Sabir stumbled as Maize led him deeper into the forest, her laughter echoing around them like the song of a mischievous spirit. The forest canopy thickened, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Despite the earlier battle's chaos, nature's resilience was evident as new shoots sprouted from the edges of the craters and charred ground.

"Where are we going?" Sabir panted, trying to keep up with Maize's effortless strides.

"Nowhere in particular," Maize replied with a playful smile. "Isn't it fun to just run aimlessly sometimes?”

Sabir's mind raced. He needed to get back to Cassius, but every step seemed to take him further from his goal. "We need to go back. Cassius will be looking for me," he insisted, trying to tug his hand free from Maize's grip.

Maize stopped abruptly, turning to face him with an amused glint in her eyes. "Cassius? Why would you want to go back to him? You're safer with me.”

"But I'm his assistant," Sabir protested. "I have to—"

"Assistant? Or maybe just a tagalong from The Limbo?" Maize interrupted, her tone teasing. "Do you really think you're of any use to him? He's obsessed with the Triads, and you're just a distraction."

Sabir's frustration grew. "I don't belong here. You need to take me back.”

Maize's expression softened, but her words carried a warning edge. "You're here illegally. Anyone else would kill you on sight. I'm showing you compassion. Be grateful.”

Sabir's shoulders slumped, realizing the precariousness of his situation. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice tinged with resignation.

Maize grinned, a mix of excitement and mischief lighting up her face. "Let's start with introductions. I'm Maize Gaian, soon-to-be the highest-ranked student at the Hunter Academy." She puffed out her chest with pride. "And you?"

"Sabir," he muttered, "just Sabir.”

"Well, Just Sabir, consider yourself lucky to have caught my interest," Maize said with a wink. "You're going to play with me for a while.”

Maize led Sabir through the dense forest until they reached a clearing. The area was vast and open, with no houses in sight. The sky above was clear, and the sun bathed the ground in a warm, golden light.

"This seems like a nice area," Maize said, surveying the open space. She walked over to a small plant that had yet to grow. Kneeling beside it, she placed her hands on the ground and closed her eyes. Her eyes began to glow with a soft green light as she cast her power on the plant.

The plant responded immediately, growing rapidly and twisting into a large, sturdy structure. It expanded, forming a platform that resembled a battleground fighting ring. Vines thickened and intertwined, creating natural barriers and a raised arena in the center of the clearing.

Maize stood up, admiring her handiwork. "Perfect," she said, a satisfied smile on her face. With a wave of her hand, vines shot out from the ground, wrapping around both her and Sabir. The vines lifted them effortlessly, pulling them up to the top of the platform.

Sabir looked around in awe, the forest stretching out below them. The platform was high, giving them a clear view of the surrounding area. "What is this place?" he asked, still trying to process the sudden transformation.

"It's our playground," Maize said with a playful grin. "A place where we can have some fun and maybe learn a thing or two. Now, let's see what you're made of, Just Sabir."

She released the vines, allowing them to stand freely on the platform. The anticipation in her eyes was clear, and Sabir realized that this was just the beginning of whatever Maize had planned for him.

"I have the perfect thing for us to have a lot of fun," she said, pulling out three small beans from a pouch at her waist. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she held them out for Sabir to see.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"These little guys are going to be our entertainment," Maize explained, twirling the beans in her fingers. "You see, my family, the Gaian family, is deeply in tune with nature. We helped establish Havana, using our abilities to terraform the land and make it more habitable. Over the years, we've killed monsters and explored the wasteland, uncovering new plant life."

She crouched down and placed the beans on the ground, continuing her story. "One such discovery are these beans. We've managed to monopolize their creation. Well they're less like plants and more like weapons," she said with a laugh.

Maize's eyes began to glow again as she used her powers. The ground around the beans started to tremble, and small green shoots burst forth, rapidly growing and taking shape. From the beans, three small creatures emerged.

The creatures were humanoid in shape, standing about three feet tall. Their skin was a bright green, rough and textured like the bark of a tree. They had large, bulbous heads with sharp, toothy grins and glowing red eyes. Their limbs were long and sinewy, ending in clawed hands and feet that dug into the ground with ease.

