Ben and Stark wandered through the thick, evergreen forest. There were mushrooms, berry bushes, birds chirping and squirrels scurrying on top of the branches.
Ben and Stark cheered out of thrill as the wolf swiftly passes the trees. Ben would hold his head as the winds would blow his brown hair and obstruct his vision. Stark on the other hand pulled out a piece of bread and began munching.
"Do you want some?" Stark spoke with his mouth full of food and handed a hunk of bread to Ben as he continue munching.
Ben hasn't ate since the Moroznian Armies invaded his town. He halted the wolf they are riding, then the two jumped off. "Oh I'm starving, I haven't ate since yesterday" Ben took the hunk of bread from Stark, then took a huge bite.
As Ben was eating his bread, Stark notices claw marks on the trees. "Ben, we are at a bear's territory," Stark inspected the bark. "The trees are freshly clawed."
Ben noticed a dead deer lying near a bush at a distance. He moved towards the carcass of the deer then further inspected the claw marks and bites on the flesh. "Now that's one big claw, It must be beast!"
Stark looked at the other trees, there were claw marks on bark, then he walked around the trees only to find bear footprints on the ground. Stark returned to Ben, with a nervous look, "Ben, It's not safe here, we should get going."
"Indeed, we should leave the forest," Ben reached out for his map to pinpoint the distance of their destination.
"How far is Waldstadt Metropolis?" Stark asked as he tilted his head to view the map. "It's still far," Stark whined.
"I better call Barkus," Ben uttered as he makes an 'O' shape on his mouth, then whistled loudly.
"Barkus?" Stark asked in shock. "Who the heck is he?"
"My father and I named the wolf: Barkus," Ben chuckled lightly. "It's like Markus, but I substitute 'M' for 'B', Get it?"
"Barkus? It's kind of corny," Stark akwardly smiled.
"What do you mean corny?" Ben laughed in response to Stark's preposterous joke. "You must be joking."
"No, silly it is," Stark smacked Ben's shoulders as he chuckled. "But hey, isn't 'Barkus' supposed to be here?"
"Now that you mentioned it, I'm starting to feel anxious," Ben uttered worriedly.
Stark turned his head to Ben, and patted his shoulders. "Don't worry," Stark uttered in a calm manner. "We'll find him."
"Yeah, lets find him," Ben spoked nervously as he pinched his arm to calm himself down.
Ben and Stark walked back to where they left Barkus around. As the two friends reached back, Ben and Stark stopped with fear on their faces. They're paralyzed with terror as they watched Barkus being beheaded by a fearsome looking bear.
The bear was twice the size of the wolf. It had its left eye is scarred, bleeding wounds on its body and arrows piercing the bear's arm.
Ben pinched himself on his shoulders to halt his fear. Ben took a deep breath and calmed himself down. Stark took constant shallow breaths then he pulled Ben down the bush.
"We better stay here," Stark uttered anxiously as he crouched behind bush.
Ben peeked through the bush then quietly observed the bear. He notices that bear was limping, and growling with pain. He noticed a bite mark of its leg as he watches the bear hobble. Ben thought to himself that they could use the bear's hindered limping to their advantage.
"We could slay the bear," Ben crouched as he pulled his spell-book from his bag.
"How?" Starked asked with a shocked expression. "I would be foolish if we charged in."
"We can take advantage of the bear's hindered eyesight, and its limping leg," Ben spoke as he points at the trees. "We could use the trees to set up our attacks."
"You've got a point," Stark replied as he wields out his sword.
"You'll climb the trees then jump and stab the bear's neck with all of your might." Ben instructed quietly. "If you failed, you will have to jump off and I'll cast all of my magic on the bear."
"Got it," Stark whispered. "Just give me the okay signal."
"Don't worry, I got your back" Ben said as he go over the page of his book
Stark crawled quietly then climbed the nearest nearest tree. He crawled to a branch on top of the bear then wields out his sword.
Stark then waved his hand to Ben, asking for the signal. Ben raised his hand with his thumbs up, signalling Stark to jump down. Stark took a deep breath then jumped with his sword facing down.
