Trials Of Life

Chapter 28 - Tumbling Trees

After four long days cooped up in a cramped, rickety carriage, the trio finally arrived at the edge of the Evergreen region. Before them stretched a boundless forest of towering trees, their trunks so thick that they could house a small dwelling. Each tree soared nearly three hundred feet, vanishing into a canopy dense with dark green foliage that seemed to swallow the sky. The air was heavy with moisture, and a gentle mist floated down from the heights, weaving a silvery veil over the forest floor and adding an aura of mystery to their journey.

Yumiko took in the grandeur with wide eyes, each giant trunk impressing upon her a sense of both wonder and foreboding. She had never seen trees so immense, each standing like ancient guardians of the land. She breathed deeply, letting the rich scent of moss and pine fill her senses, earthy and fresh, and felt a small smile tug at her lips.

Mary led the way, squinting at a worn map as she guided them deeper into the woodland. "Let’s see… I’m trying to remember,” she murmured, tapping a gloved finger against the faded paper. “Did he say the western side or the eastern side…?” Her words drifted off, her gaze lost in thought as she replayed her colleague’s directions to the last known spot of the Headwich Bloom.

Noticing Yumiko’s smile, Mary sighed and glanced over her shoulder. “I’m glad one of us is enjoying this.”

Yumiko grinned, casting her gaze back up to the colossal trunks reaching skyward. “I’ve never seen trees this grand. They almost don’t seem real.”

Trailing behind, Lukas, visibly drained and increasingly irritable, grunted impatiently. “How much further?” he snapped, eyes fixed on Mary with simmering frustration.

Mary merely chuckled, unfazed by his irritation. “Don’t look at me like that. I told you from the start it’d take a while. Besides, you should be grateful we haven’t run into any Blaenhorn yet.”

As she stepped over a moss-covered log, her boot slipped slightly, and she muttered a quiet curse.

“Blaenhorn?” Yumiko asked, her curiosity piqued as she kept up with Mary’s pace.

Mary nodded with a knowing smirk. “Yep. The name means something like ‘peak horn.’ They’ve got these enormous horns shaped almost like mountain peaks. Locals also call them tree-oxen.”

“Tree-ox?” Yumiko tilted her head, picturing the creature. “Do they look like trees?”

“No,” Lukas replied dryly, sidling past her with a wry glance, “but they’re strong enough to knock one of these giants down if they felt like it.”

Yumiko halted, staring wide-eyed at a trunk at least thirty feet in diameter, stretching endlessly skyward. “No way.”

Mary chuckled, shaking her head at Yumiko’s disbelief. “Believe it or not, they exist. The colleague who gave me this lead? He ran into one a while back. He was leading a party of eleven—seasoned adventurers, all at least level four. Even with all their experience, five of them didn’t make it out, and three more were injured. They barely managed to scare it off with a flare.”

A heavy silence settled over the group as her words sank in, the forest around them seeming to thicken with shadows. The distant sound of something rustling through the underbrush made Yumiko tense, her mind drifting to the deadly creature Mary had described.

Noticing the worry flickering in Yumiko’s eyes, Mary attempted to reassure her. “But they’re mostly on the eastern side of the forest, so we’re safe here. The Evergreen region spans miles—this side is supposed to be calm.” Her voice was steady, but even she couldn’t ignore the strange, muted silence around them.

Ahead of her, Lukas pushed forward with a determined stride, his boots pressing firmly into the mossy forest floor. “I’m not taking any chances,” he muttered, his hand instinctively finding its place on the hilt of his sword. He moved with a silent vigilance, every sense on high alert, as an odd unease tugged at him, creeping in through the mist that now hung heavily around them. The forest was too still, devoid of the usual life he would expect from a place so lush. Not a single bird song, no rustling of small animals—only an unsettling silence.

Why aren’t there any birds? Lukas thought, his gaze scanning the dark canopy above them. His fingers flexed against his sword hilt as he strained to pick up any trace of movement or sound, but there was none.

Beside Mary, Yumiko looked around, her eyes tracing the growing shroud of mist that was wrapping around them. “I haven’t heard the voice since we’ve been here… have you?”

Mary shook her head, her face pensive. “Not a word. Not even in my dreams.”

Yumiko nodded, her gaze drifting down the forest floor as her unease grew sharper. “I thought as much… I can’t shake the feeling that we’re still being followed.”

Mary raised a brow, glancing over her shoulder. “We’ve checked; there’s been no one behind us since we left the carriage.”

