" What?"
The smile on Izzy's face fell.
' Well, that escalated quickly'... Theonymphi said, as he perched his invisible self on Izzy's shoulder, facing Sven who was standing behind her.
"W-what do you mean?" Izzy's voice was shaky and she tried to take a step back but Sven grabbed her and hoisted her up.
Izzy screamed.
" Let go!"
A sharp gust of wind cut Sven's face and he dropped her.
Izzy landed on the floor and scrambled to her feet trying to run away.
Petal waved his hand up and whistled and a vine from underneath the ground sprung up. It flew towards Izzy wrapping around her ankle.
" No running, little rabbit," he said as the vine pulled Izzy back causing her to fall onto her stomach.
"Ahhhh!" Izzy tried to grab at the vine but it wrapped itself all around her leaving only her head and feet visible.
" You-" Izzy's mouth was immediately stuffed with some cloth.
" That's to keep you from sprouting any spells out," Sven said slapping her cheek slightly.
" Sven", Dyran and Vina said emerging from the trees. They had disappeared after the goblin attack was over and Izzy had not noticed.
" We found tracks, human tracks, I think it's him".
" Good", Sven said.
Izzy's muffled voice shouted out and Sven smirked: "Pick her up, we're using her as bait."
" How far do you think he went?" Sven asked.
" Not far" Vina replied " The tracker suggests he's about two days from here. However, I think he's been weakened since the tracker position hasn't moved since he left."
Sven nodded. " Let's make camp and tomorrow we'll go hunting."
Izzy twisted around, giving Sven a death stare to which he responded by laughing.
The group made camp and set the tied up Izzy against a tree.
' Should I cut you loose now?' Theonymphi asked.
Izzy mumbled but he didn't understand.
She shook her head, it would be easier to escape once they were all asleep. The group made a fire, set up a protection array and Izzy watched them enjoy each other's company.
She couldn't wait to get free and get them back.
It was early in the night when they retired but Izzy was worried she hadn't seen Petal in a while. She guessed he was on night watch.
'Now?'
Izzy nodded and Theonymphi cast a spell cutting into the vines and they fell off of Izzy.
She quietly moved and looked around.
" Did you see the other guy, Petal?"
Theonymphi who now materialised shook his head.
" Okay let's go"
Izzy quietly walked away, she stepped through the protection array and slowly crept away, occasionally looking behind her.
Hearing a snap Izzy turned around, " Do you sense danger?" she whispered.
" No," Theonymphi said and Izzy sighed.
" System can we get out of here?"
[ Yes. But it is night time, the system suggests that the host finds someplace to rest and avoid danger.]
" That's kind of not an option right now" Izzy whispered, urgently wanting the system to just guide her out safely.
"Izzy!" Theonymphi cried as he disappeared to avoid being seen.
Petal descended from up in the trees and landed in front of her. Izzy shoved her phone in her pocket and jumped back.
" Let the sunrise to the east and light shine upon the darkness!" Izzy shouted and light sprung from her hands blinding Petal.
She ran to the side trying the get away. Using her hands, Izzy hit tree branches out of her way and jumped over large tree trunks. That were laid flat against the ground.
" Theonymphi find us a way out!"
' Turn left!' he said.
Izzy who was running full speed shifted her direction and heard the creepy laugh of Petal from behind her.
" Little rabbit don't run".
Izzy briefly looked up and there he was above her. His pastel blue hair was bright against the moon's light and Izzy ran even faster.
" Come oh wind! And take me up let me fly high into the sky!" Izzy sang between short breaths.
The spell worked, as the wind swept from behind her and pushed her forward. She ran faster and Petal seemed very surprised.
" Ah so you're element is not only fire but wind too! How interesting."
He jumped down, in his hands were to daggers aiming for her. But before he could reach her, he heard a bell ring in the air and was blown back.
He whistled and a branch wrapped around his waist, stopping him from colliding with a tree.
"This girl!" Petal drew back the branch and let go using it to propel himself forward.
" Oh no, you don't" Theonymphi who was keeping track of Petal, blew into the air and Petal flew in the opposite direction to Izzy.
Noticing that Theonumphi was occupied, Izzy who now was very tired opened the phone.
" System" she breathed heavily gasping for air, " help me get out of here!"
[ Danger Alert!]
The red words on the phone popped out and Izzy looked around.
" Where!" she shouted before she was tackled to the ground and the phone flew out of her hands.
Izzy groaned as she looked up and standing in front of her was a creature with two glowing blue eyes.
[ Detected Cursed One!]
The voice of the system said and the creature hissed.
" System! Initiate defen-"
The claw of the creature swiped at Izzy hitting her and causing her to fly up. Her shirt was ripped and blood poured out.
Izzy curled up holding her side. The creature had cut her stomach and although the wound was shallow, it was still bleeding.
" Argh!"
' Izzy!' Theonymphi was alarmed from feeling pain in his side and stopped toying with Petal to pursue her.
[ Warning! Cursed One detected! Would the host like to initiate defensive features]-
CRACK!
Before Izzy could answer the Cursed One stepped onto the phone crushing it.
" Noooo!" Izzy shouted.
The Cursed One hissed, it's cloudy blue eyes looking into hers and Izzy froze.
" Ruben?"