Andilenc

Mike thought his life was mundane, filled with endless hours of gaming and avoiding the real world. But when he's suddenly transported to a strange new realm, his world is turned upside down. Waking up in a forest with no idea how he got there, he finds himself bonded to Rin, a mysterious young woman with a powerful past. As they journey deeper into this unfamiliar land, they uncover secrets about their world—and Mike's own unusual origins.

Rin, once a captive, is slowly regaining her strength, and the two form an unexpected bond. Together, they navigate a world filled with strange creatures, ancient magic, and long-forgotten powers. But the deeper they venture into the forest, the darker and more dangerous things become. When they unknowingly enter the Forbidden Forest, a place from which no one has returned, they face monsters, lost legends, and the terrifying truths hidden within.

With Rin's knowledge of the world’s lore and Mike’s latent abilities as a Silver Wolf, they must learn to survive and uncover the mystery behind the Great Sage—an immortal hero whose disappearance twenty years ago altered the course of history. As secrets unfold and enemies draw near, Mike must confront his own hidden potential and decide how far he’s willing to go in this new, perilous world.

Will Mike and Rin escape the dangers of the Forbidden Forest, or will they become another lost story in its dark history?

The scythe

Mike grinned and whirled the scythe in a circle in his hands. "Feeling terrific," he exclaimed, testing its weight.

Rin rolled her eyes in frustration. "Yes, yes, don't go and decapitate yourself."

Mike chuckled but handled the scythe with care. "I wonder why all these weapons have been placed here. Do you believe that the Great Sage crafted them?"

Rin looked around at the workshop. "Perhaps, perhaps they first belonged to other people." She balanced the crescent daggers in her hands. She could have sworn that they balanced perfectly, that they must have been custom-made for her.

Scarlethia flapped her wings and landed lightly onto the tabletop, sending a small box sliding over with a soft thud when it hit the ground.

"What's this?" She reached down and took it in her hands. Dark wood, with carvings etched onto its surface, made up the box. She wiped off the dust and tried opening it, but nothing moved when she pulled at the lid. "It's locked."

Mike walked over and reached for the box, shaking it gently. "Sounds like whatever is in it."

Scarlethia chirped and lightly knocked at the box with her claw. For an instant, carvings in wood softly glowed and then ceased to glow.

Rin's eyes widened. "Did you see that?"

"Yeah…" Mike frowned. "Maybe it needs magic to open."

Rin sighed. "Great, and how can we possibly make that work?"

Mike glanced at Scarlethia over his shoulder. "She did it then, maybe she can do it again."

Scarlethia tilted her head, and then she touched the box again, and a soft click could be heard, and then the lid sprang open.

Mike and Rin both inched in to peer in.

There was a single crystal in it, with a soft, rosy glow. It pulsed with a rhythmic beat, a heartbeat.

Rin reached out, but when her fingers made contact with it, a tide of heat coursed through her body. She took a sharp breath, then snatched her hand back.

Mike grabbed her arm. "Are you okay?"

Rin took a deep breath in and out. "Yes… I believe so." She gazed at her hand, and it tingled, a sensation of current moving through it. "That crystal… it isn't ordinary."

Mike picked it up softly. "It is warm." He placed it in sunlight. "Maybe one of them is one of the items discussed in the letter."

Rin nodded. "Perhaps one of the 'presents' that have been delivered."

Mike smirked. "So, then, let's go search somewhere else. If this is only the start, then who knows what else will pop out?"

Rin smiled, a thrill starting to form in her heart. "Yes, let's go."

Just as she moved off, Mike saw it. How the faint light in the workshop accentuated Rin's face—how her deep, rich eyes shone with a reflection of the glow of the crystal, and how she pushed a lock of hair out of her face with a quick motion.

For a moment, he just stared at her.

She caught him looking at her. "What?" she asked, cocking her head.

Mike quickly averted his face, rubbing at his cheek. "Nothing. Just… you're a little brighter in this light."

Rin blinked. Then there flashed a faint smile at her mouth. "Is that your way of saying I'm pretty?"

Mike coughed. "I don't recall saying that."

Rin stepped in, teasing with her eyes. "But you did not not say it."

Mike felt his heartbeat quicken. "Let's just focus on the treasure hunt, okay?"

Rin giggled, poking him in the arm. "Right, whatever you say, Smooth Talker."

Mike sighed, but couldn't help but grin. In a state of an overgrown shack, in a sea of intrigue, Rin nevertheless continued to tease him. But deep down, in fact, he enjoyed it—not at all.

One of the secrets