Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Into the Forest

The morning sun had barely risen when Kyle placed an empty woven basket on the wooden table.

"We're almost out of medicine."

Lumi looked inside the basket.

"Again?"

Kyle laughed softly.

"Patients don't wait for herbs to grow."

He turned to Lyra.

"Would you help Lumi gather fresh herbs from the western forest?"

Lyra nodded immediately.

"Of course."

Kyle walked to a shelf and took out a folded piece of paper.

He handed it to Lumi.

"These are the herbs we need today."

Lumi unfolded it.

"Silver Mint... Wild Sage... Morning Fern..."

She smiled confidently.

"I know where to find all of them."

Kyle looked at Lyra.

"The western forest is safe."

"But don't go beyond the old stone cliffs."

His expression grew more serious.

"The paths become confusing there."

Lyra met his eyes.

"I'll remember."

Kyle hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"And if anything feels strange..."

"Come back immediately."

Lumi laughed.

"Master Kyle, you're worrying too much."

"I'm with Lyra."

Kyle smiled helplessly.

"That's exactly why I'm worried."

Lyra tilted her head.

"Why?"

"You've only been here a few days."

"The forest is beautiful..."

"But it can be dangerous for someone who doesn't know it."

A faint smile appeared on Lyra's face.

"I've lived among forests all my life."

Kyle blinked.

"Really?"

She quickly realized what she had said.

"I mean..."

"I grew up near one."

Kyle nodded without asking another question.

Lumi picked up the basket and headed toward the door.

"Come on!"

"If we leave now, we'll be back before lunch."

Lyra followed her outside.

As the village disappeared behind them, the fresh scent of pine filled the air.

She quietly looked toward the distant western hills.

That was where she had fallen into the Human Realm.

If the Fox Gem was still there...

Today might be her only chance to find it

The deeper they walked into the forest, the cooler the air became.

Lumi stopped beside a patch of green plants.

"Here!"

She knelt and pointed at the long silver leaves.

"This is Silver Mint."

Lyra crouched beside her and gently rubbed one leaf between her fingers.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"It smells fresh..."

"...with a hint of rain."

Lumi looked at her curiously.

"You can tell just by smelling it?"

Lyra smiled.

"Every herb has its own voice."

Lumi blinked.

"I wish herbs talked to me too."

"They do."

Lyra handed her the leaves.

"You just have to listen."

Lumi laughed.

"I think you're the strange one."

They filled part of the basket before continuing along the narrow trail.

Suddenly, Lyra stopped walking.

Her eyes slowly moved toward a group of towering trees.

Lumi noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Lyra pointed ahead.

"I think Wild Sage grows over there."

Lumi looked in the same direction.

"Oh!"

"You're right!"

"I didn't even notice."

"I'll collect these flowers first."

"You can go ahead."

Lyra nodded.

"I won't go far."

As soon as Lumi turned away...

Lyra quietly changed direction.

Her steps became slower.

More careful.

Every tree...

Every stone...

Felt strangely familiar.

"...This is where I fell."

She whispered to herself.

The broken branches were still there.

The moss-covered rocks looked exactly as she remembered.

She searched beneath the bushes.

Behind fallen logs.

Between the roots of ancient trees.

Nothing.

Not even the faintest trace of the blue Fox Gem.

Lyra clenched her hands.

"It has to be here..."

"I know it does..."

A distant voice echoed through the forest.

"Lyra!"

Lumi's cheerful voice carried between the trees.

"Did you find the Wild Sage?"

Lyra quickly stood up.

She took one last look around.

"...Not yet."

But she wasn't talking about the herbs.

Lyra brushed the dirt from her hands before walking back toward Lumi.

Lumi was placing bundles of herbs into the basket one by one.

"There you are!"

"I thought you got lost."

Lyra forced a small smile.

"I was looking for the Wild Sage."

Lumi lifted a bunch of dark green leaves.

"I already found plenty."

She tilted her head.

"But... you look disappointed."

Lyra looked at the ground for a moment.

"I couldn't find what I was searching for."

Lumi smiled reassuringly.

"Then we'll look again next time."

Lyra nodded.

"...Thank you."

They continued deeper into the forest together.

Lumi suddenly raised her hand.

"Wait."

She pointed toward a steep rocky slope.

"The Morning Fern grows there."

Lyra looked up.

The plants were growing between narrow cracks in the rocks.

"I'll climb."

Lumi shook her head immediately.

"No."

"The rocks are slippery."

"I always climb them."

Before Lyra could answer, Lumi was already making her way upward.

"Be careful!" Lyra called.

"I am!"

Lumi laughed.

"I've done this since I was little."

She reached for the first fern.

Then another.

Just as she stretched toward the highest one...

A small stone slipped beneath her foot.

"Lumi!"

Her body lost balance.

She fell backward.

Without thinking, Lyra rushed forward.

She caught Lumi before she struck the ground.

The basket rolled across the forest floor, scattering herbs everywhere.

For a few seconds...

Neither of them spoke.

Lumi looked up at Lyra with wide eyes.

"...You caught me."

Lyra slowly helped her stand.

"Are you hurt?"

Lumi blinked, still surprised.

"No..."

She stared at Lyra's slender arms.

"I don't understand."

"You don't look strong enough to stop someone from falling."

Lyra quickly released her hands.

"I reacted before I could think."

Lumi smiled brightly.

"Well..."

"I'm glad you did."

The two girls knelt together, gathering the scattered herbs.

As Lyra reached beneath a thick patch of grass...

Her fingers touched something cold.

Not a stone.

Not a root.

Something smooth... and perfectly round.

Lyra slowly pulled her hand back.

The strange object was half buried beneath the soil.

For a moment, she hesitated.

"Lumi..."

Something in her voice made Lumi stop collecting the herbs.

"What is it?"

Lyra carefully moved the grass aside.

A small round object appeared beneath the roots.

It was not a stone.

Its surface was smooth, almost like polished glass.

But there was something unusual about it.

A faint golden light was moving inside.

Lumi leaned closer.

"What... is that?"

"I don't know."

Lyra reached for it again.

The moment her fingers touched the object...

A strange warmth spread through her hand.

She immediately pulled away.

"Did you feel that?"

Lumi looked confused.

"Feel what?"

Lyra stared at the object.

"The warmth."

Lumi picked it up carefully.

Nothing happened.

She turned it around in her hand.

"It's just a strange little stone."

"But..."

Lyra looked at it carefully.

"No."

"This isn't a normal stone."

Lumi smiled.

"You always think everything is mysterious."

Lyra remained silent.

Because deep inside...

She knew.

She had seen something similar before.

A long time ago.

Before she lost her memories.

Before she arrived in this forest.

A faint sound suddenly echoed between the trees.

A whisper.

Almost too quiet to hear.

"Find me..."

Lyra froze.

"Lumi."

"What?"

"Did you hear that?"

Lumi looked around.

"Hear what?"

The forest became completely silent.

The birds stopped singing.

The wind stopped moving.

Lyra held the strange object tightly.

For the first time since entering the forest...

She felt that something was watching them.