A hundred kilometers beyond the great walls that encircle the Capital of the Kingdom of Zivilia lies a vast forest. It stretches across mountains, hills, rivers, lakes, ravines, and deep valleys.
This forest is called, The Forest of Nightmares.
Thousands of monsters dwell within, ranging from the weakest to the most fearsome, roaming freely in search of prey, hunting down anything that enters their sight.
It is also home to hundreds of Dungeons¹ hiding treasures of unimaginable value. For that reason, countless monster hunters and treasure seekers venture into the forest, risking their lives for fortune.
No one knows how this forest came to exist, nor where its monsters, Dungeons, and treasures originated. But one thing is certain, ordinary humans without strength are strictly forbidden to enter.
Fortunately, the forest is enclosed by a powerful barrier that protects the Capital and nearby towns from the monsters' attacks.
And, perhaps most importantly, this forest has a Guardian.
The Guardian of the Forest's Entrance, known to many as The Watcher.
She is a strange witch whose origins are unknown, just like the forest itself. No one knows how she became the Watcher, or how long she has guarded the forest.
Yet, one thing has become common knowledge: she is regarded almost as a deity within that land, as if she knows every inch of the forest like the back of her hand, and it is said that she alone keeps the monsters from crossing the barrier.
The words most often heard from her lips are: "Do you wish to meet all of my monsters?"
Her name is Tsana Norton, known as the Singing Witch, the Watcher, the Guardian of the Forest of Nightmares.
★★★
A green-covered book closed with a soft 'plup' before being placed neatly among the other books on a large wooden shelf in the corner of a modest wooden cottage.
"They exaggerate too much," Tsana murmured with a sigh.
She looked out the window. The morning was bright; dew dripped from the leaves, and a faint mist lingered as birds chirped to one another in the distance.
A peaceful morning, as always.
She adjusted the chair she had used and began to hum softly.
As her melody filled the air, a rustling sound came from outside, light and playful, like children's laughter. A gentle breeze blew in, carrying three dry leaves that danced gracefully in the air before slipping through the open window.
"Don't bring trash into the house," Tsana said.
As if understanding her, the leaves stopped midair, drooped a little, then floated back outside and fell onto the ground.
While tidying up the papers on her desk, Tsana spoke again, "Stop fooling around. I need to go to the Capital to inspect the candidates for the forest examination three days from now."
The wind slipped back inside, lifting the scattered papers into the air and neatly stacking them into a single pile.
When the floor was finally clear, hundreds of faint golden lights began to shimmer and gather, forming the silhouette of a small boy with golden hair and sage-green eyes. He hugged the stack of papers tightly, puffing his cheeks with a sulky expression.
His childish voice grumbled, "Inspecting the exam candidates is just an excuse, isn't it? You never go yourself, even when the headmaster of Roswell Academy begged you on his knees. You always make me handle everything."
Tsana fastened her cloak and slipped on her boots.
The boy, who appeared no older than ten, placed the stack of papers on the desk and continued, "You're really going because of that rumor about the Light Dragon appearing near the northern border last week, aren't you?"
Tsana's hand froze as she adjusted her collar. Her right hand instinctively brushed against her stomach.
The boy, Zephyr, glanced at her briefly before returning to tidy the remaining papers.
The sudden silence felt strange, but Tsana soon composed herself and turned toward him. "You know me best, Zephyr."
Zephyr pouted and huffed. "You're cruel and cold-hearted. The last time I went to the Capital was just two days ago for groceries. I wanted to buy candied fruits, but I didn't have enough money, and now you won't even take me with you."
Tsana sighed helplessly. "You went there just two days ago, and now you're complaining again? Fine, with your wind magic, we'll reach the Capital faster anyway."
Zephyr's eyes sparkled with delight. "You're shameless! You just want to drain my mana² for flight magic when you can fly perfectly fine on your own. But I'll forgive you this time, because you'll buy me candied fruits!"
