Located Southeast of Rophions’camp, in a beautiful clearing, the River of Crystals was a magic one. However, even though that place was magic, it had nothing to do with external influences. On the contrary, it had its own power, something that gave the herbs, the flowers, and the trees a never seen beauty.

Even so, Dike remembered that that clearing, known as the Glade of the Witch and, crossed by the River of Crystals, had not been so beautiful before. In the past, it was like any other glade, with many flowers, different herbs, bunnies that were playing through those herbs, and deer that were coming there to feed and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

Nevertheless, after the sudden and at the same time weird disappearance of the Witch Villō, many years ago, that clearing completely transformed: it was bigger than before, as though the trees from around vanished somewhere while the flowers and the herbs appeared only in certain places and moments. This was what was strange there, as though that clearing and nature at the same time were trying to hide that place from the rest of the world, more after a willow appeared in that glade.

„Namely then everything has started, actually,” Dike suddenly said, thoughtful, while carefully looking at the willow that was trembling its long and thin leaves.

„Has everything started? What exactly?” Asked Samaya, confused. She was to her father’s right, also staring at the willow. Yet, even though she hoped to find some answers that morning, it was too quiet, strangely quiet as she thought. „And I have the feeling that she won’t talk, papa. Moreover, we wasted our time coming here,” she said, disappointed.

„She has her reasons to keep silent,” replied Dike, watching his daughter and forcing a smile. Then, looking again at the branches that were almost touching the ground, charmingly trembling the thin leaves as though talking between them in a sweet clink, he smiled again. „The same happens to this old willow Villō. As you see, she talks. In her way. Yet, she tells stories. Only when she wants this. And, related to what I said before, that everything started: I meant the magic and the weirdness of this place.”

„The weirdness? What do you mean, papa?”

„At everything related to this place, Samaya, for nothing here is as it seems to be. And, to show you what I am talking about: look!” Then, stretching his right hand in front and moving his palm above the ground as though he caressed the entire clearing, the herbs and the flowers vanished somewhere, being replaced by… gray feathers.

„Like in my dream,” the young woman murmured, confused, looking around.

„The dream? That one you had last night?”

„Yes, papa, because Bestla also saw it. Actually, what I dreamt I reflected on the wall of our house. It was then that we saw feathers in this clearing. Something weird, in my opinion.”

„And you are right,” said the Titan, frowning. „Because only a few people had seen this place by now. Yet, you are saying that you saw it in your dream last night. Just like you see it right now.”

„Actually, to be more precise, when I saw it, I also heard Villō. She talked to me last night.”

„Did she talk to you? About?”

„About that Tarther, we and the Siars saw in the Rophion Forest, before going to the Grotto. Actually, it was Parca, who took the shape of that bird. Moreover, she told me that that evil bird was not after me then but after Yellen. Even so, she told me that I would face Tarther someday and that maybe I would be killed by one of those birds.”

Dike shuddered, hearing his daughter talking like that. Yet, Samaya looked even more confused than he was, for she had never expected to see Dike so scared. Nevertheless, when he saw Samaya staring at him, the Titan looked elsewhere and sighed. Then, he said, „And you are right. I am afraid. Also, I can’t understand why Villō doesn’t have the right to talk to us right now.”

„She doesn’t have the right?! What do you mean?”

Looking at the willow again, which seemed to also look at him and listen to his words, Dike whispered, „That the cursed willows, as Villō is, can only listen to nature’s demand. And, even though they want this, they can’t stay against nature.”

„What I can’t understand is why she’s silent. I don’t think that nature has forbidden her to say something.”

„I think yes, Samaya. Otherwise, Villō would not have been silent, for she generally talked a lot. Now she is as quiet as the mouse. That is why I think that nature forbade saying even a word. Like any other cursed soul that is closed inside of a wooden body in this forest.”

„What you want to say is that there are other cursed souls in Rophion Forest, too. Am I right?”

„Right, honey. I am aware only of Villō. This is because I talked to her one day. About 17 years ago or more, when your mother was still alive. Then, this weeping willow, which is a Salix Babylonica, said certain things.”

„And… what did Villō say then, papa?”