Yumiko adjusted her grip on her pack, her fingers pressing into the straps as if to ground herself. “It’s strange. Ever since we left Ferloch… I don’t know. I just have this sense, like we’re not alone. And if this holy spirit is really guiding us here to find this serpent staff, why hasn’t she said anything more?”

Mary let out a long sigh, her brows furrowing as she cast her eyes over the forest. “That’s something I’d like to know too. There’s a lot we don’t understand yet… and honestly, I want to know what connection my colleague has to all of this. There’s more going on than he’s letting on.”

Yumiko’s eyes drifted to the pouch hanging at Mary’s side. “Do you still have that page?” she asked quietly, her voice tinged with apprehension. Without a word, Mary reached into her pouch, pulling out the worn paper. Yumiko accepted it carefully, her eyes scanning the strange, faded text written in the ancient script. “I’m not great with Eldric… but this part here—what does it mean, ‘at the drop’? Or something close to that?”

Mary frowned, taking the page back to study it. “The drop?” She looked closer, her brows knitting together as a shiver ran through her. Her face grew pale. “Wait… the words… they’re different.”

A chill prickled across Yumiko’s skin. She glanced between Mary and the page, her voice dropping to a whisper. “What does it say now?”

Mary read aloud, her voice barely more than a whisper:

“Enter flood cavern, watch for them, hurl fire, burn. Seek power to remove the curse, find the bloom. Find the staff to prevent eternal doom. The battle of the serpent staff will be well fought, and can be found after the large drop. Be aware of the eyes, for they lurk and seek. The true enemies stay in the dark and sneak. The king of the tunnels will challenge thee, be aware of the one with maniacal glee.”

The last word hung in the air like a curse, thickening the forest's silence. Mary looked up, her face twisted in frustration and worry. “More damn riddles,” she muttered, looking up towards the large trees.

The forest closed in around them, silent and waiting, as if it had heard every word and was bracing for what was to come. Shadows pooled beneath the towering evergreens, shifting subtly with the mist, their dark outlines barely visible in the dim light.

Yumiko noticed the tension in Mary’s posture, her jaw clenched and shoulders stiff. She gently took the paper back, hoping it might calm her friend. But as she looked down, the characters at the bottom of the page began to shift, morphing into the shapes of her own language. They rearranged themselves to form a chilling warning: They are watching you. They are close.

Her heart stuttered. “Mary! It changed right before my eyes! It’s warning us again!”

Mary’s face paled, her voice unsteady. “What? What do you mean?” Her gaze darted around the forest, her pulse quickening.

Ahead of them, Lukas halted mid-step, his hand flying to the hilt of his sword. The air around them felt heavier, the silence so thick it pressed against them like a held breath. Then, from somewhere deep within the forest, a piercing screech split the air, sharp enough to raise the hairs on the back of their necks. The ground trembled beneath them, the faint vibration growing into a steady rumble.

“Blaenhorn!” Lukas shouted, urgency sharpening his voice as he drew his blade.

Yumiko whipped around, her eyes locking onto the massive creature charging toward them through the mist. It was an ox-like beast, its bulk towering even higher than a carriage, with horns twisted and jagged like mountain peaks. Its eyes burned with a dark intensity as it barreled toward them, each step pounding into the earth with a terrifying force.

“Summon!” Yumiko cried, her fingers twisting through the air as her bow materialized, shimmering into form. She nocked an arrow in one fluid motion, the bowstring taut against her fingertips.

Mary pulled her hammer from her back, sparing Yumiko a faint grin despite the sweat tracing down her temple. “That’s a neat trick!” she said, her voice almost lighthearted—but the tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves as the colossal creature bore down on them.

The Blaenhorn snorted, steam billowing from its nostrils, its hooves pounding the ground as it charged, heedless of the thick roots and foliage. Its mountainous horns seemed to slice through the mist itself as it closed the distance, the ground quaking with each step. Lukas steadied himself, raising his sword, his face grim.

“Get ready!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the air like steel as the beast’s wild eyes focused on them, hunger and fury in its gaze.

Meanwhile, concealed within the thick shadows of the trees, Vanessa and Ronan watched the scene unfold. Vanessa shifted restlessly, her fingers twitching. “Oh, come on! Can’t we fight them already?” She muttered, barely keeping her voice low. “We’d grab that page and be done with this mess.”

