Once the whole group of young people gathered in the forest, without having time to greet or talk, Shiko explained to Lyn and Zene everything that happened in the two days that they did not see each other, after telling them everything he gave them the two new magical clothes for them that Mayla designed, that's when Lyn and Zene guided everyone else to something they'd discovered while in the woods. When they reached a certain area of purple trees, Lyn turned to look at the rest and said:
-Here it is! - Be careful about walking around it.
Everyone else was confused, to which Shiko observed that the purple trees flickered from time to time.
-What is this place? I can feel the spirits of the trees watching me. -
After Shiko said these words, he felt a tingle in his nose and when he looked, above it was a tiny seed above him, with small leaves shaped like black feet and arms and eyes -Are you the friends Lin and Zene told us about?- When Mayla saw that suddenly many other creatures came out of the trees, exclaimed:
-They are the Kimans! -These creatures are legendary as they had never really been seen, this forest was always guarded by all kinds of beasts for being sacred, but now that they have disappeared it can be penetrated.
-Asuka: So, in your world these little creatures are legends, but they really exist?
-Dreik: It is said that they are always in charge of protecting all of nature, being the most faithful servants of one of the goddesses of our world.
-Listen everyone! - They were the words that were heard among all the little creatures gathered, out of them came a very old Kiman who looked like he was going to collapse at any moment.
Once everyone paid their attention, he warned them about the problem they were suffering.
-Young ones... Our guardian who is in the depths of this forest always used his beasts made of ectoplasm to protect us... but a few days ago, they disappeared, and our guardian has not left his temple, for us it has been impossible to move because of our size, it is impossible for us to reach such a place We beg your help! In return, we will protect you all for as long as you stay here.
The group of adventurers knew what the whole thing was about, but without saying anything about it, Shiko told the old Kiman that they would help them.
-Dreik: Alright... We all know what happens here, go explore this forest, so we can find useful things in it before we fight.
-Lyn: Are you planning to break into a forest that is sacred to all your people?
-Dreik: This forest has always been blessed by the nature goddess, if we find something beneficial from it, we can counteract the black magic of that "menace" that attacks the guardians.
-Shiko: Are you trying to say that we can purify them? Wasn't it necessary for them to die to release the seal I carry?
-Dreik: Now that they are in that situation it is necessary, but if we can purify them in some way, they may know how to break the seal in another way.
-Asuka: I see... or let's divide ourselves into groups of two.
Everyone supported the young man's idea, so everyone had a companion, obviously Asuka went with Shiko to explore a certain part of the forest. While walking they came across a small lake that was in it, to which both of them decided to take a break at the site. After some time together watching the lake, Shiko decided to tell Asuka something.
-Shiko: Asuka... the time I fought Deaby... Lyn and I were about to be defeated, but when she used an ability which transfers energy... But not only did I receive the last energy she had left, in some strange way I could hear a voice speak to me for an instant, which made a strange power come out of me, at that moment I was able to handle the power of the shadows... Once it was all over, I have not been able to use such skills again.
-Asuka: Hmm... why did you decide not to tell anyone?
-Shiko: I thought it would be called crazy, and no one would believe me.
-Asuka: Well, the truth is that it is something crazy, but with everything we have been told I think we know what happened at that time.
-Shiko: That's right... The only explanation is that that hero who sleeps in me saved me.
-I don't understand much of what you're talking about, but something similar happened to me in my battle against Gentile- suddenly a voice said these words to both, when they turned to look back, they noticed that Mirei was standing there.
-Shiko: Mirei! I'm so glad to see you!
-Mirei: I was already expecting to meet you, on the way here I could see some people, are they your companions?
-Asuka: That's right! Are exploring this area?
-Mirei: On the way into a village I heard that in this forest some time ago a girl used to live on it, who was raised by the beasts, eventually over time she grew up and dedicated herself to protecting them with her life but one day she met a young man with whom she fell in love, it was a time of war so the young woman decided to support her beloved in battle, but unfortunately he died.
-Asuka: I didn't expect such a story to exist on this world.
-Shiko: This world surprises me more and more... Regarding what you said before, what do you mean something similar happened to you?
