In the heart of a tranquil forest, in a treehouse hidden among leafy treetops, I heard the soft tread of footsteps approaching from afar. Without waiting any longer, I descended the wooden stairs that swayed gently in the breeze and ran to greet the figure I had longed for so deeply—my beloved mother.
"Welcome back, Mother! What did you bring home today?!" I exclaimed joyfully, hopping lightly on the moss-covered ground.
Mother smiled warmly and opened her arms. "My child... come here. Give me a hug."
A soft giggle escaped my lips. "Heeheehee..." I ran toward her, floating lightly into her embrace, holding her tight as if I'd never let go. Even as she climbed the stairs to the treehouse, I kept my arms wrapped around her.
Once we reached the top, she lifted something from the woven basket she carried. "Look, dear. I brought your favorite chocolate. You still love it, don't you?"
My eyes widened with a sparkle of joy. "Waaahhh..." I reached for it gently, unwrapping it with reverence, as if opening a tiny treasure. Then I began to savor it slowly.
"Thank you, Mother," I said with my mouth still full, my voice sweetened by melting chocolate.
Mother only smiled—quiet and full of love—but behind the bag filled with food, my eyes caught a glimpse of a crumpled newspaper that had come along for the ride.
With curiosity growing wild like vines in the forest, I asked, "Um, Mother... what's this?" I took the paper, unfolding it page by page.
Mother looked slightly surprised. "Oh, that... it's a newspaper I read at the market. I didn't realize I'd brought it home," she said softly, then gently reached to take it from my hands.
But before she could fully retrieve it, my eyes caught one striking image—a giant, massive in scale, rampaging and toppling the villagers' buildings. The sky behind it looked grim, as if echoing a fury awakened from slumber.
"Mom, look at the back page... What is that?" I asked innocently, pointing at the image.
Mother turned the newspaper over and gazed at the picture I indicated. For a moment, she said nothing, then softly read the bold headline:
REMEMBERING THE UNFORGETTABLE EVENT 5 YEARS AGO! A GIANT ON A RAMPAGE, AWAKENED BY THE RETURN OF THE EARTH ELEMENTAL SOUL
I looked at her, my curiosity still burning bright. "What does it mean, Mom? What's happening?"
Mother gave a faint smile, but behind that smile, it felt like something was left unsaid.
"It's nothing, sweetheart... Just a folk tale. An old story that's been making the rounds lately," she said as if to soothe me—but her eyes told a different story. There was worry hidden there, like shadows dancing behind forest leaves as dusk falls.
But back then, I was still a child—far too young to understand that the world I lived in held secrets far greater than my imagination.