Chapter 5 The Whispering Green

On the way to the city there is a week and a half travel. They had no horses and had to go on foot. They had to go through a mysterious forest before reaching the big city.

The forest breathed.

Not in the way creatures did, but in a slow, ancient rhythm—leaves shifting, roots settling, branches creaking as if the land itself were stretching after a long sleep. Sunlight filtered through layers of green, dimmed by towering canopies that had grown undisturbed for centuries. The air was cool and damp, heavy with the scent of moss, bark, and distant rain.

Three travelers walked beneath the towering trees.

The one in front moved almost silently. His name is owl, short and fluffy, his gray-silver fur blending naturally with the shadows of the woods. His ears stood alert atop his head, swiveling at every faint sound. Each step was careful but unafraid, claws kept sheathed as he followed a winding path barely
visible beneath layers of fallen leaves. A curved staff hung at his hip, its handle worn smooth from use.

“This forest doesn’t like loud things,” he said quietly, without turning around.

Behind him, the nya nodded, adjusting the strap of her pack. She was smaller, quicker, her movements light and curious rather than cautious. Her ears twitched with interest as birds darted overhead, and her tail swayed gently as she walked. Unlike the others, her eyes lingered on glowing mushrooms at the base of trees and on strange carvings half-swallowed by roots.

she replied” maybe i can cook some of these mushrooms?”

The third traveler walked several paces behind them.

The Kenji was human, broad-shouldered and quiet, his armor dulled by age and battle. Scratches marked his breastplate, and the hilt of his sword rose over his shoulder. His boots pressed firmly into the earth, each step deliberate. He didn’t look up at the canopy or into the brush. His gaze stayed forward, locked on the path ahead.

They continued deeper into the woods. The path narrowed, forcing them closer together. Thick vines draped from branches like curtains, and roots twisted across the ground, some as wide as walls. In places, the forest floor glimmered faintly, speckled with bioluminescent spores that shimmered when disturbed.

The nya crouched briefly, examining a symbol carved into a stone half-buried in dirt. “These markings,” she said, brushing away moss. “They’re old. Way older than the border towns.”

A distant howl echoed through the trees—not sharp, not enraged, but deep and resonant. It rolled through the forest like a warning carried on the wind.

The owl slowed, raising a hand. “We’re not alone.”

The warrior’s hand moved instantly to his sword hilt.

From the brush to their left came movement. Leaves shifted. A pair of glowing eyes appeared briefly, then vanished. Whatever watched them chose not to attack, but it did not leave either.

“Something is following us,” nya whispered.

“Yes,” said the owl. “And it’s smart.”

They reached a clearing where the trees pulled back slightly, allowing pale sunlight to spill onto a circle of stone. In the center stood an ancient marker—cracked, leaning, and wrapped in ivy.

The path split here.

One trail curved downward into mist, where the ground disappeared into fog. The other climbed upward, narrow and rocky, winding between twisted trees whose branches clawed at the sky.

The forest grew quiet.

Too quiet.

The warrior Kenji frowned as he came to a halt.

This forest hadn’t been here the last time he traveled this road.

Did the path change…?

He glanced over his shoulder. Nya and Owl followed close behind, their steps hesitant. They were still novices—a fledgling warrior and a mage with little real experience outside of training grounds.

Kenji hesitated, then spoke.
“Do you guys want to head back before something happens?”

Both of them shook their heads without a second thought.

Nya stepped forward, her tail swaying with excitement.
“Since we’ve already come this far, we might as well keep going! And this place looks so fun to explore!”

She bounced on her feet, unable to hide her excitement. This was her first real adventure, after all.

Owl simply nodded, adjusting his grip on his staff.

Kenji let out a slow sigh.
“…Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

They continued along the winding path as the wind whispered through the trees. Gradually, the thick mist ahead began to part, revealing a towering stone gate.

Nya’s eyes widened.

She dropped onto all fours and sprinted toward it, her excitement overflowing.
“Lookie what we have here!”

She hopped in place, eyes sparkling.

Owl approached more cautiously and placed his paw against the cold stone.
“This gate is extremely old… and poorly maintained.”

