SILVER-HAIRED-Chapter 168: The Spirit Forest

"I think it has everything to do with it," Nicklaus said sternly. "When Yelena was beginning to come to with her memories as she should, I tried stopping it, a little effort because I believed it was what was best for her, that our future matters, I didn’t want her death to be something she remembered", his teeth clenched as he bent his head in regret.

"Nicklaus," Celeste said, worried, placing a hand on her brother’s shoulder.

"I have made the biggest mistake of my life... Because Yelena is the only one capable of remembering what really happened 2 thousand years ago" he said as frustration overwhelmed him, how could he have been so stupid? "If only I let her remember" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"You think Edwina created a crack in the curse, but only a condition that Lena remembers"

"That explains it" Celeste intoned. "Although I do not know why she would go far, it still doesn’t make sense"

"At least we know now that someone is manipulating us, our memories got altered, we have to find that snake" Alaric clarified.

"The aftereffect I felt, it must have been my body trying to warn me that there’s a spell lingering around us, the same spell that altered our memories," Nicklaus said.

"Must be someone powerful, or our enemies, gods we have enemies, where do we even start from? It’s like we are in a bottomless pit we can’t even crawl from" Celeste said, rubbing her temples.

"Brother, is there at least any spell in this Grimoire that can tell us what has been used against us?" Alaric sighed.

"That is what I intend to find," Nicklaus said standing upright and stretching his hand forward, the Grimore pages instantly start flipping automatically at lightning speed.

Celeste and Alaric awaited in itching hoping for some answers, her orbs on the pages.

The pages seized their flip and Nicklaus’ eyes narrowed.

"What?! What is it? Why did it stop?" Celeste asked desperately.

"There is no spell, I can’t find any" Nicklaus said puzzled, he surely pull his cards in that he would find an answer but it seems like the forbidden Grimore had nothing, whoever caused this alteration must be someone very powerful.

"We’re grasping at straws..."

"Yelena," Nicklaus said. "If she’s the only one that can remember there’s no telling what might happen to her now she’s alone"

"Edwina intended to separate you two for a reason, we don’t even know the Realm she’s in"

"We have to keep looking we have to"

Alaric rubbed his chin in thought. "She left because she knew she was cursed, she didn’t want to hurt you to be exact, alone shouldered with a curse she cannot bear, where do you think she would go, Nicklaus"

Nicklaus took a prolonged thought.

"She must want to remember, she has always been desperate to remember," Celeste said.

"The Spirit Forest," Nicklaus said in realization. "Where it all began"

"But when Yelena died the Realm vanished from existence, no one could ever locate it," Celeste said.

"She’s shifted now, her Fox spirit is back so my guess is, the Realm’s tethered back to the borders" Alaric intoned.

"But I do not feel the Realm," Nicklaus said.

"What?"

"Realms are magical lands, I can feel them if I concentrate better but I cannot feel the Spirit Forest, it’s still lost"

"Then where could she possibly be?".

¤●¤

Sounds of birds chirping could be heard, my fur brushed some grasses and then I came in the view of the Spirit forest, it looked more like an enchanted forest to be exact and it was breathtaking, it looked even better than it was in my dreams, I was before wonder itself and it felt so nostalgic, so close, so warm and so wonderful.

I took a deep breath of the air and my tails spread out freely, the air brushed against my fur, it was the best feeling ever because each gust of the wind carried flower petals and it seemed to enlighten me from within.

Butterflies of several colors graced the skies freely and colorful birds too, completing everything to make it perfect and the skies had rainbows lined in every path of the skies, a faint color of it. And some spills of water from the waterfalls illuminated the area. I could see some mountains ahead covered in clouds with my fox eyes.

"Get back here Lion, you think you’re smart huh?" at the Male voice I turned.

Curious I sauntered to the path I heard it from, it sounded so familiar, not wanting to cause any attention yet, I hid in the bush, making sure I was unnoticed and I saw it.

A red Fox was head to head with a white lion twice his size. The lion rolled his eyes.

Okay, this wasn’t actually animals was it, because they acted like...

"I have told you many times, I will not duel with you or whatever you call it, it’s ridiculous," the lion said.

Humans!

"Oh yeah, why? Because I’m small huh huh" the Fox intoned.

"Oh stop it Gideon" A white Rabbit hopped in, paws on the waist.

"Thank you, Ava, at least I’m not the only one who thinks he’s hot blooded," the Lion said.

"Huh Huh what did you say, come here say it a little closer Puma I will show you what Fox claws feel like," Gideon said raising his paws on the go.

"Ugh!" Ava tapped her forehead.

Wait... Puma the Lion, Ava the Rabbit, Gideon the Fox.

"You guys!" I was out of hiding before I knew it, they were the same from my dreams, animals I knew.

They gasped when they saw me, becoming still like statues, maybe I shouldn’t have done such an outburst, they were merely startled right now.

"Lady Yelena?" Ava said, stretching her head forward, looking into my eyes.

"Lady Yelena?" Gideon said, puzzled. "But she’s" and he looked at him.

"LADY YELENA!" during their outburst Gideon and Ava jumped at me and I lost my balance falling to the ground.

"It’s really you, we thought you were dead!" They were next to me and I forced my body up.

"It’s you," Puma said and I could have sworn he almost cried.

I remained still, I didn’t know what to say or how to act but I couldn’t shove the warmth I felt when I gape at them, an odd feeling but I acknowledged it because I knew for a fact they were the closest path to me in my past life.

"I’m sorry" I began finally breaking the silence. "I know you guys but at the same time I don’t" I was guilty of that, I have no recollection of anything at all.

They tilted their head to the side in question. "What do you mean My lady? It’s us" Ava said, spreading her paws, a smile on her lips.

"I know but..." I didn’t know what to say, maybe I should have just stayed hidden, the way they looked at me was like they saw their sun, their light, and their hope. I looked around and I could spot other animals coming and surrounding the area whispering among them. I felt nervous.

"Is everything alright? Lady Yelena" Puma asked walking toward me, giving me a worried face.

I automatically moved backward. "I’m sorry" and then I turned and jumped away from the scene.

I felt pathetic, why did I run? Why didn’t I stay and tell them everything? gods I was a confused mess, but I couldn’t shove the feel of deep guilt I felt because in this Form I could feel their feelings, everything, I felt deep loneliness from them upon my death, they remained here for 2 thousand years alone, with no guide, just them, I have already been with them, I knew it and I felt it, I couldn’t imagine the pain they must have felt when I was gone.

I was feeling everything and it brought tears to my eyes, I came to a sudden halt close to the waterfall, settling down and crying, I feel so awful, I felt everything they felt and it consumed me from the inside out, I sniffled shaking my head, I thought coming back here would just be a walk in the park but I thought really wrong, some Guardian I was.

I used my hand to rub my cheeks. I paused, wait... hand? I opened my eyes and looked, I wasn’t looking at paws right now but my hand, but still covered in fur and then the realization struck me, I was reversing back to my human form.

I leaned downwards as a sharp pain found my chest, it was so painful, it was similar to the one I had before I disappeared but not that intense, the furs retreated and as it did, the pain only became more prominent and before I knew it I was panting and trying to catch my breath, I helplessly crawled close to the water so that I can see my reflection and I did.