It has a thick wood box who is hiding under the thick roots of the tree. I do wonder how it was placed there. Going back in my normal form, my fur disappeared and was replaced with somewhat hairy skin. The roots was completely removed, it was me who did it. Lhana pick the wooden box whose covered with dirt.

I quickly dress up using the chothes I have. I make sure that I am hiding behind the thick bush when I transformed.

"What was inside?"

I asked Lhana to know what she got in that box.

"I haven't opened it yet"

After I finished putting in my clothes I went back on where Lhana is. Sitting as she bend her knees, she look at me.

"I cleaned the box, how was it"

"That's... fine"

"Yeah"

The box she is holding is so different compared to the box I remembered in my mind. It was... clean. Absolutely clean as if it wasn't filled with dirt a while ago.

"How-"

"Water and towel. I used your water. Sorry about that"

"No worries, it's fine"

That is why I somehow hate that girl. Hah...

"Should we open this?"

"Sure"

Before we open the box, a very odd figure of carving was embedded on the top of the box. Still, with that small part of it... there is no use to think of what it symbolizes. Maybe that is just a random carvibg who have no meaning at all. I let my hand caress the wood.

"Emric, What is it ?"

I was stunned in some moments. Something feels... off.

"No, it's... nothing"

We both open the box revealing a piece of rolled paper.

"It looks... old"

What Lhana said is indeed true. The paper used are much older than those whose displayed in the library. I wonder how long it's been here...

Lhana opened the paper roll and to our surprise...

"It is a... map"

A map? What should we do about this?

"So, we look for a long time just for this map?"

"It is... our wolvendom"

"Huh? How come?"

"This word here, if you look closely... it is the reflected word of ERHENDEM. This is the E and then the R, and then the H... next to it is..."

"Yes I know. I now see it"

"..."

Looking at the big map that shows the whole land of our wolvendom, it seems just like a irregular circle. I never know that our pack covering this big space. Wait, is that a cressent mountain?

Even the fence of the forbidden wall is said in here. This is my first time seeing a map as precise and accurate as this. All of the words described in book about our wolvendom... it's as if it give figure or image about the words it says.

'The forest of Erhendem was enormous, clear, and prospering. Its canopy was marked by the leaves of the sacred tree, the erhelena. That leaves scathered covering the ground. Even the twinkling lights bursting through their crowns allowed for colorful wolfhook to dominate the stony grounds below'

Just like what it says... the whole erhendem truly is... a paradise covered with dangerous places.

'Thin climbing plants drooped from the tree of erhelena, and an array of wolfhook, which grew in a sprinkled and disorderly fashion, protruded from the otherwise monotonous forest grounds'

"Ha... how funny. There is also a place that is full of wolfhook? I never heard of that"

"Emric, you acts so weird. What are you talking about?"

Lhana look at me as if I am reading something weird. As if what I did was... out of the ordinary.

"I am just reading the words written behind this map"

Now, she look at me full of confusion.

"Isn't it just an empty... piece of paper?"

"What do you mean?"

"There is no words written behind the back of that paper. Even the map itself is just like the map in the library. Why do you look so amazed?"

"Oh..."

I didn't said any words for her to know what I saw. I may be selfish but if I tell her what I see, she wouldn't believe me.

"Wait, I'll just go in the lake"

"For?"

She look at me with a disgusting face. As if I did something bad. Hah, we do hate each other to some point

"Yeah, whatever"

"Call if you need help"

"As if I needed you to protect me"

"Sure sure"

I continued reading the words written behind the map.

'A variation of wild noises, which were caused by birds and insects, added life to the forest, and were in harmony with the occasional howl of a large pack of wolf as they declare the dominancy of their wolfpack as the ruler of the erhendem'

When he says pack... he means us... right?

'The country's landscape is dangerous; wild rivers, cold, windy mountains and depressing fields are just a sliver of the dangers that the path to the Erhendem borders has to offer, which is why I ordered the wolf king of the pack to not cross beneath those places.'

"Emric..."

I heard Lhana call my name.

"Yes?"

"Just as I thought, there is a hole in that wall. The wall near the lake"

"We can fit?"

She nodded her head and lead me to the palce she said. The place we can freely roam is covered with walls who is not that tall but for us who is not yet fully grown up, there is no possibility for us to walk pass that wall. Not unless there is a hole where we can fit.

With that being said, it is I who first entered the hole. It is dangerous to went on the other side especially of we are not sure about what will welcomed us.

"Lhana, Are you sure about this? You can step back if you don't want to"

I can now see her. She slightly tap her clothes to remove the dirt that is in her dress.

