The Wizard looked at me, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes that was almost imperceptible, and said slowly, "Little girl, my first trial is for you to pass through this cursed Misty Forest. The forest is shrouded in mist that can make one lose their way, filled with dangerous traps and mysterious creatures."
I took a deep breath, nodded with determination in my gaze, and resolutely stepped into the Misty Forest.
The moment I set foot inside, the thick mist surged toward me like a raging tide, instantly enveloping me completely.
Before my eyes, it was as if a heavy white curtain had been drawn, so hazy that I could barely see a meter ahead.
The damp fog carried a musty, ancient scent that invaded my nostrils without restraint—a smell like rotting wood buried deep underground for years, mixed with the earthy stench of wet soil. A chill rose from the depths of my heart.
I moved my steps cautiously, each one feeling as though I were treading on the edge of an unknown abyss, filled with wariness and fear.
The ground beneath my feet was covered in damp leaves and rotting branches, each step producing a crisp "crunch" that seemed like a warning from the forest itself.
In my hand, I clutched a thick branch tightly, its rough texture rubbing against my palm. The slight pain gave me a faint sense of security.
It was not only a makeshift walking stick but also my only means of defense against potential dangers.
The trees around me were tall and twisted, like giants tormented by time and dark forces, their branches tangled and intertwined.
The dense foliage formed an intricate, labyrinthine maze, making it impossible to discern direction.
I strained to identify a possible path, but it was all in vain.
The swirling mist seemed to possess its own consciousness and will, like a mischievous and malevolent spirit, constantly shifting forms—sometimes gathering into thick walls, other times dispersing into wispy threads.
It toyed with my judgment, plunging me into deep confusion, as though I were trapped in a chaotic world with no escape.
As I walked, I suddenly heard a faint "rustling" sound.
In the silence of the slumbering forest, the noise was startlingly abrupt, as if it had shattered a thousand years of stillness.
I froze in panic, my feet rooted to the ground, ears straining as every nerve in my body tensed, listening intently for the source of the mysterious sound.
A group of shadowy figures flickered in and out of the mist, approaching me slowly and soundlessly, like phantoms.
With each step they took closer, my heartbeat quickened, pounding so violently it felt like it might burst from my chest, each thud striking my ribs like a hammer.
As they drew nearer, I realized with horror that they were a pack of wild wolves.
Their eyes glowed with an eerie green light in the mist, like ghostly flames from the depths of hell, sinister and terrifying, as if they could pierce through my soul.
Their sharp teeth gleamed with a cold, deadly sheen in the darkness, each one as sharp as a blade—like the scythe of death, ready to claim a life.
They let out low, guttural growls, a sound that seemed like a summons from the underworld, brimming with endless malice and cruelty.
The vibrations of their voices traveled through the air, reaching my body and freezing my blood in an instant. I trembled uncontrollably, as though wrapped in an invisible chill.
I stumbled backward in fear, the leaves and twigs beneath my feet crunching loudly under my frantic steps, the noise piercing the silence like a violation of the forest’s peace.
In my panic, I accidentally stepped on a dry branch—the sharp "snap" echoed through the suffocating stillness, as jarring as a sacrilege against the forest’s tranquility.
The wolves, startled by the sudden noise, instantly abandoned their slow approach. Their movements became swift and fierce, their eyes blazing with even fiercer green fire.
Their bodies tensed, muscles rippling with explosive power as they lunged toward me.
I turned and ran desperately, the howling wind in my ears like the shriek of death, sharp and piercing, mingling with the heavy footsteps of the pursuing wolves into a terrifying symphony of doom.
My legs felt as heavy as lead, but fear propelled me forward like an unstoppable force. My feet kicked up mud and leaves as I sprinted wildly.
Suddenly, my foot slipped, and I lost my balance, crashing hard onto the ground. The pungent smell of earth and rotting leaves flooded my nostrils, the stench so revolting it made my stomach churn.
I tried to scramble up, but my body was weak from sheer terror and exhaustion, my muscles aching, my limbs like jelly.
The wolves closed in instantly, their panting breaths and growls roaring in my ears like thunder. Their hot, foul breath, thick with the stench of blood, washed over my face, nearly suffocating me.
I swung my branch wildly, screaming in terror and desperation, but one massive wolf seized the chance to pounce. Its razor-sharp claws slashed across my arm, leaving a deep, bloody gash.
Pain surged through me like a tidal wave, so intense my vision darkened, nearly knocking me unconscious. The wound felt like it had been torn open, every nerve screaming in agony.
But a fierce will to survive burned inside me, an unyielding flame that forced me to stagger to my feet and keep running, heedless of everything else.
Blood gushed from the wound, streaming down my arm and dripping onto the ground, leaving a trail of vivid crimson in the dim forest—a stark marker of my fading life.
I didn’t know how long I had been running or where I was headed. Each step felt like a march toward endless darkness and the brink of death.
The surroundings blurred in my vision, the trees and mist spinning into a distorted world.
My breathing grew ragged, my throat burning as though stuffed with scorching cotton, each inhale searing with pain. My legs had gone numb, moving mechanically forward.
After what felt like an eternity, exhaustion finally overtook me. My vision darkened, and unconsciousness began to swallow me whole.
Just before everything faded to black, I thought I saw a faint figure approaching through the mist—a flicker of light in the darkness, like a glimmer of hope...
