Chapter 3

"At least those options will keep us from being spotted… I'll like to avoid direct confrontation, if I can, in order to later utilize this situation... and to avoid bloodshed" he thought to himself.

"Oh… Okay, then I think we should go with option one… There is another route to the kingdom not too far from here"

"Okay… but are you sure about this… I mean, we barely know each other… I could be a smuggler, an assassin or lunatic for all you know… Showing me a secret path could pose a threat to the kingdom"

"C'mon, it's not like am an idiot, I know what it means, but the path is not one, anyone can just pass through… besides the only reason am suggesting such is because you're still in one piece"

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing much just that the animals would have devoured you, if you were any of what you previously mentioned"

"Now, that's not something you hear often"

"Don't worry, so long as I am here, I'll protect you, all you have to do is stay close... okay" she whispered unconscious of her exact words, as she assured him of protection in the forest, after she heard his response, while thinking she might had scared him with the animals devouring him business.

"Close, huh? That shouldn't be a problem" he responded smiling, amused by her choice of words, while intrigued, she was as her energy exhibit her to be.

She smiled not sure of how to react to his words, while thinking how her words might seem childish to him, since she knew there was a high chance he could easily move pass the group ahead, without getting spotted, due to how fast he moved, avoiding the snakes on the trees. But instead, he chose to stay with her and aid her in hiding. She thought he was just humoring her, not seeing the excitement in his eyes.

After the boss of the group had let off some steam, he went back to the rock he sat on, asking one of his subordinate about the time they were given, as regards to when the person they were waiting for would be leaving the forest. The subordinate responded saying, it has been few minutes passed the time, they were told. He squeezed his mouth, gathering saliva then spit it out, frustrated about the report.

"Boss, why don't we just go into the forest and just seek her out… I mean that will be easier than waiting around here, since the information doesn't seem to be reliable"

"What did you just say? Have you seen how huge the forest is…? Searching for her will be impossible, we'll just get lost… Besides the forest is like her second home…"

"Capturing her will be all too difficult, if not impossible and her friends in the forest won't make it possible to even touch her not to talk of carrying out the mission… She knows the forest all too well… and there is still the issue of the mystery of the forest itself to deal with" the boss said, with a relatively high voice, and a disturbing look on his face, as he gave a full analysis as to why going to the forest was not an option, answering his subordinate question.

Upon hearing that his subordinates felt out of place, which made them recall the tales of the forest, as that of how the forest serve as one of the protecting barrier that fends off enemy kingdoms, and any invaders. While recalling how many people they themselves had witness going in, but never came out.

"Am surrounded with idiots!"

"Do you all not think before you talk? Or do you just think of the worst ways of getting to me, then you do it!" the boss continued, enrage by his subordinate propose suggestion. Thinking they were just trying to get to him, since he knew they were aware of the circumstance of them staking the hoody lady out, as that of the myth of the forest.

His voice was a bit on high pitch, the wanderer and the lady could hear their discussion from where they hid with little to no problem, which led them to know their intent, and why they remain at their spot with no interest in entering the forest.

The wanderer suspected the lady could be the one they were after, since he doubts anyone would go through such little trouble for him, and the fact of her concealing her face with a cape and hood, made it obvious. But now he knew for sure it was her, since no one knew of him coming to the kingdom, and the description of the person mentioned, fits her a bit too well.

Based on what he heard, he had a better grass of the situation, why she behaved the way she did, when she saw him. And that made him realized that this probably wasn't the first time, something like this had happened to her, it made him concern. Wondering what kind of world she has been living in, but showed no sign of what he knew, nor his concern. He pretended to have no clue of what they were talking about, he ignored it, like he heard nothing, instead he continued with their plan of escape.

"Since, they are a bit distracted, we should use this window of opportunity to leave to the exit"

"Oh… Yes… I'll lead the way" she responded surprised, wondering if he heard what was said, or figured out what was happening, since he seemed to be sharp. But his words threw her off. She couldn't tell what was on his mind instead she just acted on impulse.

They crawled further into the forest to avoid being spotted by the group. They stood once they had kept a distance from the forest exit, and had enough trees and bushes to cover them from being seen. They walked within the forest, heading west, as she led the way to the route she mentioned, while the wanderer walked alongside her.

