Dense fog filled Alicia's view as she ventured deeper into the Lost Forest. Because of how dense the fog was Alicia and Rose had to hold hands in order to not lose each other. "It's so hard to see!" Alicia complained.
"Yes it is, but at least with your detection magic we are able to know what is around us." Rose said as she tried to lighten the mood.
"Yeah if not we would not be able to figure out much of anything about this place. I have spotted quite a few demonic beasts but none of them are the wolves we are looking for. I also haven't found any traces of them coming through here." To safely make their way through the Lost Forest Alicia has had to keep her detection magic up the entire time. She was currently looking for any signs of the wolves.
"Young Miss doesn't it seem like we have been walking for a long time and yet the rope has yet to be used up?" Rose was starting to get worried as she came to a stop. The rope that they had wrapped around them was only fifty meters in length. They should have been stopped by now.
Alicia's stopped in her tracks and quickly pulled on her rope. Centimeter by centimeter she reeled the rope in only to find that after ten meters the rope seemed to have been chewed through. Alicia's brow furrowed as she walked over to Rose's rope and once again found that it also had been chewed through. "Seems something chewed through the ropes… I do know that we are not far from the entrance of the forest since I can still detect Clair and Starla. So let's go back for now because something that can chew through this rope that was imbued with protect magic is definitely strong."
Rose nodded and the two made their way back to the exit. Luckily they only walked in about seventy five meters so leaving the fog did not take very long. "Alicia!" Starla worriedly called out. In her hand was the other end of the broken rope.
"We are fine, something chewed through the rope." Alicia said, looking a bit dejected.
"So what should we do now?" Starla asked.
"Well the rope trick is out of the question and we found no traces of the wolves. Whatever chewed through the rope evaded my detection magic and was strong enough to actually bite through a magic imbued rope. So we will need to be extra careful going into the Lost Forest. We will need to wait until night fall and kill all the earth wolves except one and follow it back. This is risky because if they are truly hiding in the Lost Forest we might end up at a disadvantage." Alicia did not like how there were so many unknown variables. One misstep could cause one of them to get hurt.
As the girls were talking a figure came walking out of the tree line behind them. "Alicia, me and you will chase the Earth wolves back to their lair." This person was none other than Blake.
"Blake!" Alicia's cheeks turned a slight pink color. Starla looked at Blake and then at Alicia and a smile formed on her face. 'Ho,ho! It seems Alicia has a thing for Sir Blake!'
Trying to calm herself down Alicia asked: "Just the two of us? Wouldn't it be safer to go as a group?"
"No… Two of your guards have disappeared within the forest. Going in a group would make it more likely that someone would get lost or disappear like those two." Blake said seriously.
"Wait how many guards have been following me I have only counted four..." Alicia knew people had been following her but she had only counted four besides Blake.
"There were six altogether. The two who disappeared are well known for their skills in evading detection magic. It was precisely these two that have not yet returned. With the two of us who can use wide range detection magic, we can get a better scope on the landscape and protect each other at the same time. Also, this mission has been upgraded from F rank to A rank." Blake explained.
Alicia looked at the other three and found what Blake said to be very reasonable. Blake and her had fought together a few times while taking out bandits. So out of this group they had a better understanding of each other's abilities. "Alright, we will do it like that then. Starla and Rose will stay here and protect the village while me and Blake follow the earth wolves back to where their den. Claire I will need you to look after Frey back in my Space. If anything bad happens I can pull Blake with me into the space. "
After making their plan the five found a shady spot to rest until night fall. Starla had pulled Alicia aside with a big grin on her face as she asked: "So what's going on between you and Mr. Cold Face?"
Hearing Starla's question made Alicia blush instantly. "Nothing is going on!" Alicia hurriedly said.
"Hmmm? I think something is going on! Don't worry I will do what I can to help you!" Starla teased.
"What help!? I am not even ten yet! Plus, he doesn't like me anyway… At least I do not think so anyway… Not in that sense." Alicia said dejectedly. The ambiguous answer that she got before still weighed on her mind.
Starla was stunned! "You already confessed?"
"Not exactly… Well, maybe a tiny bit..." Alicia said shyly.
"What do you mean a tiny bit!?" Starla exclaimed.
"Shhh! Enough talk, get some rest we have a long night ahead of us!" With a face as red as an apple, Alicia laid down on the soft grass and closed her eyes ignoring Starla.
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