Sarah Susago — POV
I stepped into the forest.
Before passing through the red gates and entering the woods, I spoke with Lazar's mother. The crystal she gave me was shining brightly in my hand.
The forest was enormous—so vast it felt as if it was opening itself for me. Tall softwood trees stood like silent giants, white and buried beneath thick layers of snow.
Everything was quiet—too quiet.
The air was cold and sharp, as always, and the sky above was clear, with only a few snowflakes drifting down. Every branch was heavy with snow, every needle soaked and frozen in place. The softwood trees stretched endlessly toward the clear sky. Even the ferns were frozen, each leaf lightly dusted with snow.
I stopped for a moment, staring ahead.
The forest was empty. Nothing but trees and snow.
No voices. No life.
Just me—and the mana shard Miss Maya had given me.
"I didn't know it was like this…" I whispered.
Lazar comes here all the time?
How does he do it?
I tightened my grip around the mana shard. It was cold, but its soft glow was the only comforting thing I had as I began walking forward along the snowy path, step by step, following footprints pressed into the snow.
The snow shifted beneath my boots. Branches cracked as I stepped on them, creaks echoing through the silent forest.
There were many footprints on the path—human ones, and animal ones.
"I hope these are his footprints…" I muttered.
With every step, the village gates grew farther away.
I walked deeper into the forest until I turned around and realized I could no longer see the entrance gates to Liva Village.
Looking back and seeing nothing but an endless path surrounded by softwood trees made my chest tighten.
"I'm cold…" I muttered.
"How long have I been walking? How much farther until the lake…?"
It was much colder here than in the village.
I kept moving.
One step. Then another.
I didn't look around. There was only one thought in my mind—keep walking until I reach the split path.
Suddenly, a sharp cry cut through the silence.
"KAAAH!!"
A crow.
My heart jumped. I spun around as fast as I could, but there was nothing—only a black bird flying above the trees, passing over my head and disappearing in the direction I was headed.
A sudden shiver ran down my spine.
"Usually that's not a good sign…" I whispered.
I let out a shaky breath. Then another.
"Come on, Sarah. It's just a bird. Nothing serious."
I continued down the path.
After only a few steps, a loud noise came from behind me.
I turned around—but there was nothing. Just the snowy forest and the path I came from.
"What was that…?" my voice trembled.
Ahead of me, the path split—one leading left, the other right.
I remembered Maya's words.
Go left. The lake is there.
I followed the left path, holding the mana shard with both hands.
The forest felt empty. Lifeless.
No voices. No movement.
Just me… alone… and the sound of snow crunching beneath my boots.
And then—it happened.
The wind began to blow, breaking the silence. Cold air slammed into my face, pushing my hair in every direction. I felt it instantly.
Something was wrong.
I looked down at the mana shard.
It wasn't glowing.
The bright blue crystal had turned dark—its light completely gone.
I froze.
My heart sank as it began pounding harder with every second.
"What do I do now…?"
Two thoughts filled my mind.
Why did I come here?
What am I even doing here?
Maya's warning echoed in my head:
"If it stops glowing or starts blinking, come back to the village—or hide in the forest."
Before I could decide—
BOOM!
A violent impact behind me.
I spun around just in time to see snow crashing down from a tree. Branches shook violently as snow slid off them. Needles trembled. Trees cracked.
The forest was shaking.
Snow exploded in every direction as branches snapped and slammed into the ground.
I stood frozen, unable to move. My skin prickled.
"It's just snow…" I whispered.
"Just snow…"
I turned and forced myself forward, trying to ignore what was clearly happening—
Then—
Dum.
Dum.
Dum.
Footsteps.
Behind me.
Snow shifting. Heavy steps growing closer.
I didn't have the courage to look back. But one thing was clear.
Something was there.
And it was walking toward me. It was following me.
Cold wind slammed into my back, sending goosebumps across my skin.
I screamed.
This time, I didn't look back.
I ran.
My legs burned. My body felt heavy. My thoughts blurred. Fear consumed me.
The footsteps didn't stop.
They followed me.
I closed my eyes and ran, my mind screaming only one thing—
Please… someone… help…
I couldn't go back to the village. I couldn't hide.
