After reuniting with Alvin and Iris, the six children ventured deeper into the forest, settling into a place where every monster, animal, and insect greeted them with gentle smiles and an unmistakable warmth, as though the woods themselves were glad to have them back. There, the group perched atop enormous mushrooms—sturdy enough to bear their weight—gathered around a shared mushroom table positioned just outside a cabin belonging to grizzly bears, resting together in quiet harmony.
Night descended over them, brightened by thousands of fireflies shimmering in every color imaginable. Outside the cabins, fiery torches burned as well—not enough to truly banish the darkness, yet sufficient to reveal the cabins' shapes if the fireflies had not been there to light the winding paths. Everyone gathered to share a hearty meal of bread, honey, omelet eggs, butter, jam, blueberries, apple pie, and delicate flower teas, while the recently rescued children rested beneath the sheltering canopy of trees, their massive leaves draping over them like gentle blankets of protection.
"Okay, guys!" Will called out, clapping his hands together with a bright smile before adding, "Let's take a look at the map we worked so hard to obtain." Everyone nodded in agreement as the bears began clearing the dishes from the table, with Iris stepping in to help them. Meanwhile, Charlotte cast one last, lingering glance toward the sleeping children before Alvin reached into his bag, drew out the map, and carefully spread it across the mushroom table.
Everyone gazed upon it in awe: the map glowed a deep blue, its marked points shimmering in glittering gold, while the latitude and longitude lines sparkled in distinct colors so they would never be confused. Above the very spot they sought, a large, radiant silver star hovered, shining boldly over its mark.
The map was so magical.
Because the place they longed to reach overflowed with magic, happiness, and peace—a place that felt as though it had been lifted straight from a dream. "Finally… we have obtained the map of Nirvana," Will whispered, gliding his fingers across its surface. When his touch passed over the blue stretch where the ocean lay, his fingertip dipped into the waves and came away wet. In that moment, they saw delightful, giggling little mermaids swimming through the seas they would need to cross to reach Nirvana—their ultimate goal.
To battle through countless struggles and race across the globe simply to guide themselves to Nirvana, a place spoken of as paradise, where every wish is fulfilled, known as a magical realm of pure happiness and peace.
"Look!" Alvin said, pointing it out. "Every point has its own note to follow, to make sure we're heading in the right direction—or, more precisely… they might even guide us to a shortcut." At that, everyone turned their attention back to the map.
Just as Alvin had said, every point carried its own note, and Will began to think of them as clues meant to unlock hidden gateways—shortcuts along their path. He was still marveling at the map when Iris, only a few months younger than him, spoke up. "Look, the first point marks where we're standing," she said, reading its message.
"'Through flowery tricks and trails… you'll find the first gate beyond the home of squirrels.' That means we need to begin our journey right now if we want to reach our destination as quickly as possible. We're already lucky that the first gate is right where we live. Isn't that amazing, Pruden?"
The grizzly bear let out a warm laugh, nodding as he answered, "Of course you're right, dear Iris. Reaching Nirvana is a dream all of you share, one you've been waiting to fulfill for as long as you can remember. So don't waste a single moment—run forward until you finally arrive there. My prayers and deepest wishes go with you, and when the time is right… we will meet again. As always."
Will nodded, even though a faint feeling lingered that Pruden might be hinting at something more. Still, there was little room for mystery when they had lived in the forest since birth, raised and cared for by the family of four bears and the neighboring animals. Their lives had always been an open book to one another, leaving little to conceal or keep secret—at least until time itself chose to reveal it. Letting go of his uneasy, unpredictable thoughts, Will decided to move forward and hold fast to the dream he shared with his close-knit family of friends.
"But what about the children we rescued?" Olivia asked, pouring herself another cup of white lily tea from Kate's kitchen. Kate—Pruden's wife—was a gentle presence in the cabin, and the mother of twin children, Ella and Every.
Everyone's gaze drifted toward the sleeping children before Will spoke up cheerfully, "Of course, we'll take them with us to Nirvana. Everyone deserves to reach that place—if it truly exists." The group hummed thoughtfully at his words until Oliver finally voiced his concern.
"Still, we need to confirm it with them first. What if they choose to stay here and never set out for Nirvana after enduring so much fear and pain in the basement of the mad Queen? We should ask them first, Will."
