Chapter 61 The Tree
The next several hours passed uneventfully as Evernya glided over the lakeshore at high speeds. To maintain her pace, Evernya set a timer every ten minutes for a smoothie break.
Just as she reached another smoothie break, the scent trail turned into the woods. Unsure of what awaited her, Evernya took her smoothie break early. Am I getting close? The scent trail is stronger, but I could still be a day behind if they are flying. Evernya thought while sipping a purple smoothie while sitting on a rock.
After a moment of hesitation upon flashing back to the fight she witnessed, Evernya pressed forward into the dense forest. Her pace slowed to a fast jog to keep her feet as quiet as possible. She weaved her way through the brush and tree trunks, some of which were wider than she was tall.
A half-hour later, an unmistakable stench of blood assaulted her nose. She slowed to a near-silent trot as she neared the scent. While hiding behind a two-meter wide tree, Evernya peeked into the small clearing where the smell originated.
Weird, there’s nothing here. I doubt a mana beast would clean up every last bone. Did Meira or the kidnapping Elven bitch kill it, then store away the corpse? The blood smells a little stale from eight to twelve hours ago. Kind of creepy, I can age spilled blood from smell alone. If it weren’t for the disgusting smell of decomposition, I doubt it would bother me. Oh well, let’s move on, nothing more to learn here. Evernya thought as she walked through the empty clearing, previous caution forgotten. Not wanting to waste any more time, Evernya continued deeper into the forest.
Over the next hour, Evernya encountered several more blood-soaked scenes without a single corpse. Each scene notched her anxiety a tick higher. With her senses on high alert, she weaved her way through the forest, following the never-ending scent trail.
She stopped dead in a clearing next to a small pond. Her tail fur puffed as her breath became visible. The pond to her right frosted over as the temperature plummeted. Ready to run at a moment’s notice, Evernya strained her senses to their maximum. Evernya performed a turnabout upon hearing a twig snap. A moment later, a vicious-looking snow-white wolf with light blue eyes emerged from the shadows. Spooked, Evernya spun back around, ready to run, only to meet another similar wolf. A glance to her left confirmed a third wolf boxing her in against the pond.
Evernya backed up to the edge of the pond with her hands raised as the wolves tighten their encirclement. Unaffected by the freezing temperatures, Evernya eyed the wolves for any weaknesses or escape routes. Unlike the bear and lizard confrontation, the wolves silently watched her every move, sizing her up.
Several minutes passed in silence as both sides waited for the other to make the first move. What should I do? I doubt I have a chance against three awakened grade six mana beasts, especially if they work as a team. I doubt I could escape boxed in either, and even if I escape, their noses are probably stronger than mine. Wait! I don’t have a scent! If I can break their encirclement, I may have a chance!
Evernya took a step forward, prompting all three wolves to growl in warning. Undeterred, she took another step, resulting in the wolf to her right pouncing. Evernya erected a shield, blocking the wolf’s powerful jaws from latching onto her right arm. The impact pushed Evernya to the left, right into the waiting jaws of another wolf, who latched on to Evernya’s left forearm. The ice-cold fangs of the wolf dug deep, spreading numbing cold through her entire left arm.
Evernya roared as an explosion of force ripped out of her, knocking all three wolves back several meters. Cradling her frostbitten arm, Evernya glared at the wolves. She pushed mana into her left arm, regaining feeling as her mana staved off the ice magic injected through the closing bite wound. A minute later, her left arm returned to functionality.
Both sides descended into a silent standoff, adjusting their plans to the recent information. Sick of wasting time, Evernya took the initiative, launching a force blade at each wolf. The right and front wolf dodge at the last second, but the left wolf reacted too slowly, earning a shallow cut along its right side.
Before the wolves could recover, Evernya released six more blades, two for each wolf. Evernya made a run for it through the gap to the right, discouraged from continuing the fight from her minor damage. Trees blurred past her vision as she weaved her way through the trees, followed by three snarling wolves. Evernya released a large force blast behind her as she pumped more mana into her body to push herself ever faster.
