Tecnomagic Engineer

Estalyrion already indicated something close to three in the afternoon. I hurried and, carefully, entered the forest of that vast valley. Unlike the environment above the slope, where I saw only a few creatures walking through the forest, the scenario there was entirely different. The trees, although common in appearance, seemed to exude a peculiar energy. The animals were more abundant, both in number and in the variety of species, and they seemed to radiate a greater force than any creature I had encountered before.

After a few steps into that immense forest, I already spotted several fascinating creatures: Fyrlárins, Howliths that howled in the distance, Graskélins, Drakthuls and besides these, other species and exotic insects filled the landscape, transforming it into a true natural spectacle. I was impressed. The day before, while observing the flock of birds, I imagined this valley would be an excellent habitat for various creatures. However, what I saw exceeded any expectations. For someone like me, passionate about fauna and exploring the unknown, that place was paradise —but even paradise can hide dangers.

Still at the edge of the forest, I was aware that the dangers would increase as I approached the center, where the concentration of predators would likely be higher. Caution was essential; a single misstep could mean my end.

With the dagger in hand, I made my way through the dense vegetation while looking for signs of water, as food would undoubtedly not be a problem there. After some time, I came across a Fruvorra tree, and the sight brought a wave of nostalgia.

- "Huff... Huff... Is that? ... Yes! Wow... It's a Fruvorra tree... Hahaha... This brings back some memories."

My smile soon disappeared, replaced by a tightness in my chest. The memories of that time were painful, parts of a past I wished to forget. My focus now was survival — and avenging my family.

The fruvorras were excellent sources of energy, so I decided to climb the tree to collect some. The Fruvorra was a medium-sized tree with strong branches, ideal for climbing and, in emergencies, even serving as an elevated shelter. Its fruits grew directly on the branches and were delicious, which attracted many birds. Thus, fruit trees like that were usually surrounded by birds in a great feast.

While picking and filling my Véskha, I began to reflect on something unsettling: with so much abundance, why were there no birds there? More alarming still, why was the forest silent? There had been no sounds of insects, nor the singing of birds for some time. That could only mean one thing: I was in the territory of some predator.

The realization hit me like a sudden, large flood in a waterfall. Terror took hold of me as I thought: What predator could it be? Where would it be? Was it watching me at that very moment? which made my heart race. Immediately, I stopped collecting and climbed higher into the tree, seeking a better view of the area and trying my best to remain silent.

Minutes passed, and I knew I couldn't stay there for long. I still needed to continue my journey before nightfall. Carefully observing the surroundings, I looked for any sign of danger.

- "Damn... How did I not notice this before? Argh..." I murmured to myself, apprehensive.

Suddenly, from the middle of the forest, an imposing figure appeared that I never imagined seeing in my entire life: a hippogriff. My breath stopped. There it was, with its body covered in robust feathers, impressive musculature, and a penetrating gaze that emanated intelligence.

- "I-is that...? You must be kidding... It's a hippogriff?" I said, incredulous, while appreciating the creature's beauty.

It was a magnificent sight, but quickly my admiration gave way to fear. It sniffed the air and approached the tree where I was. My heart pounded. If it sensed my presence, I certainly wouldn't stand a chance of escaping. Luckily, it didn't catch my scent and, after a while, turned around, returning to the forest.

- "D-damn... That was close..." I whispered in relief, as I watched it disappear into the vegetation.

I waited a little longer, ensuring the danger had passed, before descending. Back on the ground, I quickly moved in the opposite direction the hippogriff had taken. It seemed to be heading towards the forest's center, while I sought an intermediate point, away from both the edges and the heart of that dangerous place.

Hearing the sounds of insects and birds again, I began to relax. I was out of the hippogriff's territory, but I still needed to remain vigilant to identify signs indicating other dangers ahead. After all, Velanthar Forest still held many secrets — and threats.

I walked a bit further until, at some point, I began to hear the sound of running water. Quickly, I got excited, but unlike before, this time I approached the location much more cautiously. Nothing seemed wrong in that place, so I continued moving forward, attentive to my surroundings but without major concerns. Upon reaching the sound's source, I found a wide river cutting through the forest. It was a river that, probably due to the dense vegetation, wasn't visible from afar, but there, up close, it appeared extremely voluminous.

