60 The Return of the Devourer

As the warriors and I near the cave entrance, the warrior we left out here to keep watch comes running at us, looking rather perturbed. This gives me a terrible premonition. For a proud warrior of the Dragonbroods to be so concerned, what could have caused it?

"What!? What's wrong? Is it an attack?"

"No sir, that's not the case. However, the Grand Keeper has come, and she demanded to see you."

The Grand Keeper? She sure is showing up quite often lately. Usually, she is rarely seen, off to tend to whatever businesses a Grand Keeper tends to.

I hurry out of the cave ahead of the others. Whatever the Grand Keeper has in mind, it's best not to keep her waiting.

Upon arriving outside, other than the blinding sunlight, there is something else I am noticing. The place is quiet, far more than when we first got here. There's no chirping of birds, no small creature rustling in the bushes, there's not even a single insect crawling on the ground. This forest has gotten dead silent.

"Champion, good to see you well, and from the looks of it, you are successful in your mission."

The Grand Keeper approaches me, her bare feet gently brushing against the grass, barely trampling them as she comes, walking with an ethereal weightlessness.

"The World Breaker is dead, but the Purifier is gone. She mentioned sending her to someone else."

"I know, in fact, I know exactly who she sent 'it' to."

"Where?"

And so I, Feeling as if it's expected of me, asked her with trepidation. I know where this conversation is going to go. I only hope we can at least get some rest before being sent out.

"The Beastkin's capital, where a new [World Devourer Woods] had sprouted not too long ago."

"What!? I thought the World Devourer had just been slain a while ago. You said it takes at least a decade before a new Keeper can be born."

"Naturally, yes, but this is not natural. Either way, you must go there. The Purifier is there, information in regards to the interruption of the summoning ritual may be there, and most important to you, I believe, the Champion, Corona is there as well."

That's right, Corona, she should be leading the siege against the city right about now. Don't tell me something happened to her.

"Corona, is she safe?"

"She is not dead, yet, but she is trapped within the World Devourer. You should know what happens should one remain in those woods for too long, don't you?"

They'll be slowly [Corrupted] by the woods, just by touching its soil, just by breathing its air.

"Nibal, gather the men, we're heading out!"

"Now hold on a minute!"

"Not now, Asha, we-"

"What about the dead? Are we not taking them home? Are we just going to leave them here, a land so far away from home? Not to mention, you've all just fought a Keeper, do you not need rest? Surely you're not thinking of challenging one right after another."

For once, she has a point, we're tired from the fight we've had just a moment ago and the dead need burying. However, we do not have the leisure of time right now. There's no way we can head to the edge of the north and return in time.

As I am about to argue back, the Grand Keeper raises her hand and have me stand down. In turn, she herself approaches Asha.

"I am afraid time is not something we have in abundance, priestess. More than half the troops we sent to invade the Beastkin capital, as well as one of our Champions, are trapped within that forest. If we do not get them out quickly, we will most likely end up having to fight them. Can you imagine, brethren against brethren, kin against kin? We must prevent that from happening. Leave the dead to me, I shall deliver them home. You will go with the Champion, Oro, and head to the Beastkin capital."

For a moment, it looked like Asha has something to say but eventually was able to refrain from saying anything.

"I understand. I will go."

The Grand Keeper nods in satisfaction to Asha's reply, ignoring that slight signs of defiance she showed within her.

Once everyone is ready, the Grand Keeper sends us on our way before disappearing into the clouds, the bodies of the fallen along with her, looking as if they're ascending to the afterlife alongside a heavenly guide. With the Grand Keeper gone from our sights, Asha begins to speak freely.

"To send us here and there at her whim... If it's so urgent, why couldn't she go herself? If it's the Grand Keeper, she'd be able to get everyone out easily, right?"

"Shush, Lady Asha, you never know if she could still hear you. Besides, it's not as simple as that. The Grand keeper has an important task, a task which takes a great toll on her strength."

"And what task is that? Do you even know, Nibal?"

"I... I have no idea; it is not my place to know."

"How compliant, with warriors like you, it's a no wonder she keeps all of us under her thumb."

"That is quite enough, Lady Asha, you do not know-"

"And that is precisely why I am asking!"

"That is enough you two, arguing here won't help our brethren out of the World Devourer's belly any sooner and neither will it change our current situation."

"Why, I was just-"

"Lady Asha, I am sure the Grand Keeper has her reason and for now we will have to trust that. Rescuing our brethren takes priority and we have little time to waste."

As the argument appears to be escalating, Seif came in for a timely intervention.

