Chapter 36：Two Travelers

One side of the Southern Rale Woods contained the divine event, not wanting to disturb and uproot the life within, but that doesn't mean that its effect was not felt throughout the rest of the forest. Two travelers were unfortunate to feel its impact but luckily stayed unharmed.

One of them, a young fairy named Sophia Fauve, complains, "Maybe next time you will think twice about sleeping up in such a high place."

Her companion sighs, "It's not the first time I'm thrown out of a tree."

"The fact that this happened before is even more concerning!"

The young dragon that goes by the name of Mani has nothing to add to that, it's quite embarrassing after all.

"My question is, was that really just a regular ekusquake?"

"Well, I lived in this region for a long time and it felt similar to one... I can only hope that it was."

The dragon and fairy duo trudge through the enchanted and dense forest in a tense silence.

A silence Sophia can't help but break, "Agh! I still don't understand why you refuse to let me look over your wounds!"

"It's not necessary."

Sophia isn't one to easily give up, "I definitely heard something crack back there."

Mani sighs again, "It wasn't a flesh wound. It's actually my arm... get it?"

Sophia does get it.

"Hm. Well I'm not a mechanic like you but I still worry."

Mani raises their eyebrow, "Do you now?"

She huffs and justifies her worries, "Of course! If my client got hurt on the job the utter shame I would have."

Mani doesn't point out how they've already gotten hurt and how things will get more difficult.

"I mean... of course, I don't like seeing my friends in pain."

Was that really so hard to admit? Although, Mani isn't really someone with a lot of friends either so who are they to judge?

"I'll be fine. Why don't we take a break soon. I can look over my arm while you..."

"Oh, I can cook you a meal!"

Mani just barely manages not to grimace, "No it's fine, I'm not really hungry or anything. You should just look around the area and check the map."

"Fine."

After she leaves, Mani quickly sets up a small camp and takes out their tools. They sigh in relief when they see that nothing is severely broken, a simple repair they can handle. They should be more careful in the future, after all the person who built these arms is gone now. It takes them about 10 minutes to finish. Mani was so focused during this time that it's not until they're completely done that they notice something off.

The air is still and the forest is silent. No chirping of birds or rustling of critters.

As if everything has stopped.

The calm before the storm as they say.

Mani's face remains composed but that's far from the truth. Deep within their soul anxiety builds up, a feeling far from foreign to them. Mani reaches for their sword and takes off without hesitation.

Not again!

//Sophia where are you!?//

-

Sophia in fact, isn't too far away.

She grumbles to herself, "Oh this is just perfect..."

She looks over at her current surroundings and then back to one of the maps that she, herself, has carefully and painstakingly crafted.

//According to all the information, legends, and rumors I've gathered. We should finally be close.//

She sighs deeply.

//Of course, only if this mythical town still exists!//

But this is Sophia Fauve, she won't despair so easily.

//Regardless of the outcome, I have a job to do. If we can't find the clues we are looking for, I still have plenty of other locations to track down!//

Sophia questions once again why she's doing all of this. Why is she traveling with someone so mysterious yet captivating? Why is she in one of the most dangerous places in all of Tu'Rancon? Why is she trying to find a Goddess!?

The answer being because she took up this job herself.

The answer being because this mysterious person is her client.

A surprisingly wealthy client.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that Mani has helped her and Sophia's honor won't let it be. She wants to help them in return as well.

Maybe it's also the fact that Sophia has started seeing them as someone much more important. Much more than just a client.

Of course, she will never say any of this out loud.

//It's been so long that I've had some time to myself, and my various thoughts. The piece and quiet-//

Wait.

She stops.

The forest is vast, filled with life and energy of all kinds.

It shouldn't be so peacefully quiet.

It's is a warning.

Something is wrong.

Then, the quietness shatters.

-

What broke the silence?

What caused the silence in the first place?

A monster towers over thick trees, stepping over them like grass, its skeleton glows bright enough to rival the moonlight, the rotting flesh slowly falls off, its eyes are hollow except for bright blue flames.

Poor Juno, poor Immortal Snakes, they have been running away all night and all morning, only to be caught up in this mess!

Juno is still not awake.

Noodles is at its limit as well.

Things couldn't be far from worse.

The gigantic Light Chimera senses the presence of ancient power. With the threat of danger, the monster goes straight for the attack and targets Juno and the Immortal Snakes! Normally this type of monster would be difficult to deal with but not impossible.

But in this state, there's no way they can fight!

As soon as the Light Chimera began it's chase, Noodles had no choice but to make Juno's body run away.

Truly has it never felt so hopeless as it does now!

>

To give up control and leave her body completely defenseless?

Or to risk it all?

This difficult decision would find itself a solution.

>

>

Caution thrown out the window!

The Immortal Snakes hide their forms.

And run with every inch of power they got!

Faster, faster than the speed of sound, and far faster than the Light Chimera!