Chapter IX
Lux's POV
We slowly traverse this scary forest with caution as we keep our guard up in case of something that may attack us. We kept on walking until we found our destination, but it didn't look like what we expected it to be, instead, we saw a gorgeous sight.
A large open space filled with flowers and tall grass. There was a big lagoon at the center and a huge tree in the middle of this beautiful lagoon. It looks like the tree of life that we saw in books.
I watch the surroundings and saw a wild animal enjoying their life here in this paradise-like place. I guess the outside of this is just an illusion to trick us that this is scary.
I wander around the place to find what we're looking for but I haven't found one. I even walk around it for a second time but haven't found one.
I think that creature where looking is in that massive tree right there, just a hunch, but it's better than nothing.
"Have you found the Hellhound?" Gina said while walking towards me.
"None, I think it's in that huge tree," I said to her. "It's so massive that there is maybe another life there," I explain to her.
"Possibly." She said coldly.
"I guess we should just swim it," Blue said as he rushes towards the water.
Blue was about to jump when Jeremiah kick before he touches the water.
"What was that for!?" Blue said in anger.
He threw a pebble in the lake and all of us were frozen in our spot when we saw that the pebble disintegrated into dust.
"This water is dangerous." He said as he brings out his sword. "Remember this is not called Illusion Forest if all of this is real." He said.
We heard a loud rumbling in our back, the sound of the animals that turn into a hostile entity as they approach and surround us.
"I'm wrong about the Illusion forest," I said as I chuckle.
"Well let's just take down all of them since... there's only a few of them," Jessica said as we regroup.
All of us slowly back off as the animals keep on approaching us, when we are fully surrounded by all of them they attack us at once, We dodge every scratch and bite that they gave us then we counter them so we can reduce the number one by one.
It only takes us about 20 minutes to defeat them because they are only animals but to tell you honestly, I feel guilty since they're just protecting this forest but let's just mourn on them.
We gather all of the body in the corner so Jeremiah could burn them, while it's burning it slowly reveal the true form of those animal and all of them looks like ghoul figure.
"Take back my guilt for killing you!" I said angrily.
"Let's just leave it there and figure out how can we go there," Gina said as she points at the tree.
"Um... yeah..." Blue said while yawning. "I forgot about that."
"I saw a boat on the shores but let's see if it will disappear or not," Jeremiah said as he points at the other side of the lagoon.
"Let's try then!" Jessica said as she runs towards the boat and pushes but it turns into dust in an instant.
"That's just that," Jeremiah said as he sat on the grass.
All of us wonder once again around this lagoon and not even a single idea pop through our brain. I walked near the water and take a closer look until my extra dagger fell on the water.
"Not my danger..." I said as I sigh.
"I guess that's just it," Gina said beside me.
"Um, what?" I said with a question mark on my head.
"Your dagger didn't turn to dust, and the handle disappeared which means it can't destroy metals." She explained.
I look at it again and she's right! I guess that's the solution we need, but... What we're gonna do...
I stared at Jessica and saw her lance is all made up of Metal. "Hey! This is an expensive weapon so nope." Jessica said to me.
The four of us just stare at her for a long time, but she gave up.
"Fine... just don't break or make a scratch at it." She said as she gave her lance and threw the spear.
"Perfect," Gina said as she adds a plank where it holds the foot.
"Who's gonna use this?" I asked them, but all of them stare at me. "Why not Blue!" I said with frustration.
"Nope, You chose this quest so you're the one who will do it," Blue said as he lay in the grass.
"All of you agreed too right?" I said to them.
"Yes, but we didn't expect that it's this hard," Jeremiah said while staring at the tree.
"Oh, man..." I sai as I mount this thing.
I tried to walk it into the water wishing for it to not reach my feet thankfully it didn't. As I slowly approach the tree I saw a wolf-like figure in the branch.
I guess this is it. Dire wolf still looks like a normal wolf but more intimidating. I scanned the wolf and it's small and didn't look much intimidating than I expected.
Weird, did the book lie to us?
I whistle to the wolf and it looked in my direction with a smile on its face. This is it. I told the wolf to climb on my backpack and it did.