„Protect what you love the most, Master, or you will cry for millennia after losing your most precious treasure,” whispered Bestla. This made Dike and Samaya wince. Then, turning toward her, they looked at her, thunderstruck. „Aaa, how do I know this?” Said Bestla in an innocent voice catching their glances. „I only heard some things. Nothing more.”

Dike smiled, „Did you hear? When exactly?”

„Last night. When this damn willow woke me, tickling me. And… damn, I would really like to do the same thing. I just don’t know how to do that.”

„Living your life. It’s how you can piss her off,” said the Titan, smiling. Yet, seeing the girls staring at him, amazed, he laughed with all his heart. „Because… only think about this: how can you punish a blind person for example?”

„Telling him how beautiful the world is?” Asked Samaya, confused.

„Exactly. Actually, it works the same for this witch closed inside of the willow. And, as she can’t leave the trunk, being cursed to spend a life inside of that wooden body, the worst punishment for her will be to see others happy, living their life.”

„Ei, this works with someone that knows you. In my case and in hers too… I do not know her and she does not know me. I think,” Bestla mumbled, upset. After that, cooking her nose, she added, „And… I think that last night's dream has not been something random.”

„What makes you think that?”

„Because, master Dike, just think a little bit: you say that this Villō is so strong even though she is closed inside of that wooden cage. Thus, she could definitely show Samaya some things in her dreams. Before last night, I mean. Yet, she did not do that, for the only dreams, Samaya had, had been influenced by that old demon, Coallar. Yet, returning home, right from the first night, she has a damn weird dream. Something related to her biggest fear. I don’t think this is a coincidence.”

„Now, hearing you saying this, I think you are right,” said Dike, frowning. „Yet, I have the feeling that you are talking so as though you really saw that dream.”

„Actually, she saw it,” said Samaya smiling. „I told you already that Bestla, seeing me twisting and turning in my hammock, formed the sphere of reflections. Thus, I showed her what I was dreaming.”

„And the strangest thing here is that she did that while I was still sleeping. That is why I am saying that Villō has something to do with last night's events. And, even stranger than this, it seems to me that she awoke me. Brr… I still feel her sticky fingers on my skin.”

„Then, if you say that you clearly saw that dream, related to this place and to what Villō told Samaya, why do I have the feeling that there is something more here?”

„Because there is something more, for I really saw that bird. Tarther. Actually, at first, when I heard Samaya mumbling something, I did not understand what she was saying. That is why I approached her. Thus, I heard her mumbling the name of that bird in her sleep. And, shortly after this, I saw Tarther flying above the village and entering your house through the wall and flying above me. Yet, I did not feel the flap of his wings. That is why I understood that is only an illusion. And I was right because I saw Tarther flying above the willow later. As though it had something to tell us. This witch I mean, the one that keeps silent right now,” and Bestla looked upset with Villō’s silence.

Samaya instead, even though she was surprised to hear more details about her dream, something that Bestla saw but she did not remember, stared at her father, trying to understand what he was thinking. Thus, she saw him frowning while staring at Villō. „Something happens, papa?”

„Yes. I was thinking about what Bestla said about Tarther: that she saw him flying above the village. Something impossible, actually.”

„Impossible? Why? Because of the Barrier?”

„That’s right. And… it seems to me that is more than a dream. Just as Bestla mentioned.”

„A vision then,” murmured Samaya, thoughtful. Then, looking at the willow’s leaves, which had a gray-green color, she also frowned, seeing them so beautifully shining even though there the sun was not in the sky. More than that: it seemed to her that the trunk of the willow bothered her, for it was thicker than any other willow’s trunk and it had a darker color, too. „Actually, I find this willow really strange. Especially her color. Don’t you think so, too?”

„Strange? It looks usual to me,” murmured Bestla, cooking her nose, for she really disliked Villō, even though she did not know why. „And, even though I see a willow for the first time, I don’t find anything strange in her.”

„I agree with Samaya,” Dike suddenly said, „for, if Samaya is right and that dream is a vision only, then Villō is trying to warn us about something. What exactly is she trying to tell us, I am not sure. Yet, we can find out. In time. And then…”

He kept silent eventually, seeing Bestla going toward the willow. More than that, he grabbed Samaya’s arm when he saw that she intended to go after Bestla. Then, when Samaya looked at him, confused, for she really didn’t understand why her father stopped her, he only nodded, a hint that there wasn’t any danger in that place. After that, both looked at Bestla, who was approaching Villō with no fear.

