Two years passed, and Mixarnt was now 11 years old.
"Hey, Nica, if I were a fish, would you eat me?" Mixarnt asked casually as he lounged around. Princess Nica, her emerald eyes calm and focused, gracefully flipped through the air, firing arrows at distant targets. Each shot landed with pinpoint accuracy. She paused mid-flip, arching an eyebrow at his strange question. "Eat you? What an odd thing to ask, Mixarnt!" Landing effortlessly on a branch, she smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Hmm... I suppose it depends. If you turned into a tasty salmon or a juicy tuna, I might be tempted," she teased, flashing him a mischievous grin.
"Wait, you’d actually consider eating me?!" Mixarnt exclaimed, feigning shock with a teasing grin.
Nica chuckled. "You asked!" She watched him for a reaction before tilting her head in curiosity. "But really, why would you ask something like that? Are you afraid I'd betray you?" Though her tone was lighthearted, there was a hint of genuine concern in her voice.
Mixarnt stretched lazily, gazing up at the canopy. "Well, you know me—always asking random questions. Honestly, I’m just bored. I want to leave the World Tree Forest and see other kingdoms, like in the storybooks!" He grinned excitedly.
Nica giggled at his enthusiasm. Mixarnt always had a way of making things fun. She, too, longed to see the outside world, but as long as he was by her side, she felt content. She shook her head at Mixarnt’s antics. "You’re such a goofball," she teased as she sat beside him playfully nudging his shoulder. "Bored already? And here I thought you loved our little adventures in these enchanted woods."
Her expression grew thoughtful as she considered his desire to explore beyond their home. "I’ve often wondered about the world outside too. I’ve read about far-off kingdoms, bustling cities, and incredible cultures in the ancient scrolls from the palace library. The thought of seeing them for myself is... exciting." Her emerald eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned to Mixarnt. "Maybe it’s time we set out together—find our own adventures and write our own story. What do you think?"
However, before Mixarnt could respond, the ground suddenly trembled violently. "Nica!" he shouted, instinctively scooping her into his arms.
The earth shook with terrifying force, sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees swayed dangerously, and cracks split the ground beneath them. Nica barely had time to react before Mixarnt shielded her, holding her close.
The tremors seemed endless, but Mixarnt refused to let go. When the earthquake finally subsided, he gently set Nica down, scanning her for any injuries. Around them, the once-peaceful forest lay in ruins—fallen trees, shattered rocks, and an unsettling silence hanging in the air.
"What was that?!" Mixarnt muttered, his eyes scanning the devastated forest before turning to Nica, who was trembling while looking around at the devastation. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a comforting embrace. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice steady and reassuring. "Everything's going to be fine." Nica clung to him, her usual confidence shaken. "I... I've never felt anything like that before," she murmured, her voice unsteady. "What could have caused it?" Mixarnt frowned, his instincts telling him this was no ordinary earthquake. "I don't know." he admitted, "but we need to get back to the World Tree. Mother Tree might have some answers."
Adjusting his grip, he lifted Nica and started moving through the wreckage. The once-thriving forest now lay in ruins—fallen trees, jagged cracks in the earth, and an eerie silence hanging over the land.
