Kevin wakes up from his dream. He desperately needs rest after exertions on his body and toll on his emotions. 

In the dream, Quinn carries a younger Kevin in his arms, walking through a bitter winter. Snow barely clings to their clothes, but the wind cuts cruelly at their exposed skin. Kevin is warm against his brother’s chest. How old is he? Five, maybe? Too sleepy to walk, he had begged Quinn to carry him.

This dream has nothing particularly special, yet Kevin can’t resist the urge to cry again. His brother had crossed the designated finish line, just as all mortals must.

He pushes the door open, ready to find Seraphona and tell her he’s prepared to depart.

“How’s your sleep, boy?” She looks stunning in a simple white cotton chainse. Her white-gold hair glows under the chandelier light, a few strands lying casually on her shoulder. Her gaze is soft, her sympathy echoing her own wounded memories.

“Well, the bed was a bit too hard. The blanket was nice, but I’d prefer something thinner in this warm weather.”

“Okay, let’s just move on.”

***

Seraphona now rides an armored pegasus, having changed into her armor. Kevin sits behind her on the same saddle, arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

The pegasus gallops forward, its wings unfurling as it picks up speed across the ground.

“No, no. Slow down, please!” Kevin yelps, squirming as the hard leather saddle punishes his every bounce.

 “My butt is not made for this!”

“Do not be worried,” Seraphona replies calmly. “Lulu has never dropped a single passenger in flight.”

“‘Never’ doesn’t mean I won’t be the first!” Kevin shouts, clinging tighter.

“You’ve never ridden a horse before?”

“Who still rides horses? It’s the twenty-first century, lady! We have cars!”

“Humans are degrading themselves.”

“Horses don’t have batteries that last three hundred miles.”

“But Lulu can fly.”

With a powerful leap, the pegasus launches into the sky. Its wings beat gracefully, lifting them higher and higher. Mountains shrink beneath them, rendered small by the vastness of the open air.

***

A tremendous forest looms ahead, its massive, gnarly trees forming an impenetrable stronghold of mystery.

They land in an open space just before the forest’s edge.

Kevin jumps down, feeling a wave of relief. The air is thin and cold at such high altitudes, and he'd struggled to breathe on the pegasus.

“We are about to step into the territory of the Forgiven Forest,” Seraphona says, gazing at the immovable, towering trees. “The Lady of Destiny resides here, but we need to continue on foot to reach her.”

“Why can’t we ride Lulu?”

“Because the trees will strangle her, and it’s hard for her to escape in such narrow spaces.”

“Those trees are alive?”

“Yes, they are spirit trees, acting under their own free will.”

“Will they attack us?”

“Yes, we are prey to them as well.”

“Okay, bye. I’m going home.”

Seraphona rolls her eyes, pulls Kevin along by the arm, and walks toward the forest. They step into its shadowed edge. It’s eerily quiet and peaceful. Squirrels, rabbits, and other small animals scurry around, busy searching for food.

The light still filters through the leaves above them, but as they venture deeper into the forest, it begins to fade. Eventually, they find themselves surrounded by dim, shadowy spaces, the only illumination coming from strange flowers glowing faintly on the tree branches and giant fireflies drifting lazily through the air or resting on the bark and branches.

They slow their pace. Seraphona scans her surroundings with sharp, practiced alertness. Kevin, meanwhile, is distracted, mesmerized by the size of the towering tree trunks and the dense tangle of branches, vines, and thorns wrapping around them. Countless streams wind through the roots, slipping between stones like veins in the earth.

“It’s so quiet here,” Kevin remarks, his steps growing lighter, less cautious.

“Watch where you step!” Seraphona warns him. “We don’t want to attract unwanted attention.” She glances at her compass, its metallic case beginning to collect moisture from the cold, damp air.

“Screeeeeeecthhh!”

A shrill, spine-chilling sound slices through the stillness, making Kevin’s hair stand on end as a shudder runs through his body.

“Come here!” Seraphona hisses, yanking Kevin behind a tree. She presses her back against the bark, one hand clamping over Kevin’s mouth, her gauntlet is cold and firm against his face as the back of his head rests against her chest plate.

A colossal shadow looms, moving slowly through the trees. The scent of blood lingers in the air, thick and oppressive. The ground shakes beneath its footfalls, stones crunching under its weight.

“Screeeeeeeeechhhhh!”

Another shrill scream echoes, and the creature emerges from the gloom. Its bloody eyes glint with malice and unsatisfied hunger.