Bestla instead, getting next to the willow, stopped and looked up at the crown of the tree, especially at its long and sticky branches. „They are exactly like those seen in Samaya’s dream,” the young girl murmured. „Yet, I have the feeling that the dream was also for me. But… why?”

She did not receive any answer in the end. However, she felt a strange feeling in her chest. Thus, moved by an inner call, she went and stuck her back to the willow’s trunk. After that, she looked up, at the weird form of the willow’s crown, which looked as if formed from waves of green and gray, while its leaves seemed a kind of waterfall of different shades of green-gray. Nevertheless, what made her close her eyes was that clink heard everywhere, something similar to the sound made by a lot of bells dancing with the wind, somewhere up in the mountain or those perennial flowers, found on the camp, which were so beautifully resounding when the wind blew.

„Yet, this is so real,” Bestla murmured, still having her eyes closed. Then, she opened them and started to move around the willow. Even so, her eyes focused on the thick trunk that had weird rings painted on the bark, of a dark brown, darker than the bark. „Nevertheless, I have the feeling that she’s as old as the world is, even though she isn’t older than 20. Why?”

„Actually, you are right, Bestla. The willow Villō appeared here twenty years ago,” she heard Dike’s voice. Thus, looking to her right, she saw the Titan approaching her along with Samaya.

„But… father, how is it possible that she doesn’t have more than 20? She seems older.” Samaya asked the thing Bestla wanted to ask.

„Because it’s only an illusion, Samaya, just as everything you see here is an illusion: the river, this clearing, even these feathers you feel under your soles. Actually, this clearing, you see, or at least as it looks right now, is not older than twenty. The same happens to the river. Before that, it was a clearing like any other found in a forest.”

„A world similar to those I use to create,” murmured Bestla, frowning.

„And you are probably right,” replied Dike. „Yet, who is to blame for this clearing, I don’t know. All I know is that 20 years ago when I passed by here, I saw that this place changed. Then I saw the willow Villō for the first time, too.”

„If you saw Villō for the first time twenty years ago, it means I was 4 or 5 at that time. When mother was still alive, as you said. And those words, Villō told, were somehow related to her.”

„Yes, Samaya, I also think so. Then Villō told me to protect what I love the most. But… I did not understand what she meant then. And, to be honest, when I realized that I was talking to the old witch closed inside of the bark of the willow, I did not pay too much attention to what she said because I thought she was just testing me. If I had done this…” Suddenly, Dike became thoughtful. Then he winced and looked in the distance when he heard hooves’noise. Nevertheless, by doing this, he managed to turn back time…

***

TWENTY YEARS AGO

„Ha, Shinar, Ha!” Dike was spurring his horse on that forest road, trying to see how faster his old horse could run on those earthly roads. Suddenly, seeing something strange sparkling in the distance, Dike pulled the halters and forced the horse to turn left, still running through the forest until they got to that strange clearing. Yet, what really amazed the Titan was the river, which had sparkling water, crossing that clearing. Moreover, on both sides of the river, he saw tall grass, which could get to the waist of a 1.8 meters tall man. Yet, what was weirder than the height of the grass was the willow that was bowing her crown, almost touching the river’s water.

„This is really a devilish thing!” Mumbled the Titan. After that, he jumped off Shinar’s back and approached the tall grass, which seemed not to be able to cross the border of that clearing. This was not an illusion but a real fact, because the grass Dike stepped on at that moment wasn’t taller than a few centimeters. Thus, at that border between the taller grass and the rest of the world, Dike stretched his left hand in front and touched it, feeling that it was so soft. This made him smile, for he had never touched something softer than this before. Yet, it was strange and this was because, a few days ago, when he passed by there, he had not seen the river, the grass, or the willow. At that moment, however, he was seeing them so clearly, just as he was seeing the multicolored flowers seen through the tall grass or he heard the sound made by the ground squirrels that were hiding in that tall grass.

Even so, at some point, he saw a small gray rabbit hopping somewhere to his left, not that far from that border. Something weird for the Titan, but even so he found the rabbit not scared. Nevertheless, the moment Shinar puffed through his nostrils, feeling something tickling his skin, the rabbit got scared and ran to hide in that tall grass. This made the Titan smile, just as he was always smiling seeing something weird in nature. However, shortly after, he winced, the moment a bird jerked in the air, probably scared by the rabbit. Thus, looking up, the Titan saw the bird flying away from that place. Even so, he could not understand what kind of bird it was, even though he carefully looked at it.

