Chapter 8 – A Soul Under Observation
The forest was too quiet.
Cael walked slowly, mindful of every step, every gesture. Ahead of him, Leaf floated more than she walked, as if the ground yielded to her will. The black knight followed closely behind, a faithful and silent shadow. And Cael... felt like the only human in a theater play where the other actors already knew how the story ended.
Because he knew. He knew who Leaf was.
That creature in front of him—the sweet voice, the gentle smile, the eyes that seemed to hold stars—was a ticking bomb. Not an ally, not truly. She was the protector of the Sacred Forest... and, if angered, its devourer.
"High Class, pseudo-deity, optional boss. Friendly enough to fool you, cruel enough to make sure she watches you scream."
And yet, there she was, looking at him as if he were a childhood friend.
The watch on his wrist glowed.
"System...?" Cael whispered mentally.
"Hmm? I thought we were going to spend the day pretending to be normal. But fine, go ahead and confess your sins."
"She's going to know that I know. I'm trembling inside, can you tell?"
"I can, actually. It's adorable. You sweating out of fear while putting on a hero's face. A true tragic actor."
Cael gritted his teeth.
"Help me, damn it. How do I trick a creature that has probably outlived time itself?"
"Simple: you don't try to trick her. You entertain her. Be interesting, but not threatening. Smart, but not too smart. Show curiosity... but never knowledge."
"Oh, and don't correct her. Ever. Even if she tells you the moon is made of sugar."
Leaf paused for a moment up ahead. Her eyes sparkled as they met Cael's.
"Are you enjoying the forest?" she asked sweetly.
Cael forced a smile, making it as subtle as possible.
"It's beautiful. But... a little too silent."
She tilted her head, like someone listening to the whisper of something invisible.
"Silence is what remains when the voices stop fighting," she replied.
Cael nodded, his throat dry. Every word he spoke felt like a chess move against the abyss.
"Does she know?" he thought.
"Not yet. But she's suspicious. You're doing well."
"Oh, and Cael..."
"What?"
"You're trying to act like a character who hasn't played Black Souls. But do you know what those characters do all the time? They make mistakes. Show vulnerability. Be... ignorant."
"Or else she'll want to know what you know."
Cael took a deep breath. His body felt lighter since the Prayer Master's blessing, but the pressure of standing beside an entity like Leaf made it feel like he was carrying a boulder on his chest.
The trail led them to a bridge made of branches, suspended over a shallow stream. Leaf stopped and looked back.
"Do you know why this forest still exists?"
Cael hesitated for a second. The real answer was locked in his memory. He knew. He knew everything.
But he smiled, shrugging his shoulders in an almost childish gesture.
"Because someone like you watches over it, I imagine."
Leaf didn't smile. But she didn't correct him either.
She simply turned around again, crossing the bridge as if she weighed less than the wind.
"Very well done, Cael."
"You just survived another day."