By the time they finished, Ankit had woven the banyan roots into several long, sturdy ropes.
Rain stared at them in amazement.
“I don’t believe you’re really three years old.” Ankit laughed.
“Yeah…
everyone says that.” Rain looked at the ropes curiously.
“So…
what are you going to do with these?” Ankit smiled.
“One last job.” He pointed toward the forest.
“Collect as much wood as you can.
Thick branches, thin sticks, short ones, long ones—it doesn’t matter.
Bring back everything you find.” Rain looked completely confused.
“I…
don’t really understand what you’re planning.” “You don’t have to,” Ankit replied with a grin.
“Just trust me.” “…Alright.” The two children spent the next two hours searching through the forest.
They gathered every piece of wood they could find.
By the time they finished, Rain was completely exhausted.
She collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
“I…
I can’t do any more…” Ankit smiled sympathetically.
“I think you’ve worked hard enough.
Leave the rest to me.” Rain nodded and quietly watched.
Ankit sorted the wood into different piles.
The thick logs were placed together.
The long branches were separated from the short ones.
Using large stones, he split several sturdy logs into two equal pieces.
Then he tied bundles of the thinner branches together with the ropes he had woven from the banyan roots.
Piece by piece, everything was carefully organized.
Nearly three more hours passed before Ankit finally stepped back and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
His clothes were soaked, and beads of sweat rolled down his face.
“Alright,” he said with a satisfied smile.
“Let’s go.” Rain stood up and looked at him curiously.
“You’ve been working nonstop since morning…
but what exactly were you making?” Ankit only smiled.
“Come with me.
I’ll show you.” He led Rain back toward the White Mountain.
After walking for some time, the enormous mountain finally appeared before them.
Rain looked up in astonishment.
“What is this place?” “This,” Ankit said, “is the White Mountain.” He pointed toward a cave located just below the mountain’s peak.
“See that cave?” Rain nodded.
“We’re going to live there.” Her eyes widened in shock.
“W-What?!” She looked at the nearly vertical mountain wall and nervously swallowed.
“But…
it’s almost straight up!
How are we supposed to climb something like that?” A confident smile appeared on Ankit’s face.
“That’s exactly why we worked so hard today.” He slowly raised his hand and pointed ahead.
“Look over there.” Rain followed Ankit’s pointing finger.
The moment she saw what lay ahead, her eyes widened in shock.
“W-What…?” “What is…
that?” Lying on the ground was an enormous rope ladder.
Its sides were woven from the sturdy banyan-root ropes, while strong wooden planks had been tied between them as steps.
Rain stared at it in complete disbelief.
“Y-You…
made this?” Ankit scratched his cheek with an embarrassed smile.
“Yeah.” Rain looked at him as if she were seeing a monster.
“Are you really only three years old?
I’m older than you, but I could never have thought of something like this.” Ankit chuckled.
“You’re right.” Then he smiled gently.
“But the fact that you’re thinking that means you’re much smarter than most children your age.” Rain blinked, surprised by the compliment.
Ankit picked up another long rope woven from the banyan roots.
“Alright.
Here’s the plan.” “I’m going to climb up to the cave first.” “Once I reach the top, I’ll throw this rope back down.” “You tie the rope ladder to it, and I’ll pull it up.” Rain looked up at the nearly vertical cliff.
“You can really climb all the way up there?” Ankit nodded confidently.
“I’ve already done it once.” “But…
how are you going to secure the ladder?” A wide grin spread across Ankit’s face as he pulled out two large stone spikes he had carved earlier.
Rain’s jaw dropped.
“W-What…?” “You made those too?” “Yep.” Without another word, Ankit slung the rope over his shoulder and began climbing the steep mountainside.
The sun slowly sank toward the horizon as he carefully made his way upward.
After a long climb, he finally reached the cave.
He immediately threw the rope back down.
“Rain!
Tie the ladder!” “Okay!” Once she secured it, Ankit began pulling.
“…It’s…
so…
heavy…” He gritted his teeth.
“I’m still just a kid…
Why does this thing weigh so much?” Little by little, he pulled the massive rope ladder toward the cave.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally dragged it to the top.
Panting heavily, he hammered the two stone spikes deep into the rock and firmly secured the ladder.
Only after making sure it wouldn’t move did he climb back down.
“Alright,” he said with a satisfied smile.
“Let’s head up before it gets dark.” Rain looked around nervously.
“But…
what about food?” Ankit smiled as though he had expected the question.
“I already thought of that.” He lifted a large bunch of bananas.
“I brought these with us.” Rain sighed in relief before asking another question.
“And water?” “There’s a small spring near the cave.” Thank goodness, Ankit thought.
God really did leave that water there for us…
His expression suddenly changed.
Now that I think about it…
God already knew Rain would end up here.
That’s probably why he left clothes for a little girl inside the cave as well.
“Come on,” Ankit said.
“Let’s go.” Rain climbed the rope ladder first, while Ankit followed behind her.
When they finally entered the cave, Rain looked around curiously.
“Did someone used to live here?” Ankit paused for a brief moment.
He couldn’t tell her the truth about meeting the Creator.
So he answered with the story he had prepared.
“An old wizard lived here.” “He saved me after I fell through the white portal.” “Before he passed away, he entrusted this cave to me.” Rain listened quietly.
“And then…?” Ankit looked toward the cave entrance.
“He smiled…
and disappeared into the wind.” “Even his body turned into countless particles of light before fading away.” Silence filled the cave.
Rain lowered her head in respect.
“I see…” For the first time since arriving in this strange forest, the two lost children finally had a place they could call home.