Early morning somewhere...
It has only been a few hours since I came into this strange forest.
I did not know what masked girl was planning but I am not agreeing to whatever she is going to out me through.
I stopped at a small clearing, it was a perfect spot to camp for today. There was a hollow in the roots of the large tree, and a good source of a fire.
Sniff.
Sniff.
"A storm is approaching."
I mumbled to myself as I went over the the hollow of the root.
I glanced inside and looked around, it was dark and eerie, it seemed moist? What was the right word again...?
I took a step inside, the wood was soft and it made a squishing wet sound when I stepped on the surface.
"..."
Something felt wrong for some reason.
I felt as though something dark and heavy was around me.
"!!!"
A shiver ran down my spine as I immediately bolted out of the darkness of the root, falling into the open ground.
CRASH!!!
Something large crashed into the walls of the root, I stood on my feet and grasped the amulet in my pocket.
Sssskikikkkikkk...
A hissing sound assaulted my ears, it made my entire body shiver down to the bone, just from my instinct I knew it was huge.
And just as expected.
A large centipede looking creature came out of the tree root.
Dozen large black legs and a slick body that looked as though it was made of obsidian, it was large, larger than the trucks you'd see in Isekai webcomics.
It had no eyes, only two antennae that twitched around, currently it was facing and twitching at my direction. It's maw had rows of sharp fangs, it was as sharp as a dagger.
'Im supposed to fight... That??'
I took an involuntary step back, the grass made a rustling sound beneath my feet and the large creatures head turned to my direction, it's antennae was flicking and twitching once more.
Hisss...
Another hissing sound assaulted my ears.
At the same time, the shell of this weird creature made a cracking sound and large cracks appeared.
Dark aura suddenly poured out in between those cracks, like a dark mist.
"Ah fuck it." I thought as I shaped my Mana in a blink of an eye, spun around and then pushed myself off the ground with a loud *bam!*
The large centipede chased after me leaving a trail of dark aura wherever it went, I strengthened my legs up with most of my Mana and using the rest to support my body.
KRIEEKEKEKEKEKEK!!!!
It let out an ear shattering shriek as it rammed through a large fallen branch, large debris of wood and splinters flew up in the sky.
I weaved through bushes and going under the giant raised roots of the trees, but the damned thing was too swift and agile.
'Leg...'
I turned a sharp right, using my Mana as usual, and leapt off the ground and spun in the air.
Whoosh!
CRASH—!!
The centipede crashed into a giant boulder, it stopped for a few long seconds trying to rgain it's senses.
But it was already too late.
"Phew..."
While I turned in the air.
I used the spinning momentum and swung my arms in a wide half circle sending two refined blades of pure Mana directly at the lined up joints.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
I swung my arms again, adding two more additional blades for safe measure.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
All four of the Mana blades hit.
Just in time, I landed onto the ground safely and then continued dashing.
——!!!
The centipede let out a loud shriek of pain.
I took a quick glance back as the dust and smokes of ground dissipated.
The centipede was very long, fifteen meters atleast.
It was missing a large portion of it's legs, each missing limb was perfectly severed at the joints of it's leg, the dark misty aura coming out of it was like blood.
It was no longer able to move, slowly it'll die, or become a crippled monster but it will die sooner or later.
I tore my gaze away as I continued running, keeping a safe distance from the soon to be centipede corpse.
Who knows.
There might be a bigger and worse creature attracted to a dying one.
So I really did not want to be in it's vicinity...
* * *
I stopped running after I finally felt the adrenaline wear off, my body was sore from running and using my Mana up recklessly.
'Not good, I exerted myself.'
I controlled my breath, trying to steady the rising and falling of my lungs. My entire body felt like it was on fire, added the expenditure of Mana I was more vulnerable.
I'd have been able to control my Mana so greatly back then.
How come now, I'm recklessly using too much Mana.
I thought back to the four Mana slashes I sent to the centipede.
To anyone else, it would look like I accurately hit the creature by its joints while using the right amount of Mana...
Instead, I used too much on the second and third slashes.
I gritted my teeth as I huffed deeply, steadying my breath a little.
"Was it because of fear?"
Because I was scared of the giant centipede?
Because there was an actual chance of me dying?
'This is not like me at all... I need to focus.'
Shaking my head, I stood up straight and looked around.
The place I stopped at was more bushier, there were branches on the ground and the setting sun was visible. The sky was painted in a beautiful orange glow.
However what caught my eye was...
Splash...
Pitter patter.
Whoosh....
A beautiful figure with bright yellow hair like the sun, pointed ears and had a graceful white tunic around her slender body.
It was... An elf?
The setting sun cast beautiful shadows over the trees, bathing her in a warm glow. She danced gracefully, each of her movements were elegant, beautiful, calculated and precise.
She had a calm but extremely beautiful smile on her face, the large puddle she was on casted ripples and rarely splashed, as if she was as light as a feather.
For the first time...
In my rather emotionless, ghost filled life...
I felt allured.
Captivated.
"Beautiful..."
I murmured suddenly, I didn't even know I spoke it aloud...
Droop...
The elegant elf girl suddenly stopped dancing and slowly turned her head towards me.
She tilted her head, such a small confused gesture made my young heart throb, this was a first...
"A boy? A human boy?"
She spoke, her voice was just as captivating as her looks, sweet like honey. Like the gentle, rustling of leaves of the large forest.
I felt like I was a moth, and she was the flame driving me towards her...
I took a step forward, coming out onto the open.
I wanted to be close to this radiant figure, her presence was something else, so... Out of this world.
However...
Thwack!
"Eh...?"
The elf girl looked at my little young body laying on the grass, knocked unconscious.
.
"Princess, it is not safe for you to wander around by yourself."
A guard spoke, looking down on the young human boy on the grass.
Then he turned to the elven princess...
"We're taking you home, kings orders."
Sigh
The delicate girl knelt down on the grass, touching the young boys forehead,brushing a strand of his hair.
Her eyes gleamed of curiosity.
"We're taking this boy with us back to the village."
The guard was shocked to hear her words.
"But milady—"
"You do not have any right to refuse." She said firmly, glaring at the guard. "I do not care if father does not approve of this child, but I will take him in whether any of you like it or not."
The guard let out a deep sigh.
He lifted the young boy over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes, and turned to walk away.
" If that is what you wish, then so be it." He said with a resigned tone of voice.
I'm getting too old for her antics...
" Then we shall bring him back north, to Aeloria..."