Memory and Forest

The kingdom installed large, ornate mirrors at the main outer boundaries, closer to the dark, foreboding forest, in a bold effort to repel the Carnifex. The mirrors' silvery surfaces glimmered in the sunlight, casting a shimmering glow across the landscape. However, despite this precaution, Elianora couldn't shake off the haunting memory of her terrifying encounter with the Carnifex.

The incident had left an indelible mark on her mind, like a scar that refused to heal. She began experiencing recurring nightmares, her subconscious mind replaying the horror of that fateful day. Her dreams were filled with twisted, macabre visions: the Carnifex's grotesque form, its eyes blazing with an otherworldly hunger, its twisted limbs reaching out to snatch her.

Despite the efforts of the kingdom's skilled healers, who provided her with soothing potions and remedies to calm her frazzled nerves, Elianora found little solace. Her mind would often wander back to the day the Carnifex attacked their secret meeting place, the memories rising up like a dark, relentless tide. She'd wake up with a start, her heart racing, her sheets drenched in sweat.

Unbeknownst to the healers, Elianora's true balm lay not in their medicines, but in Kaidën's gentle, reassuring presence. Whenever she was with him, her fears seemed to dissipate, replaced by an unshakeable sense of security. Though she knew it was unrealistic to expect Kaidën to save her from every peril, her faith in him remained unwavering.

Perhaps it was the memory of his bravery in childhood, when he'd fearlessly confronted the Carnifex with a wooden sword, that instilled in her this unshakeable trust. Whatever the reason, Elianora felt an unshakeable conviction that Kaidën would protect her at all costs, and it was this knowledge that brought her peace.

Under the ancient banyan tree's sprawling canopy, with its gnarled branches and twisted roots, Elianora and Kaidën sat together in comfortable silence. The tree's long, serpentine branches stretched towards the ground, forming a natural shelter around them, filtering the sunlight and casting dappled shadows on the grass. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers - jasmine and roses - and the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Kaidën's fingers gently caressed Elianora's hair, his touch sending shivers down her spine. His voice was low and thoughtful as he spoke, his words barely audible over the sound of birds chirping in the distance. "Don't you think, Elianora, that this forest seems... strange?" Elianora's gaze had been fixed on Kaidën's thigh, her eyes tracing the contours of his muscles beneath his leather armor. She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, her brow furrowed in concern.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her words were laced with a hint of trepidation, as if she feared what Kaidën might say. As she spoke, Elianora shifted positions, sitting up straighter, her back straight and her shoulders squared. Kaidën drew her into his arms, holding her close, his warmth and strength enveloping her.

"Just look," he whispered, nodding towards the forest. His eyes were fixed on the trees, his gaze intense, as if willing the forest to reveal its secrets. "Since we've been sitting here together, I've started feeling that the forest is... creeping forward." Elianora's eyes widened in surprise, her mind racing with the implications. She turned to gaze at the forest, her eyes scanning the trees, searching for any sign of movement.

"That's impossible, Kaidën!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a hint of incredulity. "Forests don't move on their own. And besides, humans are the ones who destroy forests, not the other way around." Her words were firm, but her tone betrayed a hint of uncertainty, as if she feared that Kaidën might be right.

Kaidën's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the forest. His jaw was set, his face tense, as if he was willing himself to see something that others couldn't. "Perhaps it's just my imagination playing tricks on me," he murmured, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. Elianora snuggled deeper into his arms, her eyes fixed on the forest, her mind whirling with the possibilities.