------------ Point of View: Sylah ---------------
[Leaf-eaters. Kug...] — a sharp pain assaulted my head as I sat up with a start.
[You're finally awake.] — The captain's familiar voice felt like a reprieve that immediately calmed my nerves amidst the disorientation.
[Captain...] — I manage to say. My voice is weaker than I expected, and my blurry vision wasn't helping.
[Lie back down and gather your senses slowly; we are not in danger.]
I nod at the captain's order and lie back.
I'm not in a bed, but it is comforting enough. Leaves, perhaps?
[Captain, what happened with...] — I try to ask about our situation as the blurry memories rush back to me.
My village, my parents, the Great Mother... Even before my vision becomes clear, my eyes cloud with tears.
I am not so naive as to think that strange phenomenon at the end was some kind of redeeming light.
[Ahhh... I don't know, child... But... right now, that might not be the most urgent question.] — The captain replied, his voice heavy with an uncertainty I had never heard from him, not even during our last great war.
But just as I was about to ask him what he meant...
Thump-thump
I felt it when my consciousness finally cleared enough.
Thump-thump
Through my fingers, which found soil among the leaves.
Thump-thump
In the wind that whispered delicately in my ears.
Thump-thump
In the faint scent of wood and dew.
Thump-thump
It was warm, it was strong, it was young... It was... teeming with life.
[Mother...?]
.............................
[This is...] — Surrounded by the lush vegetation and countless breaths of life, any description pales.
The roaring of the river, the breeze that rustles my hair like a warm breath, the colors of the flowers.
[I heard stories...] — I cannot stop my eyes from watering beneath a reality I had only ever heard of in ancient tales.
Even the most beautiful memory of my youth cannot begin to compare with this.
[I understand how you feel, but please, focus a little.] — The captain's mild reprimand brings me back to my senses.
[I apologize...] — I say obediently, looking up at the sky. — [That was our home.]
I state it directly; I don't even need to concentrate. To me, it is as clear as day that the moon I now see from this lush forest was once our earth.
[Was it?] — The captain asked, seemingly surprised by my certainty.
[They were Mother's last words... 'Opportunity'... 'Take care of the youngest...']
[What does that mean?] — The captain looks confused. I cannot blame him.
I didn't understand it at the time, either. But now...
[That world is dying.] — I say, pointing to what was once our home. — [But even if it wasn't... our home is no longer there.]
The captain opened and closed his mouth several times, as if trying to find the right words.
But finally, he nodded.
[What about the others?]
[They... they are here too, somewhere.]
[How do you know?]
[I... I just know.]
I can only lower my head in shame under the captain's understanding gaze.
[Ahhh, anyway... My dre—]
[NO.]
I immediately stop the captain, who was about to spout nonsense.
[They aren't... We will find them and...] — I try to argue, but the captain just steps closer and forcefully holds my hand.
[Of course they are alive... And I know we will find them... We will find everyone.] — He said as he slowly knelt, his steady eyes fixed on mine. — [But until then, you must fulfill your role—for our small group, and for the elves we meet along the way, until our reunion... Do you understand?]
[... But I... OUCH!] — I cry out in pain when the captain flicks my forehead. It's his worst habit.
[Of course, it's not like I'll let you take command. Who would leave their life in the hands of an inexperienced brat? At most, I'll let you say things like "Let's look for them, they aren't dead," and then I'll handle the rest.]
[... MUUUU] — Now I'm actually angry.
But before I could complain, a few of our companions emerged from the thicket; their faces did not look happy.
[Captain, the situation is... Oh, Her Highn— awake. Guck, I mean, Sylah, you're awake.] — He was about to call me "Her Highness," but he shut up as soon as the captain glared at him.
I'll have to apologize to him later for the trouble.
[Anyway, Captain. Leaf-eaters. We've run into a swarm.]
[Tsk. The bastards came too. Quickly, gather everyone. We leave immediately.]
[Eh? No, we must eliminate them before they contaminate the forest.]
[I know what you mean, but the situation does not allow us to be reckless. We don't even have a secure settlement. Do you understand what I'm saying?]
[Guck...]
[WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR? AM I SPEAKING GOBLIN? MOVE!]
[[[YES, SIR.]]]
On second thought, I refuse to apologize to this grump.
..............
[Nothing...] — I sigh regretfully as I release my tracking spell.
[Good work.] — Leion hands me a piece of meat as he says it.
[There's no use making that face. Come closer to the fire and relax a bit.]
I nod at the captain's order.
[What do you think?] — He asks me after I finish eating and my energy stabilizes.
[The more time passes, the more unreal it feels,] — I say honestly.
Not just the forest. Everything in this world is teeming with life and... Mana. So much mana.
Not only has my energy regeneration multiplied. I can feel my limits constantly expanding, even if very slowly. It seems to have no intention of stopping.
Furthermore, the captain and the rest seem to be experiencing similar effects, albeit on a physical level. More strength, more agility, more stamina.
