𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Lily had been everyone's favourite since her childhood, always the part of plans, nothing was complete without her. She had an alluring personality. She was also extremely adventurous.

She had emerald green eyes, long chestnut brown hair and her skin had a true beige tone. She lived in the island nation of Sylvan. Sylvan was famous for all the myths and folklores it housed. Lily had strong refusal to believe them, despite being a native.

One day, she decided to challenge the most popular myth of Sylvan. The Forest of Temptation. It was said that anyone who would enter the 'Forest of Temptation', the nearest forest to the seashore, would be lured in by the mystical creatures within. The forest's only community, that was unknown to the other parts of Sylvan, was the only group of people who knew about the myth and the kind of creatures. Some people had gone missing and never returned after going in, but she wouldn't believe it unless she faced it herself.

So she went to the forest, without informing her friends or family. She had gone in the evening because that was the time when everyone was busy. But it wasn't like they cared, they wouldn't mind her going missing. All the people who 'loved' her actually didn't. The love was because she was the most beautiful woman in Sylvan, and she was adopted by her parents, she wasn't their actual child.

"They wouldn't care," she mumbled to herself before setting off on a new adventure.

She took her bow and arrow, incase she faced trouble. The quiver rested on her back with multiple arrows in it, the bow in her arm gave her the look of a warrior. Her sleevless olive green tank top which was tucked inside her black faded ripped jeans completed it. She looked like she was on a hunt rather than solving a mystery.

After a while of roaming around the forest, her mind alerted, she noticed the rustling of a bush. She prepared to shoot an arrow when a man jumped in front of her, then another. Within a minute, she was surrounded by around ten tribal men with spears in their hands.

"Who are you?" one of the men questioned.

"Lily, I guess you are the tribal community of this forest?" She switched her gaze amongst the men.

"Why are you here?" another man asked rather loudly, his voice was hoarse.

"To solve the mystery of 'The Forest of Temptation'," she said as if it was the simplest thing.

"Little girl, do you even understand what you're speaking?" The same man quirked an eyebrow, he was rude.

"Tell me what you know about this forest, and why people go missing here?" Lily was bold, fearless and reckless. She didn't care that they had spears. But it wasn't really a fearful matter, if she dipped the tip of her bows in the poison bottle tied to her waist, it would be end game.

"Take her to the Chief!" the rude man ordered the others as they immediately held her arms and started dragging her.

She didn't even get time to react, they were too fast.

After a while, she found herself in a new civilization. The huts were built differently and remarkably. The waterfall had a separated channel that generated power before mixing in the sea. They were quite modern.

"Chief, this girl came to solve the forest's mystery and showed commanding attitude," the rude man said as he bowed to an old man with grey hair and beard.

They were indeed quite modern, because they didn't wear only leaves. Their clothes were made up of different types of leaves and soft bark that was converted into cloth like material, she saw some women making their clothes.

"What's your name?" the chief asked, his voice was soft.

"Lily."

"Why do you want to know about this forest?"