I managed to observe, along the entire visible stretch of the river, banks filled with life. Various animals, in groups or alone, gathered there, quenching their thirst and enjoying the abundance of water. The scene was a true spectacle, a vibrant display of nature in its fullness. Somehow, it relieved part of the weight I carried in my soul. For a few minutes, I sat by the river, just watching the unfolding of wildlife.

- "...This is incredible... I don't know why, but it relieves a bit of the darkness and anguish I feel after everything… This is great… Mom, dad, wherever you are, I hope you're seeing my progress… I promise I'll avenge you…" I murmured, while watching the animals enjoying the water.

But I wasn't there to rest or play. Soon I stood up, reminding myself of the work I needed to do if I wanted to survive. I decided that, on the bank of that river, I would build my new base. The day was already almost over, and the night in Élaris was not the time for carelessness. So I resolved to start with a temporary shelter.

This time, the construction would be different from my previous refuge. Being in a much more dangerous region, I preferred to create something elevated, away from the ground and the nocturnal dangers. Fortunately, the area near the river was surrounded by sturdy trees capable of supporting my weight without difficulty. I chose the most appropriate tree, climbed it, and settled there.

First, I made a fire using the charcoal I had previously collected and dry branches found nearby. I put some water to boil since, despite the fruvorras collected, I was still thirsty. While the water heated, I took my fishing rod, used a woodworm as bait, and cast the hook into the river, embedding the rod into the bank.

Since I still had about an hour before sunset, I decided to improvise a defense around the tree where I would spend the night. I looked for strong and sturdy branches with my improvised ax. As soon as I found them, I cut them, removed the leaves and smaller branches, and sharpened one end with my improvised knife. With the points ready, I stuck the branches into the ground in a half-moon around the tree, leaving the river at my back.

This work took some time but wasn't difficult. Once finished, I returned to the fishing rod, and to my surprise, it had caught something. However, the fish had escaped, taking my bait. Annoyed, I put another worm on the hook and tried again, determined to watch the rod this time. However, Estalyrion was already beginning to set, and I couldn't catch anything more.

Disappointed, I retrieved my rod and decided to endure the night with the resources I had. Both moons were already high in the sky, in a dramatic dance, observed by the stars — and by me, lying on a branch with the fire already extinguished. There, lying on that branch, I could see, farther behind the stars, structures of stardust, and a structure that was undoubtedly part of our galaxy. For a moment, I had a small existential crisis when I remembered I shouldn't know what all that was or meant, as all that knowledge came from somewhere or someone I didn't even know.

...sounds of crickets in the forest...

- "... hmm.. let's see, that is a large structure of stardust, home to several stars and planets, and that… that there is probably part of our galaxy… hahaha what is this, I shouldn't even know what that means..." I said, laughing and talking to myself.

And gazing at that sky, lost in those thoughts, I quickly fell asleep. However, not to wake up immediately the next morning but, this time, to awaken a few hours later, still in the middle of the night.

That night, I bore witness to something fantastic and unimaginable, something I had never read or heard about before. Loud cracking sounds echoed from the forest on the other side of the river, pulling me from my slumber. Still groggy, I tried to locate the source of the noises. The treetops seemed to be moving, but at first, I thought it was merely my imagination. When I rubbed my eyes and looked again, I confirmed the truth: Some trees had come to life.

Enormous, with black eyes and brown pupils glowing in the darkness, twisted arms like branches, and legs formed from intertwined roots, they emerged from the forest, advancing to the riverbank. There, like a herd, they bent down, and with roots that seemed to have a life of their own, stretching into the river's waters, they began to drink. I stared, incredulous, at the scene. In other parts of the bank, I saw animals covered in colorful flames, glowing like ether, also gathering to drink. It was something beyond my comprehension. I didn't know what they were or how it was possible, but one thing was certain: these were nocturnal creatures, living as if it were still daylight.

Then, a colossal roar shattered the forest's silence, coming from its depths. Immediately, all those creatures halted their actions, looked in the direction of the sound, and vanished, retreating back into the heart of the woods. Whatever had caused it remained a mystery. I couldn't go back to sleep, staying alert for the rest of the night, though nothing else happened. When Estalyrion rose on the horizon, I climbed down from the tree, exhausted and with heavy eyes. I ate some fruvorras, drank some of the water boiled the night before, and, to shake off the lingering fatigue, plunged into the river. Refreshed and renewed, I was ready for the day that had just begun.