- At Isis' question, everyone turns to Katara with looks of surprise and curiosity. The silence in the room is heavily felt. Katara shows no emotion in response to these glances. The few seconds of silence make the atmosphere even more tense. Finally, Isis breaks the silence again.
ISIS: As I said, this might just be my imagination. I have no proof, just a feeling... But even if it's just a feeling, I have to ask: Are you really hiding something from us, Katara?
- Katara narrows her eyes at Isis' words and lowers them to the ground. She remains silent, lost in thought. The tension in the room intensifies during her silence. Then she raises her gaze back to Isis. Her expression shows seriousness mixed with regret, and her voice trembles slightly but remains determined.
KATARA: You're right; I am hiding something. But it's not because I don't trust you. Even I still don't fully understand what happened. Everything unfolded so quickly, and there were too many mysteries. I didn't want to complicate things further by sharing them, so I chose to remain silent.
- Katara begins recounting the events of her life without hiding even the smallest detail. Coyopa, Miana, and Isis listen to her attentively. Coyopa, after listening carefully, places a hand on his chin and tilts his head thoughtfully. After appearing to ponder silently, he finally looks back at Katara and speaks.
COYOPA: I see. You had a genuinely strange and interesting experience. It's good that you didn't bring this up at the meeting; it would have complicated things even further.
- Isis looks down, upset and regretful for having asked. She then turns to Katara, her voice trembling.
ISIS: I'm sorry, Katara. I shouldn't have pressured you into telling this strange story, especially when you were already confused.
- Katara shakes her head gently, disagreeing with Isis' apology.
KATARA: No, I'm glad I shared it. I feel relieved, as if I don't have to dwell on it anymore.
- Katara offers a gentle smile as she finishes, looking warmly at Isis. Seeing this smile, Isis' eyes fill with tears, and she tries to speak in an emotional tone.
ISIS: Katara...
COYOPA: Ahem! Sorry to interrupt, but we have work to do—immediately.
- Coyopa's polite cough brings Katara and Isis back to reality. Katara, Isis, and Miana then begin discussing with Coyopa their plans moving forward.
COYOPA: The time has come. Our plan is to raise the human child—Allen—without any harm. But before we start, let me clarify that it won't be easy. We'll face many obstacles, especially you, Katara. The greatest responsibility rests on your shoulders. Are you ready for this?
- Katara nods firmly, her eyes shining with determination. Just then, Miana raises her hand and asks a question.
COYOPA: Yes, Miana? Is there a problem?
MIANA: Well, I was wondering... You said earlier that a human child would live only three days at most. Even though human children are fragile, isn't three days a bit too short, Coyopa-sama?
- Hearing Miana's question, Coyopa slightly raises his eyebrows, then sighs deeply, as if recalling something important.
COYOPA: Ah, that's right. You've only recently become a Watcher, haven't you? It makes sense that you wouldn't know. Now that Isis is also here, perhaps it's best to explain. Tell me, Miana, have you ever seen a creature in this forest whose color differed from ours?
- Coyopa's question makes Miana thoughtful. After a brief silence, she speaks up.
MIANA: Hmm... Actually, I remember seeing differently colored creatures a few times, but they were rare, and... I never saw them again.
COYOPA: Did you never wonder why those creatures never reappeared?
MIANA: Not really. I just assumed they left the forest.
- Coyopa squints slightly, showing sadness.
COYOPA: You're mistaken, Miana. I regret to say this, but those creatures died precisely three days after entering the forest.
- Coyopa's words cause deep confusion for Miana and Isis, who immediately have more questions. Katara, however, remains calm and patient, waiting for Coyopa to continue. After a tense silence, Miana asks curiously and uncertainly.
MIANA: Died? But... how do you know? You never saw them, so how can you say it with such certainty?
COYOPA: Why?
- After Miana's question, Coyopa's expression turns serious.