When it is comfortable in it I slowly walked towards the shore and saw my dagger so I carefully kicked it but when it's out of the acid waters it turns into dust.
"Umm guys... I think you should help me here." I said nervously.
"Why? Just walk towards here." Gina said.
"You see..." As I close my eyes. "A few moments ago I tried to kick my dagger out of the water it turned into dust..."
Jessica's eyes widen when she heard what I saw. "My precious equipment!" She said in despair.
Jeremiah put some ropes around my waist. "Let go and Jump"
I nod my head as I did what he said and I'm out of the water, but Jessica Weapon turned into dust.
She slowly approaches her equipment. "My lovely equipment... goodbye..." She said in a sad tone.
The wolf jumps out my back and goes near Jessica. "Don't worry they'll buy a new one." The wolf said.
"Yeah yeah---" Jessica immediately shut her mouth and inhaled. "That thing talked." She said and then collapse.
"Um... Why? You didn't see any talking creature?" The wolf said in confusion.
"Yep. none." Gina said calmly.
"Oh... I guess I'm unique." The wolf said as he chuckles.
"That doesn't matter we'll sell you in the tavern anyway," Jeremiah said as he carries Jessica.
"Sell! What!" The wolf said in shock.
"Yeah... sorry mate," Blue said.
"Pls no!" The wolf said as he clings to me trying to look cute.
"Ahh... I can't decide." I said to him.
"Please?" The wolf said once again trying to convince me.
"Agh. Fine! I'll keep you." I said As I give up.
I can't beat the charm of a look-alike wolf since I'm a fan of those animals.
We walked out of this forest while hiding the Dire wolf in my backpack so adventurers can see this because if you take a closer look this creature in my backpack resemble a Hellhound so we can't reveal this.
When we arrived at the gate we immediately walk towards the tavern and tell the receptionist we couldn't find one. she gave us half of the money since we make an effort to look for it.
We arrived at the Inn and Jessica finally woke up, she was surprised to see where we are. Currently, we are here in our room since we are going to discuss how to hide this wolf.
"Why are we at the inn?" Jessica asks as she holds her head. " The only thing I remember... the dire wolf thing talked to me."
"You mean me?" The Hellhound said with a cheerful voice.
"Ah! that's him!" Jessica said in surprise. "Why aren't you reacting?" Jessica ask.
"We just accept that this tiny creature talks that it," Blue said as he lay down to sleep.
"Oh... so why is it still here?" Jessica asks again.
"Lux decided to keep it as his pet," Gina said.
"It's dangerous right?" Jessica asked.
"Nope, I'm not! I'm a vegetarian since all I ate was fruits from that tree." The wolf said.
"You should give it a name since you're the owner," Jeremiah said as he went to bed.
"Hmm... Helios seems like a good name." I said in a chant.
"I like that," Gina said while doing a thumbs up.
"Yeah sounds like a decent name," Jessica said.
"Now the problem is how to keep me away from everyone?" The wolf said.
"I think, changing colors may make you like a dog," Jessica suggested. "There's a dog that looks like that, but different color so the changing color may do a trick."
"Where can we get those things?" I asked Jessica.
"I'll ask Zach where I can get some, but for now. Let's rest it's a tough day so we better rest." Jessica said as she leaves the room.
"I'll go too," Gina said and fled the room
"That's tiring," I said as I lay down on my bed. "You should sleep beside me if you want," I said to Helios
"Good to me." He said while smiling.
Tomorrow I guess we will just do some maintenance on our equipment and shop for better things so we can be fully prepared next time, but for now, it's time to sleep.
Roy's POV
"It's the first time I saw a wolf talk it's pretty unrealistic but it's true. I even tried smacking myself to wake me up in my slumber but I'm not dreaming at all, but for now, it's time to rest for a
new day tomorrow."
What a fantastic book to read during break time. I just couldn't stop reading it. I'm intrigued about what will happen in the next log.
*Ringgg* *Ringgg*
Oh, man... it's the end of break time agh. I'll just read this when I got home since it's a holiday in a few weeks. Finally a break from school.
~*~