I used to get really uncomfortable in social situations, but ever since coming to this world I don't seem to have that problem. Maybe having a second chance at life made me care less about the little things. So what if I say something stupid or embarrassing, at least I'm not dead. I'm not sure. What I do know is that I'm smiling a lot more than I used to.
I've always envied extroverts for being able to walk up to strangers and start a conversation. How do they know what to say? They make it look so easy.
"Stay sharp."
Despite the fact that I'm wandering through a dangerous forest, I feel very comfortable.
"There's a clearing up ahead. Let's rest there."
Very little light manages to make it to the forest floor due to the dense foliage overhead. The only things living near us are tree trunks and bioluminescent fungus. The bizarre light show makes for a surreal trek.
"What's that?"
We step out into the clearing and are met by a herd of dinosaurs across the way.
"They're called Brontobeasts. They'll leave you alone as long as you don't bother them. As far as monsters go, they can almost be considered friendly."
I watch as they gnaw at the huge leaves hanging from the Mammoth Trees. Each one has six legs which support a body the size of a 747. While an Apatosaurus was upwards of seventy-five feet long, These Brontobeasts were nearly three times that.
"Eat while you can. We'll check this clearing and then head back."
I don't know what we were expected to find out here but it's hard to see anything in the woods. The demure technicolor fungus combined with the densely packed trees make every turn look nearly identical. How Travis and his team were able to navigate such a maze is beyond me.
"There's a huge hole over here!" one of the students shouts from the center of the clearing.
Sure enough, a crater the size of a running track sits starkly in this grassy field.
"It might have something to do with that Elemental," Sam mutters.
"And look here! There's a dead Griffith in a different crater!" This time it's Yuki's excited voice that cuts the still air.
"That must have been it. The Elemental killed one of the Griffiths which caused its mate to rampage toward our town."
"What would we do without you, Sam?"
"I'm sure you would have figured it out eventually." She quickly deflects Travis's compliment and moves on. "That explains the Griffith attack but we still don't know what's suppressing the monster population."
"Do we really want to figure that out?" I voice my concerns as a pit of anxiety rises in my stomach.
"Of course, that's why we're here." She looks at me, confused.
"Nevermind."
A shrill shriek echos through the forest as if to give voice to my unease.
"Sam, can you dig up the crater a bit? I want to see if we can find any more clues."
"I'm on it!" The woman in the oversized robe flops over to a crater and lifts up her staff. Such an inelegant gait is heavily contrasted by what happens next. "Accelerate!"
Whoomp!
A tsunami of soil flies up into the air and covers a portion of the field.
So that's magic.
My heart races. Immediately my imagination runs wild as I think of all the applications of her ability.
"Fantastic, now we can really take a look."
Unsurprisingly, the all that exists beneath the dirt is more dirt.
"Nothing here, try that crater next!" Travis and Sam run around throwing soil all over the clearing. I can't help but feel disappointed that my first experience with magic is essentially two children playing detective.
"This is a waste of time." Tyrion complains from behind me.
"Hopefully."
"That's no way to think! We need to make the most of this!" Shinobu is strangely energized by all this. "We already figured out one mystery, I'm sure we'll find more clues!"
"If you say so." Tyrion sighs.
EEeekkK!
The shriek is louder this time.
"What's that?"
Travis toward the noise before taking a step back.
"Okay, that's enough expeditioning for today. Everyone head back to town." I was hoping to hear tension or nervousness in his voice but the loudest emotion is fear.
"Shit, let's move." I grab Sakura and Josh by the arm before sprinting back the way we came.
Tyrion seems to be thinking same as he drags Shinobu in the same direction.
"Everyone calm down. We all need to stick together while we're heading back or you'll just get lost."
Fuck, he's right.
"Let go of me!" Sakura yanks her arm away and glares at me.
BRrrAahhgrr!
The ground trembles. My heart races as the Brontobeasts start thrashing about.
"Everybody run!" Travis screams.
"Follow me!" The up til this moment silent member of Travis's team bolts forward at a tremendous speed and takes the up front.
"We'll try to slow them down." Travis says as he pulls a massive double sided axe off his back.
"WHO'S doing WHAT?!" Yuki shrieks.
"We've got to slow them down so the kids can escape."
"Slow them down? They're just going to trample us!"
"Yuki." Travis looks straight into her eyes. Yuki hesitates but eventually sighs.
"Whatever, but you owe me after this."
"I'll buy you all the beer you can drink."
"That's what I'm talkin' about. Now I'm getting pumped up."
"I knew I could count on you." He says with a fierce smile.
Both front line fighters step forward to protect Sam. Although shaky, she's already beginning to prepare a spell.
"By the way, if things go south, I want you to save yourself. This is my fault. I got too caught up in the idea of getting our team back together."
"Yeah, like I'd sacrifice myself to save your dumbass."
"I'm serious."
"What, you think I'm stupid?"
"Just be careful."
GGrrraahHGrr!
The Brontobeasts are plowing forward at a terrible speed. The entire forest is shaking as the blindly charge forward.
"Muscle Enhancement! Skeletal Reinforcement!" Yuki glows white as she buffs herself with spells.
"Frozone!" Travis throws an endothermic projectile at the monsters to slow them down.
"Sand Coffin!" Having finished preparing, Sam uses a wide area attack that makes the soil almost frictionless.
"AAHHHHH!" Yuki screams as she makes contact with the frontmost Brontobeast.