Ronan’s sharp gaze cut toward her, his tone a quiet warning. “No. If they’re useful enough to lead us to the staff, we wait. That page could have information only they can decipher. Might even be written in code, just like our master’s instructions.” He hesitated, then added, almost to himself, “I have this feeling… This is the right call.”

Vanessa’s mouth twisted into a pout, crossing her arms as her impatience simmered. “You’ve been saying the same crap ever since you saw that blonde man…” Suddenly, her eyes caught a flicker of movement, and without a second thought, she bolted into the forest.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Ronan hissed after her, frustration evident in his voice.

She only laughed, her voice echoing through the trees as she sped off. “I’m going to blow off some steam!” With a flourish, she stretched her hands forward, shooting ice onto the forest floor. A frozen path spread beneath her feet, and she glided along it, picking up speed, her movements smooth and precise.

Ronan cursed under his breath, breaking into a run to catch up. As he tried to reach her, Vanessa had already spotted her target: a towering Blaenhorn and its calf grazing peacefully in a small clearing, unaware of her presence. With a smirk, she raised her hands.

“Iceberg!” she commanded, thrusting her arms out. A massive icicle erupted from the ground beneath the Blaenhorn, piercing the creature mid-air. The beast let out a strangled bellow, its massive form jerking before it hung lifelessly, grotesquely suspended on the icy spike.

Vanessa’s lips curved into a disappointed frown. “Thought it’d be more of a challenge… Guess I caught it off guard.” She turned her attention to the calf, smaller but trembling, its wide eyes locked on her in terror despite being nearly thirty times her size.

Ronan stormed into the clearing, his face a mix of anger and frustration as he grabbed her shoulder, jerking her back. “You reckless fool! Those things can summon their herd. One isn’t the problem—the herd is!”

“What’s the problem? They are weak!” She yelled, ripping her arm away. “If we can fight more of them, it will be more fun!” She yelled, smiling.

They both turned as the calf let out a high-pitched wail, its voice filled with fear and sorrow. It bolted into the trees, bleating for help as it vanished into the mist.

Ronan’s jaw clenched, watching the calf’s frantic retreat. “Now look what you’ve done. It’s headed straight toward them!”

Vanessa merely shrugged, her fingers beginning to gather energy. “I’ll just take care of it before—”

“No!” Ronan growled, grabbing her hand and forcing it down. He pulled her behind the nearest tree, his eyes scanning the clearing. “They’re looking this way. We’ll stay hidden and let them lead us. I’m not letting them get the better of us again.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “One more move like that, and our mission could be over before it’s begun.”

The two stayed crouched in the shadows, watching as the echoes of the calf’s cries grew louder, their eyes trained on the forest ahead as they braced for whatever consequence Vanessa’s recklessness had unleashed.

Back with the trio, Mary’s knuckles whitened around the hilt of her hammer as the young Blaenhorn crashed through a cluster of smaller trees, charging at them with terrifying speed. She threw out a hand, summoning a wall of rock that erupted from the ground like a fortress. But the beast plowed through it effortlessly, hurling chunks of stone in every direction as it shattered the barrier.

They scrambled for cover, dodging the debris as it rained down around them.

Yumiko recovered first, pushing herself up from the damp ground and drawing an arrow with swift precision. She aimed directly at the beast’s head and let loose. The arrow struck true, embedding itself in the creature’s skull—but it did little to slow the massive beast, which only seemed angrier as it charged on.

Lukas darted forward, his movements agile as he sidestepped the Blaenhorn’s charge, slashing its exposed underbelly in a swift, calculated strike as it barreled past him. Blood spattered the forest floor, and the creature let out a furious bellow, its hooves stamping and bucking in pain.

Mary clenched her teeth, summoning a massive boulder from the earth, hurling it at the creature’s side with all her might. The stone slammed into the Blaenhorn, nearly knocking it over, but it roared and shook itself, shaking off the hit and turning its bloodshot eyes on her. She summoned three more boulders, firing them in rapid succession, but the beast charged through each one as if they were no more than crumbling sand.

“How do you stop this thing?” Mary shouted, backing up as it thundered toward her. She tried to sidestep, but her foot slipped on the wet moss, and she fell with a frustrated curse. “Damned moss!”

Yumiko acted fast, aiming once more and releasing an arrow straight into the Blaenhorn’s eye. The creature recoiled, shrieking with rage, but it only turned its remaining good eye on her, a deadly fury blazing within.

“Oh, that’s not good…” Yumiko murmured, her heart racing as she drew another arrow, bracing herself as the beast locked its sights on her, nostrils flaring.