Still you can see that there is a hesitation in the Lhana's face. Indeed, it is her first time to disobey the rules of their pack. But for me, it is not exactly the first time I did. Not attending classes or skipping it because I think it is a waste of time, not attending the meeting that the elders created to make Lhana and I meet, and lastly... this. To went up on the hill that is the tallest place among this wolvendom is a grave sin. It is but a major offense that a wolf can make.

"We get this far, why would I turn back? That would just be a waste of my time if that happens"

Removing the vines that covered the complete view of the other side, a new place welcomed us.

I see it with my two naked eyes. It is just described by the books that the library offers. Added with the information I got from the map, I feel like my knowledge and comprehension about this place becomes more... bigger.

"Emric..."

"Yes... it is... wonderful"

I look at her as I bring my hand to reach hers. She didn't hold it and crossed her arms.

"Emric, I am not a baby you need to protect. We promised to each other to not be the burden, right?"

A promise to not be a burden to each other? Did we had a promise like that? I... don't remember.

"In our third meeting, you said it to me. To not be a burden for you. Remember?"

Ah... that day.

'Emric, the elders asked me something about you and Cressida. Do you know your responsibility?'

My father asked me that question. It was as if I am some old warrior, or a king who needs to take care of his people... this blessing of the moon... this prophecy ...

'You are born different. Take hold of that responsibility you had'

It was the day I lose my belief in the goddess of the moon. So many burdens to carry... So many tasks to accomplish... Don't they know? I am but a simple child who just wants to live like any other normal kid. I want nothing but a simple life that every normal kid has.

'Yes... Father'

I kept silent. Maybe, I really said it. Thinking that it would be the best for the both of us. I can not exactly remember the words I speak of that moment. The only thing I am sure of is that... That day was truly...

Unpleasant

'Emric Damen!'

My father shouted out of his anger. He heard that I speak ill towards Lhana. That girl...

As much as I want to defend myself, I knew that it is I who was wrong. I knew that I have no right to defend myself. I did say those words out of anger. Speaking ill to your fates one is... Not tolerated in this pack.

My eyes turn dull. Hah... Is it really good to be me?

Some children feel jealous about the life I am living. Even my friends, no, even the other children I talk to feel that towards me. They hated the fact that I am part of the oracle. That I look like a hero or a prince in the prophecy. That is something truly wonder if it is indeed a blessing or a curse that will make my life fall into miseries.

I was welcomed with a great punch that makes me fly to the other corner of the wall. Father is truly wonderful. No wonder why many people admire him. His strength is domineering. A real alpha indeed.

'Emir! Calm down!'

My mother shouted as her voice is trembling in fear. She is a calm and collected woman but when it comes to my father... mother can do nothing but feel worried. Father loves his family as much as my mother wants our family to be happy. But then... She feels helpless especially when it comes to my father. His authority is making us hard to breathe.

"Emric, you seem lost in your thoughts. Are you even listening to me?"

I heard Lhana call my name. With a bored look in my eyes, I tried to hide the bitter feeling I find in myself.

"Yeah"

"You really are weird"

I look at the surrounding. It was... Ordinary. Still, I can't erase the way I am feeling right now. Something feels off.

"Lhana..."

"Yes, I sense it too. Thank goodness you are finally back"

"..."

Ahh, so that is what she is talking about.

"Let's keep moving"

"Alright"

We walk carefully. Analyzing the surrounding that is somehow new for us. I can not help but feel like things are going smoothly. It looks so easy that it feels suspicious.

"Ouch"

I heard Lhana growl in pain. She receives a small scratch from a sharp thing that almost pierces her skin. Thankfully she has good reflexes that she avoids it but not completely.

"Are you alright?"

I asked

"Yes"

A glowing light that is a hue of royal blue escapes her palm.

It is my first time seeing her use that power she obtained from her first awakening.

That is the power to heal.

Part of the blessing given by the goddess of the moon.

"Be careful next time"

"Yes, I know. Even so, I can just heal myself if I get hurt right?"

Fool. Even if she can heal it is not that she doesn't feel pain. Even so... It is not that I am in the place to tell her what are the things she needed to do.

"Look over there"

I mumbled as I look at the place where a large cliff is waiting for us. There is a bridge that is worn out. If you look closely at it, the wood and planks used to build that bridge are nowhere from being sturdy. I assume it would collapse the moment some force was placed upon it. Even a small piece of stone that drops on that bridge would surely make that thing collapse.

How old is it? I do wonder.

As I look at the surrounding of the place, the vicinity looks as if it was all-natural. As if there is nothing wrong with the whole are. Still, it looks so natural that it feels so weird.

