New dawn in a new area.

By this time, we were already running out of time, and we needed to hurry up with anything that we were doing.

The old man was already a very helpful instrument, as she made sure to put us through.

"Now, make sure that you don't talk to anyone, while you're in the river. If you do that, you might attract the anger of the river goddess." She explained to us.

How possible was that, even?

I didn't believe in superstition, but I won't also dare to do contrary.

"What if someone says something?" I asked her in an inquisitive manner.

"Anyone that talks while you're still in the river, might cause the boat to capsize. This culture has been existing since the past, and you don't have to be a scape goat, before you believe in its existence. The people that tried before you, are all in the land of the dead." She blurted.

One thing about this old woman, was that she spoke with so much authority and eloquence.

"Wow! That's scary. I hope we're able to overcome this final hurdle." I said.

"Yes, my daughter. You can overcome this hurdle, only if you're obedient." She continued.

We both smiled at her in gratitude, as we were very happy that we had actually crossed path with her.

"Thank you very much, ma'am. We promise not to joke with your words. Meanwhile, are their still some rules that we need to take note of?" Sandra asked her, and she nodded.

"Yes. I'd only tell you one more, and you'd learn the rest by yourselves." The old woman responded.

Immediately she said that, we both looked at each other with a puzzled look.

"And what is the final rule, ma?" We both asked in unison.

Each time that we asked her a question, she always took her time before replying. It was as if she was kind of soliloquizing, or doing some kind of incantation.

"After you cross the river, make sure that you don't look into the eyes of anyone in the next village outside the river. When you do that, you subconsciously dare the spirit of that land, to do the worst to you." She continued.

To be honest, I was getting very confused as she dished out some more rules. I just couldn't help it in anyway. Why was their so much rules?

Were they real, or were they superstition?

What was going to happen, if someone broke any of them?

These and many more questions, were just going through my mind.

"They rules are just so impossible to keep. Anyway, let's just get there, first. Once we get to the river, we would know how to cross it." Sandra, said.

With that, we bade the old woman a final good-bye.

"Go well, my daughters. The goddess of the moon, shall be with the both of you." She blessed us, and we bowed our heads in appreciation.

With the direction that she had given earlier, we were able to trace the path that led to the stream. Earlier on, she had told us that she wouldn't be able to lead us to the stream, as it was prohibited to divulge such information to strangers.

"Do you think that we should continue with this journey, or should we settle in some other place?" Sandra asked me.

In all honesty, I didn't have anything in mind. I've been trying to take my time to process everything that I had seen, talk more of giving anyone an advice.

"Since we've started this journey already, let's just finish it. Meanwhile, are you having a double mind?" I asked her in surprise.

She went calm for a while, before saying another word.

"What if that old woman had given us the wrong information?" She asked. It was at that moment that my thoughts drifted to her own angle.

Sandra was right, but I didn't think that the old woman would have any reason to betray us.

"I don't think that she would do that for any reason at all." I said to Sandra.

"I hope so." She responded, with a tone that explained her doubt and lack of believe.

One thing that was worrying me at the moment, was the fact that she was tensed. She knew a lot about these people, and she might have her reasons.

"The canoe man is here..." I beckoned to Sandra, who was obviously lost in series of thoughts.

"Ohh!" She responded, and made to enter the canoe.

"Remember the first rule." I said to her.

"It doesn't apply here." She responded.

"How?" I asked her in confusion.

"Well, when we get to the middle of the river that connects the black and white water together, you would understand." She responded.

I couldn't say anything else.

As we sailed on that water, I kept looking at the fishes, and prayed to experience the kind of serenity and peace that they had.

"Today, I end the phase of my past suffering, as I step into my new season..." I prayed. I believed that the water could hear, and the moon goddess could also hear me.

I really wanted to be free, indeed.

"You think it works?" Sandra asked.

"Of course. I do." I responded with a puzzled expression. That was the first time that Sandra had ever asked me a sarcastic question before.

"I doubt...!" She responded nonchalantly.

To be honest, I was very surprised by her sudden actions at that very moment.

Why was she suddenly sounding pessimistic?

Has the goddess of the water possessed her?

"You don't have to. We're meant to pass through some certain phases in life, as they help to shape us." I heard myself saying.

Just then as we approached the middle of the water, the weather suddenly changed, and it began to rain seriously. The downpour was just so much that the canoe man, lost control of both his peddle, and also the canoe.

It was at this moment that we realized that we were in the mercy of the water spirits.

We had forgotten to keep to their rules.