Ch.10

Early in the morning, the first light of day shone down on the orchard covered in light mist. The sound of birds chirping softly in the quiet atmosphere, but this silence did not make Punya feel relaxed at all.

Punya walked beside Meiling, Princess Lingya's maidservant, dressed in dark green clothes that blended in with the nature in the orchard. Meiling's jet-black hair was braided long, while her sharp eyes showed her intelligence and determination. "

This used to be a forbidden area," Meiling said softly, but with a serious tone.

"Forbidden area?" Punya raised an eyebrow at her companion. "Why is it sealed off?"

"No one knows for sure," Meiling replied, looking around. "But I have heard that Princess Lingya decided to seal off this area many years ago because it contained something that could be dangerous to our dimension."

Punya felt a premonition. She approached one of the thick bushes and reached out to touch it. Suddenly, a cold wind blew past, revealing a strange tree hidden inside.

The tree was different from any other tree in the garden. Its trunk was pitch black, its surface looked like a tangled vine. Its dark purple leaves were faintly reflecting light, and each small, shiny, black, round fruit seemed to have mist rising from it.

"What is this? This tree looks like the one I saw behind the shop before I came here," Punya asked softly as she stared at the strange fruit. "Why do I feel such a strange energy…?"

Meiling walked closer. She frowned. "I've never seen it before…"

Before Meiling could finish, there were soft footsteps from behind. They turned around at the same time and saw the figure of Princess Meilin.

Princess Meilin, dressed in ivory, walked in with a worried expression on her face. Her eyes were staring straight at the strange tree.

"Forbidden fruit…" Princess Meilin whispered, her voice cold. "It shouldn't be here."

Punya felt a weight in her words. She turned to look at Meiling, who seemed equally shocked.

"This fruit…" Princess Meilin began as she approached the tree. "It was once hidden deep in the garden, because it can destroy the balance of this dimension. Its power is too dangerous to control."

Meiling quickly bowed her head and said firmly, "I will go and inform Princess Lingya right now, to ask for advice on how to deal with it."

"Very good." Princess Meiling nodded. "But don't let this matter spread to others. We can't risk letting the enemy know that this forbidden fruit is here."

Punya just looked at the situation in front of her. She felt a terrifying power emitting from the fruit, but what she was more worried about was that it might be related to the evil plans of the enemy that she and everyone else were trying to fight.

As Meiling left to deliver the news, Princess Meiling turned to look at Punya, her face filled with contemplation.

"Punya…" She said calmly. "I know you have special abilities. If you sense anything about this fruit, tell me immediately."

"I will do my best," Punya replied, although she was still worried inside.

Princess Meiling sighed softly before saying, "We must protect this dimension from all dangers. Even if it means sacrificing everything we have."

Punya could only stand and stare at the strange tree, her mind tangled with unanswered questions. She knew that what she discovered today could change the fate of this dimension forever.

--

Inside the old palace library, the smell of old wood and dust that had accumulated for a long time wafted in the air. Tall bookshelves lined the space. Dim light from oil lamps illuminated the shadows of old books and a carved wooden table in the center of the room.

Punya stood in front of a bookshelf that seemed to be filled with books that had been used for centuries. In her hand, she held a small note about a forbidden fruit that she had just discovered that morning.

"Li Shan!" Her voice called out to the young man who was busy reading a book in another corner of the room.

Li Shan, a young man who was not only the gardener but also an expert in the history and mysterious powers of dimensions, looked up from his book. His dark eyes looked at Punya with curiosity before stepping closer.

"What urgent matter makes you come to me at this time?" Li Shan said calmly, but when he saw Punya's panicked expression, he began to show interest.

"I found a strange tree in the orchard…" Punya said hurriedly. "It has a fruit, a shiny black color that releases energy. It's definitely not an ordinary tree. Have you ever seen it?"

While Li Shan was still wondering in his mind, light footsteps came from the door of the library. Princess Meilin appeared in a clean white dress. She looked elegant, but her face was full of worry.

"Li Shan," Meilin said. "The forbidden fruit found in the orchard… what exactly is it?"

Li Shan frowned. He picked up a thick book from the shelf, and opened it to the page with an illustration of a black fruit that looked similar to what Punya had described.

"If I remember correctly…" Li Shan said as he scanned the lines in the book. "It's the 'Cycle Fruit', also known as the forbidden fruit. Its power is too powerful and extremely dangerous."

Punya swallowed. "Dangerous power? How dangerous is it?"

Li Shan looked up, his face full of seriousness. "This fruit has uncontrollable destructive power. If anyone uses it carelessly, the entire dimension may collapse, and it can also cause one dimension to move into another, just like Punya accidentally entered here."

Meilin walked closer to the table. Her eyes stared at the picture in the book intently. "Then why are you still keeping it? Why not destroy it?"

Li Shan sighed. He closed the book gently before replying in a calm voice, "Because destroying it might cause worse consequences than keeping it."

"Worse consequences?" Punya repeated, her tone filled with incomprehension.

"Yes," Li Shan explained. "This fruit is like the heart of The one that connects our dimensions to nature. If we destroy it, the accumulated power may be released uncontrollably. It will destroy everything."

Princess Meilin was silent for a moment. She crossed her arms and looked at Li Shan with eyes full of thought.

"Then what can we do with it?" Punya asked with a worried tone.

Meilin turned to look at Punya and spoke in a firm tone. "We must find a way to hide it even safer than it is now… and we must do it as fast as possible."

Li Shan nodded in agreement. "If the enemies find out that this fruit still exists, they will try to snatch it up to use as a weapon."

Punya felt like her heart was being squeezed. "But where will we hide it? And how can we be sure that no one will find it again?"

