After the lady introduced them to their beds she told the travelers of her one and only rule. 'Never enter the cave.' Then, dismissed the weary duo to rest.

Outside of the barn Olympius and Lucifer stand under the pale moonlight.

"Are you sure we should stay here?" Lucifer asked in a soft, unsteady voice.

"Where else is there?" Olympius questioned back. "Besides," He continued "They seem like nice people," Olympius says watching the lady fade into the thick brush.

The bright moon cast light from the zenith of the sky. Within the darkest hours of the night Lucifer jolts violently in his bed, and sweats profusely from every pore. He sits on the side of the bed, and with his hands— cradles his head in torment.

Clenching his jaw in attempts to calm himself from the nightmares; before observing Olympius resting peacefully in his own bed, does Lucifer begin to stand. Each step on the warped wood made a small creaking echo within the barn, and each step he checked his tracks.

Lucifer's eyes adjust to dark wilderness outside of the barn. His mind frozen in time, but his feet press on, while his eyes— overcome of newfound curiosity by the forest. Rolling hills of green grass were revealed at the end of the dense branches, and as he reached the outskirts of the forest he could make out the treacherous mouth of a cave.

Sinister laughter sung from the inside of the cave, faintly piercing the sound of silence. Lucifer's eye grew wide in curiosity, and his body began to tremble with the pace of his heart. He further traveled in an unconscious state deep into the cave where the moon no longer shed light. With every step his eyes continually grew curious; the laughter was less subtle, and more familiar.

Stopped abruptly by the power unseen to the eye. A voice spoke through the deep echoes of the caves, bounding light around the cavernous depths. "Lucifer.... Speak to me.... secrets.... Lucifer...."

His heart was cold and unforgiving. He was punished and forced to life once more to experience his pain. The inevitable will need to be retaught until broken; the chains of the mind need to be opened, untethered, unwovened.

He felt the pain once more. His heart beat racing for addiction; guides only you can decide will be chosen. He fell into a pit of suffering. Pain. Torture. Agony, and Misfortune. Never to experience such conditions in his consciousness. The eyes never lie. Through them; he expired. His soul evaporated into the galaxy once more.

----- (Cottage, Sanguine Forest) -----

The sun rose early the next morning as Olympius goes to wake his friend, but, finds the bed vacant. Only contemplating for a second; then shrugging off his worries, and tends to the animals; expecting Lucifer to already be on the farm. Olympius searches around the many trees sheltering the small property, but couldn't find his friend anywhere. His anxiety drove him to the cottage, rather than tending to the animals; feeling that Lucifer was disrespecting the generous hospitality.

The Lady of the Wood sat alone at the table reading a thick, well-dusted book of gold bindings. "Hello my friend," the lady greets Olympius with a smile, and shuts her book.

"I don't mean to interrupt," he apologizes as the lady pushed the book aside.

"Nonsense," she responds as Olympius shies back through the doorway. "Join me," she invites her guest, and pulls a chair out for the traveler.

"I really must tend to the animals," he dismissively says near the door.

"I insist," the lady says, "the animals will be just fine." She assures Olympius. He hesitates for a short moment. Ultimately deciding not to be rude, then making his way inside the cottage.

"Have you seen Lucifer?" he asked forthwith taking his seat.

The lady takes a long, refreshing sip of her ceramic mug before speaking, "I have not," she says calmly. Leaving Olympius to wander his eyes around the room in an awkward silence.

"I must ask you a question now," the lady says pulling the travelers attention. "Are you enjoying your stay?" The lady asked curiously before taking another long, and refreshing sip of her mug.

"Of course," he responds honestly, and waits for the lady to finish her drink. With a pleasant smile she places her drink back down on the table. "What is your name?" Olympius asked out of turn.

"Have you not heard?" she cross-examined the traveler and proposed her name once more.       "I am the Lady of the Wood," She recites with another infectious smile.

