This marks my first venture into a forest. In both in my past and current life, I've never set foot in the woods before. It's primarily due to Earth's urbanization, with towering buildings dominating the landscape and leaving little room for natural environments like forests. It's a reality that has left me somewhat melancholic.
Now that I'm here, though, the experience is transforming into a genuine adventure. I'm feeling a surge of excitement. Yet, amidst this exhilaration, I can't shake off the nagging thoughts of potential mishaps. I hope everything goes smoothly, but the mere consideration of worst-case scenarios feels like a warning sign. Should I be concerned?
Perhaps it's best to keep these concerns to myself. As long as I refrain from verbalizing them, maybe they won't materialize into actual problems.
If we steer clear of red flags, we should be fine.
"Alright, team! It's time to rescue Muffin. We're the heroes here; nothing can stand in our way!" And just like that, the first red flag was hoisted before we even set sail.
As Don blurted out his fearless proclamation, my stomach twisted into knots. "Reo, you good?" Don turned to me, his expression oblivious to the impending doom.
"Yeah, yeah, just peachy," I mumbled, trying to mask my growing unease.
"Why the long face then?" Don persisted.
"Oh, it's nothing," I brushed off, hoping to dodge the impending catastrophe.
"Alright, if you say so. Onward, brave adventurers!" Don rallied, unaware of the impending disaster looming over us.
"Yeah... let's just get this circus over with," I muttered under my breath, resigned to our fate.
As we cautiously made our way deeper into the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. And there she was again, the awkward girl stealing glances at me every few moments. This strange dance had been going on for a while now.
Lia and I kept awkwardly locking eyes, only for her to hastily look away whenever our gazes met. It had become a discomforting routine.
I had been trying to brush it off, but ignoring her was becoming increasingly challenging.
As we treaded cautiously through the forest, our eyes scanning for any signs of the missing dog, we followed the trail of pawprints with determined steps. With each passing minute, the atmosphere around us seemed to transform, enveloping us in the thrill of a real adventure. Strangely enough, I found myself completely absorbed in the experience.
Despite the seriousness of our mission, we couldn't help but indulge in occasional moments of silliness and goofing around. However, amidst our antics, the purpose of our journey remained at the forefront of our minds.
As time slipped away, the slow pace of our progress began to wear on us, prompting my mind to wander into strange and unexpected territories.
I got to Into my role, and began formulating a mental journal...
Day: #1
Hey there, Reo the intrepid adventurer reporting in! It's been a full day since we ventured into the mystical depths of the forest of lost dreams, embarking on our quest to track down the elusive sacred beast.
So far, luck has been on our side, and we haven't encountered any genuine threats or dangers. But if anything were to rear its ugly head, I have full faith in our group's abilities. After all, we're not your average band of adventurers. No, we're the Legendary Hero's Party, a team of unparalleled skill and prowess.
Let me introduce you to our esteemed members. Leading the charge is Leon, our gallant knight clad in gleaming armor. With his expert swordsmanship and charming smile, he fearlessly charges ahead, clearing our path of any lurking monsters.
Then there's Trise, our stalwart crusader, always at Leon's side, providing unwavering support and defense. I have a sneaking suspicion that her mere presence is what's keeping the monsters at bay. It's as if they can sense her power and think twice about tangling with us. Trise operates on a level of her own, and I can't help but wonder if she's more of a monster herself, but that's a thought I'll keep to myself for now.
We have Kyle, our wise and dependable guide. What exactly does a guide do, you ask? Well, he does... guide stuff, I suppose.
Next up is Lia, our adorable priestess. From the safety of the rear lines, Lia blesses us with her support magic, healing spells, and buffs. With her charming appearance and doll-like features, she could easily double as our party's mascot.
Then there's me, Reo Bellar, just kind of... here. I'm more of a plus one, really. But hey, every party needs someone to carry the snacks, right?
Lastly, we have Don, the self-proclaimed hero and leader of our motley crew. With his lightning-fast strategic mind (if only) and his mythical Excalibur (or so he claims), Don fills the role of the quintessential hero, doing... hero stuff, like slaying demon lords, or at least pretending to.
So there you have it, the magnificent members of our heroic party. Until my next entry, assuming I survive that long, that is.
Day: ##3
It's been roughly three days since my last update (or maybe more like thirty to forty minutes, or was it an hour? Time seems to lose its meaning in this mystical forest). We continue to trudge through the shadowy depths of this eerie woodland, still no closer to uncovering any significant clues or locating the elusive sacred beast.
Our journey was sanctioned by the divine beings of this realm, and we embarked on this quest with the hope of finding a pivotal figure. Along the way, we were fortunate enough to receive the guidance of the sacred beast, whose blessings aided us in our endeavors. However, a few days ago, the comforting presence of our benefactor mysteriously vanished.
This is Reo Bellar, the intrepid adventurer, signing off for now. Until my next update, if I manage to survive that long, that is.
"How much longer do we have to keep this up? We've been scouring this forest for ages, and still no sign of Muffin," Kyle grumbles, his frustration evident in his tone. With a heavy sigh, he slumps against a nearby tree, clearly reaching his limit.
But Kyle isn't the only one feeling the strain. After hours of trudging through the dense foliage, I can't help but wonder if we've lost our way. And on top of that, Muffin remains elusive, adding to our mounting exhaustion as the day slips away.
"Kyle has a point. We've been at this for hours now, and it feels like we've wasted half the day already. Maybe it's time to call it quits and head back," Leon suggests to Don, voicing the collective sentiment of our weary crew.
There was a brief pause as Leon carefully gauged his words, observing the expressions of his companions.
"..." he began, but before he could complete his sentence, Don interjected with a mild outburst. "What are you trying to say, Leon? You're just going to give up and go home?" Don's tone was assertive as he stepped forward.
"No, Don... Look, what I'm suggesting is that we should head home and rest. We can resume the search tomorrow," Leon explained, attempting to diffuse the tension. "We've been at this for quite some time now, and we're all exhausted. Besides, it's getting late."
Leon's words resonated with the group. The exhaustion was palpable, and the prospect of returning home for some much-needed rest sounded appealing. After all, there was no set deadline for finding Muffin.
However, a nagging worry lingered in the back of our minds. The longer we delayed, the greater the risk of something happening to Muffin. But then again, there was also the possibility that Muffin had already found his way back home.
As I surveyed the weary faces of my companions and listened to the rustling of the forest, signaling the approach of evening, I couldn't help but feel torn. And amidst it all, the reminder of dinner time approaching added another layer of urgency to our decision.
***
Authors' Note:
Vote and add to collections if you've read this far, which means your at least a little interested in where this story could lead you. Add to your collections to get the chapter release updates, and vote to propell this novel into the rankings.
Ps. This friendly Neighborhood Author is down with a cold. It would really help, seeing the collections slowly rise, and the stones increase after this.