Stark plunged his sword on the its neck but the bear growled angrily and shaked its entire body in attempt to swing Stark away
Stark let go of his sword but the bear violently waved its hand, hitting Stark's chest. Stark was flinged to a tree, hitting his back. Ben jumped out of the bush, casting his spell then hurled a fireball on the bear.
The bear roared angrily then charged with its claws ready to swipe at Ben, Ben waited for the moment then dived sideways to dodge the claws. The bear crashed on a tree and hit it's head, and the bear was stunned by the impact.
Ben took the opportunity, he stretched his left arm forward then opened his palm. Ben musters up all his strenght onto his arm and chanted very loudly.
"I'm very sorry," Ben apologizes sympathetically as he launched a huge torrent of flames, searing the bear's skin, and burning the bear's bone alive.
Stark stood up and witnessed Ben's immense power. He would feel the heat of Ben's flame despite being away from the fire.
"You did it Ben!" Stark cheered as he runned towards his friend.
Ben has burnt away the trees and fearsome bear, leaving nothing but ashes. "I...did..it," Ben's face paled up then collapsed to the ground.
"BEN!" Stark runned to his friend then knelt down. "SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, PLEASE HELP!" Stark shouted with all of his might.
"I might help, but I need you to carry him," a voice spoke.
Stark looked up then saw a hooded figure holding basket full of mushroom, standing in front of the woods.
"Please help my friend," Stark begged the figure, "I'll do anything."
"Really?" The figure giggled, "Of course I'll help."
*
Ben woke up with his vision blurry. He hold his head as he feels lighthead and began looking around, "Where am I?" he asked to himself as he carefully went off on his bed. Ben looked at his thin muscular arm wrapped with cloth. He attempted to cast a spell with the intention to heal his arm, but he is tired to do so. "I think I used up all of my mana," He thought as he walked around.
Ben further inspected the room; he saw his clothes folded on a chair, bottles and flasks filled with liquid on a table near the bed. Ben looked at the label sticked on one of the bottles.
"Potion for Mana Regeneration," Ben read it aloud as he held the bottle closer to his for him to read. "That's one small handwriting," Ben contemplated.
Ben took and put on his clothes. He proceeded to the doot but heard faint voices of Stark and a girl.
"Miss, will he wake up?"
"Yes he will," a voice replied" he just needs more time to rest."
Ben opened the door only to see a petite girl with short curly black hair. the girl wears a pointy black hat, a blouse with puffed sleeves, a flowy black short skirt, and a pendant with pearls hanging on it.
Ben looked on his left and saw Stark sitting down on a chair with a bandage wrapped around his muscular chest,
"Ben, you're awake!" Stark smiled happily as he stood up. "Are you feeling alright?
"Well, yes I am alright," Ben yawned and stretch his arm, "Where am I?"
"Well, you are at my house, mister," The girl pouted. "Be thankful, I saved you from dying."
"Thanks, I appreciated it Miss," Ben smiled as he scratches his head
"Call me Greta next time," The girl smiled. "Did you drink my potion now?"
"Not yet...I haven't drank it." Ben uttered. "I'll just get it the room."
Ben darted back to his room then took the potion. He went back outside quickly but got nearly tripped by a black cat.
"Whoa, be careful," Greta said calmly, " You might drop the bottle and shatter it."
"Ah, sorry," Ben apologized. "I didn't see your cute cat there."
"Just..be careful next time," Greta looked away then pouted. "Drink all of it and make sure you rest."
Ben opened the bottle using his bare hands then he sniffed the liquid.
"It's not poison or anything, just drink it!" Greta pouted again.
"Oh sorry, I just wondered what it smelled like," Ben uttered then proceeded to drink.
"How did it taste?" Stark asked curiously.
"I'm expecting it to be bitter, but surprisingly it tastes sweet." Ben replied as he placed the bottle in a table.
"That's because my clients would complain that my potion tastes bitter." Greta exclaimed as she took the empty bottle on the table. "Also, watch where you place my bottles, they might fall down and shatter," Greta added as she pouts.