Eventually, hearing Villō’s voice, somewhere in the distance, Dike frowned and looked at the willow. Thus he could clearly hear what she was saying to him, „This place is really strange, Titan. It’s like a mirror that separates two worlds.”

„A mirror? What kind of mirror?” The Titan asked, amazed. „And… who are you?”

„Me? I am Villō. The old witch closed inside a magic world. But, even though this clearing seems to me the place where I will be closed forever, for you it seems a beautiful clearing where there is life.”

Then Villō kept silent for a long time. Because of this Dike decided to cross the border that was separating the real world from the magic one, as Villō named it. He wanted to see what was behind all that. Thus, crossing that border, he realized that the grass, which seemed to get only to his waist, was taller in some places, reaching his armpits. Yet, no matter where he did not look, he could not see Villō. That is why he shouted eventually, „Yet, Villō, where are you? Show up!”

„I wish I can,” said Villō in a crying voice. „I am here, so close to you, but even so you can’t see me. This is because I’m cursed to only watch my face in this water and cry for mercy, for the rest of the world will never see me."

Only then, hearing the crying voice of the old witch, Dike looked at the willow. He was confused to see that grass from around the willow, which formed a kind of 3 meters circle and which was as small as the one seen at that border. That is why Dike asked, confused, „Are you a willow now?”

Villō smiled. „Of course. You see me and you hear me, right in front of you.” Thus, staring at it, Dike had the feeling that the willow was really looking at him.

This made Dike rub his eyes, thinking that he was seeing things. Actually, it was strange, for even though he heard Villō’s name before, even though he had not ever seen her, he knew that she was a real witch, made from flesh and bones. At that moment, however, she was a willow. This was confusing him. That is why he murmured eventually, „This is already black magic. Something devilish. How can a human being be a willow?”

„Yet, you forgot that I’m special, master Dike. Someone unusual because I was a witch before. One with magic power. Nevertheless, so suddenly, I have been closed inside this willow. And I don’t really remember how this happened.” The last words Villō whispered in a crying voice again. „That’s why I think that’s torture for me to be closed inside this willow. I feel the trunk tightening around me and hurting my body. Just as I feel this wooden scent and the willow’s coldness, something that makes me shudder inside. Because of this, this willow’s branches are always trembling, along with me in fact.”

This made the Titan attentive, for he found it weird even for him to be there, something devilish. The same happened to Villō and the fact that she summoned him there because, that morning, Dike wanted to go to the Valley of Silence to talk to Lodur. Instead of this, he climbed on Shinar’s back and galloped toward that place because of a strange reason: he wanted to check if an old horse was old. Thus, understanding this, Dike frowned. Then, staring at the willow, he asked, „What I can’t understand is… how can you see the real world being closed inside the trunk?”

„Yet, I still see it, Titan. Through the water’s surface, because this river is my soul in fact. Actually, it seems to me that when I have been cursed and closed inside this willow, my butcher has taken my soul and has formed this river from it. Thus, splitting my body and soul, he cursed me to be submissive to nature. Yet, I still feel that when this river and the willow will vanish, I will also vanish. Then this world will remember me like an old legend only: the one of the witch Villō. Even so, I will be only a whisper on the humans'lips and a name written on the Time’s papyrus.”

Hearing her talking like that, Dike scratched the back of his head, for, even though he was used to magic, what Villō said was SF for him, too. That is why he decided to check what was real and what was not from what the witch said. Thus, he approached the water. Then, looking at the water’s surface, he could really see Villō’s face reflected on that water. Yet, even though he clearly saw it, he frowned, for he was even more confused than before. That is why he said, „I still think that’s weird. How is this possible for this place to exist? I never saw it before.”

„And you are right. This place did not exist before. It appeared along with me. And, as far as I can see… the humans and the other creatures, even though they can see me, they can’t get closer to me.”

„But I was able to do that,” said Dike, confused.

„This is because you are one of the first Titans. They can go wherever they want. Even though that place is formed by using black magic. Or maybe… was it because of the message I wanted to send to you?”