"Hmph! Fine, I get it already. I'll leave it be for now."

"And Nibal, you should know better, this is hardly the time."

"You're right, I am ashamed. This won't happen again."

"Good, let us focus on the task at hand."

Thank goodness Seif stepped in there to stop them. Between worrying about Corona and how we're going to attack the forest, I don't think I have any patience to stomach their back and forth. If Seif hadn't said anything, I might have, and I cannot guarantee that my tone will be as pleasant and calming as his, something I am sure that our lady Asha will not sit very well with. Just imagining the trouble that might follow hurts my head.

***

It took us half a day to arrive before the Beastkin capital, and by now, it is deep into the night. To get here as quickly as possible, I forced everyone to travel long after sundown. No one complained as they all understood the urgency, and Asha, being nocturnal, was completely fine with it.

Standing upon the massive gates of the city, via the moonlight, I spot a crack, the gates having been open slightly to allow entry. I didn't even need the keen senses of the Dragonbroods to smell a trap. The gates, appearing unguarded, is only opened wide enough to allow one to two person to pass through at a time, and I'm sure, in the shadows of the night, the Beastkins are waiting to pounce us upon entry.

I turn to wave Asha over.

"Asha, you're nocturnal... That means you can see in the dark right? Can you see what's beyond the gates?"

The priestess goes forward to take a peek, her eyes squinting as she looks.

"There are trees everywhere, that's about as much as I can tell."

Not that I doubted her, but it appears that the Grand Keeper's information was accurate, the [World Devourer Woods] had grown over the Beastkin capital. As for why, she did not say, and in my worry for Corona, I neglected to ask. All I remember is that she was saying something about it being unnatural. Either way, what we must do does not change. We have three objectives. One: Extract Corona. Two: Retrieve the Purifier said to be here. Three: Purify the forest if possible.

In a way, this is a fortunate turn of event, because that means there is no need for the Faefolks to wait a decade for their Keeper to return. I've heard that it's hard for those of another race to survive outside of their natural habitats, something about them being designed this way to prevent wars for territories across races. The only known records of another race living in the lands of another and properly survived were the Beastkins, whose Keeper had been killed under circumstances redacted from history. For a decade, they managed to survive in the lands of Mankind. The side effects, however, caused their forms to become twisted in a sense, becoming more human-like than their ancestral counterparts. This ended up making it difficult for them to thrive even after their Keeper is reborn, incompatible in both lands they lived in, they now have far shorter life spans and lower birthrates than they should have. To this day, their members are fewer than those of the other races and are facing continuous decline. If anyone has a reason to want to screw over the rest of the world and let the [Corruption] take it all, it may very well be the Beastkins, which may possibly explain why they interrupted the summoning ritual of the Grand Keeper.

Either way, it doesn't matter why they did it. I am here for Corona and the Purifier as well as the Dragonbroods that have been caught within the forest. Pitying the opponents can wait till after we win.

"We should make camp, preferably somewhere a good distance away. We can't fight the Bastkins in the dark, we'll be at a disadvantage."

Agreeing with Seif, I have the party move towards a distant hill overlooking the city, or at least, it should be. Even by the moonlight, it is too dark to properly tell.

"Go rest, friend, we'll take turns to keep watch."

"You're all tired, I can take the first watch."

"So are you, and it's best you sleep now. We'll need all the daylight we can get to infiltrate that forest, especially considering how hard it is to wake you."

"Seif, it's not something I can control. I don't think it matters when I sleep."

"Better safe than sorry. Go sleep."

By Seif's urging, I relent. I feel too tired to fight him on this and if that's the case, I doubt I'll be able to fight off the Beastkins either, should they come.

"Don't push yourself."

"I know my limits. Sleep well."

***

Tonight, I dream again, however, instead of dreaming of a strange place I do not recognize, I dream of the place I fell asleep in, an open field atop a hill. I look down, and there I see my body, deep asleep, looking like he won't be waking up anytime soon. Around me, the others as well, slumber. Nibal sleeps near the fire, and so does Asha, all curled up in an attempt to keep her warmth. Seif sleeps while sitting, hunched over the spot he was supposed to keep watch from. Everyone, every single one of the warriors, is deep asleep. Amidst us, there is a presence, and when I turn to see, I find a being of purity, her white hair flowing in the nightly breeze, her white dress fluttering, her azure eyes glazed and vague, as if looking into a dream, and adorned upon her head a pair of spiraling horns.

"You...I know you."