Lukas’s voice cut through the chaos as he sprinted toward her. “Get out of there!”

Mary, regaining her footing, unleashed another barrage of boulders, hoping to divert the creature’s attention or throw it off course. But the beast, now in a frenzy, had its focus solely on Yumiko.

Desperation lit up Yumiko’s gaze. She let loose a volley of three arrows, aiming for the beast’s remaining eye. Each shot landed true, burying deep into the eye socket, and the creature bellowed in excruciating agony. Yet still, it thundered forward, blind but undeterred.

With no other choice, Yumiko raised her hand and summoned a powerful gust of wind, lifting her just out of the creature’s path as it charged past, unable to see but intent on trampling her. The Blaenhorn crashed headfirst into a massive, two-hundred-foot tree, splintering the ancient wood with a thunderous crack that echoed through the forest. The trunk shuddered, then began to tip, striking other trees and slowing slightly before toppling to the forest floor in a massive crash.

Seizing the moment, Lukas sprinted toward the dazed creature, his sword drawn and his eyes blazing with determination. “Get back!” he called to Yumiko, his voice urgent.

She dashed aside, feeling the surge of his magic energy radiate from him, his form nearly crackling with intensity.

Raising his hand toward the staggering creature, Lukas’s voice carried through the mist, his tone unwavering. “Oh gods, I call on you tonight! Grant me strength to win this fight! Let fire roar, fierce and keen, and burn my foe in a deadly dream! Fire Lance!”

A blazing spiral of flames erupted from his palm, streaking through the air like a comet. The fire struck the beast with a scorching impact, engulfing it in searing heat that melted through its thick hide. The Blaenhorn let out one final, guttural groan, its massive form buckling beneath the assault. With a thunderous crash, it collapsed, smoke rising from its charred fur as the forest returned to an uneasy silence.

Mary rushed to Lukas and Yumiko’s side, her hammer still held defensively. “Everyone alright?”

Yumiko dispelled her bow, brushing dirt and moss from her knees, her breathing steadying. “I think so,” she said with a relieved sigh, casting a glance at Lukas. But her relief faltered as she noticed his arm trembling, his hand clenched tightly.

“Were you hit by something?” Mary’s sharp gaze caught his unsteady hand. “Shrapnel, maybe?”

“Leave me,” Lukas muttered through gritted teeth, attempting to steady his voice. “I’m just winded.”

Mary’s brow arched skeptically. “Already? This is just like last time, Lukas. All of these ‘conditions’ of yours…they’re adding up to mana rebound… But it looks more serious than last time.” Her gaze turned serious as she studied his trembling arm. “Is it getting worse?”

Yumiko sighed, casting a knowing look at Lukas. “Mary, it happened at Torrwr too. It’s like his magic is fighting back against him.” She lowered her voice, recalling the signs she’d seen before. “His hand shook just like this.”

Lukas shot her a hard, dismissive glare. “For the last time, I’m fine. My magic is not fighting me.”

Mary shook her head. “Yumiko’s right. This feels like magic recoil—like it’s pushing back against you.” She paused, a worried look crossing her face. “But fire magic…fire affinity doesn’t usually cause this. Fire users gain proficiency with their magic. As a trade-off, they can’t use other magic types. But, no other affinity users are allowed to use fire magic, either. So it doesn’t make sense that your magic is rebounding.”

Lukas clenched his jaw. “Just leave it,” he snapped, his patience fraying as he avoided her gaze.

Mary’s gaze lingered on the sweat beading on his brow and his unsteady hand. Her mind raced, cycling through possibilities that none of her past encounters could explain. Nothing fit. Then, hesitating, she voiced the question she’d avoided. “Lukas… do you have the Silent Cough?”

The forest fell into an oppressive silence, the weight of her question hanging in the air. Yumiko’s eyes widened, her heart sinking as she watched Lukas look away, his face shadowed by exhaustion far beyond what even a powerful spell should have caused.

He took a steadying breath, but the effort seemed to cost him. Without another word, he straightened, forcing his arm still the best he could, his face hardening. “I’m getting those damn flowers,” he said, voice roughened with frustration. “With or without either of you. I don’t care if it takes me years to find that cave.”

Lukas pressed forward, one hand clutching his arm, his expression clouded with thoughts he kept locked away. It shouldn’t be happening this soon, he thought, each step forcing him to swallow back the mounting ache. What’s going wrong? But he didn’t dare let them see his struggle.

