" So where to now?" Astrid asked, walking side by side with Wanderer.
Wanderer shrugged in response, |Dunno|
After a moment of thought, Wanderer halted—turning around to face Astrid,
|Actually do you happen ⍰ know a ⍰ where the trees are vast and ⍰ to the ⍰ you wouldn't ⍰ even notice a tree has been chopped down?|
Astrid glanced, pausing her steps, "Um… Deadshroud Grove, that's the only forest I could think of."
|Sounds eerie|
"Well, it is. But why'd you ask?"
|Believe it or not but…⍰ should I explain ⍰.. Every time I cut trees down ⍰ sword ⍰ stronger|
"Uh-huh, I already knew you were weird from the start. But sure, I believe you." she sneered.
Wanderer clutched their chest dramatically, |How crude|
Astrid whistled, her griffin immediately flew right beside her with ease, she carefully climbed on before gesturing to Wanderer to hop on.
"Are you not going to hop on?"
They shook their head in response, |Nah, I want to try ⍰ this ⍰ skill ⍰ gained|
"Okay, go on."
<{User has used skill: Flight}>
The Wanderer's wings flapped, a wide grin of excitement written on their face.
"Do you even know how to fly…" Preserver asked amusingly.
'Well—I…Uh.. Trust, I got this.'
"I really don't think so."
'Shut up! Have confidence in me, and plus the princess is watching!'
|See? I got wings! ⍰ don't need to fly on that beast!|
The griffin snarled at Wanderer.
'Oh fuh no..'
"Why do I have a feeling you have no experience on what you're trying to do."
Strike number — forgot.
|Hey ⍰ know what they say ⍰ judge ⍰ book by ⍰ cover|
"Yeah, yeah, sure."
|You really got no faith in me, how mean|
Wanderer flapped their wings, causing them to float a few inches away from the ground, 'Oh fuck, fuck, fuck, uhhhh help I'm scared'
"You brought that upon yourself dumbass"
'That isn't helping! And how many times are you going to call me that!"
At some point Wanderer managed to successfully rise into the air, their movements were clumsy at first but eventually they got used to it.
"Oh, maybe I have underestimated you—slightly."
|Slightly? ⍰ does that supposed to mean?|
Astrid's griffin growled—promptly flying up to side with Wanderer,
"I think he wants to have a race with you."
Wanderer's jaw dropped, they swung their head back and forth in denial,
|⍰ DID I DO TO ⍰ PROVOKED ⍰?!|
The griffin growled in response, "If you lose your ass will get beaten up, if you don't step in you'll also get your ass beaten up so no matter what you choose the result remains unchanged."
|You like seeing me suffer you must be doing this on purpose, you sadist| Wanderer frowned.
"It wasn't on purpose I swear!"
'Uh…'
"Oh yeah, didn't you receive a new skill?"
'I think so yeah'
"Did you even check what it was?"
'Uh no, wait lemme check.'
Class: C
NO UPGRADE RQ
Allows the user to detect if someone is speaking the truth or not>
'OH'
"Yeah."
'This was exactly what I needed!'
'Oh so she was telling the truth'
"Wasn't it obvious? Honestly it felt unnecessary for you to do that."
'I just needed to make sure, and plus this made me realize that I have obtained a new skill!'
|Okay, I believe you|
"Wait really? That simple?"
Wanderer nodded.
|So where's this forest ⍰?|
"Just follow me! Oh and it's quite the long way so don't collapse on me!"
|Wait but ⍰ it like getting late ⍰? Won't there be like ⍰ or something?!|
"Ah don't you worry you got me after all!"
|But you're a princess? ⍰ have to protect ⍰ at all costs!|
"Are you underestimating me?"
Wanderer shooked their head, |No, ⍰, no, you got the wrong idea!|
"Well then enough making excuses and let's go!"
Astrid's griffin bolted away, which caught them off guard.
Wanderer reluctantly pursued along.
'Damnit, I really do think something won't go as plan'
"You got no choice, princess's order~"
'Well you're right about that'
"But I do understand what you're saying"
<...>
Wanderer flapped their wings persistently—trying to keep up with Astrid and managed to get ahead.
But then she paused.
"Are you okay Wanderer? Do you want to take a break?" Astrid's tone tinged with concern.
|No ⍰ almost there right?|
"Mhm, around half an hour and we'll arrive!"