I reach out towards her despite not being sure if I can even touch her. However, before I get to find out, another hand reaches out and grasps her. In response, the horned girl turns, her hollow eyes, reflecting the figure that had just taken her hand. Tracing the girl's eyes, I too turn around, finding before me a figure wearing dark robes, wearing a pointed hat that is the signature of the Sorcerer class in Elysium Online. The figure's eyes are blood red, her skin grey, but I recognize her, I know this face.

"Corona!"

***

As I utter the name, my eyes snap open, and before me, I see a world of green. I see the leaves on the branches of a tree through a broken ceiling, with soft sunlight filtered through the green showering down upon me.

"He's awake!"

I hear a voice cry out as I realize that I am on solid ground, one that feels to be of stone, completely unlike the soft leather bedding I had fallen sleep on last night. As I lay upon the ground, my eyes trace over to the source of the voice to find a girl with horns of mismatching size watching over me.

"Asha?"

"Finally, took you long enough! Have you any idea how much trouble we're in!?"

"Do not blame him, Lady Asha. You know as well as I do that he can't help it."

I look to the side to find Seif by what appears to be a window, the glass pane apparently broken by a small tree that grew through it.

"Seif, where are the others? And this place... Don't tell me..."

With me, there are only Seif and Asha while Nibal and the rest of the warriors are nowhere to be seen. All around, I see small trees and weeds growing through the crack of the stone floor, with a massive tree in the middle of this ruined building I now reside, and its growth had apparently collapsed the ceiling.

"We're in the bowels of the World Devourer, friend. As for the others, they stayed behind to hold back the enemy so that we could escape."

"How did we even end up here? No, more importantly, now that I am awake, we should go back to get them. We have to regroup. Anyone here has my sword?"

"I am afraid your greatsword was too heavy for me and Asha had to carry you, so we left it behind. Here, take these, they were yours to begin with."

From Seif, I receive the twin blades that I had given him. I didn't think I would be getting them back so soon.

"So, what now? Are we going back to get them?"

Asks Asha, concern clearly in her eyes. She's strong yes, but she doesn't know how to fight. She had never been trained in such a way and it was never her task to do so. To be caught in the middle of the enemy's nest must be rather distressing for her.

"Of course! We're not leaving anyone behind, even if I have to go alone. Seif, can you escort Asha out?"

"While I feel the same, friend, you'd be a fool to go at it alone. Our enemies here are numerous and they could strike from anywhere from the ground to atop the brances of trees. Just one wrong step may put you in deep trouble."

"I know, I know! But this time, we've hardly a choice, do we?"

Not to mention, even if we retreat from here, what then? There's nothing we can do with just the three of us. We'd have to return to the north, gather more men and come back. By then, wouldn't everyone be [Corrupted]? We'd have to fight them, and most likely, Corona as well. I can't let that happen, no matter what.

"I... I can take care of myself!"

Suddenly, Asha inserts herself between Seif and me, her brows furrowed and her fists tightly clenched.

"I'll wait here, so you two should go get everyone back."

She's being brave. Even I can tell that in truth, she is actually scared. However, if given the choice between her and Corona, I can only apologize to Asha endlessly.

I look around, finding a cupboard, and after opening it up and looking inside, I find some plates and bowls. Promptly, I remove them, arranging them elsewhere to make space here.

"Asha, hide in here. We'll be back for you."

"You promise?"

"Like I said, we're not leaving anyone behind. That means you too."

With uncharacteristic obedience, Asha nods and carefully climbs into the cupboard. I give her a smile, reassuring her, before shutting the door.

"Seif, lead the way."

"If I must, friend, but you must stay close. There are Faefolks here, the elves and the fairies. Their elves have sharp eyesight and alongside the fairies they patrol the treetops. Only by sticking to the shadows will we be able to sneak past them. Fortunately, there are many buildings in which we can hide."

"The Faefolks? How did they get here?"

"The Woods must have called to them."

"And us, how did we end up in the World Devourer all of the sudden? You guys didn't enter it while I was still asleep did you?"

"No, of course not. We were already here by the time we awoke, out bodies entangled by the foliage and our maws muzzled by vines. Fortunately, it appears they did not find the knife I had hidden on me, and with that, I was able to cut our way out."

"So they captured us somehow. Looks like someone was sleeping on the job."

"And I am ashamed to say that it was me. I do not know why, but it appears that I have been overcome by slumber. That has never happened before, no matter how worn out I had been."

"We can look into that later. Right now, we have a mission to complete."

"Of course. Now then, follow my lead."

***