Will nodded, accepting Oliver's idea before he gave the order, his voice steady with resolve. "Alright, understood. Then let's start making the preparations. While they're getting ready—if they decide they want to come—we can work on the map. Still, I honestly believe we should take them with us. It's always been part of our dream, hasn't it? To save every child we meet from the cruelty waiting for them, and to journey together toward Nirvana as one."
Alvin ran a hand through his short, curly ginger hair, the strands rustling softly beneath his fingers, and turned his wide, honey-colored eyes toward Will. There was warmth and certainty in his gaze as he spoke. "Will, there's nothing wrong with wanting that. What you want is exactly what all of us want. That's what family means. If your heart is set on bringing these kids along—just like we decided before we ever started turning the wheels of their once-peaceful lives in search of Nirvana—then let's do it. That's what you want, isn't it?"
Will answered with a quiet nod, his unspoken wish drifting toward a future where everyone could be happy. Before they ever set out to search for the map that would lead them to Nirvana, they had made a promise among themselves: if they crossed paths with any child bound by the chains of a cruel fate, they would save them. Yet they had never firmly decided whether those children would travel with them or be left behind afterward. In Will's heart, however, the answer was clear. He wanted to take them all the way to Nirvana, because children scarred and bruised from the inside out deserved eternal happiness just as much as they did.
After all, Will had known suffering for as long as he could remember—and his small, chosen family had known it too.
That was because the six of them were orphans, children without anywhere to belong after their home—the Gloomsday Orphanage—was forced to close for reasons they never truly understood. Everything that followed felt hazy and indistinct, as though time itself had blurred. Then one day, they awoke in this forest, opening their eyes to a world where grizzly bears had taken them in, cared for them, and protected them when they were still very young. For four long years, they grew up beneath the forest canopy, raised alongside animals who watched over them as guardians, until the day came when they chose to seek out Nirvana—a place whispered about and revered back in the town they had once known.
Nirvana—a place they had first heard of through the sisters of the orphanage.
"Then no more overthinking and no more time wasted on this!" Olivia declared with finality. "We're taking the kids with us. Charlotte and Iris, help them get prepared. The rest of you, stay with me and help figure out what our next steps will be from here on." Her decision was met without hesitation, greeted by radiant smiles and a shared resolve, their determination shining in their eyes like newborn stars just beginning to burn.
Charlotte immediately gathered up her books, clutching them close, while Iris answered with a firm nod. Her large, fluffy raven-black hair was tied into two ponytails that swayed gently as she moved, and under the wash of moonlight, her tan skin appeared even deeper in tone. Yet it was her silver eyes—bright and gleaming—that truly stood out, sharpening and elevating every feature of her face.
As Charlotte and Iris moved off to help the children to their feet and begin preparing them, Olivia turned her attention to the map. She traced her finger along the route that was meant to lead them to the first gate, and as her fingertip glided over the map's smooth, cool surface, something strange and wondrous occurred. A trail of flowers blossomed beneath her touch, their petals brushing against her finger as they appeared, marking the kind of path they would need to seek in the real world.
The others watched in silent amazement, though they let the moment pass as Olivia bent over the map with them, studying it carefully. After a moment, Oliver spoke up, thoughtful and measured. "I think… we're not very far from the first gate. If we can find and follow a trail of flowers, then the gate should be just two or three turns away from here."
Will nodded in agreement before expanding on the thought. "That's true," he said, "but the note mentions 'through trick and trail…' which suggests the path of flowers is concealed. It's a hidden trail we have to uncover first—one that probably isn't visible to the naked eye."
Alvin gave a thoughtful hum, then answered with an easy smile. "Fair point. But that's exactly why we have Iris, isn't it? With Iris helping us, we'll find that trail in no time."
Will agreed, knowing full well that each one of them carried special powers born from the elemental forces resting within. Only a rare handful of humans could ever awaken the true potential of the elements embedded deep in their souls, and they were among those few. Their powers had been unlocked with the guidance of an elder deer of the forest—the master of elemental arts—who had awakened what lay dormant inside them. When the elements were released, each one granted a gift uniquely attuned to its bearer, perfectly aligned with their mind, heart, soul, and body.
Because of that, Will trusted without hesitation that Iris's abilities were the most fitting choice for their very first quest.
Just as everything was settled, Charlotte returned with the children, hurrying alongside her, all of them fully prepared and bursting with readiness to set out. Will greeted them with a warm smile, then lowered himself to the boy's height. Standing at the front of the other three, he gently patted the child's head and asked softly, "Would you… would you all come with your elder brothers and sisters? No matter where we lead you?"