„Message? What message?” Then Dike looked at the tremble of the leaves, which was even more visible at that time.

„Protect what you love the most, master, or you’ll cry for millennia, for what you will lose will be your most precious treasure.” After that, Villō kept silent and even her face was not seen reflected on the water’s surface anymore.

This made Dike anxious, for even though he was clearly hearing the tremble of the leaves, he could not understand what the willow was saying. Thus, trying to find out the answer to her riddle, he asked, „What treasure, Villō? What exactly did you mean that I could lose?” Yet, the willow was silent. Only its leaves were still trembling… in a mute trembling in fact.

Eventually, understanding that she will not tell him anything more, Dike returned to Shinar. Yet, before climbing on the horse’s back and turning back home, he looked at the willow again and said, „Yet, Villō, even if you are silent, what your leaves say it’s a lie. Thus, I will not believe your words, too. And this is because I think it’s fake what you say, just as you are a fake now.” After that, he climbed on Shinar’s back and galloped away, moving as fast as he could toward the place where the Rophions were camping at that moment.

Behind him, Villō talked again, „And you are wrong doing this, Titan, not believing my words, for they say the truth. You will really lose someone dear. Yet, you will understand eventually that I am right when this will happen. Then, you’ll come to see me again and you’ll hear the whisper of my thoughts again.”

***

FOURTEENTH YEARS AGO. AFTER SAMAYA AND MAYAR’S FOUGHT.

Six years after the first meeting, Dike returned to Villō’s clearing to talk to her again. The willow, however, still kept silent just like the last time he saw her. Even so, the Titan knew she was pretending and that she was deliberately not talking to him as she did when Samandra died because he came to see her shortly after that, but the willow said no word, just as he did not see the tree, the river, and the clearing itself. At that time only dried soil was seen everywhere.

After Mayar and Samaya’s fight, when he turned back from the Kingdom of Ice where he could bring Samaya to her senses with Inlan Diar’s help, Dike decided to talk to Villō at least once. Yet, the months passed one after another, but the willow and the clearing were not seen there. Nevertheless, Dike did not give up, just as he did with the River Maranam, which he visited daily for 13 years waiting for a message whispered by the river’s water. At that time, he did the same: he came every day to the border between the two worlds and waited in silence for the moment when Villō would decide to talk to him again.

Eventually, Fate had mercy upon him. Thus, at the beginning of the winter when it was already so cold around, he could finally see that full of mysteries clearing again. At that time, however, the tall and soft grass was not seen. Instead, a thick blanket of gray feathers was seen everywhere. Yet, this did not scare Dike and he approached the willow. Watching her branches, which seemed „frozen” at that moment, he finally asked after a few moments, „Why, Villō? Why didn’t you talk to me all these years? You knew very well that I needed that.”

„I know,” replied Villō sadly. „Yet, I couldn’t talk to you, Master Dike, because, when I sent you that message, a few years ago, I broke a law of nature. That is why I have lost my voice, for several years. Only today I had the right to talk to you again.”

„Another message?” Asked Dike, confused. „What this time?”

„The shape-twins!” Dike winced, hearing her talking like that. Yet, he kept silent and listened to her until the end. „I know that they have already met and that they have had their first fight. Nonetheless, what seems to be a miracle can also be a curse. That’s why, Titan, take your children and go away until it is not too late. Go North, to the Lands of Ice. There, ask for Titan Island’s help and the help of his mother, for they are the only ones who can protect the twins when it’s necessary, for, if you stay here, evil will hunt them everywhere. Who knows: you can cry their loss too, just as you’ve cried for Samandra’s death.”

This made Dike swallow hard, hearing that his children could be also in danger. Even so, he decided not to be a coward and find out the truth. Thus, he insisted on finding an answer to all his questions and asked, „What danger, Villō? What exactly can happen to my children if we stay here?”

„This is something I don’t know yet. I know only what nature whispered to me: that evil is after them already. That’s why I have permission to talk to you today, for even nature is afraid that the twins can disappear one day.”

„Nature is afraid? Of what?”

„Of the destinies’change, Titan, for this forest is meant to suffer. That suffering deeply hid in the forest’s soul the moment Samaya could see the monster hidden in the Glade of Shadows, the monster with the name Tarther.”

