In the depths of my slumber, I'm greeted by faint, almost ethereal female voices. They seem to echo someone's voice, or at least that's what I perceive in my hazy dream.

"Rai..."

"You must stay alive."

"I am counting on you..."

…

Suddenly, one voice breaks through the indistinct murmurs and jolts me awake.

“STAY AWAY!!”

!!!

I scream my lungs out as my heart races as I regain my senses, but after a few moments, I manage to calm down.

"It was just a dream," I whisper to myself, scanning my surroundings.

Indeed, I find myself in a room—a cozy inn room, to be precise. I glance towards the window, where the harmonious tunes of chirping birds serenade the morning. The sky outside is painted with gentle hues, signaling the arrival of a new day.

"It's already morning..."

With a faint spirit, I get ready for the day, securing my sword and stepping out of the inn.

"Yo!" I'm greeted by both Alpha and Josh as I step out of the inn. Josh raises his hand in a friendly greeting.

"Good morning," I reply with a smile, returning their warm gesture.

"His Highness has summoned us today. Let's make our way to the castle. Here's your breakfast and water. You can eat while we walk," Alpha informs me, handing over a pouch of meat jerky and a water pouch.

"Thanks a lot, Alpha," I express my gratitude as I accept the provisions. With our breakfast in hand, we begin our journey towards the castle.

Alpha and Josh, usually cheerful, wear expressions of somber determination today. I contemplate starting a conversation on our way, but the tension in the air feels heavy, stifling any words that dare to escape my lips.

Upon our arrival at the castle’s entrance by the garden, the guards grant us entry and escort us to the grand hall.

"Your Highness!" The three of us, Alpha, Josh, and I, bow respectfully before Horroundeous. His gaze meets ours, narrowing his eyes with uneasiness.

"Gentlemen," he addresses us. "Following our earlier discussion, I have a mission to assign to you. Please rise."

We straighten up, poised to receive our instructions.

"All three of you hail from the village, correct?"

"Yes, Your Highness. We were once residents of Ezlea Village," I respond.

Horroundeous sighs, a heavyweight in the room. "I hesitate to ask, but I need the three of you to infiltrate Ezlea Village and investigate any suspicious activities. Our scout reported the presence of several individuals lurking around the village, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. If these individuals are indeed human, apprehend them and bring them to the capital. We shall provide food and lodging."

Glances are exchanged between us, our eyes reflecting a blend of uncertainty.

"Are there... other survivors? Or are they merely bandits?" I inquire, a glimmer of hope in my voice.

"We cannot say for certain at this moment, which is why I am sending the three of you to gather information. You are more familiar with the village than I am," Horroundeous explains.

"Understood," Alpha declares. "We accept this task. I believe my companions have no objections."

"Very well."

Horroundeous takes a slow step closer to me, his hand thoughtfully rubbing his beard.

"And what can you say, young man?" He asks with a brief of hesitate coming out of his deep voice.

I lower my gaze, a glimmer of hope igniting within my heart.

"I... I will go. Perhaps I can encounter another survivor, after all this time."

"Very good." The king returns to his throne, his expression a mix of relief and gratitude.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"You may determine the time frame, considering the difficulty of the mission. I trust that you can deliver your report within a week."

"Indeed," Alpha responds with confidence. "We shall fulfill our mission."

"I will eagerly await your report. You are dismissed."

Horroundeous raises his left hand, signaling the three of us to place our right hand over our chests. We exit the grand hall and make our way towards the castle gate.

...

Nervous anticipation fills all three of us, but strangely, there's a spark of excitement within me. Horroundeous' words hint at the possibility of finding survivors or witnessing the village's revival.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Alpha mutters uneasily.

Josh nods, his expression mirroring Alpha's unease.

"What's troubling you?" I tilt my head toward Alpha.

"It's nothing," Alpha dismisses my worry. "Let's gather supplies before we depart."

