It was a bright day. Light poured all over the forest, giving everything a gentle glow. The stream was pure, clear enough for one to see their reflection as the water flowed. The air was cool and comforting, and the creatures of the forest seemed relaxed and at peace. There was no sense of hostility anywhere. The atmosphere was simply vibrant.
Deep within the forest of the Radiant Kingdom, a lady dressed in a hooded cloak, covered from head to toe, walked around with a bag of treats while petting the animals around her as though they were harmless creatures. Fierce and gentle creatures alike allowed her to approach them.
Most of the animals seemed familiar with her and were friendly toward her. From the gentler creatures to some of the fierce beasts in the forest, it was as though they had gathered to welcome her or grant her audience.
She played with them, petted them, and fed them one after another with her treats. After receiving their share, each animal returned to its spot or settled close to her.
At one of the exits of the forest, marking the boundary between the Wave Kingdom and the Radiant Kingdom, a male wanderer passed through. He was of average height, with black hair and light brown skin. A backpack hung from his shoulders, and his clothing was simple.
He was drawn in by the harmony of everything within the forest.
The flow of the water, the soothing breeze against his skin, the gentle rustling of the leaves, and the swaying grass all seemed to blend together. He could hear the sounds of animals around him, though he didn't encounter any. He assumed some of them might be hostile or fierce.
He wandered around, seeking answers as to why and how the forest possessed such energy. He had never sensed anything like it, not even among humans or the Kingdoms he had visited or was coming from.
It was difficult for him to believe the sensation he was feeling. It was almost like a dream. Or perhaps heaven. As he walked farther into the forest, the sensation intensified. It became harder for him to ignore, yet somehow easier to accept. With every step, the purity, harmony, and satisfaction he felt seemed to grow stronger.
He continued wandering into the forest, hoping to find the cause of this heavenly radiance and perhaps an exit toward the Radiant Kingdom. But somewhere along the way, he became lost. Then thirsty. Eventually, exhaustion settled in after the long stroll and the many detours he had taken.
He looked around for a stream to quench his thirst and fill his empty water sack. He climbed one of the trees for a better view of the area, hoping it would aid his search.
Fortunately, he found one not too far from his location. He jumped down in relief and rushed toward it without paying much attention to his surroundings.
Upon reaching the stream, he squatted down to drink. But just before he could take a sip, he noticed a group of animals gathered on the other side, a short distance away.
He thought it was strange that he hadn't encountered any animals while wandering through the forest. Perhaps this was the reason.
He wondered why they had gathered like that. Playing ignorant, he told himself it was probably the birth of a wildcat cub or something equally special. He doubted they were having a meeting or a get-together.
He looked closely from his position but sensed no hostility or bloodlust from them. Because of that, he chose to ignore the gathering. There was no negative feeling coming from it. If anything, there was warmth. He thought it wise not to intrude.
Losing interest in the abnormality of their gathering, he assumed the forest's energy might have a similar effect on both animals and humans. It had overwhelmed him with comfort and only made him more curious about its source.
When he finished drinking and filling his water sack, he stood up, ready to leave and continue searching for an exit toward the Radiant Kingdom.
He was still hoping to discover the cause of the sensation he felt when he heard a gentle, soothing chuckle. The chuckle echoed pleasantly through his ears, different from the sounds of the trees and animals around him. It was so unexpected that he found it hard to believe it was real.
He thought he was simply hearing things. Being away from ladies and not encountering one for a while had probably started making him hear things. He ignored the sound and was about to continue his search when he heard it again.
“Men! I must be losing it. I guess the forest doesn't just emit comfort... Or maybe this is the side effect of wandering across Kingdoms and not hanging around long enough to keep company.”
“If I make it out of here... I must talk to a lady. And maybe, with some luck, I might not end up losing it.”
He whispered in disappointment at his circumstances, thinking he was hearing things, while hoping that running into a lady might save him from insanity.
“Malfred! C'mon, stop... Hah-hah... Be a good boy... Hah-hah... I've given out all the treats I have...” The hooded lady chuckled as the kitten of the wildcat licked her hand.
Upon hearing that, he realized the voice wasn't in his head. His imagination certainly wouldn't have come up with a lady petting him like an animal and calling him Malfred as a name.
At that moment, he was sure the voice had come from somewhere in the forest. He turned to confirm whether someone was nearby, or perhaps the forest really was putting strange thoughts into his head.
He looked around from where he stood, trying to sense whether there was anyone else nearby. But he couldn't detect any trace of human energy. All he could sense was the radiant energy of the forest.
