Morning dew crept lightly as Anoby and Hina stepped down the root-lined corridor that led them to a cluster of new chambers at the base of the Dark Forest. The air in this corridor felt more humid, as if every drop of dew clung to their skin as a burden that weighed down their chests. Hina, now fifteen years old, walked with measured steps, carrying a bronze lantern whose glow danced across mossy stone walls. Her body was taller and her shoulders broader than five seasons ago; her white hair now fell to her neck, slightly tied at the sides so as not to obstruct her view. Her face, though still bearing a childlike gleam, showed lines of firmness born from dozens of nighttime adventures.
"This is our path," whispered Hina, holding her breath as she clipped the lantern to a small crevice in the wall. The raw light of the lantern cast long shadows dancing among the giant roots. Anoby only nodded, pushing aside some twisted roots so they could crawl inside—his spine seemingly triggered by faint memories of the first carving, but he refused to focus on that memory. The name "Dark Forest" felt heavier as the stone walls separated them from the first corridor, now echoing in silence.
The Softly Carved Stone Door
This second corridor was not as smooth as they had expected. After about two narrow turns, they were faced with a low stone door, only as wide as Anoby's shoulders. Faint carvings marked its surface: a cracked circle, flanked by two moon mushroom eyes. Hina stepped forward and observed closely. "This symbol… resembles the ancient marker in the hall," she murmured, the worn map unmoving in her left hand.
Anoby approached, touching the carvings with fingers that seemed to recognize their shape—a strange sensation that stirred shadowy flashes from the previous night. He bowed down, then placed his palm at the center of the cracked circle. The entire stone door trembled slowly, then shifted sideways to reveal a deeper dark space. The dim corridor air was drawn inward, creating a soft suction like the breath of an old forest.
They ducked into the first room of the Second Corridor. There, the stone floor was split by fine cracks, thick green moss growing around them. The walls were slick, some exuding warm dew like living sweat. In the room's corner, Hina discovered a round stone disc, half-buried in moss—engraved with the symbol of moon mushrooms and large entwined roots.
"We need to move this disc," said Hina, brushing moss dust from its surface. Without waiting for further instruction, Anoby stepped in, turning the disc clockwise. The sound of stone scraping followed, and then a corner of the wall shifted, revealing a new corridor space even deeper. The scent of wet earth turned into a sharp aroma—like iron mixed with the aura of full moon fungi—invoking a deeper sense of alert.
Mechanical Corridor and Shadow Parry
Beyond the second door, they encountered a narrow corridor with rows of stone blocks that shifted automatically when stepped on. These stones were arranged as traps: some would rise to form steps, while others aligned with the floor, ready to trip the unwary. Hina held her breath, her eyes scanning every fracture pattern on the stone surfaces. "Follow this root pattern," she said, pointing to faint lines that led to certain blocks.
Anoby nodded, feeling his heartbeat in rhythm as he stepped carefully on each block. Every step gave off a soft echo, until finally they reached the end of the corridor without a single misstep. Hina's breathing was heavy, but her eyes gleamed with triumph.
Yet before they could rest, a long shadow swept across the edge of the lantern's light: three humanoid shapes, their bodies like thick liquid, their eyes no more than tiny red glimmers. The shadow creatures—rare entities only seen in the deepest corridors—attacked from three directions at once. Anoby froze for a moment, recognizing them as the collective shadows he had once glimpsed in the forest. Without thinking, he raised the lantern higher, casting its bronze light upon all three figures. Instantly, the shadows recoiled, forming a black swirl on the stone floor.
"Face them!" shouted Hina, her index finger wrapped in a glowing banyan root charm. She struck the floor, and black roots extended, binding the nearest shadow figure's legs. It shrieked but quickly melted like smoke, then split into three smaller shadows that lunged at Anoby and Hina in turn.
Anoby drew a short iron pipe he always carried—a weapon whose glow paled in comparison to the lantern but was strong enough to shatter shadows. He struck the first shadow with full force, reducing it to thick mist swept away by a corridor breeze. The second shadow circled Hina swiftly, trying to clutch her body. In a reflexive motion, Hina swung her small knife, slicing the enclosing fog. The shadow paled and scattered against the wall, then vanished.
The last tried to invade Anoby's body, but the lantern's light pierced it, preventing entry. Anoby bent his knees, then spun and kicked the shadow, crushing the dark entity until it dripped like black liquid from the wall's crevices. When all shadows disappeared, the corridor was quiet again, only their heavy breathing marking a temporary victory.
The Past's Hidden Shadow
After the battle, Anoby paused amid the remains of shadow mist. Behind the black cloth over his face, his eyes turned, catching a faint glimpse: the figure of a woman in a white veil, her face indistinct, floating behind Hina. Anoby turned quickly, but saw only wet walls. A fading memory pierced his mind—silvery hair, a soft voice that once soothed him, as if silence called to his buried shadow. He would later understand that the figure was Selene, the first yandere voice to shroud his heart years ago. Now, that face appeared as a warning: every step into darkness also summons the shadows of memories he had buried deep.
Hina looked toward Anoby, her nose lifting as if sensing something. "Did you see something?" she asked.
Anoby swallowed, straightened up, and shook his head. "Just a shadow headed the wrong way," he replied softly. Though hesitant, he refused to burden Hina with fragmented memories.
