**Tatiana's perspective**
Having journeyed past the farm fields, we finally reached the boundary of a vast forest. A gentle reminder of Lady Sakuya being my steadfast companion never left my mind, for it was she who was riding the horse, while I, unable to do so, sat behind her. I harbored a determination within me to learn horse-riding someday.
By the time we arrived, darkness was steadily creeping into the sky. "Thank you," I expressed my gratitude to Lady Sakuya. As she dismounted from the horse, she lent me a hand, assisting me down.
We agreed to proceed on foot, as navigating the dense forest on horseback would prove perilous, an idea put forth by Lady Sakuya after seeking my opinion. With a feigned boldness, I asserted that I was not so frail as to be unable to endure a mere trek.
I couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the sight of Lady Sakuya. Her fiery red hair tied in a neat ponytail looked strikingly beautiful, almost as if untouched. Each lock shone bright, complimented by streaks of black. She could don any attire and still look enchanting.
"What's the matter?" She enquired, noticing my sudden smile.
"Nothing. I just thought that you look incredibly beautiful, Lady Sakuya," I replied, flustered that she might misinterpret my actions.
"I see…, but you, my dear, are much more exquisite than anything else," she said, without a moment's hesitation, just like her constant thoughts about me.
"…thank you," I stammered, my cheeks flushing. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that she thought so highly of me.
Despite being nothing more than a reciprocated compliment, it felt unreal.
"So, this is the Everwood Forest?" I asked, my eyes wide in awe of the vast expanse of the forest.
The prospect of this adventure filled me with excitement. In the past, during our travels, when the occasion arose to venture into unknown cities or countries, I was usually left at the accommodation due to the perceived dangers. The memory was a stark reminder of my frailty and the burden I might impose on others.
Lady Sakuya's gaze was fixated deep into the forest, her eyes closed in concentration.
"…I sense a powerful force in the forest," she stated, opening her eyes.
"Really, I can't see anything," I responded. I tried to look deeper but saw nothing.
The forest was dense, with towering trees reaching up to the clouds. The sight beyond a few rows of trees was shrouded in mystery. Navigating through such a place seemed challenging, but thankfully, we found a path. Though it seemed unused, it served as our guide into the forest.
Lady Sakuya turned to me, seeking confirmation of my wellbeing.
"We should exercise caution in dealing with these," she warned seriously.
"I'll follow your lead, Lady Sakuya," I replied eagerly, well aware of my limitations and the importance of adhering to her advice.
With the horse in tow, we proceeded deeper into the forest. Along the path, we noticed broken branches, suggesting recent activity.
"Something is lurking around here with us," Lady Sakuya stated, putting together the clues we had gathered.
Suddenly, we were interrupted by a guttural cry echoing throughout the forest. I instinctively covered my ears as the haunting sound amplified, chilling me to my core.
The eerie cries continued to reverberate through the forest, making it nearly impossible to determine their source or direction.
"What was that?" I inquired, turning to Lady Sakuya for an explanation.
"That's the signal that they finally noticed us," she calmly explained, displaying no surprise or fear.
Suddenly, a raggedly-clothed kobold wielding a chipped sword emerged in front of us. "This is a Kobold...!" I exclaimed, taken aback by the sight.
"Kobold?" Lady Sakuya responded without looking at me. These creatures were known to appear in groups. While an individual Kobold posed little threat, their strength lay in their numbers. With faces resembling rats and dressed in ragged clothing, they wielded broken swords and demonstrated an intelligence that allowed some of them to speak like humans.
Encountering a few of them often meant that more were lurking nearby. As night fell, they would become more active, preying on their targets and wearing them down until they could no longer defend themselves. It was then that the Kobolds would reveal their true power in sheer numbers.
"Careful, there are two of them," I warned as another Kobold emerged from behind the first one.
"UKKKK!!!!" The first Kobold charged at Lady Sakuya, brandishing its sword in an attempt to strike.
"Lady Sakuya!" I called out, fearing for her safety.
*flick* In an astonishingly swift motion, Lady Sakuya released what appeared to be smoke from her finger, as though she had burned it off with a mere flick.
"Huh?" I was at a loss for words. In a split second, the head of the Kobold was gone, its blood evaporating in mid-air before the rest of its body even hit the ground.
Lady Sakuya's strength was astounding. I had always known she was powerful, but witnessing her dispatch a foe with such ease left me in awe.
"…ru…n…" the other Kobold stammered, trying to escape behind its companion.
Despite their limited vocabulary, these creatures were not devoid of speech.
"You won't escape," Lady Sakuya declared, determination in her eyes as she relentlessly pursued the fleeing Kobold.
As she closed in, I noticed the Kobold had a sly smile on its face.
"W-wait! Don't chase it!!" I shouted, realizing that they might be leading us into a trap.
Ignoring my plea, I followed after Lady Sakuya, leaving the horse behind as her safety was my utmost concern.
"Lady Sakuya, are you alright?" I asked, gasping for breath as I caught up with her.
She didn't respond, her attention fully focused on the threat at hand.