„That devilish bird again,” Dike hissed through his teeth. „I thought she’s been sleeping for millennia already, as a punishment for what she has done to the Noears.”

„Yes, master, she’s still asleep. Yet, nobody knows for how long she will still be asleep. Moreover, what Samaya saw in this glade was that bird’s power, which wandered the world without a body. Nonetheless, even though it does not have a body to control it, that power is something even you cannot defeat. Actually, nobody can do that. That is why I told you to take the children away from here and go, for when the shape-twins joined their power, in that glade; they somehow managed to break the chains that kept Tarther captive there. Thus, if he awakes, he’ll burn this world in flames.”

„It makes sense what you say, witch. Yet, let’s say I take my children and we go away, for a while at least. Thus, part of the power that influences Tarther will not be here to help him awake. Remains the little fox. As far as I’ve seen, her power is enough to completely wake Tarther, for both of them are on the evil’s side and…”

„You are wrong here, Titan, for that child is also gone. Far away from this place.”

„Gone? Where? When?”

„A few days ago. Where are they now, I cannot tell you. Actually, she did not tell me where they went. She only sent me a message about this, like a thought heard in my head. The answer to the message I had sent to her before that."

„A message? Which one”

„Run, Inmar! Take the child with you and run away from this place. If not… one of you won’t survive because of the curse the red child and the Rophion’s daughter have thrown upon you that day, in the Glade of Shadows.”

„Even so, I don’t understand. Why didn’t she tell you where they were going?”

„Probably because she knew that I would tell you the same thing: to go away and save your children.”

„She was afraid then. That you would tell me where she went and that I would hunt her until…”

„No, master Dike. Inmar did not go because of you or because she was afraid of you. She went away because of the Evil. It is because there is a huge force of evil on these lands. Yet, a bigger force than the one that exists here will appear in this world if you go away now.”

***

„A huge force can be found far away from here and it will protect you all!” Bestla suddenly murmured while squatting in front of the river. Yet, even though she did not know why she felt that way, she was dizzy and, at the same time, she thought that she was who created that river. It looked like Edda’s River, from her world of mirrors.

„Something happens, Bestla?” Samaya asked her in a whisper, also squatting next to the water.

This made Bestla look at her, with a lost glance. Eventually, she murmured, „The water. It seems familiar to me. Doesn’t it seem familiar to you, too?”

„To me? This place and… the water of the River of Crystals?” Bestla nodded yes. „No. At all. Why?”

„Because this is so similar to the river I transformed my mother in after her death. Yet, this river has a different blue shade of water. Even so, this world looks like those I can create.”

„What I think is that you are exaggerating a little. It can be only the effect of longing, for you also know that you haven’t been able to see your mother after you return from the City of the Sun.”

„No, Samaya. I am sure that this is not because of the longing. And… you are also wrong that I can’t enter that world.” Suddenly, Bestla looked at Dike, who was not that far from them, staring at the weird dance of the tall grass. „And, even though I haven't visited my mother since the event with Ian Gyar, maybe it is time to do it now. I need to talk to my mother.”

„About?”

„This old witch Villō, for I know that mother can know her. On the other hand, she met her while she was still alive. And, if she really knows her, mom can tell us how to make her talk.”

„I still consider this risky, Bestla. Let’s not forget what father says: Villō is not a witch like any other. She is extremely powerful. At the same time, she uses Black Magic. That’s why I think we can make things worse if we force her to talk.”

„Or it’ll be better this way!” They heard Dike’s voice behind them. This made them stand up and look at him, confused, for they really did not understand what he wanted to say. Dike, however, knew exactly what he was doing. Thus, carefully looking at Bestla, he asked her, „Are you sure that if you enter Edda’s world, you can return safely?”

„Well, I am not that sure. Because I have not tried since that day. But… Why are you asking this? Do you think you can help me to enter my mother’s world?”

„I can’t. Boor, however, is more than able to do that.”

„My father?” Bestla shouted. „How is it possible that dad can enter and exit that world without me being aware of this?”

„This is something you should ask him: why he didn't tell you about this. Maybe he just wanted to protect you. That is why I ask you again: if Boor decides to help us, are you sure that you will be able to return to the real world safely? And… think twice before answering, Bestla, because this is something about your future.”

