CHAPTER 22- INTO THE DARKNESS

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As I keep heading deeper into the woodlands it gets increasingly dimmer and dimmer as the foliage grows thicker and thicker and blocks out increasingly more of the sunlight that is filtering down from the above. I may also have to do with the sun setting, but by my recon I should still have a few more hours of sun, so I doubt it. Either way, this new development is not exactly putting me at easy.

"It really makes me start questioning my decision to go into the woods as the right choice…" I mumble quietly to myself as I keep a close eye on my surroundings while trekking along quietly through the woodlands.

"Then again; I am still alive, so that's something at least." I mumble as I continue my trek.

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A few hours later as I am eating my last fish, I notice a district dimming of the light as the angle of the light filtering in through the foliage is obviously changing. 'I guess that means that the sun is setting. Great; Time to find shelter once again…' I muse grimly as I hurriedly finish my food and make to find a place to rest my weary body.

-----@)@#/--

Half an hour or so later I stumble upon an hollow tree stump with a big hole in it. Even from here, I can see inside the opening and see it is quite open inside; It's basically an organic cave at that size. The tree itself is still alive, in spite of it's hollowed-out state, which speaks of some serious vitality that the tree just have going for it.

A closet inspection of the organic cavern reveals nothing of note as of yet, but I have a gut-feeling that this cavern isn't as uninhabited as I would have like it to be. Contemplating whether I should seek other shelter however is quickly abandoned as I consider the now dark woodlands; going searching out there now doesn't seem like an idea I'll survive, so I am left with the cavern as my only option.

"I mean, the thing living in here can't be worse than whatever that thing last night was, right?... I think? I mean, it must at the least be much smaller, otherwise it wouldn't fit inside here…" I monologue quietly to myself while scanning the organic cave mouth.

The hole is about two times two and a half meters, so it's a pretty nice fit for humans; or subhumans or whatever too, I guess?

'Elves or Forest folk or… something? I have no idea… oh well, let's go. Stalling here won't help.'

Gingerly, I quietly sneak into the cavern.

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Once inside the entrance, it is only a few meters before the path opens up into a large room. A dozen or so small holes up above is filtering in the last of today's sunlight, but otherwise there is no lightsource inside which makes it bare possible for me to make out anything in the murky room.

Sweeping my gaze over the room, I can see nothing of note; The room seems empty, save for another opening I can barely make out that seemingly leads further inside the tree cavern.

Continuing to survey the room carefully for anything I missed or didn't see in the murkiness, I ponder my next action.

'I could go see what's inside the other opening, maybe there is a better spot over there... But then again, I don't want to go too deep inside and attract whatever may be lurking inside, if I don't have to; Maybe it will leave me alone if I do the same.'

After being fairly sure that I am alone in the room, I decide I could use some more light to see by; So I focus my mana on the tips of my left hands index finger and will a small flame into being and slightly lights up my immediate surroundings, but not much more. Staring at the small flame, I shake my head slightly. "Yeah no, this ain't going to cut it…" I mumble quietly before willing the flame to dissipate.

"I need light more than fire…" I mutter as I start gathering Mana once again.

This time, however, I focus on the aspect of light. The sun, a lightbulb, brightness…

With that image in mind, I start compressing my mana and will it into shape once again above my left index finger. At first there is only a slight glow around my finger, but as I exert my will and focus on a floating light-ball the light increases until I have to cover my eyes from its bright light.

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It takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the now brightly lit room, and once they do I once again gaze around the room, only to find that the room is indeed completely empty.

With that confirmed, I quietly walk over to the opening towards the deeper parts of the tree cavern and gingerly look inside.

The opening leads on in a winding path that makes me unable to see where it leads; and I don't really feel like finding out where it leads, right now at least, so I backtrack and walk back to the large room by the entrance and look around for a good spot to make a campfire.

I decided to make a small campfire close to the entrance of the tree cavern so the light won't leak outside, while retaining optimal airflow; Because I don't want to die because of either carbon monoxide poisoning or by being discovered and attacked by monsters and/or beasts. Of course, I also need stones to contain the flames from spreading, because I really don't want to burn to death.

After hurriedly going outside the cavern to quickly scavenge some firewood and decently sized stones, I hurry back to the cavern and set up the campfire hurriedly. Once set up and ready I use a bit of magic to get the fire going and then sit back towards the cavern wall and take a sip from my water skin as I have no food left at hand, and I'm not inclined to go searching for any while it's dark outside so I can only settle down and try to get some sleep in.

---&-@_@--+3

As I awake slowly, I absent-mindedly notice light trickling down from above.

