A Trap?

The incident happened so fast. All the blood in his body seemed to move to the head and gather there.

It made him feel extremely excruciating pain. The blood vessels inside his head kept beating violently.

Jonathan groaned and slowly reopened his eyes.

His vision was still blurred and unclear.

However, the greenish light that greeted him slowly absorbed his pain.

The light was warm, and when he noticed longer... It turned out that the light came from an orb the size of a firefly that glowed at the tip of the Forest Dryad's index finger.

"What happened to me?" Jonathan forced his body to get up. He can't remember how he ended up lying down on dry forest soil.

The forest dryad looked into Jonathan's eyes with an expression that Jonathan could not read.

A typical expression of a woman. It turned out that it was not just the woman from Mortals who was challenged to understand what she wanted.

"How do you feel, Morting?" the forest dryad asked, ignoring Jonathan's question. Her voice this time was a whisper. But it still sounds like a beautiful humming.

"Me?" Jonathan pointed to his own face before grimacing as the pain in his head struck again. "Messed up."

Jonathan looked around. Everything looks dark. The forest was really like a terrifying place.

Occasionally there was the howl of night animals shouting at each other.

Jonathan was used to the sounds. The foxes.

The eerie howling sound of the fox seemed to give Jonathan a flashback of his memories before ending up in his current miserable position.

"She hit me hard right on my fucking face," Jonathan murmured, finally remembering.

It was Black Rose who made him end miserably. He didn't expect a fairy to have terrifying physical strength. But,

"Where are they?" Jonathan remembered that he didn't come alone to the forest.

And despite turning his head many times to search for the whereabouts of Black Rose and Nerissa, he still didn't succeed.

"Sshhhh calm down, Morting. This is a sacred place. Don't wake the night creatures up." Forest Dryad brought her face closer to Jonathan.

She looked beautiful and radiant, like a moon above the sky, sharing its light with her.

Jonathan held his breath. He faintly smelled a fresh fragrance that reminded him of the aromatic sea salt and sandalwood candles from the woman's body.

"Where are they?" Jonathan was still focused on his question. The forest dryad raised his face, straightened his back again, and then stretched his right hand to Jonathan.

"I'll take you with me." The woman said, her tone sounding a little forced.

Jonathan doubted, of course. So far, none of the good immortal creatures he had ever encountered. Except for Black Rose, of course.

And even though that forest dryad looks like an angel who descended to earth and got lost in the forest, still... Jonathan didn't want to be fooled.

"Just tell me where they are. Have you done something bad to them?" asked Jonathan suspiciously.

The forest dryad stared at Jonathan for a few seconds, still silent. Her two beautiful green-lensed eyes were rounded. And the next second, she laughed. "Ha ha ha ha."

The laughter was very beautiful and made her look even more stunning, perfect.

Jonathan swallowed his saliva. Feeling that now he knows how angels face when laughing.

"They are fine. They are in the safest and best place in this sacred forest." Explained the forest dryad with a voice that sounded a little offended.

She then hid her outstretched hands behind her back. "Well, if you don't want to go with me now. Maybe you'll never see the two of them again, Morting." said forest dryad.

Jonathan exhaled a long breath. He already had no other choice. Moreover, although his first encounter with the forest dryad was laughable, at least they did not meet in the fight.

"Take me with you." Jonathan said and then stood up on his feet.

His head was still painful and throbbing strangely. But he can stand firmly without stumbling.

The forest dryad smiled slightly and then nodded. Her ornamental dress of plants and flowers was too long and dragged above the ground. Sweeping away dead leaves.

Jonathan walked to follow the woman. It was easy to walk behind her because twelve glowing fireflies were flying around the forest dryad. Provided light in the dark.

Continuing to walk without knowing where he was heading, Jonathan was sure they had been walking long enough.

His legs are starting to ache, but so far... The Forest Dryad did not say anything during the journey.

Only occasionally humming beautifully.

"So, how far is that place again?" asked Jonathan, clearing his throat. His throat felt dry.

"You'll know when it's close." Jonathan frowned.

"Actually, how long did I stay unconscious? How did the two of them go so far?"

"Not so long. Only the two of them were fast because I gave them a ride." The forest dryad replied, looking back and smiling at Jonathan.

"Ride in the forest?" repeated Jonathan incomprehensibly.

"So Morting, what's special about you? How can you see me? Are you a wizard?" the Forest Dryad suddenly changed the subject.

"No. I'm not a wizard. I'm just a mortal." Jonathan replied confidently. One thing he believed very much.

"Ordinary humans can't see us. Forest dryad, baby fairy. You must have something on your body. I can feel it. It's just that it's too vague. I can't detect what it is." The forest dryad sounded serious.

Her voice sounded calm, and the aura emanating from her also felt thicker than before.

Jonathan didn't know what to say. The words from the woman made him think of his bloodline status again.

Unknown.

This time he thought about it again and doubted his previous beliefs.

"I am just a human," Jonathan murmured. His voice was not as straightforward as just now because of the doubt that enveloped his heart.

The forest dryad chuckled.

However, she didn't say anything and hummed again.

During the journey, Jonathan could not get rid of thoughts of his true self.

So far, he has grown up as an ordinary human being, of course. But, how could he answer that forest dryad question if he was indeed a human?

There was a faint humming sound of singing, which instantly made Jonathan get goosebumps at where he was standing.

The voice grew louder and louder as he continued to walk following the forest dryad.

The singing voice was very compact and beautiful, like an orchestra but in the forest.

When Jonathan tried to look further, many fireflies flew in front of it as if forming a red carpet-like path in the world of Hollywood.

The atmosphere instantly turned extremely calming. It was very peaceful, and the air felt much warmer than before.

"Here we are." The forest dryad said in a proud tone. Shifted to give way to Jonathan.

Far before him was a giant tree with a trunk diameter of more than ten meters, and Jonathan was sure he had never seen it before.

The fireflies flew around the tree, upwards towards its thick branches and leaves.

Suddenly, Jonathan felt that his heart skipped a beat.

"No! What have you done?"