Now the Zhao Lina and Wang Zihan's group were together, they discussed about some things.
Their life, the things they experienced, whatever knowledge they know of learned about trials.
The farmer is good with nature so he was looking around the clearing while also looking for fruits that won't kill them...
The sun was still up, with no signs of falling any time soon.
They made camp at a good spot of the clearing, not too close to the large pond... Lake? And not too close to the forest.
The young farmer came back with the twins alongside him, he was dragging some dead boar as he yelled:
"Lunch coming right up!"
The twins were carrying a small basket filled with some berries and other edible fruits.
After preparing the meal, Wang Zihan wiped his forehead and looked back at the large black boulder.
Zhao Lina just finished starting a fire and cutting up the boar meat, her eyes also lingered on the large boulder.
It was still emitting off steam and mist, the air around them seemed fine but if they concentrate their eyes at the large rock, there was a few second pause and then steam and mist comes out.
The air seemed to distort and change around the boulders surroundings, the waters had barely noticeable ripples on its surface to.
' Yeah... There's totally something wrong with this clearing...'
Zhao Lina and Wang Zihan both thought to themselves.
...
Sighing, Zhao Lina decided on something and stood up from where she was sitting and walked away.
The others looked but didn't mind.
She probably had something on her mind and went to get some space, is what the others thought.
Wang Zihan eyed her as she walked away, not too far from the group but not too near the suspicious rock.
She stood still and looked at the steaming and misty rock, her brows furrowing.
"Six people missing, one, two, or all of them will come to us... And one of them will put us in danger." She muttered to herself and looked at the youths who were all having a hearty chat by the fire while cooking some boar meat.
She continued looking at the rock and used her heat seeking vision.
The large boulder is still the same, glowing red as it released steam and then disappearing once it releases some weird cold mist.
Suddenly though...
Two small red dots appeared in the periphery of her vision, they only looked small from a far but she knew they were dangerous and huge.
Boom...
Boom...
The ground quaked lightly, as if there was an earthquake.
The others felt it to and they suddenly turned to each other as if to confirm if something was really happening.
Zhao Lina looked at the two, giant, red dots in her vision from afar, those things didn't looked they were hurrying or in a rush to their area.
Boom...
Boom...
The ground continued to shake and rumble from those things footsteps, turning to her comrades, she then spoke in a serious tone:
"Something large is coming from the mountains, two of those giant sounding things." She said evenly.
The others were panicked.
They haven't gotten their chosen weapon yet, nor do they have their
Dormant abilities, the elements they were supposed to have, so they have absolutely no chance of fighting back.
"So we're gonna run then?" The first twin said, sounding unamused and bored.
The second twin smacked his older brother in the head and then said, "Don't make it sound like it's a bad thing."
The two girls only followed Zhao Lina and Wang Zihan around so whatever they decided to do, they'll do it
The farmer glanced at everyone and nodded, agreeing to run for now.
"It's better to be safe and prepared than to head into battle with no knowledge of who or what were fighting."
Everyone turned to Wang Zihan, who was currently smiling despite the situation that they might end up in.
Boom...
Boom...
He sighed and stood up just like everyone else, dusted off his pants and then said in a rather nonchalant and unbothered tone:
" Let's avoid whatever is making that loud stomping yeah? We'll find a way to get our chosen weapon and our dormant elements!"
And with that, everyone started gathering their things and packing their stuff.
Zhao Lina looked at the members who were immedi swayed by her rival's words, she sighed and started picking up her own stuff.
Will I ever be a good leader one day?
Will I become my mother who can command those with mere words and determined looks?
Will I ever be good enough...?
Her thoughts suddenly became negative as she shook her head and picked up a bag and tossed in some stuff inside
Boom...
Boom...
Looking at the red large dots again, they became slightly bigger now, and the shaking of the ground was getting harsher.
Whatever those things were, they were getting close.
***
[The gods are waiting, I'm so excited!]
[Oh dear goddess, please take me and my children!]
[The gods have heard our prayers! We will finally be in their embrace!!]
[...]
"..."
Each and every soul in this forest was talking about their gods...
Each and every single spirit had not a single trace of regret in their beings.
They truly believed that coming here and waiting for their turn to pray on whatever is inside the clearing will bring them to their gods...
Nonsense... Such nonsense...
Weaving between the trees and the forest was hard enough, but due to the hundreds and thousands of translucent spirit bodies, I could barely see a thing.
The chanting of prayers and murmurings of the deceased far away in the clearing was getting louder and louder.
Suddenly though...
Boom...
Boom....
The ground vibrated lightly.
What the hell was that? I thought.
[This is as far as I go, kid...]
The deceased mage who accompanied me through the forest suddenly spoke, her voice filled with a disgusted tone.
She was not disgusted by me of course, but to the surrounding dead that all had smiles on their faces while waiting for their doom.
She had disgust written all over her face, yet a small bit of pity can be found.
"I understand," I said to her as I turned my gaze to my front and started walking carefully. "You may return, I'll continue on from here."
She opened her mouth but shut it again.
She looked at me rather regretful and had a somber expression, she inaudibly sighed and before I could get far enough to not hear her...
[Don't die kid, you're an interesting one.]
She sighed, scratched the back of her head, then added:
[You'll be a good mage one day.]
And with that, she disappeared with the crowd of spirits swarming the forest.