Tsana frowned. "Who said I'd buy you anything?"
Their bodies began to glow in a yellow-green aura of mana, lifting them gently into the air.
Zephyr grinned. "Even if I'm your contracted wind spirit, I still deserve a bonus, you know."
Tsana chuckled softly. "Greedy little brat."
"Hehehe~"
And with that, the two of them soared toward the Capital.
★★★
Upon arriving at the Capital, Tsana parted ways with Zephyr.
She entered a bar tucked away in one of the narrow alleys.
Taking a seat at the counter, she ordered a glass of cider³, which the barkeep gladly prepared.
Of all places to gather information, a bar was the best.
Here, adventurers, monster hunters, treasure seekers, commoners, and even nobles mingled, chatting casually over their favorite drinks.
Since everyone came from different backgrounds, the chances of finding useful information were far greater here than anywhere else.
Focusing her mana into her ears, Tsana sharpened her hearing, filtering through the noise until she caught a conversation that piqued her interest.
At a corner table near the entrance sat three burly men who looked more like bandits than hunters.
One man, his hair shaped like a rooster's comb, spoke eagerly, "If we manage to hunt that Light Dragon and take its scales, fangs, and claws, we'll never have to hunt monsters again!"
The bald man carrying a massive axe laughed loudly. "Zehahaha! Damn right! We'll sell them for a fortune, enough to make our descendants rich for seven generations!"
"Exactly," said the shortest man with a thick beard. "We'd better prepare properly. Even though the northern guards say the dragon vanished, we're still heading there. The north's cold will kill the careless."
Tsana listened quietly, but the rest of their talk was all about travel preparations, no real clue about the dragon's whereabouts.
Around her, other patrons were discussing the same thing.
A week ago, rumors spread that the Light Dragon had appeared at the northern border. But according to border soldiers, it vanished suddenly without a trace.
Still, many hunters believed it was hiding somewhere nearby.
That was why so many chose to venture north, chasing the dragon, rather than risk entering the Forest of Nightmares. The forest had been unusually quiet lately.
Then, faintly, Tsana thought she heard the soft chime of tiny bells.
"How foolish," a voice beside her said suddenly, pulling her back to reality. "The Light Dragon isn't stupid. It's far wiser than humans, it wouldn't linger in the same place for long."
Tsana turned. A man had appeared beside her without her noticing.
He wore a long cloak that covered his entire body, but Tsana could tell, beneath it was a well-built frame, broad-shouldered and tall. His silver hair was neatly braided, glinting faintly under the bar's dim light.
'When did he get here?' she wondered. 'His presence… it's almost nonexistent. I can't even sense his mana.'
Every living being in this world possessed mana, and Tsana could always detect it.
This was the first time she had failed.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, the man turned toward her. His amethyst eyes met her sage-green ones.
For a moment, silence hung between them.
Tsana's mind went blank, as if the world had faded away.
Then, the man's face turned slightly red as he smiled awkwardly. "Ah, my apologies if I startled you, Miss. I may have spoken out of turn."
★★★
Character Introductions:
1. Tsana Norton – The Singing Witch, the Watcher, Guardian of the Forest of Nightmares.
2. Zephyr – A Wind Spirit, Tsana's contracted familiar.
3. The Three Monster Hunters – Adventurers overheard in the bar.
★★★
Explanation Of Unfamiliar Words :
1. Dungeon > A dungeon is a dangerous place in fantasy stories, filled with traps, monsters, and hidden treasures. It is usually explored by adventurers to test their strength, gain experience, or discover legendary artifacts.
2. Mana > Mana is a mystical energy or magical power that flows within living beings or throughout nature. It is commonly used to perform magic, spells, or supernatural abilities.
3. Cider > Cider is a drink made from fermented apple juice. Its taste can be sweet, sour, or slightly bitter, depending on the type of apple and the fermentation process. Some versions contain alcohol, while others do not.