The Forest of Beginning, as its name suggests, was the starting point for many adventurers. Majestic trees soared high, their dense canopies blocking sunlight. Its vast expanse bore witness to countless tales of bravery, ambition, and sometimes, despair. Our footsteps disturbed the peaceful chirping of birds and rustling of leaves, signaling the forest's many inhabitants of our presence.
The creatures that roamed these parts were relatively benign. Wild hens that scurried about, bizarre cock monsters, butterfly monsters that, contrary to their name, lacked any semblance of beauty. Despite being Sapling rank, they swarmed in numbers, often making it challenging.
Hours seemed to melt away as the dense forest continued to baffle our sense of direction. "This forest is a maze!" Aryan exclaimed, exasperation tinging his voice. Sharad shot back, "Giving up already? And here I thought you had some spine." Aryan, clearly agitated, retorted, "Who said anything about giving up?" Their banter would've escalated if I hadn't stepped in to mediate. We had a mission, after all.
Our spirits lifted with every creature we overcame. The loot - an array of meats, vibrant feathers, and miscellaneous items - was a testament to our endeavors. And just when we started doubting our direction, the elusive cave finally unveiled itself, hidden behind a curtain of dense vines.
"We made it!" Sharad sighed, his tone a mix of exhaustion and relief. The cave, dimly lit, beckoned us. Its chilly air sent shivers down our spine, but the promise of adventure spurred us on. The deeper we ventured, the more bats we encountered. Their wings, our primary objective, were soon collected in a substantial amount.
But then, amidst the cold and the darkness, an alluring glow arrested our attention—a box, or so it seemed, shimmered with an ethereal light. Aryan and Sharad, enchanted, moved towards it. My heart raced; tales of deceitful monsters playing mind games with adventurers flashed in my mind. Without hesitation, I shouted a warning. The box morphed, revealing its true monstrous form. The ensuing battle was intense but brief. Sharad and Aryan, although initially taken aback, displayed commendable prowess.
As we ventured deeper into the cave's bowels, the ambient noise was replaced by a deafening silence, occasionally punctuated by distant water droplets echoing in the cavern. The light from our torch revealed the wet walls of the cave, shimmering with a silver sheen. That's when we saw it - the olm, camouflaged against the cave's background, its skin dark and rugged, eyes gleaming with a predatory hunge
The creature, known for its agility and cunning, lunged at Sharad, its jaws snapping. Sharad managed to dodge just in time, but the creature's tail whipped around, throwing Aryan off his feet. The olm, unlike the usual species, had a unique dark hue, signaling its advanced rank and heightened dange
"Aim for its eyes! It's sensitive to light!" I shouted, recalling the legends about these creatures. But this olm was different. Not only did it not shy away from the light, but it also seemed to harness the magic within the cave, casting shadows that danced around us, disorienting our sense
Aryan, regaining his footing, yelled, "Keep it distracted!" He began chanting, preparing a spell. Meanwhile, Sharad engaged the beast, his longsword clashing against the olm's thick skin, producing spark
The olm retaliated, releasing a torrent of water from its mouth, aiming to douse our torch. I quickly conjured a barrier, repelling the water. "Now, Aryan!" I shoute
With perfect timing, Aryan unleashed his spell, "Blinding Arc!" A blinding light emanated from his hands, illuminating the entire cave. The olm screeched, its eyes, unused to such intense brightness, left it temporarily blinde
Seizing the opportunity, Sharad delivered a heavy blow, causing a deep gash on the olm's side. But the beast was far from defeated. With a deafening roar, it summoned the cave's waters, creating swirling vortexes around its body, shielding it from our attacks and healing its woun
"We need to strike together! A combo attack!" I yelled. Positioning ourselves in a triangle around the olm, we synchronized our energies. Aryan, with his dual swords, launched into the air; Sharad, using the momentum of his longsword, spun with ferocity, while I channeled the energy of my special move, the "Holy Sword Magic: Light Slash
"NOW!" We converged on the olm from three sides, our powers amplifying each other. The collision resulted in a blinding explosion, sending shockwaves throughout the cav
As the dust settled, the olm lay defeated, its once menacing form now lifeles
The battle, intense and taxing, left us drained. Yet, the thrill of overcoming such a formidable foe strengthened our bond, reaffirming our resolve as adventurer.
After that we exit the cave, the world outside seemed different, almost brighter. Our path back to the Town of Mal was filled with camaraderie and light-hearted banter. Yet, Aryan's inquisitive nature surfaced. "Prateek, that magic... How?" he asked. I evaded, memories, both bitter and sweet, threatening to flood my mind. Sensing my turmoil, Sharad intervened, changing the topic.
The town greeted us with familiar sounds and sights. Our loot was traded for coins, and the satisfaction of a successful quest warmed our hearts. But as fate would have it, just as we were leaving the shop, a face from my past appeared. Memories, painful and raw, threatened to drown me, but that's a tale for another day...
::::::::::::::::::::::: TO BE CONTINUED ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::