The Itezista Forest seemed quieter than ever. The wind had crept through the branches, and the sun's rays fell in patches of pale light on the wet leaves. Sofia and Dragoş walked slowly, side by side, as if every rustle could reveal a secret.
For several days, they had discovered strange signs carved on tree trunks — curved lines and circles that sometimes seemed to vibrate. Miral had not appeared, and his silence made them feel alone.
Dragoş, always curious, picked up a stick and began to draw the same symbols on the ground.
— "I feel like I know them from somewhere," he said. "I see them in my mind, even with my eyes closed."
Sofia looked at him carefully. The drawings came together in a round shape, like a star tangled in lights and shadows.
— "It's magic," she said quietly. "I know that."
The wind picked up, the leaves whirled in a strange dance, and a barely perceptible whisper came from the air:
— "Sofia… Dragoș…"
The girl flinched.
— "Did you hear?"
Dragoș nodded. Before anyone could say anything else, the ground beneath the boy lit up slightly, and a moment later, he disappeared.
— "Dragoș!" Sofia shouted, running forward. She tripped over the roots, crossed the clearing, calling to him in a trembling voice.
The light broke between the trees, and in the middle of a stone circle she saw him — lying, pale, but unharmed.
— "Where have you been?" she asks, picking him up.
— "I don't know… in a place with blue light. I heard a voice that said to me: 'Soon you will understand.'"
Sofia stared at him, trying to understand. Maybe the forest was testing them, maybe warning them. But something had changed—there was something else in Dragoş's eyes, a knowing that hadn't been there before.
The wind stopped. The forest became quiet, almost solemn. From somewhere, a ray of sunlight pierced the treetops and fell on their faces.
Sofia felt a shiver: the forest was showing them something, but she didn't know what yet.
She reached out and pulled Dragoş close.
— "Come home," she said. "The sun is setting. If we catch the night here…"
— "Yes, but… do you promise to come back?" he asked.
Sofia smiled wearily. "I promise."
They set off together, and as they walked away, the symbols drawn on the ground began to glow, then slowly faded, as if the forest had fallen asleep again.
When they emerged from the trees, the air changed—it smelled of warm bread, fire, and the rain that had just stopped. In the distance, the castle glowed in the sunset. It was dinnertime.
Sofia felt her heart still beating fast, but she forced herself to smile. Dragoş accompanied her to the side gate, where she could see the entire courtyard lit by torches.
— "Tomorrow," she said.
— "Tomorrow," he replied, and ran to his house in the village at the foot of the hill.
Sofia climbed the castle stairs. Inside, candles burned in tall candlesticks. Servants moved quickly, bringing platters of fruit, soup, and bread.
The Queen spotted her first.
— "Sofia, where have you been, my dear? Your cheeks are as cold as ice."
— "I walked… a little. With Dragoș."
The King, sitting at the table, looked up from the parchment he was writing on.
— "The forest is dangerous, Sofia. I have told you that many times."
The girl fell silent. The Queen stroked her cheek.
— "Leave her alone, my dear. She is a child. Curiosity is the fire of youth."
Sofia sat down, but said nothing more. Then the Queen put down the knife and smiled at Sofia.
— "My dear, we have something important to tell you."
Sofia looked at her curiously.
— "What happened?"
— "You are going to have a brother. Or a sister."
Sofia stood with her spoon in the air. Then her eyes filled with light.
— "Really?!"
The queen laughed softly.
- "Yes, my dear."
Sofia remained silent, but her heart filled with a strange warmth.
— "I will tell him about the forest," she said softly.
The king frowned.
— "No, Sofia. There is no talk about the forest. It is a forgotten place, and it must remain that way."
Silence fell around the table. Only the fire crackled in the fireplace.
After dinner, the girl retired to her room. From the window, she could see the forest in the distance, dark and full of mystery.
She thought about Dragoș, about the symbols on the earth, about that voice that had spoken their names.
When she closed her eyes, a pale ray of moonlight touched her face, and a warm, familiar voice crept into her mind:
— "We will meet again, Sofia... soon."
The girl stood up suddenly and looked out the window. Down below, among the trees in the garden, someone was watching her. Her silver hair shone in the moonlight.
It was Alexandra.
The figure disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, but Sofia's heart knew: everything was just beginning.
The shadows did not sleep.