The dawn rose peacefully as if nothing happened yesterday. Peace began to spread across the sea of trees. The havoc settled down like the rain after the storm.

Corbin and Milas cleaned up the campsite after eating their leftovers. The dried critter jerky is not the ideal breakfast for most adventurers. Yet, they can’t be too picky with what they only have. The critter meat and ingredients they gathered yesterday were only good for one night.

A nearly-bald and scrawny old man from the settlements silently approached the two once they were about to pack up. He has a hand-woven tunic, loose chausses and leather sandals.

“Greetings travelers, thank you for warding off the garou. They have been terrorizing our community for the past few months. Even our militia is having a hard time dealing with them.”

“Who are you?” Corbin confronted the approaching elder.

“My name is Rothar, one of the residents in this forest settlement.”

“Garou? So that’s what they are called?”

“Yes, young lady, the garou are supposedly the ancestral spirits of Florescent Woods. They are meant to coexist with everybody else. Unfortunately, they have become very violent. Nobody dares to stay outside at night”

“I killed one. Why do they disappear?” Corbin boldly asks.

“They don’t actually have bodies, young orc. Once their physical bodies expire, they transcend back to nature and get purified. The Motherlode is where all spirits and elementals inhabit . It’s like a vast sea of oceanic piscis and cetacea swimming together. Once a garou gets purified, they eventually return to the forest..”

“They don’t look friendly at all.” Milas commented and remembers the viscous garou.

“Indeed young lady. Somebody has corrupted the Motherlode. We suspect a renegade mage or a phantom is behind the Motherlode’s corruption. Unfortunately, the Motherlode is hidden in the ruins. Situated in the eastern borders of the Florescent Woods.”

While looking at the distance, Corbin’s stomach growled.

“You two look famished. Mind if you join us for breakfast?”

“We already…”

Milas interrupted Corbin as she poked him with her right elbow.

“If you insist, we love to.” Milas courteously accepted the Rothar’s offer while clutching Corbin’s arm.

On their way to the community kitchen, Milas asked some of her burning questions.

“So, how did this place become a habitable settlement?”

“It has been countless generations. Down from my grandfather to my father and so on. Most of us who stay here are refugees or peasants who can’t afford to live in the Capital City.”

“Capital City, hmmm. Haven’t visited that place before.”

“We prefer the simple life here in the Florescent Woods rather than stay in a loud and crowded city.”

“You also mentioned elementals. What are they? “

“Elementals are connected with the garou. They are inseparable, like the sun and the moon. They act as the garou’s guide, influencing their disposition. The elementals guide the garou to vanquish anyone desecrating the forest. Currently, they reside in the ruins.”

“And there’s a ruin in this forest?”

“A civilization from the very distant past. Nobody knows who they were. Not even a written document about them. We believe that the Motherlode hails back from that forgotten civilization.”

While strolling on the road, they passed by a beautiful maiden. She has mahogany horns protruding at the back of her head. Her long black hair almost covers her soft, gentle face. She has a white outer garment that covers her slim shoulders. Her cyan dress fits with her lithe form. The heels of her slippers almost never touch the ground.

“Oh hello Karnia, how was your stay with the housekeepers?”

“Good morning Rothar. I appreciate your people’s generosity. Thank you for accommodating me.”

“It’s nothing. We would do anything for a lovely maiden like you.” Rothar humorously jests.

“Rothar, you brought some guests. Could I get to know them?” The maiden glances at the two adventurers. She finds them quite interesting.

“Sure, hello miss Karnia. I’m Milas and he’s Corbin, my trusted companion.”

“Uhhh…” Corbin hadn’t met an alluring woman in his life. He lived most of his life in the orcish garrison from his youth. He only remembers gruffy, old orcs and rowdy greenhorns.

“You can call me Nia instead. I prefer a shorter nickname.” Nia caresses the side of her hair as she gently chuckles.

“Well, what are you doing in Florescent Woods? Strolling? Sightseeing? Having a vacation?”

“I’m here because the place needs help. I sense impending terror in the forest.”

“You also felt that too yesterday?” Milas is surprised by Nia’s sharp senses.

“Yes, and it was quite petrifying. I’m still searching for the Motherlode to end the forest’s plight.” Nia’s face looks downhearted with the situation.

“We can talk about that later, ladies. In the meantime, let’s have some warm breakfast!” Rothar called the group who was still chatting on the road.

“Hey Corbin. Last one staying here only gets the crumbs!”

“Whatever.” Corbin lazily brushed off Milas’s teasing.

