like a butterfly in a cocoon or a mummy, his body ensnared by the roots of trees that wrapped tightly around him. One end of this root-made cocoon was held by the dryad like a rope, and as she walked through the forest, weaving between trees and bushes, she dragged Kelvin behind her on the ground. The mysterious hand floated above him, its expression a mix of hopelessness and pity as it watched Kelvin's plight. Kelvin's mind was still reeling from how things had come to this. Initially, he thought a savior had arrived, but it seemed he had fallen from the frying pan into the fire. And to make matters worse, the dryad had even bound his mouth with one of those roots after his earlier outburst.
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
"Again, I ask: what is a human doing in the forest?" the dryad repeated.
The hand turned toward Kelvin, its tone shifting. It seemed to take a perverse pleasure in Kelvin's misfortune and string of bad luck. Its voice carried a gleeful satisfaction that, in such dire circumstances, bordered on madness.
"Well, I take back what I said. You really are unlucky and miserable."
Kelvin didn't know what to say; his mind was still stuck on the events from moments ago—how the goblins had suddenly died, and where this dryad had come from. *I'm already miserable, not even remembering my past, and now these disasters keep piling up one after another!!*
He coughed, trying to start a conversation despite his fear and nervousness.
"W-well, I mean... f-first of all, hello..."
Both the dryad and the hand stared at him with confused, blank expressions.
"Bravo, that was brilliant. Good thing they didn't put you in charge of crisis management..." the hand remarked sarcastically..
"Human, instead of babbling nonsense, answer my question!" the dryad snapped.
Seeing the dryad's anger, Kelvin's fear intensified. He struggled to compose himself and give the answer she was waiting for.
"O-okay, okay, don't get mad...!! Look, I just woke up in this forest out of nowhere, and then a bunch of goblins started chasing me. I don't remember who I am or how I got here. Believe me, I'm telling the truth..."
The dryad pondered for a moment, then broke her silence, fixing Kelvin with a stern gaze.
"I see... I understand."
Kelvin let out a deep breath, feeling a slight sense of relief.
"Thank you for trusting me—"
"I understand that you're a lying scoundrel!!" she interrupted.
"W-what are you talking about—" Kelvin stammered.
In the blink of an eye, the dryad grabbed Kelvin's throat with her right hand, squeezing tightly and lifting him off the ground. His feet dangled helplessly as his eyes widened in shock, pain, and terror. His face slowly turned purple as he clutched at her hand, struggling to break free. His legs kicked frantically, and with a hoarse, desperate voice, he pleaded:
"N-no... s-stop... I-I can't... b-breathe... h-help...!!"
The hand, watching this unfold, felt a mix of concern and amusement but ultimately decided to intervene. It transformed into a blue mist and merged with Kelvin's hair. For a few seconds, the hand's energy radiated from Kelvin's head, creating a faint aura around him. Then, to avoid prolonging the situation, the hand detached itself and reformed into its original shape. During that brief moment, the dryad sensed something strange emanating from Kelvin—though she couldn't pinpoint it, the odd sensation made her wary. Startled and cautious, she frowned and released Kelvin's neck. He collapsed to the ground, coughing violently. The dryad stared at him with a piercing, serious gaze, tinged with suspicion and caution.
"You will come with me... I must show you to our leader."
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
Kelvin remained trapped in the root cocoon, being dragged across the ground by the dryad. Strangely, this part of the forest seemed devoid of many animals or monsters. It appeared the dryads had firm control over this area. The few goblins they had encountered earlier were either incredibly brave or, more likely, incredibly foolish.
Meanwhile, the hand was talking to Kelvin, though he couldn't respond with his mouth bound by roots. Fortunately, the dryad couldn't hear the hand's words, which was a small mercy.
"Hmm... I can guess she's taking you to her superior. Because of the vague aura she sensed from you—well, from me, actually—she's confused and cautious. That means I succeeded in making you seem like more than just an ordinary suspicious case, enough for her to decide to hand you over to her leader."
Kelvin, still wrapped in roots, stared at the hand with wide, questioning eyes. Noticing his confusion, the hand continued:
"Dryads are known as protectors of nature and the ecosystem, originating from the plants themselves. They're also called spirits of superior trees. When a tree meets certain criteria, its plant spirit evolves, gaining a more dominant will and physical form as a dryad. They don't typically establish territories with governments, cities, or nations, but they're not solitary either. They live in small or large groups that are interconnected. Given that this forest seems special, this group must be one of the main ones, meaning the leader we're about to meet holds a high position in dryad society. So, be careful not to mess up, boy. You need to prove yourself to them somehow. Dryads are like a double-edged sword: as allies, they can be an amazing and excellent support for you; as enemies... well, to put it bluntly, they'll make your life hell."
Kelvin's face grew anxious and limp, despair creeping in as he heard the latter part of the hand's speech.