With her vision having a hard time keeping up with the rapidly passing trees, a tree appeared in front of her. Thinking quick, Evernya propelled herself up the trunk, using her claws to find purchase. After a few seconds of frantic climbing, Evernya reached a dozen meters up. While resting on a branch, Evernya calmed her erratic breathing as she focused her senses on the approaching wolves. As the wolves neared, she held her unneeded breath to avoid alerting the wolf pack.
The wolves stopped at her tree, sniffing the air before moving on. Too scared to breathe, Evernya remained deathly still until the wolves ran off farther in the distance. That was close! There’s no way I could beat all three. My force blades barely left a scratch! Even with a direct hit! If everything is this tough, how the hell will I hunt? I wish I had a monster encyclopedia or something. Maybe there’s something in Meira’s storage ring, but I have no time to search now. I better get moving before the wolves circle back. The only problem is, how do I get down? Did I play into another feline cliché? I refuse to be a cat stuck in a tree!
Evernya shimmied down the tree, using her claws to avoid slipping. Several minutes later, her feet landed on the ground. With a few quick sniffs, she located Meira’s scent trail, fortunately leading in the opposite direction of the wolves. More cautious than ever, Evernya jogged after the scent trail, crossing her fingers for no more mana beast encounters.
Actively avoiding twigs and dried leaves, Evernya weaved her way through the forest, ears on a swivel for any signs of company. Besides the distant chirping of birds, harmless rodents, and insects, nothing stuck out to her. A few somewhat fresh unfamiliar scents worried her, but she continued to push forward.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully as she took advantage of her sensitive senses to avoid any fresh scents. As the already dim forest floor darkened, Evernya scaled a tree to rest her exhausted body. Too scared to put herself in a food coma, Evernya sucked down several smoothies while leaning her back against the two-meter wide tree trunk a dozen meters in the air on a massive meter wide branch.
I think I’ll hide up here until morning. Even with my night vision, I would rather avoid traveling at night. Besides, I need to keep my body rested in case another wolf pack finds me, or worse. Evernya thought as her eyes drifted closed, body going limp.
Morning light streaming through the forest canopy shined down on the sleeping girl. Upon reaching the girl, her eyes fluttered open with a groan. A moment later, those same eyes opened wide as her hands flew to her lower abdomen. After discreetly scanning for witnesses, a dreamy expression descended, followed by a long relaxed a sigh.
Evernya laid in a daze for several minutes before materializing several smoothies, levitating them with telekinesis until it was their turn to disappear down the hungry cat girl’s throat. Once satisfied, she sprouted claws before shimmying down the massive tree trunk.
With her senses spread wide, she continued her journey, following the scent trail. Several hours later, the ever-alert girl walked into a moss-covered clearing. A puffing of her tail caused her to stop dead. She held her breath as her nose twitched and her ears swiveled, trying to catch the cause. After several minutes of finding nothing, she cautiously proceeded forward, past a large, mossy rock taller than her.
As she walked within a meter of the rock, her bare feet picked up a subtle vibration pattern. She froze on the spot as her already pale skin lost all its color. Her head swiveled to the left, toward the seemingly harmless mossy rock. With her sensitive ears, she focused in on the rock, picking up slow, muffled breathing, increasing her panic.
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What do I do? If I wake it up, I’m dead! There’s no way I could fight something with a mana grade on par with Meira! Evernya thought, trembling in panic.
Heart in her throat, Evernya tiptoed as silently as possible past the sleeping rock. As soon as she left the clearing, she shot off in a sprint, putting as much distance as she could from the sleeping rock. Now on extra high alert, Evernya added her mana sensing to her wide array of continuously active senses. Now plugged into the surrounding mana, Evernya relaxed as the potent wild mana entered her body with each breath.
The next two days passed as Evernya worked her way through the forest, following the scent trail. She avoided clearings altogether as mana beasts seemed to love them, instead opting to take detours around them whenever possible. During this time, her tail was in a constant fluffed state, mirroring her anxiety.