[The problem is that those damn leaf-eaters might be enjoying the exact same benefit.]
[It would be great if it were only the leaf-eaters.]
I nod at my companions' opinions. It's still too early to celebrate, and we aren't in a situation that allows us to confirm anything.
[What did you see with your scouting?] — The captain asked me.
[In that direction, there seems to be a settlement, but it's... strange. The forest says it's a place of humans, but there don't seem to be many. Aren't humans supposed to live in large groups?]
[Maybe it's a scouting party?]
[They appear to be inside strange structures, possibly their homes.]
[An outpost?]
[I don't know... Should we investigate in person?] — At my question, the captain brings a hand to his chin and stares into the fire in contemplation.
[... No, it's too risky for now. First, we need to find a good spot for a base. Rest for tonight; I'll take the first watch.]
[[[Yes.]]]
................
[They're coming.] — I wake up with a jolt as the forest warns me of danger.
[Where?]
[[Um?]]
The captain asks with his sword drawn, while Mercury and Leion wake up and immediately go on guard, though disoriented.
Is it daylight? What happened to my watch? And from what I see, the other two didn't have a watch either.
[You stupid old man, did you take the watch all night by yourself?] — I immediately complained.
[[...]]
[What kind of way is that to speak to me? We'll talk about this later. Focus.]
[We definitely will. They're coming from the east, a lot of them, and they seem to want to surround us.] — I say, and everyone quickly gathers what they can before fleeing.
[Captain, will it be okay?] — Mercury looks at the captain with concern.
[The captain still sees us as children,] — Leion complained.
It's good to know I'll have an ally in the upcoming argument. Mercury is simply useless. Too soft.
[Focus properly and I'll think about it next time.]
[Hmph.] — Grumpy old man.
[DOWN!] — The captain's order baffled me, but my body obeyed instinctively.
CRACK
The familiar sound of clashing jaws was heard exactly where my head had been less than a second ago. And almost immediately, dozens of presences appeared all at once.
Too close.
[AMBUSH!]
[Why couldn't I detect them?] — I couldn't help but ask. With my heightened connection, I should be able to sense the ambushing leaf-eaters even without stopping to meditate... Are they really benefiting from the environment as well?
[Questions later. Evade!]
As the captain said, the battle wouldn't wait to answer questions.
Crack Crack Crack
[They want to surround us.]
[This way.]
[Tsk.]
One after another, the leaf-eaters lunged at us and were repelled. But soon...
[We are going in circles.]
[They are herding us.]
[If we keep this up, they will surround us.]
If you kill one, five appear; that is the way of the leaf-eaters. A battle of attrition is a lost battle.
[Break through!] — The captain ordered, charging straight toward the largest cluster of beasts.
[Captain, the human settlement is that way.] — I reminded him, realizing that we were practically heading back toward the area with the strange structures.
[We have no choice. If the leaf-eaters don't want us to go there, then that's exactly where we go.]
Without a second thought, we followed the order. And just as the captain predicted, as soon as we broke through what should have been their strongest point, the monsters' movements became more disorganized and rushed.
[Too fast.]
[If we let them regroup, we might not be able to break the encirclement again.]
[Sylah!]
[Yes!]
At the command, I climbed onto the captain's back while Mercury and Leion covered us.
[Ventus, qui sine pace percurrit silvam, exaudi preces supplicum. Inimici tui finem inveniant in ira tua. Threads of Wind!]
Following my chant, thin threads of wind tore through the forest in search of the pursuing leaf-eaters.
[[[Yes!]]] — We cheered as dozens of those bugs fell dead, sliced apart.
[Tsk] — SERIOUSLY?
[KYAAA!] — I didn't have time to complain about the captain or even understand anything before he threw me into the air.
And then...
GRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
[[[CAPTAIN!]]]
We screamed in terror as a massive leaf-eater rammed him with such force that he shot like a missile through the forest thicket.
[WATCH OUT!] — Leion yelled when he detected three more leaf-eaters surrounding us.
[COVER SYLAH!]
[YES!]
[Liberi ventis...]
Old man...
[BLADES!]
You better not die.
...............
Fear... Facing the purple eyes that don't seem to recognize me as anything more than insignificant prey. No other word does it justice.
Some might feel indignant at being looked down upon in such a way.
Sssss
But as the chilling creature vanished into the undergrowth, I had never been happier to be insignificant.
Cough-cough
[Captain.] — With no time to even feel the residual panic, I force my trembling hands to steady so I can tend to the captain. Still, perhaps because the danger seems to have passed to some extent, I cannot hold back my tears as I gather my mana to try and heal his horrific wounds.
But soon, fatigue begins to cloud my mind.
[##$%&] — The human I just met tries to tell me something, but honestly, I cannot understand a word of her noisy language.
I have no way of knowing if they can be trusted, but do I really have a choice? We are all at our limits.
[It's my fault... Captain...] — I murmur as my consciousness fades.
[[[Sylah!]]]
[[[[#$&/$"$#%$]]]]
I....
....................