Just then, he noticed the dryad was heading toward a part of the forest where the vegetation and trees were incredibly dense. Even the small gaps between trees were filled with bushes and plants, forming a natural wall. When the dryad reached this barrier, she stopped, released the root rope attached to Kelvin, and placed both hands on the trunks of two trees in front of her, closing her eyes gently.
Kelvin, still bound and lying on the ground, watched the scene with curiosity and wonder. After a moment, waves of green energy flowed from the dryad's palms, spreading across the tree trunks and then to the other trees and bushes that formed the wall.
The hand, also watching, commented:
"It's a type of camouflage and cover. Interesting—she used her connection to nature to command the plants to remove the barrier."
The trees bent their branches and trunks to the left and right, and the bushes and plants followed suit, creating a hidden path through the natural wall. Kelvin was amazed by the sight.
*How fascinating...! Of course, the girl herself isn't fascinating; I mean what she did...*
The dryad slowly opened her eyes and turned to Kelvin. She grabbed the root rope again and dragged him behind her as they entered the newly created path.
*Ugh... what a situation... she's dragging me around like this, left and right... :/*
The hand, floating above Kelvin, briefly separated from him and sped toward the end of the path.
"I'll go ahead to see what's up. You keep getting dragged. Good luck... heh..."
*Tch...!!! She says it like if I have any choice...!!*
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A beautiful, enchanting tree stood before them, its trunk a blend of green and phosphorescent blue, with dark green energy veins visible within its bark. The leaves glowed a vibrant green. Small, human-like creatures with butterfly wings flitted around the tree, their appearances varied. The hand floated among them, observing the tree and a relatively large pond to the left.
"Annoying fairies... they don't seem fully grown yet. Oh! Finally, they're here."
The dryad entered the clearing, with Kelvin—now freed from the roots—walking behind her. The path closed behind them. The scene before Kelvin was breathtaking: the magical tree and the shimmering pond were surrounded by a fifty-meter clearing, encircled by a natural wall of trees. Besides the tree and pond, fairies flew around, and near the pond were several immature dryads. Unlike the one accompanying Kelvin, these young dryads had less human and more plant-like appearances, with wooden bodies and branch-like appendages on their limbs. Mature dryads, similar to Kelvin's companion, could be seen near the natural barrier.
Kelvin, mesmerized and rubbing his arms to shake off the numbness, felt compelled to speak to the dryad out of curiosity.
"This place is clearly hidden and important, based on what I've seen... but why show it to someone like me so easily? I thought you didn't trust me..."
The dryad, walking ahead, glanced at him sideways. Her tone remained cold, dry, serious, and distrustful.
"Don't misunderstand, human. You have only two fates: either you leave here if you gain our leader's trust, or you die. That's why there's no need to worry about what you mentioned."
Kelvin's anxiety spiked at her words, but he tried to control himself and not let his fear show.
The hand flew back to Kelvin and, upon reaching him, mimicked punching his forehead—though it passed right through. It hovered to his left, staring at him with a mischievous tone.
"I really wish I could gain a physical form and smack you on the head, heh!!! Anyway, pay attention. When we meet their leader, I won't be able to help you anymore. You'll have to use whatever skills you have. Gamble with everything you've got if you want to leave here alive."
Kelvin shot the hand a frustrated look but kept his thoughts to himself.
*Can you stop giving me all these tips??? You're just making me more anxious, you witch!!*
As the dryad and Kelvin passed the tree, the immature dryads hid behind it upon seeing him, and the fairies concealed themselves among the branches. The dryad finally reached the edge of the clearing, where several mature dryads stood near the natural wall. They appeared older and more evolved than her. One of them stepped forward, standing before the dryad and Kelvin. This one seemed male and more human-like. He glanced at the dryad, then at Kelvin, and after a brief pause, spoke. Meanwhile, Kelvin whispered to the hand.
"Interesting, there are males among them too."
The hand glanced at the two dryads conversing, then fixed its gaze on Kelvin.
"As I told you before, dryads are essentially spirits of special trees. To add more, they are spiritual beings without a fixed physical form initially. When they reach the stage of physical manifestation, they can choose a male or female body based on their personality and the role they've taken on, to better pursue their goals."
Kelvin nodded slightly, impressed by the information.
"Fascinating..." Then his tone became curious. "But I don't understand how you know so much when you say you don't remember your past, just like me. You know everything except about yourself?"
The hand paused, closing its eye for a moment before reopening it and breaking the silence.
"Don't misunderstand. I don't know everything. But it seems some information is still in my memory by default, like how you, despite your memory issues, still have the knowledge to speak and haven't lost that."
Kelvin sighed softly, a hint of jealousy in his expression.
"We're not on equal footing when I think about it. You still remember a lot. At least it's good that neither of us knows our names."
"True... It's interesting that my default memories or that strange inner feeling haven't told me my name."
On the other side, the two dryads were talking. The male dryad, who seemed more advanced, began the conversation.
"Anthea, why have you brought a human to this place?"
The dryad, now revealed to be named Anthea, paused before answering.