On the third day, she picked up a confusing array of scents. Did Meira and the Kidnapping Elven Bitch multiply? Why are there so many similar scents? Evernya thought before realization dawned. Oh crap, did I just walk into an elven village? There are at least a couple hundred slightly distinct scents! What if they decide to hunt me down!? I guess, whatever happens, happens, I’ve come too far to turn back now. Evernya thought, prompting her body to tremble, picturing an Evernya hunt by hundreds of elves.
Despite her soaring anxiety, Evernya crept forward, ears on a swivel, tail fluffed.
A half-hour later, the cautious girl slammed face-first into an invisible wall. What the hell is this!? Evernya exclaimed in her head as she prodded the invisible wall with her finger. Not a very welcoming people, but I suppose it’s not unexpected from Meira’s stories and Elven stories from Earth. At least I think this is an elven village. The other side of the barrier is just more forest, but I bet it’s an illusion. Evernya commented to herself.
Mildly insulted by her rejected entrance, Evernya filtered out the Elven scent until she pinpointed Meira’s scent. Why is Meira’s scent leading to the left? Isn’t this her destination? Evernya observed, tail forming a question mark.
As silently as possible, still afraid of an Evernya hunt, she crept to the left along the invisible barrier. Is the barrier repelling mana beasts? I suppose it’s refreshing. I’ve spent the last three days avoiding the distinct mana-infused scent of mana beasts like the plague. If only hundreds of possibly hostile elfy scents didn’t replace it. Oh well, this is the wilds, everything is wild and hostile. The trees and plants seem harmless at least. Hopefully, I didn’t just jinx myself! It would really suck if one of my tree beds decided to eat me whole! Evernya shook her head to banish the thought as she continued creeping along the edge of the barrier.
A kilometer later, Meira’s scent veered through the barrier, stopping Evernya in her tracks. Now what? Do I just wait here until they come out? What if there’s another exit?
Evernya rested her hand against the barrier as she contemplated her next course of action. However, any further thoughts vanished in favor of a quite girly screech as her body fell right through the barrier.
Red-faced with embarrassment, Evernya scanned her surroundings. She found herself inside an archway created by two giant magically altered trees. From her position lying on the dirt ground, Evernya glimpsed the village beyond the arch. The village had beautiful, magically enhanced flowers, vibrantly glowing in every color of the rainbow, covering the edges of dirt paths and houses grown out of trees.
Mesmerized by her otherworldly beautiful surroundings, Evernya almost forgot where she was. Freezing in panic, Evernya strained her ears to pick up any activity. Where is everyone? The scents are fresh, but unless everyone is silent, I don’t think anyone is here. Evernya thought, observing the silent, vibrant village.
While scanning her surroundings with caution, Evernya climbed to her feet. As silently as possible, she ventured forward, head swiveling in all directions, captivated by the mystical structures formed out of giant trees. In a circular layout, gigantic trees hollowed out and bent and twisted in impossible shapes, creating a fantasy scene. At the center of the one kilometer wide village lived a colossal tree with brightly glowing rainbow-colored fruits adorning its countless branches.
Drawn like a moth to a flame, Evernya gravitated toward the central tree while glancing briefly into the doorless empty tree houses along the way. She stopped at the foot of the central tree, staring up with wide eyes. How can a tree be this big? The trunk alone is at least twenty meters wide!
Any further thoughts fell at the wayside as a compulsion-like desire to climb the tree took hold. In a trance, Evernya stepped forward onto a spiral stairway forming out of the tree trunk. With a vacant expression, Evernya ascended the stairway.
A half-hour later, Evernya came to finding herself in a small hut high in the central tree. A bewildered expression formed from the change of scenery. How the hell did I get here!? The last thing I remember is staring at the colossal central tree.
“Don’t worry, child. I am the one who brought you here.” spoke an elderly female voice radiating mana.
Evernya’s head snapped toward a leaf-covered bed formed out of wood, resting an elderly elf. Evernya’s fangs descended as she took in the elderly being, radiating mana beyond her imagination. A headache formed just trying to sense the bottomless well of mana that was the elderly elf.
