Panther, the unique name I conjure for my worthy steed, clears the wide river in one leap. It's a majestic jump. My hair is flowing in the wind and everything. I'm sure anyone in my shadow will agree that I stuck the landing. Well… Panther stuck the landing, but as his jockey, I get at least some credit for not falling off. None of this matters because we are still in my shadow, and no one is around to see my heroic entrance into the haunted forest.
I attribute my jumbled thoughts to the nightmare of a forest we are walking into. It's completely pitch black except for the glowing trees with a gross yellow hue. Moreso, the trees have eyes that are glowing with a disgusting yellow tint. They are marching toward the academy, which is also glowing but more in a golden light like the one Goldi created.
We stalk through the uprooted forest silently and swiftly. Though I can't see much in the blackness, my senses are picking up a lot of mana. Vivid greens of nature clash with smaller but more numerous hosts of lively yellows that barely give off a spark in darkness's dense, silent nothingness. Honing in my senses, the battle becomes clearer. Blocking the tree haunts from entering the exposed fortress is a legion of spiders.
Not the spiders I once faced in a less creepy forest; they might be the same, at least the ones that got away… These spiders are specialized and equipped to fight trees and are crazy good at it. Spiders with blades for feet cut at the root of the trees. The heavily armored spiders intercept the heavy blows delivered from the large limbs of the giant trees. The slicer and blocker spiders fight the trees while the spinning and commanding spiders heal, boost fighting power, and restrict the tree haunt's movement with crippling webs.
The glowing gold barrier surrounding the academy repels any darkness trying to get through, including the black flames Fury unleashes on the luminous dome. The dragon is everywhere all at once. Besides the sheltered academy, we are all in his domain. His anger and frustration almost add heat to the emptiness of the dark fog.
Under the dome are Synth Sisters, Nette's four loyal spiders, and Nette herself. All of them are defending against Fury and his flames. Besides Fury and the academy defenders, two more significant mana sources can be felt outside the academy.
Golden-green energy slowly makes its way toward the academy from the north, unbothered by trees or dragon. Opposing the burnt leaf energy is a goblin shrouded in luscious yellows and accompanied by five spider soldiers. The two opposing forces have yet to meet, so I quicken my pace to reach out to my friend before it is too late.
****
"Cru." The sudden voice cutting through the silence of the darkness startles the goblin waiting in anticipation to fight against a dryad once more. "Glad you made it, buddy. Sorry, this is what y'all are welcomed into. This place was much more homier yesterday… and there was no creepy laughing." In response to the sudden appearance of the man in black armor and robe beside them, Cru relaxes, his spider commanders, however, prepare for a new fight. Drifter’s hands held high in the air stop his spiders' immediate attack. So much attention is demanded by the orc’s appearance, the massive shadow panther by his side is barely noticeable.
Wisps of shadows lingering on the orc fade into the darkness. The massive shadow cat beside him collapses to the ground and lies as if it died. The islander's eyes are heavy, with bags starting to show. The tired eyes contrast with the lively smile and energetic posture that seems empowered from death. Confidence is the word. The strange man is full of confidence. Stand down. He is not our enemy. He sends a quick command to his commanders.
No longer treated like an enemy, the orc lowers his hands only to extend them out a second later with an offer... of food?
"Sorry, we are so unprepared. Y'all must be starving after making that trek across the mountains. I know I was. Take some food. It's not great, but I promise something better later."
Astonished by the casual nature of the orc, Cru cautiously accepts the food and divides it between himself and his spiders. It isn't the time or place to eat, but the food offer is so casual, and he is so hungry, it seems sillier to refuse the food than not. Within a few bites, he feels his energy being lifted like it is some kind of mana-enhanced biscuit. The drifter looks at each of the confused spiders and introduces himself as Jim BytheWay as if that helps improve the situation. The name is followed by a small bout of cursing in whispers of self-admonishment.
"Right," Jim says when he finishes his string of curses while handing out more food. "So since we spent the time eating instead of talking, I'm just going to send you some thoughts and let you sort them out as you wish. Glad y'all are here. Sorry, the timing is so wrong." With that, a flash of images and knowledge sink into Cru's mind.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Demons like the dryad that corrupted the forest have attacked Jim and his people. They've put up a strong defense, but more people needed help against the demons, and they turned their dragon, Fury, against the defenders. The trees are part of the demons' force and most likely the head of the demon invasion. Along with all that info is knowledge of the dungeon core Cru was seeking for power, which is already being used for lycan children and a few others.