The blond boy nodded with bright excitement and answered without hesitation, his voice brimming with joy. "Yes! We all want to go to Nirvana with you! From now on, you're Sam and his friends' family! Hehe."
Will smiled down at the young Sam and said warmly, "Good. Then make sure you help your family, and look after one another through thick and thin."
Sam nodded in response, making a quiet promise to Will—the eldest among them all. From that moment on, they were no longer just six and four, but a single family of ten children.
Once everyone was ready, they hoisted their already-packed bags onto their shoulders and took up their torches. Before leaving, they embraced Pruden and Kate, exchanged a few heartfelt words of encouragement, and wished one another safety and well-being. Then, without looking back, they set off in search of the flowery trail—the very first sign they needed to find. They had already made a promise among themselves to unravel every mystery on their own, so that when they finally reached Nirvana, they could stand together and congratulate one another—not for competence borrowed from others, but for success earned despite their childish minds and small bodies.
They wanted to reach Nirvana on their own hands.
Fueled by renewed determination coursing through their veins, they followed the map deeper and deeper into the forest until they reached a darker stretch where fireflies were few and far between. There, they came to a halt and once again read the note aloud together, their voices rising in unison.
"Through flowery tricks and trails… you'll find the first gate beyond the home of squirrels."
As soon as they finished reading the final words, they scanned their surroundings, but from where they stood, there was no sign of a flowery trail like the one that had bloomed across the map.
"Iris, you're up," Will said firmly. Iris nodded, gently placing the baby girl into Sam's arms before stepping ahead of the group. She moved to the center of the clearing, grounded herself, and began to sing the ancient song called "Unmask"—a melody once sung by the Deity of the Earth, the being who walked the lands every hundred years.
In the depths of the silent woods, where wandering shadows dance,
Beneath the moon's silver hush, in night's slow, tender trance,
I summon the rivers, the roots, and the leaves,
Begging their veils to part, to confess what they weave.
O secrets buried in earth and bound to the sky,
Step forward, unmask yourselves—let the hidden truths rise.
Breathe your whispers softly, let the lost thread be read,
Of stories once fading, long buried as dead.
Ancient stones and forgotten springs sigh low,
Echoes carried where feathered winds go.
Show me the paths the stars left behind,
Where burning tales decay in the silence of time.
Beneath every branch, beneath each waiting thorn,
Sleeps a spark of dreams once born.
Through moss and mist, through melody and air,
Awakened whispers drift, light and bare.
O secrets buried in earth and bound to the sky,
Step forward, unmask yourselves—let the hidden truths rise.
Breathe your whispers softly, let the lost thread be read,
Of stories once fading, long buried as dead.
Unfurl your mysteries, untamed and free,
Let ancient rhythms speak through me.
For within nature's patient, sacred embrace,
Lives every story—every trace.
O secrets buried in earth and bound to the sky,
Step forward, unmask yourselves—let the hidden truths rise.
Breathe your whispers softly, let the lost thread be read,
Of stories once fading, long buried as dead.
The moment Iris's song faded into silence, the earth itself seemed to awaken. The ground beneath them lit up in a shimmering emerald glow, and from that radiance, a trail of vivid, multicolored flowers slowly revealed itself—alive, luminous, and unmistakably identical to the one that had appeared on the map. They followed the blossoming path until it led them to a towering tree crowned with a wide, sheltering canopy. Nestled within its trunk was a squirrel's house, and from it poured a warm, golden light that pulsed softly against the bark.
Their eyes lit up the instant they recognized the gate, appearing exactly as the map had foretold. Excitement rippled through them as they clasped one another's hands, bright smiles breaking free amid bursts of laughter. Together, they moved toward the golden gate glowing from within the squirrel's home. No squirrel could be seen anywhere nearby, leading them to believe the house was either abandoned or wrapped in some lingering mystery waiting to be uncovered.
As they gathered before the gate washed in golden light—now resembling less a doorway and more a small portal meant to teleport—the radiance suddenly flared, shimmering brilliantly as it reached out to them. In the next heartbeat, the light pulled them in, drawing every one of them into its glowing core.
The instant they vanished, the golden brilliance faded away. The trail of flowers dissolved with it, and with no sign of what had just occurred, the entire forest slipped back into a deep, peaceful sleep.