The Cult of Light (1)

Day 10 Jan 2043.

Alaska.

Inside a small log cottage between the woods, a silver-haired girl was seated watching the TV. She had green eyes and a somewhat childish disposition as she played with a snowball in her hands. Unexpectedly, as the snow in her hands melted, it would soon turn back to ice again when it touched her fingertips. For some reason, it seemed that the air around her was colder!

Suddenly, the TV program was interrupted by a breaking news segment.

[Journal]

["Breaking news!"

A male reporter sat behind a large blue desk in the studio, facing the camera with a serious expression. His gray hair was evidence of his vast professional experience.

"... It's been nearly two weeks since Earth became chaotic with these mysterious events. People have had sleepless nights, some even claimed the end was approaching, but governments were strangely silent until now. A long discussion took place in Europe last week, and although the media tried to uncover its secrets, it contained nothing but speculation. However, some questions were answered today!"

He paused, took a deep breath, and calmly looked into the camera, deftly evoking a sense of anxiety in the audience.

"The forest is real! Brace yourselves for this revelation, dear viewers. I know you remember when we reported that global armies were mobilizing towards Africa. Well, the UN has now confirmed that the 15-kilometer radius surrounding the forest has been designated as international territory. Armies from various countries have already established their presence there, preparing for the unknown challenges ahead. We have exclusive images to share with you—take a look at these astonishing scenes…"

The panel behind the reporter switched to a series of vivid images, showcasing the mystic forest with its myriad of colorful leaves. Soldiers were seen setting up camp, their barracks rudimentary for now, but construction sites were visible, indicating rapid development. The stark contrast between the vibrant foliage and the military encampments highlighted the surreal nature of the situation. 

"Due to its numerous and colorful leaves, the place will be officially called the Reënboog Forest, which means the Rainbow Forest! In my opinion, it's quite a beautiful name for a place filled with dangers. If it weren't so, why would they send the army? What happened to those who went inside the place, and moreover, what befell the cities that were supposed to be within the forest?"

The man furrowed his brows as he spoke, his expression mirroring the concern and confusion shared by many. His reasoning was indeed correct, but not even the governments knew all the answers.

"There are still so many questions unanswered. What are the governments hiding from us? With that name, are they perhaps implying that there is a bag of gold at the end of this forest?"

He adjusted his tie, leaving the provocative question hanging in the air, inviting speculation.

"Fortunately or not, that's not all they announced: just like the forest, the books are also real! But that was not the main problem! No, now every country is rushing into a shopping spree, and the books are reaching prices of hundreds of thousands of dollars! How I wish I had some books too; I'd become a millionaire overnight… but, are they really worth it?"

Ignoring the fact that the media, including himself, had once deemed all these things as fake news, he continued with a newfound gravity in his tone.

"It is still hard to imagine that people can become stronger through what they call 'cultivation'. But now, there are thousands of videos on the internet demonstrating ordinary people achieving a level of strength comparable to professional athletes!"

"Because of that, we are now going to interview a member of the Cult of Light who claims to have some answers to these Cultivation Books… Let's go live to Jeff, in Alaska."

The image changed to two men standing side by side in a cold city. Beside the journalist stood a bald man with a big, thin nose, small pink lips, and huge dark circles around his black eyes. He wore a red tunic with gold trim on the sleeves, contrasting starkly with the wintry backdrop.

"So, Jeff, what big news do you bring us?" asked the lead reporter.

"Good morning, Thomas. I am here now with William Joseph Simmons, a participant in the Cult of Light."

The reporter smiled lightly and continued.

"We have just received confirmation today that the power contained in these books appears to be real, and governments are mobilizing armies to investigate the forest. Not only that, but even the crime rate has increased; some police reports claim stronger individuals are causing trouble. William, you said that the Cult of Light knows what is happening. Would you mind explaining?" asked Jeff. From his biased question, it became clear for any intelligent viewer what his opinion on the subject was.

The bald man took the mic in his hands, his expression serious.

"Indeed, Jeff, we at the Cult of Light know the origin of those books! The strange writings on them prove to be demonic work to dominate our world! The books are brainwashing anyone who reads them. Just think about it: most people who received the books were young, easier to manipulate, and had a pure heart for the devil to consume. And the forest is obviously the Devil's headquarters! NOW THE GOVERNMENTS ARE TRYING TO EXPLORE THE DEVIL'S BASE. THEY WILL ANNOY HIM, AND THE EARTH WILL FACE THE APOCALYPSE…."

The man spoke louder and louder, his face reddening with anger. Suddenly, the image cut back to the older reporter. He looked astonished, his mouth hanging open.

Giving two dry coughs, the journalist recomposed himself.

"Ahem… Sorry, folks, we had some technical issues and lost the connection with Jeff...." ]

The television was turned off. 

[Such a crazy fella!] Thought Aris.

Completely ignoring the wild claims about demons, the girl walked to her bed and resumed her cultivation routine. After all, if it made her feel so good, it couldn't be bad, right? The idea of demons seemed absurd, especially when she felt such a sense of peace and strength from her practice. The soothing energy that coursed through her body was undeniable, and she had never felt more alive.