Lifting my head to follow the light to its source, I stare dazedly at the beautiful scenery before me.

The light has a green tint from it from filtering through all the foliage before it falls down towards the tree cavern I slept the night in.

The light filtering down through the dozen or so cracks casts the inside of the cavern in a green-golden hue combined with what I assume is concentrated mana floating around inside the tree cavern, makes it a most beautiful and awe-inspiring scene.

After a long moment of staring dumbly at the otherworldly beauty, I shake myself out of the stupor and slowly stand up and stretch out the kinks from sleeping on the cavern floor.

'Al least it isn't cold, that would make things even worse than they already are.' I muse lazily as I finish stretching out the last of the kinks.

All ready to go, I stomp out the last of the embers of the fire and walk over to the opening towards the deeper parts of the cavern and gingerly look inside while weighing the option of going inside or if it is best to just leave.

Ultimately, my curiosity wins out and I conjure a small ball of light and promptly start quietly sneaking along the path towards the inner caverns.

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An hour later I arrive at a large hall that is sparsely decorated with a few tables and chairs here and there; It kind of gives me a banquet hall kind of feel, but not like at a high noble or such but more in a casual sense.

Inlaid into the walls are goblets with green fire burning brightly and illuminating the entirety of the hall in a green hue.

At the far end of the hall is an enormous and massive door made out of solid wood inlaid with gold and silver or something closely resembling the materials I am familiar with at least; In either case, the door seems incredibly sturdy.

Tentatively walking through the hall, I keep a close watch out for anything dangerous.

Fortunately, nothing happens and I reach the door without trouble. Once at the door I inspect the door but see nothing of note; And pushing and pulling at the door does absolutely nothing to it.

Shrugging, I knock on the door three times. "Hello?" I yell loudly. "Anyone home?"

Waiting silently while listening for some noise from the other side, I hear nothing for a long minute. Just as I give up and start walking away, I hear a deep rumbling and grinding from behind me.

Turning around in a hurry, I see the door slowly opening and a moment later a tall and slender blond man with deep blue eyes stands in the doorway, looking curiously at me while cocking his head in inquiringly.

Staring at the man, I notice his ears are quite pointy and his eyes have a certain unnatural glow to them.

'An elf?' I ponder absently as I stare at him.

Focusing his gaze on my eyes, the man speaks in an unexpectedly deep voice: "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Snapping out of my thinking, I hurriedly try to reply to the man but it comes out as a jumbled mess. "Oh! Uhh hey, so, I got lost in these woods and kind of just ended up here. My name is Ray, by the way." A moment later I add: "...Where is 'here' by the way? I'm kinda, like, totally lost."

Blinking quickly a few times, the man just stares at me dumbly for a long moment as I wait for a response.

It takes almost a minute before the man recovers, and starts talking again.

"... I see." He says slowly. "So, let me get this straight; you 'got lost' in the deep woodlands of Eteria, managed to survive for who knows how long in the deep woods, and somehow happened upon my home, the home of the great wizard of the woods, Ter'vi?"

Tilting my head, I can only shrugs slowly before saying: "Yeah, so it seems."

The man just inspects me quietly for a moment, but then the light in his deep blue eyes flashes brightly and I can feel great volumes of mana start to gather around the man.

Backing away hurriedly while waving my hands frantically. "Whoa! Chill, man! If I'm not welcome, I'll leave!" I exclaim desperately.

No reply forthcoming, and with the mana only continuing to gather, I can only prepare to retaliate as I also start gathering and condens mana of my own.

Seconds later I feel a surge as the elf's magic starts taking physical form as sharp vines come hurling towards me. In turn I will ultra hot white fire to manifest and promptly burn the vines to ash as soon as they come into contact with the flames.

"Calm yourself! I mean no harm!" I exclaim once again as I intercept wave two of the vines.

As the last of the vines are turned to ash, the glow of the elf's eyes dies down and he relaxes his posture slightly. "Very well then, it seems you are not just a fool who stumbled upon my abode; Rather a fool destined to stumble upon it." He says as he sighs exaggeratedly before turning around and taking a few steps back inside.

Noticing me not following, he turns back towards me impatiently.

"Come on then! I don't have all day!" He says irritatedly before promptly walking out of sight.

Standing still in a daze, I stare at where the elf stood just moments before. "What was all that about??" I mumble to myself confusedly.

Looking back towards where I came from, I consider just leaving this strange man and returning to the forest. I quickly discard that idea however; This elf must at least have food and drink at hand, so it seems only logical to speak to the man and try to get something to eat.

So I can only steel myself and walk after the strange elf-man into his apparent home.

END OF CHAPTER 22

END OF BOOK 1