Corbin, Milas and Nia entered the community kitchen. It was an open air venue with seats arranged meticulously. The elven head chef ordered his gnome assistants to distribute the breakfast. It is a white runny soup made out of mother taurus’s milk, chopped greens and garnishes. A fluffy, white pan is set at the side of the soup. Rothar gave them seats out of wood stumps. The seats looked strange, but comfortable enough. Everybody seems to enjoy breakfast as they bathe in the morning sun. Corbin had never felt welcome before in his life. After the filling breakfast, the group continued their casual conversation.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“You do have a lovely crown right there Nia.” Milas first noticed the jutting horns on her head.

“Don’t just ask people about what they have.” Corbin interrupted Milas from further asking.

“I’m fine. I’m actually a foreigner from the eastern archipelago. We do grow horns like the roaming cervidae in this forest.”

“Ah, sorry about that. I should have been more careful.”

“Don’t worry about it. Having a chatter about where you came from is enjoyable. So miss Milas, you look quite a well-trained fighter.” Nia inquired about the two adventurers.

“Yes, I was born as a denizen of Aeon Frigg but raised at the Lotus Hills. My parents can’t afford to raise me here, so they sent me to a far-flung convent. It was quite annoying at first, but I realized it was for my own good.”

“Lotus Hills? It’s quite near to my hometown. I’m delighted to meet someone near the Dracon Archipelago.”

Out of the peaceful moment, Corbin felt a tingle on his back. The presence was different from what they felt last time. Not too threatening but still suspicious. An infernal jolted away to the woods. Having the hunch that the Infernal is connected with the recent attacks, the two chased him.

“I’ll try to corner him, Corbin. You intercept him on the other side.” Corbin nodded at Milas’s signal.

The duo sprinted as fast as they could. The infernal weaved from left to right, jumping to any obstacles with ease. He even toppled down a passing by cart.

“Sorry about your cart!” Milas attempted to apologize while they chase the Infernal.

“Watch where you’re going!” An irate quarter-beast merchant yelled.

While pursuing the infernal, Corbin grabbed a smooth pebble from the ground. He made a careful aim and hurled the pebble to the infernal’s ankle. The infernal lost his balance and tumbled down towards a towering tree. The massive tree blocked his way for escaping. The two surrounded the infernal, making sure he won’t make a quick turn in any direction.

The infernals are a nearly extinct race of diabolical troublemakers. Their distinguishing features are their curled horns, outlandish skin pigments and slender tails. The infernal in front of them looked gaudy. He wore an unkempt ash-white hair, tinted spectacles, loose clothing that bared his lean, reddish body, a satchel, a pair of rugged pants and boots.

“Hold it right there, mister! Why are you eavesdropping on us?!” Milas was about to wind her arms to his face.

“Calm down, missy. Do I look like a shady culprit?” The infernal panicked and tries to disengage.

“The smell of brimstone. He’s questionable.” Corbin made a rude comment against the infernal.

“Excuse me! I took a bath yesterday! I even wearing my favorite perfume!”

As Nia and some forest militia approached, the infernal suddenly rolled towards her, flaunting his acrobatic skills. He disrespected and ignored the two adventurers.

“How rude of me to not introduce myself. My name is Rez. An adventure like no other. Lover of several women, conqueror of the battlefield, an irresistible gem in the sky. Mind if I know your name, my lovely darling?” Rez flicked a fresh and fragrant red rosetta out of his sleeves.

He reached for her hand and gently kissed it. Nia’s face reddens in confusion. Rez romantically advanced towards the fair maiden.

“Stop right there, you pervert!” Milas made a running start towards him. She leaped in the air and delivers a very solid kick to his chest.

The nearly fatal kick knocked down Rez. Nia slowly moved backward out of bewilderment. The forest militia catched up with them. They leaped and pressed their body towards Rez..

In the forest prison, the militia interrogated Rez. Corbin, Milas, Rothar and Nia joined the militia.

“Are you the suspect behind the Motherlode’s corruption?” A senior forest militia conducted a trial against the infernal.

“Heck, I can’t even use magic! Unless you want party tricks for your children.” Rez sarcastically answered back.

“Are you trying to be funny, scum?” A human militia hardly prodded Rez with a wooden pole.

“Not my spleen!”

“I think he has no ill intentions. Please don’t hurt him so much.”

“Are you sure Nia? He’s quite suspicious. Look at that smug, menacing look. He even salaciously touched you!”

“Whether his intentions are just or not, we can’t judge him by the way he looks or what he has done.”

