"If I can add... I've actually been feeling something a bit... off, since we've come back here." Duvainion admits.
"Off? Off how?" Caleldes questions him.
"I... don't know, it just does..."
"Hm... Maybe you could really help them, then. Can you pinpoint where it feels the strangest?" Caleldes asks Duvainion.
"...I can try."
They walk about the forest for a while, with Duvainion sensing about, trying his best to figure out where they need to search.
"Anything, yet?" Hunter asks, curiously.
"I'm not sure... Maybe?" Duvainion senses about some more, and soon actually stops. "Wait, I do actually sense something around here."
OluIa then starts to dig at a nearby tree. She doesn't find anything at first.
"It has to be there, I can sense it. I really can, this time."
'Well, I can try to dig a little deeper, but the rest of the roots will start to get in the way, the deeper that I go.' OluIa informs them.
"Please try as hard as you can."
She just nods as she then gets back to digging, trying her best not to damage any roots as she does so. Though she soon stops again, seeming to have actually found something now. 'I believe that we have discovered the issue.'
"I see, so they put whatever it is deep down in the roots that you'd never dare to check, for fear of harming the trees that you so revere. And only when it'd reach the shallow roots you'd notice it, and by then, it would've been too late." Caleldes reasons.
'Exactly. I am ashamed to admit that I had never thought to check so deep before, though...' Olula regrettably admits.
"It's alright, you just care too much about this place, so much so that you couldn't even think of harming it." Hunter attempts to comfort her. "Anyways, what is it?"
'I... am actually not entirely sure, honestly. It is a bit too dark down in the deep hole, and with all the roots in the way. Sorry.'
"It's fine, let me try, I can use my magic to create a light." CaleIdes heads over as OIuIa gets out of the way. She gets in close to the hole, then creates a ball of light in her palm, and shines it around the hole and roots.
As she does, a thick and sticky gooey like black substance can be seen coating the roots. Though this dark goo almost immediately recedes from her light magic, almost as if it were alive, itself. "What the f*ck...?"
'It appears to be some sort of living darkness. That is why we could not find it. It did not wish to be found, in first place.'
"It's no wonder that only Duvainion was the one able to sense it. This is a powerful darkness, especially since it was able to take on such a physical form, it was most likely able to block most forms of magic that allows one to sense their surroundings, other then dark magic." Caleldes speculates. "But how do we get rid of nearly an entire forests worth of this crud?"
"Well, we know that it doesn't like light magic, but what about life magic?" Hunter asks. "But I'm not very good with mine, just yet. Serenity?"
"It is certainly worth a try." Serenity steps over to the hole, kneeling down. She then creates a small orb of life magic, putting it never the dark goo. The goo does retreat from this a bit, but not as much as it did with the light magic. "It does not seem as effective as the light magic, but it does still work a little." She then steps away from the hole. "But we would need a lot of light and life magic users, and those are fairly rare types of magic."
"...What about the gods? You know, the ones you guys were talking about before?" Duvainion suggests.
"It's a nice thought, but they don't usually interfere with mortal affairs. Besides, our main temple of light is within the capital." Caleldes mentions.
"I could aways try our temple. The only issue is that it will take about a month or more just to get back to my homeland." Serenity offers.
"We'll just have to figure out how to do this on our own, we won't be getting any help from the gods. They don't usually help unless it's in their own interests, anyways." CaIeIdes says.
"Okay..." Duvainion then heads over to the hole, kneeling down and looking in. Though soon, the strange dark goo actually starts to slowly gravitate towards him. He quickly notices this, seeming both curious and confused at the same time.
"It really seems to like Duvainion." Hunter comments.
"I wonder if there is some sort of way that we can utilize this, then?" Serenity asks.
"Possibly. But I'm not entirely sure how. He is only one boy, and he's not even very skilled with his magic yet, either." CaleIdes mentions.
"But I can try..." Duvainion says.
"...If you think that you can, I suppose. But we'll still need more life and light magic users, to make this work." Caleldes points out.
"Well... I might have an idea." Nicholas offers.
"What is it?"
"There's an order of Paladins back in Elesstead. The main issue being, though, that their light magic is mostly offensive, and I'm not entirely sure how well that would work." Nicholas admits.
"Well, it's the best idea that we've got. Nicholas, I'll need you to show me where it is. Serenity, are you willing to leave the forest for a while? I believe that you being with us would help in us seeking their help." Caleldes starts.
"Of course. If Olula does not mind."
"And Hunter and Duvainion, you two should stay here, with Olula. Does that all sound okay?"
'I do not mind. I will protect the young prince as if he were my own.' Olula states.
"Thank you. We will set out for the human capital, Elesstead, tomorrow morning. Alright?" Caleldes mentions, and the others just nod. "While we're away, though, try your best to train your dark magic, Duvainion. It should prove a least a bit helpful, when we return."
-------
Back at Elesstead, they do end up garnering some looks as they head through the city, most of the common people not having seen a centaur before, let alone a deer centaur.
