Holding onto each other, the four of them, Lin, Boshu, Roe and Xie, finally appeared on the side of the portal. The Direction star successfully paved their advancement onto the next of their quest. A few brisk walks and some careful steps, brought them out of the mists the Land of the Lakes. It was all azure. Every shade of it. The sky, the different waters.
Even the landscape reflected the blue hue of the two. There was never ending water. But it 't a single body. There were infinite shades and hues that marketed the borders. There a pleasant breeze that blew over them. It swept freshness across their faces.
"Couldn't believe that eyes could behold such serenity in this life if somebody had said so . '' Said Roe, marveling at the out of the world beauty of the landscape " No wonder went missing after coming here. Who would want to leave such serenity such splendor. I having a poetic outburst right now. Don't mind if I break into a song or two. " She twirled like a swan.
"Roe! Roe! " Xie went after her as she swirled about with her imaginary symphony.
This was the perfect opportunity Boshu was waiting for. He was finally alone with Lin. He pulled to the side and demanded "Tell me what I don't know Lin".
Lin looked up at him and said " Some things are better left unsaid. Timing is important in we do. " He tried to brush off his question lightly.
"Lin.Look, I am going to be straight with you. " His eyes were never as serious as it was today " I 't have anybody to call my own, never actually had one. I was born and brought up away my tribe. No parents. No friends. You are the only family I have ever thought of as my own.
I was literally tossed between one monster after another until the day you saved me. " He was a little emotional but he quickly regained his composure and continued. " Look Lin. I be an idiot but I can clearly make out that the curse has something to do with you. You been hiding it from everyone and you might have a valid reason for that. But I just want to that much which allows me to be useful. To help you. '' Boshu was a completely different this time. Lin could barely understand how someone so casual and carefree could become so serious. He trusted Boshu. He was almost like a brother and best friend.
After pondering over it for a while, he thought about sharing some tit bits with him. Lin that his journey ahead was tedious and an understanding, loving companion could a long way.
" Boshu, by sharing what I am about to share with you, I will be endangering you brother, I must you. " Lin started.
" I don't care about Lin. Go ahead. " Boshu replied with instant confidence.
" So as it happened I fell in love with a girl in the human world a couple of years back. We married but decided to keep it a secret for a while. It eventually turned out that she from the wolf tribe, but it was already too late. We had consummated our marriage and she pregnant. '' Lin paused but Boshu had no facial expression whatsoever. So he continued
"To make things worse, I was not aware of her pregnancy until the so-called curse was . " He paused again.
" So basically you are saying that the curse awakened because you violated the law and it's child and wife at stake against the whole known world? '' Boshu summarized his of the entire situation. Lin nodded. " Now what do you have in mind? What is plan of action? How do you want to overcome this? It isn't like a battle or war that you can against. You are fighting something unseen, unknown. "
" I know. And that is the exact reason I came here. For answers. We need to know exactly what are up against. Only then will we be able to devise a plan of action. " Lin said.
" But while we are busy finding answers here, your wife might as well be chased and devoured the curse. " Boshu looked worried.
" I have put her in a barrier and left her with refreshments. But you are right. We are running out time and need to get to the Tree as soon as possible. Let's go find the two of them. " Lin up and pulled Boshu along.
"Now where did these two go? As if we have any shortage of problems, now they decide to drift dancing. " Boshu complained as they started looking for Xie and Roe.
Now it so happened that the Land of Lakes were in parallel alignment with the tower where Jin confined in the other realm. As will be later revealed, his mind was cursed to be distorted in a hideous manner that he was meant to fall in love with his own progeny. To prevent from repeating his mistake, it was so cursed that Jin would develop perverted feelings the person from his tribe who would follow in his path. It was such an inhumane that even the most twisted of souls would shudder at the mere thought of it. Mia technically a grandchild of his, but since she had the misfortune of a similar love life like of Jin's, the curse was pulling his soul in perverted affection towards her. He didn't even about her existence, but the dark force binding his heart was driving him mad with . He was boiling to consummate his lustful desire.
******
Anjana the unknown
Unaware of the happenings in the parallel worlds, Mia was steadily advancing towards Lin's along with her new found companion.They were flying at a very high speed. Mia was enjoying the ride as she leaned over to see the tiny movements of people and down below. The mansions appeared toy-like. The landscape kept changing from trees mountains to plains. Finally they were almost near the Forbidden Woods.
