Part II – Endless Roads
The path they had taken seemed stable and safe at first.
Ancient stone slabs wound through the blooming cherry trees, tracing gentle curves and petal-covered rises.
And yet, after only a few minutes of walking, something changed.
Yuri noticed the landscape around them seemed to repeat itself: the same gnarled trees, the same smooth stones, the same broken arch covered in moss.
The more they walked, the more she had the strange sensation they were moving in circles.
Yuu, who until now had led them confidently, had stopped several times, sniffing the air nervously.
One moment he pointed in one direction, the next he seemed unsure, letting out small, confused yips.
Kayla walked on in silence, her face shaded by her hat.
Her stride was steady, but the way she scanned the edges of the path betrayed her hidden tension.
Lucen, always a few steps behind Yuri, seemed less disturbed.
Or perhaps he was simply better at hiding it.
The wind whispered through the branches, carrying echoes that sounded like words, laughter, murmurs.
Yuri turned more than once, certain she had heard her name whispered among the dancing petals.
The path split.
Then multiplied.
Three, five, seven different roads opened before them—all alike, all deceptive.
Yuu whimpered, scratching at the ground, disoriented.
Even he seemed lost.
Yuri felt a sudden wave of nausea, as if the world itself were swaying beneath her feet.
She brought a hand to her forehead, trying to stay upright.
Kayla stopped, eyeing the tangle of paths.
Her lips tightened into a thin line.
"Keep your mind clear," she said, her voice lower and graver than usual. "Don't trust your eyes. Follow your instincts."
Lucen gave a slight nod, adding nothing more.
Yuri knelt beside Yuu, seeking comfort in the warmth of his small body.
The little fox licked her hand, trembling slightly.
There was no sound now, except for the rustling petals and the quickening beat of Yuri's heart.
She chose the path to the left—the least obvious one—guided more by impulse than logic.
Kayla and Lucen followed her without question.
And as they walked on, Yuri had the distinct impression that the entire Forest was watching them.
That it was... judging.