Then I stood frozen in the middle of the forest path.
The air was thick, damp, and a heavy silence hung between the trees—as if the whole world were secretly watching me. I didn't know if I could really survive out there.
Although… what the rabbit had said echoed in my mind: "You cannot die."
That explained why I was still alive, even after that enormous dragon had torn me apart when I was with Jeanne. The image of its jaws, the roaring fire, the pain—all came back to me like a blow to the chest.
I took a deep breath and looked at my hands: they were trembling. Fear and uncertainty followed me like shadows.
Then I drew my sword from its sheath. Its edge was worn, chipped, and almost dull. It looked like a reflection of myself—tired, broken, yet still standing.
I began to think about what I should do next.
The wind blew softly, stirring the dry leaves beneath my feet. A crow cawed in the distance, reminding me that even if I couldn't die, that didn't mean I couldn't suffer.
—Now… what should I do? —I murmured to myself—. If I go out there to fight monsters, maybe I'll just die over and over again without achieving anything… Sooner or later, this blade will shatter if I don't repair it.
The thought weighed on me like a stone in my chest. I was alone, confused, trapped in a cycle of death and rebirth without purpose. But then, an idea lit up inside me: talk to Leaf.
Maybe she knew something—something that could help me.
So I turned around and started walking back toward where the rabbit was. The path was covered in twisted roots, and the forest seemed to close its branches around me, as if it didn't want to let me go.
The air smelled of wet earth, of life and decay. Every step I took echoed faintly in the distance.
When I arrived, the rabbit wasn't alone.
Beside him, floating cheerfully, was Leaf. Her small body glowed with a soft green light, gentle and dancing. She flew and spun among the withered flowers, leaving a trail of luminous dust behind her.
Seeing her made me smile, almost without realizing it.
I decided to approach. Maybe she could help me more than I thought.
—Hey, Leaf —I said, raising my voice a little—. Can I talk to you for a moment?
She twirled in the air, stopping her playful flight, and looked at me with those bright green eyes.
—Yes, of course! What do you need me for, hehe? —she answered in her mischievous tone, floating right in front of me.
Her cheerfulness was contagious. Deep down, I think she enjoyed talking to me.
—Leaf… do you know how I can become stronger?
She tilted her head curiously.
—Stronger, you say? Ohhh, that's interesting… —she spun once in the air as she thought—. You see, the undead can become very powerful for a very simple reason. The same goes for the people of this land. Do you know what that reason is?
I slowly shook my head.
—No, I don't. What is it?
She looked at me with a teasing smile, clearly enjoying having the answer.
—When you defeat monsters, they drop souls. Those souls will help you level up. But to do that, you'll need to visit the rabbit, —she said, pointing at him with a giggle—, he'll help you increase your level.
—Right now, you're only level one, which means you're easy prey. But if you learn to use souls, you'll be able to improve your abilities and survive.
Hearing her speak like that gave me a spark of hope.
She went on with excitement:
—Also, there are different kinds of colored souls, each with a special purpose. For example, the green soul helps you increase your health—it makes you more resistant. Then there's the purple soul, which is for MP, meaning the amount of magic you can use… or something like that, hehe. I'm not totally sure, but I know there are others—blue, yellow, even some black ones and more—all with different uses.
I nodded, remembering something.
—Then… that green soul I found, the one shaped like a circle… that was it, wasn't it? When I touched it, I felt it enter my body.
Leaf beamed from ear to ear, floating close to my face.
—So you've already touched one! Hehe! Those will help you a lot. Each one you absorb will make you a bit stronger. But don't forget something important: your weapons must also be cared for. Power is useless if your sword crumbles in your hands.
As she said that, her wings shone brightly.
—That's why I decided to help you, —she added—. It wouldn't be fair to leave you with a broken sword.
Then, smiling, she pointed toward a nearby tree.
—I'll give you this sword I found.
I followed the direction of her tiny finger and saw a sword leaning against the trunk. Its blade, though old, gleamed with a silvery hue under the faint light filtering through the branches. Ancient engravings ran along its hilt.
Leaf flew in circles around the weapon, so excited that her small body sometimes vanished behind its glow.
—This will help you a lot. It's a sword from an ancient knight. Not the most powerful, but it has history… and endurance. It'll serve you well until you find something better. Your current sword is about to break, so use this one and… let's go on an adventure!
I carefully took the sword. Its weight was perfect—balanced. I felt a warm current flow through my arm, as if the metal recognized me.
I looked at it with gratitude.
—Thank you so much, Leaf. I don't have words for what you've done for me. With this, I'm sure I can grow stronger… and maybe, dissolve the fog.
She crossed her arms, pretending to be proud.
—I see… so you want to be a hero and save everyone, huh? —she said with a crooked smile—. Well, if that's the case, that's what we'll do.
Her voice shifted, more serious and determined—
—Our first destination will be the Forest of the Abandoned. That's where the witch lives. Maybe she knows something about how to break the fog.
Her words intrigued me.
The Forest of the Abandoned… just the name made me imagine ruins covered in moss and other forgotten things.
—All right —I finally said—. Lead the way. If there's a chance to end this, I'll take it.
Leaf nodded eagerly, spinning once in the air.
—Perfect! Then let's not waste any more time. —She clapped her tiny glowing hands—. Let's go, before night falls!
The rabbit, who had been silent the whole time, watched us from atop a rock.
—Be careful —he said in a deep voice—. The forest forgives neither the living nor the dead.
His words stayed etched in my mind, cold as the wind that whispered between the trees.
Then I decided to follow Leaf.
She flew ahead of me, leaving behind a glowing trail that lit up the path. She was my only guide—the only one who seemed to know what to do.
And so our journey began.
We had just stepped into the Forest of the Abandoned.