COYOPA: Alright... Now, I'll tell you an important secret known only by the Watchers, the village chief, and me. Every living creature that enters this forest dies exactly three days later, without exception. We still don't know why, but it has always been this way. The elders called it the "Curse of the Forest." But I believe it's something entirely different.
- Understanding the weight of Coyopa's words, Miana and Isis immediately turn to Katara with questioning eyes, seeking confirmation.
MIANA: Katara, is it true? Is what Coyopa-sama said really true?
KATARA (calmly): I wanted you to see it with your own eyes, but perhaps it's better you know now.
ISIS: But why wasn't I informed about this?
COYOPA: Because knowing this would have caused unnecessary panic and confusion among the villagers.
- Isis pouts and folds her arms unhappily.
ISIS: At least I should have known! I'm the head of the healers! Or is that title merely symbolic?
- Ignoring Isis' complaint, Coyopa removes his serious expression and addresses Katara and Miana cheerfully.
COYOPA: Let's return to our earlier question: Have you ever wondered why everything in this forest, including us, shares the same color?
- Everyone sinks into deep thought.
MIANA: Hmm... Now that you mention it, Coyopa-sama, I never questioned why everything is blue.
ISIS: We're always busy. We don't usually have time to ponder these things. Do you have any ideas, Coyopa?
- Coyopa smirks confidently.
COYOPA: Indeed, I do. Ahem... I recently discovered something fascinating. A few weeks ago, while reading old Shaman diaries out of boredom, I found something remarkable in the diary of the Eighth Shaman, who lived four generations ago. It mentioned his communication with a human being.
- The word "human" dramatically changes the atmosphere. Everyone leans in, eager to hear more. The room's silence emphasizes the importance of Coyopa's upcoming revelation.
COYOPA: According to the diary, the Eighth Shaman was wandering alone in the forest near the border one day when he came across a severely wounded man. The poor man was in such a miserable state that the Eighth couldn't bring himself to leave him alone. Initially, his goal was simply to heal the man's wounds quickly and get him to safety before the forest's curse could reach him.
However, as time passed, the Eighth realized that the human wasn't affected by the curse despite living in the forest. This remarkable fact intrigued the Eighth, prompting him to spend more time with the man, leading them to become friends. As their bond grew stronger, the man revealed that he practiced something called "science" and that he had been accused of dark magic by a powerful religious group known as "the Church." They sent hunters after him to arrest and execute him. Fleeing from these hunters, he somehow reached the borders of the forest.
COYOPA: Eventually, the Eighth Shaman grew accustomed to the human's presence. Over time, he stopped referring to him as "human" in his diary, instead calling him "my friend." They spent many days together, conducting scientific research and learning much from one another.
Years passed this way, until one day, the human declared that it was time for him to leave. He had a life to return to and unfinished business awaiting him. Though initially reluctant, the Eighth Shaman eventually relented to his friend's determination. He decided to help his friend, making his return journey possible. In gratitude, the man left all his research behind for the Eighth Shaman.
- After Coyopa finishes his story, silence fills the room. Isis frowns impatiently and turns towards Coyopa.
ISIS: That's all well and good, but what exactly does that have to do with what we're discussing?
- A slight smile appears on Coyopa's face, his eyes gleaming with excitement at the thought of revealing a significant secret.
COYOPA: The relevance is this: After reading the diary, I found a map and a letter from the Eighth Shaman hidden among its pages. The letter stated, "Whoever finds and reads this diary, if you follow the map hidden within these pages, you'll discover some of the scientific research and secrets my dear friend and I worked on. I hope you use this research for good."
MIANA: And what did you do?
COYOPA: Of course, I went to the location marked on the map. It would have been absurd not to.
- Coyopa clenches his teeth momentarily as he recalls his adventure, then returns to his cheerful demeanor, continuing his tale.
COYOPA: Thus began my quest, lasting several weeks. My first task was to locate the cave indicated on the map. Deep within the cave, I found a stone statue of a creature resembling a fox and a wolf. Following instructions, I dug beneath the statue. It wasn't easy, but eventually, I uncovered an old stone chest containing the Eighth Shaman and his human friend's legacy. Unable to resist my curiosity, I immediately started reading the research notes. What I learned was truly incredible—but that's not our current focus.