„Father is right, Bestla: don’t rush to decide.”

„I know, for if I can’t turn back then I’ll be a captive there forever,” murmured Bestla, confused. Then she looked at the dance of the blades of tall grass and followed it with her glance until she could finally see the river’s water again, moving in circles. Yet, staring at the water, she felt that weird sensation of anxiety again. Thus, without thinking too much, she said, „I’m sure.”

„What about the demons, Bestla?” Samaya asked, and her question made both Dike and Bestla wince.

„Demons? What demons?” Asked Dike, surprised.

„Uncle Ahi’s demons,” Bestla answered in a whisper. „Actually, I feel them so close to me lately. Even so, I still think it's worth it to enter that world, even though I can meet them there.”

„Hell no, Bestla. It is risky. How can you play with your life this way?”

„But, Samaya, won't it be even riskier if we lose this war? I think yes. As I think, it will be helpful for us to know things before being knelt. Even if it’s risky.”

„Still, this is insane, for…”

„That’s enough, Samaya,” Dike told her confidently. „If Bestla thinks that she can make it, we should trust her. That is why I go after Boor. Meanwhile, stay here. You are safe here. Yet, if Boor disagrees, then you will not do anything. Did you understand me? Especially you, Bestla!”

„Yes, Master Dike!” Yet, Bestla’s submission amazed Samaya a lot. That is why she stared at her. Bestla instead preferred to look at the water.

Dike, however, looked at his daughter and told her, „Don’t go any other place, Samaya. If Arion and Fenrir come after you, it means Boor disagrees with our plan. Thus, you will follow the boys without saying a word. I hope you understand what I say.”

„Of course, father. You know that I disagree with this plan. Yet, if you decided so, I would do that.”

„Then, we’ll do things this way!” After that, Dike rushed toward Shinar, who was feeding not that far from the border of the clearing.

Dike did not even look back for a moment while Samaya followed him with her glance until he disappeared into the woods on the gallop of the horse. Then she turned toward Bestla, who was looking askance at the willow, with her arms crossed on her chest. „What are you doing?” She furiously asked Bestla. „Father told you…”

„I’m aware of what master Dike said. Yet, I still know that this old witch is playing with us.”

„Is she playing? How?” Asked Samaya, confused, approaching Bestla. Then, to her friend’s right, she looked at the willow, but she did not see anything unusual. Nevertheless, she winced when Bestla hissed through her teeth:

„Come on, Villō, don’t be shy! Now we are between girls. You can talk confidently.”

Suddenly, the girls heard a woman’s hysterical laughter all around as though the devil itself came onto earth looking for prey. Yet, even though Samaya carefully looked around, he saw nobody: only the blades of the tall grass were madly dancing even if the wind was not felt around. Then, the moment she saw two icy swords in Bestla’s hands, Samaya shouted, „What do you want to do, Bestla? It’s dangerous to use weapons here.”

„And? What should I do? To allow this cobra to attack us by surprise?! Of course, not. If she appears, I definitely twist her neck. Not the other I always wanted to twist someone’s neck.”

„What I always said is that you were definitely crazy, but you never believed me. Moreover, you are wrong, for Villō cannot attack us. You heard my father: she saved me and Fenrir, thirteen years ago.”

„And, because of this, you thought Villō was a saint and pure, right? Come on, Samaya, you are capable of more than this. Or what, do you think that this cruel witch can be submissive only because she’s in that wooden cage?”

„What the hell are you talking about?”

„That she’s pretending and that everything seems too perfect to me. First, master Dike saw her right after being cursed. Only he. Nobody else. Then, you had that dream and, after that, we came here. A simple coincidence?”

„Maybe it isn’t a coincidence, but… it seems too much to me to accuse her of betrayal when…”

Suddenly, both girls jumped in the air when a sword, thrown toward them, from nowhere, cut the air and flew above the grass straight toward them. Then, when they touched the soil with the soles again, back to back, the girls carefully looked around.

„I told you that she summoned us here for something,” Bestla hissed through her teeth. „She intended to attack us.”

„Maybe you are right, but I can’t understand why,” murmured Samaya, confused, while forming swords, similar to those Bestla was squeezing in her arms already.

„Well, I think she won’t keep us in suspense for long. And… we will find out the truth for sure. Today, Samaya. No other day.”