Evernya struggled to resist the urge to nibble on the being in front of her, to the amusement of the lounging elf. “What… Are… You?” Evernya forced out.
“No need to fight your nature. Though I would suggest refraining from snacking on me for your own sake.” Stated the bottomless mana well of a woman.
Despite her entire being’s overwhelming desire to pounce, Evernya dropped to the bark-covered floor cross-legged. I have no idea what she is, but she is not an elf. At least as far as I can tell, she means no harm, which is great since she could swat me like a fly. I may as well take the time to rein in my pesky mana addiction. I would rather not attack someone as powerful as her. Evernya thought as she fell into a meditative state, following the flow of her mana.
Twenty minutes later, Evernya awoke, refreshed. Upon returning her attention to the unknown woman, her hunger returned with force, prompting her to chug several smoothies. Six smoothies later, Evernya finally refocused on the elderly Elven lady lying on her bed of leaves with an expression of amusement with a hint of fascination.
“Impressive control for someone so young.” The elderly elf complimented.
The fanged girl tried her best to hide her annoyance at being called young but failed as a faint pout flashed, eliciting a smile from the elf. “Just like your mother. When I first met her, she was only a little older than you are now. Just like you, she hated being called young because of her petite frame.”
Confusion reigned at the mention of her mother, prompting the powerful being to mumble to herself. “Oh? She hasn’t shown herself to her daughter yet? I would’ve thought after all these years waiting for her daughter to return, she would jump at the chance. I suppose someone of her stature would have issues forcing their way through the barrier, but when has that stopped her. At least she was near the top when I last saw her before the barrier erection.”
“My mother? Do you mean the mother of this body?” Evernya questioned, letting a secret slip while under the influence of the almost tangible mana radiating off the elderly elf.
With a cryptic smile, the elderly elf replied. “You will find out on your own soon. All I can say is you are exactly where you belong.”
“If you’re not going to answer anything, why bring me here?” Inquired Evernya, tail whipping in frustration, overpowering her hunger.
“I was curious to finally meet the beloved daughter I’ve heard so much about. It’s been so dull since my most recent inhabitants left on their justified but misguided journey.” The being replied with an almost childish pout at the loss of her previous entertainment.
“Where did they go?” Evernya eagerly inquired as her mana fogged brain remembered her original purpose.
Several minutes of silence followed as the elderly elf lazed on her bed of leaves, watching the impatient fanged girl before she decided to speak. “Eager, are we? You will find the elf known as Meira and her naïve little sister soon enough. No need to rush.”
A moment later, more mana flooded the room. Evernya’s eyes glazed over as her irritation evaporated. What was I mad about? How could I ever be angry at her? Evernya thought as her body turned to jello.
Unable to support her weight, her legs crumbled. Just before Evernya’s boneless body impacted the floor, a leafy cushion rose out of the bark-covered floor, catching her limp body. Evernya stared blankly up at the ceiling in a drugged state. Unnoticed by the semi-conscious girl, her mana left her body through the cushion of leaves.
Several hours passed with her mana cycling into the cushion of leaves before returning to her body. As each cycle completed, Evernya’s already flawless complexion and silky jet black hair somehow improved even further with an almost divine glow. Her dimly glowing eyes rose a tick in their luminousness and the vividness of the sapphire coloring.
While nodding in satisfaction, the elderly elf rose from her leafy bed, gliding with weightless steps toward the incapacitated girl. As she crossed the dozen-meter gap, her elderly Elven appearance faded, revealing dark brown bark-like skin with long grassy green hair and deep green eyes.
Upon reaching Evernya, the leafy cushion lifted to waist height, allowing the woman to pick up Evernya’s limp body without bending down. Cradling Evernya’s body, the woman bent her head down to kiss Evernya’s forehead, leaving a brown mark. This brown mark faded away on Evernya’s flawlessly smooth, ashen forehead.
After the kiss, the woman dropped Evernya. “Good luck, child, may your life be long and fulfilling, unlike your tragic short first life.” The woman blessed while watching Evernya sink into the bark floor.