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Description

-Personal project-

…The sound of festivity and cheers of forest folk fell silent behind them. The ancient roots of Great tree had closed the way out. Darkness immediately enveloped the three [the sorceress, two orphans/siblings, older sister, little brother] for a split second. With a quick snap of fingers the royal sorceress produced a small light of fire on her palm. The boy gasped. It had been already a wondrous day for the siblings. But witnessing such magical trick in pitch black around was almost hypnotizing. The woman glanced at them. The sister intuitively grasped brother's hand. The warm and kind smile had disappeared from the woman's face. Only an echo of former self held in its place. “Keep pace with me”, she said, “You don't want to fall behind here”. She headed on, and the children followed warily. Creeping dread clawed its way into their senses.

They were walking through the tunnel of overgrown roots and soil. Countless walls of tree limbs welcomely unweaved in front, at the same time menacingly blocked the passage behind. Each step of the sorceress resonated with the surroundings as if something was responding to her approach. The creaking of wood, its unnatural movement greeted the long-awaited guest. However, it didn't react to the siblings with the same courtesy. It wasn't hostile towards them yet it seemed to be bearing with the presence of the strangers. The girl strided ahead holding brother's hand tightly. She had already pictured them forever stuck in the roots if they were to fail to keep up with the ever escaping beacon of light…

…The sorceress suddenly stopped as the last warden of roots released its seal. Blinding daylight descended on their garments. Fresh air washed over their faces. A hopeful smile crossed brother's lips. They were finally out.

A view of gloomy grove spread out before them. Old trees loomed through the misty horizon, totem poles of forest folk laid carelessly on both sides from the entrance. Strange looking short swords made of wood and roots stuck out from the ground.

As they were about to step forward, the girl stumbled her feet, she noticed a small group of moths lying beneath, motionless. They had to be trapped right there, she summarized. When she lift her gaze, a rushing swarm of insects flew by her head. They settled on the newly-appeared wall of roots and started erratically probing for any cracks and crevices.

The sorceress stood silently, peering into the forest ahead. Having gathered enough courage, the girl decided to approach her. “This place is wrong”, she said trying to conceal the panic in her voice, “I...We don't want to participate in the trial anymore”.

The lady didn't budge. The girl continued with increased tenacity, “Bring me and my brother back. To the city. To the foster home.”

The boy backed away like fire from the woman - he recalled the anxious eyes of his former friend that he had met again at the festival. “Did he know about this? Why didn't he say anything then?”, the brother thought. The older sister stubbornly stepped in front to face her, demanding answers.

The sorceress finally acknowledged the child. The woman leaned a little towards the girl, then loudly snapped the fingers close to her face. A rain of sparks fell on her clothes and hair. Shivers ran down orphans' spines. Breathless silence descended on them. Remainder of few vague hopes of better life had fizzled away.

The eternal stillness of the moment was broken by a sudden rustle in the woods. There were the sounds of wild stumping, cracking, humming. The woman regained her posture as she uttered, “One of you will get a chance to leave. The other will stay here and fight”. She looked down on the girl, “I am granting you the choice”. The sorceress drew a similar looking sword from her robe with an offering gesture.

Meanwhile in the thick of the forest a lone figure was coming their way, and the swarm of moths followed with them…

Description

-Personal project-

…The sound of festivity and cheers of forest folk fell silent behind them. The ancient roots of Great tree had closed the way out. Darkness immediately enveloped the three [the sorceress, two orphans/siblings, older sister, little brother] for a split second. With a quick snap of fingers the royal sorceress produced a small light of fire on her palm. The boy gasped. It had been already a wondrous day for the siblings. But witnessing such magical trick in pitch black around was almost hypnotizing. The woman glanced at them. The sister intuitively grasped brother's hand. The warm and kind smile had disappeared from the woman's face. Only an echo of former self held in its place. “Keep pace with me”, she said, “You don't want to fall behind here”. She headed on, and the children followed warily. Creeping dread clawed its way into their senses.

They were walking through the tunnel of overgrown roots and soil. Countless walls of tree limbs welcomely unweaved in front, at the same time menacingly blocked the passage behind. Each step of the sorceress resonated with the surroundings as if something was responding to her approach. The creaking of wood, its unnatural movement greeted the long-awaited guest. However, it didn't react to the siblings with the same courtesy. It wasn't hostile towards them yet it seemed to be bearing with the presence of the strangers. The girl strided ahead holding brother's hand tightly. She had already pictured them forever stuck in the roots if they were to fail to keep up with the ever escaping beacon of light…

…The sorceress suddenly stopped as the last warden of roots released its seal. Blinding daylight descended on their garments. Fresh air washed over their faces. A hopeful smile crossed brother's lips. They were finally out.

A view of gloomy grove spread out before them. Old trees loomed through the misty horizon, totem poles of forest folk laid carelessly on both sides from the entrance. Strange looking short swords made of wood and roots stuck out from the ground.

As they were about to step forward, the girl stumbled her feet, she noticed a small group of moths lying beneath, motionless. They had to be trapped right there, she summarized. When she lift her gaze, a rushing swarm of insects flew by her head. They settled on the newly-appeared wall of roots and started erratically probing for any cracks and crevices.

The sorceress stood silently, peering into the forest ahead. Having gathered enough courage, the girl decided to approach her. “This place is wrong”, she said trying to conceal the panic in her voice, “I...We don't want to participate in the trial anymore”.

The lady didn't budge. The girl continued with increased tenacity, “Bring me and my brother back. To the city. To the foster home.”

The boy backed away like fire from the woman - he recalled the anxious eyes of his former friend that he had met again at the festival. “Did he know about this? Why didn't he say anything then?”, the brother thought. The older sister stubbornly stepped in front to face her, demanding answers.

The sorceress finally acknowledged the child. The woman leaned a little towards the girl, then loudly snapped the fingers close to her face. A rain of sparks fell on her clothes and hair. Shivers ran down orphans' spines. Breathless silence descended on them. Remainder of few vague hopes of better life had fizzled away.

The eternal stillness of the moment was broken by a sudden rustle in the woods. There were the sounds of wild stumping, cracking, humming. The woman regained her posture as she uttered, “One of you will get a chance to leave. The other will stay here and fight”. She looked down on the girl, “I am granting you the choice”. The sorceress drew a similar looking sword from her robe with an offering gesture.

Meanwhile in the thick of the forest a lone figure was coming their way, and the swarm of moths followed with them…