Mr. Thompson stood there, desperate, while Cindy, his tear-stained daughter, clung to him tightly, clearly anguished. As we approached him, the distraught father raised his eyes and met my gaze with a fleeting moment of recognition. With a trembling voice, he asked, "Lucas, please tell me you have seen Mindy?"

Shaking my head solemnly, "No, I've only heard that she's gone missing." I crossed my arms, my expression resolute. Thinking to myself, “I can't believe she got herself into trouble again, Mindy.”

Mr. Thompson then shifted his gaze to Erlinda, suspicion briefly clouding his features. "Did you?" he asked, a sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"No," she replied firmly. "I wouldn't hurt a young girl, you know that" she added, her voice a bit of sad. I nodded at her words. Mr. Thompson's face dropped, and he sighed heavily, lowering his head in resignation. I couldn't help but inquire, "Do you have any idea what could have caused her disappearance? Perhaps she's still somewhere in the village?"

Frustration flickered in Mr. Thompson's eyes as he replied, "By the goddess, no, I've racked my brain, considering every possibility, but I can't think of anything. Mindy hasn't acted out like this since her mother passed away." At that moment, Mindy's sister, Cindy, who seemed eager to be of assistance, spoke up, "Rocky is sick." Erlinda turned her attention to the young girl, her expression softening. Dressed in a simple cloth dress, Cindy stood slightly on tiptoes, her small hand gesturing towards a nearby spot. There, a brown and black dog named Rocky lay motionless, its labored breathing indicating its grave condition. "Rocky is sick, and when the priest was here, he said that the forest holds berries that could cure him," Cindy explained.

My interest deepened as I contemplated the connection. "Rocky?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the little girl. Mr. Thompson interjected, revealing that this conversation had taken place before. "She wouldn't venture into the forest, not after her mother's death." Cindy's expression fell, reflecting her defeat. Erlinda moved closer to Cindy, extending a comforting arm around the girl, offering solace in her presence. "It's going to be okay, sweetheart," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "We'll do everything we can to find Mindy and make sure Rocky gets the help he needs." However, I couldn't help but sigh, "Well, Mindy is the adventurous type and has a tendency to go places where she shouldn't. Knowing her, she probably thought it would be alright because of Rocky."

As my words sank in, Mr. Thompson's face turned pale, the weight of the possibility dawning on him. His gaze shifted northward towards the entrance of the forest. "Lucas, Erlinda, please, you must check the forest. I don't know where else to look," he implored, now firmly believing that Mindy might have ventured inside. Erlinda reassured him, "Don't worry, Mr. Thompson. We will venture into the forest and investigate if Mindy went in search of those berries."

I smiled at the man, “She is probably not in there” I thought. "Thank you," Mr. Thompson replied, managing a faint smile amid his worry. "Just so you know, there will be a reward for her safe return." At the mention of a reward, my eyes lit up briefly, before I looked at Erlinda who smiled innocently. It was evident that her motives were driven primarily by self-interest, with a mixture of concern for Mindy's well-being. "Oh, a reward, you say. Now I'm truly motivated," I declared, my voice filled with determination. Standing tall, “Rest assured, Mindy will be back before you know it."

After a moment, Erlinda and I began moving toward the forest. I took a quick inventory of the potions in my satchel, ensuring I had the necessary supplies in case of injuries. Erlinda, on the other hand, shifted her iron dagger to the sheath in the front of her pants and tightened the laces on her boots, indicating her readiness.

"So, a reward," I started, looking at Erlinda, accusation in my eyes. She gave a shy smile, her demeanor betraying her self-interest. "So, how much is it?" I inquired. Erlinda shrugged, her smile fading slightly. "Don't know. I just heard about it when news of Mindy being missing circulated. Money to be made, I thought," she confessed, her voice tinged with a mix of uncertainty and opportunism.

I shook my head in mild disbelief. "Oh goddess. Money to be made," I muttered. However, Erlinda's tone turned serious as she added, "Hey, I thought she was just in town, not that the dog was sick. She may actually be in trouble." Her words carried a genuine concern for Mindy's welfare.

Sighing, I looked towards the exit of the village. ”Are you ready to go?” I asked as I turned to Erlinda. "Yeah," she replied. "Let's find her, and if we can find those berries. Dogs shouldn't be sick." I nodded in agreement. With a smile, we made our way towards the entrance of the forest.

As we ventured deeper into the forest, the ambiance transformed into a captivating tapestry of sights and sounds. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy overhead, casting an eerie glow that bathed the gnarled tree trunks in light. Shafts of radiant golden rays broke through the foliage, creating a mystical atmosphere.

The forest had always been a familiar playground for me and Erlinda. While the villagers had long harbored fears of the lurking monsters within, we had become adept at dispatching them with ease. The slimes that inhabited the forest were feeble creatures. Dispatching them is easy with my sword or even a simple wooden stick. My father, a guard, had gifted me the sword to ensure our safety in the face of such feeble creatures that inhabited the forest.

With tall, verdant trees and the melodic chorus of birds, the forest held a sense of familiarity for me, and I navigated its trails with ease. Having encountered and dispatched a few slimes along our path, Erlinda and I called out Mindy's name, our voices echoing through the stillness.

