The forest seemed to hold its breath as the visitor wandered deeper into its embrace. A gentle rustle of leaves accompanied the distant song of a stream, and soon, the trees parted to reveal a serene lakeside clearing. There, seated gracefully on a moss-covered rock, was a figure unlike any the traveler had seen before. The boy, if one could call him that, had an ethereal presence—his long, golden hair cascading down his back like sunlight captured in strands. His green eyes, reflecting the lake’s still waters, gazed skyward with a quiet intensity.
Nearby, a cross made of woven leaves rested upon a patch of earth, its simplicity a stark but tender contrast to the grandeur of the forest. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, bathing the boy in a warm, almost divine glow. He seemed a part of the scene itself, as though the forest had conjured him from its roots and streams.
Sensing another presence, the boy turned his head, his movements unhurried and deliberate. His gaze settled on the traveler, a serene smile gracing his lips. There was no startle, no fear, only a calm curiosity as though he had been expecting this moment all along.
"Ah..." he began, his voice soft yet resonant, carrying the weight of ancient wisdom. "Welcome to my resting place. Tell me, wanderer, what has led your steps to this corner of the woods?"
His tone was warm, reassuring, and enigmatic, inviting an answer without demanding one. His posture remained poised, a guardian of both the lake’s tranquility and the secrets that seemed to linger in the air around him.