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The Cycle of Time: Izuna's Journey
The Adventurer’s Guild, and the Encounter Part: 3

The Adventurer’s Guild, and the Encounter Part: 3

"H-hey there, reader, Izuna here!! I suppose now would be a good time to explain my skills and titles. I will start with my unique skills:

Omni-directional movement allows me to use the air, water, or literally anything as if it were solid, negating the whiplash.

Future sight allows me to see a few seconds into the future, allowing me to react to even a sneak attack. The only downside is that it never turns off...

I think my standard skills are self-explanatory, so I will skip those, unfortunately. As a vampire progenitor and high elf, I possess a few race-specific skills that don't show up on my stat chart; they are:

Blood control: this allows me to control and manipulate blood as long as it's exposed to my mana.

Blood-sucking is a bit of a misnomer, but vampire progenitors have a unique variant of this skill that allows us to drain the blood, mana, and soul of a person.

Immortality: This is a race-specific to vampire progenitors and high elves. However, don't let it fool you; this cake is a lie!! It only makes it so I stop aging in my prime and can't die outside of taking a lethal blow as an adventurer; that is an ever-present risk.

Nature's dominion is a high-elf racial skill that allows one to have complete dominion over the natural world. I could raise a massive forest in a desert if I wanted to, if I had enough MP.

Nature's whisper: Another high elf racial skill; this one cannot be turned off; it lets me hear and speak with plants and animals as if they were people.

I need the author to explain the only unexplained title. I honestly don't know, and there is no description."

"Sure, tag me in, though I may as well just let it happen naturally in an upcoming conversation."

"Bu-mmmhmmm!" I lost my voice mid-gripe.

"Izuna, you will have to live with it. I muted you since I knew you were going to complain. Now to unmute and let the story progress."

"Geeze, you're so unfair, author. Well, anyway, as for why I can break the fourth wall, hell, if I know, might be a god's blessing.

H-hey wait, no, author I promise I won't abuse this skill, if you have a problem with it, you shouldn't have written me this way!

Whew, that was close; she almost muted me again. The author sure is scary, huh? Now let's get back to my life. Athena's coming. Sorry for breaking the fourth wall; thank you for your time!!"

***

Athena came over to me and saw me with my stat screen open. I see. I figured you would have an abnormal growth rate, but a few hundred points per level is still crazy. It looks like you picked up Analysis Blocker; that's a smart move. You also picked up barrier magic, eh? I didn't realize you were so fond of our little group already," She spoke in a teasing tone.

"I just thought it would be useful for escort missions and to avoid being found out," I quipped back in an embarrassed tone.

"Aww, I feel hurt." Athena teased me back and fondly stroked my hair. "And here I thought we were finally growing on you, darn."

I shrug her off and head into the woods. She watched me off with a fond look in her eyes. "Come back in like half an hour; food will be done then!"

I smiled at that and waved without looking back to show my acknowledgment. I trudged off into the woods towards the stream I saw earlier on my hunt. It wasn't long before I found what I was looking for either. I smiled at the stunning scene of a glorious full moon reflected in the stream's water and a waterfall sounding off in the distance, adding to the calming atmosphere. A dryad played with a spirit off in the distance, adding to the tranquil and pleasant sight. I leaped up into a tree and took my spot on a thick bough. I rested my back against the tree as I relaxed in the peace of the moment.

I always loved the night of the full moon; it has been a soft spot in my heart for as long as I can remember. The serenity of the world is omnipresent at night. Most people are asleep, leaving the world in the most blitstful silence. As I continued gazing up at the moon in utter bliss, I sensed a presence nearby. "Hi, wanna play?"

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It was the dryad and the spirit. I smiled at them and shrugged. "Sure, why not? Let's have a bit of fun while I have free time."

Dryads and spirits normally avoid people, but I have found that for some reason, they adore me. I feel the same for them, though; they care for nature and do their best to protect it from the mortal race's ceaseless consumption.

I wound up spending the entire time playing tag with a group of dryads, naiads, and spirits and having the biggest blast I've had in a while. "Thank you for inviting me to play. I hope to play with you again soon!" I bow to them as they look at me sadly. "I know; I'm sorry, but I have to go. My team might worry for me if I don't at least check in."

The spirits nod and bless my gear, my eyes widening in surprise. The dryads granted me nature's blessings and protection. The naiads blessed me with immunity to water magic, ice magic, and the ability to breathe under the water. My gear had gained strong elemental resistance and power boosts. I headed back after thanking and saying goodbye to my new friends.