"Ahh! This is what a good flight feels like. Ahh! " Mia exclaimed stretching her back "even Lin did take me for such a long ride ever. Yeah! Actually I should get back to him about this. Why 't he? " She was talking to herself. Her companion was busy exploring the place with the of a little child. He looked around and kept touching here and there. Mia too had little about the place they were in.
"Ooooooo! This place is really floating, isn't it? Hey Mr... Umm... What should I call you? Do you a name? " She asked him. He shook his head in the negative and hung in down as if and sad. " Ok. Ok. Don't worry. No need to feel sad. Let me give you a nice name.
Ummm, how about, Anjana? I had read in a book from a country afar, it means, unknown. Do like it? "
"Like it very much" He said with a weird gesture that was supposed to be a happy smile. Mia too and then said " Ok then let's not waste too much time and look for Lin. " They got to work .
They searched in every direction. Here and there. But after what seemed like a few hours, Mia down on the green grass and asked "Are you sure Lin came in this direction? " She asked.
"Sure it was the man that came out from the barrier you were in" He said.
"How do you know, like for sure, how can you be sure? " She enquired.
" From the smell. Everybody has a different smell, every smell is unique. " He said.
"Oh.I see. Umm, so can you tell me where he went from here? Which direction? Was there with him or was he alone? " She asked. He sniffed the air. Went to and fro for and then said.
"He was here not very long ago. There seems to be two male and a female with him. I can track scent till there," He pointed with his finger "but then it vanished from the spot. I cannot track more scent of any one from there. I don't know. " He shrugged his shoulders.
"What do you mean by vanished ? Let's go and check... Ouch! What are you doing? Let me go.
I said let me go. " Mia was cut off mid sentence . Her clothes trail was caught by her companion she was trying to go take a look at the spot from where Lin and others' smell went missing.
She was pulling herself free but he wouldn't let her go.
"You can't go. Can't go. " He said.
"Why? What's wrong with you? " She asked.
Her companion did not give her any answer, instead, he went behind a few steps and then a leaf then looked at Mia as if asking her to observe. Soon enough the tree started severe blows on Anjana.
"Stop, stop. Get away. Get away. " Mia pulled him away as he stood silently taking in the blows.
"What just happened? Why was the tree attacking you? Why didn't you do anything? Was it you plucked a leaf? " She asked.
"These lands are sacred lands. Can not harm. Can do no evil here. If you go to the place they , I am afraid you might vanish too" He said with a very serious face.
"Ummm, alright. Since these are sacred lands, I am sure there must be spiritual energy in and the place. Let me try to find my answers from them. My mother used to teach me how to whenever we needed any answer from the spirits. If this place has a self defense , it surely will be smart enough to respond to my request. Mia told herself as she herself the highest hillock to sit and began meditating. Anjana sat quietly in front of her, up and down as if something were to fall from heaven.
In the Land of Lakes , the four of them were walking for quite some time. But apart from serene they found no progress.
"How long are we going to go around the place admiring sceneries? " Xie stopped all of a and exclaimed.
" True, we have been going around without any leads. What are we supposed to be looking for?
"Asked Boshu.
" The opening to the land where the Tree of knowledge is, the infinite meadows. " Roe .
"But how do we find it? Anybody has any clue or information we could work on? " Xie asked Lin be precise.
"There is a clue . I had read long ago but I cannot seem to quite understand it. " Lin said.
"Tell us. Four heads are better than one. Let's do some brainstorming here. '' Roe said, smiling.
Her mood seems exceptionally good since they came to that land. She moved a few steps to Lin and started him straight in the eyes.
Lin took a step back and gulped. Then he found a spot to sit on and said " It said something creatures with tiny but shiny pairs of eyes being the only companion that can save you drowning in the infinite lake. "
"What creatures? Why drowning? Are we supposed to swim our way out? " Roe wondered.
"Oh no. No. No. I am not getting wet. Never. " Boshu took a leap back.
"Relax, we don't know if that is what we are supposed to do for sure. Also there doesn't seem to any creature here. Has anybody seen any creature here since we came? " Xie asked.
They all shook their heads in the negative. Unsure about what their next step should be, they all around Lin and sat down, thinking and pondering.