Angela pushed the dusty door open, showing what had laid inside. Dust covering armours and swords, the same way a carpet covers the floor. There were a few sets, perhaps not even enough for a squad of knights, yet it was more than they needed. Mark made his way to a helmet, brushing the dust particles aside as he lifted it.

A soft voice broke the silence. "What do you think? Can you work with this?"

Mark kept turning it around, silent as the night. Angela believed that he didn’t like the armour, yet both her and Luke were taken aback.

"It’s the real deal! Not the best, but the real deal! Look at the swords!" He slid his finger along the blade, checking it out. "Yes! Finally, that’s more like it!"

His thundering voice echoed through the room, spreading his excitement. Perhaps Luke’s way of describing Mark was accurate.

Luke, on the other hand, wasn’t impressed. He stared at the pieces of armour, looking for something his size. Angela could only giggle, for the folks she summoned were an unusual bunch.

"Never in my life did I expect someone to react like that at the sight of some old armour, yet it seems there is a first for everything."

Mark smirked. "This is my first step towards becoming the strongest..." his eyes beaming with passion. Both of them put on their new gear, moving around and getting used to the feeling.

"Well then, time to go for a hunt."

Angela, seemingly confused, dared to ask what he meant.

"A hunt... do you plan to go in the forest? And what for? The only thing lurking in that place."

Luke sighed, knowing exactly what Mark wanted to say.

"No, you can’t fight monsters now, absolutely not..."

"I can’t hear you! Let’s go! Angela, lead the way if you want."

On what basis was he so confident, Angela couldn’t tell.

"It’s for the village, you have to..." thought the girl, yet the feeling of uneasiness was settling in at a slow pace.

They made their way outside the wooden walls, people not minding their passing. They were busy working, hoping that one day, maybe, it would pay off. Mark could only make a silent promise, one that he’d make it all better.

The group made their way to the main road, yet after a few hundred steps, they had to go on a path through the field, hidden by the grass. It was all a sea of green that they woke up into, the wind leading the waves of grass. The path was barely visible, barely touched by travelers. Whatever was in the forest, it was up to them to find out.

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A few breaks and more steps later, they were almost there. They were welcomed by giant trees, bigger than what Mark or Luke had ever seen in their world. A wooden army of giants, that would be the best way to describe it. Luke gulped, somehow sensing the danger waiting for them, ready to attack them the same way a predator would. Angela had a similar reaction, yet she didn’t falter. Her eyes widened, and her lips were dry as a desert. On the other hand, Mark was as happy as a child, like an idiot going to his death.

He marched towards the forest, closing the gap between them. "Are you ready to enter? You know we have to do it."

Luke spoke in a hasty manner. "There are at least ten other ways to do this, so no, let’s go back."

Angela knew he was speaking the truth, but the truths of old, hidden inside the forest were calling her.

"I guess we have to go." added Angela, with the same soft voice. Mark went in head first, his same attitude, a fearless fool. Luke and Angela, on the other hand, were paying attention to everything that moved around them. Following the sword swinging fool, they were already far enough from the forest edge.

"Mark, how can you be so calm while exploring this place? It gives me the creeps just from being here."

His face lightened. "We have Angela here. Considering she summoned us, I believe she can use magic, which is, at least in my opinion, overpowered if used the right way." He placed his thumb and index under his chin, eyes closed half-way. "Maybe creatures resistant to magic would pose a threat..."

Luke was already filled with adrenaline. He felt something, like someone was watching them.

"Guys, let’s hurry. I feel like something is watching us."

As if to confirm it, something phased behind them, only the afterimage of a shadow remaining. Angela and Mark couldn’t even react in time to catch a glimpse, yet Luke was already pale, as if someone had painted his face with white pain.

Mark brought his sword to the front; he had no idea how to use it, but it was better than nothing. Angela got ready as well, a brownish disk of light hovering over her fingertips.

"Magic, perfect." thought Mark, shaking less than before. Luke joined them. They were now back to back, facing every direction danger could arrive from.

A few breaths later, and here it was. A creature, standing on all six, was looking at them, all seven bloodish eyes focused on them. The sight of such a thing would make most people puke, which Angela almost did, but not Mark and Luke. They stared at the creature like it was trapped in this forest with them, not them with the creature.

"Oi, Luke, let’s cut this thing into pieces."

Luke nodded in aproval, saddened that he had no cigarette to smoke now, for aestetic purposes.

They got into battle position, making steady yet solid steps towards it. The creature, told by instinct what was going on, roared out the most bloodcurdling scream possible.

At this point, the duo got scared and turned to Angela, who was sitting down, mind thrown in the dark. She had no clue such a thing existed in this forest.

"Angela, you better get that magic ready, or else we’re monster lunch and dinner!" blurted out Luke in a hysterical manner.

"Maybe desert too..." chuckled Mark. He always wanted to say some dumb joke in the face of death.