The surplus of valuable information takes time to take in. The dungeon core Cru wants for personal gains is so close. Yet taking it would sever the extended hand of friendship freely being given. Did he want power more than friends? The answer is an easy no. He's already worshiped, and it is pretty uncomfortable. What he can use now is commodore.
The level of trust Jim shows by sharing this information with him subdues much of his suspicion, and a small kindle of trust starts to burn within him. He knows wanting to belong with others so deeply is weak, but he just doesn't care. He's experienced being weak alone. Now he will try the other route. It doesn't bother him that he is now choosing to side with the 'enemy' even the dragon will be his peer if they can ever bring it down.
Maybe it should bother him that he is turning on the goblins that finally gave him a chance. Perhaps he should care that the dragon is the reason for the loss of his bonded familiar. Those doubts fade as Jim mumbles about tree haunts, unreasonable demons, endless fighting, and one more fight to go.
"Look, I know we have all been enemies at one point." Jim's voice becomes clearer. "I know you have doubts. That's fine. I've killed spiders and have been killed by spiders, well, almost killed by spiders. My boss is the one that did the actual killing. That's a story for another time. Damn. How do people do these speech things? Anyway, let's put that all behind us, and hopefully, we can fight and kill less in the future."
Jim's hand extends this time with no food being offered. A quick image plays through Cru's mind, and he quickly grasps the offered hand as if some deal is reached between them. The islander's smile widens when the handshake is completed.
"How can we help?" Cru asks when he feels like it is appropriate.
"Cru, your spiders are already doing much to keep the tree haunts away from the academy. I can't ask you to do any more than that."
"Well, I've got a bone to pick with the dragon and the demon tree, so I'm going to fight one of them," Cru speaks with more confidence than he actually has. Jim doesn't respond immediately. His eyes go distant like he is looking at the threats or, more accurately, trying to figure out how to bring down the threats.
"Alright." Jim's attention is no longer distant. His body loosens up. He shakes his arms and rolls his head from side to side in a practiced motion. "I'm tired of not being included in this joke that's so funny. Let's go pay the tree a visit."
****
Man, that was intense. I'm sure Cru and his spiders see through my facade. To their credit, they have not called out any of my bull. My mouth is so dry from spitting out all of that nonsense. Not that my words aren't valid. It's just I couldn't convey any of my thoughts as I wanted to.
Calling him buddy was a big gamble. Luckily I had biscuits on hand that I could distract them all with before they had time to think of it longer. Is it cool to call someone buddy on a second meeting? Under the circumstances, I can see it coming off as desperate — which isn't a look I'm opposed to. Desperation just contradicts the cool confidence image I'm trying to pull off. Good thing Bones or Gene aren't here to see me mess up another encounter.
I made Bones the boss for a reason. Why do I keep having to engage in these vital conversations where it's imperative that I impress people? Fortunately, biscuits and a nifty mind trick were enough to solidify our friendship. The handshake was also a stretch, but it worked.
Now Cru and I are riding toward the pesky weed emanating powerful energy. Our pace is quick but not too fast because I'm nervous about the encounter. I can't blow another introduction. Luckily, Panther and Cru's spider mount are giving us a massive boost to our cool factor as we trot side by side.
Cru's arachnoids sneak through the forest behind us, keeping their presence somewhat in the dark. I don't think they can actually hide from the golden tree person, but their sneaky formation also adds to our look. All that is missing is a confident skeleton and a competent wolf by my side.
I look at the glowing academy as we pass it by at a distance. The glowing dome has turned to glass, which has amplified Glimmer's light. The brightness of the dome is no longer suppressed by darkness, and light is beginning to claim more ground. None of Fury's attacks can break through the glass barrier, and the dragon looks more desperate as it has to dodge beams of light shooting from the glass dome.
Now that the academy has a solid defense and a way to fight off Fury, I'm not worried about checking in on them. Not like I had much to offer them. My best plan of attack was to try and mount Fury using ropes and stuff. Would've probably gotten burnt before I left the ground, and that's being hopeful.