The room we're in is dimly lit with a small lightbulb hanging above the ceiling.

The air is tense on the three of us. Leo's hands were clasped together whilst he put his elbow on the table. Minnie was pinning the map on the table, and I... Was sitting there wondering what my friends were doing this.

— "What are we even doing here? It's so dark!"

— "Shut it, Owens."

Minnie now had pinned the four corners of the map. Why did she take so long to pin four corners? The map wasn't big at all and it was maybe smaller than the map in my backpack that I never use.

— "I heard from the court's physicians and medical professionals that my mother has no chance of surviving. But they said something about a man..."

— "Who was it?"

— "Can we talk about why we're here in the first place?"

Leo's fox ears were perked and stiffened upwards as he listened closely to what Minnie was about to say. And Minnie ignored my question entirely.

— "...Who is a professional on curses. My mother, unfortunately, was struck by a curse by the man that looked like Owens. And the court's medical professionals couldn't do anything about curses. Not even aunt Cassandra could do anything about it."

Leo's eyes darted to the map and to Minnie.

— "Then what are we supposed to do?"

— "We are heading to the Mystical Forest."

— "The Mystical forest?!"

I started laughing my heart out. Seriously?! The Mystical Forest doesn't exist! It's just a fairytale!

And before I knew it, Leo smacked the back of my head, sending my forehead slamming to the table.

*Thwack!*

— "Ouch! What was that for?!"

— "Let's stop with the jokes, Owens. Min-Min's mom is actually going to die here. And Aevum's adventurers are on a dungeon raid at the moment. We barely saw any adventurers when that raid happened."

— "Exactly as Leo said. The adventurers are on a dungeon raid. That's why we weren't being helped at all. We are either going to die going to that forest or we are going to come back alive. That forest is teeming with monsters that will kill on sight."

It's getting serious. The silence after Minnie finished what she was saying was tense. I could feel the air being sharper as I continued to breathe.

If the Mystical Forest is true then where is it? I only knew it from fairytales. It was depicted as a forest with Pixies, Fairies, and among other magical creatures. But in reality, those Pixies and Fairies are feral creatures that kill its preys using grotesque methods.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

— "Even if the Mystical Forest is real, where do we even find it? I've traveled far and wide and never once did I ever encounter a forest like those in the fairytale books. And as the fairytale books said, it's teeming with magical beings like Pixies and Fairies."

Minnie's expression darkened after I expressed my concerns.

— "I couldn't care less anymore, Owens. I just want to save my mother from that terrible man. Are you with me or not, Owens?"

She asked seriously whilst looking at me. I can understand why she wanted to go there but it's basically a suicide mission at this point and I have no incentive to do so–Wait?! Why am I thinking this?! I need to help out people! Even if I'm not a hero!

— "I'm going with you."

I'm determined to help her no matter what. I'll guide them to hell and back if it means a good time being in an adventure.

— "Same here. You two are probably going to need my magic anyway. I'm going to have fun zapping those small critters in the air like mosquitoes. Mwahahahaha!!"

— "Good. You two are on board. I will have to request a lot of items for our travels—potions, tomes, rations, deployable and disposable portable tents. We are not going out there unprepared."

She thought this through. I guess I learned to neve underestimate a person like Minnie... Maybe I would be like her too if I found out my parents were suffering through the same thing.

— "Whilst the said items are being requested, I'm not going to let Owens be a liability to our party; I'm going to teach you how to use weapons."

— "But I don't know how to use weapons!"

— "If Leo could fight then so can you."

True. When I first met Leo, he did dropkick a random guard keeping us captive. Maybe I should give it a try...

*Pant*

*Pant*

*Pant...*

...After what seemed like hell, we're finally taking a break. From doing what, you might ask? We were sparring with weapons without any practice. And we were practicing under the scorching hot sun in the castle's inner walls where there's a plain of green, well-maintained grass. How are they even breathing in what they're wearing right now?! Leo is still in the Kimono that he wears everyday and Minnie is still in that fancy armored dress.

— "You're weak, Owens. The rubber bullets that were summoned to the barrel of my gun were slower than usual, you know that, right? I purposely slowed it down to not hurt you."

— "Even if you did slow it down, I still couldn't dodge the bullets!"

— "Owens, do you even lift? You can't even use a normal sword and you can't punch or kick at all."

—- "He can't even lift a normal sword."

— "Give me a break! I was sheltered growing up; I don't have any experience fighting!"

— "I'm a princess and I was sheltered my entire life and I still know how to fight. That's no excuse, Owens."

— "Alright, alright! Can't you just give me something light?!"

Minnie then pointed at the saber with a needle-like edge. It had a high-quality leather sleeve and a clean polish on its hand-guard. It was shining from the sun.

I walked towards it, grabbed it before unsheathing it in its cover.

— "Is that even a sword? It looks like an oversized sewing needle!"

Leo jokingly commented.

— "Shut up!"

Suddenly, Minnie's servant came up to her. It was a young woman, maybe older than me. Dressed in fancy clothing that you won't suspect her being a servant of a castle.

— "Young Lady, it is getting dark. I would highly suggest calling it for today. And as for the queen, the mages and medical professionals are keeping track of her vitals and they are as stable as they could be. Oh and the requested items that you wanted to be ordered are on the way but due to the recent panic from the attack, people are arming themselves and stocking up on supplies so it will take quite a while for them to be delivered."

Man, she really has a lot to say. Well, that's to be expected when you're in a place like this.

Anyhow, shortly after that, we were led to our room which was luxurious at worst and grand at best. I felt like a ruler sleeping on that thing... Sleeping. I'm asleep after all of that training.