[ Chapter 16 ] Hunt

The day the group left in the main castle of Straya, where the king was stationed. Emessio walks into Caesar Erwing's throne room. The room had many windows shining light, a long carpet going to the throne, and was rather empty. Emessio kneels to Erwing. Ewring face was covered by shade.

[ Emessio ] ¨Your majesty… we failed to subdue the Fiend.¨

Erwing leans forward to Emessio, sitting on his throne. Erwing had the appearance of a 40-year-old, with smooth medium-length white hair, yellow eyes, a bit pale skin tone, a crown, and dressed in royal clothing with an endowed robe.

[ Ewing ] ¨Were there any casualties?¨

Emessio keeps his head down, as he kneels.

[ Emessio ] ¨To our luck, yes. We sustained no major injuries from the Fiend.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨Did you learn of who the Fiend was?¨

[ Emessio ] ¨Yes, your majesty. The identity of the enemy was the Silver Fiend.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨Silver Fiend… the one who destroyed the Village of Fod. Where did the Fiend go off to?¨

[ Emessio ] ¨After the Fiend took us down, he left leaping away into the forest and mountains.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨To think even you Gin Emessio known as the Gale´s Savant, couldn´t beat the Silver Fiend.¨

Emessio puts down a lowered tone to Erwing.

[ Emessio ] ¨I wasn´t strong enough your majesty. I had attacked him while he wasn´t prepared, chased to fight, and still lost. I don´t deserve that title.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨Put your head up Emessio.¨

Emessio leans his lead up, still kneeling at Erwing.

[ Erwing ] ¨It doesn´t mean you aren´t strong, you simply fought too strong of an opponent. For your entire barracks and you to be defeated is one thing, but you prevented their deaths. That is commendable Emessio Gin.¨

[ Emessio ] ¨Thank you, your majesty.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨Emessio, did you see anything suspicious as the battle ended? We should try to track down that Silver Fiend.¨

[ Emessio ] ¨Right, your majesty. As I recall, when the battle ended we all were recovering. In the distance, I saw two figures running toward the direction where the Fiend leaped away. They were also there when I chased to see Fiend.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨Who were these two people?¨

[ Emessio ] ¨They were two woman… I didn´t pay attention to those two much, but one was a brawler and a mage. The brawler had blue hair and the mage had blonde hair. And, I´m not sure if I saw it right… but the mage woman… looked like she was an elf.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨An elf you say… hmmm… that´s weird. An elf hasn´t entered Astrea ever since some time if I remember correctly. What´s the change now?¨

[ Emessio ] ¨I remember hearing of a tiny rumor, about an elf coming to this city yesterday. That could be the lady.¨

[ Ewing ] ¨Then, I would like to start a search for that elf lady. I would like to question her.¨

[ Emessio ] ¨Yes, your majesty. I have one more thing to report.¨

[ Erwing ] ¨What is the information?¨

Emessio stands up and turns to his right, looking at a figure of a man who stands resting on the wall. A prominent shade covers most of his full body.

[ Emessio ] ¨I saw another one run in Fiend´s direction too. I got a good look at him. Young-looking and had green hair. Say… Kusan… Why is your brother interested in the Silver Fiend?¨

As morning dawned before the group. Hearts slowly woke up being stricken by the light, waking her up. Hearts slowly raise her body, stretching her arm, and yawning.

[ Hearts ] ¨Aaahn~ Mourning… to myself.¨

Hearts wipes her eyes, getting up and out of the tent.

[ Hearts ] ¨Anyone awake…?¨

Hearts looked around, her eyes were still tired. Hearts goes and checks on Ana.

[ Hearts ] ¨Hey Ana? You awake-?”

Hearts opens Anathea’s tent, seeing her still soundly asleep.

[ Anathea ] “Zzz-zzzz- hnnghmm- no… don’t take my food…-zzz…”

Hearts stared at Ana’s sleeping figure. She was hugging her staff and had drooling coming from her mouth. Hearts made a derpy, blank face.

[ Hearts ] “She’s sleep talking…”

Hearts sighs leaving Ana´s tent, looking around the area.