Mei Lin sighed. "We will have to discuss that with Princess Ling Ya."

"I will research more about how to protect this fruit," Li Shan said. "But let me warn you… If you ever think of approaching it again, be careful."

Li Shan's warning echoed in Punya's head as she stood in the old library. She knew that this forbidden fruit was not only a threat to this dimension, but it could change her life forever.

--

Inside the secret conference room deep inside the palace, there was a tense atmosphere. The conference table was made of dark teak wood, surrounded by intricately carved chairs. Everyone in the room was staring at the open book in the center of the table. On the page was a picture of a forbidden fruit with a description of its terrifying power.

Princess Mei Lin sat at the head of the table with an elegant posture. Her eyes looked at Li Shan who was explaining his thoughts seriously.

"I think we should use this fruit as bait," Li Shan said, pointing at the picture in the book. "It is too dangerous to leave unchecked. If we plan well and attract the enemy, we may be able to eliminate them in one go."

His voice echoed in the silence. But that didn't stop everyone from agreeing.

Meiling, the loyal follower of both Princess Meilin and Princess Lingya, spoke up in a serious tone. "But it's too risky. If the enemy can really snatch it, how can we control the situation?"

"They will never get it," Li Shan replied, his eyes filled with confidence. "We can set up a tight trap and prevent anyone from reaching it."

"Your confidence could put all of us in danger," Meiling retorted, her tone cold and sharp.

The atmosphere became tense. Princess Meilin raised her hand slightly to calm everyone down.

"Both methods are risky," Princess Meilin said in a calm but authoritative tone. "I understand your intentions, but we want a safer option."

All eyes turned to Punya, the girl from another dimension who had been sitting quietly the entire time. Her eyes widened slightly when she heard the princess's next words.

"I believe Punya may be the key to this matter," Meilin said. "With your special abilities, if we can use her power to find the safest hiding place, This forbidden fruit will not fall into anyone's hands."

Punya was stunned for a moment. Her heart trembled with hesitation. It wasn't because she didn't want to help, but because this task was bigger than she had ever imagined.

"Punya," Meiling called her. Her tone wasn't as harsh as before, but it was gentle. "Do you think you can do it?"

Punya sat still, various thoughts running through her head quickly. She looked at the book, then met Princess Meilin's eyes, who was looking at her with hope.

"If it can protect this dimension..." She spoke with an uncertain tone, before taking a deep breath and continuing, "I will."

Her answer changed the atmosphere in the conference room. Everyone seemed to feel relieved.

Princess Meilin nodded at Punya. "Thank you, Punya."

"But you have to be careful," Li Shan warned. "The forbidden fruit is not something that can be played with. If you make even the slightest mistake..." He paused, his tone resolute. "The consequences could be more serious than we expected."

Punya listened to the warning with a heavy heart. She knew that this was a risky mission, but if she could make this dimension safe, she might be able to find her way home.

The meeting ended with a plan that still needed to be refined, but everyone knew that this option might be the only hope to protect this dimension from the approaching danger.

--

The night was quiet, within the secret area of ​​the orchard, only the moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, the place was filled with an atmosphere of fear and mystery.

Punya followed behind Princess Meilin and Li Shan carefully, as they went deeper, the sound of branches breaking and the wind howling made the atmosphere even more tense.

"This is the safest spot in the orchard," Li Shan said, stopping in front of a large tree that seemed older than all the others.

Princess Meilin nodded, before she placed her hand on the bark and cast some power, the tree slowly revealed the secret hole where the forbidden fruit was hidden.

But before they could do anything, heavy footsteps came from the shadows. Punya's eyes widened when he saw a figure step out from the bushes, the figure was wearing a pitch-black cloak, and in his hand was a leather bag containing the forbidden fruit.

"Stop this right now!" Li Shan shouted in a forceful tone. He did not hesitate, rushing towards the figure immediately.

The mysterious man moved swiftly, as if he knew in advance how Li Shan would attack. He dodged skillfully, before countering with the power of some fruit he was holding.

The wind wave knocked Li Shan down, but he quickly got up, his lips slightly bleeding, his eyes filled with determination.

"Punya! Find his weakness!" Li Shan shouted.

Punya regained her senses. She closed her eyes and tried to use her special power, feeling the feeling of the fruit in the man's hand. "He's using the power of the energy orb!" She exclaimed. "That fruit gives him increased speed!"

Princess Meilin immediately responded. She took out a fruit from the small bag she had with her. It was the "Jade Fortress Fruit", which had the power to create a protective barrier.

"Move back!" Princess Meilin ordered, while using her power to create a barrier around the area where the forbidden fruit was hidden.

The mysterious man sneered before trying to break through the barrier, but the barrier was stronger than he had expected.

Li Shan took this opportunity to attack again. He used the sword in his hand to slash at the mysterious man. The battle was fierce. The sound of weapons clashing echoed.

Li Shan finally managed to knock the mysterious man off balance, but before he could grab him, the enemy released a power.

His last one, created a violent ripple and disappeared into the darkness.

"He escaped…" Li Shan muttered as he touched the small wound on his arm.

Princess Meilin sighed in relief. Although the forbidden fruit was still safe, this incident made her realize that this place was no longer safe.

She looked at the forbidden fruit that was glowing faintly inside the secret cave, her eyes filled with worry.

"We have to find a new place to hide… before anyone else comes back."

Punya stepped forward. She looked at Princess Meilin with determination. "I will help in every way."

Princess Meilin smiled faintly before speaking in a gentle but firm tone. "I thank you, Punya… This world still needs people like you."

The three of them stood looking at the forbidden fruit as if it was both a curse and a prophecy of what was to come.