17 One Long Way

Dawn has risen from the eastern horizon, the birds are starting to move. I haven't rested since yesterday, my eyes are very tired, I better sleep first on the hill where I train my archery. If I was too reckless, it might endanger my own life.

I leaned under the big tree and drank a sip of water. My eyes were getting tired, began to close slowly while looking at the big rock that Moin-Moin used to sit on when he saw me arching.

Instantly everything was dark ....

"Wait don't go, take me with you!"

"I'm so happy you're alive, I'm very happy, hiks ... hiks ..."

.....

"Prince Joe! Where have you been?"

"Put her in prison! She killed your people. King, not only that, he also killed my innocent friend and ... your first wife, the King, the Queen has been poisoned by her!"

"What are you saying, my son? My son, my son!"

"Hey wake up ... don't leave me! Heks ..."

"Guards, imprison her in the dungeon! Servant, quickly take the Prince to his room and call the healer, hurry!"

"Don't cry Moin-Moin, I'm fine."

"What, that kid is lying, I am innocent! King forgive me, please ...!"

....

"You've become prettier, Moin-Moin, how old are you?"

"Me? Of course 14 years, you too, right?"

"I don't know, I feel like this body is 14 years old, but ..."

"But what?"

"I'm not sure, it feels like I lived so long from hundreds of years ago."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't need to know, all you need to know is that I have been born since you were born."

"You're seducing me, huh? Unfortunately not cheesy."

"Hahaha, come after me if you dare!"

....

"What happened to you?"

"I ... I ... love you, will you be my boyfriend?"

"Not."

"Oh, I see."

"Not rejected."

"Is it true...."

....

"Promise yourself to live no matter what!"

"Don't say the same thing as my mother as if you were leaving."

"Promise!"

....

"Didn't I dream! Exactly?"

"Prince, take care of yourself and remember your promise, stay alive no matter what! I ... love ... you, my little prince ..."

"Moin-Moin ...."

oOo

Hhhh ... what is this, that dream again? Why did I dream about it the second time? It doesn't make sense, no ... it's just the past, but that scary ending never happened, is it possible ... no, don't think about things that haven't happened as if they're going to happen, I won't let it happen, I have to protect the Moin-Moin no matter what! But, I believe Moin-Moin is fine now in the palace. Well, I will carry out my job of finding the bidder as quickly as possible and survive for the Moin-Moin. Moin-Moin, wait for me!

I woke from a long sleep to very late, but the day was a good time to enter the dark forest. Wait, where's my horse? Did I forget to tie it? Ouch ... now I have to walk, the journey is getting longer.

***

Here comes the gate of the Forbidden Forest. Indeed, the gates are not concrete or fences, but black shadows that define the forbidden forest. I clearly saw the restriction right in front of my one footstep. I stared at him for a long time, the thing that is on my mind right now is will I come back? Life or death? No, is this the attitude of a prince? A true prince is a prince who is able to carry out his duties as a prince, even though his life is at stake. I am ready to face whatever will happen in the future, God protect me!

One step with a calm soul, what do I see? Nothing happened, shouldn't something strange have happened to me? It seems the same as the usual forest, the wind is stable it's just that in the daytime the forbidden forest is still dark.

I kept walking looking for the existence of the nail cave or the lake that Silmov Dan was talking about. It seems that there is still a long way to go, if only my horse didn't run I would not be exhausted. Pull yourself up Stefan, keep going!

Huh, wait I'm not strong, until when this trip is over, why is there only one road straight ahead, no turning right or left? How long have I been walking? Good thing I brought a little hanging clock from the palace. What? Have you changed the day? There's no way this clock must have been wrong, maybe it stopped ticking by 10 a.m., or was it true that I had been running for 20 hours? How could it be?

Huh, what's that shine? There is something shining like silver in front of my path. I took it, isn't this my necklace? How come it's here? Right, this is my necklace, it's gone on my neck. Then, why did this necklace fall here? In front of me? Is ... oh no, I understand now, it turns out that I kept walking on the same road for 20 hours, even though the atmosphere and location changed, but the path I took the same road, kept repeating. What is this, why is this? I monitored everything around me, there was no other way, suddenly all the forest around me grew thorns, only that long road I could pass. There must be something this forest has to say.

"Hey! Tell me, what do you want? Why do you keep playing with me? Open your barriers, I have more important things to do!" I shouted at the forbidden forest. Whether this forest listens or not, I'm sure he's spying on me.

"Ha ha ha ha...."

"Who is that?" I heard enormous laughter, but there was no one else but me here.

"Ha ha ha"

"Hey you, get out! Don't hide like a coward!" I said to the voice.

"Why can't I laugh? Isn't this an entertaining joke? Hahaha ..." said the voice teasing me.

"Who do you think is a joke?" I asked.

"Of course you are, Prince? Hahaha ... I'm not even sure you're a prince," said the voice again.

"It's none of your business, if you dare come out!" my challenge.

"Hahaha ... do you know who you are talking to? I am the forbidden forest, the black shadow forest full of mystery! Where everyone is afraid to enter because they know that this forest will not just let you go, everything depends on life or death, hahaha .. "Still he was being arrogant.

"I am a prince who is never afraid of death in carrying out a duty of loyalty to the kingdom and the people."

"You think you are someone who is doing the truth? Your action is right? Then you are wrong little boy, you have made a big mistake," said the forbidden forest without hesitation.

"What do you mean? You know nothing about our kingdom!"

"I know everything, you mean who you really are, hahaha ...."

"What do you mean? I told you I was a Prince!"

"You will know who you really are if you know what the purpose of the path you are taking! Hahah ...."

"No, don't laugh too much, hurry up and give me the way to the nail cave!" my orders.

"Well, I really like your strong determination, walk casually and enjoy your next challenge! Hahaha ..."

This would be his last laugh, the forbidden forest had opened the thorn tree encirclement and stabilized its path. Now I have to prepare for the next challenge.

***