"!!" I glanced up and saw that we were surrounded. At least twenty Kobolds perched in the trees, with more lurking behind the forest's foliage. The situation had taken a perilous turn, and I knew we were in grave danger.
"Ki-ki-ki…, what do we have here? Two dumb women on top. Oh, they also bring dinner alongside… surely, the king would be pleased," one of the armored kobolds said, exuding confidence and arrogance. We had fallen into their trap, and now I needed to figure out how to escape.
Realizing that these kobolds could understand our speech, I stepped forward, mustering my courage, and pleaded with them to let us go. Lady Sakuya nodded, giving me the chance to speak.
"Y-you, the one that spoke. I implore you, we meant no harm," I addressed the kobold, trying to reason with them. I knew that their actions were driven by the desire to protect their people, just like we sought to protect ours.
"Huh…, what the hell is that woman saying?" The kobold responded, showing that he could understand me, prompting me to explain our reason for being there.
"Actually, we're here for a reason. There is a chaotic monster in this forest that we have to stop. Let us through, and we can work together," I extended my hand, hoping they would consider our plea.
"…" The forest fell silent for a few seconds, and I hoped my words had some impact.
But the hope was short-lived as the kobold replied, "Is that so? Well, then, we will let you through…, NOT!" with a sinister smile, the situation took a dangerous turn.
*Swish*
An arrowhead came hurtling towards me, but Lady Sakuya quickly intervened, deflecting it away from me. "Are you alright?" she asked with concern.
"I-i'm fine…thank you," I replied, relieved that she had protected me.
"Ceh! That woman seems to be more trouble than she looked," the kobold clicked his tongue, clearly disappointed.
As the tension escalated, I couldn't help but ask, "Why are you doing this?"
The kobold responded with bloodlust in his eyes, "Why? What a stupid question! Because we're monsters, we kill. I've had enough of this; kill that woman and bring the other one to the king!!"
*KUUUUKKKUUU!!!*
The cries of the kobolds grew louder and closer. Sensing imminent danger, Lady Sakuya shielded me, instructing me to hide behind a nearby boulder. I obeyed, crouching down and praying for her safety.
*Bzz…*
*Swish…*
In the blink of an eye, the kobolds were gone, leaving no trace behind. The forest bore the marks of destruction, with fires raging and trails of fire everywhere. Blood on Lady Sakuya's face disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"What the hell is that?" The apparent leader of the kobolds was bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
As the baying of the kobold faded into the distance, Lady Sakuya soared through the air with all the grace of an eagle in flight. Her eyes narrowed on the target, and she landed deftly on a branch, holding the petrified kobold in her grip. "You're not getting away," she said, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.
The kobold, trembling like a leaf in the wind, squeaked out a terrified, "I!" The expression on his face was one of such utter fear that, despite the circumstances, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.
We tied the kobold to our horse, forcing him to walk alongside us. His pained grunts with each step pulled at my heartstrings. "Are you all right, Mr. Kobold?" I asked, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. The kobold whipped his head towards me, his beady eyes blazing with resentment.
"What the hell are you asking that for?! Of course, I'm not all right," he spat, his words dripping with venom. I recoiled slightly, taken aback by his hostility. I was just trying to show some compassion.
Sakuya, however, was having none of it. "You better watch your mouth," she warned him, her tone cold as ice, "or I'll rip that thing out and feed it to you." Her menacing aura was palpable, even to me. I couldn't help but shudder at her words. Whatever that 'thing' was, it clearly had a significant meaning to the kobold. He straightened up immediately and nodded frantically, uttering a terrified, "Yes, ma'am!"
As the day turned to night, we decided it was time to make camp. However, my feet were beginning to protest the long journey we'd undertaken. My shoes, which initially seemed comfortable, were now akin to a torturer's tool. I hobbled towards the kobold, my pout apparent. "Are you sure this is the right way, Mr. Kobold?" I questioned. I was ready for a break.
He bobbed his head in affirmation. "Yes, this is one of the safest places to camp," he responded, his voice trembling slightly. His certainty did little to ease my anxiety, though.
Lady Sakuya's lips curved into a sly grin. "You don't say…" She began, her tone playful yet dripping with suspicion. "I find this place to be much louder than the others. Do you want to know what is about to happen in the next second?" Her words hung in the air like a portent of doom. The kobold's face turned a ghastly shade of blue. He looked as if he'd seen a ghost.
At our prompting, he led us in a different direction. After a few more minutes of walking, the ruins of an abandoned building came into view. "Mistress," the kobold started, referring to me, "it seems I had forgotten about these ruins. They should suit your needs." Relief washed over me. Finally, we could rest.
I clapped my hands together, a grin spreading across my face. "Is that so? Thankfully you remembered." I was sincerely grateful. The anticipation of rest made the last stretch of our walk more bearable. We continued on, each step bringing us closer to a night of much-needed respite.
As we made our way through the forest, I couldn't help but marvel at the towering trees and the symphony of nocturnal creatures filling the air with their music. Even in this precarious situation, the beauty of the natural world was undeniable.
-Chapter 12 End-