It was right behind me.
Then—suddenly—
The footsteps stopped.
The wind calmed.
The fear vanished.
I opened my eyes.
Ahead of me, on the path, stood a figure.
A human figure.
As I got closer, I could see his face.
It was him.
Kiyokazu Lazar.
He stopped, standing about twenty meters away, watching me approach.
The forest fell silent again—as if nothing had ever happened.
"K-KIYOKAZU!" I screamed, running toward him.
I was two steps away from him but then, my right foot slipped. The snow betrayed me. I lost my balance and fell forward—
"HEY—!"
BOOM!
"Ouch… that hurts," I muttered.
We hit the ground together, sinking into the snow.
I slowly opened my eyes.
For a moment, everything felt unreal.
I was lying on his chest. My hands pressed against him. Warmth spread through my body. My hair fell over his face, getting into his eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked, brushing my hair aside.
"Y-Yeah… I think so."
I lifted my head slightly.
Our eyes met.
Only then did I realize how close we were.
My face burned.
"I-I'm fine," I said quickly, pushing myself up.
The silence between us was heavy. Awkward.
We just stared at each other.
His white hair framed his face, his green-blue eyes fixed on mine. His face was red.
And so was mine.
My heart raced.
After a moment, I reached up and brushed his hair aside—and noticed the three chains linked earring in his ear. I gently held it between my fingers.
"A gift from today?" I asked softly.
"It suits you. It matches your hair."
As I spoke, the necklace my parents gave me slipped from my neck and fell onto his chest.
He lifted it carefully, rotating and examining it.
"Nice necklace," he said.
"You got it today, didn't you?"
I nodded, smiling.
"Do you like it?"
"It looks good on you…" he replied looking at the snow right of us.
We slowly stood up. He brushed snow off his clothes, then stopped brushing and looked at me.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"I was looking for you," I said.
"I thought you'd be here, so i came to check"
He, noticed the mana shard lying in the snow.
"What is this crystal?" he asked curiously, picking it and handling it to me.
"It's a mana shard," I said.
"Your mother gave it to me. She said as long as it shines i will be safe here."
His expression shifted.
"A mana shard…? Are you sure? "
"And why isn't it glowing? It doesn't work?"
"It stopped on the way," I explained.
"That's when I started running."
He shook his head.
"This forest isn't dangerous—from the village to the lake. I've never experienced anything like that. But i am glad you made it safe."
"But people say it's full of monsters… you know: toxic spiders, frostbeasts, trolls and the other monsters that lay here."
"That's just rumors," he said calmly looking at the lake behind him.
"The scariest thing I've seen here is a crow."
I watched him stare at the lake.
"Then why do you come here so often? I heard from your mom that you come here often." I asked softly.
He didn't answer at first.
He simply stared at the lake not moving at all. He just stared blankly at the lake, water reflecting softwood trees, a softwood trees covered with snow on the other side of the lake, and a big mountain covered by fog in the far horizon.
He stayed like that for a while, not moving at all after which he spoke.
"What do you think?"
„What? What do i think?" i replied looking at him.
„What do you see Sarah? What can you see in this moment?" he anwsered.
"I see Nature, i guess?" I said.
"I can see the lake… the trees… Snowflakes falling out of sky, snow, more snow and perhaps more snow."
„Is that all?" he replied.
„I mean is there anything else here that i dont see or?" I anwsered.
He tilted his head slightly right.
"No, that's all there is."
Then he turned to me.
"We should go home."
"But I just got here…"
He smiled teasingly.
"Careful. Its dangerous out here, you know. Maybe a toxic spider or perhaps troll may appear. Or maybe a sudden footsteps would chase us causing us to scream."
I thought about whatever that thing that chased me was, and my left hand started shaking.
" I-I really saw it…. I-it followed me… something was behind me chasing me. I was not kidding…" I said holding my sweater"
His expression softened.
"I'm sorry Sarah, i didnt meant it. I wanted to say it as a joke to make you feel better " he said, taking my left hand.
"I believe you."
He didn't let go.
"Let's go home."
"O-Okay…"
We turned back and walked together toward the village.