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An hour passed, the suspense mounting, until Erlinda's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of Mindy up ahead. The young girl knelt beside a cluster of vibrant berries, her red dress a stark contrast against the muted tones of the forest. Berry stains on the ground indicated her struggle to gather them.

Erlinda approached silently, deftly catching one of the fallen berries. Mindy's expression transformed from surprise to a hardened resolve as our eyes met. "Erlinda and Lucas," she uttered, "Why are you here?"

I couldn't help but burst into laughter, the absurdity of the question ringing in my ears. "Really? You're asking us why we're here? Why are you here?" I retorted, my amusement evident in my voice.

"Mindy, your father is worried sick and asked us to search for you. He thought you might be in here, attempting to cure Rocky,” Erlinda said.

The words hung in the air, the weight of their concern palpable. Mindy's gaze softened, a mixture of guilt and vulnerability washing over her face. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble," she admitted, she voice with regret. "I just wanted to help Rocky get better."

Her face showed the resolve to stay. "Okay," I said, looking at the berries she managed to collect, which was barely anything. "Lindy, stay with her while I look for more berries." Erlinda looked at me, then at Mindy, sighed, then nodded.

I turned and looked down the path, seeing only verdant leaves glistening with vibrancy and black shadows of the trees, but not the red fruits needed to be collected.

"Sigh, it could take some time," I muttered under my breath.

Mindy chimed in, "I saw some down that path, but there were slimes there, and I got scared."

"Thanks for the heads up," I said, expressing gratitude for Mindy's information. Steeling myself, I began walking the way she indicated. The forest seemed to come alive around me as I ventured deeper into its enchanting embrace.

"The air is even more aromatic here," I thought, inhaling deeply as the rich scent of earth and foliage filled my nostrils. Rays of sunlight played hide-and-seek through the dense canopy, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor.

The sound of rustling leaves and distant bird calls filled the air, accompanied by a gentle breeze. While venturing deeper into the forest, my mind wandered to the countless hours I had spent playing within these trees as a child. I carefully navigated the winding path, stepping over fallen branches and maneuvering around protruding roots.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally arrived at the spot Mindy had mentioned. It was a small clearing bathed in dappled sunlight, with clusters of red berries dotting the surrounding shrubs.

However, my excitement quickly turned to concern as I noticed the presence of four slimes lurking around the berry bushes. These blue gelatinous creatures, although feeble on their own, posed a potential threat if they swarmed.

Drawing my sword from its scabbard, I approached the slimes with a swift motion, swinging my sword to cleave through the nearest slime. The blade sliced through the creature, cutting it in half, splattering a blue substance across the ground.

The remaining three slimes, undeterred, closed in on me, their slimy bodies undulating with an unsettling intensity. Dancing with agility, I darted and weaved, evading the slimes' acidic touch. With each strike, my sword cut through the air.

I parried a lunging slime, my blade ringing with a metallic clash as it repelled the attack. Seizing the moment, I counterattacked, my sword arcing through the air with a swift slash, splitting another slime in two. With a burst of energy, I leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the slimes' strike.

Landing gracefully, I pivoted on my heel, using my momentum to launch myself forward. The tip of my sword traced an elegant arc as it descended upon the nearest slime, slicing it apart with a precise strike. I lunged at the last remaining slime. My sword cleaved through the air, leaving a trail of glimmering steel in its wake. The blade connected with the slime's amorphous body, slicing deep into its core. A sickening squelch echoed through the air as the creature writhed and shrank, disintegrating into a putrid puddle.

Taking a moment to look around, I couldn't help but feel a moment of frustration and impatience. Things didn't go as smoothly as I initially expected. The slimes proved to be more stubborn and persistent than I had anticipated. I carefully gathered the ripe berries, placing them in a small pouch I had brought along for this purpose. As I collected the vibrant fruits, I couldn't help but marvel at their beauty and potential to heal Rocky. “These should do the trick," I thought, after carefully ensuring that I had everything.

I turned on my heels and made my way back to where Erlinda and Mindy were. There a nice sight greeted me as I approached—the two girls were sitting on the soft ground, with Mindy cradling a handful of the precious fruits, and Erlinda gazing up at the clouds in the sky. Mindy's face lit up with hope as I approached, while Erlinda questioned, "We good?" A smile graced my lips as I raised my pouch, brimming with an abundance of berries. "We are good," I reassured them. Mindy, overwhelmed, appeared on the verge of tears. "Now Rocky will be okay," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Erlinda stood up, extending her hand towards Mindy, who eagerly accepted the gesture of support, thanking Erlinda. Suddenly, a deep, rumbling tremor shook the ground beneath us. The forest shook in panic, its mighty trees swaying violently, leaves rustling with fear. Fear surged through me as I recognized the signs of an impending earthquake. Mindy screamed loudly as she and Erlinda tumbled to the trembling earth, and I quickly moved back, shielding the precious pouch of berries with my hand. The earthquake raged on, relentless in its fury, shaking the forest as if nature itself was in upheaval.

Finally, the tremors subsided, leaving behind a scene of devastation—fallen trees and disheveled earth bearing witness to the force that had just been unleashed. Erlinda and I exchanged worried glances, our faces etched with concern. Mindy, leaning on Erlinda, anxiously inquired, "Are the berries alright?" "Yeah, the berries are alright," I said, holding up the pouch. "Let's go back."