Each step Ezra took kept reminding him to keep his Heart intact. Arnis before him walked as if normal.

“Slowing down?” Arnis asked looking back to Ezra.

“Nah. I will say. This forest is truly as weird as you put it. I’m sure we’ve already seen that rock a few times.” Ezra returned. Arnis gasped loudly.

“Holy shit! You’re right! What do we do?” Arnis questioned. Ezra then quickly broke the rock into small pieces with his sword.

“That’s what we’ll do. This will mark where we’ve been. And to make things simpler.” Ezra moved back ten paces from where they stood. He placed down a small line of flames that stayed put. “Another indicator. If we see this again then all we have to do is turn back. If we come at it from a different direction, then we make that location. And so on until we find our way through.”

Arnis understood Ezra’s plan. He was in awe that he never thought of something like this or even had the ability to do so. They took the path across from the line of fire.

“Why haven't we come across any monsters?” Ezra questioned surveying the area.

“It gets like this sometimes. Don’t worry they’ll show up-” Arnis cut himself off to cut down a small creature that tried to sneak up on him. “Eventually.”

They continued through the mysterious woods. Each path would eventually lead them back to the fire line once again, prompting Ezra to make the territory. Only until on last path remained. They told themselves that if it warped them back then to walk backwards until it had no chance but let them move naturally.

They finally managed to walk in a line that didn’t lead them back to their ring of flames.

“Seems it finally gave in.” Ezra says. He proceeded to take another step, and then, within a single blink he found himself right back where the ring of fire was, seemingly teleported right back to it.

“Back to the old tricks are we. Come on, let's walk the path again. They can’t keep us here forever.” Arnis responded. He started to go through the path again. Ezra however wasn't moving. He was standing at the center of the ring. He removed his Heart. And allowed the pressure to sink onto him again. While he felt the fatigue it was bringing him, he had a different idea. He put his hand out, then started to turn around slowly. He stopped once reaching the last open spot where there lay no fire.

“Move Arnis.” Ezra said. The young man quickly rushed behind him. Ezra quickly clenched his fist, a non blast of white energy fired through the forest. Passing through the trees until reaching something. A target was hit, and a loud cry was heard from far within. Ezra quickly grabbed his blade, the flames from the ground came and engulfed the massive blade, he grabbed the hilt with both hands and delivered a long and powerful vertical slash to the trees. Nearly chopping down every single tree in front of them. “Let’s go!”

Ezra sprinted off through the destroyed woods. Arnis followed trying to keep the pace. He immediately noticed. His Heart was no longer needed. The pressure was no longer around them. They dashed through following the sound of the loud cry. Arnis thought to himself. Something was in pain. He had lost sight of Ezra.

He continued to sprint forward. Keeping his Heart up in case of the pressure rising again. Then, Ezra came before him, standing there. His sword still in hand. Arnis stopped behind him. He slowly walked forward to reveal what the other had seen.

A large turtle was before them. The creature stood higher than the two, yet never higher than the leaves. Its skin was dark green, and large mushrooms were growing all over its body. The beast had it’s head pointed at Ezra. Once Arnis came to be, the creature then turned to him, and gained a new expression. One of shock.

“So it was you all along?” Ezra asked the creature. “Why won’t you let us leave?”

Arnis watched Ezra talk to the creature. However, the voice started to resonate within him as well. It was faint, yet audible. This voice was one he had heard before.

“Mom….is that you?” Ezra jolted his head over to Arnis. He placed this hand on the turtles head.

“Arnis. It’s been so long.” The turtle spoke back.

“Your mom?” Ezra asked.

“Yes. It’s her voice.” Arnis felt a tear falling down his cheek. “What happened to you?”

“I was turned into a monster. Just like you. I too sought the outside world. However. I was not ready. However, not only was I killed by a monster. I was forced to become one. So now I lay here.”

“You kept turning him back. Just to protect him. But why send monsters?” Ezra asked.

“I didn’t start sending monsters until I was sure he would be ready to handle them. First it was weak ones, then I gradually made them better.”

“Does anyone in the village know about this?” Arnis questioned.

“No. It was a perfect plan, because I knew that they would never fight back. However. I had to make a few exceptions.”

