"As I was saying this forest is called the Bloodless Viel. It is largely unexplored and occupies most of the north-western edge of the known world. The former is full of beasts, wild races, and terrifying plant life.
Including the namesake, the Kreeorie tree's. They absorb all the blood from any living creature that dies near it. Some of the older, more powerful trees, are said to even become sentient and actively attack their prey.
They make up the entirety of the inner forest that we have been able to document. Since they guard any undiscovered lands beyond, this forest was named the Bloodless Viel. There are a few towns and even a city that border the massive forest and we are closest to Red Wheat."
Draymarc looked proud of his knowledge. As an explorer he obviously knew much more than most, but he figured that was enough explanation. Kearan was listening attentively but at some point his eyes started to droop and before Draymarc even finished he was fast asleep.
Draymarc noticed Kearan had fallen asleep and quietly got up. He walked towards Celeste's side while keeping an eye on their guest. "He is already asleep. Should we grab him now?"
Celeste looked towards Kearan as she pondered the question. "No we will wait until morning and make sure no one had followed him. After that we will deal with him. Make sure to leave him plenty of stew" she answered while patting a small pouch on her hip.
Draymarc nodded in understanding before asking in a gentle tone. "Are you sure about this boss? If he does end up being a noble, and they find out what we did, we will be in a whole world of hurt if they catch us." Celeste didn't turn or stop stirring the pot with a wooden label, but he could see her grip tighten on the handle.
"I'm sure. It seems someone already put things in motion and screwed up by letting him escape. As long as we are careful they wouldn't be able to trace it back to a random third party like us. Besides you know I can't afford to pass this opportunity up.
Mina is getting worse every day and I need to get the money for the healer. She doesn't have much longer."
Draymarc sighed as he took in her trembling form. He knew she wasn't like him, and truly didn't want to do something like this, but he understood she had little choice. If he was in her shoes he would make the same decision a thousand times over.
Kearan awoke to the sound of a chime *Ding*
"Quest: Survive completed.
Rank E completion rate.
No extra awards gained.
Quest: Survive Part 2 triggered.
Quest Activated!
Goal: Survive
Description:
The system has detected that the trial member is still in danger. You are advised to quickly discover the source and escape at all costs!
Rewards: You get to keep on living!
Failure: Enslavement or death."
Kearan took in this new message with confusion. He opened his eyes and looked around, still a little bleary eyed from his slumber. He noticed Celeste wasn't around but Draymarc was sitting near the fire pit in a similar wooden chair to his own.
He sat up a little and groaned at the various combinations of pain racking through him. Not only was he walking barefoot lightly clothed through a forest yesterday, but he also slept on a hard wooden chair. Every inch of his body ached. Draymarc looked back at him and chuckled lightly at his predicament.
"Seems your finally awake. You slept for almost twelve hours. There is still some stew left over in the pot. Celeste is out catching breakfast, but it should tide you over until then."
Kearans stomach practically roared at the mention of food, causing another chuckle to escape Draymarcs lips, and it quickly overpowered his other pains. Kearan stood up and his knees literally popped.
Releif flooded through his legs as he shakily stood, but his feet went straight back to throbbing painfully. Luckily it didn't seem as bad as before. When he reached the pot, Kearan didn't even bother to grab a spoon, he just unhooked the pot and tilted it towards his mouth.
The luke warm stew consisted of potatoes, carrots, and small chucks of meat in a thick white broth. Everything was pretty much mush from sitting over a warm fire all night and Kearan devoured it greedily. He didn't know if it was Celeste's cooking, or just plain starvation, but it was the best thing he had ever eaten.
He quickly finished the left overs and was literally licking the pot when Celeste entered and saw him. Kearan didn't even stop licking as he glanced at her and nodded. Celeste and Draymarc busted into full out laughter. This time the both of them were laughing much differently than before as they were practically howling. After a few moments of this behavior Celeste started to breathe deeply in order to stop laughing.
"Ohhh". She moaned in a bit high pitched voice. "You're face was just so normal when you did that. That was way too funny." Kearan finally put the pot back and smiled slightly at the joyous atmosphere. It had been a long time since he had felt a semblance of warmth around other people.
"I just couldn't help it. It was too delicious." Celeste smiled warmly at the compliment, her face still slightly red from the previous laughter, and Kearan once again admired her beauty. She seemed nice, calm, collected, and above all a great cook.
Combined with her good looks, she was like a breath of fresh air to Kearan. He felt a little hopeful for his future in this world as he observed her. Then he noticed some brown feathers sticking out of a satchel on her side. His hunger, not yet satisfied, immediately replaced the warm fuzziness he was just experiencing.
Clesete saw his look and smiled gently. "I will start breakfast after I gut and clean them. It might take an hour or so though so you will have to wait." Kearan was practically drooling at the though of chicken, or turkey, or whatever was inside that bag. He just nodded weakly and went to sit back down when a strange feeling started to form in his stomach.
"Warning! Member has imbibed a harmful substance.
Activating the skill Devour as a means of defense.
Skill failed.
Cool down five minutes.
Endurance +10 exp.
Quest updated.
Quest: Survive Part 2
Goal: Survive
Description(updated):
You have identified your new companions as the source of danger. As they have chosen a non-lethal poison it seems as if they want you alive for some reason. Your goal is now too escape to the best of your ability before the toxin in your body overcomes your immune system.
Success: You get to keep on living!
Failure: Enslavement or tortured to death.