"So, where is this order based, anyways, Nicholas?" Caleldes asks.
"I believe that it should be somewhere near the noble district."
They soon find the order's base. "So, the Order of Light, huh? This certainly looks like it should be it. Are we allowed to just go on in?" Caleldes asks.
"I believe so, they do accept jobs from others, as well, but at a cost usually, unfortunately."
"Well, we'll just have to try and negotiate, then." Caleldes says, as they head on inside the building.
They look around as they enter, spotting various paladins going about their own business. Soon enough, one of the paladins approach them, who seems to be watching the entrance.
"Greetings. How may we help you, today?" The paladin asks them, as they get over to them.
"Hello. We have an important request, who should we talk to about a request?" Caleldes inquires.
"Most job requests are handled right here. There's an information desk just over there."
"This isn't just some ordinary job, it's a very important mission; we'll be needing as many paladins as possible." Caleldes explains.
"I suppose that if it is truly that dire, then you all should probably speak with one of our higher ranked paladins, then. Follow me, please." The paladin mentions, as they start to head off down a nearby hallway, with them following behind.
They get to a certain room, which appears to be a practice room, where a group of what seems to be new paladins are training, being instructed by a slightly older looking paladin.
The paladin escorting them hands over to the one who is instructing the new paladins, and starts to talk with him. After a moment, they head back over. "He'll be with you in just a moment, but I must be getting back to my station, farewell and good luck." They say as they herd back off again.
Soon enough, the paladin stops the newbies training. "Alright, go rest up for now. We'll start back up tomorrow." The newbies just seem more then relieved as they quickly leave the room before the instructor changes his mind. He then heads over to Caleldes, Serenity, and Nicholas. "Greetings. I have been told that you all hare an important job?"
"Yes, sir."
"Alright. We should probably go somewhere a bit more private, then." He starts to head off.
They soon enter some sort of office like room. He hands over to the large desk, though just stands beside it for now. "Oh, I'm Garvin, by the way."
"I'm Caleldes, and this is Nicholas and Serenity. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir Garvin."
"So, Caleldes, what is this job that you have for us?"
"Well, we need as many life and light magic users as possible. You see, we have found a massive sacred forest where a strange darkness taints its roots, and if left for too much longer, it will threaten the forest's very existence."
"I don't mean to downplay the threat, but there are actually quite the number of sacred forests about."
Serenity pipes up, this time. "With all due respect, sir, this is not just some ordinary sacred forest, this was the very first forest ever created, and is of vital importance to the existence of a certain race, who will become extinct if this forest is allowed to die off."
"Probably should have led with that, then. Serenity, was it? Who exactly are you, anyways?"
"I am the next in line to be the next High Priestess of the Church of the Angel's Order. We follow the Goddess of Life." Serenity informs him.
"Ah, I see. This definitely must be of the utmost importance, if the next High Priestess of the Goddess of Life is here. Where is this forest, anyways?" Garvin asks Serenity.
Serenity then pulls out a small map that depicts the entirety of the forest, heading over to Garvin and showing him.
"Isn't this that forest that everyone claims is cursed?" He asks, cautiously.
"It is not cursed, it is protected. There is a Forest Guardian living there, and she does her job very well." Serenity informs him.
"Clearly. Well, I will see what I can do."
"Thank you, sir Garvin." Serenity then gives him a small curtsey.
"But for something this massive, it will probably take a few days just to get everything approved, then at least another day or two to get things ready. Not to mention the other higher ups are going to want to know about payment, unfortunately." Garvin informs them.
"We don't exactly have much money on us, sadly, definitely not enough for a project this big." Caleldes confesses.
"That will certainly be an issue, for the others, then. I, personally, hate having to charge for services like this, but it is, unfortunately, not in my hands to say."
"Well, I can use my special healing prowess to help any of your sick and injured. I am also very skilled in archery, if I am needed to fight, as well." Serenity offers.
"And I can help on any other missions, if you need use of my own services. I'm one of the best bodyguard's around, plus I have light magic, as well." Caleldes mentions.
"Alright, maybe. And the boy?"
"Oh, me? Well, I'm pretty good at sneaking about. And I... also have a tiny bit of... light magic, but I'm not very good with it, honestly..." Nicholas finally admits.
"Hm... I might just be able to convince them. But still, be prepared for them to say anything."
"Right."
"Anyways, since it will be some days before we can leave, you all can stay here, if yon need to, we have extra rooms for guests, for moments such as this. If you go back to the first paladin you met here, they'll show you around."
"Thank you, sir Garvin." They then head out, and back to the entrance hall.
"That actually went better than I had thought it would. Now Nicholas? You never mentioned anything about having light magic before." Caleldes mentions.
"Right, well... It Wasn't exactly important before, why?"
"...Do you know your parents...?"
"Oh, well, not exactly..."
"Neither of them?"
"No. Why...?"
"Well than... There's a man that I'll be killing the next time I see the d*mned b*stard." Caleldes declares. Though Nicholas still seems rather confused.