Prologue

My name is Stian and i have been living as a traveler for 3 years writing for magazines and blogs, yet somehow i got myself into this kind of troublesome situation.

Maybe i should have listen to the words given by the inhabitants who frequently dwell this forest and followed the safer paths.

But even if i want to complain, in my current situation the only one to blame is me. Yes, it was my decision to venture into this thick forest.

Even though people warn me not go but yet i didn't listen.I was careless and is now hopelessly lost in this thick forest without any idea where to go at all.

And since obviously im not going to venture into a thick forest without any precaution, i prepared my survival kit backpack and all the things i needed to survive. And for once i would like to thank my paranoid personality for being this careful.

But in any case, the problem right now is that even with my magnetic compass. I have no way knowing where to go.Because normally i would have bought the map for this forest but since i kinda wanted to explore the most interesting things the forest can offer. I kinda just go fuck it and entered into the unmarked paths.

I tried retracing my steps and search for the marks i left when i ventured in, but due to the thick vegetation of the forest,i have quickly forgotten where to find those marks. Cursing my own recklessness and poor ability to locate the marks. I began wandering and followed any signs of rivers that can be use to pinpoint my location.

But yet no matter how far i ventured, there were no sounds of river flowing. I also did try climbing the oversize trees but due to them being 63 meters high, i quickly lose my confidence to continue climbing.

Also trying to know my position using the sun wouldn't work mainly because the giant trees are blocking most of the Sun's light. It's kinda frustrating that even with a compass i can't do anything. But since it's better to move, than stay in one place. I started waling forward in a random direction.

Walking in the quiet forest, i sigh in my heart. If it weren't for the fact I'm lost right now, then i would have probably be dazing around enjoying this scenery. After all, being close to nature with trees this big is akin to fantasy. The beautiful flora that twiddled around the overgrown trees were quite something to see and even though it is full of giant trees it has many patches of grass and flowers that rest's near its roots as it was coexisting with trees.

As someone who also enjoys taking pictures. I have been taking photo's of any scenery that looks great. Even since i was young,i have always like taking photographs and since my family have possessed the blood of travelers and adventures. It has been a family tradition to talk discuss our travels and share the scenery's we have captured when it's time for a reunion.

With the family being occasional travelers, everyone of us only have no houses or any land we own. Because with the Villa our great grandfather have accumulated, it served as our home base and most of our personal possessions, trinkets and collections are holed up in the villa. And most of the family's young ones stay in that villa till they reach the age to go out on their own and find their way into the world of society. But with our boiling urge for travel, most of our family members are either doctors that travels around the world or pioneers on businesses that are mostly handled overseas.

And as for me, Stian Peregrine, have taken the profession of a Wilderness and Wildlife photographer as my livelihood. And because of such profession that i am now in this dire situation. Even with my 3 years of experience, it is still not enough for me to become a master navigator. After all they always say that experience is the greatest teacher. And because of my lack of experience that i have been lost to this forest of giants.

With my constant mumbling, i have ignored the change in weather and didn't notice that rain is pouring.Afraid of getting wet even though with my waterproof and quick drying clothes. I started looking for shelter. Running around, i found a peculiar tree that is noticeably higher than most of the trees and have features that made me stop and take a photo. Seeing that the rain is pouring harder, i quickly stride towards the giant tree and took a shelter. Peering inside the tree, i noticed that inside the tree and right to the ground was a hole that seems to be a cavern. As my interest was pique and seeing that the rain won't stop soon, i decided to climb down the hole and see if there was any interesting things to be found.When i entered the hole a scene greeted me that made my heart leap with excitement. Beyond the whole was a cavern full of beautiful flora's,stone carvings and something that is likely an altar.

I took a few steps towards the altar and took out my Modified Camera and took a shot of the altar and it's the stone carvings. Looking with the camera's lens, i zoom in and take more shots of the flora's growing at the foot of the altar.

Mesmerize, i put my camera back my Survival backpack front pocket and decided to come closer. Being a step away from the altar, i noticed that on top of the altar, there is some kind of a small tree on top of it. Feeling weird ed out a bit for not noticing the miniature tree, then took a few more steps and look closely at the altar.

Finally being close enough to fully observe it. I took a glance at the miniature tree and pondered. Firstly the miniature tree have an opposite branching pattern that crosses each other, then looking at the leaves i see 9 leaflets which has edges are smooth and feel toothed when i touch it. Looking even closer, i noticed that the bark of the miniature tree have diamond-shaped ridges. Seeing the diamond shaped ridges, i concluded that the miniature tree in front of me is a variant of an ash tree.

Seeing that i front of me is a rare variant of ash tree, i quickly took my camera again and took a close shot of the tree. Then taking a step back, i surveyed the cavern again and gasped in amazement again. After all, even with the rain and shade outside. There are still ray of lights shining down the miniature ash tree.

But when following the ray of light, i squint my eyes as i finally notice the strange writing at the bottom of the miniature tree. Looking at it, i found myself unable to make sense of the writing of the altar. Feeling a bit vexed that i have no deciphering skills. I smoothly trace and touch the written carving when suddenly i felt a prickling pain coming from my trigger finger.

Seeing blood coming out, i quickly took some cottons on my survival backpack and wipe it gently. Then after wiping it, i took another glance at the carved writing and saw that it was colored in blood. As if, as if the blood spread at the moment and somehow covered it fully.

Being a bit weird ed out by the strange event. I took a step back and notice that the ground is shaking. Feeling panicked, i calm myself and decided to get out of the cavern.

Then i stride back to the cavern's entrance, but before taking another step out of the altar; i felt my body freeze as if there was something binding me. Having fear lurking inside my mind, i tried opening my mouth but found unable to do so. Then suddenly, there was a tingling smell coming behind my back. Unable to cover my nose. I felt the intoxicating smell finding its way inside my nose and felt my mind go blank as i slowly lost consciousness.

Hearing the gushing wind,i slowly open my eyes and find myself sitting on the bottom of the altar and felt my back pressed and leaning on the altar.

Then remembering the strange happenings before i lost consciousness, i by reflex move my limbs and felt that i am able to move my body now. Then slowly standing up, i take a loot at my surroundings and found that nothings seems to have collapsed during the sudden tremors.

But taking a glance at the altar, i was surprised to find out that the miniature tree and the carved writing is nowhere to be found. Then suddenly i felt pain on left hand's palm and brought it up.

But what i found in my palm was a image i knew off. It was the ash tree and at the bottom of it was the carved writing.

Feeling a bit scared, i tried rubbing it off but noticing the im not even grazing it. I realized that it was as if the image of the tree and carving was imprinted in my palm.

Then, i decided that i have enough and headed out towards the cavern's entrance and find my way out of this damnable forest.

Climbing out of the hole, I slowly walking out of the peculiar giant tree that housed the cavern, and decided to leave. But due to the weird light, i covered my eyes and then step out of the tree.

But yet, i stood still and froze at the spot. I stared at the scenery in front of me that should have been full of giant oversized trees. But....yet in front of me was no giant trees.

The ones in front of me now is a view of a dense forest. But, there should be nothing wrong with it.........but there was something that made my heart and whole being freeze.

In front of me was giant floating islands and flying creatures that only should exist on fairy tales. I then dropped hard on my knees and was left on a stupor.

Then i asked myself..

''Did i somehow got transported into a parallel world?''