COYOPA: While reading, I encountered a fascinating article titled "The Theoretical Secret." Intrigued, I delved into its contents, which read: "Three years have passed since I was cast out from society, labeled a 'heretic.' Now I've adapted fully to this forest. The ecosystem here boasts extraordinary biodiversity. Everything, from microscopic organisms on the ground to predators soaring in the sky, is colored blue.
This phenomenon extends from the vegetation to my loyal friend Hakuta, who aided me during my hardest times. Without Hakuta, I likely would have met the entity called 'Recognition' long ago—if it even exists. But my primary interest is the unusual coloration. This presented a scientific opportunity I couldn't ignore. Therefore, I initiated a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms underlying the blue coloration and possible environmental factors."
COYOPA_RESEARCHER: I started by observing the behavior of animals within the forest. After months of meticulous research, I noticed something unusual. Near my dwelling, I encountered a wolf-like creature with deer-like antlers—Hakuta identified it as a Yamda. Interestingly, this Yamda recently had three cubs: two blue like their mother, and one brown.
This anomaly intrigued me. Upon closer examination, I discovered the brown cub was missing a leg and received significantly less milk from its mother. It seemed the mother had given up on it. Despite being just one week old, the cub appeared extremely weak and frail. Tragically, it died on its eighth day without an apparent cause.
This incident heightened my desire to uncover the forest's mysteries. Understanding why the brown cub was born differently and why it died so soon became a new focus. I realized my research had to expand beyond just the coloration; I needed to understand the biological and environmental factors behind this phenomenon.
- Coyopa pauses briefly, maintaining a calm demeanor as he addresses the trio watching him curiously.
COYOPA: The diary continues three months after the cub's death. During that interval, nothing was recorded—perhaps there was nothing new to note, or the records were kept elsewhere. In any case, I found no additional information in the stone chest.
COYOPA_INVESTIGATOR: During those three months following the cub's death, my curiosity and passion for research compelled me to scour every corner of the forest. It felt as if the forest itself was challenging me to uncover its secrets. But for the first time, I realized I couldn't do it alone. Thus, I asked Hakuta for assistance. Normally, I would never dream of seeking help due to my pride, but this time was different. Hakuta was not merely a friend but a trusted companion, and I firmly believed that together we could succeed.
With Hakuta's help, we conducted extensive research and observation, eventually discovering an imperceptible blue gas in the forest's atmosphere. This gas had a special connection with all living creatures in the forest—it was vital for their survival. Our analysis revealed two outcomes:
Acceptance: If the gas was biologically compatible with a creature, it adapted and became part of the forest ecosystem, turning blue.
Rejection and death: If incompatible, the creature underwent rejection, resulting in death.
These discoveries brought us closer to understanding the forest's secrets. However, questions remained: What was the source of this gas? Why did some creatures accept it while others rejected it? What role did the gas play in the blue coloration?
- Miana stares at Coyopa, visibly shaken. After a brief silence, she speaks anxiously.
MIANA: That's terrifying... What if we couldn't accept this gas? Would we die too?
COYOPA: There's no need to worry. You accepted this gas the moment you were born. You should thank your mother for that.
- Miana and Isis glance at each other, confused. Coyopa calmly continues.
COYOPA_INVESTIGATOR: After discovering the gas, our next goal was to determine its source. Months of research led us to an important finding: giant blue trees were releasing the gas.
Initially, we thought the trees produced the gas themselves, but deeper investigation revealed this was incorrect. The trees merely served as release mechanisms. The gas was actually transported to them through their roots. Further investigation uncovered a distinctive white root system responsible for delivering this gas.
Yet, despite our findings, we still don't know the gas's ultimate source. Solving this mystery seems nearly impossible, so we've decided to conclude our experiments here—for the safety of all creatures within this forest.
WILL CONTINUE...