Moonlight Silently Descended Upon the Forest
Moonlight was quietly settling over the forest. On the leaves, on the soil, and on me. Before I knew it, time had turned to night.
The night air was cooler than during the day. But it didn't feel cold. My roots were embedded in the earth. My back touched the soil. When the wind blew, the scent of earth spread, carrying a pleasant aroma, and when it didn't, the sounds of the forest echoed, letting me savor the night.
I gazed quietly at the night sky. The sky was full of stars. So many stars. More than when I'd lived in the modern world, closer, and more beautiful.
The forest was far more peaceful than I'd imagined. The whole place felt like my home. A strange sensation I'd never felt before, never even had the chance to feel. But a comfortable one. Sunlight was nice, but moonlight wasn't bad either.
Ah. This is good. I half-closed my eyes. The wind blew once more. The leaves rustled against each other, creating nature's melody. Somewhere, crickets chirped, and in the distance, small animals rustled through the underbrush. Up in the trees, birds shook their wings, making faint, light sounds.
The forest was a mysterious place. During the day, it seemed like a static space just filled with plants, but at night, it felt alive—a truly strange space. Trees leaning on each other, grass filling the spaces below, animals asserting their presence and reveling in endless freedom.
I placed my hand on the ground. The moist soil touched my skin. And beneath it, ever so slowly, I felt something moving. Water channels flowing, nutrients circulating, tree roots intertwined—like the entire forest was one massive living creature. I let out a small gasp of admiration. And smiled.
The wind blew again. A gentler breeze than before. The grass swayed softly. A small animal darted through it—something like a rabbit, or close to it. Long ears, eyes faintly glowing in the moonlight. It paused for a moment, looked at me, then vanished into the underbrush.
Then, suddenly, I turned my gaze to the side. A short distance away, between the trees. In the darkness, I sensed a presence. It wasn't hiding. If anything, it was approaching slowly.
No need to speak first. The other side seemed to know too.
Rustle. Rustle. The sound of footsteps through the grass grew closer. I stayed lying down. My roots still planted in the earth. The trees tensed slightly. The flow underground shifted. Like the forest encountering a stranger. Or perhaps, fearing one.
What could it be?
Moments later, the presence stopped. Quite close. I slowly turned my head.
Someone stood before me. They looked human. But not entirely. Their clothes blended with the forest colors, small leaves woven into their hair. And above all, this being emanated mana.
I looked at them for a moment. Then spoke casually.
"Done staring?"
The figure between the trees widened their eyes slightly. I looked back at the sky.
"You noticed, huh."
The voice was lighter than expected. Like a kid caught playing a prank, holding back a laugh.
Small leaves were mixed in her hair, and at her feet, the grass perked up slightly. She definitely looked human. Two arms, two legs. Just a young girl. But the forest around where she stood seemed to hold its breath, subtly.
A mix of fear, joy, and unease. I felt it for a moment, then looked at her again.
"Didn't seem like you were trying to hide."
She let out a small laugh at my words.
"Yeah, guess not."
She took a few more steps to my side. Then squatted down on the grass.
Up close, the soft, deep mana she'd built up over years in the forest felt even clearer.
She looked down at me for a bit. Tilted her head.
"Way... stranger than I thought."
I blinked.
"Oh, sorry. Didn't mean it bad."
She propped her chin on her hand and started observing me. Her gaze was pretty direct. Face, chest, stomach, and finally, my roots.
"Real roots, huh."
"Yeah."
"Actually stuck in the ground."
"Yeah."
A brief silence. The girl made a thinking face, then said,
"A flower?"
I pondered for a second. Then answered.
"Probably."
"Aha."
The girl burst out laughing. Her reaction felt so natural that I smiled a little too. The wind blew briefly. Leaves rustled. The small leaves in her hair swayed with it.
"The forest was kinda noisy."
"Noisy?"
"Yeah."
She tapped the ground with her finger and continued.
"Trees whispering, grass tensing, animals fleeing far away."
She leaned toward me.
"So I came to check."
She scanned me up and down once more, then opened her mouth.
"But you don't look that dangerous."
I laughed.
"Good to hear."
She laughed too. But her next words were a bit different.
"So... where'd you come from, flower?"
I glanced at the sky. Stars still abundant. I answered honestly.
"Demon King's Castle."
"Demon King's Castle?"
"Woke up and it was right in front of me."
The girl fell silent for a moment. Then, seconds later, chuckled softly.
"That's how you became such a strong druid, huh."
I tilted my head.
"Druid? Was I a druid?"
"No."
"Then why druid...?"
"Couldn't think of another word."
She said that, then stared at me quietly for a bit. Propped her hands behind her and plopped down on the grass. Moonlight slanted down, dyeing her hair silver.
The wind blew again. Leaves rustled softly, grass bending gently.
The girl said nothing for a long while. Just gazing at the night sky. Then, suddenly, she spoke.
"How's the world these days?"
I blinked.
"The world?"
"Yeah."
She gestured beyond the forest. From the city I'd come from, all the way to the opposite horizon.
"What's it like?"
I thought for a moment. How to explain? Honestly, I didn't know well myself. So I said as much.
"I don't really know."
She turned her head.
"Huh?"
"Haven't been here long."
I looked at the sky as I spoke.
"Just a few days ago, I first came to in the Demon King's Castle."
Her eyes widened a bit.
"Oh."
She paused.
"Then... you're like me."
I tilted my head.
"Like you?"
She nodded.
"I only know this place."
She scratched the dirt with her toe.
"Here."
She looked around the forest.
"This forest."
The wind blew. Leaves shook. Listening to the sound, she continued.
"I know everything nearby. That tree, that rock, that stream. Even that rabbit. But nothing beyond."
So casually. Yet strangely calm.
I thought about her words for a moment. Then asked,
"Can't you leave?"
"Not that I can't... well, no, I can't leave."
"Why?"
She plucked a blade of grass. Rolled it slowly between her fingers.
"The forest hurts if I go far."
The blade fell to the soil.
"So I stay."
She looked up at the sky again. Stars twinkling.
"That's why I was curious."
I glanced sideways. She was looking at me.
"About the outside."
It was a moment where I felt ashamed for not being able to explain.
The night air was clear. Moonlight bright, earth always delicious. I looked at the sky briefly. So many stars. Even after staring for so long, they felt strangely abundant.
The girl watched me quietly. I said casually,
"Wanna go out then?"
She whipped her head around.
"Didn't you hear me? I can't leave."
"No."
I placed my hand on the ground. Moist soil against my palm. And beneath it. I extended my roots a bit deeper.
Felt the water channels flowing through the soil, the thick tree roots intertwined. I followed that sensation, slowly moving my hand.
The wind blew. Leaves shook greatly. The whole forest seemed to inhale, subtly shifting.
The girl froze beside me.
"...Huh?"
My roots delved deeper. Touched distant tree roots. Connected to the water channels below.
"You can go."
I said, looking at the sky.
"I'll watch the forest."
At that moment. The wind swept through the forest once more. Trees swayed gently. Grass bowed low.
The girl held her breath, looking around. The tense forest flow was slowly stabilizing.
She murmured softly.
"...The forest..."
Her eyes widened more.
"...It's calm."
"So, wanna go out now?"
Yeah. I could do it.