They walked further in, over few minutes and the tension she felt, due to whether or not he knew this was all her fault, had started fading. Making her more attentive to the current situation. As they walked, she noticed, she couldn't hear his footsteps as he walked beside her, while recalling that neither the animals, nor her noticed his present in the forest, or on the trees. And even when he fell the animals didn't react to him, or seemed too had noticed his present, which should be impossible for them.

At the very least she believe they would had at least caught his scent, but instead it was, as if he didn't exist; a ghost. She wondered, if he had been in the forest before now, because that would explain why his scent or present didn't draw any attention to the animals. But since he doesn't seem to know his way around the forest, she doubts it. She pondered and became filled with curiosity, each step opened doors to new questions about the person who had come to her aid.

She analyzed him, judging by what she had seen or observed; his dressing was simple but of a different attire to the ones in the Radiant kingdom. One can conclude his a traveler with that, but his skills and sharpness doesn't seem to be that of a regular traveler, merchant or that of an ordinary soldier. She wondered who and what his status was, while she steal glances of him. He was amused by the change of event, considering this to be an opportunity to get to know her, He thought of how to approach the situation.

"So, what brought a lady like you to this presume mystical forest, if you don't mind me asking, mam?"

"Huh?"

"I don't mean to pry, but am just curious as to why a lady would pick a place like this to visit without any form of escort… especially one that is miles away from the kingdom… although the sight here is to die for, but still I wonder" he said, relaying his curiosity to her, as that of the oddity of her being in the forest alone, with hope of starting a discussion, as he placed his arms backward, with one holding the other.

His voice was settle, but had the stain of worry, as he uttered each words. She wasn't able to tell, if he was concern about her, or otherwise, due to his facial expression, which was relaxed, but she felt his voice craved not just answers, nor was just asking out of curiosity. But something she couldn't place her finger on. Observing the hint of stain in his voice, she became hesitant to reply, and her curiosity as to who he was, and if he heard what the group was talking about Wavered.

"Hmm… It's a bit complicated"

"Oh… I see…"

"What about you? I can't help but notice that you're not from the Kingdom"

"… What gave you that idea?"

"Well… For one your attire doesn't seem to be one from the Radiant kingdom…"

"And you know this how exactly? If you don't mind me asking, because it will be weird if you say something cliché, like you've seen or know all the attires in the kingdom…"

"Most of the attire in the kingdom, if not all have a certain distinct marking, but yours is just plain and the quality is somewhat different"

"Okay, but are you by chance a merchant?"

"Not exactly, but there is still the issue of your traveling bag, and water sack which is used by most traveler… and it seems you're not familiar with the tales of the forest, which would explain why you're here with little to no actual fear…"

"Hm… I can't dispute that… but the bag and sack are very common, due to its durability and cost… but a bag is still a bag, you can't just tag one label on it… Besides farmers and other workers tend to use it to carry tools or items for distant work… which the forest in this case is one that would require such, won't you agree?"

"So, are you saying you're a farmer? Because every farmer knows better than to enter the forest… They even consider it to be suicide"

"I didn't say I was anything… you're the one jumping to conclusions" he replied with humor facing her, amused by the sound of her voice and their word play, while she felt a bit confuse as to how he was countering her.

She paused for a moment, taking a breather, while feeling a bit out matched and knew responding would only prolong the issue, since he seemed to have a counter for each question. It seemed like he was not answering or avoiding her questions, but just elaborating on the points, which he formulate questions from. She felt like he was schooling her, however for some reason she wasn't really angry or frustrated by his method of diversion.

Instead she found it quite engaging, it was like she was debating with an old friend, which made her wonder why it felt so, as that of why she felt a level of familiarity with the person before her, one that she was sure she had never met before. Recalling the past event; when he fell from the tree, how she felt as that of when he grabbed her. The comfort she felt in his arms, her sense of curiosity and confusion, with that of the mixed feelings she had, made her look clueless while facing him.

"Dare I say you look stunning even when confuse… it's quite the sight… However… To answer your question… it's because I was just curious about the forest and was a bit drawn by the energy it emits" he stated ending their squabble, answering her question in a calm and relaxed tone, with his face and eyes filled with a spark of sincerity.

His words blew a breeze of familiarity to her. She felt like she had heard those exact words before. She paused for a moment, wondering where she had heard it. But couldn't recall.