“Anyway, what are you even doing in the forest?” Milas leans against Rez, cracking her fists.

“Uhhh, touching some grass?”

Milas grabbed his collar with her left hands, and her right fist closed.

“Okay, okay! I’m just on my way to Las Banos by foot. I can’t afford to ride a carriage or a goblin airship.”

Corbin leaned on the prison wall, waiting for the interrogation to end. Holding conversations is not his specialty. He observed how the interrogation goes by. After the forest militia searched Rez’s possessions. They can’t find anything related to the Motherlode. Inside his satchel were pocket change, flint and tinder, tinsel, argentum gears, pieces of paper, lint, sachets of black powder and herbs, ferrum triggers, copper mold, and a rusty firearm instead. The militia decided to release Rez as he’s not carrying any incriminating evidence.

“We welcome strangers from every walk of life, but please don’t do anything suspicious next time.” Rothar, out of his generosity, offered him a place to stay for the night.

“We’ll stay with him.” Corbin suggests closely observing Rez.

“Right idea! I do need some companions for the night. I never had any interesting visitors for years.” Rothar remarks casually.

“All is forgiven, as long as I stick around with the lovely maiden. And away from that cheeky brat.”

“What brat? I’m also a maiden in my own way!” Milas gets upset.

“Sure Milas, what makes you special is your brimming youthfulness and strength.” Nia complimented Milas cautiously.

“He, he, he, enough of that, children. Here, have some roasted avian. It’s my specialty.” Rothar almost choked up while laughing with the adventure’s banter.

The roasted avian is rubbed with special herbs and salt. Rez’s nose tingled with excitement as he is about to dine. Upon placing the roasted avian on the dining plate, Rothar glances at Corbin who never shared any words.

“So, you only share a few words, are you, young orc?” Rothar tries to have a conversation with the reserved half-orc.

“I’m neither.” Corbin shruged off Rothar’s friendly approach.

“Neither?”

“Orc or human.”

“Aha, maybe an illegitimate child between orcs and humans. I heard war stories about that from the west. The war at Jagganatha has interesting stories…”

“Not interested to share.” Corbin’s brow crosses each other.

“If I have offended you, I apologize young lad.”

Nia noticed that Corbin was restless and frowning as they eat dinner. Rez and Milas, meanwhile are teasing each other at the other side of the table.

“You two are wedlock, aren’t you?” Rez probes at the two adventurers.

“What made you think that conclusion?.”

“You look well acquainted with each other.”

“I just encountered Corbin from a nearby battlefield. He was seething with anger as he wandered. I took that opportunity to challenge him. Guess who won.”

“Him?”

“Is it obvious? I beat him with my fists. In exchange, he would accompany me on my journey.”

“Of course you would defeat him. He’s disoriented in a sorry manner. What you did is quite low for a fighter.”

Rez and Milas warmed up while bantering. She allowed the infernal to stay casual, despite meeting him for the first time. Perhaps Nia is right about Rez being innocent.

“I’ll catch up. I need fresh air.” Corbin stood out from the dining seat.

“Take care young lad. The night is quite silent tonight. You can stay on the balcony if you want.” Rothar noticed that Corbin was getting restless.

Nia followed Corbin on the lodge’s balcony. Right there, he tried the meditation technique which Milas taught him before. He took a deep breath through his nose and held it for a while. Then he released a heavy air to his mouth.

“You do look hurting, Corbin. Mind if I join you?” Nia approached him out of concern.

Corbin tried to remain quiet as he breathed in a slow rhythm. He looked for a moment of silence since the noise inside the cabin was overwhelming.

“I can feel a deep wound inside you.” Nia made gentle eye contact.

“This one? It’s just a scratch.” Corbin looked at the wound on his side. It may have healed up, but the scar remained.

“No, what I mean is something hurts you. Something deeper.”

“Been used with it. Grew in the orcish militia. Had to stay strong.”

“I see. Looks like you’re carrying a great burden in your heart. Part of healing is opening up and letting your emotions go.”

“I’d rather chew my boots than speak. I’m bad at talking.” Corbin was getting uneasy and embarrassed at the same time. He had never engaged in a personal conversation before other than his human mother.

“Well, you can start slowly. I am all ears.” Nia placed her hands at Corbin’s scared hands. Her palm was as tender as a nimble feliciae. It was the first time for Corbin to feel a woman’s hand. He could not mutter words at that moment.

Before the two could say anything, the sky went red again. The disturbing noise whispered again. Despite trembling, the forest militia took arms. They readied themselves for another night of onslaught.