"This is your true name?" He asked, gazing across the table bewilderedly.

"How much more honest can I be?" The Lady questioned Olympius. "What is your name?" She cross-examined; despite already knowing.

"Ol-ympius." He responded with upward inflection; wondering if he had not already established his name.

"And this your true name?" The Lady persistently asked.

"Yes..." Olympius responded.

"Curious." The Lady said, and took another sip of her mug. Olympius began to wander his eyes once more, looking down at the book. The cover held a large mountain towering in the center of a mountain range. The artwork was faded.

"What are you reading?" He curiously asked the lady. She continue to sip from her mug, slowly. Then, placing the ceramic mug on the table as she began to speak.

"Would you like to hear a story?" She asked, and Olympius nodded.

A long time ago, during the birth of man there was once a warrior of the ancient colony of humans; Nefarion, son of Ødyn. His father was a great ruler, and for many years Ødyn brought peace to middle-land and the humans.

One fateful day, their village was level by the ancient animals of the land; and the humans were forced to retreat into the mountain-range. Ødyn was killed, and Nefarion led his people to safety.

Unfortunately, the elvish race that lived the mountain did not allow the humans refuge. Thus, during their slumber Nefarion enacted revenge against the elves. Dividing his own people in the mist of this bloodlust. Nefarion began to hunt down his own people, calling them betrayers. Then, he would steal the ancient artifact of the elvish people, and save his people from the ancient beasts of the land.

Outside of the cavernous mouth of the mountain— Leioss, the Lion son of Zeus stood in the warriors path. Standing high above the men with a lucious mane of golden-yellow. The battle waged on, Nefarion slew the ancient beast and Zeus cried mercilessly from the throne of the mountain.  A sudden downpour of water consumed middle-land; as a river began to flow into The Grand Waters.

Nefarion brought peace to his people, and they treated him as a god, as he continued to slaughter the remaining ancient beast— creating a cataclysm that created a divide known as The Depths of Chaze. The dragon of death was occupied tending to the warriors' bidding. But, look the life of Nefarion and his warriors.

However, all was not lost.

From the cries of Zeus a man arose from the water and took the body of Nefarion to his home, to bury him honorably. The people punished Tyr (the cry of Zeus) and blamed him for the death of their leader. But, Tyr would not fall to their violence no matter how much they tortured him. He was immortal, and godson blood flew strong through his veins. Still, Tyr watched helpless as the people would punish him senselessly. Only to be held a prisoner for many years. His body became to deteriorate, his soul never faded.

The people took notice of his strength, and for years fought each other over the many miracles Tyr had survived. One last divide separated the people once more, Tyr was celebrated as a god by the victor who overthrew their leaders. But, Tyr did not feel anyone achieved victory during his lifetime, and began his exile.

"When did this happen?" Olympius asked the lady as he examined the book thoroughly and could recognize a portion of the artwork to be his old home; as well as the forests he had traveled-- the terrain was near identical had it been from the eyes of an eagle.

"Long ago," she said, "Long before you walked the land," the lady said looking out through the window at a beautiful orange bark tree sitting perfectly under the vibrant sun -- reflecting on her youth. In the midst of her most fond memory the lady saw her daughter running towards the cottage posthaste.

The Lady was calm, as the panicked daughter startled Olympius out of his chair with her sudden intrusion.

"Mother!" Grenada yelled from her entrance before catching her breath. The lady stood from the table, and pulled a chair for her daughter to sit.

"What is your burden?" The lady asked, gently caressing her daughter to the seat.

"I fear this is not a matter for our guest, mother." she says with her focus on the equally concerned Olympius.

"Very well," the lady took her focus to the traveler. Olympius understood the hint, but was curious as to what caused Grenada to be so flustered. "Please," the lady spoke as she directed Olympius outside. "Come back before nightfall; I promise a worthy feast for my noble guests," she dismissed him with a subtle smile.