[ Hearts ] ¨Hmm? I wonder where Fer is at?¨

Hearts walk a bit into the nearby woods towards a small river nearby.

[ Hearts ] ¨So sleepy… I have to wash my face.¨

Hearts yawns walking to the river. As she makes her way, she hears a water splash from the river’s direction.

[ Hearts ] “Huh…? Someone’s here?”

Hearts stick to the tree walking towards the sound, being cautious.

[ Hearts ] ¨Hello…? Fer… is that you?¨

Hearts peaks more as she walks, seeing the back of Fer's head. Seeing Fer, Hearts seems to lose the weight on her chest, as she sighs in relief.

[ Hearts ] ¨Phew… you´re over here. Why are you over here Fer-?¨

Hearts walks more seeing the full figure of Fer´s body, she has a back view of his body. Hearts saw Fer topless, standing next to the river. Hearts took a good look at Fer, seeing that Fer had a very toned, athletic, and muscled body. Hearts jaw seems to drop, and a slight blush appears on her face.

[ Hearts ] ¨Wha- t- d- why- is- huh-?¨

Hearts stuttered a lot trying to make words.

[ Hearts ] ¨Why are you so fit!!!!!¨

Hearts scream as she points at Fer. Fer turns around to meet Hearts. Seeing the front side of Fer´s body. Fer´s front side body is just as chiseled as the backside. Hearts cover her eyes, with one eye peaking at Fer´s body.

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[ Hearts ] ¨Put some a shirt on! It´s distracting!¨

[ Fer ] ¨Could you quiet down?¨

Fer picks up his shirt on the ground.

[ Hearts ] ¨No! Not until you put a shirt on!¨

[ Fer ] ¨Then why are you peaking?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨It´s hard not to look at your body, OKAY!¨

Fer puts his shirt back on. His tight black shirt seems to show his muscles but also hide it.

[ Fer ] ¨I was going to anyways, I already finished cleaning myself.¨

Hearts look at Fer with a look of confusion.

[ Hearts ] ¨How… does that shirt for being tight…. not show your full muscles?¨

Fer walks over to Hearts, tapping her shoulder.

[ Fer ] ¨Don´t worry about it.¨

(Author´s note: The shirt is tight, but not super tight.)

[ Fer ] ¨ What's your business over here?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨I wanted to wash my face to wake myself up, but considering how I got a good waking from seeing you. I think I will skip it.¨

Fer and Hearts both walk back to their camp. Hearts had her arms and body slumped over.

[ Hearts ] ¨Why did I have to see you shirtless today…?¨

[ Fer ] ¨Why are you making it seem like it is my problem?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Because it is!¨

[ Fer ] ¨You´re the one who walked to me!¨

[ Hearts ] ¨But how would I’ve known you were there!¨

[ Fer ] ¨You didn´t have made a scene when seeing me.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Ugh! Let´s just forget this happened…¨

They both heard footsteps coming quickly toward them and within seconds, they saw Anathea in front of them. Her voice panicked a bit as she seemed to be hurried.

[ Anathea ] ¨You two alright… I heard Hearts voice yellin-…¨

Anathea looks at both of them, Hearts seems slumped while Fer is stoic.

[ Anathea ] ¨What happened…?¨

[ Fer ] ¨Nothing… important.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Let´s just continue going.

[ Anathea ] ¨Okay… then.¨

The three make their way back to the camp, but there seems to be an awkward tension between them.

[ Anahtea ] In her mind ¨Man… what happened with those two?¨

[ Anathea ] ¨So… how far are we to the location? ¨

[ Fer ] ¨We made a good amount of distance yesterday, and from the path I took. We should make it to Terr Swamp in about an hour's way of walking.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨An hour huh… Not too bad.¨

[ Fer ] ¨Key word is walking. We won´t be walking.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨What? Are we gonna run?¨

Fer turns to Hearts.

[ Fer ] ¨Yes, we are.¨

Hearts sighs at the answer.

[ Hearts ] ¨Fine, let´s head back and get ready.¨

The group eventually reaches the camp, packing their items quickly. Fer walks over a distance between Ana and Hearts.