-Mirei: When I was fighting Gentile, when the guardian who was fighting next to me died, a strange power awakened within me... He said it was something made by fate...
-Shiko: I see... And where is Meni?
-Mirei: She decided to stay in the village, she's afraid to walk in these parts of the forest... Don't worry about her.
-Asuka: While you're here, help us defeat the guardian of this area.
-Mirei: You have much more company that can be more useful, I leave this area in your hands, since I work better alone, I will go explore another area where there is another guardian.
-Shiko: ... If that's what you decide...
-Mirei: I'm glad to see that you're okay! I... I will continue to strive to accompany you later in your adventure.
With that said, Mirei left the place leaving the two alone again. Suddenly, Asuka got up and started to take off her clothes surprising Shiko out of nowhere.
"Don't look, don't you see that I plan to bathe in the lake?"
Shiko quickly turned around in fear of taking a punch like last time. Once Asuka undressed, she got into the water of the lake.
"Uuuaaahhh, it's very cold, but it feels so good!"
While the young woman bathed, Shiko only had her eyes closed waiting for her to finish.
-Asuka: Shiko, open your eyes!
-Shiko: Im not crazy! I don't want to die this time!
-Asuka: I promise not to hit you... Don't you trust me?
With great fear, the young man opened his eyes very slowly, once he had them completely open, he could see the beautiful figure of the young woman, who covered her breasts with her arm very embarrassed.
"Hey... Do you think... That I'm really pretty...? I mean... my body..."
Shiko was dumbfounded looking at her for a while, so it took him a while to answer but once he came back to his senses he answered:
"It's a bit of a silly question... you yourself know what I think of you... but if what you want to hear from me is to say that you are sexy, then yes, you totally are"
The young woman felt very embarrassed making her entire face turn red, so she told Shiko to close her eyes again to go out and get dressed. After a while, everyone arrived at the area of purple trees where the Kiman were, when everyone saw that they were together they decided to report what they found.
-Asuka: We only found a lake; it didn't seem to have anything in particular.
-Lyn: Alongside Zene we only found a few cherry trees with nothing particular.
-Mayla: Dreik and I have only found an area full of white flowers, nothing important.
-Alba: Since I had to go alone, I only visited a small area, where I found the guardian temple.
-Lyn: How long has it been?
-Dreik: Only about two hours... We can't waste any more time, we must go for that guardian.
-Asuka: There is something strange about all this... Although the Guardian has been affected by black magic, he has done nothing to kill his people or leave the site like the others.
-Zene: There are guardians who have more will than others, probably knowing their situation must be waiting for their fate to be killed to arrive.
-Shiko: ... Damn it, we have no other choice then.
The group decided to leave Alba protecting the Kiman, so everyone except her went to the temple. Upon entering, they could notice that the temple had a terrifying atmosphere from which many spirits could be felt entering and leaving it, once they advanced a little, they found a sad ghost from behind and it was lamenting.
"We already know that in video games finding crying ghosts is bad, we must annihilate it now".
Shiko very fearfully expressed such words, to which when the ghost heard it, he quickly turned around and showed joy at seeing them.
-Exactly, annihilate me once and for all! If you notice, to my right is a sword on a pedestal, it contains the power of black magic to prevent it from getting out or cause trouble. My name is Ghusty and I've been a guardian here since I was assigned to take care of it... but this time the way I can protect it is by dying. Kill me once and for all! -
Everyone was surprised by the words of this guardian, feeling some sorrow for wanting to kill him, to which Dreik put himself on guard to attack him -The explanation of how sword retains your power is something will look up later! I can feel that the magic of that sword is about to break so don't waste any more time, we'll fulfill your wish! - Dreik was stopped by Mayla who stood in front of him - It's not time to start the fight yet, we can look for another solution while he is sane! - Dreik frightened by Mayla's words said:
"Princess, he is very dangerous, Ghusty is one of the strongest guardians, if black magic takes hold of him, he is capable of defeating us even if we fight together"
In the moment of uncertainty, the sword that contained such power suddenly shattered, causing black magic to come out and possess Ghusty...
To be continued…