Predators are roaring and the smaller animals squeak.
The surrounding abundance of nature brings peace to the soul. Hues of green are ever-changing between lighter and darker as they follow the sun's trajectory.
Like a brush of inspiration, the clearing differentiates with its lack of vegetation and ample greenery to remain a soothing oasis in the middle of the dangerous woods.
The wind picks up as Nox faces Mirena.
In front of him, a screen pops up with a Bonus Quest.
After listening to her story, his doubts diminish.
Thinking nothing more than assisting the young girl sitting in front of him, he utters after having decided. "I'll help you"
The silver-haired young woman's eyes are watering. She glances in Nox's direction after wiping her eyes. Her cheeks reveal a light pink color to her otherwise pale skin. "Th-Thank you"
In his head, the familiar female voice echoes.
{Loading…}
[Positive Karma Point Distributed]
Nox nods and takes his seat across from the girl. "Do you have any clues?"
Even though he knows which direction they should go, he lets Mirena lead the way. Being his first time in the Haunted Forest and all, it can be a difficult and dangerous endeavor.
Mirena regains her composure and pulls out a map. An old brown piece of paper where a skillful artist hand-drew on it. She urges him to sit next to her. Nox looks at it while he secretly calls upon his own map.
{Loading…}
[Map updated]
To his surprise, the fog clears except for a few parts that show black spots. Among those, the same locations on Mirena's map were showing some strange markings he doesn't understand. He points at them. "What do these mean?"
Mirena draws closer to Nox and leans to where he points. Her hair elegantly drops on the map like a silver river. She brushes it off and tugs it behind her ear while shaking her head. "No idea"
While holding the map, the girl points at a location she thinks is where the treasure is. "Rumour has it, that the person who buried the treasure monitored it from the top of the tallest mountain"
Nox looks at his own map and notices that she's not that far off, but too close to the danger zone and the strange markings.
Mirena points once again to a rough-looking area on the map. "This is the tallest mountain in the Haunted Forest"
Nox sits in silence and waits for the girl to tell him her findings, all the while looking at his own and making mental notes.
Her slender index finger follows a circular path around the mountain. "The treasure should be in this radius somewhere"
'That could be really dangerous'
The young man, pondering, points at the map and exclaims. "How about we steer clear of those strange markings?"
His index finger follows a different path towards the Blue Geo-Marker. "We don't know what's there. We can double back and check it out after ensuring our safety"
Mirena ponders and nods. "I guess you are right. And you just started healing as well..."
After agreeing on the route they'll take, Mirena folds the map and saves it. Nox returns to his seat.
They wait for a few more days for Nox's wounds to heal and start their venture into the menacing dense jungle.
Mirena is in the front clearing ferns and vines, opening a path, while Nox at the back shares directions as he reads both maps confirming they are identical.
'Grimmy, is it possible to scan and inform me of any lurking enemies?'
{Calculating…}
Nox gulps a mouthful of saliva, waiting for Grimmy's response. His level is low and without experience in combat, no matter how steeled his resolve is, the lack of strength can prove lethal.
It's possible for Mirena to handle herself in a battle, but Nox will only hold her back. Asking for Grimmy's help is his way of assisting and protecting the girl that saved his life. She stayed with him while her family is in danger, waiting for a rescue.
['Confirm. The radius is not large but it should be enough']
The response from the female voice causes sighs of relief to escape his mouth like a reflex. As if he was holding in his breath, expecting the worst. The good news is relaxing his muscles, and a smile is forming.
{Scanning…}
A few hours go by as they scour the woods and make their way towards the treasure.
Chirping birds keep them company on their adventure like a natural soundtrack.
Sweat is dripping off their faces as they go deeper into the dense forest. Humidity is at its peak and their breathing becomes heavier.
For Mirena is even worse as she swings the blade to cut fern and vines that block their path.
It's not the weight of the blade getting her tired, but the constant downward motion. Her right hand holds the hilt of the blade she's wielding, then cross brings it up to her left side and with a swift motion, cuts anything in her way.
The descending blade makes a swish sound right before it comes into contact with the flat leaves of the ferns and thick root-like vines hanging from trees.
Nox notices her condition. "How about we take a break?"
Panting, the girl nods. Her voice finds it difficult to leave her dry mouth.
After checking the map, the young man with messy brown hair locates a river not very far from where they are. He points towards the direction and the girl changes her course.
It doesn't take more than a few minutes to reach the shallow river. At the sight of it, their beaten demeanor changes to that of excitement. The pacing fastens to the point they have to slide in order to stop at the banks before falling in.
The duo replenishes their thirst and washes down their sweaty face. Mirena places her palm under silver hair and lifts it, pouring cool water to her nape while doing so.
Nox puts his head into the river to cool himself down.
After catching their breath and refreshing their fatigued bodies, Mirena fills a couple of canteens.
They have a snack from a previously cooked meat and rest.
In the meantime, Nox keeps staring at the map. "Should we go through here?"
The girl looks over at where Nox points and utters in surprise. "The mountains?"
"If we keep going through the jungle, at some point we'll have to go around the mountain. But, if we follow the river upstream and through the mountain, we get to keep our source of fresh water supply, and cut our time in half"
The girl looks at him and can't help but ask. "You have a point, but how do you know there will be a way for us to go through?"
What Mirena doesn't know, is that Nox looks at his own map, along with the paper one. The black spots inside the mountain show an explorable location. Of course, he can't tell her that.
Instead, he nonchalantly utters as he points at the map. "The river is coming from somewhere"
Mirena's blue eyes follow the path the young man shows her.
She flatters her eyelids a few times while thinking it over. Nox folds the map and lies back to rest. Listening to the running water, calmness takes over, forcing his eyes shut.
{Scanning…}
[Warning!!!]
[Lifeform detected]
Nox's eyes open. His irises adjust to the sudden light being poured in. 'What kind of Lifeform?'
The young man gets up and pretending to flex, he looks back in a way to not alarm Mirena.
['Mana Hound']
'What's that?'
['A beast that usually hunts in packs. They target and hunt beings with high mana capacities']
'Such a thing…'
['Consider yourselves lucky that it is only an Omega']
'Let me know the moment it comes our way'
Nox takes in a deep breath and with a light touch to Mirena's shoulder, he urges her to keep moving, saying nothing.
Following the stream, they don't need a map at the moment, so Nox can focus on keeping his guard up, paying attention to their surroundings.
{Scanning…}
Invisible to Mirena's eyes, like a wave, the scan Grimmy is doing expands like ripples out of Nox's body.
Each step he takes, it's a new ripple sent out, retrieving data for Grimmy to analyze.
['It looks like the Mana Hound, picked up your smell']
'Already?'
The young man calls up for the translucent map to verify the location of the Blue Geo-Marker and estimate their traveling distance.
Not much longer till they reach the mountains, but according to Grimmy the Mana Hound is approaching.
The soft-spoken Mirena interrupts his thoughts. "It seems, we are being followed"
The girl picks up the pace, and Nox follows.
{Scanning…}
['It started running towards you']
Not long after, the duo hears the fast-approaching beast from behind them as it draws closer and its growling becomes more audible.
Mirena glances in the beast's direction and then in Nox's.
"Run!"