"The human I brought is different."
"Hmm...? Different how? Has he caused trouble like the humans who came a few days ago?"
Anthea shook her head to deny it.
"No, it's stranger than that. We can sense every movement, entry, and exit within the forest. You know that well."
The dryad raised an eyebrow, his tone questioning.
"Yes, I know. What's your point?"
Anthea's tone grew more serious.
"The point is, this human's presence appeared in the forest suddenly, in an instant. Even if he had teleported, I should have detected traces of magic or a rift in space due to the unnatural manipulation of energy frequencies. But this human appeared without any sign, as if he had suddenly come into existence."
The dryad, understanding the gravity of Anthea's words, realized why she had brought the human to meet their leader.
"Very well, based on your explanation, I understand. I'm even curious to know the answer behind this suspicious mystery. And only someone as knowledgeable as our leader can unveil the secret. Alright, we'll open the way quickly so you can go meet him. Just one thing—be aware that the same humans who caused trouble a few days ago reappeared today, insisting on meeting the leader. Eventually, the leader himself noticed and ordered us to bring them to him. I'm not saying for sure, but it's possible that their presence, especially that boy with them, has upset him. So, be extremely careful that this human doesn't make things worse."
Anthea nodded seriously and determinedly.
"I understand. Don't worry. I'll be very mindful of this."
She thanked the dryad and turned back to Kelvin.
"In a moment, we will go to meet the leader of the dryads. Be careful how you behave in his presence. After Queen Myra, he is the second senior guardian of the Shutojin Forest."
Kelvin, not understanding half of what Anthea said, pretended to grasp it fully to avoid angering her, nodding his head.
"Y-yes, I understand, of course..."
*I didn't understand at all; she just confused me more!!! Who is Myra? And why a queen? I still remember enough to know that kings and emperors are at the top, not queens!!! ... Wait, maybe she meant empress...?*
The dryads by the natural wall performed a similar action to Anthea's, creating a path through the barrier. Kelvin, the hand, and Anthea walked toward the newly opened way. As they proceeded, Kelvin recalled the hand's earlier words about an unknown entity sealing his memories with a curse.
*I don't get it... Why would someone seal the memories of someone like me? From what I've learned about myself in this short time, I'm nothing special, with no remarkable qualities. So why would anyone go to such trouble...? It doesn't make sense!!! What could I have possibly done? I don't even have the strength to hurt a fly!!!! If I ever find out who did this and track them down, I'll punch them right in the face!!! Do they even understand the headache, confusion, and terror of waking up in the middle of nowhere with no memory of your identity or past, and a creepy floating hand with one eye talking to you...?! Do they have any idea what that feels like?!*
Lost in his thoughts, cursing the universe, Kelvin didn't notice when they reached the end of the path. Only the serious, determined, and slightly angry voice of a young man snapped him back to reality. Curious and confused, he looked toward the source of the voice.
He saw a boy around his own age, seventeen or eighteen, with short white hair streaked with bright mint green. His back was turned, so his eyes were hidden. He wore a common adventurer's outfit, though slightly customized: a leather and fabric garment that served as both clothing and light armor, with long sleeves, a dark white color, black stitching, and some brown leather accents. A sword with a thinner, longer blade than usual hung in a sheath from his leather belt.
The person he was speaking to was clearly the leader of the dryads, as his appearance made that obvious. A tall man with long, wooden antlers branching from his head, he wore a cloak woven from vines and clothing made of plant fibers. His long, dark green hair and olive-green eyes complemented his authoritative, composed, and slightly stern expression. In his right hand, he held a wooden staff topped with a beautiful green gem.
Kelvin then took in the surroundings: a smaller version of the previous clearing, with an even more striking and beautiful tree at its center. Some of the tree's roots had emerged from the ground, forming a majestic throne-like seat, though the leader wasn't sitting on it; he stood, conversing with the boy.
Anthea, upon seeing the situation, held out her right hand to stop Kelvin from advancing and stood still herself. Like Kelvin, she listened to the ongoing conversation between their leader and the human.
???: "But I beg you, please agree...!!"
The leader of the dryads, standing before the boy, shook his head firmly and spoke in a calm but commanding voice, full of wisdom and awareness.
"I understand your situation well, human. As dryads, we are always eager to help in such matters. However, the issue is that they are not wanderers or strays. We cannot put the entire forest's inhabitants at risk for the sake of one person."
Noticing Anthea and Kelvin, the leader's attention shifted, and he turned his head toward them.
"Oh, Anthea, it's you. Tell me, what brings you here? Hmm... and who is that human with you?"
The boy, hearing the leader's words, also turned toward Anthea and Kelvin. His bright green eyes were now visible, and he stared at Kelvin with curiosity and surprise. Kelvin, equally astonished, stared back. The moment he saw the boy's face, a strange feeling washed over him, but it was so vague and unclear that it only left him more confused.
*Who is this guy...?*
(End)