I had a look of confusion on my face, I looked back to where she disappeared and then turned forward and continued walking.
How did she know I would be a mage?
It's not like it's guaranteed even with my family background, but still...
Without even realizing it, I already reached the clearing...
Stepping out the bush I looked up and saw a large lake, with a black boulder that was in the middle.
It released steam and mist, but what really caught my eye though...
Looking at the large rocks lowest point, where the boulder peeks out from the water, there were noticable cracks on it.
It had an eerie red and blue glow, that only my eyes could see.
It grew neon red with steam coming out, and then neon blue when mist comes out, each time mist was spilling from the rock, new crowds of deceased went to the surface and prayed.
Their bodies rippled as steam starts to come out, they flew high into the air with bright smiles I'm their faces as their bodies vanished...
Leaving only their crippling soul and whatever was left of their mana coming down and sinking into the waters, barely noticeable ripples disturb the stillwater.
Boom...
Boom...
"Alright all set? Let's go!"
"Wooh!"
"I can't wait to get out of this clearing!"
Snapping out of my haze, I turned to my far left and saw ten people with bags and whatever camping materials.
Two people did catch his eyes though.
One was Wang Zihan, and the other was Zhao Lina, leading their group.
Zhao Lina turned her head and coldly said, "Be quiet or else I'll..."
Her eyes suddenly landed on me.
Everyone else's gaze followed and also stared at me, rather dumbfounded. I had the school uniform telling them that I was one of them, yet they looked like they saw a ghost.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The ground quaked and shook, almost making everyone fall to their knees.
"What the..."
Before I could even look to where the large sound came from, a tall youth ran towards me, shoved me behind him and braced himself.
Finally able to turn around, my eyes landed on a fat, ugly, giant ogre.
Roar!!
It let out a blood gurgling scream as it flailed it's hands around, hitting the tall youth, he was prepared to block but his body was still flung back colliding with me in the process as we both let out a grunt.
"Ogres!"
A female voice screamed as the second quaking sound and tree branches breaking resounded.
Another figure, this one red and tall, burly body as it held a club on one hand and a weird tall stick on the other.
"Argh... My arms!" The kid who pushed me out of the way grimaced as he looked at his arms, his bones were in shambles.
Two girls were able to drag him back while I stood up and looked at the two ogres.
However, a whisper caught my attention for some reason:
"One of the six will bring danger right? Great..."
Not minding whatever was just said, I looked at Wang Zihan, focused and had a serious expression on his face as he lead the group, taking small steps back and helping the tall youth up.
However.
The red ogre suddenly pointed it's weird staff at...
Me???
I furrowed my brows as I looked at the tall blood red ogre confused, it's yellow eyes glowing with sentience.
Zhao Lina, Wang Zihan, and everyone else suddenly looked at me. Their suspicious looks were boring into my soul, I spared them a glance as I continued staring at the ogre.
Suddenly, a deep and menacing voice spoke:
"... Boy... Ha... Ha ha!"
The ogre stomped it's staff onto the ground, it shook the earth almost making us lose our sense of balance.
The ugly ogre took a step forward, and everyone took an involuntary step back.
The red ogre spoke again:
"W... Who are... Your mother... And father... Boy!?"
It yelled as it stomped it's staff on the ground once more, the souls that were at the boulder just earlier were disrupted...
Everyone including Zhao Lina and Wang Zihan were looking at me, someone suddenly pushed my back as I stepped forward.
It was one of the twins as they looked at me with a suspicious expression...
I faced forward again, clicking my tongue as I responded, saying, "Althea Vaylith and Caelus Veylar..."
The ugly ogre laughed manically as it flailed it's arms around like it just heard some joke.
The red and threatening ogre looked at me and growled as it stomped it's staff on the ground.
The waters rippled in the lake, the steam and the mist not coming out anymore like it was disturbed...
"LIES!"
The ogre screamed.
"Don't lie to me boy! That is not the name of Goddess Of Souls! And that is not the name of the Lord Of The Dead!"
It screamed as it angrily stepped forward.
One of the girls fell back on her rear as tears were about to streak down her face.
" Just tell the truth man!"
" You're gonna get us killed!"
The twins suddenly said putting the blame on me.
What lies have I possibly have said though? That is the name of my mother and father...
"!!!"
Screach!!!
A loud ear piercing sound suddenly broke the tense atmosphere, everyone dropped to the ground...
All except four people.
The red ogre covered it's ears as it turned to the now steaming and misty lake as the boulder in the middle started shaking.
Wang Zihan let out a pained groan as it looked around, it seemed he felt something.
Zhao Lina had a calm but a small pained expression at the scream but her gaze swept the area only for it to land, landing on the rock in the lake....
I was standing still...
The sky...
"Oh my..." I muttered to myself.
[No! No! No!]
[My chance to meet with my god!!]
[The gatekeeper had been angered!!]
[MOMMYYY!!!]
[THE LAKE OF THE GODS!!! NOOOO!!!]
[...!!]
The spirits were suddenly swarming the forest and the clearing, they all sound high up into the air.
They were all screaming, all panicked as they started praying and crying.
"Ahh..."
I let out a sigh and turned to the ten people who were already ushered to stand up and ready to run.
They all glared at me, except for the tall youth, Wang Zihan and Zhao Lina...
"What a sight..."
This...
This...
Is...
Chaos