"Don't let your guard down"

I mumbled as I continued to leave marks in the area we pass through. I make sure that there is a thing or two that will guide us back to where we came from.

"You are drawing?"

She asked me. I nodded in response and let myself continue drawing a map to remind me of the places and sides we went through.

"Do you know what place will we go?"

I can't answer her question. Even I do not know what lies beyond this place.

"Whatever happens... I promise to not be a burden"

Shut it. I hate...

"Do remember that the promise also includes you. So do not be a burden to me too. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure"

I can’t help but feel bothered about what she said. It is true that I speak ill to her before. Still, it is not that I feel bad saying those words. It is just like what my mother always told me… I shall hold responsibility for everything I say and everything I do…

I saw Lhana pick up a piece of rock. She clench it tightly as she smiled. I wonder what will she do about that rock. To my surprise, the rock fly in the air till it hit the old and shaky bridge.

Tak, Tak, Tak

That sound can be heard all over the woods. I look at her with questioning eyes. Why did she do that? I do wonder.

And before I even have a chance to ask her those questions, the sound of the bridge falling apart while making creek sound can be heard echoing all over the woods. That is something that I expected to happen the moment I hear the sound of the stone hitting the platform of the fragile wood bridge. And soon after. it collapses leaving nothing but an empty grip between two rock forms.

Clapping her hand she toss away all the dirt that is left in her hand.

"Now where should we go next?"

She asked me with a simple yet lively tone in her voice.

This is also one of the reasons why I hated her. She asks as if all the things she does will benefit others. Maybe she herself doesn't know or isn't aware of that fact but... her actions... it makes me be reminded of my father I hated so much.

Looking at the other side on where the bridge is connected a while ago, it makes me wonder what lies beyond that path.

"Hey what are you looking at do you want to go to that place? Although I won't advise you to since it is very far and there's no way we can get in there"

Yeah of course there's no other way to get there especially when you make the bridge collapse who's the only way that we can have our way there.

"Don't tell me you really have that kind of courage in your mind. Do you even know that what we are doing right now is against the rules? Going out secretly like this is unacceptable and yet you want to go that far? What would you do if they look for you but your presence is nowhere to be seen?"

I hate it when she speaks at me like that. Indeed, we haven't talked so much like this before but still, it makes me be amazed by the fact that what she is doing right now truly is what the elders say to her.

She is cold to others but she has a caring nature.

"It's not new for them to have a hard time looking for me so just think of it as an ordinary day"

Lhana looks at me with a disgusted face as if I said something that is not nice.

"No wonder your name is always in the mouth of the council"

What she said is indeed true. I won't have the chance to deny the fact that I have a few... records in the council. Yes, I am the son of the best Alpha in this wolvendom but maybe that is the reason why I find it boring to attend that classes.

Every time my father tells me that there are new things to learn in the classes he offers to me, it always makes my hope in vain.

Interesting? new? Things that I don't have a knowledge about? I doubt it is.

"Wait, Emric did you see that tall mountain over there?"

What she said caught my attention. Indeed it is a dead end over there. The path that lies beyond the area is something that I can't measure with my own eyes. Even if I now have the power to use the skill on where I can see things that are for on me, I still can't reckon how tall and how wide that mountain is.

Lhana heads in that direction. I rush to catch up to her. Now, who is it who is speaking to not get 'that' far?

I make sure that I remember clearly the path that you're taking so that we won't get lost in this unknown forest part.

She stopped and said why it is the dead end. Looking up our site was welcomed with a measurable height of the mountain. I wonder if I can touch the sky.

Our place was full of trees of the erhelena. It covers almost all of the wolvendom area. The only place where there are few were around our village. Since there are houses on it, it is no surprise that the trees don't fully cover that area.

Now I know why we never notice that there is a massively large mountain in this part. I look at the map that is in my hands.

Mountain... ah I now saw it.

'The Fabled Heights'

Looking at the big mountain, I can't help but be at lost. It was Lhana who wake me up from my unconscious state.

'Did I zone out?'

"There is water flowing in that area. Maybe there is a lake or pond nearby"

She mumbles pointing in the direction of the small hole on the rock wall. I nodded.

"Let's check where it came from"

I mumbled. Lake...

I again look at the paper. It is true, there is a lake behind these rocks. It is just nearby.

'Invisible Lake'

That is the name it says. I wonder why it is called like that. Invisible... I wonder if it really is invisible. A small laugh escape in my mouth.

What if the lake is truly invisible? How will we know it exists? Does it wet our clothes even though we can't see the water? I laugh in my thoughts. As of something like that would even exist.

I stopped and halt as I feel something weird.

"Lhana"

I called her to make her stop.

"Yes... I think something is not right-- Ahh!!"