[ Fer ] ¨C´mon, let´s go.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Damn… how does he do it so quickly…?¨

Anathea shrugs her shoulders at Hearts.

[ Hearts ] ¨That´s no help…¨

A small amount of time passes before Hearts and Ana make their way to Fer.

[ Fer ] ¨Ready?¨

They both nod at Fer.

[ Fer ] ¨Then let´s go¨

Fer begins to run off toward their location. Hearts and Ana follow suit after Fer.

[ Hearts ] ¨So! What exactly are we trying to do?¨

[ Fer ] ¨We´re hunting treants, but we must find the one causing the most ruckus around these parts.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨What does that mean?¨

[ Fer ] ¨Finding the one is causing all the trouble for this mission to be posted.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Do you think we´ll be able to do this?¨

[ Fer ] ¨I was gonna take this mission on alone, knowing I could do this. What does that say about our odds?¨

[ Anathea ] ¨We should still be careful!¨

Fer slides his feet on the ground slowing him down before stopping. Ana and Hearts stop behind him.

[ Fer ] ¨We´re here… Terr swamp.¨

Reaching Terr Swamp, the atmosphere was very gloomy. The swamp had very green-tinted water, the trees were darker-toned, and had a very saddened tone to the swamp.

[ Anathea ] ¨This is Terr Swamp…?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨As always… looks the same.

[ Fer ] ¨Still as dead as ever huh…¨

The group scans the area around them.

[ Fer ] ¨Let´s look around… I´m sure they´re bound to be somewhere.¨

Fer walks along the path, scanning the surrounding area.

[ Fer ] ¨They´re bound to be somewhere… keep a look out.¨

Hearts and Ana follow behind Fer also keeping their eyes out.

[ Hearts ] ¨What exactly do they look like? I haven´t seen a treant before.¨

Fer turns over to Hearts, walking towards her.

[ Fer ] ¨Treants are creatures that take on the form of trees. Born from malevolent Will energy forms into the trees over time. They usually hide and keep hidden until they find the right opportunity to…¨

Fer took out one of his daggers from his sweater tied to his hips, quickly sheathing it out and slashing the tree behind Hearts.

[ Fer ] ¨Strike.¨

The tree splits in half, and it falls apart a cloud of dust starts to appear from the tree as it begins to reveal a face on the tree. Three holes were on the tree that made a face, showing it was a treant. Hearts turn seeing that Fer had saved her. Fer puts away his dagger.

[ Hearts ] ¨So that is a treant… so creepy.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Uhh guys… we have company.¨

Fer and Hearts turn around to Ana. From the distance the trees are breaking apart showing they are treants, having big arms and legs breaking from the ground, and showing the face hiding in the tree.

[ Fer ] ¨Seems like killing one woke them all up.¨

Fer begins to slowly reach into his hip jacket for his daggers. Hearts stretches her arms looking at the Treants. Ana fixes her hat and points her staff at the treants.

[ Fer ] ¨Let´s get the job done.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Hopefully they don´t break so fast.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Be careful guys.¨

Fer looks at the direction of the treants.

[ Fer ] In his mind ¨One… two… three… four, five. Five in front of us. I hear more behind us.¨

[ Fer ] ¨Ana take care of the one behind u-!¨

Anathea had already turned around as she heard the treants first.

[ Anathea ] ¨I´ll take care of the backside!¨

Hearts grab her hand, then make her ice gauntlets appear on.

[ Hearts ] ¨Let do this!¨

Hearts rushes into the closest treant. The treant stikes his arm down at Hearts. Hearts punches the treant´s arm clashing with it. Causing a small wind of collision to fly.

[ Hearts ] ¨Aatahh!!!¨

The treant roars at Hearts, trying to overpower Hearts.

[ Hearts ] ¨Rather sturdy huh? Then try this one!¨

Hearts grips the treant's arm with both her hands.

[ Hearts ] ¨Will of Ice, Grip of Tundra.¨

Hearts begin freezing the treant´s arm, then shatter it by crushing it. The treant uses his other hand to slam down onto Hearts. Hearts jump up dodging it, smiling.