Despite her naive reasoning, nearly two weeks had passed since she began cultivating, and she felt herself nearing the breakthrough to the third stage of Body Tempering. Each session brought her closer, her body becoming more resilient and her mind sharper. She could feel the barrier that separated her from the next level, almost tangible. 

It was quite a weird feeling because it was not a physical barrier but yet she could sense it deep inside her dantian.

Unfortunately, before she could focus on the cold energy coursing through her body, heavy footsteps echoed outside the house.

"Girl, come out now…" A deep and weary voice called out from a distance, unmistakably her father's. "We need to get out of here!" The urgency in his tone sent a chill down her spine.

"Wha… what happened!?" Aris was startled. She knew her father's voice very well and could sense that something was terribly wrong. Furthermore, why was he calling from so far away?

Looking from the window she saw her father coming from the woods and dared not to delay. Jumping off the bed, she quickly grabbed a small backpack and began stuffing it with essentials—a warm blanket, some food, and a water bottle. She reached under the mattress, retrieving the bluish book, and carefully hid it inside her clothes. 

However, when she opened the door, the blood drained from her face. The sight of her father left her pale with shock.

Her father was in a deplorable state: his hair was messy, and his clothes were covered in a layer of snow and blood. His leather jacket was ripped, and dried blood coated a claw-like wound on his chest. His left leg had a big bite mark, poorly bandaged. Leaning on his rifle, he struggled to stay upright.

"Fa - Father!?" she screamed and rushed to help him stand.

The small girl easily helped her father stand upright, her shoulder supporting his weight. . It wasn't something a child her age should possess. Despite being only twelve, her strength surpassed that of many adults, a result of her diligent cultivation. However, in his weakened state, her father didn't even notice her remarkable strength.

"Thank you, girl. Let's go to Aunt Andressa's!" he said, exhausted.

"But what is happening!?" Tears began to fall from her eyes as she saw the blood seeping from her father's chest and his face getting whiter and whiter.

"Don't cry, don't cry, my little girl..." He spoke slowly and patted her head, his breathing ragged. "I'm not sure what's going on. I bumped into a lone wolf, but it didn't run away. Instead, it attacked me and was many times more ferocious than a normal wolf. By luck, I was able to kill it, but then things got worse…"

He paused to catch his breath, wincing in pain. "After I killed the wolf, more of them showed up. All of them were acting strange, more aggressive than usual. It was like they were driven by something…"

*AWOOO!* 

*AWOOOOO!*

Two loud howls echoed nearby, signaling the relentless pursuit of the wolf pack drawn by the scent of blood. As an experienced hunter, Edvar Stroud knew they wouldn't give up their new prey easily.

"Run to Aunt Andressa now, my girl." He urged, kissing her forehead before taking a long, weary sigh. It felt like a farewell. "I'll stay here to delay those wolves..."

"No! You're coming with me!" Aris declared firmly, her voice tinged with determination.

"You're getting as stubborn as your mother." Edvar chuckled weakly, preparing to turn away. "Go now, I won't be able to keep up with you in this state."

"I'll never leave you behind, Father!" Aris exclaimed, her fists clenched with resolve.

She immediately cradled him in her arms, her strength far beyond what anyone would expect from a child. The strength of someone at the peak of the second Body Tempering stage was nothing a mere human could compare to. Even as a kid, her muscles and bones had been strengthened twice by natural energy. 

"What!? How are you this strong!?" Edvar exclaimed, shocked. But seconds later understood. "Oh… the book!"

"Yes, Dad, I wasn't lying!" Aris replied with a reassuring smile. "Hold on, I'll carry you to Aunt's house."

Despite her father's weight and injuries, Aris moved swiftly, doing her best not to aggravate his wounds further. Her concern was palpable as she navigated through the snowy landscape, striving to reach safety as quickly as possible.

********

After less than half an hour of running, her father slipped into a deep sleep. Aris couldn't be certain whether he was resting or had passed out from blood loss—perhaps both.

Covered in her father's blood, even her silver hair was streaked with red. She knew her aunt's house was very close now, but unfortunately, their pursuers had already caught up.

The distant sounds of howling grew louder, echoing through the trees behind them. Aris pushed herself harder, her heart pounding in her chest as she fought to ignore the growing ache in her arms from carrying her father's weight. 

Unfortunately the snow was high this time of the year, making even harder for her. Seconds later she saw two silhouettes of the pursuers. 

Gently placing her father below a tree, she turned to face the approaching threat.

*AWOOO!* 

*AWOOOOO!*

Two gray wolves burst out from behind the trees, their eyes filled with fury as they fixated on the bloodied man lying on the ground. They bared their teeth, ready to pounce and tear into their prey, when a small figure stepped boldly in front of them.

The creatures stopped and studied the small figure before them. Covered in blood stains, the child exuded an aura that unsettled them. Wolves, being keen predators, sensed something unusual about this young human.

After a tense moment of consideration, the wolves exchanged glances. There was a silent communication between them, a recognition of the danger posed by this seemingly fragile opponent.

Without hesitation, they lunged at the girl from opposite directions, jaws open wide, intent on swiftly ending the threat she posed. Yet, despite the imminent danger, the girl's eyes betrayed no fear. Instead, they reflected a fierce determination. Her father's life hung in the balance, and she was ready to fight to protect him.

This was the moment to truly test her strength.