Pasito was moving westward, a mischievous grin dancing across his face, as if he had just defeated a soul and was secretly celebrating his victory. He leapt from tree to tree with playful ease, almost like he was enjoying some private joke.
But suddenly, he stopped.
Landing on a sturdy branch, he froze for a moment.
His eyes widened in surprise as he stared ahead.
The forest had changed.
The trees there were massive—far larger than anything he had seen before—and the jungle had grown unnaturally dense, as if it was hiding something… or someone.
Pasito looked ahead in astonishment.
"Such a dense jungle… and just look at these trees—huge and unbelievably strong," he muttered.
Then he shrugged lightly.
"Anyway, no point wasting time… let's move forward."
But almost immediately, he yawned.
"Though… I could really use some rest."
With that, Pasito began moving forward at great speed, entering deeper into the jungle. Inside, only faint light managed to slip through the thick canopy above, giving the place an eerie, quiet atmosphere.
His movements started to slow.
Sleep was creeping in.
Leaping down from a branch, he finally stepped onto the ground. Stretching his arms, he let out a long yawn—he was clearly exhausted.
"Ugh… forget it," Pasito grumbled lazily.
"I'm sleepy. Why should I bother calling those people? They can find their own way to the fort."
Just then, his eyes landed on a massive branch of a towering tree.
It was long… and positioned high above the ground, almost like a perfect resting spot.Pasito chuckled softly.
"Looks like I've found my jackpot."
With that, he began climbing toward the massive branch, putting in steady effort. Step by step, he moved closer to his goal… until finally, he reached it.
Standing atop the branch, he balanced himself carefully. In one hand, he gripped his blade, ready to strike at any moment. Then, with a casual motion, he secured his weapon onto another branch nearby.
Satisfied, Pasito stretched out and lay down exactly where he stood, using the height as his resting spot.
But just as his eyes began to close…
A sound echoed through the jungle.
A girl… crying.
The voice was faint, yet chilling—unnaturally eerie.
And within that cry, the pain was unmistakable… as if something terrible had happened.
Hearing the voice, Pasito flinched in fear and lost his balance.
Before he could react, he slipped off the branch—
and fell straight to the ground below.
Thud.
For a brief moment, everything went silent.
As he looked up…
There, right in front of him, sat a girl.
The moment she saw him, she began to smile.
Pasito, still shaken, quickly muttered,
"I… I almost died just now… that was close."
The girl tilted her head slightly and asked,
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Pasito let out a small laugh, brushing it off.
"No, I'm used to this."
He stretched his arms casually.
"Me and trees… we have a bit of a strange relationship."
Then, with a grin, he added,
"Whenever I fall, it doesn't really hurt anymore."The girl let out a soft laugh.
"Well, it's good that you didn't get hurt. By the way… where do you live?"
Pasito straightened up and replied casually,
"I'm from Tokaina. And you?"
For a moment, the girl seemed surprised—almost taken aback.
"I… I live here," she answered.
Pasito frowned slightly, disbelief in his eyes.
"Here? That's impossible. No one can survive in a place like this. Are you joking?"
The girl shook her head gently.
"I'm not joking."
Then, with a subtle shift in tone, she asked,
"What's your name?"
Pasito smiled lightly.
"My name is Pasichain Tokaina… but people call me Pasito."
He paused for a second, then looked at her curiously.
"And what about you?"
But instead of answering, the girl asked something unexpected—
"Do you like painting?"
Pasito blinked in surprise.
"…Yes. How did you know?"
He smiled a little, adding,
"I like painting… and music too. What about you? What do you like?"
like beautiful trees," the girl said softly.
Pasito blinked, slightly confused.
Has she gone crazy? he thought. What's beautiful about these trees…?
But instead, he smiled and said,
"Yeah… they're very beautiful."
The girl laughed gently.
"By the way, my name is Karuna."
She glanced around the forest as she continued,
"Trees and plants… they create many medicines. They keep us from falling sick."
Pasito observed her quietly.
She seems nice… but something feels off. The way she sits… it's too stiff, almost unnatural… like she doesn't belong to this time.
He spoke out loud,
"Looks like you know a lot about all this."
The girl smiled again.
"Are you looking for someone?"
Pasito nodded.
"Yes, I came to take people back to the fort. But… how do you even live here?"
Without answering directly, Karuna suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him deeper into the jungle.
"Hey—wait!" Pasito exclaimed as he ran behind her.
"Where are you taking me?"
"I have to show you something," she replied, her voice echoing faintly through the dense forest.
"And tell you… where the others might be."
In the rush, Pasito didn't notice something important.
His blade…
was still left behind, resting on the branch.
A mistake—
one that might cost him everything.With every step, Pasito and Karuna moved deeper into darkness and silence.
The air grew heavier.
Pasito exhaled tiredly.
"Where is your home? I'm exhausted…"
Karuna replied calmly,
"You'll understand everything soon."
Pasito looked around at the towering trees.
"They look so ancient… almost as if they were once cut down mercilessly."
Karuna stopped for a moment.
"These trees… are our souls," she said softly.
"They are the source of our growth… our existence."
Pasito frowned, confused, his gaze fixed on her.
"What do you mean…?"
Karuna turned slightly toward him.
"You don't understand. These trees protect us from every danger. And here… not a single tree has ever been cut."
Her voice lowered.
"Cutting a tree here… is forbidden."
At that very moment, Pasito's eyes caught something in the distance.
Figures.
People.
He froze in shock.
"In a place like this… even breathing feels like a privilege," he whispered.
"How can anyone live here…?"
A strange realization crept into his mind.
This place… feels like a dwelling of souls.