"I won't do it again," Ben winced as he sat down with Stark. "She seems prickly despite looking cute," Ben whispered to Stark
"Agree," Stark replied as he looked at Greta.
"You know I can hear you two gossiping about me," Greta smirked as she hovered on a broom.
"Nice broom you had there," Stark grinned as he teased her.
"Its not a broom, It's a paintbrush" Greta cried out loud.
"That's big for a paintbrush," Ben exclaimed. "Do you sweep with it?"
Greta laughed in response to Ben's preposterous ignorance. "No silly, I use it draw and summon"
"Summon what?" Stark asked curiously.
"Whatever I draw, It comes to life." Greta explained.
"Summon me a rabbit then," Ben requested politely
"If you seek proof, then your wish is my command," Greta smirked as she holds her brush.
With a snap of a finger, Greta summoned different bottles with different liquids of different color.
"I'll show you how an artist draws imagination to reality," Greta exclaimed as she dips on the liquids then performs precise strokes on the air. A drawing of a rabbit appeared in front of their eyes.
"Now what happens?" Stark asked. "Will it just turn into a rabbit?"
"I'll say the magic word and watch what will happen," Greta winked then chants a spell. The drawing exploded and the rabbit came to life.
Stark and Ben cheered and clapped their hands.
"Splendid isn't it?" Greta smiled. "It takes a lot of mana just to summon a simple bunny.
"It must tiring," Ben uttered. "If I had that kind of magic, I would draw Barkus."
"Barkus? Greta asked. "Who's Barkus."
"It's my dad's summoned wolf," Ben explained. "He summoned it so that we could run from Moroznia's Armies."
"What does the 'Barkus' look like?" Greta questioned.
"He had white fur, a blue flaming tail, blue eyes, and a sapphire on its chest."
Now I remembered," Greta rushed and opened her drawer. She went over and looked one by one until she took a glowing sapphire then handed it to Ben. "I believe this was yours."
"Is this Barkus' sapphire?" Ben asked as he took the gem from Greta.
"Yes, it's him," Greta answered. "You could just bring him back."
"How would I bring him back?" Ben stood up with a determined expression
"What?!" Greta yelled in shock. "You don't know how to?"
"Uhh...No, I don't," Ben replied quietly then sat back embarassed. "What would I do then?"
Greta took a deep breathe then sighed. "We need a specific ingredient for this."
"Which ingredient?" Stark and Ben asked in unison.
"We'll need your Mana in liquid form and soul berries; however, Soul berries are hard to find in the woods," Greta explained further.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find those berries and bring Barkus back!" Stark merrily smiled.
"Now I'm fired up!" Ben replied happily.
Greta felt an urge to ask, she nudged Ben timidly and looked down. "Ben, I uh...Wanted to come too."
"Sure, welcome to the team!" Ben smiled as he held Greta's hand.
Greta's whole face turned red, she jumped half meter in the air and dropped her brush. She then runned to a room full of potions, slamming the door shut. Ben and Stark were shocked by Greta's reaction.
"You probably scared her," Stark laughed.
"What did I do to scare her?" Ben asked in confusion.
"Umm, I uh...I think it would be best if Stark put on his clothes before going out." Greta spoke timidly. "Oh, before you put on your clothes, rub your chest with that oil I gave you, a while ago."
"Oh right," Stark replied, taking off his bandages carefully, applying the vial to his chest and putting on his clothes.
Ben turned his head to Stark, raising an eyebrow. Stark responded with his shoulders shrugged.
Ben assuming that Greta felt upset, he walked towards the door then knocked. "You can come out now, Stark put on his clothes."
Ben heard no response. Concerned, he knocked again and put his ear on thr door. All he heard was some mumbling and stomping.
"Oh My Goodness!" Greta screamed as she fidgets her arm towards the wall. "Calm down Greta, calm down. He is just a crazy, just ignore Ben." Greta breathed in and out then went out of the door.
"Let's go then!" Greta smiled akwardly, hovering on her brush.
"Are you okay?" Stark asked with a concerned look.