'Oh. My. God. KILL ME ALREADY–'
<. . .>
Deadshroud Grove, a once vibrant and lively forest filled with wildlife and was known to be a notable camping ground—
Now reduced to an oppressive silence where natural forest sounds vanished, the air was heavy and humid of some decaying animal or being, and it's empty—no sounds of owls hooting, nor crickets chirping. Tourists and campers randomly disappeared—leaving trails of guts and blood.
'This place is a lot more eerie than I thought…'
The two safely landed towards a safe(?) surface, |Is this the place ⍰ I cut down ⍰ freely?|
"Yep"
|This feels—very unsafe
"I mean, isn't this what you wanted?"
|True|
"It's alright I'll keep an eye on you!"
Wanderer looked left and right, |Where did ⍰ griffin ⍰?|
"Well about that…"
|...|
|Alright I believe in your strengths|
'I really have no experience on how to wield a sword and chopping trees down'
"Nor do I"
'Can you like take over for me?'
"That isn't possible"
'Ummmmm'
'Ah- fuck there's barely any nature energy—there's only poison and cursed energy here! Guess it'll have to do.'
Wanderer lifted their hand up—closing their eyes, carefully absorbing nature energy only.
<...>
'Haah! That took me a while!'
"You should enforce them into your sword now"
'Ah right'
The Wanderer concentrated all of the nature energy they accumulated into the sword they're currently wielding. As a result, the sword was gleaming green energy.
'THIS LOOKS KEWL I GOTTA SHOW THE PRINCESS—'
As Wanderer turned their head, Astrid was asleep, resting her head against the tree bark.
They smiled, 'Hmph, nevermind then.'
< A new objective has occured>
< (Objective Window)
Objective #5/??
Difficulty: Easy
Objective: Chop 1500 trees
Time Limit: 3 hours
Compensation: Blood Bond B-Class,
500 SYS-Coins , 5 Stat Points
Upon Failure: Severe Fatigue and Temporary poisoning>
< A new objective has occured>
< (Objective Window)
Objective #6/??
Difficulty: Difficult
Objective: Discover the reason why Deadshroud Grove became this way ——— execute the cause
Time Limit: 15 hours
Compensation: Chain Of Sorrow A-Class,
1500 SYS-Coins , 10 Stat Points
Upon Failure: ? ? ?>
'ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TREES?!?! AND I HAVE TO COMPLETE TWO OBJECTIVES IN LESS THAN A DAY?!'
"But hey — the rewards?"
'. . .'
"Think positively—"
Before the Preserver could finish their thought, Wanderer had already begun swinging their sword left and right—ineptly but their movements were filled with dedication.
'SlashY WoOd!!!'
As the Wanderer chopped each tree down with their sword—they summoned wooden minions along the way that also chopped trees down.
'COMMENCE MY FELLOW MINIONS AND CHOP ANY TREE YOU SEE IN THIS FORSAKEN FOREST!!!'
Astrid stirred in her sleep—opening one eye, "What the fuck…" she muttered groggily before falling back asleep.
A wooden minion came to assist Astrid, carefully wrapping a blanket around her and carried her towards a bed that one of the minions built.
How did they do it? I really don't know.
< (Objective Window)
Objective #3/??
Difficulty: Hard
Objective: Prevent the cause of the King's death in this peaceful foreign land and honor them death
Time Limit: 29 days
Compensation: S—Class Ability (RANDOMIZED!!!) , 10,000 SYS-Coins , 20 Stat Points
Upon Failure: Isolation + Torture>
< (Objective Window)
Objective #5/??
Difficulty: Easy
Objective: Chop 1298 trees(remaining)
Time Limit: 2 hours + 30 minutes
Compensation: Blood Bond B-Class,
500 SYS-Coins , 5 Stat Points
Upon Failure: Severe Fatigue and Temporary poisoning>
< (Objective Window)
Objective #6/??
Difficulty: Difficult
Objective: Discover the reason why Deadshroud Grove became this way ——— execute the cause
Time Limit: 14 hours + 30 minutes
Compensation: Chain Of Sorrow A-Class,
1500 SYS-Coins , 10 Stat Points
Upon Failure: ? ? ?>