***

Arriving in the camp, Dike jumped off Shinar’s back right in front of the wooden gate of the village. Then, leaving Shinar free, after slowly tapping his back to let him know that he could go wherever he wanted, Dike looked for Boor with his glance. Yet, seeing him nowhere, he started to run onto the village’s streets, asking the wolves if they saw God Boor.

Nevertheless, nobody knew where Boor was. That is why Dike finally decided to look for him at the stable of the winged horses, for he knew very well that Boor simply adored horses. However, arriving at the stable, he did not find him there. Only the horses were there, freely walking through the stable because the Rophions did not use ropes to tie them, knowing that the animals were kind and there was no need for them to keep them in place.

Even so, Dike found that place weird. More when he saw the increased number of winged horses. Especially of the mares with the colts and this happened only if something dangerous was approaching the forest. Nevertheless, Dike understood that important for him at that moment was to find Boor. Later, he will think about the horses too. However, even though he looked for his friend everywhere, he could not find him.

Because of this, he eventually approached a group of children that were surrounding Taku (the worthy one,) a young wolf that was generally taking care of the stable. He was grooming a beautiful black mare at that moment. Because of this, the children surrounded him and were staring at the mare that was so calm, not understanding at all how a savage horse could be so submissive. Nevertheless, when Dike approached them, they all looked at him. Dike, however, looked at the young wolf and asked, „Taku, didn’t you see where God Boor has lost?”

„No, master Dike. To be honest, I haven't seen him since yesterday.”

This made Dike frown, for it was strange for him to find out that Boor vanished somewhere. Even so, he decided to leave Taku alone. Then, slowly tapping the young wolf’s shoulder, he headed toward the small path that was leading to the depth of the forest, toward the brook Āṟṟal, which in the ancient language of the wolves meant Energy, because namely there was the place from where the Rophions took water for drinking, feeling that it was filling them with power.

While climbing that not-that-steep path, Dike kept looking around, thinking that he could find Boor if carefully looked for him. Yet, he saw only his wolves, here and there through the forest, laying on the grass and dreaming or gathered in small groups and cheerfully talking. Moreover, there were many children there, playing. But not Boor. This made him scratch his beard and frown, wondering where God vanished eventually.

Thus, too focused on looking for Boor, he winced when Fenrir asked, „Something happens, father?” Looking in front, he saw his son and Sephir descending that path and coming toward him.

„Aaa, no, nothing. I was just looking for Boor. Yet, I can’t find him anywhere.”

„My father? He is at the brook. He told you this morning about this,” said Sephir, extremely amazed. „Actually, when he told me that he went to see the brook he was coming from the place where you were, master.”

Dike frowned again, „He didn’t tell me anything about this.” Eventually, he kept silent remembering that Boor mumbled something that morning about energy, rest, and some other things. However, as Dike was too focused to talk to Yamu and the other wolves about those weird thunders heard in the sky, he did not pay too much attention to Boor. Because of this, the Titan smiled, something that made the two spouses exchange glances, confused. Seeing them so surprised, Dike said, smiling, „I was talking about the thunders heard this morning. I understand now why. It was because Boor got upset because I didn’t pay attention to him.”

„Eh, and you say that Samaya and I don’t pay too much attention to you lately,” said Fenrir in a cheerful voice. „That’s why you shouldn’t be so upset with us, old man, because we’ve learned this from you. So, if you made God Boor get upset, then be so nice and make peace with him. Alone.” After that, Fenrir grabbed Sephir’s hand and passed by his father, who was looking askance at him. „If you can comfort him, of course.”

„Good you know everything,” mumbled Dike, upset. After that, he turned his back to Fenrir and Sephir, who were heading toward the village. „Anyway, nobody asked you to do this for me.”

The fact that Dike mumbled made Sephir and Fenrir stop and stared behind him. Then Fenrir looked at his wife and asked, „What’s wrong with him”

Sephir only shrugged, „Maybe they have a deal or something.”

„This already smells weird to me.” He kept silent, however, when Sephir nudged him.

„Everything seems weird to you lately. And, let’s go. We don’t have enough time to fool around.” Then, pushing him from behind while cheerfully laughing, Sephir forced him to advance. Fenrir, well, he simply allowed her to push him: it was easier to walk downhill this way.