Once I returned to camp, Athena grinned at me and waved me over. The merchant noticed my return and chuckled. "Quite bold to stay out in such dangerous woods like that."

I shrugged at that and spoke my mind. "You say dangerous, but to me, it feels like home," I gratefully accepted my portion of the food, despite not feeling hungry after having my fill earlier.

The merchant shrugged with a laugh and followed up. "That's a high elf for you; nature freaks me out." Ah, I see. So, we are indeed going with that MO, got it. "Yes, the forest is always so comforting that I could lose myself in bliss from how relaxed it makes me feel."

I glance at Athena and jerk my head towards the forest the second I finish my food. Athena rolled her eyes and followed me as I stood just out of sight of the camp. "What's up? Something bothering you?" she asked after catching up.

I looked at her for a long moment as I collected my thoughts. "Look, I know I said I was cool with playing being a high elf in front of others, but I don't know the first thing about them. I haven't even met a single elf. If they ask me what life is like in Mina, I won't be able to respond. If it doesn't have to come up, I would rather leave my race undisclosed."

Athena smiled at me warmly as she watched me fidget anxiously. "In that case, why don't you take the night watch and rest in the woods away from everyone? You answered the merchant like a natural-born elf anyway, so I don't really see the problem. You didn't sound like you were faking it either."

"I-I mean, you're not wrong. I love nature far more than being around most people. B-but you didn't have to say it like that. I'm gonna have an identity crisis at this rate," I joked back as I fought my nerves.

Athena laughed at that and ruffled my hair. "You should just do you, kay? If you don't want to risk it, I permit you to travel as an advance scout in the woods. That work for y-"

She was cut off when a surprise guest came out of the tree beside us. It was one of the dryads I had played with earlier. "Bestie, welcome back!!" The dryad tackled me from the right, and I playfully bopped her on the head. "It's dangerous here; you should go back; we can play later. There are humans nearby."

Athena stared at the scene before her in bewilderment as another dryad dropped from a nearby tree and ran over to me. One after another, the spirits and dryads crowded around me excitedly. All I could do was warn them of the risks of being here. Athena finally spoke, with a hint of wonder in her voice. "Y-you truly are like a high elf. What is happening?"

I grinned at her as the spirits, the dryads, and the small critters of the forest gathered around me. "I honestly have no idea what's happening to me. I'm a vampire progenitor, yet they love me as though I were one of them, or a high elf. Vampires are typically despised by nature's spirits and lifeblood. I don't get it."

"I thought you could only get through the forest and hunt here alone because you were strong, but it would seem there's more to it than meets the eye," Athena quickly became lost in thought, so I shrugged and turned my focus on everyone around me. The next moment, I catch movement to the left and spot an elegant-looking dryad erupting out of the tree, a neatly folded letter in hand. Athena didn't even notice her presence, but I did. As she walked gracefully my way, the forest critters and nature spirits parted ways like water flowing around a rock.

When the beautiful Dryad stood directly before me, she kneeled and held the letter out to me like a knight handing his sword to their liege.

"W-what is it? Please tell me what you want me to do," I spoke nervously.

Athena heard me and looked confused. "I'm not sure what you mean; is something the matter?" She asked me.

I shook my head and gestured to the elegant woman in front of me. "You're telling me you can't see her, Athena?"

Athena shook her head.

The dryad spoke at last. "Your highness, she cannot detect my presence. As far as anyone but you and the spirits around you are aware, I am not here," She takes a breath and continues. "I am here with a request from the spirit king. He requests an audience with you, the queen of the vampires. He has noted your abnormal love of nature and the gentle care and nurture you provide to the spirits of nature."

"W-wait, how did you know I was a vampire progenitor? I have analysis blocker enabled!" I panicked for a moment as I struggled to grasp what was happening.

"As a dryad and a spirit of nature, we can see past that and peer into the divine soul. We perceive the world differently from others."

Athena speaks up. "You ok, Izuna? You look paler than usual."

I took a moment to respond. "Head back to camp; I have business to attend to as the queen of the vampires. I will be alright; the dryads and nature spirits would protect me if push came to shove. Loath as I am to let that happen."

Athena shrugged. "Fine, just be back by morning at the very latest."

I nod and say, "I will try at the very least. Worst comes to worst; I can just jog after you."

I turned back to the chic dryad, and she smiled at me warmly. "Shall we go my lady?" She spoke in a voice that was as soft as the breeze.

"Lead the way, I will follow close behind," And so our entourage vanished into the night.