The Third Corridor and the Pillar of Peace
They returned to the edge of the first shadow corridor, then found a third corridor leading to a round-shaped room. In its center stood a stone pillar two arms tall, surrounded by a groove filled with water dark as ink. The pillar was adorned with carvings of full moon fungi and winding giant roots, emitting a silent magical aura. At the pillar's top, there was a recess meant for a crystal—yet all they had were dried moon mushrooms and a bit of Green Araklin moss.
Hina examined the pillar carefully. "Looks like we need to activate this pillar," she murmured. She placed a piece of moon mushroom in the recess, then arranged the moss around the groove so it stuck. Before that, she pulled out a fragment of ancient banyan root—her own handmade charm for protection from shadows. She held it in her palm, imagining the protective light she once felt in the village hall. "For our safety," she whispered, attaching the small root to the pillar's groove along with the moss.
Anoby raised the lantern's brightness, creating a soft halo of light around the pillar. Slowly, the mushroom and moss glowed gently, piercing the black water, then rising to the pillar's top as a glowing stone disc with root engravings. A faint tinkling sound echoed, as if the pillar cheered in its first freedom after months of slumber. Hina bowed, closed her eyes, and prayed for their strength to be guided by the Full Moon's light.
Suddenly, the water groove on the room's wall began to pulse: black water swirled, winding into a vortex toward the pillar. The fading memory pierced Anoby's mind—he felt his heartbeat rhythmically but held himself steady. The pillar's light spread to the walls, revealing root carvings previously hidden. Behind the pillar, a concealed stone door slowly opened, creaking as though untouched for centuries.
For a moment, the two friends simply stared at the pillar reflecting soft light on their faces: this light not only illuminated the third corridor but seeped through stone cracks, reviving dried moss. The room felt alive again—as if every drop of dew and sweep of light awakened the forest's heartbeat.
Tenth Year Marker and Peaceful Safety
As the stone door shifted, soft morning light filtered through the crack, dancing across the pillar's surface. Anoby lowered the lantern and pulled a small piece of chalk from his pouch. With a steadier hand, he marked the number "10" on the pillar's side—a symbol that they had passed ten years in the Dark Forest. Hina, gazing at the pillar with teary eyes, touched the side beneath the number. "Ten years," she whispered, her voice melodious yet bitter. "You're strong, Anoby. We've come a long way."
A gentle rumble sounded as the stone door fully opened, revealing a dim light at the corridor's end. Anoby arranged the moon mushroom plates and leftover moss on a wooden disc, then wrapped them tightly in a small pouch. He turned to Hina, the sound of his face cloth trembling: "At least we have protection."
Hina closed her eyes, then gazed far down the third corridor. "I think we can rest here for a while," she said softly. It was the first time Hina had suggested rest—a sign that their bodies and souls truly felt the weight of the ten years that had passed. She sat on the open stone door's threshold, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. The air in the third corridor felt cool, no longer piercing like the first.
Anoby positioned the lantern by the pillar, setting it down carefully so it wouldn't fall. The bronze light filled the round room, reflecting off wet walls and still-spinning water. He glanced at the piles of dried moon mushrooms—enough supplies for a few seasons if needed. Though the journey was still long—90 years remained—this moment felt like a brief oasis in the middle of the dark expanse.
Hina slowly opened her eyes, looking at Anoby with a faint smile. "I never imagined we'd survive this far," she said. "Shadows, traps, confusion… but you were always there." Her voice stirred the silence, causing a soft echo in the chamber.
Anoby raised his hand, patting his thigh. "And you were always by my side," he replied briefly. Though his words were few, their meaning ran deep: in the second corridor, behind a centuries-old stone door, they found a moment of relief—far from the world's noise, yet profoundly meaningful.
The Opening of a New Path and Gentle Hope
A few steps after their brief rest, they examined the path behind the stone door. The third corridor led to several branches: one sloped steeply into a deepening hole, while the other remained level, leading to a wider tunnel with hanging mushroom roots like crystal light. Hina looked at her cartography, realizing that her old map didn't cover these rooms. She marked each branch, applying thin ink to note the areas they had passed. "We need to make more detailed notes," she murmured while writing, "so we won't get lost again."
Anoby stood at the intersection, gazing down the darker corridor. He reached for the lantern, moving it slowly toward the sloping passage. The sound of dripping water and creaking roots beckoned, as if calling them to go further. "This… is our next path," he said, his tone flat, but the resolve in his voice clear. Though a part of him still feared what they might face, he knew there was no path but forward.
Hina nodded, retrieving her banyan root charm from her pocket, then holding it tightly. "Let's take this route," she said, pointing to the sloping corridor. "It seems to lead to the forest's heartbeat."
Before moving, they exchanged glances—two beings tested by time, darkness, and past shadows. Under the soft light of full moon fungi reflected by the bronze lantern, a faint whisper echoed in Anoby's heart: every step now was not just a physical journey, but a voyage into a slowly unraveling identity.
Then, they descended the fading stone stairs into the fourth corridor, untouched by any foot before. Lantern light guided them, root shadows danced on the walls, and moment by moment, that gentle hope grew stronger: that somewhere amid the shadows and roots of darkness, the Full Moon's Light would land, bringing with it memories that truly endure.
And so ends Chapter 6: ten years have passed, new mystery doors have opened, and Anoby and Hina—two souls bound by fate—walk deeper into the realm where light and darkness meet, waiting for every old shadow to be revealed and every ancient secret to rise to the surface.