“Exceptions. Meaning you let monsters into the village to kill people/” Ezra worryingly called on.

“Yes. The people of Sarabell have always worshipped monsters. For reasons I have not to come and understand. I knew if you killed every single monster that set foot in the village. Then one day, they would take their chance and kill you. Just to put things back on track.” Arnis felt nerved by the statement.

“What does that mean for the outside. You’ve kept the village a secret for so long?” Ezra rattled about.

“The village was well hidden way before I was born. These woods have always had an energy that most are unable to withstand. However, you two are well adept in Virtue that you can come through rather easily.”

“Virtue?” Arnis confusingly questioned.

“It’s Heart. That's what you call it. But it’s true name is Virtue. You'll know more about it once you get to where you're going. You said you wanted to get to the northern continent and join the Death Tyrants, right?” Ezra came in with.

“Yeah. How do you know them?” Arnis asked.

“I used to live on the northern continent before coming here to start my journey. However. Instead of crossing over the other continents, I simply continued heading north until I came here. The back seas are hard to cross. But I found a special way in. Once you leave here head south, you’ll find my special passage and then you can make it to the north continent.” Ezra explained.

“So essentially you went the back way?”

“Pretty much.” Ezra said slightly chuckling. “However. I need to warn you. There are very few hospitable places there. If you truly think you’re up to the task. Then I won’t stop you.”

Arnis sat back and started to think. He turned back to his now beastial mother.

“What will you do when i'm gone?” Arnis sadly asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how long i’ll be able to live like this.However. If you think you’re ready. Then I believe I can be ready to die.”

“Don’t say that!”

“Arnia. You hate monsters. I don’t know why. But some unforeseeable acts lead to me becoming like this. I’m sure it had to be the doing of some other beast. I know your ambition. You truly seek a world free of monsters. Make that happen! Make a world where this doesn’t happen to another person! Make sure the next person you come to care for dies and isn’t forced to live as the thing that killed them!” Arnis was now fully crying. His shirt was getting wet and the dirt beneath was tracking up his tears. “Go now. I know this isn’t how you wanted to see me, or how you wanted to say goodbye. But the time for sorrow is over. Now, is the time for joy. Joy that you yourself must create!”

“What will happen to the village?” Ezra asked.

“I’ll leave them be. Any monster that goes there, goes there. I will have nothing to do with it.”

“Very well.” Ezra put his sword away and started to walk again. Arnis. Kept his head rested on his mother's shell.

“You said a beast did this to you. What monster was it?” He asked.

“I’m sure it wasn’t a monster. Or maybe a monster, with the face of a person.”

“Thank you. If I find this person. I will kill them.” Arnis said, he sheathed his blade. And started to follow Ezra.

The two continued into the woods. Nothing was blocking them from continuing. Now magic powers are moving them back, no monsters for them to fight. Eventually, the bright field reached their eyes. Ezra gave a stretch of relief. Arnis gawked at the large field that he could see in its full beauty. Trees of different colors, roads, structures, and all sorts of things he had only read about now completely life like to him.

“Thank you as well. Ezra.”

“No problem man. I guess this is where we part ways?” Ezra said turning to shake his hand.

“Actually. I was wondering. If I could come with you? I don’t know how. But I’ve only known you for a few hours and you helped me so much. Please let me come with you.” Arnis begged.

“Nope.” Ezra nonchalantly came back with.

“Huh? Why not!”

“Dude. You and I. Not really compatible in a team. Yeah we made it through a forest. But you were bound to get out of there one day by your moms standards. I was just that push to get you out sooner.”

“Oh.” Arnis retracted back on his previous statement.

“Plus. I see you as someone who has their own team. Someone like you. Becomes a leader. Not a follower.” Ezra said, making Arnis feel a sense of worth.

“Is that how you see yourself?”

“I don't know. Maybe someday I can be just like that Anyway. I can see my destination off in the distance. That village with the incredibly large structure going up to the clouds must be where my friends are.”

“Then I guess this is goodbye?”

“It is.” Ezra reached his hand out for another friendly shake. One that Arnis returned. Afterwards the two swordsmen went their separate ways.