The low hum of the rain as it pour down. The sudden rain was the beginning of the winter. The start of harsh climate that everyone would want to spend buried under the blanket while watching some show on the screen as the heat from mana heater brought comfort to them.
To think they were here right in front of the forest in this climate with rain falling on them wetting their clothes.
"Dad, can't we come a bit later." Hajun whined. "I'm freezing ."
"I'm very disappointed, Hajun." Hawoon shook his head in negative. "We did not even enter the forest and you already getting a cold feet." He smirked, mischievously.
"Huh? When did I say I was scared?" Hajun was dumbfounded and shocked like he was falsely accused of something. "I just said I was cold."
Hajun pouted when he saw them laughing. "Not you too, Suho!"
Suho quickly straightened his posture like he was not just laughing at Hajun.
"Let's go, boys." Hawoon pointed to the forest.
In front of them was the Night thorn forest, trees lining in a straight line. But they were unnatural. They way their leaves were shaped was creepy.
They made their way to the forest. There was a silver board with NIGHT THORN FOREST written on it with black ink in a creepy way. The board as glowing with mana stones to make it prominent for any that dared to enter the forest with a warning below the ink ENTRY IS FORBIDDEN.
On the side a mana stone in the circular glass shaped was glowing. The glass was set in between vines with spiral and unique kind a black and blue flowers with petals having sharp ends. The black was in the center while the ends were blue. They fluttered whenever the mana stone turned Green, Red and Black.
But the way they fluttered was different with corresponding colors. Green, the petals slowly fluttered like they were calm and peaceful. Red, the petals fluttered along with closing and opening like they in panic. Black, the petals would completely close like hiding themselves.
"This flower is called Viethra Thorn Blue Flower. They are mostly found at those areas where presence of mana is strong."
"They are mostly used to identify the presence of any mana beast near."
"Remember this! These are signs of level of danger approaching." Hawoon warned them.
"Green when calm."
"Red when danger is near."
"Black when death is certain."
Suho and Hajun gulped, anxiety slowly started to build up in them.
"These flowers are all over the the forest. They feed on mana. But their behavior varies with malicious intent in the mana."
"They were also used to bloom at the kingdom too. But, since the ban on the use of magic they gradually disappeared."
Hawoon touched the flower that was not in the range of mana from the glassed mana stone. He released a little mana and the flower petals instantly opened and fluttered slowly.
"Understood?"
"Hmm..." Both nodded.
"And... at this time, flowers you would most find would be indicating the level Red."
Suho and Hajun both quickly turned to Hawoon shocked.
"But, don't worry, I'm with you. I will not let anything happen to you two." Hawoon smiled that was not very convincing.
They were not convinced.
They finally entered the forest.
They walked and kept walking, but the forest was never ending. They kept observing the flowers. Most of them were showing the level Red like Hawoon had said.
But, nothing happened.
The smell of wet mud and rain filled their nose with each step. They did not care about the mud on their shoes or how cold the weather was. They quietly followed behind Hawoon with silence.
Their nose and cheeks were red as they pass through the tall trees. The forest was itself creepy, even if there was no sight of any mana beast. It was early in the morning with very little light. The sun was just about to come out.
Hajun yawned and rubbed his eyes, his small frame trembling due to the coldness in the air. His wet clothes were not helping at all.
"I'm cold." Hajun sighed once again as he turned to Suho who nodded. He had been complaining about the weather being cold right from the start.
"Me too."
They kept dragging their feet, feeling their legs getting heavy.
Waking up so early in the morning after barely getting any sleep due to excitement and now walking in some creepy forest. Not forgetting to check the flowers.
"Dad, how much longer we have to walk?" Hajun whined as he clutched his hands around himself. "I can't walk anymore."
Hawoon just ignored him.
"Hey! What if..." Hajun bump his shoulder slightly with Suho. "I die during our walk to the training area... what will you do?"
Suho just stared blankly at him with a poker face. "That's a stupid question."
"Oh, come on! I'm curious." His eyes were sparkling wanting to hear the answer from him.
"Why? You think I will be heart broken?" Suho raised his brows in annoyance.
"I dont know. You tell me."
"You know we didn't even know each other just two weeks ago. So..." Suho glared at Hajun. "you can not expect me to be heartbroken over you."
"So mean." Hajun pouted.
"Dad, look! Suho is saying he hates me." Hajun whined to his father.
"When did I say I hate you?"
Hawoon did not reply to his whining, making him click his tongue in annoyance.
After that they kept walking in silence. The previous anxiety was no longer lingering on them.
They kept walking, each step quieter than the last. The rain had eased, but the cold hadn't, and the forest still felt too close, like it was leaning in to listen.
A sudden rush of wind cut between them.
Something shot past their shoulders with a low, rough cry.
Hajun screamed and grabbed the Suho's arm so hard his nails bit through the jacket. "What was that— what was that?"
Suho froze, staring into the trees, but the thing perched on a branch a few feet ahead. It tilted its head, watching them with black glassy eyes.
"It's… it's just a bird," he said, though he didn't sound sure.
The beak was wrong. It wasn't smooth or pointed like it should've been. Instead, bright red circles covered it, each rimmed with yellow and orange shapes that looked like stiff petals. A small red crown sat on top of its head like someone had pressed it there too hard. Its wings carried the same strange patterns, circles bordered by black that swallowed the dim light.
The bird gave another call, a low, deep sound that felt too heavy for something its size.
Both of them quickly glanced at the flowers, black and blue blooms. The petals twitched, fluttering slow and soft, the way they always had since morning.
Hajun let out a shaky breath. "Okay. Okay. They're fine. They're not moving any different."
Suho nodded, though he didn't look away from the bird. "Yeah. Looks normal."
The flowers kept swaying gently. The bird blinked once, then opened its wings and disappeared into the dark trees.
Only after it was gone did either of them realize they were still clinging to each other.
They let go at the same time.
But both of them did not realize someone was no longer with them.
Sudden presence of the bird shook them from the core of their hearts.
But, the anxiety screamed at them, especially at Hajun when he realized Suho had stopped walking. He turned to look at Suho staring at left, deep into the forest. There was very little light so it was hard to see.
"Suho? Is there anything wrong?" Hajun asked, hesitant. He did not knew what he expected but what Suho said was something he never expected.
"I-I... I don't know if I'm right, but..."
"I think we had cross this part of the forest for a while now." Suho turned, his expressions were blank.
"..."