The dream repeated again and again every night, and I could barely focus on my studies because of it.
One day, I told Harton about my dream, and he suggested I go. He said if I didn't, the dream would keep repeating.
So, I planned to go this weekend, just the two of us.
"Are you ready?" Harton asked, his voice filled with anticipation. "Did you bring anything?"
"Well, yeah, I have a knife for protection," I said, pulling it out of my bag.
"By the way, thank you for coming with me."
"Of course," Harton replied, his gaze unwavering. "
I don't want you to go alone in that forest. It's dangerous."
We started walking deep into the woods, the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of leaves.
We encountered a lot of wild animals, but they didn't hurt us.
It was as if the forest itself was guiding us, protecting us.
The air grew cooler, the scent of pine and damp earth filling our lungs.
The forest was alive, pulsing with an ancient energy that sent shivers down my spine.
I couldn't shake the feeling that I was on the verge of something extraordinary, something that would change my life forever.
And Harton, with his unwavering support and his gentle, reassuring presence, was walking beside me, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
We continued deeper into the woods, our footsteps silent on the soft earth.
The trees grew taller and closer together, their branches intertwining overhead, forming a leafy cathedral.
The air grew thick with the scent of moss and decaying leaves, and the sunlight faded, leaving us in a world of shadows and whispers.
I felt a sense of foreboding, a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. The forest was beautiful, but it was also dangerous.
I knew that. But I was determined to find the deer, to find the emerald crystal, to find the answers I was searching for.
And I knew that Harton would be there with me, every step of the way.
We walked on, deeper and deeper into the heart of the Enchanted Forest.
"It says that he will be waiting at the golden tree, but we've been walking for almost an hour, and we can't find it," I said, catching my breath.
"This forest is the biggest of all forests," Harton said calmly. "Don't expect that we'll find it soon."
"We should stop here and continue tomorrow," he said, his voice firm.
"I'll build our camp and make a fire. You will rest here, okay?"
"What, no! I'll make a fire," I insisted, feeling a surge of determination.
Harton started building a camp, and I began to gather kindling and twigs.
Minutes passed, and Harton had finished building the camp, but I was still struggling to get the fire going.
"Zerah, I'm done, and you're still making a fire?" Harton said, giggling.
"Hey, it's not that easy, you know," I said, puffing out my cheeks.
"Let me do it," Harton offered. "You're doing it wrong."
I reluctantly handed him the kindling and watched as he effortlessly built a roaring fire. He was so good at it, so confident. And he was so cute.
I didn't know why, but maybe being close to him these past few days had made me see him in a new light.
"Wow, Harton, you're really good at that," I said, a smile spreading across my face.
"It's done," he said, grinning.
"Here, let's have dinner and go get some rest."
He handed me my food, and we ate together, the warmth of the fire reflecting in our eyes.
I couldn't stop thinking about my feelings. It was like my stomach was having something that I'd never felt before.
A fluttery, confused, but undeniably happy feeling.
After we ate, we got ready for sleep. Harton drifted off first, his breathing slow and even.
I stared at him for a long time, my heart pounding in my chest. He looked so peaceful, so innocent.
I felt a wave of protectiveness wash over me. I wanted to keep him safe, to protect him from everything.
I closed my eyes, and the forest sounds lulled me to sleep. The deer, the emerald crystal, the golden tree. The dreams were still there, but they felt less insistent now, less urgent.
Maybe, just maybe, I was finally starting to find my way.
"Young lady!" Oh no, that dream again. It leads the way, it's close by, but I hesitate to disturb him.
Perhaps I should venture there alone. Departing from Harton, I make my way towards the golden tree.
As I approach, the familiar deer from my dreams appears.
I trail behind, struggling to keep pace as he swiftly moves. At one point, I nearly lose my way, but eventually, I arrive at my destination.
Behind the grand mansion, a colossal golden tree stood, its immense size dwarfing even the mansion itself. Unlike any ordinary tree, it glowed with an ethereal light, illuminating the surrounding dark forest. This towering tree, the tallest in the area, cast its golden radiance upon a landscape of crystal-clear waters and unseen flowers. Despite its breathtaking beauty, this hidden paradise remained elusive to Harton and me, its location concealed from our sight.
Among all the trees, this one shines brightly in the darkness.
"Young lady, I am glad that you came."
"Huh, the tree is talking!"
"Behind you, turn around."
My eyes widen as I spin around,
"Oh, hi! So, you're the deer from my dreams?"
This deer is enormous, just like everything else in this place. I feel so small, so insignificant. I hate it.
"Because that is the only thing I could communicate with you," the deer explains.
"The day you came here with other humans, I saw you. When the tree glowed, it meant the guardian of this tree is near."
"Wait, how could you possibly tell that I am the guardian of this tree?"
The words tumble out, confusion swirling in my mind. Then, a memory flickers, a hazy image of the deer. He was the reason I came into this body.
"You probably think that body isn't you, am I right?" the deer asks, his voice calm and knowing.
"Yeah, because that's how I remember it. You're the reason for this."
"That is your body. The memories you have are from your past life. You carry both your past and present within you."
The world spins. My head feels like it's going to burst. All I can hear is the frantic beat of my heart. My vision blurs, everything fading to a hazy block. My senses are gone, leaving me adrift in a sea of confusion. Who am I? I don't know anymore.
I awoke to find myself lying in a bed within a large, unfamiliar room. Disoriented, I wondered, "Where am I?" Curiosity piqued, I cautiously emerged from the room, eager to learn who resided in this strange house. As I approached the living room, I overheard two men conversing, their voices familiar with the ease of long-standing friendship.
Surprisingly, instead of anger, there seemed to be a sense of calm between them.
Could it be that I was overreacting?
Following their exchange, the left and Harton approached and took a seat beside me.
Just as he was about to speak.
“Harton, I know you're mad at me, but I had a dream last night that showed me the way here. I didn't want to bother you, so I came alone. Please forgive me. Next time, I promise I'll let you know.”
Huh? Why is he laughing? Is there something on my face?
“Don’t be upset, but I was actually behind you the whole time. I heard you sneaking around, so I quickly got up and followed you."
“Oh, so you’re not mad at me?”
“Of course not, your silly girl. You look so cute, you're embarrassing,” Harton said, still chuckling.
“Don’t say that, it’s so awkward. So, what did the deer tell you?”