Mary watched him walk on ahead, then exhaled, crossing her arms with a sigh. “Stubborn as ever, I guess we’ll address that later,” she muttered. She glanced sideways at Yumiko, her look tinged with both frustration and concern. “We’d better keep up. We’re lucky that the calf wasn’t fully grown, but it’s still dangerous here. Its mother could be lurking somewhere close.”

“That was not a full grown one?” Yumiko asked, Mary shook her head. Slowly, Yumiko’s gaze lingered on the felled creature, a pang of sadness softening her face. “A baby…” she whispered, kneeling down to place her hand gently on its thick, coarse hide. Closing her eyes, she murmured, “May the goddess carry your soul.”

Mary’s watchful eyes scanned the darkened forest, her expression sharpening. “You know, the more I think about it…what if the ones tailing us are close by? Could be they sent this beast to test us or delay us.”

Yumiko’s brow creased at the thought, her skepticism fading as a creeping sense of unease began to claw at her. “I think you may be right. I keep feeling like we’re being watched.”

Mary nodded, her gaze narrowed. “Do you still have that page?”

Reaching into her belt pouch, Yumiko carefully pulled out the parchment, her fingers running over its familiar worn edges. She unfolded it with care, her eyes settling on the familiar text marking the rumored location of the serpent staff. But then something strange began to happen—the lines at the bottom seemed to waver, shifting into delicate, flowing Jinso characters, clearer to her than they’d ever been.

Her heart thudded in her chest, and she glanced up to see Mary leaning over her shoulder, eyes widening. “Hey, you were right! It’s changing right in front of us—and in your native tongue, no less.”

Yumiko nodded slowly, her pulse quickening as she read the new message, “They still watch from the dark. Be on alert,” Yumiko read aloud, her voice wavering as the weight of the warning settled over her. “I knew it. I can feel them close by…”

Mary gave a half-hearted shrug, though the tension around her eyes betrayed her unease. “Can’t say I don’t feel it too. After that fight, the hairs on the back of my neck haven’t stopped standing on end.”

They both stared as a new line of text unfurled across the bottom of the page, the letters inky and bold: Fold in half twice. Unfold.

The two exchanged wary glances, and Yumiko carefully folded the paper as instructed. As she smoothed it out again, a detailed map began to materialize across the page, lines and landmarks spreading like a spider’s web.

“What the—!” Mary yelped, almost stumbling into Yumiko as her eyes locked onto the map. She grabbed Yumiko’s shoulder to steady herself, both of them staring in awe. “Where did this come from?” Her gaze darted across the map’s meticulously detailed landscape, noting with uneasy recognition how accurately it mirrored their surroundings. A dotted line wound its way northward, guiding them as if by some unseen hand. At the map’s edge, an icon marked the Serpent’s Staff.

Yumiko’s pulse quickened as her finger traced the path. “Look,” she murmured, pointing to the map’s center. “There are two triangles here…and one of them is moving away from us.”

Mary glanced over her shoulder, following the direction Lukas had taken ahead of them. “That must be him. And these two here at the center… that’s us.” Her brow furrowed as her gaze drifted to the southeast corner, where two smaller triangles lingered, positioned ominously as though watching.

Yumiko squinted at the unfamiliar symbols, an icy feeling creeping down her spine. The two triangles seemed fixed in their direction, almost like hunters marking their prey.

Following Yumiko’s gaze, Mary’s hand instinctively moved toward her weapon as she scanned the dense forest. The trees seemed to close in tighter, shadows pooling in the dark spaces between trunks, giving the sense of hidden eyes watching their every step.

“We need to move. Now,” Mary whispered, her voice low as she slipped the map from Yumiko’s fingers.

Yumiko nodded, and together they quickened their pace, hurrying to catch up with Lukas. Branches brushed past them, the forest around them feeling darker, as if it knew of the danger closing in.

“How are we supposed to lose them?” Yumiko asked, her voice barely a breath, casting a nervous glance back over her shoulder.

Mary leaned in as they walked, her voice barely audible. “When we get closer to the cave, I have an idea. Just stay close.” Her eyes darted over the undergrowth, and she looked forward, calling out. “Lukas! You’re going the wrong way!”

Lukas turned, a glint of irritation flickering across his face as he scanned their expressions. Mary hurried to close the gap between them, her steps quick and precise. The shadows deepened in the forest around them, pressing in closer like a warning. And as they moved forward, that eerie, watchful presence seemed to tighten around them, as if drawn to their every movement—just as the map had warned.