As the day turns to night she settles by the trees looking up at the branches, and the faint moonlight that shines trough. She eats what she has and drinks some water as she drifts to sleep.
At the dawn of the next day she continuous her journey. Hours later as the sun began to dip below the horizon, the pathway leads her trough the dense forest until she arrives at a clearing with a crystal-clear river in her way. She knelt down, cupping her hands as she scoops up the cool, refreshing water.
"A river... Now what?"
She looks both ways seeing the river stretch endlessly, as the pathway forward is clearly seeable on the other side. She never though about it as she followed the path blindly here, trusting it implicitly. The Guardian appears on the other side of the river, as he speaks.
"You arrived at your second trial."
As soon as the words echoed through the air, Malenia's eyes snapped up from the water. She stood up slowly, her hand instinctively going for the hilt of her sword. The figure on the other side was unmistakably the Guardian she recognizes.
"A trial?"
Her voice carried across the water calmly. As she took as step forward but pauses when she realized there was no bridge or shallow crossing point visible anywhere along its length.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying the river's surface. It was deep and fast-moving, with no visible way across without risking being swept away.
"Can you tell me honestly, can i cross the river without swimming?"
She asks the Guardian, unbuckling her weapon belt carefully, ensuring her sword wouldn't get wet.
"Or is this part of the trial?"
She added suspiciously. The Guardian speaks.
"The trial is simple cross the river and you may continue your quest."
Malenia pauses, considering the Guardians words. A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth as she realized the truth in his statement.
"Just cross the river, sound easy enough, right?"
She walks up and down the river trying to find anyway to get across but with no luck. She is getting frustrated, as the sun slowly descends. She looks at the Guardian as he just stands there waiting, as she asks.
"Can you tell me anything that could help me cross the river. Any hints at all?"
The Guardian looks up as he explains. That he can interpret the trials but not tell her the solutions to it.
She chuckled dryly, stepping closer to the river's edge.
"Very well then, interpret this. How do i cross the river without being swept away? Is there a hidden bridge or a magical pathway?"
She awaits his respond with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. As he looks upon her, he speaks.
"Only those who don't carry unnecessary weight may pass without worrys."
She thinks for a while as it sound like speaking in riddles, as she realizes. Her eyes widened slightly as she understood the implication of his gaze. She looked down at her heavy plate armor, then back up at him with a newfound realization. Without hesitation, she began to unbuckle the straps holding her armor together. She murmured softly.
"I see... the burden of my armor is what prevents me from crossing the river easily."
Her hands moved quickly and efficiently as she shed piece by piece until standing only in her undertunic and boots.
"No more burdens hold me now."
Yet she still looks at the rushing river wondering how to pass it, as she looks at him for guidance. The Guardian speaks.
"If you believe you have no burdens you must just walk."
With a deep breath, Malenia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the opposite bank. She felt a sense of freedom she hadn't experienced in years, the weight of her armor lifted not just physically but also mentally. With determined stride, she walked into the river, her boots sinking into the soft mud beneath the surface.
"If i believe i am rid of my burdens... Then i shall simply walk."
Her voice echoes across the river as she steps on to the water. To her surprise as she takes her first step onto the river, something extraordinary happened. Instead of sinking into the water as expected, her foot landed firmly on the surface as if it were solid ground. She gasped in surprise, looking down to see her boots resting atop the flowing water.
"What sorcery is this?"
She whispered to herself, as she takes another tentative step forwards. To her astonishment, the water supported her weight completely, allowing her to walk across the river with ease.
"I'm walking on water."
A genuine smile spread across her face as she walked further into the river, the water supporting her every step. The realization hit her like a physical blow - by letting go of her heavy armor and burdens, she had gained enlightenment.
"Because i no longer carry the weight that held me down, i was able to pass."
She looks at the Guardian as she has crossed the river. Now with newfound understanding and gratitude.
"Thank you."
She say simple words of gratitude as she wonders. What other truths and trials will she discover if she continues to shred her burdens. Her expression turned thoughtful as she walks on solid ground again. She looked back at the river she had just crossed effortlessly, marveling at the symbolism. Only those who seek the Erden Tree with an open heart will discover its truths. The Guardian voice echo's in her mind, as she slowly starts to understand the deeper meaning of his words. She takes a deep breath.
"I have carried so much weight for so long. My duties, my expectations, my armor..."
She looks down on herself just in her undertunic and boots, carrying her small backpack and her trusty sword on her hip. After checking everything else was there she start walking to the pathway in the forest again, as she also noticed the Guardian is no where to see. The sun is falling as its getting darker but she pushes forwards anyways.
As the light faded and darkness began to creep in, Malenia found herself standing at a crossroad in her journey both literally and metaphorically. Both look dark as she wonders if this is another trial, but can't see the Guardian around.
"Is this another trial? Am i supposed to choose?"
She yells into the darkness as the Guardian appears from the left path. He offers her two choices - the warmth of shelter or the continuation her quest towards the Erden Tree under the night sky. She hesitated briefly.
"Shelter would mean rest and comfort."
Her hand instinctively reached for where her armor used to be. A reflex from years of constant protection. But she made her decision firmly, as her quest does not pause even at night.
"I shall continue forward."
She is about to take the right path as the Guardian speaks.
"Be beware at night the forest is not always friendly. So sometimes its good to take a rest when offered."
Yet she still determent to move on as she set off into the night. Her footsteps echoing softly in the darkness. The forest seemed to grow quieter and ticker, and more mysterious around her. She knew the risks - night creatures, unseen dangers lurking in the shadows. But she understand that her quest is the top priority. As she walks murmured to herself, considering the Guardians warning.
"It may be dangerous, but ultimately the choice remains mine.
Suddenly she pauses moving, as she listens intently. She can hear something moving in the darkness, but ignores it as she keeps walking. The forest grew thicker and darker with each step, the canopy overhead blocking out most of the moonlight. Malenia's senses were heightened, her ears straining to pick up any sounds that might indicate danger lurking nearby. She moved carefully, her boots barely whispering against the forest floor. The silence was oppressive, unnatural. Like the very air was holding its breath.
"Silence like this is not natural."
She whispered softly to herself. Her hand drifted to her sword hilt instinctively.
"Something is amiss."
Suddenly a slight noise is heard, a vine from a nearby sudden whip across her cheek. Malenia freeze instantly, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't draw her sword, realizing this was no ordinary threat. The forest itself seemed to be warning her. A living breathing entity that did not welcome her presence.
"The forest itself rejects me..."
She whispers to herself, touching her stinging cheek gently.
"I am not wanted here at night."
Another vine rustled threateningly nearby. She has to decide fast try to push past it or turn back. Malenia stood completely still, barely breathing as she considered her options. The forest's rejection was clear, she was not welcome here under the cover of darkness. Moving forward might mean facing worse then just vine attacks. But going back...
"Going back means admitting defeat."
Turning tail because the forest attacks her, would not scare her. As another vine snapped menacingly nearby.
"But dying foolishly server no purpose."
With a quiet sigh of frustration, she choose retreat as she walks back to the crossroad as fast as possible.