"Yes, totally fine, I just need some potions," Greta chuckled nervously. "Let's prepare what we need then we could go, oh and I'll get my harvesting tools."
"Good idea," Ben uttered as he smiled brightly. "I'll head back to the room."
Ben went back to the room and packed his necesitties on his bag.
Stark packed his as well but he misses his sword as it was burned by Ben's torrent of flames. Greta was doing the same but she would get annoyed whenever she looks at Ben for a second.
Ben darted out of the room and saw everyone ready. "I guess we're ready," Ben uttered.
"Yes, we're ready," Greta hovered on her brush as she carries her bag and her cat.
"I have packed mine aswell," Stark replied. "It looks like I will have walk slow, my back and chest still hurts.
"Don't worry," Greta exclaimed, handing Stark a tiny bottle. "Also, drink this later."
"What does it do?" Stark asked, taking the vial from Greta.
"The first vial I gave you will heal your chest and back, but you'll experience excruciating pain on the healing process, so I want you to drink it once you started feeling pain. Agatha said enthusiastically.
"Thank you" Stark replied. "My body does tingle a bit.
"Now's the time for you to drink it," Greta uttered.
Stark opened the vial, taking a sip then drinking all of it.
"What do you feel?" Ben asked,
"Whoa, the tingling stopped." Stark smiled, holding his chest.
"That's the power of potions crafted by a bright witch," Greta smugged, raising her hands.
"Now that's ironic," Ben chuckled. "You're gloomy, and you call yourself bright!"
"Well for your information, I'm the top student on alchemy in Waldstadt Academy!" Greta pouted. "I'm recognized as bright, and intelligent witch, despite wearing black.
"Now that explains your mastery on potion crafting," Stark smirked.
"Just forget it!" Greta pouted once more, opening the door and hovered outside.
"Oy, Wait for us!" Ben shouted, sprinting outside.
The three set off at west of the forest. Ben and Stark runned as fast as they can and caught up with Greta.
Greta looked back, leaving her in shock. "How are you guys so fast?!" Greta shouted, speeding up her pace. "Wait!!!" Greta yelled.
Ben and Stark slowed down letting Greta catch up to their pace. "I thought you are fast" Ben chuckled.
"My broom has its limits you know!" Greta pouted.
"Your 'broom' has limits?" Ben smugged, teasing Greta.
"I MEANT BRUSH!" Greta exclaimed loudly, groaning in frustration.
Ben and Stark laughed it all out, leaving Greta annoyed. Ben pulled out his map, looking at the direction. "So, where to?" Ben asked, holding out his map. "It looks like we are heading to Metropolis.
"Well we are going to Walstadt Metropolis," Greta uttered briefly.
"What!?" Ben yelled. "I thought we are going to search for it."
Greta hovered her brush down, getting closer to Ben and Stark. "I had a friend on Waldstadt, he is a researcher on herbs," Greta whispered. "Me and my friend would research soul berries, and would grow them in his laboratory for studying its mana surrounding it."
"Well then let's ask for some," Ben uttered, pinpointing the map for directions to Waldstadt.
"That's why we'll need to get there," Agatha exclaimed, hovering back up in the air on her brush.
"By the way, why did you save us back there," Ben asked, looking up at the sky.
"You remind me of my brothers," Greta replied, looking down timidly.
"Well what happened to them?" Stark asked, looking up
"I don't really want to talk about it," Greta sighed, looking down
"Oh I'm sorry,' Stark mumbled, sealing his mouth shut.
Silence strucked down between the three. Ben felt the akward atmosphere enveloping in them, he had the urge to tell a joke to ease up. "Hey guys, what do you call kids who joins the army?"
"What?" Greta asked, hovering down to hear Ben more clearly.
"The INFANTry!" Ben shouted, laughing as he sprinted.
"Oh my Goodness!" Agatha giggled. "It's so bad!"
Stark laughed loudly. "Coincedence isn't?"
"Coincedence?" Ben asked, turning his head to Stark.
"You might want to see what's on front of you," Stark nudged Ben, pointing at the front.
The three halted as they encountered a group of people wearing armour, riding on horses.
"Who are you?"