Maize stood up, her eyes returning to their normal color as she admired the creatures. "Aren't they adorable?" she said, grinning. "These little monsters are strong and agile. They're perfect for a bit of fun. They are called vinefiends and they terrorized humanity for years."

The creatures moved with a strange, almost playful energy, their eyes fixed on Sabir and Maize. Sabir felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched them, realizing that this "fun" might be more dangerous than Maize let on.

Sabir was familiar with vinefiends; they would sometimes appear in The Limbo looking for human flesh. The Wyrmraiders were notorious for hanging their skulls as a form of intimidation.

"Let's see how well you can handle them, Just Sabir," Maize said, stepping back to give him space. The three creatures began to circle Sabir, their movements fluid and coordinated.

Sabir braced himself, knowing he was outmatched but refusing to show weakness. “Maize, maybe you should reconsider. I'm a dud, remember? Can't we do something a little less dangerous?” he pleaded, desperation tinging his voice.

Maize's eyes sparkled with excitement, ignoring his plea. "Show me what you've got, Just Sabir!" she called out, her voice ringing with enthusiasm. "This is just the beginning of our fun." Her smile was wide, and it was clear she had no intention of stopping.

Sabir tensed, his eyes darting between the three circling vinefiends. Their sinewy green bodies moved with a predator's grace, and their glowing eyes hinted at a cunning intelligence. There was no way out of this, he would have to fight. He knew he had to stay focused; these creatures were dangerous. His only hope was that Maize would put a stop to everything if he's in danger.

The first vinefiend lunged, claws slashing through the air. Sabir sidestepped just in time, delivering a sharp kick to its midsection. The creature stumbled back but quickly regained its balance, hissing menacingly.

Another vinefiend charged at him from behind. Sabir spun around, grabbing its arm and flipping it over his shoulder. The creature hit the ground hard but immediately sprang back to its feet, unscathed.

The third vinefiend joined the fray, forcing Sabir to fend off attacks from all sides. He dodged, blocked, and countered with everything he had, but the creatures were relentless. Their sharp claws grazed his skin, drawing blood with each near miss.

One vinefiend managed to get close, its thorny claws tearing into Sabir’s side. He winced at the sharp pain, but instead of crumbling under it, something surged within him—a raw, unfamiliar energy. His hands tightened around the creature’s head, and as his vision sharpened, a faint shimmer pulsed around his arms. With a swift, powerful motion, he twisted the vinefiend’s head sharply. There was a sickening crack, and the creature’s body went limp, crumpling to the ground. Sabir stood still for a moment, breathing heavily, his mind racing. The strength he just felt—it wasn’t just adrenaline. It was something much more.

But there was no time to think about it it or even celebrate. The remaining two vinefiends, enraged by the death of their companion, attacked with renewed fury. Sabir fought back valiantly, but he was already bruised and bleeding from multiple wounds. He could feel his strength waning.

The vinefiends coordinated their attacks, one slashing at his legs while the other aimed for his upper body. Sabir managed to fend off one, but the other sank its teeth into his shoulder. He screamed in agony, trying to shake it off, but the creature's grip was like iron.

As the pain intensified, Sabir felt his vision blur. He was on the verge of collapse, the vinefiends' savage bites and claws overwhelming him. He knew he was at their mercy, and a cold dread filled his heart. Was this how it would end?

Just as he felt himself slipping away, a flash of green light filled his vision. Maize's voice echoed in the clearing, sharp and commanding. "Enough!" Her eyes glowed with intensity.

The vinefiends immediately halted their attack, releasing Sabir and retreating to Maize's side. Sabir collapsed to his knees, clutching his wounded shoulder, gasping for breath. The adrenaline still coursed through his veins, but he knew he had narrowly escaped death.

Maize approached, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Not bad, Just Sabir," she said, her tone light. "You handled yourself better than I expected, maybe duds have some uses after all."

Sabir's vision began to darken, and the last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Maize's enigmatic smile.