The scene grew quiet as Crystal finished sharing her story, and a somber atmosphere settled among them.
Anom, disguised as Blatt, spoke first, his voice filled with a tinge of regret. "Miss, I truly wish I could help you. But allowing you to venture alone into that place would only weigh on my conscience. I apologize, but I don't have a solution to offer."
Crystal bowed her head, pretending to hide her disappointment. In truth, she was growing weary of wearing the mask of despair and took a moment to collect herself.
Nia and Kristin had complicated expressions on their faces after hearing Crystal describe how her father was bedridden, forcing her family to search for every means to save him.
But after their fruitless search, they almost gave up. But Crystal took it upon herself to search for a cure for her father. It was also then that she heard of an herb gatherer who had some fame in regards to his ability to navigate the forest and locate rare herbs.
However, even Blatt, the gatherer himself, had refused Crystal's plea, despite her offering anything she could in return.
Nia and Kristin were not pretending; they were truly moved by her story. They had come to know from Anom that what they were listening to now was not so different from the circumstances under which he had actually found Crystal during their first meeting.
Meanwhile, Selvo's expression grew increasingly peculiar. He couldn't ignore the sudden connection this situation had to his own family. He knew firsthand the reason behind the declining health of the Safaira family head. Surprised that he had managed to survive this long, he acknowledged the slow-acting yet potent nature of the poison used—an insidious force accumulating within the body over time.
Naturally, he refrained from mentioning anything about it and remained silent.
"That's truly commendable, Miss Crystal," Kristin praised with a smile. Pausing for a moment to contemplate, she turned to Blatt and proposed, "How about this, Mr. Blatt? Let's test your abilities to help us find what we seek, and allow us to accompany you along with this young lady."
"But I'm afraid I won't be of much help," Blatt clarified, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Locating the herb is one thing, but dealing with its guardian beast is a different matter altogether." He let out a sigh, expressing his limitations. "To confront it, we would need at least three individuals in the spirit realm."
"Spirit realm? Three people?" Everyone displayed bewildered expressions upon hearing this revelation. Only now did they comprehend why Blatt had repeatedly turned down Crystal's request.
Just as Crystal's face fell into despair, Blatt interjected once more. "However, since you two are willing, we can bring her along." He glanced at Crystal, his hand waving dismissively. "Don't get your hopes up! I'm merely suggesting that we might come across other herbs that could provide some relief for your father, even if they don't offer a complete solution. Would that be acceptable to you?"
Though a tinge of disappointment flickered across her countenance, Crystal nodded in agreement.
"That reminds me," Blatt said, redirecting his attention to Kristin. "You still haven't disclosed the creature you seek. Share the details with me, and I'll determine if it lies within my capabilities to find it."
Nia and Kristin nodded, proceeding to explain the bird they were in search of in Nulis City.
"A Twin-tailed Crimson Lestria?" Blatt arched an eyebrow. "That's quite an ambitious choice. However, let me inform you that even if I assist in capturing one, you will still need to tame it yourself."
"There's no need to worry about that, Mr. Blatt," Nia said confidently. "Your task is simply to help us locate it, and we'll handle the rest."
A chuckle escaped Blatt's lips. "It appears you underestimate my prior claim, Miss Nia. As I mentioned earlier, as long as it lacks a rank, I can capture any creature in the forest." His words dripped with confidence, leaving everyone intrigued.
"We will be most grateful if that holds true."
With their decisions finally made, the newly formed group set forth, embarking on their journey.
The sun was already at its peak by the time they resumed their journey, but the dense foliage of trees allowed the average temperature to remain quite cool near the forest floor.
The group wandered around the area between the outskirts and the medium depths of the Zeru Forest.
Although it was taking time, no one seemed to get impatient as Blatt would use interesting methods to search for the location of the bird they desired to find.
Blatt's observant nature allowed him to carefully study the terrain, sometimes walking slowly to analyze the surroundings, while at other times he would pause, immersing himself in the symphony of sounds from the natural world, hoping to find clues hidden within.
However, what truly captivated the rest of the group were Blatt's interactions with the creatures they encountered along their journey.
On one occasion, they unexpectedly came face-to-face with a Blaze Fury Howler, a fearsome wolf-like beast known for its ferocity. With its formidable strength in the half-step spirit realm, it would have been a daunting adversary for any human of the same level. Not to mention the fact that their group carried no such individual.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, Blatt calmly stepped forward and greeted the wolf while waving his hand.
Even more astonishing was the fact that the wolf responded with a low bark, as if acknowledging Blatt's presence, before venturing off on a different path, leaving the group unharmed.
In that moment, everyone was amazed. They were genuinely astounded by the encounter. Crystal had witnessed similar instances before, but even she couldn't help but be amazed once again.
With this newfound sense of wonder, the group continued their journey for several more hours.
Chirp! Chirp!
Nia looked up and remarked, "There seems to be an abundance of birds in this area."
The others nodded, having also noticed the peculiar abundance of avian life.
"That's because of the specific type of trees found here," Blatt explained, gesturing towards the slender and scrawny-looking trees amidst the vast forest. "These are known as Canopy Constrictors, a species renowned for its invasive nature. They essentially obstruct the taller trees from expanding their branches downward, thus making them inaccessible to many animals."
Pointing to the thin branches, he continued, "Although these branches may appear fragile and have gaps between them, they function collectively as a filtering mechanism, trapping larger fruits within their intricate network."
Everyone listened intently as Blatt shed light on the unique ecosystem. "Most of the trees in this area produce small fruits that can easily pass through these branch traps and fall to the forest floor, where they are consumed by smaller creatures. Larger herbivores find little satisfaction in these modest-sized fruits. However, birds and small creatures can navigate effortlessly between the branches, making this area a haven for aerial creatures and agile climbers."
"How amazing!" Kristin gasped in awe, expressing her fascination. The intricate relationships between flora and fauna enthralled her. While she had read about such concepts in books, experiencing them firsthand outside the confines of her sheltered environment was a transformative experience.
The group's journey continued, filled with moments of joy and fascination, until it came to an abrupt halt. It was Blatt who signaled for them to stop, his demeanor shifting to one of seriousness.
"Pay close attention and remain calm, no matter what unfolds before us," Blatt whispered in a low and solemn voice. "Remember, our reactions must be controlled. Understood?"
An air of tension settled among the group as they observed Blatt's sudden change in behavior. Up until this point, he had displayed a carefree and adventurous spirit throughout their expedition.
With determined nods, the group acknowledged Blatt's instructions, readying themselves for whatever lay ahead.
Blatt, satisfied with their response, took the lead once more, guiding them forward with cautious steps.