The softness of a sunbeam pulls me from my sleep. Still curled up on myself, I open my eyes and discover the beauty of the spectacle that the forest offers me as dawn calmly rises and gently awakens the forest. The first rays of the sun are soft and pierce the dense foliage. This creates a real kaleidoscope that is no longer unknown to me. I even find it very pleasant to contemplate. All these beautiful reflections of changing lights on the wildflower beds. These wells of light that could almost announce the arrival of angels through the trees, old and wise, always seem to stretch higher towards the light.

And how pleasant the song of the birds is. It's not in the city that I could listen to this kind of concert. Their melodies resonate through the woods like a natural symphony. My eyes are drawn to butterflies with iridescent wings that dance gracefully in the sun's rays. There is no doubt about it, the forest is alive, every blade of grass, every flower, every creature seems to vibrate with a new energy. It was a breathtaking spectacle, a moment of pure magic that could not be found. At the crossroads of roots, I can see a fox, in full hunting party. How beautiful it is, with its red coat like the incandescent flames of a campfire. I stretch. My legs and back hurt, in what position did I sleep? I bump my head against the trunk. Ouch. I rub my head. At least it's done. I pick up my little dagger and put it in my bag that I put on as a shoulder strap. I look around me. Where did I come from? Which direction to go? I hope not to cross that frog again. A shiver runs through me when I think back to that last one. What a horrible creature.

Hunger and thirst are felt. Unfortunately, this will have to wait. I have neither provisions nor water.

I then seize the compass after remembering its existence. The sun rises in the East. The city of Tean is to the north. Apparently behind me. I must go everywhere except north. A little courage and on the road. I slide the compass back into place. I must see this as a great adventure. Like my heroes of novels. In reality, I like to feel like them, both eager to discover new things but also frightened by this unknown that is looming before me. It's a bit like jumping into the void for nothing. Because I know nothing. Neither the language, nor the geography, nor the culture. I start from scratch in my education. I don't even know the politics, the laws of this country. If it turns out, I am totally illegal for having slept in the forest of the "Lord" as Miss Green Apple called him. I may even be disrespectful to a deity. If that's the case, I hope she will forgive me, I am not from here but from a distant land, which may not exist for the people here. With a good pace I move forward. Around a tree I think I see a Jackalope. A kind of horned rabbit, known in the myths of American folklore. Half hare, half antelope, it is described as being shy and difficult to observe. Yet this one, does not seem to care about me at all and lives his life, he continues to graze the few buttercups and clovers he comes across on his way. Do they know humans in this funny world?

Honestly, I wonder what I will find beyond these trees. One thing is funny is that each tree seems different, each one is unique, special. I feel so small in the midst of these tall trees, it changes from those that populate the forests around my hometown. I say this, but at the same time it's been a while since I've seen them. And I don't think I'll see them again anytime soon even if one day I come back to my world.

A bird comes out of a bush not far from me accompanied by its young, how cute they are. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like a partridge but much more colorful, and larger. I admire the splendor of its multi-colored feathers and the fineness of its feathers. Like the forest it inhabits, it is similar to a kaleidoscope that changes with the light. On reflection, its wings are like painted canvases, and its eyes are equal to poe rava, black pearls from the paradisiacal islands of French Polynesia or Tahiti. The latter is only passing through and quickly disappears into a burrow. I don't linger any longer. I don't want to spend a second night in this forest. Just the thought of this solution makes me shudder. Oh no, I don't want to meet the lord of the place.

The time then seemed very long, although I was curious about all the new things my eyes perceived.

After a while the trees seem to loosen, space out and gain freedom. The edge of the forest is gradually taking shape, and a light breeze rushes between the trunks and makes a few leaves that had detached whirl around. I catch one in flight. It is so beautiful. I detail it. It had fallen from the tree without a sound, like a feather. In total indifference. Its smooth and green surface is almost transparent and lets the light filter through. I give it back to nature before continuing my journey.

Here I am now at the edge, and before my astonished eyes a large expanse of water marks a certain break in the landscape. The lake is so vast that I can't perceive the other shore. Or at least, just a single horizon line that wavers under the sunlight, like a mirage would. It sparkles with a thousand lights under the sun's rays. Sometimes, blue like the sky, sometimes, white like cotton, sometimes, green like emerald. It keeps changing color. Small ripples form on the surface, caused by the movement of the wind. This lake gives me the impression of being in front of a well of magic. A magic that is also powerful and vital to the forest that extends in an arc around perhaps kilometers. This place inspires me with something strange, I don't know how to describe this feeling. But it's like the traveler who contemplates a sea of clouds from the heights of a mountain. It seems that the latter contains millennial secrets, or even older. And what kinds of wonderful creatures, and priceless treasures are hidden in the bowels of this blue expanse?

I approach the shore and sit down. I can afford a little break! I dip my hands into the translucent water. It's cold. I scoop up some water in the palms of my hands and bring it to my lips. Let's hope I don't get sick. I'm too thirsty to refuse it.

I take off my boots that are hurting my foot terribly. It feels so good. I retrieve the map and unfold it. . . So here I am in front of the Great Lake. It lives up to its name. As much as the cities are very original, but for this sublime place, I can't say they racked their brains. If I keep going straight, I'll head towards Temarlys. If I understood the figures correctly, it would be the main city of Viridis, one of the four regions. Do I have the courage to walk there today? I put away the map and lie down in the grass. A few clouds discreetly cross the sky. Passing in front of the sun from time to time, which is far from being burning. I close my eyes and take a deep breath of fresh air.

This calm, it's a pleasure. I've never known a place as peaceful. However, I feel terribly uncomfortable. I feel like I'm being watched. I sit up while keeping my cool. I glance over my shoulder. I quickly sweep the edge that is behind me. I don't see anything though. But I know my intuition is right. Suddenly, I stop dead in all movements. I just saw something shine in a bush. I squint as I don't have excellent long-distance vision and distinguish two large green eyes staring at me very intensely. I feel a shiver run down my spine. Who or what is it? A wild animal? A fantastic being? An enemy? I dare not move, for fear of provoking an attack. I feel like prey, trapped and vulnerable. I try to keep my cool. I'm probably imagining things, but I can't help but tremble. I put my shoes back on in case I have to run again. I grab my knife that I sneakily slide into my cape. The being has well perceived that I had noticed it. Might as well put myself on the defensive. One hand on the handle of the small dagger. I don't know how to fight and I'm sure I don't stand a chance. I was trained in letters not martial arts, let alone knife fighting. I start to think too much, I weigh the pros and cons to find out who owns these green eyes that scrutinize me without blinking. The anxiety rises, a lump forms in my chest. It's time to act not to think. I can't let him have the advantage over me. Especially if it's a henchman of that witch Miss Green Apple. She could have followed me to get my necklace. With a determined but too trembling step, I head towards the bush. My heart is beating so fast it could come out of my chest.

-I know you're there.