He couldn't trace it to a source. The energy seemed scattered throughout everything within the forest. He could also sense the distinct energy of the animals, mixed with that of the forest. That made him realize they were no ordinary creatures. With that in mind, he decided not to make contact unless necessary, while concealing his presence.
However, among the distinct energies of all the creatures in the forest, he sensed one that felt different. It was somewhat familiar. But he couldn't recall anyone or anything he knew that possessed such energy.
The sensation seemed to be coming from the gathered animals on the other side of the stream. He walked back toward the stream to satisfy his curiosity. Perhaps seeing the source of the energy would jog his memory.
His priority shifted from finding the source of the voice to investigating the familiar energy. He couldn't see much from where he stood. The energy of the animals and the radiant energy of the forest seemed to be everywhere.
“Now, that's a sight for sore eyes...” He almost felt like crying just from the view.
“I can't help but wonder how yours would look.” He admired the sight before him, curious about what the source of the familiar energy looked like.
He walked a little closer, crossing the stream without making a sound. His presence remained concealed from everything around him.
He took cover behind a tree a few meters from the gathering.
Up close, he realized the animals weren't simply gathering. Some were resting. Others were being petted. Then he caught sight of the source of the familiar energy. Someone in hooded clothing.
He couldn't see the person's face, but he knew it was a lady from the hands he saw petting the animals. And as he had hoped, her energy seemed even more radiant than the others.
At that moment, he knew it was her voice he had heard. The gathering of the animals and the way they wrapped themselves around her suddenly made sense. Like the forest and its creatures, her presence was alluring and warm. But unlike them, there was something innocent and pure about her.
He believed it was only natural for creatures with good instincts and senses to find her alluring, especially mystical creatures. He found her presence enchanting. Yet he was disturbed by the fact that all he could see was her hood and the shadow covering her face.
He peeked from behind the tree, which wasn't too far from them. He wanted to move closer, hoping for a better view of her face. Perhaps it would help quench the strange sense of familiarity building within him. But she was surrounded by animals, both gentle creatures and fierce beasts alike.
Getting closer might cause unwanted trouble if they spotted him. Concealing his presence only prevented others from sensing or becoming aware of him. It didn't conceal his physical form. In most cases, that wouldn't be much of an issue. Unless she saw him.
The worst-case scenario would be her developing a bad impression of him. But considering the company she kept, a negative reaction from her could prove detrimental. If the animals sensed her fear or hostility, they might become hostile as well. That could ruin the harmony of everything around them. Because of that, he chose to keep watch from above, using the trees as his guard posts and cover.
He listened to her gentle and sincere voice, stealing glances at her as she hummed. He placed little concern on why her energy seemed so familiar or how strange that familiarity was. For the moment, he simply allowed himself to get lost in her heavenly tones.
Eventually, the heat and brightness of the afternoon began to fade. It was getting dark. The lady noticed the change in the weather and realized she had to leave soon. Most of the animals had already returned to their spots, marking their territories and homes.
Now, she was alone. Knowing she didn't have much time before darkness fell, she walked toward the stream. The wanderer followed. She washed her hands, removing the dirt from them, then washed her legs before dusting off her clothes and cape. She stood afterward, feeling the breeze as it blew through the forest.
A slightly stronger gust nearly blew the hood from her head. The wanderer felt a brief moment of excitement. Perhaps the breeze had come to his aid. But his hopes were quickly disappointed. She reacted almost instantly, catching the edge of her hood before it could fall away.
The wanderer stared in disappointment at how good her reflexes were. He jumped to another tree branch, hoping to at least gain a better view than the one he currently had. Her back was all he could see. But when he jumped to grab hold of the branch, it broke. He fell. He landed hard on his buttocks before hitting the back of his head against the tree.
“Ahh! Men, it hurts!” He groaned as he lay on the ground, rubbing his head with one hand while using the other to rub his aching backside.
The fall clearly hadn't done much to him. She heard the sound of the broken branch and turned around to see what had happened. Then she saw him. For a few moments, she froze.
She had been frightened by the sudden noise and the sight of a stranger falling from a tree. Yet, for some reason, she felt concerned.
Was he alright? She was about to take a step forward to check on him when she noticed how relaxed he was. He acted as though the fall had barely affected him.
She paused. Then took a few steps back.
Suddenly, she turned and rushed away from him, pulling the edge of her hood farther over her face. For a few seconds, she had seen his face. And something about him had drawn her attention. But his reaction to the fall was far too relaxed for an ordinary person. It made her uneasy.
His clothing was also strange, unlike anything she would expect from a citizen of the Radiant Kingdom. There was no time to think about it. It was already getting dark. If she didn't want trouble, she needed to leave. She ignored everything else, crossed the stream, and hurried away.
