Our footsteps resonated as crunches when we walk the cobblestone path towards the hollows. The more closer we get, the dimmer it becomes.
I could feel chills on my skin the more we walked silently towards this place, it was so eerie that I could literally feel my guts churn.
[I only heard of it, but it really looks how it is described] Taking out a magic lamp from my satchel, I activated it using magic and the light illuminated the area around us.
[Good call, at least you know what you are doing] (Kael) She dropped her hood off and readied her bow.
It's a first for me to see her weapon. It is a short recurved bow. The main purpose is definitely for short distance rapid firing of arrows with accuracy still in mind. If she can use multiple weapons, that means she really is experienced.
We still haven't reached the hollows yet, but it looks like the sun is about to set. No wonder it's called the Forgotten Hollows. Scary.
[Now that I remembered, why were you observing me back then at the training grounds?] I asked her to distract my mind.
Kael glanced at me briefly, her sharp eyes catching the faint glow of the lamp before turning back to scan the path ahead.
[You're sharper than you look. Also, your presence seems interesting] (Kael) Her tone was neutral, neither a compliment nor an insult.
Interesting? I? Me?
[I was curious about how someone like you managed to get into the guild. You don't exactly scream 'strong'] (Kael)
Her bluntness stung, but I managed to muster a nervous chuckle.
[Well, I guess that's fair.] I adjusted my grip on the lamp, trying to keep my voice steady.
[But you could've just asked instead of watching me like some predator.]
[And miss seeing how you'd react under pressure? You can tell a lot about a person by how they handle themselves when they think no one's watching. Most rookies crack—especially the ones who don't belong] (Kael) She smirked, a flicker of amusement crossing her face.
Her words hung in the air, heavier than the growing shadows around us. Was that what she thought of me? A rookie who didn't belong?
[I didn't crack, though that must count for something] I said, my voice firmer this time.
[It does] (Kael) She admitted, her smirk fading into something more serious as she scuffled my hair.
[But this isn't the training grounds. Out here, it's different. Mistakes aren't just embarrassing—they're deadly.] (Kael)
I swallowed hard, her words settling like a stone in my gut. She wasn't wrong, but hearing it said so bluntly made the reality of our journey hit harder.
The cobblestone path narrowed, forcing us closer together as the twisted trees leaned in from either side, their branches clawing at the fading light. The faint rustle of leaves and distant cries of unknown creatures filled the silence, setting my nerves on edge.
[Stay close. We're getting close to the hollows now. Keep your eyes and ears open.] (Kael) Kael said, her voice low but commanding.
I nodded, gripping the staff and lamp tighter as I scanned the path ahead. The Forgotten Hollows loomed before us like a gaping mouth, its entrance framed by jagged rocks and creeping vines. The air grew colder, and the scent of damp earth and rotting tree hit me like a wave.
[What exactly are we looking for here?] I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Kael didn't answer right away. She stepped forward, her movements deliberate as she crouched near the entrance. Her fingers brushed against the ground, and she studied the faint tracks etched into the dirt.
[Signs of activity] (Kael) She finally said as she scanned the floor where we are standing, standing up and nocking an arrow in her bow.
I looked at what she is pointing and it was a footprint of a huge monster. Definitely huge because the footprint is as wide as my two foot side by side.
[Something's been through here recently. Big, heavy... and definitely not human. But, we won't know for sure until we find it.] (Kael)
My heart pounded in my chest, the reality of the situation sinking in. This wasn't just a test or some low-stakes mission. If there really was a Shade Beast here, we were walking into something far more dangerous than I had anticipated.
[You're awfully calm about this,] I said, trying to mask my growing fear with a weak smile.
[Someone has to be,] she replied, her gaze never leaving the path ahead. [And if you want to survive out here, you'd better learn to keep your nerves in check too.]
Her words weren't meant to comfort me, but strangely, they did. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. I had come this far, and turning back wasn't an option.
As we stepped into the hollows, the dim light of my lamp struggled to pierce the dense darkness. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and every sound seemed amplified—the crunch of our boots, the creak of the trees, the distant echo of something moving deeper within.
Kael suddenly stopped, raising a hand to signal me to halt. She crouched low, her eyes narrowing as she stared into the shadows ahead.
[What is it?] I whispered, my voice trembling.
The woods ahead of us had its canopy shaking violently, and the ground near us also started to tremor.
[We have company] (Kael) She said, her voice barely audible. Her fingers tightened around her bow, her muscles tense and ready to spring.
[Stay behind me. And cast whatever magic you know] (Kael)
My first encounter with the local fauna of this accursed Forgotten hollows has just started, and boy I am already starting to question my decisions.