Chapter 58: Dark Forest

Nathaniel:

Ever since I restricted my use of necromancy, I feel better. My mind is clearer, my thoughts don't have that edge to them, which worried me before. I am giving up a lot, by stopping my necromantic practices. Yet, as I look at Erik, who walks by Givontair, I can't help but think that it is for the best.

The path I was on is pure destruction. I see what happened with Sorix each day. He doesn't want to talk to us about the Dread, but I can see, in the way that he sometimes spaces out, that the being is not done with him.

We have left Amestavora behind us. Norrix is in a bottomless bag, so the sun won't kill him. Elias is carrying the bag. I am the one leading the party, as I have the most experience fighting dragons. If a dragon flies by, and tries to attack us, then I will be the first person, to fight back.

We walk for what seems like hours. When we pass by the same rock with moss on it for the fourth time, I realize something is off.

"Wait, we need to stop," I say. Everyone halts in their steps. "You noticed it too, right? We are walking in circles."

"I can feel the mana in the air. Whatever is playing with us, is ancient," Givontair says. That confirms my fears. I turn towards him, and walk, so I can stand beside him.

"Is it an illusion, or are we in a labyrinth?" I ask the dragon. He lets a mana pulse out. His eyes widen, after that.

"We are in a dungeon," he says. I blink at that. Just when did we manage that?

"Do you know how big it is?" Sorix asks. Givontair nods.

"About 100 kilometers worth of a bundled-up road," I hear as Erik sucks in a breath. That may not be much, for someone on a horse. Yet, this length can easily stretch, if we don't find the exit.

"I think I can fly us out of here. But something must be done about my tail," Givontair says. I look at Sorix.

"Do you know any rituals which can regrow a tail?" I ask him. He nods.

"Yes, but they are not pleasant. The Dread believes in equal exchanges. Something must be lost, for another to gain something else," I don't like the sound of that. Yet, I am prepared to give up an arm, if it means that we can get out of here. Givontair narrows his eyes at me.

"You are not going to end up maimed!" He snaps at me. Almost as if he can read my thoughts.

"What do you suggest, then?" I ask. Givontair sniffs the air, and grins.

"There is a bear nearby. A magnificent beast, which has lived for five years," I breathe a sigh of relief, at the thought that I don't need to end up with one arm less.

"Well, lead us to it. Wait, do you think it is a mini-boss?" Sorix asks. He sounds uncertain of himself, then.

"It smells like a normal bear, but just to be careful, I will scout out its den," Givontair suggests. By the way, Sorix is frowning at him, I can guess that the Dread Lord doesn't want for Giv to risk even that.

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"Just point us in the direction. You can guard Erik, while we deal with the bear," Sorix rises his hand, when Giv wants to argue. "Let me do this for you. After all, it was my fault that you ended up like this."

"Not directly," Giv protests, but Sorix waves him off.

The dragon sighs, and then points to the South-West.

"Go in that direction. There is a cave there. The smell of the bear comes from in there," Givontair says. Erik takes a hold of his hand, then.

"I will make sure Giv doesn't follow," he says, his head held high. Givontair tugs at his ear.

"Cheeky brat," the dragon's fondness for the boy seeps in his voice. I grin, and then go to stand next to Sorix.

"Shall we go?" I ask the Dread Lord.

"I am coming as well," Elias says. Sorix addresses him then.

"No, you are staying with Giv and Erik. They need a second layer of protection, in case there is more than a single bear in the labyrinth," Sorix then motions me to walk with him.

"I am a hunter!" We hear Elias's yell after us.

"So are we," Sorix retorts, without looking back. When Elias doesn't follow us, my shoulders relax. A fire mage, let loose in a forest, is not something I want to see.

We walk in the direction that Givontair told us about. Instead of a cave, there is a cottage in the middle of the woods. Sorix and I exchange a look.

"Bear shifter? They should smell just like an actual bear, right? But why did Giv think there is a cave in here?" I ask Sorix. Suddenly, the plan is not to my taste. It is one thing, to kill off some mindless beast. Another, to kill a shifter.

"Whatever it is, it has a lot of mana. I think this is the final boss of the dungeon," Sorix then marches to the front door of the cottage, and knocks on the wood. I wonder why is he even bothering with courtesy, if he wants to kill the owner of the dwelling.

I run behind him, and watch, as the door opens. The man on the other side is massive. He has brown hair, and brown eyes. Yet, the most striking thing about him are the two scars, that run below his eyes.

"Hello, do you know where we can find bears?" Sorix asks, as the man looks him up and down.

"What are you two even doing here? Don't you know that this land is cursed?" The shifter, for now, I can recognize his mana for what it is, growls at us.

"We got lost, and now we need a bear for our ritual. We can bring it down ourselves, don't worry," Sorix has a smile on his face, but his eyes are cold. These are the eyes of a Dread Lord on a mission. The shifter too sees that because he shifts in his spot. No longer does he look like the top predator. Rather, like someone to be hunted. 

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