Craving Scarecrow

"Help!" Anya screams as loudly as she can.

The statue, which had been moving, suddenly stops, and a shadow disappears.

"What just happened? Where did it go?" Alaric looks around in confusion.

"Sorry, guys, I was just messing with you." A soldier laughs from a distance.

"I told you they would get scared," another soldier says, laughing.

"So, they were just playing with us?" Viktor breathes in relief.

"I was so scared," Freja says, sitting down on the ground, exhausted.

Sofia kneels beside her to comfort her. Just then, a small fish jumps out of the water and slips inside Sofia's dress.

"No! Ahhhh!" Sofia screams, trying to get the fish out but unsure of what to do.

"What's wrong?" Freja asks as Sofia struggles, trying to shake the fish out.

Meanwhile, Luka, Nicolas, and Alaric watch Sofia without blinking, completely distracted by the scene, ignoring everything else happening around them.

"Before you reach the city, you'll need to go through the forest." A guard hands them a compass.

"Wait, did you say forest? How are we supposed to survive the dangers? And do we really have to walk more?" Alaric kneels down, holding one of the pillars in frustration.

"Don't worry. The forest within the kingdom's boundary is safe. As long as you don't do anything stupid, the animals and mythical creatures won't harm you. Also, look for large, heart-shaped leaves in the forest. You'll find plenty of them. You can sit on them and fly to travel faster. Just use the compass to find your way," the guard explains, picking up his lance that was resting against a pillar.

"So, which direction should we head? North?" Livio asks, looking at the compass, which has only one dial.

Another guard comes over, spinning his lance on his finger. "Don't worry, just think about the place you want to go, and the compass will guide you."

"Wait, can it show me the way to Neelam?" Livio suddenly gets excited.

The guard drops his lance in shock, the loud sound echoing through the room. Tension fills the air, and everyone looks at Livio as if he has said something terrible.

"Oh no, what did I just do? I ruined everything with that one question. I should've kept my excitement in check." Livio looks away, avoiding everyone's gaze, moving away in embarrassment.

The soldier picks up his lance. "There are things you shouldn't say or do here. Since you're new, you have no idea about this world yet. You'll understand over time. Just be careful...every step you take could be risking your life."

"I knew something was off about that guy. He's a complete idiot. I bet he will be the next to die." Alaric gives a wicked smile.

"It's okay, Livio. Don't let it bother you. When I met you, I knew you didn't know much about this game, like the rest of us. We'll learn more as we go. Let's just keep moving." Nitin pats Livio on the shoulder reassuringly.

"Yeah, let's keep going," Sebastian steps in, taking the lead.

"I really need to think before I speak from now on," Livio quietly follows Sebastian outside.

Once they step outside, they look back and realize the gate is no longer visible.

"Hey guys, look!" Tomasz points to the forest ahead.

Fireflies swarm around the trees, and some of the leaves glow. Small black birds with large rainbow-colored beaks eat berries, while tiny white birds with ribbon-like tails dance in the sky.

"Do you hear that? I think there is a waterfall nearby," Viktor says, cupping his ear to listen closely.

"You're right. Let's go check it out," Nitin says, using the compass to lead the way.

They arrive at a stunning sight: a waterfall surrounded by giant, colorful stones. The water crashes down heavily, spraying small droplets into the air, which sparkle like pearls. Floating heart-shaped leaves cover the water, and glowing stones sit perfectly placed, like cherries on a cake.

"Wow, this place is amazing. It feels like heaven," Nicolas says, waving his arms in excitement.

Eero and Elena stand together, staring at the waterfall. Without realizing it, they subconsciously hold hands.

While they admire the view, they notice some of the water starting to rise, creating large ripples across the surface.

"Uh, I think we should step back," Sebastian says calmly, moving away.

Everyone follows his lead.

Suddenly, a figure leaps out of the water, sending droplets flying in all directions. In the moonlight, they see a beautiful creature with long, flowing hair and deep, mysterious eyes. She has a fish-like tail that moves like the waves of the ocean, and her scales reflect the moonlight, making the scene even more mesmerizing. As she lands in the water, a sweet smell fills the air.