"I'll handle the supplies," Josh volunteers. "You two can wait for me by the gate."

Alpha and I nod in unison. "We'll be here. Take your time," I assure him.

In no more than awhile, Alpha and Josh return, reuniting with me by the front gate. Alpha has donned a more substantial set of armor and wields an unique, imposing sword – a Zweihander. It's a long, two-handed sword with a slender blade, an extended guard, and parrying hooks near the middle.

The sight of Alpha's equipment suggests that things are getting serious, and he's gearing up for a challenging journey.

"Is everyone ready?" Alpha asks.

Josh and I exchange glances.

"We'll be passing through Sylph Forest using the same route we took to get here," Alpha instructs.

"Alright."

"Lead the way!" Josh raises his right hand, injecting a bit of levity into the situation.

…

After several hours of travel, the looming presence of Sylph Forest comes into view on the horizon. Yet, it appears more ominous than I remember. The once-vibrant foliage has withered, leaving behind only remnants of its former glory.

"Prepare your weapons," Alpha advises, drawing his Zweihander with a resolute expression.

Following his lead, we arm ourselves, readying for the challenges that await. Suddenly, an army of humanoid figures, resembling withered trees, bursts forth from their stationary positions and charges toward us. These eerie creatures have hollowed faces on their main trunks and dread-inducing branches atop them.

"What are those things!?" I exclaim as we move forward to confront them.

"They are the [Loggers], in human language," Alpha explains. "These wood deities are meant to guard the forest trees. However, in the absence of the Guardian of the Forest, their behavior has become erratic."

With our weapons ready, Alpha and Josh spring into action against the loggers. Alpha's Zweihander ignites with fire, and he wields it with both hands, while Josh provides support from a distance. I charge toward a group of loggers, positioning my sword to the lower left.

"[Riselite Slash!]" I cry out, slashing through one of the creatures, splitting it in half. In a swift motion, I spin around, dispatching two more loggers with precise strikes. All the training and hunting I've undergone prove to be valuable as I grow accustomed to the combat situation.

Furthermore, the new equipment I received days ago enhances my movements and protection, making me feel agile and nimble. It's more noticable whenever I fight with non-human targets.

"Not bad, Rai!" Alpha commends, his flaming Zweihander making him a formidable force.

Josh gives me a thumbs up, acknowledging my improved skills.

"Seems like you've acquired another skill, chained like that!" he remarks.

"Thank you," I reply, sheathing my sword. "I owe it to Alpha's tutor. I'm now able to execute more effective moves instead of relying solely on single slashes. Also, that's a nice weapon you have, Alpha," I glance at Alpha's burning sword.

"This? It's enchanted. The sword does nothing, it's my [skill] that makes this thing burn," Alpha chuckles briefly.

"I see..." I try to recall that Alpha used the similar technique earlier...

Oh.

The [Burning Riselite Slash] back then.

The remaining loggers, outnumbered and outmatched, begin to retreat as we press forward. In a matter of minutes, we manage to defeat the majority of them. With Alpha and Josh by my side, I feel myself growing stronger with each passing moment, grateful for the opportunity to fight alongside them.

As we continue on our journey, we pass through near the elf village gate at a pace quicker than we anticipated. Along the way, we make sure to clear out any lingering loggers, while the fresh treehouses of the elves still stand tall. Two elves guard the entrance, their bows at the ready. Remarkably, the Village of the Elves remains untouched by the withered forest that surrounds us. The trees here are still vibrant and full of life.

"Great work, folks!" Josh waves in acknowledgment.

"Elder!" One of the elves exclaims, their gaze briefly shifting in our direction.

"Keep up the good work, ladies. We have a mission to fulfill. I will pay the village a visit!"

The two elves nod in unison. Alpha, Josh, and I continue our march along the familiar path. We take occasional breaks, replenishing our energy with food we purchased in the capital, and then press on towards Ezlea Village, which now feels closer than ever before.

#

End of Chapter 19