Leon Richinaria did not expect to end up in an enchantment forest.
If someone had told him that before the Second Epoch Cycle began that he, Leon of the Richinaria Dynasty, would be trapped in a living, breathing forest of ancient trees and whispering flora, he would've laughed and gone back to sharpening his blade.
Yet here he was.
A full month had passed. It was a full month of Krepsunas crawling out of bark and soil like parasites that refused to stay buried. They came in packs, sometimes alone, all at the Scavenger Rank. He killed every single one of them. It wasn't hard, especially the grueling training he went through in Aquamarine for months. He slept when the forest allowed it. He ate what little was safe. He waited for an exit that never came.
Then, on the first day of the second month since the Second Epoch Cycle began, he heard singing.
The sound slid through the trees. The vocalizing was impossibly gentle for a realm that had known nothing but screams for weeks. Leon froze mid-step. The forest itself seemed to pause. Leaves stopped rustling. The fog got thinner.
He spotted real, glowing notes of sound through the air like drifting petals. They spiraled around him playfully, nudging him forward. Leon frowned.
"This is how people die," he muttered to himself.
And still, he followed. Nestled within the clearing, was a pond. At its center sat a woman. She rested atop the water as if gravity had forgotten to apply to her.
She played a harpex. Each pluck sent ripples not through the pond, but through reality itself. Her voice rose with the instrument. It wasn't a song meant for conquest or glory. It wasn't sorrowful either. It was a melody that existed just for that moment. Her six wings were spread behind her.
Feathers drifted from them as they descended. They wandered around, filling the clearing like snowflakes. Avians of every kind Leon could name—and many he couldn't—hovered and glided in slow circles around the pond. Even the fish gathered beneath her with their silver bodies glinting just below the surface, moving in gentle, synchronized patterns.
Leon forgot to breathe when he saw her appearance.
Golden hair cascaded down her back and shoulders. Her face was soft and impossibly serene, sculpted with the kind of care only divinity could afford. There were no irises or pupils in her eyes.
Leon knew her. Every Divine who was in the Dynasty Meeting did. Every immortal whispered her name with reverence or fear.
Throenia Andelaris, one of the Triarchs of Heaven, The Seraphim of Sanctity.
The song reached its final note. Throenia's fingers stopped plucking the strings. The harpex hummed once more, then fell silent.
Only then did the world remember how to move. She looked directly at Leon.
"So, you are the one who has been cleaning the forest."
Leon stood up instinctively.
"You could say that."
Leon watched her move across the water as though it were solid ground, his mouth dry.
"So… do you know anything about this Epoch Cycle? Why did we end up here? Why does the forest even exists like this? I do not possess complete knowledge of the cycles, though I understand portions of their design. This forest exists as a sanctuary and a test shaped to challenge and protect simultaneously. It is not meant for idle wandering. Only those who can withstand its trials may pass through with purpose."
Leon ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long sigh.
"A sanctuary that nearly kills you if you are not careful… sure, that makes sense. I have been here for a month now, killing Krepsunas and making sure they do not infest this forest. I had no idea anyone else was watching. I… I guess I'm late to the party."
"The forest has observed your deeds. It has noted your persistence, your strength, and your adherence to balance. Your actions have been in alignment with the purpose of this domain, though you act without full understanding of the greater design."
Leon blinked, feeling both reassured and frustrated. "So, basically, I'm doing the right thing without even knowing why? That's… great. Fantastic. Perfect. I probably would have gotten lost without someone or something keeping track."
Throenia lowered her gaze to him. The intensity of her pure white eyes made him squirm just a little.
"You possess insight and skill yet you rely upon your instinct as much as upon knowledge. That is acceptable. This forest is forgiving to those who act decisively, though it is less forgiving to hesitation."
Leon shook his head, rubbing his temples.
"Decisive, huh? I've not slept well, not eaten well, and if I'm honest, I'm beginning to feel like a slightly overworked guard dog in an enchanted forest. Not exactly what I expected from an Epoch Cycle, but I guess I should not complain."
Throenia's wings shifted, letting a few more white feathers drift lazily onto the water.
"You are to cease complaining and follow me. The forest shall not wait for your comfort. Darkness approaches and remaining here will expose you to unnecessary peril."
"Alright, alright, I will follow you. Lead the way, oh great floating angel. But, uh… before we go, do I get a warning if more Krepsunas show up? Because I'm running a little low on patience."
Throenia's eyes softened slightly, and she extended a hand toward him.
"You need not worry. This is not a contest of elegance. Shall we go?"
Leon hesitated then stepped forward. He glanced at her outstretched hand, then at her wings, then back at the pond.
"Alright… I guess I'm doing this. Just… please do not laugh if I fall in."
Throenia gave a faint, serene smile. "You shall not fall if you keep your mind focused. The forest guides those who guide themselves. Move with intent, Leon Richinaria."
He took her hand cautiously, feeling a strange warmth despite the chill in the air.
"Alright, guide me then, oh holy harpex player… let us get out of here before it gets dark. I don't fancy being eaten alive by Krepsunas tonight."
Throenia simply nodded. In an instant, they flew up in the air.