One-Eyed Monster

The night air in Guru Mountain would become deathly still; even the slightest sound of wind brushing across the water could be picked up by perceptive beings.

Igor waited for the moonlight to spill onto the earth, anxiously anticipating the legendary song from Moonflow Stream. His expression alternated between the eager anticipation of a child awaiting their traveling parents' return and the keenness of a hungry wolf that had just spotted its prey. At this moment, Igor's eyes sparkled, hunger entirely forgotten.

Kadi, too, was thrilled. Moonflow Stream had always been a place he longed to visit, but every time he had only managed to reach its periphery before that old fellow, Kevin, dragged him back. Even if he wasn't dragged away, some sort of "unexpected incident" would invariably occur.

But now, he had finally arrived at the place he had dreamed of. He was so excited he couldn't put it into words, grinning from ear to ear. Anyone who didn't know better might have mistaken this monster for a fool.

Of course, even if someone were to point at Kadi at this moment and call him a fool, he wouldn't care in the slightest. He had already thrown all such concerns to the wind.

At this moment, the only thing on his mind was to cross the melodious stream, find the vast white marshland, and meet Guru Guru, the king of all monsters on Guru Mountain. Even that arrogant old fellow Kevin was respectful in the presence of this monster leader. Kadi was genuinely curious about what sort of monster could make someone as proud as Kevin submit.

Guru Guru... just hearing the name made one feel that Guru Mountain itself had a profound connection to him.

Kadi didn't share the excitement in his heart with Igor. It wasn't that Kadi was deliberately trying to hide it; rather, Igor simply wasn't in a state to listen. The main reason lay with Igor himself: ever since hearing about the "singing river," he had transformed into a starry-eyed, foolish boy, incapable of taking in any other words.

Moonflow Stream wasn't so much a river as it was a small stream created by a spring in Guru Mountain. The stream descended gently down the side of Grey Eagle Peak, forming a mysterious corner between Grey Eagle Peak and Guru Mountain's highest point, the Twin Peaks.

Deep in this corner lay a vast white marshland, beyond which was an open field. On that field stood a tiny Stone House, home to the leader of the monsters on Guru Mountain, Guru Guru.

Kadi had heard these words over and over, repeating them to himself. Deep inside, he held a wish: to cross the marshland on his own and find Guru Guru.

Kadi had heard several stories about Guru Guru, but at this moment, he wasn't dwelling on the rumors about the monster leader. Instead, his thoughts were consumed with crossing Moonflow Stream. He had long since turned his attention to Grey Eagle Peak, as Kevin had once said that to cross Moonflow Stream, one must first understand the secret of Grey Eagle Peak.

Grey Eagle Peak earned its name because the mountain's shape resembled a grey eagle swooping down. Though Kadi had never been able to see how the mountain resembled an eagle, Kevin and the others had consistently pointed out parts that supposedly looked like an eagle's wing, its sharp beak, or even its eyes.

However, Kadi had never seen it that way. To him, the mountain looked like a split Rum Fruit, and Moonflow Stream was simply the juice flowing from it. As for the mysterious singing? Without a doubt, it had to be some unseen Living Beings who had drunk the Rum Fruit's juice and, in their good mood, were singing their hearts out.

Kevin had laughed uproariously at Kadi's viewpoint, rolling around on the ground. He even told the other monsters, like Simon and Kuren, who also burst into laughter.

Kadi didn't understand what was so funny. He was only expressing his feelings. Why did it provoke such needless laughter from them? This dealt a significant blow to his young heart. Since then, he had felt a tinge of sorrow every time he looked at Grey Eagle Peak.

This sorrow had led Kadi to avoid looking at Grey Eagle Peak. He preferred to play near Dawn Peak rather than cast even a glance at the mountain, despite it being his home.

But sometimes, unexpected surprises can wash away such aversion. Perhaps it was because the restless Spirit hidden deep within his heart had finally found an opportunity to shine, leaping forth, no longer willing to slumber, and striving with all its might for this chance.

So, for Kadi, being able to meet Guru Guru on his own merits was something that would make that old fellow Kevin's eyes pop out. As for Simon, Kuren, Dastan, and their ilk, hearing such news would probably make them choke on their water...

This vision was beautiful. Kadi couldn't help but grin again. However, as he looked closely at Grey Eagle Peak once more, that beautiful feeling seemed to suddenly be covered in a layer of dust, no longer so dazzlingly beautiful.

Kadi glanced at Igor, who was still waiting with starry eyes for Moonflow Stream's song. He looked no different from a fool.

Kadi wanted to say something to shake Igor out of his anticipation, but he helplessly found himself unsure how to begin.

Kadi reflected carefully. If Igor hadn't, on a sudden whim, stopped and decided not to proceed further, he himself might have missed the chance to enter Moonflow Stream yet again.

Back then, he had been so focused on that mountain that looked like a split Rum Fruit...

It was because Kadi had felt he couldn't disappoint Igor again and was determined to take him to the foot of Grey Eagle Peak. That was why, at the time, he had focused single-mindedly on reaching their destination, neglecting the various details around him.

Details determine success or failure. Igor had noticed them, and in doing so, had inadvertently helped Kadi find the destination he had longed for in his heart. This realization deepened Kadi's respect for Igor by another level.

Ultimately, Kadi the monster wasn't as eccentric as Igor. After his initial excitement, he gradually calmed down. Of course, a key reason for his composure was that he began to ponder: How do I cross this Moonflow Stream and find that vast white marshland...?

What that old fellow Kevin had said might just be a smokescreen, but if he didn't believe those words, Kadi couldn't think of any other good plan.

After all, even if he managed to cross Moonflow Stream, he still had to get past that vast white marshland. And crossing that marsh wouldn't be an easy task.

Perhaps he should just leave all this to Igor. Maybe this amazing fellow would have some miraculous method. For some reason, this idea suddenly surfaced in Kadi's mind.