She slowly swims to a glowing rock and sits on it, basking in the moonlight. The boys, unable to look away, are completely hypnotized, their eyes wide with curiosity.

"Hey, what are you staring at? You guys are such perverts," Elena says, pulling Eero by the collar.

"No, no, it's not like that! I just never saw anyone like her before," Eero gets nervous, trying to explain.

"Then why are you blushing?" Elena crosses her arms, unimpressed.

"My, my, such a cute young couple," a group of mermaids emerge from the water, their voices sweet and melodic.

The boys, still under the spell of their beauty, can't resist staring.

"I should walk away. There's no way these angel-like creatures would talk to us, but I can't move. It's like they're pulling me toward them," Livio thinks to himself, struggling to move.

One of the mermaids sitting on the glowing rock smiles warmly at Livio, as if she knows he's scared of girls.

"Why am I stuck? I need to look away, but I can't. My body won't listen!" Livio's mind races as his heart pounds.

"I think they're tired, girls. Let's go. We'll meet again," the lead mermaid says before they all dive back into the water.

"What just happened?" Sebastian asks, still confused.

"I think that was their charm and charisma," Nitin says, stepping back.

"You can't resist them if your level is below fifteen," a man in his mid-20s approaches them, wearing a t-shirt with the words "Just Die" printed on it, cargo pants, and sneakers.

"Who are you?" Viktor asks, on guard.

"Relax, I'm a player too. My level is twenty. I'm here for personal reasons," the man says, sitting on a colorful rock by the water.

Before anyone else can speak, Nitin says, "We've spent enough time here. We should get moving." He takes out the compass.

Sebastian raises his hand. "I agree."

"You guys should look for the heart-shaped leaves. Since you're new, you won't be able to cover much ground on foot," the man says confidently.

"So, you can cover that distance by yourself?" Luka asks, sounding a little jealous.

"I can do many things, and so can you. Just be patient. For more info, you'll need money in the kingdom. It has its own currency, so I suggest finding jobs when you get there." The man leans back, relaxing and staring at the sky.

While everyone else is busy talking with the stranger, Elena and Eero slip away into the forest without being noticed. They walk quietly, not too far, and soon find the tree they were looking for. It stands tall, the leaves glowing faintly in the light. Near the tree, they spot a small cave.

Eero and Elena move inside the cave, unable to suppress their curiosity. A small, beautiful tree glows inside the cave, sheltering tiny, beautiful animals.

Eero notices the way Elena keeps glancing at him, something in her eyes pulling him closer. There's a hunger there, something deeper than words. He stops walking, turning to face her.

Their eyes meet, and for a moment, it feels like they're the only ones in the world. The sound of their friends' voices fades away. Eero takes a step towards Elena, feeling the warmth of her breath as she looks up at him. He hesitates, his lips just a little away from hers.

Without thinking, Elena moves first. She presses her lips against his in a sudden, hungry kiss that catches him off guard. It feels like time stops, and for that moment, nothing else matters. But then, just as quickly, Elena pulls away, her breath heavy.

Eero's heart races, but he's not ready to let go. He gently grabs her wrist, pulling her closer, pinning her against the tree behind her. His lips find hers again, this time with more passion and need. Elena resists for a second, but soon gives in, kissing him back just as fiercely.

Eero's hands slip around her waist, pulling her closer, their bodies touching. Then, with a sudden move, Elena pushes him down onto the soft grass near the cave entrance. She sits on top of him, her hair falling loose around her face. She leans forward, their lips touching again, this time slower but deeper.

Eero's hands move over her body, exploring her curves as her soft moans fill the small space around them.

"Are you sure?" Eero whispers, his voice low, almost breathless.

"I have never been more sure," Elena replies, her eyes locked on his.

The glowing stones in the cave cast a soft light over them as they give in to the moment, lost in each other while their friends are still talking with the stranger, unaware.