As he brushed away layers of dirt and moss, Kenji looked up and noticed a carving above the gate—a tiger beneath a crescent moon.

Kenji’s brow furrowed.
I’ve never seen a symbol like this…

After circling the gate once more, he turned back to them.
“Let’s go inside.”

They passed beneath the archway.

Beyond it lay a village—silent, overgrown, and frozen in time. Rows of abandoned houses stood wrapped in vines. Every structure was made entirely of stone. No wood. No signs of repair.

Owl’s eyes scanned the surroundings, filled with curiosity.
“How did they transport and shape stone on this scale…?”

Even the furniture inside the homes—tables, chairs, stoves—was carved from stone.

What unsettled them most was how sudden the abandonment felt.

Clothes still hung out to dry. Rotten food remained on tables. A small stone doll lay discarded in the dirt.

Kenji’s hand tightened on his sword.
“…Looks like they left in a hurry.”

Owl nodded silently.

Nya wandered toward the doll and carefully picked it up. She turned it over, revealing a name carved into its back.

Cathy.

Her expression softened.
What happened here…?

At the far end of the village stood another stone gate.

As they neared it—

Grrrrr…

A low growl echoed behind them.

Kenji turned sharply.

A pack of wolves emerged from the mist. Thin. Starving. Their eyes burned with desperation.

Kenji drew his blade in one smooth motion.

Owl stepped in front of Nya, raising his curved staff.

The first wolf lunged.

Kenji sidestepped effortlessly, his sword flashing. The wolf fell in two pieces before it even hit the ground.

Three more closed in around him.

Kenji smirked.
“Heh… pups.”

They attacked at once.

Kenji’s sword began to glow.

“Triple Slash.”

Three blades of light tore through the air.

The wolves collapsed almost instantly.

Owl stared, stunned.
“…He used a skill. I couldn’t even follow the movement.”

Blood stained the ground.

Nya’s breath hitched.

Her vision blurred as memories surged back—screams, fear, helplessness. Her body trembled, her legs refusing to move.

She was frozen.

Owl noticed—but then another wolf broke away from the pack, charging straight toward them.

“Tch—!”

Owl raised his staff and began chanting.
“Fireball!”

A sphere of flame burst forward, engulfing the wolf in fire.

Kenji finished off the remaining wolves and gave Owl a quick thumbs-up.

Owl turned back to Nya and gently placed a paw on her back.
“It’s okay. It’s over now. You’re safe.”

But Nya couldn’t respond.

Kenji walked over, letting out a tired sigh.
“At this rate, becoming an adventurer is going to be rough.”

Nya slowly looked up, tears clinging to her eyes.

“Is that dream of yours really that small?” Kenji continued.

“N-no… but…” her voice trembled.

Kenji shook his head.

“If you want to walk this path, you need to toughen up. I can teach you the basics—but for class-specific skills, you’ll need to find a proper teacher.”

Nya swallowed hard… then nodded.

Owl helped her to her feet and smiled gently.

“Take it slow. I know you can become a great adventurer.”

Nya wiped her eyes, gripping the stone doll a little tighter.

Her journey had only just begun.

The village returned to silence.

Only the crackle of dying embers and the faint rustle of wind through stone corridors remained.

Kenji wiped his blade clean and slid it back into its sheath. His gaze swept the area once more before finally relaxing—just a little.

“We’ll rest here,” he said. “Moving while shaken gets people killed.”

Owl nodded and began setting up a small camp near the remains of a collapsed stone house. He traced a simple rune into the ground, murmuring under his breath. A faint shimmer spread outward—an alarm spell.

Nya watched quietly.

They’re so calm…
Like this is normal.

Her hands were still trembling, though she tried to hide it by clutching the stone doll tighter.

Kenji noticed anyway.

He crouched in front of her, resting his arms on his knees.
“You don’t need to force yourself to be okay.”

Nya flinched slightly.

“I…” Her voice came out thin. “I thought I was ready. I really did.”

Kenji studied her for a long moment.

“Fear doesn’t mean you’re weak,” he said. “Freezing does.”

The words were blunt—but not cruel.

“What matters is whether you move next time.”

Nya swallowed hard and nodded.