When they neared the heart of the forest, the organic feeling of the area became that much more intense. As Li and Launcelot waded their way through waist deep mud while the heroines flew above, Li could smell a peculiar stench lying rank around them, only intensifying as they took steps closer to the heart.
It was a raw, gruesome smell. The smell of butchered innards freshly laid bare. It smelled like raw meat with a strong hint of bloody iron that permeated through the nostrils in thoroughly nauseating fashion.
"Thank the gods we've no Darkbeasts to face under this stench," said Faye as she crinkled her nose. "I am precisely this close to retching."
"You mean, the Darkbeasts he's facing?" noted Ava as she pointed to Li.
"Goodness, you know what I mean," replied Faye, and the two sisters exchanged light smiles.
"We've never made it this far," said Celeste in almost a whisper. "I'm nervous."
