Mina's Blog

 THE UNKNOWN They continued forward, the forest stretching endlessly ahead, it wasn't dark, allowing enough light to pass through—its silence heavy but not empty. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, roots twisting through the soil like veins, forcing Eden to watch every step. She kept her wings drawn close to her back, feathers brushing against each other with quiet restraint, as if afraid to make a sound. Her light dimmed instinctively, flickering at every unfamiliar noise, every whisper of movement in the shadows. This place was nothing like the Heavens. There, darkness never lingered. Silence never pressed in. The path narrowed as they walked, branches arching overhead, the air thick with a scent Eden couldn’t name. Then—almost without warning—the shadows eased. Flowers bloomed along the trail. Eden slowed, her steps coming to a gradual stop as her gaze fell upon them. They grew freely, untamed, their colors deep and grounded, untouched by perfection. Something about the...

 THE DARK As they continued deeper into the forest, Eden’s wings fluttered close to her, drawing inward with every unfamiliar sound. Her light flickered faintly, responding to the strange silence that surrounded them—a silence too complete, as though the forest itself were listening. The darkness thickened with every step. Trees crowded closer, their branches weaving together overhead until little remained of the sky. What light still existed slipped through narrow gaps between leaves, thin and fragile, vanishing before it could settle. “Why are we going into the dark?” Eden asked, her voice quieter than before. Hades did not slow. “Because some paths require it,” he replied. “Passing through darkness is sometimes the only way to see what waits beyond it.” They continued along The Path. Soon, even the faint traces of light disappeared. The forest became pitch-black, the air heavy and close. Eden’s steps faltered. Her wings folded tighter against her, feathers trembling as instin...

  THE PATH The silence that followed Eden’s answer felt wrong—as if the world itself had paused to listen. He did not move, eyes fixed on the sky and nestled among the treetops. He exhaled, slow and measured, as though Eden’s answer had merely confirmed something he already knew. “I figured,” he said quietly. “You could see that too.” Then the figure in the tree moved. He descended without haste. The branches did not resist him. The air shifted—subtle and obedient—parting as he passed through it. When he reached the ground, the stillness deepened, settling around him like a held breath. Without looking back, he turned and began to walk. Eden hesitated. He did not turn. He did not acknowledge her presence. His path was steady, unmarked by hesitation or intent to guide. The world reshaped itself around his movement—roots bending inward, light thinning, the space ahead growing heavier. After a moment, Eden followed. The space behind him did not close. It allowed her passage. Aft...