[ Hearts ] ¨Blizzards Touch!¨

Hearts swings her arm throwing out snowflakes towards the treant. As they reach the treant they explode into spiked ice balls, into the treant's face. Piercing through the whole treant´s body. The treant falls dead.

[ Hearts ] ¨One down!¨

Fer watched as the fight happened so quickly. He turns around to Ana.

[ Anathea ] ¨There are about 4 over here!¨

Anathea points her staff at the 4 treants grouped in the back of them. The orb on her staff begins to shine bright.

[ Anathea ] ¨Oh divine light from above, hear my call and heed my desire. Bless me thy power to destroy my enemies!¨

Anathea then points her staff at the sky.

[ Anathea ] ¨Will of Light, Luminescence of Demise!¨

The clouds move as a hole in the sky is made. Light begins appearing in the hole, and a giant beam of light shoots down from the hole in the sky. The beam flies down fast reaching the treants, disintegrating the treants. Hearts and Fer watch as Ana easily destroys the four treants with ease.

[ Fer ] ¨Well… that was overkill.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Woah!!! Why don´t you use that one more?¨

Anathea turns in their direction.

[ Anathea ] ¨It can be unpredictable unless I really concentrate on it.¨

( Author´s Note: That is why Ana needed to say an incantation.)

Fer turns back around seeing only 4 treants remain.

[ Fer ] ¨I haven´t done anything yet… let´s change that.¨

Fer blitzed towards the closest treant in their direction, doing an X-slash through a treant as he passed forward. The treant splits into four.

[ Fer ] ¨That´s one.¨

Two more treants rush towards Fer. Fer crouches down and then dashes forward to slice off one of the legs of one of the Treants. As he turns around, Fer touches the ground.

[ Fer ] ¨Will of Wood, Roots of Restraints.¨

Roots from the ground wrap around the arms and leg of the fallen treant. Fer points at the middle of the treant he restrained.

[ Fer ] ¨Will of Wood, Heart Piercer.¨

As the treant is restrained, from the ground comes a giant wood spike piercing through the treant's body.

[ Fer ] ¨Two down.¨

The other treant besides the one Fer killed, came swinging at Fer´s back. Roots come from behind Fer, making a wall of roots. Blocking the treant attack, as the treant hit the wall made by Fer. Fer runs to the side dashing up at the treant slashing through its head, and landing as the head of the treant falls.

[ Fer ] ¨Three… Now where is the last one?¨

Fer looks around, unable to find it.

[ Fer ] ¨What th-¨

Fer was standing next to a tree. The tree began to form a mouth, going to chomp down onto Fer´s head. Fer turns as he hears the moving, trying to jump back up.

[ Fer ] In his mind ¨Shit! This is gonna hurt!¨

The next second Hearts was in front of Fer. Hearts was holding the mouth open with her strength, not allowing the treant to bite.

[ Hearts ] ¨Hey! Be careful!¨

Fer does a back roll from his jump back, landing down crouching. Fer touches the ground.

[ Fer ] ¨Roots of Restraints!¨

Roots come from the ground wrapping around the treant's arm, pulling it back. Hearts feel the tension lessen and back up.

[ Hearts ] ¨Now Ana!"

Ana had her staff pointed at the treant, glowing and ready to fire.

[ Anathea ] ¨Erase!¨

A tiny light beam formed, shooting through the treant, leaving a hole in the treant. Fer releases the restraints as the treant has died.

[ Fer ] ¨That should be the job done.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨We have to collect some parts of the treants we defeated.¨

Fer's tone becomes slightly worried.

[ Fer ] ¨It says we need to collect branches off the treants… all of the treants.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨That isn´t hard… why are you saying like it is a problem.¨

Fer points over to the small crater left by Ana´s Luminicences of Demise.

[ Fer ] ¨At least four of them… is completly erased.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Eto… un… uhh… gomen.¨

Anathea makes a cute yet sorrowful face at Fer. Fer sighs at Anathea.

[ Fer ] ¨Whatever… let us just finish the job.¨

Anathea and Hearts nod at Fer, making their way towards the trants with Fer.