Cair called out to Siren's name a few times but no answer. That got him thinking that maybe he was just seeing things. Suddenly, someone's hand reaches out and touches Cair's shoulder,..
Cair: uwaaaahhh!!
hahahaha...
Cair: huff..huff..
Cair breathed heavily as he surprised and trembled for a moment.
Mayr: hahaha I thought you're so brave because when you said you will go alone into the Hooting forest. I don't know that you're such a scaredy cat. nyaa~
Rein: hahaha yea, true. You're so funny, Cair.
Klein: (chuckle) Sorry bro, your reaction just now was hilarious.
Cair: 😫I-I'm not scared. ehem..I am just..surprised, that's all. 😶🌫️
Cair flushed when everyone laughed at him while acting brave like it didn't make him tremble for a moment.
Cair: Enough with the laughing. What are you guys doing here? I thought you guys would figure out how to enter the spirit realm in the Hooting forest.
Mayr: We already told Klein about it but, he insisted on coming here.
Klein: I don't want to lose any of us anymore. So, we're coming with you.
Cair: Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Then, did you guys bring along the book? Maybe we can figure it out while searching for Mayr's pendant?
Rein: hm Grandma Neir doesn't allow us to bring it here. She said it's dangerous.
Cair: (heavy sigh) haa~ (ergh..that old hag, she must want me to recite some spells again)
All of them continue walking to search for Mayr's pendant.
Klein: By the way, I heard you're calling out Siren's name. Did you see her?
Cair: No, I did not. I thought I saw a glimpse of her. But,..maybe not. sigh..
Klein: (pat Cair shoulder) Don't worry Cair. We'll find her.
Suddenly, Rein stops as she spots something.
Rein: ah?! Isn't that your pendant, Mayr?
Mayr: Where?
Rein: On the ground, near the tree roots.
Mayr: oh ya, you're right. Maybe that cute fox dropped it here.
Cair: What?! It is not cute. It is dangerous. We don't know what it's capable of doing.
Mayr: ha-ha you're just jealous.
Cair: Jealous of what. That stupid ugly fox?!
Mayr: Yes.
Cair: What?! Why?
Mayr: Well, it's simple. Because you're the ugly one while the fox is cute.
Rein: haha, good one Mayr 🤭
Klein: (pat Cair shoulder while chuckling) That's enough, Cair.
Cair: B-But,..ha~ It's so unfair.
Klein: Mayr, grab your pendant. Then, we can go back.
Mayr: Okie 😉
While everyone was laughing at Cair, Mayr picked up her pendant and then,..something touched her hand that made her immediately pull out her hand while grabbing the pendant.
Mayr: Wha-What was that?
Rein What is it Mayr?
Mayr: There's something touching me.
Rein: hm?..Something?
crackle..crackle..munch..munch..
The suspicious thing looks like a female figure with a hideous look eating dirty clams and other unknown things while her mouth is bleeding. It keeps on munching dirty and rotten foods but, it suddenly stops and steals a glance by staring at Mayr's face for a few seconds before continuing eating. Mayr pulls herself back out some more, feeling like she wants to puke and also afraid of what might happen if she gets closer to that thing.
Mayr: Wha-What is that thing?
Rein: I don't think it's a "thing" but, rather.. a human?
Klein: Yeah, you are right. (surprise) Wait a minute. Doesn't it look like,..Siren??
Mayr: Are you sure, Klein?
Klein: yeah, no doubt..it is Siren.
Tears running thru Mayr cheek.
Mayr: waaa~ Siren..come back to us. Please stop eating that rotten food already (sobbing).
Everyone is getting uncomfortable and terrified watching Siren eat those rotten and dirty things which are the same as what Grandma Neir describes about the human who cannot leave the forest. While everyone seems uncomfortable and terrified by that thing, Cair remains silent, while staring at that thing. When Cair opened his mouth and said..
Cair: That's not Siren.
Klein: What do you mean? It's clearly her, Siren.
Cair: I cannot sense any energy spirits from it. It must be some illusion to trick our eyes.
Rein: It can't be.
Mayr: sobbing~ A-Are you really sure, Cair?
Cair: Yes, I am. If you guys remember what Grandma Neir said, Siren is a Necromancer. And every Necromancer possesses energy spirit even though it's a bit different compared with the spirits.
Everyone becomes silent for a moment looking at that thing until someone laughing breaks the silence.
hahahahaha....